Highly efficient Ni3Se2@sintering porous Ni catalytic electrode for durable hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

The development of cheap, efficient, and long-term stable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts is indispensable but still challenging for large-scale industrialized water electrolysis. Recently, many studies have shown that in-situ selenization of metal matrixes is expected to improve the catalytic activity of the metal-based electrodes. In the present work, optimal nickel matrix with controlled polygonal morphology and pore size was obtained by adjusting the sintering process. A highly efficient Ni3Se2@sintered Ni electrode was acquired by in-situ growing nano-Ni3Se2 on sintered Ni matrix using one-step hydrothermal selenization. The metallurgical bonding between Ni particles accelerates electron transfer, and nano-Ni3Se2 provides more active sites. As a consequence, the prepared Ni3Se2@Ni500 electrode can operate stably at current density of 200 mA cm−2 over 260 h. The excellent hydrogen catalytic performance and long-term stability make such electrode promising in the hydrogen evolution reaction.