Galvanostatically Deposited PtNi Thin-Films as Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Efficient hydrogen generation is crucial for cost-effective energy solutions.
• Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) requires advanced electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.
• Hybrid platinum materials offer potential for enhanced catalytic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize hybrid platinum-nickel (PtNi) films using a galvanostatic co-deposition method.
• To investigate the electrocatalytic activity of PtNi films for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media.
• To correlate material properties with catalytic performance for optimized hydrogen generation.

Main Methods:

• Galvanostatic co-deposition of PtNi films onto polycrystalline gold.
• Electrochemical measurements to determine surface concentrations (Γ_Ni, Γ_Pt) and analyze Tafel parameters.
• Evaluation of electrocatalytic activity for HER in 1 M KOH.

Main Results:

• PtNi film composition and HER activity depend on applied current density pulses during electrodeposition.
• HER on PtNi deposits likely follows a Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism.
• Galvanostatically deposited PtNi layers exhibit a high current output of 3199 A g_Pt^-1, surpassing other synthesis methods.

Conclusions:

• A simple galvanostatic method enables efficient synthesis of PtNi electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrolysis.
• The developed PtNi films demonstrate superior performance for hydrogen evolution reaction.
• This approach offers a cost-effective pathway for scalable hydrogen fuel production.