Electrodeposition as an attractive method of NiCoP cathode catalyst for alkaline membrane water electrolysis production

Abstract

Phosphide-based materials are among the favourable catalysts due to their promising properties (catalytic activity, stability, and electrical conductivity) for hydrogen evolution reaction in both alkaline and acidic media. This study reports on preparation and subsequent characterisation of a non-platinum NiCoP catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using facile cathodic electrodeposition on a Ni support without toxic phosphorising agents. In the first step, catalyst synthesis optimisation was performed by monitoring the effect of (i) Ni:Co composition and (ii) phosphorus concentration in the deposition solution. Impact of these parameters on the composition as well as the HER electrocatalytic activity of the resulting catalyst was evaluated. Subsequently, the optimised NiCoP catalyst deposited on Ni foam was used as cathode for the HER in an alkaline membrane water electrolyser. It exhibited significant catalytic activity and promising stability. In summary, the cathodic electrodeposition proved to be a feasible method for producing an active and stable NiCoP catalyst for the HER in an alkaline media.