Cathodic Activation of Titania-Fly Ash Cenospheres for Efficient Electrochemical Hydrogen Production: A Proposed Solution to Treat Fly Ash Waste
Abstract
Fly ash (FA) is a waste product generated in huge amounts by coal-fired electric and steam-generating plants. As a result, the use of FA alone or in conjunction with other materials is an intriguing study topic worth exploring. Herein, we used FA waste in conjunction with titanium oxide (TiO2) to create (FA-TiO2) nanocomposites. For the first time, a cathodic polarization pre-treatment regime was applied to such nanocomposites to efficiently produce hydrogen from an alkaline solution. The FA-TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by a straightforward solvothermal approach in which the FA raw material was mixed with titanium precursor in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and refluxed during a given time. The obtained FA-TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites were fully characterized using various tools and displayed a cenosphere-like shape. The synthesized materials were tested as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 0.1 M KOH solution in the dark, employing various electrochemical techniques. The as-prepared (unactivated) FA-TiO2 exhibited a considerable HER electrocatalytic activity, with an onset potential (EHER) value of −144 mV vs. RHE, a Tafel slope (−bc) value of 124 mV dec−1 and an exchange current density (jo) of ~0.07 mA cm−2. The FA-TiO2′s HER catalytic performance was significantly enhanced upon cathodic activation (24 h of chronoamperometry measurements performed at a high cathodic potential of −1.0 V vs. RHE). The cathodically activated FA-TiO2 recorded HER electrochemical kinetic parameters of EHER = −28 mV, −bc = 115 mV dec−1, jo = 0.65 mA cm−2, and an overpotential η10 = 125 mV to yield a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Such parameters were comparable to those measured here for the commercial Pt/C under the same experimental conditions (EHER = −10 mV, −bc = 113 mV dec−1, jo = 0.88 mA cm−2, η10 = 110 mV), as well as to the most active electrocatalysts for H2 generation from aqueous alkaline electrolytes
Citations
-
5
CrossRef
-
0
Web of Science
-
5
Scopus
Authors (13)
Cite as
Full text
- Publication version
- Accepted or Published Version
- DOI:
- Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) 10.3390/catal12050466
- License
- open in new tab
Keywords
Details
- Category:
- Articles
- Type:
- artykuły w czasopismach
- Published in:
-
Catalysts
no. 12,
ISSN: 2073-4344 - Language:
- English
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Bibliographic description:
- Altalhi T., Mezni A., Ibrahim M., Refet M., Gobouri A., Safklou A., Mousli A., Attia M., Boruah P., Das M., Ryl J., Boukherroub R., Mohammed A.: Cathodic Activation of Titania-Fly Ash Cenospheres for Efficient Electrochemical Hydrogen Production: A Proposed Solution to Treat Fly Ash Waste// Catalysts -Vol. 12,iss. 5 (2022), s.466-
- DOI:
- Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) 10.3390/catal12050466
- Sources of funding:
-
- Free publication
- Verified by:
- Gdańsk University of Technology
seen 116 times
Recommended for you
Cathodically activated Au/TiO2 nanocomposite synthesized by a new facile solvothermal method: An efficient electrocatalyst with Pt-like activity for hydrogen generation
- A. Mezni,
- M. Ibrahim,
- M. El-kemary
- + 6 authors
Enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction on highly stable titania-supported PdO and Eu2O3 nanocomposites in a strong alkaline solution
- M. Ibrahim,
- A. Mezni,
- M. Alsawat
- + 8 authors
Modification of TiO2 nanotubes by graphene–strontium and cobalt molybdate perovskite for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic medium
- M. Szkoda,
- A. Ilnicka,
- M. Skorupska
- + 2 authors
Combined effect of nitrogen-doped carbon and NiCo2O4 for electrochemical water splitting
- L. Kubińska,
- M. Szkoda,
- M. Skorupska
- + 4 authors