Abstract
Electrode coatings for advanced alkaline water electrolysis were produced by applying the vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) process. The characteristics of the used VPS equipment that were essential for the development of effective electrocatalytic electrode layers are presented. Molybdenum-containing Raney nickel coatings were applied for cathodic hydrogen evolution, and Raney nickel/Co3O4 matrix composite layers were developed for the anodic oxygen evolution reaction. For the preparation of Raney nickel coatings, a precursor alloy such as Ni-Al was sprayed that had to be leached subsequently in caustic solution to remove the aluminum content, forming a porous, high-surface-area nickel layer. The spray powders and the resulting VPS layers were studied by metallography, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive analysis by x-ray (SEM/EDX). For spraying of thermally sensitive oxide electrocatalysts (e.g., Co3O4), special process conditions involving plasma-chemical effects (reactive plasma spraying) had to be developed. The electrocatalytic activity of the electrode coatings was investigated by performing polarization curves free of ohmic losses (IR-free) and long-term tests under conditions of continuous and intermittent operation, which showed excellent electrochemical properties.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
C.-J. Winter and J. Nitsch, Ed.,Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier, Springer, 1988
E. Justi, W. Scheibe, and A. Winsel, “Doppelskellett-Katalysator-Elektrode,” German Patent DBP 1,019,361,1954
H. Wendt and V. Plzak,Electrochemical Hydrogen Technologies, Elsevier, 1989
D.E. Hall, Alkaline Water Electrolysis Anode Materials,J. Electrochem. Soc., Vol 132 (No. 2), 1985, p41C-48C
D.E. Brown, M.N. Mahmood, M.C.M. Man, and A.K. Turner, Preparation and Characterization of Low Overvoltage Transition Metal Alloy Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Solutions,Electrochim. Acta, Vol 29,1984, p 1551–1556
J. Divisek, H. Schmitz, and J. Balej, Ni and Mo Coatings as Hydrogen Cathodes,J. Appl. Electrochem., Vol 19,1989, p 519–530
S. Trasatti, Ed.,Electrodes of Conductive Metallic Oxides, Elsevier, 1980
J. Balej, Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution in Advanced Alkaline Water Electrolysis,Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, Vol 10 (No. 2), 1985, p 89–99
R. Henne, M.v. Bradke, W. Schnurnberger, and W. Weber, Development and Manufacture of Electrolyzer Components Applying Plasma Spraying under Reduced Pressure,Advances in Thermal Spraying, Pergamon Press, 1986
G. Schiller and V. Borck, Vacuum Plasma Sprayed Electrodes for Advanced Alkaline Water Electrolysis,Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, Vol 17 (No. 4), 1992, p 261–273
U.R. Henne, G. Schiller, W. Schnurnberger, and W. Weber, Role of Process Gas Composition at Vacuum Plasma Spraying of Oxide Electrocatalysts,Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, R. D’Agostino, Ed., 1989
W. Mayr and R. Henne, Investigation of a VPS Burner with Laval Nozzle Using an Automated Laser Doppler Measuring System,Proceedings of the First Plasmatechnik-Symposium, H. Eschnauer, P. Huber, A.R. Nicoll, and S. Sandmeier, Ed., Vol l, 1988
R. Henne, W. Mayr, and A. Reusch, Influence of Nozzle Geometry on Particle Behaviour and Coating Quality in High-Velocity VPS,DVS-Berichte, Vol 152, DVS-Verlag, Düsseldorf, 1993 (in German)
R. Henne,J. Thermal Spray Technol., to be published
V.Y. Markiv, V.V. Burnashova, L.I. Pryakhina, and K.P. Myasnikova, Phase Equilibria in the Mo-Ni-Al System,Izv. Akad. Nauk, SSSR, Russ. Met., Vol 5,1969, p 180–185
S. Kumar, Ternary Intermetallics in Aluminum,Int. Mat. Rev., Vol 35 (No. 6), 1990, p 310–326
S. Hamar-Thibault and J. Masson, Nickel Divided Catalysts in the NiMo System: Correlation between Parent Alloy Catalyst,J. Chim. Phys., Vol 88,1991, p 219–232
M. Khaidar, C. Allibert, and J. Driole, Composition, Structure and Crystallite Size of Raney Catalysts Proceeding from Several Ni-Al and Fe-Al Intermetallic Phases,Mat. Res. Bull, Vol 17,1982, p 329–337
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schiller, G., Henne, R. & Borck, V. Vacuum plasma spraying of high-performance electrodes for alkaline water electrolysis. JTST 4, 185–194 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02646111
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02646111