Open AccessFunctionalized Embedded Monometallic Nickel Catalysts for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution: Performance and Stability
Author(s) -
Huong Thi Thanh Doan,
Ian Kendrick,
Rémi Blanchard,
Qingying Jia,
Ellie Knecht,
Andrew Freeman,
Tanner C. Jankins,
Michael Bates,
Sanjeev Mukerjee
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the electrochemical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 271
eISSN - 1945-7111
pISSN - 0013-4651
DOI - 10.1149/1945-7111/ac11a1
Subject(s) - passivation , catalysis , nickel , oxide , surface modification , inorganic chemistry , hydrogen , chemical engineering , materials science , transition metal , electrolysis , hydrogen production , anode , chemistry , nanotechnology , metallurgy , electrode , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , electrolyte , engineering
Viable anionic exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis for H 2 production requires highly active hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts that are also robust and cost-effective. Traditionally juxtaposition of two transition metals with one being more oxophilic is necessary for easier access to water in the inner Helmholtz plane as a source of protons in the crucial Volmer step for enhanced HER activity. However, they are prone to passivation at anodic potentials or deactivation via the formation of sub-surface metal hydrides at high cathodic overpotentials. Here we report a method of enabling close juxtaposition of Ni-Ni-oxide surfaces by functionalizing Ni-based catalysts via the careful thermal treatment of carbon-supported Ni nano-particles chelated with a select organic chelating compound referred to as cupferron. This functionalization results in an embedded Ni surface with a clear graphitic coating engendering long-term stability for passivation and subsurface hydride formation. The stability and activity of the functionalized Ni catalyst are demonstrated in half-cell RDE and full-cell AEM membrane-based hydrogen pump experiments. In the case of the latter, the functionalized Ni outperforms carbon-supported Pt.