Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
07:17
Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry
Published on: August 1, 2017
Microwave-Induced Plasma Disproportionation Enables NiO@Ni-Carbon Heterostructures With Accelerated γ-NiOOH Formation
Arnab Samanta Roy Choudhury1,2, Sampa Rani Nag3, Animesh Jana3
1Functional Materials Group, Advanced Materials & Corrosion (AMC) Division, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|June 9, 2026
Summary
We developed a novel bifunctional electrocatalyst using nickel oxide-shelled nickel-core composites on porous carbon for efficient overall water splitting, achieving excellent performance and stability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Nickel oxide-shelled nickel-core (NiO@Ni) composites are earth-abundant, low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts for water splitting.
- Practical applications are limited by slow formation of the active γ-NiOOH phase and poor active site distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.
- To optimize the NiO/Ni ratio and utilize a conductive carbon support for enhanced catalytic activity.
Main Methods:
- A single-step microwave (MW)-induced N2 plasma-assisted disproportionation strategy was employed.
- Tunable NiO/Ni ratios were achieved by controlling MW irradiation time, power, and precursor stoichiometry.
- The catalyst was anchored on biowaste-derived porous graphitic carbon (PGC).
Main Results:
- The optimized NiO/Ni ratio (0.75) improved active site population and distribution.
- The PGC support facilitated rapid γ-NiOOH formation by mitigating charge accumulation.
- The PGC-NiO@Ni catalyst delivered 195 mV (OER) and 244 mV (HER) at 100 mA cm⁻², with a two-electrode electrolyzer operating at 1.50 V for 165 h.
Conclusions:
- The developed PGC-NiO@Ni composite is a highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.
- Optimized catalyst design and support integration are crucial for overcoming performance limitations.
- This strategy offers a promising pathway for scalable and cost-effective electrocatalyst development.
