Kinetics and oxidation pathways of Fe3+-catalyzed carbon-assisted water electrolysis for hydrogen production

Carbon-assisted water electrolysis can significantly reduce the electricity consumption of electrolytic hydrogen production, but its slow kinetics limit further development. In-depth investigation oxidation pathways and control steps coal particles during help to improve reaction rate in a more targeted manner. In this study, electrochemical activities several different ranks coal, activated carbon, graphite are compared, electrooxidation process is disentangled investigate kinetic characteristics solution catalysts, with catalysts coal. Structural characterization used key factors affecting activity. The results show that mainly undergo indirect electrolysis, direct only accounts for small fraction oxidation; catalyst on electrode surface reversible, controlling step whole redox between particles. A variety oxygen-containing functional groups generated after among which C-O group plays critical role