Deposit amorphous Ni-Co-B-RE (RE = Ce, Gd and Nd) on nickel foam as a high performance and durable electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction

The rare earths (RE) are widely used in composites modification. In this study, the morphology, the electronic structure and the catalytic performance have been investigated by doping RE. The amorphous structure of Ni-Co-B-RE/NF (RE = Ce, Gd and Nd, NF = Ni foam) electrodes, which can be used as a catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), was prepared on Ni foam by a handy chemical deposition method. Interestingly, the synergistic effect of rare earth Gd and electronic materials (e.g. Ni, Co and B) can accelerate deposition rate and refine coated particles. The results suggest that the Ni-Co-B-Gd/NF electrode exhibits excellent catalytic performance in alkaline solutions, which shows a high electrochemical stability even with overpotential of 92 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm(-2) and Tafel slope of 105 mV dec(-1).