Separation and Characterization of Overpotentials in Electrochemical Hydrogen Pump with a Reference Electrode

Abstract

Overpotentials included in electrochemical hydrogen pump is separated with using a reference electrode. Separation result shows that non-ohmic overpotential in cathode is larger than that in anode. This result is also confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectra measurement, which shows impedance spectra of cathode is larger than that of anode. Volmer-Heyrovsky-Tafel mechanism is used to explain the separation result. Simulation result with using this mechanism suggests that reactions in anode and cathode are dominated by different mechanisms, and reaction rate of cathode is 2 orders of magnitude slower than that of anode.