Self-supporting nanoporous Ni/metallic glass composites with hierarchically porous structure for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2020.09.016

Abstract

Abstract:

Searching for free-standing and cost-efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts with high efficiency and excellent durability remains a great challenge for the hydrogen-based energy industry. Here, we report fabrication of a unique hierarchically porous structure, i.e., nanoporous Ni (NPN)/metallic glass (MG) composite, through surface dealloying of the specially designed Ni₄₀Zr₄₀Ti₂₀ MG wire. This porous composite is composed of micrometer slits staggered with nanometer pores, which not only enlarges effective surface areas for the catalytic reaction, but also facilitates the release of H₂ gas. As a result, the NPN/MG hybrid electrode exhibited the prominent HER performance with a low overpotential of 78 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 and Tafel slope of 42.4 mV dec^-1, along with outstanding stability in alkaline solutions. Outstanding catalytic properties, combining with their free-standing capability and cost efficiency, make the current composite electrode viable for HER applications.

Key words: Nanoporous Ni, Dealloying, Metallic glasses precursor, Hierarchically porous structure, Hydrogen evolution reaction

Jing Wang, Li You, Zhibin Li, Xiongjun Liu, Rui Li, Qing Du, Xianzhen Wang, Hui Wang, Yuan Wu, Suihe Jiang, Zhaoping Lu. Self-supporting nanoporous Ni/metallic glass composites with hierarchically porous structure for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2021, 73: 145-150.

Figures/Tables 4

Fig. 1. Schematic illustration of the preparation of flexible NPN/MG with either sandwich structure or hotdog structure.

Fig. 2. Characterization of NPN/MG. (a) XRD patterns of the as-spun and as-dealloyed Ni40Zr40Ti20 MG wire and ribbon. (b) SEM images of the cross section of the dealloyed NPN/MG wire. (c), (d) and (e) are surface morphologies of the dealloyed Ni40Zr40Ti20 MG wire. (f) XPS spectra of Ni 2p for the surface of NPN/MG wire. (g) The TEM bright-field image of the NPN. (h) The selected-area electron diffraction patterns (SAED) of the NPN. (i) and (j) HRTEM and STEM-mapping images of the NPN, respectively.

Fig. 3. HER electrocatalytic activities of the NPN/MG. (a) Polarization curves and (b) Tafel plots of NPN/MG wire and NPN/MG ribbon for HER with iR compensation in 1.0 M KOH. (c) Comparison of both the kinetics (Tafel slope) and activity (the overpotential at the current density of 10 mA cm-2) with literature reported before. (d) Nyquist plots of the bare Ni40Zr40Ti20 MG and NPN/MG. (e) Electrochemical double-layer capacitance measurements of NPN/MG wire and NPN/MG ribbon. (f) Durability test of the NPN/MG wire and NPN/MG ribbon for the HER performed at the current density of 10 mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH.

Fig. 4. SEM images of the surfaces. The NPN/MG wire after (a) and before (b) HER stability test for 24 h at the current density of 10 mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH The NPN/MG ribbon after (c) and before (d) HER stability test for 12 h at the current density of 10 mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH.

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