Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for Water Splitting on NiO/Ni/Carbon Fiber Paper

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Efficient and durable electrocatalysts are essential for water splitting in renewable energy systems.
• Non-noble metal catalysts offer a cost-effective alternative to precious metals.
• Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) enables precise control over catalyst film growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, efficient, and durable non-noble metal electrocatalyst for water splitting.
• To investigate the performance of NiO/Ni catalysts synthesized via ALD.
• To assess the stability and efficiency of the catalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions.

Main Methods:

• Growth of NiO/Ni catalyst on carbon fiber paper using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD).
• Post-deposition reduction and oxidation annealing treatments.
• Electrochemical characterization of hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER).
• Evaluation of overall water splitting performance in a two-electrode setup.

Main Results:

• Achieved a current density of 10 mA·cm^-2 at an overpotential of 189 mV for HER.
• Achieved a current density of 10 mA·cm^-2 at an overpotential of 257 mV for OER.
• Demonstrated high stability for the NiO/Ni nanoparticle catalysts.
• Successfully achieved a water splitting current density of 10 mA·cm^-2 at 1.78 V.

Conclusions:

• Nanoparticulate NiO/Ni synthesized by ALD is an active and stable noble-metal-free electrocatalyst.
• The developed method provides a viable route for future water splitting applications.
• Low-cost, efficient, and durable electrocatalysts are crucial for advancing renewable energy technologies.