Nanocrystalline Ni0.85Se as Efficient Non-noble-metal Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

- Nanocrystalline Ni0.85Se is synthesized by a facile DMF-solvothermal method.
- Novel low-cost Ni0.85Se electrocatalyst delivers superior HER performance.
- Superior HER Performance of Ni0.85Se is due to its unique architecture.

The efficient generation of hydrogen through the electro-splitting of water has triggered great attention. However, low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction is still a major challenge. Herein, for the first time, nanocrystalline Ni0.85Se is synthesized through a facile DMF-solvothermal reaction. Compared to hydrothermally synthesized Ni0.85Se (H-Ni0.85Se) with relatively poor HER performance, the DMF-solvothermally synthesized Ni0.85Se (D-Ni0.85Se) exhibits much better electrocatalytic performance. D-Ni0.85Se exhibits a very low onset overpotential (∼−170 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4), a very small Tafel slope (49.3 mV dec−1), a high cathode current density (30 mA cm−2 at ∼−275 mV vs RHE), and excellent long-term stability. It is promising for D-Ni0.85Se as a novel and highly efficient non-noble-metal electrocatalyst to replace precious Pt-based catalysts for hydrogen evolution.

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