Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

A Study on the Effect of Current Density on Electrocatalytic Behavior of Ni–Co Alloy

Akshatha R. Shetty, Ampar Chitharanjan Hegde

Abstract


Active, stable and more efficient electrocatalysts are the requirements for water splitting applications. In this direction, the present paper presents the experimental results on electrolytic development of Ni–Co alloy coatings, and their application as electrode material for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER). The Ni–Co alloy coatings were electrodeposited on copper substrate from a sulfate bath, using the glycerol as additive. The deposited coatings were then tested for electrocatalytic activities for HER and OER in 1M KOH medium, using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronopotentiometry (CP) methods. The experimental results revealed that Ni–Co alloy, deposited at high current densities (c.d.) are more favorable for OER and HER, and Tafel slope analysis showed the HER follows Volmer-Tafel mechanism. Better electrocatalytic activity of the coatings, deposited at high c.d. was attributed to the combined effect of increased surface roughness and its nickel content. The structure-property relationship of Ni–Co alloy coatings have been discussed through XRD, SEM and EDX results.

Full Text:

PDF

References


M.Y. Lin, L.W. Hourng. Effects of magnetic field and pulse potential on hydrogen production via water electrolysis, Int J Energy Res. 2014; 38(1): 106–16p.

S. Shetty, A.C. Hegde. Electrodeposition of Sn-Ni alloy coatings for water-splitting application from alkaline medium, Metall Trans B. 2016; doi:10.1007/s11663 016-0784-9.

J. Liu, H. Watanabe, M. Fuji, M. Takahashi, Electrocatalytic evolution of hydrogen on porous alumina/gel cast-derived nano-carbon network composite electrode, Electrochem Commun. 2009; 11(1): 107–10p.

G. Wu, N. Li, C.S. Dai, D.R. Zhou. Electrochemical preparation and characteristics of Ni Co–LaNi5 composite coatings as electrode materials for hydrogen evolution, Mater Chem Phys. 2004; 83(2-3): 307–14p. [5] C. Fan, D.L. Piron, P. Paradis. Hydrogen evolution on electrodeposited nickel-cobalt molybedenum in alkaline water electrolysis, Electrochim Acta. 1994; 39(18): 2715–22p.

F. Rosalbino, S. Delsante, G. Borzone, E. Angelini. Electrocatalytic behaviour of Co–Ni–R (R = Rare earth metal) crystalline alloys as electrode materials for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2008; 33(22): 6696–703p.

J.R. McKone, E.L. Warren, M.J. Bierman, S.W. Boettcher, B.S. Brunschwig, N.S. Lewis, H.B. Gray. Evaluation of Pt, Ni, and Ni-Mo electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution on crystalline Si electrodes, Energy Environ Sci. 2011; 4(9): 3573–83p.

F.M. Sapountzi, J.M. Gracia, C.J. (Kees-Jan)Weststrate, H.O.A. Fredriksson, J.W. (Hans) Niemantsverdriet. Electrocatalysts for the generation of hydrogen, oxygen and synthesis gas, Prog Energy Combust Sci. 2017; 58: 1–35p.

M.A.D. Crespo, A.M.T. Huerta, B.B. Sibaja, A.F. Vela. Electrochemical performance of Ni-RE (RE = rare earth) as electrode material for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2011; 36(1): 135–51p. [10] Z. Zheng, N. Li, C.Q. Wang, D.Y. Li, Y.M. Zhu, G. Wu. Ni-CeO2 composite cathode material for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline electrolyte, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2012; 37(19): 13921–932p. [11] L. Wang, Y. Gao, Q. Xue, H. Liu, T. Xu, Microstructure and tribological properties of electrodeposited Ni–Co alloy deposits, Appl Surf Sci. 2005; 242(3-4): 326–32p. [12] R. Rashkova, M. Arnaudova, G. Avdeeva, A. Zielonka, P. Jannakoudakis, A. Jannakoudakisc, E. Theodoridou, NiW/TiOx composite layers as cathode material for hydrogen evolution reaction, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2009; 34(5): 2095-00p. [13] C. Bocca, A. Barbucci, M. Delucchi, G. Cerisola. Nickel–cobalt oxide-coated electrodes: influence of the preparation technique on oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline solution, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 1999; 24(1): 21–6p. [14] C.C. Hu, Y.S. Lee, T.C. Wen. The physicochemical/electrochemical properties of binary Ni–Co oxides, Mater Chem Phys. 1997; 48(3): 246–54p. [15] M.J.D. Giz, G.T. Filho, E.R. Gonzalez, S. Srinivasan, A.J. Appleby. The hydrogen evolution reaction on amorphous nickel and cobalt alloys, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 1995; 20(6): 423–27p. [16] B. Chi, J. Li, X. Yang, Y. Gong, N. Wang. Deposition of Ni-Co by cyclic voltammetry method and its electrocatalytic properties for oxygen evolution reaction, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2005; 30(1): 29–34p. [17] M. Hagarova, D. Jakubeczyova, J. Cervova, Microstructure and properties of electroplated Ni-Co alloy coatings, Int J Electrochem Sci. 2015; 10: 9968–74p. [18] N. Kanani. Electroplating: Basic Principles, Processes and Practice. Berlin: Elsevier Ltd; 2006, 256–60p. [19] G.P. Pavithra, A.C. Hegde. Development of nanostructure multilayer Co-Ni alloy coatings for enhanced corrosion protection, Anal Bioanal Electrochem. 2013; 5(1): 59–73p. [20] B. Subramanya, Y. Ullal, S.U. Shenoy, D.K. Bhat, A.C. Hegde. Novel Co–Ni–graphene composite electrodes for hydrogen production, RSC Adv. 2015; 5(59): 47398–407p. [21] A.N. Correia, S.A.S. Machado. Electrodeposition and characterisation of thin layers of NiCo alloys obtained from dilute chloride baths, Electrochim. Acta. 2000; 45(11): 1733–40p.

Badrayyana S., Bhat D. K., Shenoy S., Ullal Y., Hegde A. C., Novel Fe-Ni-Graphene composite electrode for hydrogen production, Int. J. Hydrogen energy, 2015; 40(33): 10453-462p. [23] L. Elias, K. Scott, A.C. Hegde. Electrolytic synthesis and characterization of electrocatalytic Ni-W alloy, J Mater Eng Perform. 2015; 24(11): 4182–91p. [24] I.H. Cardona, E. Ortega, J.G. Anton, V.P. Herranz. Assessment of the roughness factor effect and the intrinsic catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction on Ni-based electrodeposition, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2011; 36(16): 9428–38p. [25] Y. Ullal, A.C. Hegde. Electrodeposition and electro-catalytic study of nanocrystalline Ni–Fe alloy, Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2014; 39(20): 10485–492p. [26] E.G. Lyons, M.P. Brandon. The oxygen evolution reaction on passive oxide covered transition metal electrodes in aqueous alkaline solution. Part 1-nickel, Int J Electrochem Sci. 2008; 3: 1386–24p. [27] K. Juttner. Oxygen reduction electrocatalysis by under potential deposited metal atoms at different single crystal faces of gold and silver, Electrochim Acta. 1984; 29(11): 1597–604p. [28] P. Peeters, G.V.D. Hoorn, T. Daenen, A. Kurowski, G. Staikov. Properties of electroless and electroplated Ni–P and its application in microgalvanics, Electrochim Acta. 2001; 47(12): 161–9p.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.37628/jcep.v3i1.266

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.