Measurement of Pt consumption from Pt electrodes during water electrolysis using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method: Effect of the water electrolysis method and the concentration of chloride ions in the aqueous solution.

The consumption of the Pt electrocatalyst, which occurs when aqueous solution with neutral pH is electrolyzed with a Pt electrode to produce hydrogen or oxygen, was measured from the change in resonance frequency using the QCM method. First, it was found that the Pt consumption from the electrode during water electrolysis while applying a steady positive potential was very small, but it was almost proportional to the time the current was applied. Second, when electrolysis was performed by polarity reversal electrolysis of the anode and cathode periodically during electrolysis, the amount of Pt consumed increased in proportion to the number of polarity reversal was exchanged. The Pt consumption obtained by the QCM method was in close agreement with the value obtained by EDX method, proving the validity of the measurement method. The QCM measurement method was also proven to be a reliable method of measurement. • Constant-current water electrolysis, Pt anode consumed slightly with time. • Polarity reversals water electrolysis, Pt consumed increases with number of times. • Chloride ion concentration affects Pt electrode consumption in a nonlinear manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]