Spot-free catalysis using gold carbon nanotube & gold graphene composites for hydrogen evolution reaction

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 288; pp. 441 - 450
• Main Authors: Sai Siddhardha, R.S., Lakshminarayanan, V., Ramamurthy, Sai Sathish
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.08.2015
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Gold nanoparticles; Graphene; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Spot-free catalysis; Surfactant free; Carbon nanotubes; Spot-free catalysis; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Graphene; Gold nanoparticles; Surfactant free
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.04.141

Hydrogen has been proposed as the green fuel of the future in the wake of depleting fossil fuels. Recently, carbon paste electrodes (CPE) modified with nanomaterials as electrocatalysts have drawn wide attention for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acid medium. The CPEs are advantageous owing to their chemical stability and ease of fabrication. Their applications for HER without any modification, however, are hampered on account of large hydrogen overpotential associated with carbon surface. In the present study, CPE has been modified with novel gold composites as electro-catalysts for HER in acid medium. The nanocomposites have shown ∼100 fold increased current density than unmodified CPE at −0.3 V. Most strikingly for the first time, this study has quantitatively brought out the difference in catalysis between surfactant capped and pristine gold nanoparticles in terms of their application as spot-free catalysts towards hydrogen gas production by electrochemical route. [Display omitted] •Spot-free synthesis of the nanocomposites by laser ablation.•Nanocomposites have shown ∼100 fold increased j than unmodified electrode at −0.3 V.•Hydrogen evolution reaction on the catalyst surface follows Volmer–Tafel mechanism.•Enhanced current densities and low onset potentials over nanocomposites surface.•Enhanced spot-free catalysis of the nanocomposites over commercial gold catalysts.