Electrodeposition of iron phosphide film for hydrogen evolution reaction. (10th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Zhi-peng; Sepunaru, Lior
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 363(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-10
• Subjects: Hydrogen evolution reaction -- HER -- Iron phosphide -- Electrodeposition -- Water splitting -- Electrocatalysis; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.137167
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by electrochemical water splitting is part of a sustainable and scalable process to produce H2 . Hence, the design of a highly efficient and low-cost electrocatalyst is in demand. We report the development of a straightforward and cost-effective method to electrodeposit an iron phosphide (FeP) film on a copper electrode at room temperature. The as-deposited FeP film was able to support current density of −10 mA/cm 2 at overpotentials of 66 mV in 0.5 M sulfuric acid (H2 SO4, pH=0.3), 131 mV in 1.0 M phosphate buffer (PB, pH=6.4) and 110 mV in 1.0 M potassium hydroxide (KOH, pH=14.0) solution, as well as a Tafel slope of 55 mV/dec, 108 mV/dec, 60 mV/dec, respectively. The film has excellent stability during HER catalysis under acidic and neutral conditions, as shown by electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.