Abstract:
The electrocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the titanium alloy (TC4) metal fiber porous material (FTC4) and the stainless steel metal fiber porous material (F316LSS) in sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide were studied. The morphology and phase transition were analyzed by scanning electron microscope and X - ray diffractometer. The results show that the resistivity of FTC4 is 2.7 mΩ·cm. After the stability test in sulfuric acid electrolyte, the β-zone on the surface will be partially dissolved, accompanied by the generation of titanium oxide, which reduced FTC4's hydrogen evolution activity. In potassium hydroxide, FTC4 show a better hydrogen evolution activity and stability. The overpotential is 538 mV, the tafel value is 264 mV·dec
-1 and the double-layer capacitance is 6.96 mF·cm
-2. After long-term testing, the phase remains unchanged, FTC4's step-like cutting marks still exist. The resistivity of F316LSS is only 1.1 mΩ·cm. Its hydrogen evolution performance in sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide is better than FTC4. Its hydrogen evolution performance in sulfuric acid is much better, it presents 309 mV for overpotential, 134 mV ·dec
-1 for tafel value and 10.17 mF·cm
-2 for the double-layer capacitance. F316LSS show a good stability for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution, which is beneficial to large scale application.