Metal sulfide and oxide nanostructures as electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen electrodes

Abstract

The development of electrochemical devices that promote the regenerative electro-conversion between chemical and electrical energy is of great importance for a sustainable energy scenario. The unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFC) are examples of such devices, which require bifunctional electrocatalysts, i.e., active materials for hydrogen evolution/oxidation and for the oxygen evolution/reduction reactions. The development of bifunctional and stable materials is, however, the challenge for URFCs. Platinum-based electrocatalysts are active for the mentioned reactions, but this metal is scarce and, thus, has a high cost. Therefore, it is necessary the development of non-platinum or less expensive active and stable electrocatalysts. Hence, this project aims at the synthesis and investigation of the electrocatalytic activity of bifunctional electrocatalysts consisting, basically, of metal sulfides for the hydrogen evolution/oxidation and metal oxides for oxygen evolution/reduction in alkaline and/or acid electrolyte. (AU)