Teaching Heterogeneous Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation with Nickel- and Cobalt-Based Catalysts Using Cyclic Voltammetry and Python Simulation

An integrated inorganic chemistry laboratory experience focusing on heterogeneous electrocatalysis with nickel (Ni)- and cobalt (Co)-based electrocatalysts is designed for upper-division, major-level chemistry students. In this laboratory, students will be guided through the fabrication of an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass working electrode, electrodeposition of the nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) and cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) electrocatalysts on the ITO working electrodes, and the electrochemical characterization of the electrocatalysts. Students will investigate the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with electrocatalysts Ni(OH)2 and Co(OH)2 in an alkaline electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is the major experimental technique students will apply to measure the performances of different electrocatalysts on the OER activities. Additionally, a Python-based simulation of the cyclic voltammograms will be applied to help students gain more insights about the interpretation of the cyclic voltammograms of reversible one-electron redox reactions.