A group of researchers in South Korea have developed a new type of carbon-based electrode technology which can increase the energy efficiency and price competitiveness of hydrogen production.
The technology involves developing nitrogen-doped porous carbon electrodes that can be used in polymer electrolyte water electrolysis. The research team found that the new electrodes significantly improved the durability of nanoparticle catalysts, which are critical in water electrolysis technology for hydrogen production.
The team proposed a method of carbon doping with excess nitrogen to ensure the durability and activity of the catalyst even with carbon loss. By embedding an iridium-ruthenium nanoparticle catalyst into the carbon layer, the team could minimize the effect of carbon dissolution and at the same time increase the activity of the nanoparticle catalyst.
The nitrogen-doped carbon support developed can also be used in electrochemical systems involving gas generation or using gas as the reactant. According to the researchers, the research could contribute to increasing the energy efficiency of the hydrogen production process using the polymer electrolyte water electrolysis method, and the system’s lifetime in the future. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea supported the study.
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