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Incorporation of pyridinic and graphitic N to Ni@ CNTs : As a competent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction
Author(s) -
Oluigbo Chidinma Judith,
Ullah Nabi,
Xie Meng,
Okoye Chukwuma Christian,
Yusuf Bashir Adegbemiga,
Yaseen Waleed,
Alagarasan Jagadeeh Kumar,
Rajalakshmi Kanagaraj,
Xu Yuanguo,
Xie Jimin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.5536
Subject(s) - overpotential , tafel equation , electrocatalyst , catalysis , carbon nanotube , nickel , hydrogen production , chemical engineering , hydrogen , pyrolysis , nanoparticle , materials science , carbon fibers , nitrogen , chemistry , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , composite number , composite material , electrode , engineering
Summary Cheap production of hydrogen (H 2 ) from eco‐friendly routes is preeminent for solving future energy challenges. This study explores the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of nickel (Ni) nanoparticles and nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NiNCNTs), which are fabricated by a cheap and one‐step pyrolysis method. The most active catalyst synthesized at 800°C exhibits an overpotential of 0.244 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm −2 , Tafel slope of 93.3 mV dec −1 and a satisfactory 10 hours stability. Low resistance and large ECSA value of the sample also favor the competent response for HER in alkaline media. The robust HER activity of the catalyst is as a result of the nickel nanoparticles which are the active spots of reaction; while the presence of well‐developed nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes with large content of pyridinic and graphitic nitrogen may provide high‐electron density and feasible routes for its transportation to deliver an outstanding HER performance.