Cross Michael W, Smith Richard P, Varhue Walter J
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, David Crawford School of Engineering, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 05663, USA.
Mook Sea Farm, Nobleboro, ME 04555, USA.
Micromachines (Basel). 2021 Nov 17;12(11):1412. doi: 10.3390/mi12111412.
A custom-built PEM electrolyzer cell was assembled using 6" stainless-steel ConFlat flanges which were fitted with a RuO nanorod-decorated, mixed metal oxide (MMO) ribbon mesh anode catalyst. The current density-voltage characteristics were measured for the RuO nanorod electrocatalyst while under constant water feed operation. The electrocatalytic behavior was investigated by making a series of physical modifications to the anode catalyst material. These experiments showed an improved activity due to the RuO nanorod electrocatalyst, resulting in a corresponding decrease in the electrochemical overpotential. These overpotentials were identified by collecting experimental data from various electrolyzer cell configurations, resulting in an improved understanding of the enhanced catalytic behavior. The micro-to-nano surface structure of the anode electrocatalyst layer is a critical factor determining the overall operation of the PEM electrolyzer. The improvement was determined to be due to the lowering of the potential barrier to electron escape in an electric field generated in the vicinity of a nanorod.
使用6英寸不锈钢ConFlat法兰组装了一个定制的质子交换膜（PEM）电解槽，该法兰配备了装饰有RuO纳米棒的混合金属氧化物（MMO）带状网状阳极催化剂。在恒定进水操作下，测量了RuO纳米棒电催化剂的电流密度-电压特性。通过对阳极催化剂材料进行一系列物理改性来研究其电催化行为。这些实验表明，RuO纳米棒电催化剂提高了活性，相应地降低了电化学过电位。通过从各种电解槽配置中收集实验数据来确定这些过电位，从而更好地理解增强的催化行为。阳极电催化剂层的微纳表面结构是决定PEM电解槽整体运行的关键因素。确定这种改进是由于纳米棒附近产生的电场中电子逸出的势垒降低。
