Plasma-sprayed barium titanate cathode coatings for hydrogen evolution in electrolysis

Hydrogen fuel is a promising sustainable energy source, offering a clean alternative to fossil fuels. This study investigates the potential of plasma-sprayed barium titanate (BaTiO₃) coated graphite electrodes to enhance hydrogen production through water electrolysis. Characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), electrical resistivity measurements, porosity and corrosion resistance assessments, were used to evaluate the performance of both uncoated and BaTiO₃-coated electrodes. The results confirm a uniform 50 µm BaTiO₃ coating, free of impurities, that significantly reduces electrode resistivity and increases surface area, facilitating improved hydrogen evolution. The BaTiO₃-coated electrodes demonstrated a 57.24% improvement in hydrogen production efficiency in alkaline conditions and 62.85% in acidic conditions, along with enhanced corrosion resistance. These findings highlight the potential of BaTiO₃ coatings to advance hydrogen fuel technology by increasing production efficiency and electrode durability in electrolysis systems.