Chalcogenide Electrocatalysts for Oxygen-depolarized Aqueous Hydrochloric Acid Electrolysis
Several Rh- and Ru-based carbon-supported chalcogenide electrocatalysts were evaluated as oxygen-depolarized cathodes for HCl electrolysis applications. The roles of both crystallinity and morphology of the electrocatalysts were explored by investigating several synthetic processes for materials, specifically patented E-TEK methods and the non-aqueous method. The activity of the electrocatalysts for ORR was evaluated via RDE studies in 0.5 M HCl, and compared to state of the art Pt/C and Rh/C systems. Rh{sub x}S{sub y}/C, Co{sub x}Ru{sub y}S{sub z}/C, and Ru{sub x}S{sub y}/C materials synthesized from the E-TEK methods exhibited appreciable stability and activity for ORR under these conditions. The amorphous non-aqueous moieties, while exhibiting little depolarization due to the presence of high concentrations of Cl{sup -} in the RDE studies, were unsuitable for operation in a true ODC HCl electrolyzer cell because of irreversible dissolution resulting from the high concentration ({approx}5 M) of HCl. In contrast, the Ru-based materials from the E-TEK methods were unaffected by the depolarizing conditions of an uncontrolled shutdown. These Ru-based electrocatalysts, being on the order of seven times less expensive than the state of the art Rh{sub x}S{sub y} material, may prove to be of economic benefit to the HCl electrolysis industry.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Doe - Office Of Science
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-98CH10886
- OSTI ID:
- 930425
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-81164-2008-JA; ELCAAV; TRN: US200904%%702
- Journal Information:
- Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 52, Issue 21; ISSN 0013-4686
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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