Study on the Electrode Characteristics for the Alkaline Water Electrolysis

Alkaline electrolysis needs the electrode having a low overvoltage and good corrosion resistance in alkaline solution such as KOH and NaOH, for the oxygen and hydrogen production. The commercial materials such as SUS(stainless steel)-316, Ni and NiFe were evaluated for the electrode in alkaline electrolysis. The test solution for the alkaline electrolysis used 1~9M NaOH and 1~9M KOH. The voltage increased with an increase of current density in each solution. As for the 15wt.% (about 5M) NaOH, the voltage of the tested electrode under the current density of 1.8A/ showed the almost same value. The voltage over the current density of 1.8A/ deceased in the order: NiNiFe showed the almost same value. The voltage over the current density of 1.8A/ deceased in the order: NiFeSUS-316. From the results, it was estimated that NiFe and Ni was suitable as the electrode for the alkaline water electrolysis using NaOH and KOH electrolyte.