Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Using FeCrMn Alloy as Novel Electrocatalyst in Acidic and Alkaline Media

Highly active and inexpensive metallic electrocatalysts for the production of hydrogen fuel are essential to the successful utilization of the hydrogen-based renewable energy like fuel cells. In this work, FeCrMn novel cathode has been investigated as auspicious materials for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acid and alkaline electrolytes. Morphological structure and chemical composition of, FeCrMn alloy were examined using Scanning electron microscopy, SEM, and energy dispersive X-ray, EDX, respectively. Corrosion behavior of FeCrMn was obtained in H 2 SO 4 and NaOH electrolytes using potentiodynamic polarization technique. The electrocatalytic performance of the FeCrMn cathode on HER was determined using the linear polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in H 2 SO 4 and NaOH electrolytes. The effect of H 2 SO 4 and NaOH concentrations on the HER rate was also studied. The kinetic parameters of the HER were calculated from Tafel curves and the mechanisms of the HER were obtained. Impedance measurements under cathodic potential of HER have been investigated and fitted to theoretical model. The experimental data reveal that FeCrMn attained considerable electrocatalysis activity for the HER in H 2 SO 4 electrolytes which required a low overpotential of 0.45 V and 0.255 V to deliver the current density of 10 mA cm −2 in 1.0 M NaOH and 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 , respectively. The employment of the FeCrMn cathode is economic and convenient material for generation of HER from H 2 SO 4 electrolyte. Graphic abstract