Characterization of Amorphous Ni-Nb-Y Nanoparticles for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Produced Through Surfactant-Assisted Ball Milling

Amorphous Ni79.2Nb12.5Y8.3 and Ni81.3Nb6.3Y12.5 nanoparticles were synthesized using cryogenic mechanical alloying followed by surfactant-assisted high energy ball milling (SA-HEBM). These alloys were tested towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) along with pure crystalline Ni and Ni5Y nanoparticles also produced through SA-HEBM. This two-stage ball milling process provided a novel processing route for the production of nanostructured/amorphous materials with a wide range of possible compositions not achievable through rapid solidification, electrodeposition, or chemical reduction techniques. The investigation of different surfactant and solvent concentrations resulted in improved nanoparticle yields whereby average particle sizes between 41 and 89 nm were obtained for crystalline and amorphous materials. Electrochemical testing showed that Ni81.3Nb6.3Y12.5 exhibited the lowest Tafel values and the fastest HER kinetics on both an electrochemically active surface area and on a mass loading basis. This investigation demonstrates their potential for use in anion exchange membrane water electrolysis. Graphical