Investigation of noble metal loading CoWZn electrode for HER

Abstract

It is important to metal deposition on the electrode surface to increase the electrocatalytic activity of the electrodes. CoWZn coated the graphite rod was used to prepare the cathode electrode. Moreover, then Pt and Ru metals were deposited on the electrode surface. These electrodes were named as CoWZnPt and CoWZnRu. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic polarization techniques were used for characterization of electrodes in alkaline media. Hydrogen evolution efficiency was determined by accumulated of hydrogen gas. The catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction of CoWZn, CoWZnPt, and CoWZnRu electrodes was compared. It was reported that modification of the CoWZn electrode with low amounts of Ru enhances the HER activity of the electrodes. The enhancement in the hydrogen evolution activity of the electrodes was attributed to the increase in their real surface area and/or a possible synergistic effect between Co, W, Zn and Ru as well as the well-known intrinsic catalytic activity of Ru.