Pulse electrodeposition of nickel selenide nanostructure as a binder-free and high-efficient catalyst for both electrocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in alkaline solution

Abstract

Herein, we report a pulse potential electrodeposition method (PPE) as a fast and one-step route for the production of effective and binder-free Ni–Se catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solution. The results demonstrated that the fabricated electrocatalysts by PPE show more desirable electrocatalytic performance than constant potential electrodeposition method (CPE). The electrodeposited NiSe nanostructures with large electrochemically active surface area of 2965 on the nickel foam (NF) at the frequency of 0.01 Hz exhibited high electrocatalytic activity for HER and OER. It delivers the current density of 10 mA/cm2 at the overpotential of 65 mV for HER and 100 mA/cm2 at 306 mV for OER in 1 M KOH. In addition, the Tafel slope for HER and OER was 89 and 61 mV/dec respectively. Morphological stability of NiSe nanostructure catalyst leads to an increase the electrocatalytic stability during long-term electrolysis.