Ni-W Alloy Coating as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: Effect of Electroplating Current Density on Morphology and Electrocatalytic Properties

Abstract

In this research, a nickel-tungsten coating as a catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with different current densities was synthesized and the resulting electrocatalytic properties and morphology were assessed. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronoamperometry in 1 M NaOH were used to evaluate the electrocatalytic activity for HER. By increasing the current density of electrodeposition up to 500 mA/cm2, a columnar morphology was observed. The cyclic voltammetry test (CV) revealed that when the plating current density increases, Cdl has increased from 248 to 1310 µF/cm2 and the active surface area increases 5 times. The results showed that by modifying the coating morphology, the current density of the hydrogen evolution increased up to two times.

Keywords

• electroplating
• coating
• hydrogen evolution reaction
• porous materials
• electrocatalyst