Electrodeposition of nickel particles on a gas diffusion cathode for hydrogen production in a microbial electrolysis cell

Gas diffusion cathodes with electrodeposited nickel (Ni) particles have been developed and tested for hydrogen production in a continuous flow microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). A high catalytic activity of electrodeposited Ni particles in such a MEC was obtained without a proton exchange membrane, i.e. under direct cathode exposure to anodic liquid. Co-electrodeposition of Pt and Ni particles did not improve any further hydrogen production. The maximum hydrogen production rate was 5.4 L/LR/day, corresponding to Ni loads between 0.2 and 0.4 mg cm−2. Continuous MEC operation demonstrated stable hydrogen production for over one month. Owing to the fast hydrogen transport through the cathodic gas diffusion layer, the loss of hydrogen production to methanogenic activity was minimal, generally with less than 5% methane in the off-gas. Overall, gas diffusion cathodes with electrodeposited Ni particles demonstrated excellent stability for hydrogen production compared to expensive Pt cathodes.