Highly durable, Pt free and large-area Ni–B film synthesized by SILAR as a bifunctional electrode for electrochemical water splitting

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 47; no. 81; pp. 34492 - 34503
• Main Authors: Jamadar, Aasiya S., Sutar, Rohit B., Deshpande, Nishad G., Salunkhe, Rahul R., Yadav, Jyotiprakash B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 22-09-2022
• Subjects: Bifunctional electrode; Durable electrode; Electro-catalyst; Ni–B film; Prototype water splitting setup; SILAR Method; Electro-catalyst; Bifunctional electrode; Ni–B film; Prototype water splitting setup; SILAR Method; Durable electrode
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.08.064

A search for efficient, durable, large-area, and economic catalyst material for low-cost production of hydrogen and oxygen is currently a high priority in the field of electrocatalysis (EC). In view of this, a cost-effective, earth abundant, highly stable, Pt free, and large-area (8 cm × 8 cm) bifunctional Ni–B electrocatalyst is reported via simple and economic SILAR method. A highly porous surface of Ni–B film with high surface wettability indicated better electrochemical water-splitting properties for the films and is obtained at 100 cycles. A Low over-potential value to obtain HER (49 mV) and OER (340 mV) at 10 mA/cm2 current suggested that they are comparable to the well-known Pt and RuO electrodes in alkaline medium (1M KOH), respectively. In actual water-splitting setup having Ni–B film (as cathode) and stainless steel (as anode), the hydrogen production of 612 ml/h is obtained at constant potential, which was enhanced by 18% i.e., 726 ml/h when a Ni–B film as both cathode and anode electrode was used. Both the electrodes are highly stable for over 15 days and interestingly they showed 7% increment in the EC performance.
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•Bifunctional, wide area Ni–B film electrode was prepared by SILAR method.•Over potential and Tafel slop values for both HER and OER were comparable to Nobel metals.•100 cycle Ni–B film in bifunctional mode showing 726.4 ml/h hydrogen evolution.•Highly durable film in continuous hydrogen evolution for 15 days stability test.