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Linking Pulse-Duration-Controlled Laser Nanostructuring to Oxygen Evolution Kinetics in Fe-enriched NiOx Electrodes
Sandra Susan Koshy1,2, Jyotisman Rath3,4, Amirkianoosh Kiani1,2
1Silicon Hall: Micro/Nano Manufacturing Facility, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 20, 2026
Summary
Ultra-short pulsed laser processing creates durable, nanostructured nickel oxide electrodes for efficient alkaline water electrolysis. This binder-free method optimizes electrocatalyst morphology and performance for the oxygen evolution reaction.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Surface Science
Background:
- The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key bottleneck in alkaline water electrolysis.
- Developing scalable, durable, earth-abundant electrocatalysts is crucial.
- Conventional synthesis methods limit control over catalyst morphology and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish pulse-duration-controlled ultra-short pulsed laser processing (ULPING) as a binder-free fabrication route for nanostructured NiOx electrodes.
- To link the physics of laser fabrication to OER kinetics.
- To investigate the effect of pulse duration on NiOx morphology and electrochemical performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ULPING with pulse durations from 150 ps to 5 ns.
- Characterized NiOx nanostructures using electron microscopy and surface analysis techniques.
- Performed electrochemical measurements, including OER activity, charge-transfer resistance, and durability tests.
Main Results:
- Pulse duration dictates ablation depth, nanostructure height, and porosity.
- Shorter pulses yield defect-rich, broccoli-like NiOx with higher surface area.
- Optimized electrodes demonstrate lower overpotential, reduced resistance, and enhanced stability at high current densities.
Conclusions:
- ULPING offers a scalable, binder-free method for fabricating high-performance OER electrocatalysts.
- Morphology and defect density, controlled by pulse duration, directly impact OER kinetics.
- Laser-processed NiOx electrodes exhibit promising durability for alkaline water electrolysis.
