Laser‐driven liquid assembly: Metal‐nanocluster‐decorated Ni(OH)2/nickel foam for efficient water electrolysis

Abstract Herein, an in situ approach of pulsed laser irradiation in liquids (PLIL) was exploited to create surface‐modified electrodes for eco‐friendly H 2 fuel production via electrolysis. The surface of the nickel foam (NF) substrate was nondestructively modified in 1.0 mol/L KOH using PLIL, resulting in a highly reactive Ni(OH) 2 /NF. Moreover, single‐metal Ir, Ru, and Pd nanoclusters were introduced onto Ni(OH) 2 /NF via appropriate metal precursors. This simultaneous surface oxidation of the NF to Ni(OH) 2 and decoration with reduced metallic nanoparticles during PLIL are advantageous for promoting hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and overall water splitting (OWS). The Ir‐Ni(OH) 2 /NF electrode demonstrates superior performance, achieving the lowest overpotentials at 10 mA/cm 2 ( η ) with 74 mV (HER) and 268 mV (OER). The OWS using Ir‐Ni(OH) 2 /NF||Ir‐Ni(OH) 2 /NF cell demonstrated a low voltage of 1.592 V, reaching 10 mA/cm 2 with notable stability of 72 h. Ir‐Ni(OH) 2 /NF performance is assigned to the improved defects and boosted intrinsic properties resulting from the synergy between metallic‐nanoparticles and the oxidized NF surface, which are positively influenced by PLIL.