Hydrogen production by water electrolysis using TEA.PS-BF4 ionic liquid and alternative electrocatalysts

Studies on water electrolysis are in permanent development to improve its processes with electrodes and electrolytes that offer lower overpotential values. This work uses an ionic liquid (IL) – tetrafluoroborate of 3-triethylammonium-propane sulfonic acid (TEA-PS.BF4) as electrolyte studies the effect different electroactive cathode materials hydrogen production, such platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), gold (Au) or silver (Ag). Water was performed a Hoffman Cell analysed by chronoamperometry (CA) linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) techniques. For studied here, 0.1 M TEA-PS.BF4 solution, current density (j) values were 252-404 mA cm-2; for 0.3 TEA-PS.BF4, 406-728 0.7 M, 822-1055 cm-2. Low activation energy (Ea) 5 kJ mol-1 found Au cathode, 9 Pt Ag, 24 Ni Pd. Results show electrode is attractive alternative production using IL electrolyte.