Investigation of Fe-Nx/C electrocatalitic structures for the hydrogen evolution reaction in acid and alkaline media

• Grant number: 21/01009-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2021
• End date: July 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Edson Antonio Ticianelli
• Grantee: Júlia Maria Peixe Santesso
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/22183-6 - Electrocatalysis VI: fundamental and applied aspects of emerging and classical problems in electrochemical energy conversion, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/11694-2 - Investigation of the stability and durability of Fe-Nx/C structured electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Non-noble metal catalysts of the Fe-Nx/C type (iron atoms coordinated with nitrogen atoms, in a packaged carbon structure) and prepared using the Fe[(2,4,6-Tris (2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-Triazine]22+ (Fe[TPTZ]22+) precursor have been frequently studied regarding their catalytic activities for various reactions, including the oxygen reduction reaction. However, despite the promising perspectives, these catalysts have not yet been tested for the activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction, an important reaction involved in the water electrolysis. In these terms, the present work comprises the preparation of Fe-Nx / C catalysts based on (Fe [TPTZ]22+) by several methods, which will be then characterized by several methods and investigated for their catalytic activities for the hydrogen evolution reaction of in acid and basic electrolytes.