Electroplated Copper-Based Electrodes: A Performance Investigation

Abstract

1Zeynep Kuyumcu, 1Hurmus Gursu, 1Muhammed Iberia Aydin, 2,1Ibrahim Dincer 1Yildiz Technical University, Clean Energy Technologies Institute, Istanbul, Esenler, Türkiye 2Ontario Tech University, Clean Energy Research Laboratory, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

* E-mail: zeynep.kuyumcu@std.yildiz.edu.tr

The increasing global energy demand, projected to reach 512.6 EJ by 2050. Depletion of non-renewable energy sources and their significant environmental impact, increasing the need for clean energy solutions like hydrogen. Hydrogen, which can be used in various applications including energy storage and vehicles, is seen as a viable clean energy source. Development of electrocatalysts for electrolysis is important for clean hydrogen generation. In this study, due to Copper (II) acetate was selected for electrodeposition to stainless steel because of their low costs and lack of studies in literature. Cu electrodes were synthesized with electrodeposition method in presence of different concentrations of copper acetate on 316L stainless steel. Copper acetate reduction (electrochemical reduction potential) and oxidation (electrochemical oxidation potential) at different pH values are also investigated. Synthesized electrodes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Due to gained information from characterizations and pH comparisions, Cu electrode activity in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are discussed for future use of Cu electrodes in hydrogen synthesis.

Keywords: Copper, electrodes, hydrogen evolution reaction, electrodeposition