B-doped carbon enclosed Ni nanoparticles: A robust, stable and efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Replacement of the most recognized Pt with relatively cheap, active, highly stable and readily-available electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction predicts limitless potential for clean energy devices, nevertheless the fabrications of outstanding HER catalysts with such huge performances remain a great challenge. In this work, we report on the synthesis of a robust and highly stable B-doped carbon enclosed Ni nanoparticles through the facile one-pot synthetic procedure. The as-synthesized Ni@B-C 500 °C displays an outstanding HER performance as shown by low overpotential of 176 mV to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in an alkaline medium. Such electrocatalytic performance of the as-fabricated Ni@B-C 500 °C can be principally ascribed to the faster electron transfer between interfaces of the working electrode-catalyst ink-electrolyte, the active sites of the electrocatalyst and the synergistic relationship between the nickel metal and boron. Thus, Ni@B-C 500 °C can deliver highly effective and stable performances for HER in alkaline electrolyzers.