Electrocatalytic Properties of Nickel Foam-Based Ni-Mo, Ni +Mo and Ni+Mo/Ni-Mo Electrodes for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Nickel foam-based Ni-Mo alloy electrodes, Ni+Mo composite electrodes and Ni+Mo/Ni-Mo composite alloy electrodes were prepared by eletrodeposition, and the electrocatalytic characteristics for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 30wt% KOH solution were investigated by cathode polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The experimental results show that in comparison with nickel foam electrodes, these electrodes exhibit a lower overpotential, a higher exchange current density and a larger real surface area for HER. At 30°C and current density of 200 mA/cm2, the overpotentials of foam Ni electrodes, nickel foam-based Ni-Mo alloy electrodes, Ni+Mo composite electrodes, Ni+Mo/Ni-Mo electrodes are respectively 506, 252, 336, 202 mV. The nickel foam-based Ni+Mo/Ni-Mo composite alloy electrode had the highest HER electrocatalytic activity.