On the Temperature Dependence of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at Nickel Foam and Pd-Modified Nickel Foam Catalysts

Abstract

This communication reports on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), studied at Ni foam and Pd-activated nickel foam materials in 0.1-M NaOH solution over the temperature range of 20–60 °C. Catalytic modification of Ni foam leads to significant facilitation of temperature-dependent HER kinetics, manifested through radically reduced values of charge-transfer resistance parameter, as well as substantially modified Tafel polarization curves. The presence of a catalytic additive (Pd) is evidenced through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.