Electrochemical Characterization of Niobium Carbide Reinforced Composites for the Production of Industrial Gases

摘要

The main goal of the present investigation is to analyze the use of Fe-NbC composites in the electrogeneration of industrial gases. The effect of the experimental parameters involved in the processing of PM composites on the performance of the resulting electrodes is also investigated. Cylindrical composite pellets were sintered varying their composition, sintering temperature and time, and compaction pressure. The resulting electrodes were characterized from the standpoint of their inherent electrical resistance, electrical resistance in NaOH 1M solution, and porosity. The electrical resistance of the composite electrode in solution was obtained from voltammetric tests carried out from -1V to 1.5V. The scan rate was set to 10mV/s. The results obtained up to this point showed that the sintering temperature has a major effect in determining the electrical resistance of the electrode in solution. Other manufacturing aspects have less important effects on that property. The onset of oxygen generation took place at approximately 0.6V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the optimum potential at 100mA/cm~2 was 0.94V.