Application of carbon paste concurrent with investigation of water electrolysis in paper-based closed bipolar electrochemistry.

The effect of bipolar and driving electrodes materials and also the electrolyte conductivity on the required potential for the beginning of the water electrolysis in the paper-based closed cell bipolar electrochemistry is investigated. The importance of the electrode material is studied by placement of various carbon paste mixtures as an electrode on the paper. Carbon paste mixtures are prepared with different carbon allotropes and various binders such as paraffin and ionic liquids. The effect of hydrophobicity, conductivity, and presence of common additives such as gold nanoparticle is discussed in detail. The role of electrolyte conductivity on the needed ∆E for water electrolysis initialization is investigated. It has been proved that even in the absence of ionic current in the closed bipolar setups, electrolyte conductivity can be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]