Palladium nanoparticles embedded in microporous carbon as electrocatalysts for water splitting in alkaline media. (15th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Butenko, Denys S.; Li, Shilin; Kotsyubynsky, Volodymyr O.; Boychuk, Volodymyra M.; Dubinko, Volodymyr I.; Kolkovsky, Pavlo I.; Liedienov, Nikita A.; Klyui, N.I.; Han, Wei; Zatovsky, Igor V.
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 41(2021)
• Page Start: 21462
• Page End: 21474
• Publication Date: 2021-06-15
• Subjects: Microporous carbon -- Nanoparticles -- Palladium -- HER -- Electrocatalysis; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.03.242
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: The creation of carbon matrices with a high surface area for effective catalytic activity is an urgent task today, especially in the field of electrocatalysis. In this study, microporous carbon (MPS) with a surface area of about 1300 m 2 g −1 was produced from raw plant waste (apricot pit shells) by successive thermal carbonation and chemical treatment. The MPS was impregnated with H2 PdCl6 and calcined at various temperatures under a H2 –Ar flux. The obtained Pd-NP@MPC (nanoparticle size from 1 to 25 nm) catalysts were characterized in detail by XRD, SEM, TEM and BET methods. Electrochemical tests show that the prepared composites exhibit high electrocatalytic activity and remarkable stability over time (over 50 h) for the HER process and overall water splitting performance. The electrodes have very low overpotentials (η) of 95–117 mV for HER in 1 M KOH at a current density of 100 mA cm −2 . Furthermore, the Pd-NP@MPC-300 electrode can reach a high current density of 300 mA cm −2 at η merely of 170 mV and shows excellent electrocatalytic stability in prolonged water electrolysis. The relationships between MPC matrix characteristics, Pd NPs size and electrocatalytic properties are discussed in this paper. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Microporous carbon (surface area ~1300 m 2 g −1 ) was produced from apricot pit shells. The Pd-NP@MPC composites (NPs 1–25 nm) exhibited superior HER in alkaline media. The overpotentials of 95–117 mV for HER at a current density of 100 mA cm −2 . High catalytic activity remains well even after 50 h of continuous electrolysis.