Functional catalyst for alternative fuel source by depositing nanosheets on a flexible carbon cloth

Tuesday, September 1, 2015 - 12:30 in Physics & Chemistry

(Phys.org)—The past ten years have seen an uptick in research into hydrogen production through electrolysis as an alternative fuel source. In electrolysis water decomposes into its components, hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, environmentally friendlier gases compared to fossil fuel reactions. However, electrolysis of water requires additional energy, known as overpotenial, above beyond its thermodynamic reaction barrier. Catalysts, such as platinum, decrease the overpotential allowing the reaction to progress at a practical rate, but platinum is too expensive for use at an industrial scale prompting researchers to explore other types of electrocatalysts.

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