Electrochemical Properties of the Graphite Electrode after Electrochemical Exfoliation and its Application as a Substrate for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Electrochemical exfoliation is an environmentally friendly method to obtained high quality graphene, while the graphite after exfoliation could also behave as a graphene modified graphite electrode. In this study, a graphene layer/graphite plate (GL/GP) electrode obtained by electrochemical exfoliation provided a special surface with enhanced hydrophilicity, improved electron transfer rate, and more electrochemical active sites. The surface characteristics of GL/GP electrodes were visually investigated with the formation and distribution of polyaniline (PANI). When the GL/GP electrode was used as a supporter to fabricate a Pt modified GL/GP electrode (Pt‐GL/GP electrode), it favored the HER activity of modified Pt. The surface density of Pt loading on the Pt‐GL/GP electrode was lower than commercial Pt/C (wt. 20%) by one order of magnitude. In addition, the enhanced hydrophilicity of the GL/GP electrode was beneficial for hydrogen bubbles escaping from its surface. GL/GP electrodes could potentially be an environmentally friendly and commercially attractive substrate to fabricating new electrocatalysts.