Hydrogen Evolution Volcano(es)-From Acidic to Neutral and Alkaline Solutions

• As the global energy crisis continues, efficient hydrogen production is one of the hottest topics these days. In this sense, establishing catalytic trends for hydrogen production is essential for choosing proper H-2 generation technology and catalytic material. Volcano plots for hydrogen evolution in acidic media are well-known, while a volcano plot in alkaline media was constructed ten years ago using theoretically calculated hydrogen binding energies. Here, for the first time, we show that the volcano-type relationships are largely maintained in a wide range of pH values, from acidic to neutral and alkaline solutions. We do this using theoretically calculated hydrogen binding energies on clean metallic surfaces and experimentally measured hydrogen evolution overpotentials. When metallic surfaces are exposed to high anodic potentials, hydrogen evolution can be boosted or significantly impeded, depending on the type of metal and the electrolyte in which the reaction occurs. Such effects are discussed here and can be used to properly tailor catalytic materials for hydrogen production via different water electrolysis technologies.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

hydrogen evolution reaction

catalytic trends

acidic media

neutral media

alkaline media

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)