Research Projects

This project proposal aims to produce hydrogen at reduced energy compared to regular water electrolysis by replacing high overpotential OER with other oxidation reactions at lower potentials. This method, known as hybrid water electrolysis, is one of the non-conventional water electrolysis methods, such as tandem water electrolysis and decoupled water electrolysis. The project also focuses on using bifunctional electrocatalysts and electrolyte engineering to produce hydrogen. Bifunctional electrocatalysts are better than their HER and OER counterparts and are gaining research attention due to their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. The strategy involves hybridizing HER and OER active components with suitable carbon supports, such as earth abundant transition metals-based chalcogenides, carbides, and nitrides, with OER active NiFe layered double hydroxides and graphene. In some cases, metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts will be required, using hetero atom doped reduced graphene oxide. Catalytic materials will be directly grown on supports like Ni foam to avoid binders and other additives. Electrochemical methods will be used for fabricating electrocatalysts, including constant potential electrolysis, potentiodynamic, and pulse electrodeposition methods. The electrolyte engineering of neutral pH media will involve the use of high concentration buffer electrolytes to enhance protons supply to the electrode surface. A low-energy, two-electrode water electrolyzer will be constructed using bifunctional electrocatalysts to produce hydrogen at the cathode and other value-added products at the anode.

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