Boron-Doped Carbon nanoparticles supported palladium as an efficient hydrogen evolution electrode in PEM water electrolysis

Boron doped Carbon Nanoparticles (B-CNPs) with various boron doping percentages have been successfully synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method in the presence of ferrocene and boric acid, further the same was used as a support material for Palladium (Pd) catalyst. The synthesized Pd/B-CNPs with various amounts of palladium (5-30 wt%) were used as a hydrogen evolution electrode in PEM water electrolysis for hydrogen production. The Pd/B-CNPs surface morphological studies and electrochemical performances have been investigated by FE-SEM, EDS, TEM, ICP, XRD, XPS and Cyclic Voltammetry methods. The membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) have been fabricated using synthesized Pd/B-CNPs and its performance studied in single cell PEM water electrolyser at various experimental conditions. The synthesized 30 wt% Pd/B-3-CNPs (B-doping 6.68 at%) results have shown competitive electrochemical performance (1 A cm(-2) with 2.04 Vat 80 degrees C) and stability. Therefore the synthesized 30 wt% Pd/B-3-CNPs can be used as a promising alternative for Pt based electrocatalysts for HER in PEM cells. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.