Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by Platinum Coating

A thin layer of platinum coating (0.5 µgcm−2) on stainless steel surface was deposited by direct current (DC) and pulse current (PC) electrodeposition method for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) application. Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis were used to characterize the coatings. Linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry studies were carried out to know the overpotential values for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on these coatings. The optimization of catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution using different coating methods helps in reducing the overall cost. Tafel polarization experiments were conducted for DC and PC platinum coating to know hydrogen generation trend. Cathodic slope and HER current values revealed that, coatings obtained at 75% duty cycle by PC method exhibit lower cathodic slope, high current density of 150 mA/cm2 and more corrosion current with highest hydrogen evolution. Chronopotentiometry experiments showed that 20 ml of hydrogen was collected from 75% sample.