Reusing a Hard Drive Platter To Demonstrate Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions

摘要

This demonstration brings the simplest multidisciplinary approach to evaluate the impact of the electrocatalysts in the water electrolysis half-reactions. The experiment is implemented with damaged hard drive (HD) platters as dimensionally stable electrodes for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. The CoPtCr and Ni–P alloys deposited on the top of the platter are electrochemically stable in alkaline electrolyte and have an excellent catalytic activity. Techniques and principles, such as linear sweep voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, activation overpotential, and voltage efficiency, are demonstrated by employing these platters as electrodes.