Application of carbon steel and Armco iron in the production of hydrogen gas in formic acid

Incentives for energy policies and current environmental requirements motivate the search for alternative energy sources such as hydrogen gas. This paper aims at the production of hydrogen gas via electrolysis of formic acid using electrodes of 1008 carbon steel and Armco iron. Samples were done by experimental design, and employed the techniques of optical microscopy, cathodic potentiodynamic polarization, open circuit potential and chronoamperometry. The results showed that the surface treatment of the electrodes with #320 grit SiC abrasive paper is effective when compared to the other treatments tested for the evolution of H-2. The Armco iron, showed higher hydrogen production, on average 70% increased when compared with platinum in both studied media, however its lifetime is shorter.