Electrocatalytic synergism in Ni/Mo cathodes for hydrogen evolution in acid medium: a new model

Abstract

The electrocatalytic performance of a model series of Ni/Mo binary solid solutions for H 2 evolution in aqueous acid is compared with those of physical mixtures in pressed fine powder form. Synergy is expressed in the alloys down to remarkably low levels of Mo (<5 at%), and to a significant extent also in physical mixtures. The synergy is best interpreted within the framework of a Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism in which simple cooperative functioning of the components is mediated via rapid intra- and interparticle surface diffusion of H adatoms, i.e. the well-known `spillover' process in heterogeneous catalysis. In its fresh state, Ni effects initial proton discharge and acts as H-source for Mo, where ion/atom recombination (and H 2 desorption) is promoted more efficiently. Deactivation in the alloys is clearly linked with the Ni component and attributed tentatively to buildup of a subsurface Ni hydride. In its perceived role as surface H-trap and ultimate `sink', Mo also serves to protect the Ni from deactivation. The proposed model is simple, hinging mainly on established processes in surface chemistry and `demystifies' a technically important and long-standing phenomenon in electrocatalysis.