Boosting eco-friendly hydrogen generation by urea-assisted water electrolysis using spinel M2GeO4 (M = Fe, Co) as an active electrocatalyst. Issue 11 (5th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choi, Hyeonuk; Surendran, Subramani; Kim, Dohun; Lim, Yoongu; Lim, Jaehyoung; Park, Jihyun; Kim, Jung Kyu; Han, Mi-Kyung; Sim, Uk
• Is Part Of: Environmental science. Volume 8:Issue 11(2021)
• Page Start: 3110
• Page End: 3121
• Publication Date: 2021-10-05
• Subjects: Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/d1en00529d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-8153

Abstract

Abstract : To enhance the efficiency of hydrogen production, bimetallic oxides with spinel structures, M2 GeO4 (M = Fe, Co), were synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method and were used as electrocatalysts for urea-assisted water electrolysis. Abstract : To enhance the efficiency of hydrogen production, bimetallic oxides with spinel structures, M2 GeO4 (M = Fe, Co), were synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method and were used as electrocatalysts for urea-assisted water electrolysis. In alkaline electrolyte with urea, Fe2 GeO4, which was used as the anode in the electrolysis cell, exhibited a lower potential (1.53 V ( vs. RHE)) and a smaller Tafel slope (76 mV dec −1 ) Co2 GeO4 (1.65 V ( vs. RHE), 79 mV dec −1 ), indicating that Fe2 GeO4 reduced the overall input potential to produce H2 . The superior performance of Fe2 GeO4 in the urea-added water electrolysis was attributed to the higher oxidation state of its metal cations, larger electrochemical active surface area, and lower charge transfer resistance than those of Co2 GeO4 . Hence, Fe2 GeO4 showed 5.49 times higher H2 peak intensity than Co2 GeO4, indicating higher efficiency of H2 production.