3D nanostructured NiMo catalyst electrodeposited on 316L stainless steel for hydrogen generation in industrial applications

J.M GÓMEZ; L.A. DÍAZ; E.A. FRANCESCHINI; G.I. LACCONI; G.C. ABUIN

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2019 vol. 49 p. 1227 - 1238

0021-891X

Nowadays, massive NiMo alloys are considered highly active catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in industrial alkaline electrolysers. Thus, it is desirable to study other alternative materials, preserving the specifc properties of these alloys. In this study, a NiMo coating on 316L stainless steel with high resistance to the corrosive medium is obtained by electrodeposition process. Properties and structural characteristics of the new synthesized material have been correlated with its efciency as electrocatalyst. In this study, using a simple plating method, it was possible to obtain a material with a catalytic activity for the HER in alkaline media, which is 37.6 times higher than that of conventional raw Ni catalysts, at a considerably lower cost. The 3D nanostructured NiMo catalyst synthesized presented a highly roughened surface with porous microstructure, which is an essential requirement for obtaining high catalytic activity with this type of systems. The porousmicrostructure in the coating has been confrmed by X ray difraction and scanning electron microscopy. Raman spectra of the surface evidenced the formation of superfcial species before and after the ageing treatment by prolonged chronoamperometry in alkaline electrolyte. This feature was also confrmed by the analysis of X ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements.