Hydrogen evolution on nickel incorporated in three-dimensional conducting polymer layers

Conducting polymers (CP), polypyrrole (PPY), and polyaniline (PANI) are used as three-dimensional pattering templates (matrices) for electrodeposition of nickel on an inert glassy carbon surface. It is shown that Ni/CP layers offer a significantly higher overall electrocatalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) than Ni electrodeposited on a flat two-dimensional substrate. This is a result of favorable Ni/CP morphology which yields an increase in the active surface area of the catalyst.