Improved water electrolysis using magnetic heating of FeC–Ni core–shell nanoparticles

Christiane Niether, Stéphane Faure, Alexis Bordet, Jonathan Deseure, Marian Chatenet (), Julian Carrey (), Bruno Chaudret and Alain Rouet
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Christiane Niether: University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LEPMI
Stéphane Faure: Université de Toulouse
Alexis Bordet: Université de Toulouse
Jonathan Deseure: University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LEPMI
Marian Chatenet: University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LEPMI
Julian Carrey: Université de Toulouse
Bruno Chaudret: Université de Toulouse
Alain Rouet: Science & Tec

Nature Energy, 2018, vol. 3, issue 6, 476-483

Abstract: Abstract Water electrolysis enables the storage of renewable electricity via the chemical bonds of hydrogen. However, proton-exchange-membrane electrolysers are impeded by the high cost and low availability of their noble-metal electrocatalysts, whereas alkaline electrolysers operate at a low power density. Here, we demonstrate that electrocatalytic reactions relevant for water splitting can be improved by employing magnetic heating of noble-metal-free catalysts. Using nickel-coated iron carbide nanoparticles, which are prone to magnetic heating under high-frequency alternating magnetic fields, the overpotential (at 20 mA cm−2) required for oxygen evolution in an alkaline water-electrolysis flow-cell was decreased by 200 mV and that for hydrogen evolution was decreased by 100 mV. This enhancement of oxygen-evolution kinetics is equivalent to a rise of the cell temperature to ~200 °C, but in practice it increased by 5 °C only. This work suggests that, in the future, water splitting near the equilibrium voltage could be possible at room temperature, which is currently beyond reach in the classic approach to water electrolysis.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-018-0132-1

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