Hydrogen evolution at catalytically-modified nickel foam in alkaline solution

This work reports on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) studied at catalytically modified nickel foam material. The HER was examined in 0.1 M NaOH solution on as received, as well as for Pd and Ru-activated nickel foam catalyst materials, produced via spontaneous deposition of trace amounts of these elements. Catalytic modification of nickel foam results in significant facilitation of the HER kinetics, as manifested through considerably reduced, a.c. impedance-derived values of charge-transfer resistance parameter and substantially altered Tafel polarization slopes. The presence of catalytic additives is clearly revealed through hydrogen underpotential deposition (H UPD) phenomenon, as well as spectroscopically from SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) analysis.