Abstract
Electrode coatings for advanced alkaline water electrolysis were produced by applying the vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) process. The characteristics of the used VPS equipment that were essential for the development of effective electrocatalytic electrode layers are presented. Molybdenum-containing Raney nickel coatings were applied for cathodic hydrogen evolution, and Raney nickel/Co3O4 matrix composite layers were developed for the anodic oxygen evolution reaction. For the preparation of Raney nickel coatings, a precursor alloy such as Ni-Al was sprayed that had to be leached subsequently in caustic solution to remove the aluminum content, forming a porous, high-surface-area nickel layer. The spray powders and the resulting VPS layers were studied by metallography, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive analysis by x-ray (SEM/EDX). For spraying of thermally sensitive oxide electrocatalysts (e.g., Co3O4), special process conditions involving plasma-chemical effects (reactive plasma spraying) had to be developed. The electrocatalytic activity of the electrode coatings was investigated by performing polarization curves free of ohmic losses (IR-free) and long-term tests under conditions of continuous and intermittent operation, which showed excellent electrochemical properties.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Thermal Spray Technology
- Pub Date:
- June 1995
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF02646111
- Bibcode:
- 1995JTST....4..185S
- Keywords:
-
- cobalt oxide feedstock;
- feedstock phase changes;
- oxide electrocatalyst;
- Raney nickel coatings;
- vacuum plasma spraying;
- water electrolysis