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Effect of deposition conditions on the properties of Ni–Mo–W coatings as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

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Abstract

Ni–Mo–W electrocatalysts have been prepared by electrodeposition on a copper substrate in a bath with different Na2WO4·2H2O concentrations (0.01–0.1 M) and pH values (4 and 7.5). The chemical composition, surface morphology, and crystalline structure of the as-prepared electrocatalysts were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods were conjointly used to investigate the Ni–Mo–W electrocatalysts’ activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline medium. As estimated by EDX results, Ni is the major element in all the synthesized Ni–Mo–W deposits, and Mo and W contents are pH and Na2WO4·2H2O concentrations dependent. The XRD results reveal the formation of a nanocrystalline FCC-Ni(Mo, W) solid solution at pH 4, while at pH 7.5, the deposits present an amorphous structure. The deposits prepared at pH 4 have homogeneous surface with a needle-like morphology but at pH 7.5, a cracked morphology with a uniform and regular porous structure is observed. According to the electrochemical analyses, the Ni–Mo–W electrocatalyst developed at pH 7.5 and [WO42−] = 0.01 M with maximum Mo and minimum W contents was found to be the best electrode material for HER in alkaline media. This electrocatalyst exhibits low overpotential, η, and charge-transfer resistance, Rct, values associated to higher values for the double-layer capacitance, Cdl, and the roughness factor, Rf.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Ministry of higher Education and Scientific Research of Algeria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Group: Surfaces, Interfaces and Nanostructures, Laboratory of Industrial Analysis and Materials Engineering, University 8 May 1945, 24000, Guelma, Algeria

    Houda Boudjehem, Hayet Moumeni & Abderrafik Nemamcha

  2. Department of Matter Sciences, FMISM, University 8 May 1945, Guelma, Algeria

    Hayet Moumeni

  3. Department of Catalysis and Materials, Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), UMR 7515 CNRS-University of Strasbourg, 67087, Strasbourg, France

    Sergey Pronkin

  4. Department of Inorganic Materials Chemistry, Institute of Physics and Chemistry of Materials of Strasbourg (IPCMS), UMR 7504 CNRS-University of Strasbourg, 67034, Strasbourg, France

    Jean Luc Rehspringer

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  1. Houda Boudjehem
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  2. Hayet Moumeni
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Correspondence to Hayet Moumeni.

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Boudjehem, H., Moumeni, H., Nemamcha, A. et al. Effect of deposition conditions on the properties of Ni–Mo–W coatings as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. J Appl Electrochem 52, 217–229 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-021-01615-4

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