Synthesis of Ni-W-Graphene oxide composite coating for alkaline hydrogen production

Abstract

Nickel-Tungsten-Graphene oxide (Ni-W-GO) composite coating was developed through direct electrolysis method, and its electrocatalytic activity for alkaline water splitting reaction was studied. The development of composite coating with a homogeneous dispersion of GO was achieved using an optimal Ni-W plating bath loaded with GO. The electrocatalytic efficacy of the coating for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was tested using cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry techniques in 1.0 M KOH medium. The variation in electrocatalytic activity with the addition of GO was studied. A significant increase in the electrocatalytic activity towards HER was found. The improvement in electrocatalytic activity of Ni-W-GO composite coating was ascribed to the intersticed GO nanoparticles in the alloy matrix, evidenced by different advanced methods of analyses, like Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).