Multilayer nickel–copper metal hydroxide coating as cathode material for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

The comparison of the electrochemical behavior of electrodes with Ni–Cu alloy coating and multilayer coating consisting of alternating layers of alloy and metal hydroxide layers in alkaline water electrolysis is presented. The coatings were electrodeposited in polyligand pyrophosphate-ammonia electrolyte. It is shown that the electrode with multilayer coating is more corrosion resistant, has higher activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction due to both more developed surface and higher intrinsic catalytic activity. The value of the exchange current of hydrogen evolution reaction on the multilayer coating is comparable to the value of the exchange current on the Ni–Cu–Mo ternary alloy and nickel-containing electrodes with the highly developed 3D nanostructured surface.