One step electrochemical route to the fabrication of highly ordered array of cylindrical nano porous structure and its electrocatalytic performance toward efficient hydrogen evolution

An efficient and non-precious metal catalyst is a key factor for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here we report that the fabrication of highly ordered porous arrays of Cu-Zn-Ni alloy has been carried out in a one-step electrochemical route at a constant apparent current density of -3 A.cm(-2). The optimum film composition and reactivity of the electrodes for catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction were analyzed by using different current densities, deposition time and bath concentration. For this purpose, onset potentials in linear sweep voltammograms (LSV) were compared. The structure and morphology of nano porous Cu-Zn-Ni and Cu-Zn alloy were characterized by SEM and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) analysis. The experimental results on the behavior of electrocatalytic activity of prepared alloys showed that the addition of nickel to the alloys improves of the electrocatalytic performance of the electrodes toward HER. In addition, enhancement of electrochemical activity toward hydrogen evolution can be attributed to the large electrochemical active surface area and porous structure of Cu-Zn-Ni alloy. In order to improvement of reaction kinetics, Tafel plots were derived from LSV voltammograms, and the exchange current densities for HER on synthesized electrodes (Cu-Zn and Cu-Zn-Ni alloys) were calculated about 3.2 x 10(-5) and 2.1 x 10(-3) mA.cm(-2), respectively. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.