Hydrogen evolution in aqueous solutions containing dissolved CO2: Quantitative contribution of the buffering effect

Elias Remita (1) , Bernard Tribollet (2) , Sutter Eliane (2) , Vincent Vivier (2) , Francois Ropital (1) , Jean Kittel (1)

1 IFPEN - IFP Energies nouvelles
2 LISE - Laboratoire Interfaces et Systèmes Electrochimiques

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) occurring on steel in an oxygen-free aqueous solution containing dissolved CO2 was investigated. This reaction was modelled by taking into account the two dissociation reactions of dissolved CO2. The mathematical problem was solved numerically using a finite element method (FEM). A fair agreement between the measurements performed on a steel rotating disc electrode and the theoretical calculations was obtained. Thus, the cathodic behaviour of steel in CO2-containing solutions can be fully explained by the buffering effect induced by the presence of CO2. Some interfacial pH measurements performed on a gold electrode also support this conclusion.

Domains: Chemical Sciences

Elias Remita, Bernard Tribollet, Sutter Eliane, Vincent Vivier, Francois Ropital, et al.. Hydrogen evolution in aqueous solutions containing dissolved CO2: Quantitative contribution of the buffering effect. Corrosion Science, 2008, 50 (5), pp.1433-1440. ⟨10.1016/j.corsci.2007.12.007⟩. ⟨hal-02419557⟩