Electrodeposited copper – tin coatings as catalysts for electrolysis of water in alkaline solutions

Authors

  • Maryia G. Galuza Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University, 14 Lieningradskaja Street, Minsk 220006, Belarus; Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Tatsiana N. Vorobyova Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University, 14 Lieningradskaja Street, Minsk 220006, Belarus; Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Keywords:

electrodeposition, Cu – Sn alloy, Cu – Sn coatings, alkaline water electrolysis, electrocatalysis, electrodes
Supporting Agencies
The research was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus (grant No. 789/41).

Abstract

Еthylene glycol electrolyte is proposed for Cu − Sn coatings deposition on steel electrodes with nickel sublayer. The coatings contain 70 wt. % of copper and include crystalline phases of copper, tin, intermetallic Cu6Sn5, electronic type solid solution based on Cu5Sn compound, and also copper(II) and tin(IV) oxides in trace quantities. Changes in the elemental and phase composition of the coatings were determined as a result of their heating at 250 and 400 °C and leaching in 7.5 mol/dm3 NaOH solution. It has been shown that coatings heated at 400 °C exhibit electrocatalytic activity in the process of electrolytic evolution of both hydrogen and oxygen during alkaline electrolysis of water, which exceeds the activity of nickel sublayer used. These same coatings are characterised by corrosion resistance in 0.1 mol/dm3 KOH solution, which, judging by the corrosion currents, exceeds the corrosion resistance of the nickel-plated steel electrode.

Author Biographies

  • Maryia G. Galuza, Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University, 14 Lieningradskaja Street, Minsk 220006, Belarus; Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    junior researcher at the laboratory of thin films chemistry, Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University, and postgraduate student at the department of inorganic chemistry, faculty of chemistry, Belarusian State University

     

  • Tatsiana N. Vorobyova, Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University, 14 Lieningradskaja Street, Minsk 220006, Belarus; Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    doctor of science (chemistry), full professor; chief researcher at the laboratoty of thin films chemistry, Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University, and professor at the department of inorganic chemistry, faculty of chemistry, Belarusian State University

     

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Published

2024-03-20

Issue

No. 1 (2024): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Chemistry

Section

Original Articles

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How to Cite

[1]
Galuza, M.G. and Vorobyova, T.N. 2024. Electrodeposited copper – tin coatings as catalysts for electrolysis of water in alkaline solutions. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Chemistry. 1 (Mar. 2024), 23–32.