Effect of IR Radiation on Electrochemical Hydrogen Activity of Flexible Carbon-Palladium Dispersed Polymer Electrodes

Abstract

Carbon-palladium dispersed polymer electrode sheets were synthesized and their hydrogen electrosorption (adsorption and absorption) and desorption activity on exposure to infra-red light radiation have been studied. Electrochemical experiments have been carried out in a standard glass electrochemical cell. The cyclic voltammograms of the carbon-palladium dispersed polymer electrode in 1 M NaCl electrolyte exhibit familiar features, namely hydrogen electrosorption and desorption peaks, adsorption of chlorine ions and a broad oxidative OH– adsorption and desorption regions. The analysis of the cyclic voltammetry results suggests that the net charge transferred corresponding to the hydrogen electrosorption and desorption processes across the carbon-palladium electrode increases when exposed to infrared radiation. The analysis of the cyclic voltammetry results further suggested that the enhanced hydrogen activity across the flexible polymer supported carbon-palladium electrode surfaces with infrared light radiation is largely ascribed due to the removal of chlorine ions that are adsorbed partially over the surface of palladium clusters in the flexible carbon-palladium dispersed polymer supported flexible electrodes.