Person
Maike Berger
M.Sc.Address
Building: Sammelbau Chemie
Room: 38B 320
Worringerweg 2
52074 Aachen
Contact
- WorkPhone
- Phone: +49 241 80 26577
Nickel-iron electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrolysis
Global warming and the ever-increasing energy demand necessitate the development of alternative and sustainable fuels. Hydrogen, which can be produced in an environmentally friendly and emission-free manner by the electrolysis of water is a promising alternative energy carrier to conventional fuels. One problem that currently prevents large-scale industrial application is the large overpotential on the oxygen side. This overpotential comes from kinetic inhibition caused by a complex four-electron mechanism. Electrocatalysts that lower the kinetic barrier and have a long lifetime in the electrolyte medium are therefore essential for efficient green hydrogen production. Amongst many possible catalyst systems, iron-nickel layered double hydroxides were found to be highly active, stable and cost-efficient catalysts for alkaline water splitting. Moreover, the complexity of the material offers versatile adjustment opportunities and makes the material highly interesting for researchers.
Research focus
- Synthesis of iron-nickel layered double hydroxides and application on suitable electrode materials
- Application of different electrochemical measurement methods to characterize the catalyst
- Kinetic investigation of the catalyst on the OER side and determination of the structure-activity relationship
Publications