Kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction on nickel foam and platinum-modified nickel foam materials in alkaline solution

This article reports on oxygen evolution reaction (OER), studied in 0.1 M NaOH solution on as received, electrooxidized and Pt-activated (via spontaneous deposition of very small amount: ca. 0.2 wt% of platinum element) nickel foam catalyst materials. The OER characteristics were comparatively evaluated through a.c. impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and Tafel polarization experiments, also in function of electrolyte temperature. Morphology of Ni foam materials and the presence of Pt catalytic additives were spectroscopically evaluated through the combined SEM/EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy) analysis. The results could be beneficial with respect to defining an electrochemical operating window for baseline and platinum-modified nickel foam materials, processed under alkaline environment.