Self-Etching induced pulse electrodeposition strategy for constructing Cu-Ni nanoparticle electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Hydrogen production through water electrolysis represents a promising green and sustainable energy technology, where developing efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts is crucial. This study introduces a novel self-etching induced pulse electrodeposition strategy to construct coral-like Cu-Ni nanoparticle supported on nickel foam (Cu-Ni NPs@NF) electrocatalysts by utilizing dynamic hydrogen bubble templates (DHBT). The innovative synthesis approach leverages controlled self-etching of the NF substrate during pulse reverse electrodeposition (PRED), enabling in-situ formation of Ni²⁺ and subsequent Cu-Ni co-deposition without additional Ni salt precursors. The synergistic interaction between Cu and Ni created abundant active interfaces and optimized electronic structure, significantly enhancing HER electrocatalytic performance. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated a low overpotential of 98 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 in 1 M KOH and maintained remarkable stability during 24-hour continuous operation. The work offers new insight for synthesizing high-performance electrocatalysts through facile electrodeposition methods.