Owing to their pivotal role in scientific and technological advancements, the development of cost-effective, highly efficient, and durable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has remained a longstanding research objective. However, achieving catalysts with both high activity and low cost remains a significant challenge. In this study, iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) bimetallic coatings were investigated as electrocatalysts for HER in acidic (0.5 M H₂SO₄) media. The catalysts were deposited onto titanium substrates (1 × 1 cm) using a cost-effective and straightforward electrochemical deposition process, specifically the dynamic hydrogen bubble template method. The electrocatalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts for HER was evaluated at 25°C using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The surface morphology and composition were further characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The synthesized Fe-Ni/Ti-1 and Fe-Ni/Ti-2 electrocatalysts exhibited remarkable HER activity in acidic media, requiring overpotentials of only 106 mV and 247 mV, respectively, to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². Both catalysts demonstrated excellent long-term stability, maintaining consistent performance for two and ten hours at constant potentials and a constant current density of 10 mA cm⁻², underscoring their robustness and durability.
ADVANCED 3D BIMETALLIC NICKEL-IRON/TITANIUM BIFUNCTIONAL ELECTROCATALYSTS FOR EFFECTIVE HYDROGEN EVOLUTION REACTION IN ACIDIC MEDIA
Shahid Nawaz1, Aldona Balčiūnaitė1, Loreta Tamašauskaitė-Tamašiūnaitė1, Eugenijus Norkus1
1 Department of catalysis, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Saulėtekio av. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius