Electrocatalytic effect on hydrogen evolution from copper materials plated from a chloride-containing bath

Abstract

The electrocatalytic behaviour of electrolytic copper for the hydrogen evolution reaction has been investigated. The copper materials were electrodeposited from a chloride-containing sulphate solution at a current density of either 300 or 1100 A m −2. The chloride ion concentration in the solution was varied from 0.001 to 0.1 M. It has been shown that the electrocatalytic properties of the copper deposits can be improved in both alkaline and acid media by using higher chloride ion concentration (0.1 M) in the electrolyte during copper electrodeposition. The improvement in hydrogen evolution is due to the change of surface morphology of the copper deposits. The hydrogen evolution reaction is favoured on the rough porous surface of such materials. The copper deposits thus produced are superior to Devarda-copper as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution.