Improved hydrogen evolution at high temperature using an electro-thermal method

Abstract

Numerous efficient catalysts have been introduced towards hydrogen evolution to produce H2 via water electrolysis. Besides developing highly active catalysts, considerable efforts should be focused on the reaction condition to accelerate electrochemical reactions. Increasing the operating temperature enhances the performances. Here, we demonstrate that a combination of a mature electro-thermal system with the state-of-art water splitting cells can promote hydrogen production efficiency in acid water. In particular, the current density of carbon coated Ag wire increased 12 mA cm−2 at elevated temperatures in comparison with room temperature. This heat-induced current increase was six times of Ag wire without carbon coating. The hydrogen evolution improvement is attributed to a better heat distribution in the micro-region between carbon surface and electrolyte. Graphitized carbon in the carbon layer, offers electron transfer pathways, which is beneficial for hydrogen evolution reaction performance; amorphous carbon and layered structure locked electrolyte, stop acid-water flowing and preserves heat.