Technical Communication Performance of Pd on activated carbon as hydrogen electrode with respect to hydrogen yield in a single cell proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyser K. Naga Mahesh a , J. Sarada Prasad a , M. Venkateswer Rao a , V. Himabindu a, *, Anjaneyulu Yerramilli b , P. Raghunathan Rao c a Centre for Environment, Institute of Science and Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad, Kukatpally, Hyderabad 500085, (A.P.), India b TLGVRC, JSU Box 18739, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 32917 - 0939, USA c Fuel cell section, Heavy Water Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai - 400 085, India article info Article history: Received 16 February 2009 Received in revised form 25 May 2009 Accepted 29 May 2009 Available online 1 July 2009 Keywords: Palladium Hydrogen Activated carbon Nafion PEM water electrolyser abstract Palladium (Pd) on activated carbon is used as electrocatalyst coated on Nafion 115 membrane as Hydrogen electrode and RuO 2 is coated on other side of membrane used as oxygen electrode. 5 wt% and 10 wt% Pd on activated carbon is prepared as membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and investigated the performance of the same using inhouse prepared 10 cm 2 single cell. The performance of the single cell assembly and the hydrogen yield are reported during electrolysis operation at temperatures 27  C, 45  C and 65  C at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 A/cm 2 current densities with respect to voltages. ª 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Hydrogen is considered as a clean and efficient energy source for the future [1]. Hydrogen production technologies are many but very few technologies proven for their attractive and efficient methods [2, 12]. Among them electrolysis of water using proton exchange membrane (PEM) can be novel approach for developing a promising technology for future large scale production. The basic components in proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyser are proton exchange membrane, electrode materials, end plates, current collectors etc., [3]. The important components are the membrane and electrocatalysts. The most commonly used electrocatalysts in proton exchange membrane electrolyser * Correspondence to: Dr. V. Himabindu, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad, Institute of Science and Technology, Centre for Environment, Room No 515, 4th Floor, IST building, JNTUH Campus, Kukatpally, Hyderabad 500085, India. Tel./fax: þ91 40 23156133. E-mail addresses: drvhimabindu@gmail.com, nagamaheshk@gmail.com (V. Himabindu). Available at www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/he 0360-3199/$ – see front matter ª 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.05.129 international journal of hydrogen energy 34 (2009) 6085–6088