Catalysts based on reduced graphene oxide for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction

摘要

The production of hydrogen by water electrolysis is the most appropriate procedure for obtaining high purity hydrogen suitable to feed a low temperature fuel cell, such as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, due to the high overvoltages required to perform water electrolysis and the high cost of required noble metal catalysts, the electrochemical hydrogen production is not commercially competitive when compared with other production processes from natural gas (auto thermal reforming, methane steam reforming or partial oxidation). Alkaline electrolysis is an attractive alternative to PEM-based electrolysis considering that non-noble metal electrocatalysts, like Ni-based materials, are stable in alkaline media and exhibit relatively high activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) [1].