Hierarchically porous Pt/NiO/Ni nanoarchitecture on nickel foam for high-performance and stable hydrogen evolution in alkaline media
摘要
The development of high-performance electrocatalysts with minimal noble-metal loading is critical for advancing alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction toward practical applications. Herein, we fabricate a three-dimensional porous nanoarchitecture Pt/NiO/Ni electrocatalyst on nickel foam through a sequential electrodeposition and oxidation approach. This hierarchically porous catalyst exhibits exceptional HER performance in 1.0 M KOH, achieving low overpotentials of 7 mV and 158 mV at current densities of 10 and 1000 mA cm⁻², respectively, and demonstrates remarkable stability over 300 h at 1000 mA cm-2. The superior activity stems from a synergistic interplay: ultrafine Pt clusters dispersed on a NiO surface optimize Pt utilization and create abundant active sites, while the Pt–NiO interface accelerates the water dissociation kinetics. Furthermore, the macroporous architecture, templated by hydrogen bubbles, ensures efficient mass transport and gas evolution. This work provides a rational strategy for designing high-performance, low-Pt electrocatalysts, highlighting the importance of synergistic components and robust structures for advanced energy conversion applications.