Cobalt–Iron–Phosphate Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalyst for Solar-Driven Alkaline Seawater Electrolyzer

oleh: Chiho Kim, Seunghun Lee, Seong Hyun Kim, Jaehan Park, Shinho Kim, Se-Hun Kwon, Jong-Seong Bae, Yoo Sei Park, Yangdo Kim

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-11-01

Deskripsi

Seawater splitting represents an inexpensive and attractive route for producing hydrogen, which does not require a desalination process. Highly active and durable electrocatalysts are required to sustain seawater splitting. Herein we report the phosphidation-based synthesis of a cobalt–iron–phosphate ((Co,Fe)PO<sub>4</sub>) electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) toward alkaline seawater splitting. (Co,Fe)PO<sub>4</sub> demonstrates high HER activity and durability in alkaline natural seawater (1 M KOH + seawater), delivering a current density of 10 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> at an overpotential of 137 mV. Furthermore, the measured potential of the electrocatalyst ((Co,Fe)PO<sub>4</sub>) at a constant current density of −100 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> remains very stable without noticeable degradation for 72 h during the continuous operation in alkaline natural seawater, demonstrating its suitability for seawater applications. Furthermore, an alkaline seawater electrolyzer employing the non-precious-metal catalysts demonstrates better performance (1.625 V at 10 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>) than one employing precious metal ones (1.653 V at 10 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>). The non-precious-metal-based alkaline seawater electrolyzer exhibits a high solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency (12.8%) in a commercial silicon solar cell.