Ultrafast Electrodeposition of Durable NiFe Catalysts for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Finding noble-metal-free hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts with facile synthesis and efficient performance is essential to carry out electrochemical overall water splitting for hydrogen energy development. An ultrafast electrodeposition technique for the synthesis of NiFe catalysts is developed. The rapid synthesis of NiFe catalysts with nanoparticle film morphology was achieved by uniformly anchoring particles onto three-dimensional nickel foam (NF) via one-step constant-current electrodeposition in 30 s. The catalyst exhibited excellent HER electrocatalytic activity and stability in 1.0 M KOH solution. To attain a current density of 10 mA<middle dot>cm-2, the hydrogen evolution reaction displayed favorable kinetics with an overpotential of 168 mV and a Tafel slope of 168.5 mV<middle dot>dec-1. Continuous stability tests of the NiFe/NF electrode were conducted for up to 23 h at a current density of 10<middle dot>mA<middle dot>cm-2. The overpotential exhibited a decrease of merely 2 mV, exhibiting outstanding durability.