Implanting Ni-O-VOx sites into Cu-doped Ni for low-overpotential alkaline hydrogen evolution

Yibing Li, Xin Tan, Rosalie K. Hocking, Xin Bo, Hangjuan Ren, Bernt Johannessen, Sean C. Smith and Chuan Zhao ()
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Yibing Li: The University of New South Wales
Xin Tan: The Australian National University
Rosalie K. Hocking: Swinburne University of Technology
Xin Bo: The University of New South Wales
Hangjuan Ren: The University of New South Wales
Bernt Johannessen: ANSTO Australian Synchrotron
Sean C. Smith: The Australian National University
Chuan Zhao: The University of New South Wales

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Nickel-based catalysts are most commonly used in industrial alkaline water electrolysis. However, it remains a great challenge to address the sluggish reaction kinetics and severe deactivation problems of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we show a Cu-doped Ni catalyst implanted with Ni-O-VOx sites (Ni(Cu)VOx) for alkaline HER. The optimal Ni(Cu)VOx electrode exhibits a near-zero onset overpotential and low overpotential of 21 mV to deliver –10 mA cm−2, which is comparable to benchmark Pt/C catalyst. Evidence for the formation of Ni-O-VOx sites in Ni(Cu)VOx is established by systematic X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies. The VOx can cause a substantial dampening of Ni lattice and create an enlarged electrochemically active surface area. First-principles calculations support that the Ni-O-VOx sites are superactive and can promote the charge redistribution from Ni to VOx, which greatly weakens the H-adsorption and H2 release free energy over Ni. This endows the Ni(Cu)VOx electrode high HER activity and long-term durability.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16554-5

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