High-Performance Cathodes for Alkaline Water Electrolysis in a Zero-Gap Setting: Ni–Sn/Ni Foam Prepared by Galvanostatic ElectrodepositionClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Jelena D. Gojgić*Jelena D. Gojgić*Email: [email protected]Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, SerbiaMore by Jelena D. Gojgić
- Aleksandar PetričevićAleksandar PetričevićInstitute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, SerbiaMore by Aleksandar Petričević
- Thomas RauscherThomas RauscherFraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Branch Lab Dresden, Winterbergstraße 28, 01277 Dresden, GermanyMore by Thomas Rauscher
- Christian Immanuel BernäckerChristian Immanuel BernäckerFraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Branch Lab Dresden, Winterbergstraße 28, 01277 Dresden, GermanyMore by Christian Immanuel Bernäcker
- Thomas WeißgärberThomas WeißgärberFraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Branch Lab Dresden, Winterbergstraße 28, 01277 Dresden, GermanyInstitute of Materials Science, Dresden University of Technology TUD, 01062 Dresden, GermanyMore by Thomas Weißgärber
- Rastko VasilićRastko VasilićFaculty of Physics, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaMore by Rastko Vasilić
- Luka PavkoLuka PavkoNational Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaMore by Luka Pavko
- Marjan BeleMarjan BeleNational Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaMore by Marjan Bele
- Francisco Ruiz-ZepedaFrancisco Ruiz-ZepedaNational Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaMore by Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda
- Milutin SmiljanićMilutin SmiljanićNational Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaMore by Milutin Smiljanić
- Nejc HodnikNejc HodnikNational Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of Metals and Technology, Lepi pot 11, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaMore by Nejc Hodnik
- Mila N. Krstajić Pajić*Mila N. Krstajić Pajić*Email: [email protected]Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaMore by Mila N. Krstajić Pajić
- Vladimir D. JovićVladimir D. JovićInstitute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, SerbiaMore by Vladimir D. Jović
Abstract
In an attempt to obtain fully functional cathode materials for zero-gap alkaline water electrolysis, Ni foam substrates with various pore diameters were modified through galvanostatic electrodeposition of Ni–Sn alloys as an easily scalable procedure. To optimize the production process for each substrate, Ni–Sn alloys were electrodeposited at five different constant current densities. The obtained cathodes were primarily subjected to hydrogen evolution in 1 M KOH to evaluate their activity, while the best-performing samples were further investigated in 30 wt % KOH at 70 °C in a three- and two-electrode arrangement. Detailed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) conducted with a three electrode arrangement indicated two semicircles on the Nyquist plots that confirmed that the adsorption of intermediate (Hads) is potential dependent. Relevant HER parameters such as exchange current density and relaxation time showed exceptional performance of optimized electrodes. During zero-gap single cell tests with bare Ni foam used as the anode, onset voltages for Ni–Sn cathodes were around 1.64 V (for bare foams, 1.99 V), with cell voltage at 1 A cm–2 being as low as 2.03 V (for bare foams, 2.57 V). The cathodes were also subjected to a long-term stability test, showing excellent activity preservation. Great stability, low cell voltage, and low production cost confirm their suitability for industrial applications. Top-view as well as cross-section electron microscopy analysis have shown that the entire foam surface was evenly covered with Ni–Sn coating. The composition of the investigated coatings was within the range of Ni(1+x)Sn (0 < x < 0.5) metastable phase and practically independent of deposition current density. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed that the so-called metastable phase is in fact the Ni3Sn2 phase, which is shown for the first time for electrodeposited Ni–Sn alloys.
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This article is cited by 1 publications.
- A. Petričević, M.N. Krstajić Pajić, P. Zabinski, D. Kutyla, M.M. Marzec, M. Gajewska, N.R. Elezović, V.D. Jović. Hydrogen evolution reaction on electrodeposited Ni-MoOx composite coatings. Electrochimica Acta 2025, 519 , 145825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2025.145825
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