Study of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Ni/Co3O4 Composite Electrode in Alkaline Solution

Nickel electrodes are widely used in industrial water electrolysis cells for electrochemical production of hydrogen. The use of Ni/based composites instead of pure Ni is one of the ways for improving the electrocatalytic activity of Ni electrode material. In this work, composite Ni/Co3O4 layers were electrodeposited from a conventional Watts' electrolyte containing Co3O4 powder, and their electrochemical properties towards hydrogen evolution reaction were investigated and compared with pure Ni layers under the same conditions. The composite electrodes are characterized by enhanced electrochemical activity with respect to hydrogen evolution reaction in an alkaline electrolyte: they feature a higher hydrogen evolution rate, as well as a lower overpotential as compared with pure Ni electrodes. The composite Ni/Co3O4 electrodes also show higher catalytic activity towards oxygen evolution reaction, which makes them perspective for application not only in alkaline electrolyzers for hydrogen production, but also for oxygen production or as electrodes in fuel cells.