Thin Coatings of Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM‐1) Enhance Nickel Electrodeposition and Nickel‐Catalyzed Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

Abstract Nickel nanoparticle electrodeposition is studied on flat glassy carbon (GC) or on nitrogen‐doped reduced graphene oxide (rGO‐N) substrates. The effects of a very thin (nominally 16 nm) layer polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM‐1) are investigated (i) on enhancing nickel nanoparticle nucleation and growth during electrodeposition and (ii) on enhancing hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis. Beneficial effects are tentatively assigned to PIM‐1 suppressing blocking effects from interfacial hydrogen bubble formation. Exploratory data suggest that in aqueous 0.5 M NaCl solution (artificial seawater) nickel nanoparticles grown into a thin film of PIM‐1 could be a viable electrocatalyst with an onset of hydrogen evolution only slightly negative compared to that observed for platinum nanoparticles.

Keywords

• hydrogen energy
• sustainability
• metal nanoparticles
• electrolysis
• gas evolution