Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Activity of Ni[MoS2] Hybrids in Alkaline Electrolyte

LOIÁCONO, ANTONELLA; GÓMEZ, MELISA J.; FRANCESCHINI, ESTEBAN A.; LACCONI, GABRIELA I.

Electrocatalysis

Springer

Año: 2020 vol. 11 p. 309 - 316

1868-2529

In this paper is presented a simple one-pot synthesis of a composite electrode with a non-noble metal for the catalysis of hydrogenevolution reaction in alkaline media. The Ni[MoS2] composite electrocatalyst has been synthesized by nickel electrodepositionon nickel electrodes with a conventional Ni-Watts plating bath containing MoS2 particles. This method was selected as it allowsobtaining a great interaction between the nickel and the MoS2 in order to maximize the synergistic effect between the materials.Thus, electrodes with catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) six times higher than the recorded from conventionalNi-Watts catalysts, were obtained in a reproducible and scalable way, which is suitable for industrial applications.Structural and spectroscopic characterizations indicate that the presence of MoS2 particles in the nickel matrix modifies theoriginal properties of the metal. Evaluation of the electrodes electroactivity for HER was carried out by potentiodynamic scans,chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in alkaline electrolyte. ATafel slope of − 0.12 V dec−1 wasfound, which is consistent with a two-electron transfer process, i.e., the Volmer reaction being the rate-determining step.