Fe-P and Fe-P-Pt co-deposits as hydrogen electrodes in alkaline solution

Fe-P and Fe-P-Pt alloys for use as electrodes for alkaline water electrolys is are prepared by an electroplating technique which employs an acidic comp lex bath solution. After heat treatment, the plated alloys act as effective electrocatalytic materials by lowering the hydrogen overpotential sufficie ntly. The improved electrocatalytic activity is due to an increase in effec tive surface area, a change in surface features upon heat treatment, and th e presence of traces of platinum. Electrodes of the plated alloys are stabl e even in a highly corrosive electrolytic medium (6 M KOH). (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.