Electrodeposition of sizeable and compositionally tunable rhodium-iron nanoparticles and their activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction

Rh-Fe nanoparticles (NPs) with variable Rh/Fe ratios have been obtained by direct current electrodeposition onto Au-metalized Si/Ti substrates from an electrolyte containing Rh(III) and Fe(III) chloride salts. NP mean diameter could be varied in the range of 20-80 nm by playing with the applied curr...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Golvano Escobal, Irati|||0000-0001-8518-8185, Suriñach, Santiago|||0000-0001-8125-0594, Baró, M. D.|||0000-0002-8636-1063, Pané i Vidal, Salvador|||0000-0003-0147-8287, Sort, Jordi|||0000-0003-1213-3639, Pellicer, Eva|||0000-0002-8901-0998
Format: article
Publication Date:2016
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:170441
Online Access:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/170441
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2016.02.112
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Nanoparticles
Electrodeposition
Hydrogen evolution reaction
Rhodium-iron
Description
Summary:Rh-Fe nanoparticles (NPs) with variable Rh/Fe ratios have been obtained by direct current electrodeposition onto Au-metalized Si/Ti substrates from an electrolyte containing Rh(III) and Fe(III) chloride salts. NP mean diameter could be varied in the range of 20-80 nm by playing with the applied current density (-j = 0.5-2 mA cm-2) and deposition times (t = 200-3200 s). NPs were very well adhered to the substrate and became progressively enriched in Fe as the absolute value of the current density increased. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed that the NPs are mostly metallic. The oxygen signal detected at surface level is relatively high but reduces down to less than 1 at% after 1 min Ar ions sputtering. The as-deposited Rh-Fe NPs are active toward hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium. Different values of the onset potential for water reduction have been observed depending on the j and t values applied for NPs growth. Cycling stability tests reveal that NPs do not suffer from excessive deterioration of their electrocatalytic activity with time.

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