Screening of electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction using bipolar electrodes fabricated by composition gradient magnetron sputtering

Publication date: Available online 16 October 2019Source: Journal of Electroanalytical ChemistryAuthor(s): Vitalii Latyshev, Serhii Vorobiov, Oleg Shylenko, Vladimir KomanickyAbstractThis paper reports the facile fabrication of bipolar electrodes using composition gradient magnetron sputtering and subsequent activity screening of the prepared electrodes for hydrogen evolution reaction using bipolar electrochemistry. The electrocatalysts layers based on Ni–Mo, Au–Mo and Au–Ni alloys were deposited in form of compositional gradients on the bipolar electrodes. Concentration of the elements in the gradients varies from 40 to 60 at. % across the bipolar electrodes depending on the deposition conditions. The results of the screening experiments for the hydrogen evolution activity were also confirmed by conventional voltammetry measurements. We find that optimal compositions of the electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction are Au2Ni, AuMo2, Ni2Mo and Ni2Mo alloy has the highest catalytic activity. Mechanisms of HER on selected alloy compositions was also studied in more detail using voltammetry experiments.Graphical abstract

Source: Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry - October 19, 2019 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research