Fabrication and evaluation of nickel cobalt alloy electrocatalysts for alkaline water splitting

As a catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline water splitting, NiCo alloys of various compositions were prepared through electrodeposition onto Cu substrates. The composition of each alloy catalyst was varied by controlling the molar ratio of Co2+ ions in the electrolyte. With an increase in the Co content, the morphologies of the NiCo alloys were progressively changed from a round to polygonal shape. The NiCo alloys all exhibited a Ni rich surface, as confirmed by the bulk-to-surface compositional ratio and degree of alloying. The catalytic activities of the NiCo alloys toward the HER of water splitting were electrochemically tested in a KOH electrolyte, and the specific activities were characterized by considering the electrochemical surface areas of Ni and Co. The effect of alloying was demonstrated to be a significant enhancement of HER activity, resulting from a change in the electronic structures of Ni and Co.