One-step galvanostatic electrodeposition of Ni-Se-Dy film on Ni foam for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline solution

Efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly electrocatalysts urgently need to be explored for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A novel and facile nickel-selenium-dysprosium (Ni-Se-Dy) electrocatalyst was synthesized on Ni foam via simple and feasible one-step galvanostatic electrodeposition. The prepared Ni-Se-Dy electrodes showed excellent HER activity in alkaline medium with low overpotential values of 72 and 173 mV to deliver the current density values of 10 and 50 mAmiddotcm-2. Tafel slope value (119.72 mVmiddotdec-1) for Ni-Se-Dy electrode in 1.0 M KOH indicated that the Ni-Se-Dy catalyst followed a Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism, and the rate-determining step of this reaction was a Volmer step. Electrochemical test and scanning electron microscopy results showed that the excellent HER performance of Ni-Se-Dy electrode can be attributed to surface morphology, better intrinsic activity, and high conductivity.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

This study successfully synthesized a novel nickel-selenium-dysprosium electrocatalyst via a simple electrodeposition method, which exhibited excellent HER activity under alkaline conditions. The electrochemical tests revealed that the catalyst followed a Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism, and its surface morphology, intrinsic activity, and conductivity played crucial roles in its HER performance.