Performance of Co/Graphite electrode from citrate bath as electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline fuel cells

Abstract

Cobalt/graphite electrodes are prepared by potentiostaticelectrodeposition of cobalt from sulphate baths with and without citrate ions on graphite discs. The electrocatalytic activity of the prepared electrodes toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is investigated by cyclic voltammetry technique. The electrocatalytic activity increases by increasing the concentration of Co +2 ions in the electrodeposition bath up to 0.5 M. The Co/Graphite electrode obtained from electrodeposition bath containing 0.5M Co 2+ and 0.5 M citrate ions, Co-Cit/G, exhibits better catalytic activity toward OER than that obtained from citrate free baths. Greater stability of Co-Cit/G electrode is verified by a chronopotentiometric test.