Electroless deposited NiP-fabric electrodes for efficient water and urea electrolysis for hydrogen production at industrial scale

Herein, an advanced approach for transforming ordinary cotton-polyester fabric into a flexible and catalytic current collector is demonstrated for water and urea electrolysis for industrial-scale H2 production, addressing challenges in energy and environmental sustainability. A controlled electroless plating is adopted to deposit conducting metallic Ni-nanoparticles together with NixPy-catalytically active phase on an open macroporous framework of fabric. NiP-fabric electrodes exhibit exceptional hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline, acidic, and in artificial Sea-water with overpotential values of 159 mV, 127 mV, and 94 mV at 10 mA/cm2 current density respectively. These electrodes also demonstrate the outstanding oxidation reaction for oxygen evolution and urea oxidation with the potential of just 1.509 V vs RHE (at 20 mA/cm2) and 1.312 V vs RHE (at 10 mA/cm2), with the in-situ formation of more active NiOOH species. A self-supported and macro-porous electrode configuration regulates the adsorption/desorption of intermediates species, enhanced charge and mass transport, and easier desorption of oxygen molecules. Finally, a two-electrode water and urea electrolyzer is constructed by NiP-fabric, which can deliver an H2-production at 100 mA/cm2 at a potential of 1.883 V and 1.611 V, respectively.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates an advanced approach to transform ordinary cotton-polyester fabric into a flexible and catalytic current collector for water and urea electrolysis in industrial-scale H2 production. The developed NiP-fabric electrodes exhibit exceptional performance in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction, and urea oxidation, enabling efficient and sustainable energy production. The self-supported and macro-porous electrode configuration enhances charge and mass transport and facilitates the adsorption/desorption of intermediates species and oxygen molecules.