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Insights on the Performance of Nickel Foam and Stainless Steel Foam Electrodes for Alkaline Water Electrolysis

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  • Ana L. Santos

    (TecnoVeritas—Serviços de Engenharia e Sistemas Tecnológicos, Lda, 2640-486 Mafra, Portugal
    Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials, Laboratory for Physics of Materials and Emerging Technologies, Chemical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Maria João Cebola

    (CBIOS—Center for Research in Biosciences & Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal
    CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
    CiiEM—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz, Campus Universitário, Quinta da Granja, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Jorge Antunes

    (TecnoVeritas—Serviços de Engenharia e Sistemas Tecnológicos, Lda, 2640-486 Mafra, Portugal)

  • Diogo M. F. Santos

    (Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials, Laboratory for Physics of Materials and Emerging Technologies, Chemical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

Green hydrogen production seems to be the best route to achieve a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, as hydrogen has the highest energy density on a mass basis and its combustion does not produce greenhouse gases. Water electrolysis is the method of choice for producing green hydrogen. Among commercially available water electrolysis systems, alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) is the most well-established technology, which, nevertheless, still needs to improve its efficiency. Since the electrodes’ performance is of utmost importance for electrolysis efficiency, nickel foam (NF) and stainless steel foam (SSF) electrodes were analyzed via voltammetry to validate their catalytic activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in 30 wt.% NaOH electrolyte solution. Moreover, at a current density of 50 mA cm −2 , the NF and the SSF exhibited good stability, with the potential for HER and OER stabilizing at −0.5 V and 1.6 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode. A lab-scale electrolyzer attained current densities of 10, 20, and 50 mA cm −2 at small cell voltages of 1.70 V, 1.80 V, and 1.95 V. The results validated NF and SSF as electrodes for a high-performance AWE electrolyzer, especially at higher temperatures. They ensured the progress for the project’s next stage, i.e., constructing an electrolyzer at a pilot scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana L. Santos & Maria João Cebola & Jorge Antunes & Diogo M. F. Santos, 2023. "Insights on the Performance of Nickel Foam and Stainless Steel Foam Electrodes for Alkaline Water Electrolysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11011-:d:1193555
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ana P. R. A. Ferreira & Raisa C. P. Oliveira & Maria Margarida Mateus & Diogo M. F. Santos, 2023. "A Review of the Use of Electrolytic Cells for Energy and Environmental Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-33, February.
    2. Nikolaidis, Pavlos & Poullikkas, Andreas, 2017. "A comparative overview of hydrogen production processes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 597-611.
    3. Ana L. Santos & Maria-João Cebola & Diogo M. F. Santos, 2021. "Towards the Hydrogen Economy—A Review of the Parameters That Influence the Efficiency of Alkaline Water Electrolyzers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-35, May.
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