Hybrid ternary NiCoCu layered double hydroxide electrocatalyst for alkaline hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

This study focuses on the electrochemical properties of layered double hydroxide (LDH), which is a specific structure of NiCoCu LDH, and the active species therein, rather than the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of ternary NiCoCu LDH materials. Six types of catalysts were synthesized using the reflux condenser method and coated onto a nickel foam support electrode. Compared to bare, binary, and ternary electrocatalysts, the NiCoCu LDH electrocatalyst exhibited higher stability. The double layer capacitance (Cdl) of the NiCoCu LDH (12.3 mF cm−2) is greater than that of the bare and binary electrocatalysts, indicating that the NiCoCu LDH electrocatalyst has a larger electrochemical active surface area. In addition, the NiCoCu LDH electrocatalyst has a lower overpotential of 87 mV and 224 mV for the HER and OER, respectively, indicating its excellent activity with the bare and binary electrocatalysts. Finally, it is demonstrated that the structural characteristics of the NiCoCu LDH contribute to its excellent stability in long-term HER and OER tests.