A collector-generator cell for in-situ detection of electrochemically produced H2

A collector-generator (C-G) cell used for the in-situ detection of H2 generated through electrochemical catalysis was described. The cell was mainly assembled with two fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes deposited with Pt nanoparticles, the magnitude of the current generated by the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2 at the collector was used for quantitative analysis of H2 generated at the generator. When the generator potential was set at −0.5 ∼ −0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl and the collector potential at 0.4 ∼ 0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl, the total Faradaic efficiency of the C-G cell could stabilize about 70%, the detection limit was about 45 μmol/L and the sensitivity was about 1 mA/55 μmol L−1. This dual working electrode technology could provide a convenient and rapid method for H2 determination and evaluate the performance of H2 generation catalysts that assembled on the semiconductor thin-films. The in-situ detection of H2 in the Collector-Generator (C-G) cell device is realized by oxidation of H2 generated at the generator to H+ at the collector. [Display omitted] •The collector-generator cell can be used for in-situ detection of H2 in weak acid electrolyte.•The collector-generator cell technology was proved to be rapid and stable.•The total Faradaic efficiency of the collector-generator cell can stabilize about 70% ± 10%.