Electrodeposition of self-supported NiMo amorphous coating as an efficient and stable catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

NiMo-based materials have been identified as potential candidates of Pt/C electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to appropriate binding energy to hydrogen, and good resistance to corrosive environments. However, little work has been carried out to enhance the catalytic performance in large-scale water-alkali electrolysis. The NiMo amorphous coating, as a high-efficient and cost-effective catalyst toward HER, was synthesized by a facile electrodeposition strategy in this study. The effects of the pH value of electrolyte on the structure and HER activity of NiMo coating were investigated. The as-prepared NiMo(pH10) exhibited the highest HER activity with overpotentials of 63.9 and 157.1 mV (vs. RHE, with 80% potential drop due to electrical resistance (iR) compensation) at the current density of − 10 mA·cm−2 and − 100 mA·cm−2. This NiMo(pH10) coating also had excellent long-term durability of up to 100 h stable operation under the constant current density of − 100 mA·cm−2. The rapid HER kinetics and outstanding endurance can be ascribed to the NiMo compact coating with amorphous structures as well as good contact between NiMo coating and Ni foam substrate, endowing it grand feasibility in practical industrial applications.Graphical abstract