Ni-based nanocomposite material as a highly efficient catalyst for electrochemical production of hydrogen

The present study reports a simple, inexpensive, and direct method for the preparation of nanocomposite (NC) material (Ni/Co-NC) as advanced catalysts for hydrogen production (HP). The Ni/Co-NC was prepared using solvothermal method (STM) followed by thermal annealing, characterized and tested for HP in 0.6 M H2SO4. The as-synthesized Ni/Co-NC contains a high density of active edge sites, exhibits high electro-catalytic HP activity under small cathodic onset potential (VON-P) of −0.03 V, and a small Tafel slope of approximately 29 mV/decade, which exceeds the activity of previously studied Pt-free catalysis. Annealing temperature significantly affects the Ni/Co-NC activity toward HP by forming active nanoparticles with an optimum identified at 250 °C. The HP process is controlled via Volmer-Tafel charge-transfer mechanism over the electrode interface. The presented method can be used as a new strategy for manufacturing advanced electro-catalysts for the production of hydrogen from different resources.