NOVEL CRM-FREE FOR H2 PRODUCTION IN ALKALINE WATER ELECTROLYSIS

This work focuses on tailoring anode and cathode catalysts for stable operation at high current density with low overpotential for alkaline electrolysis device. Advanced non-CRM electrocatalysts for cathode and anode were developed. The activity was addressed to enhance the intrinsic catalyst activity and stability by producing nanostructured Ni and Fe (oxide) for the anode and nanosized Ni-Cu and NiCu-Mo alloys for the cathode with specific structures in combination with Fumatech membrane. For the electrocatalyst assessment, the procedures include the evaluation of catalyst loading in the electrodes, catalyst properties, methodologies for the determination of particle size and active phase dispersion, ex-situ characterization and screening of the catalysts in cell electrochemical tests in situ screening of the catalysts in the presence of alkaline electrolyte. Cathode catalyst developed had a high active surface area (170 m2g-1) and low particle size (7 nm). Durability test operation (500 h) at high potentials (potential cycling mode 1-1.8V) have been carried out. Polarization curves reached high current density (1A cm-2) feeding 1M KOH at anode. The MEA NiCu-based promising low overpotentials for the NiFeOx anode (i.e 175 mV) and NiCu cathode (i.e. 193 mV). Based on the set of experiments, we observed as the NiCu is a promising electrocatalyst for the H2 evolution in alkaline environment.