Local Electrocatalytic Activity of Electrodeposited Ni-Fe Particles

Abstract

NiFe electrocatalysts have received increasing attention for the electrocatalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction.[1] Recently, using bipolar electrochemistry for the electrodeposition of nickel, we have demonstrated the formation of nickel particle gradients, which vary in size and particle density as a function of electrode position.[2] In this work, low ionic strength aqueous solutions containing Ni(II) and Fe(II) salts, without supporting electrolyte, were used for the electrodeposition of NiFe particles onto a conducting fluorine doped tin oxide substrate. In this talk, I will present our recent results exploring the effect of composition, size and morphology of NiFe particles on the local electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen evolution reaction, measured using scanning electrochemical cell microscopy.[3][1] Song, F., Bai, L., Moysiadou, A., Lee, S., Hu, C., Liardet, L., Hu, X. Transition Metal Oxides as Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Solutions: An Application-Inspired Renaissance (2018) Journal of the American Chemical Society, 140 (25), pp. 7748-7759.[2] Beugré, R., Dorval, A., Lavallée, L.L., Jafari, M., Byers, J.C. Local electrochemistry of nickel (oxy)hydroxide material gradients prepared using bipolar electrodeposition (2019) Electrochimica Acta, 319, pp. 331-338.[3] Bentley, C.L., Kang, M., Unwin, P.R. Nanoscale Surface Structure-Activity in Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis (2019) Journal of the American Chemical Society, 141 (6). pp. 2179-2193