Investigating the Metallic Fabric Electrodes of Water Electrolysis for Corrosion Reduction and Hydrogen Generation Enhancement

Abstract

As we enter an era of green energy sustainability, hydrogen gas is now recognized as one of the most futuristic energy carriers. A relatively economic and efficient way to obtain hydrogen is through water electrolysis, focusing on its degree of purity and consequently on the choice of the electrode, electrolyte, and operating conditions. However, in water electrolysis, electrode erosion, and metallic deposition, among others, are crucial limitations to overcome for the unit's long-term operation. This study explored the feasibility of fabric metallic electrodes to minimize electrode erosion and generate a consistent hydrogen output using the modified Brownlee electrolysis apparatus with the variables of types of fabrics and their wrapped lengths. These variables were examined with three brands of metallic fabric: TitanRF, Ripstop Silver, and Blocwifi Shielding fabric. Our experiments resulted in Blocwifi shielding fabric being the most efficient at consistent hydrogen generation with a 1.2% salt concentration generation rate, which was six times that of the baseline study without metallic fabric (P>0.05). Additionally, the visual evaluation of the electrode erosion showed that the metallic fabric electrodes were far less erosive than the platinum electrodes. Therefore, the study concluded that metallic fabric electrodes increase hydrogen generation. More studies might be worthwhile for detailed elucidation of the underlying mechanism and for defining the optimal fabrication of metallic fabric electrodes.