Efficient Water-Splitting Electrodes Based on Laser-Induced Graphene

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Abstract
Electrically splitting water to H2 and O2 is a preferred method for energy storage as long as no CO2 is emitted during the supplied electrical input. Here we report a laser-induced graphene (LIG) process to fabricate efficient catalytic electrodes on opposing faces of a plastic sheet, for the generation of both H2 and O2. The high porosity and electrical conductivity of LIG facilitates the efficient contact and charge transfer with the requisite electrolyte. The LIG-based electrodes exhibit high performance for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction with excellent long-term stability. The overpotential reaches 100 mA/cm2 for HER, and OER is as low as 214 and 380 mV with relatively low Tafel slopes of 54 and 49 mV/dec, respectively. By serial connecting of the electrodes with a power source in an O-ring setup, H2 and O2 are simultaneously generated on either side of the plastic sheet at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 at 1.66 V and can thereby be selectively captured. The demonstration provides a promising route to simple, efficient, and complete water splitting.
Funding Information
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-14-1-0111)
  • Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC-1449500)
  • China Scholarship Council

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