MoS2-based compounds prepared by electrodeposition as cathodes for proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis

• Grant number: 21/12739-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 20, 2022
• End date: December 19, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Helena Mascaro Sales
• Grantee: Marina Medina da Silva
• Supervisor: Ralf Peters
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/12794-2 - Synthesis, characterization and application of MoS2 and WS2 films in photoelectrocatalysis for hydrogen production, BP.DD

Abstract

Hydrogen (H2) has been highlighted as the potential alternative to replace the worldwide energetic matrix dependence on carbon-based fuels. Since the fact that molecular hydrogen does not exist in nature, it is necessary to produce it. The steam methane reforming is the predominantly synthetic approach to produce it but remains dependent on unrenewable sources. Hydrogen can be produced by the use of water molecules in a well-established technology called water electrolysis. Based on the type of electrolyte, modern water electrolysis systems are divided into alkaline water electrolysis and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, in which the last one presents advantages such as compact design, quick response, high efficiency, and current density. Because of the acidic environment and high-applied voltage, highly active and stable materials are required for anodic and cathodic catalysts, such as Ir and Pt-based compounds, respectively. For the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in PEM electrolyzers it is desired to use on a non-noble-metal catalyst, which is also highly active and stable in an acidic environment. In this sense, molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) emerged as a potential HER catalyst alternative, and the electrodeposition method a facile one-step approach to obtaining it. Based on the above-mentioned, this research project aims to apply the MoS2-based compounds, developed by the Ph.D. student by electrodeposition in Brazil, as a cathode in the PEM electrolyzers systems developed in the Jülich research center by Dr. Meital Shviro’s Electrocatalysis group. (AU)