Novel Fe-based nanoglass as efficient noble-metal-free electrocatalyst for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

A Fe78Si9B13 nanoglass with improved alkaline hydrogen evolution performances is prepared by melt spinning followed by high-pressure torsion (HPT). HPT treatment induces slight unique crystallization meanwhile generates abundant interfaces/regions both inside the amorphous matrix and between the amorphous matrix and nanocrystallites. In 1.0 M KOH, the nanoglass requires an overpotential of only 112 mV to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm(-2), which is much smaller than those of the corresponding amorphous alloy (385 mV) and crystalline alloy (465 mV). Furthermore, catalytic performance of the nanoglass remains almost unchanged after 50 h continuous reaction. (C) 2020 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.