Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer with an ultra-low loading of Pt-decorated Ni electrocatalyst

Abstract

The particle-type electrodes with ultra-low electrocatalyst loading (<10 mu g cm(-2)) were developed as cathodes in the anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). The Pt-decorated Ni electrocatalysts were prepared on the surface of carbon paper by Ni electrodeposition and subsequent displacement of Ni by Pt; the composition and morphology were controlled by varying HCl concentration. In half cell test, the increase of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity by Pt decoration was confirmed for Pt-Ni/CP-2 that has Pt ratio of 39.4% (1.85 mu g(pt) cm(-2)). A membrane electrode assembly employing Pt-Ni/CP-2 as the HER electrode (total catalyst loading: 13.2 mu g cm(-2)) exhibited a current density of 250 mA cm(-2) at 1.9 V-cell (50 degrees C), which is comparable to the previous reports with much larger loading of 3.1 similar to 80 mg cm(-2). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.