Study on nickel-based nanoparticles supported by biomass carbon for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2021.0606

Abstract

Abstract:

Electrolysis of water by hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) shows a broader potential for hydrogen production than traditional methods. However, the kinetic process is slow, and this constitutes a key bottleneck. Development of an efficient, low-cost, electrocatalyst is crucial to progressing HER. In this study, an HER electrode was prepared using nickel nanoparticles supported by biomass-derived activated carbon. Biomass canvas formed the carrier and a variant of Schweitzer's reagent the nickel source. The effects of both phosphating and of reagent concentration on HER performance were studied. A range of analytical techniques (SEM, EDS, XRD, and electrochemical measurement) was used to characterize the morphology, phase composition, and HER performance of the catalysts. Results indicate that there is a critical value for nickel nanoparticle concentration on the carbon cloth, and also that phosphating modification can reduce the overpotential of hydrogen evolution and improve catalyst durability. The modified electrode (1 mol/L NiP@C) shows effective HER performance in 1 mol/L potassium hydroxide solution, exhibiting very low overpotential and Tafel slope at a current density of 10 mA/cm². Additionally, the overpotential after IR compensation is only 23.5 mV under high current density (100 mA/cm²). After a 10-hour chronopotentiometric test at variable current densities, the potential retention rate was about 92%, demonstrating a highly durable performance.

Key words: biomass carbon, hydrogen evolution, electrocatalyst, schweitzer reagent variant, phosphorization

CLC Number:

O 614.81

Jianxin CHEN, Nan SHENG, Chunyu ZHU, Zhonghao RAO. Study on nickel-based nanoparticles supported by biomass carbon for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2022, 11(5): 1350-1357.

Figures/Tables 7

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