In situ activation with Mo of Ni–Co alloys for hydrogen evolution reaction

In this study Ni–Co alloys have been activated during hydrogen electrochemical production by adding Mo ions into the alkaline electrolyte. After dissolving different amounts of sodium molybdate in the Na(OH) electrolyte, Ni–Co alloys were used as cathodes for hydrogen evolution reaction. Afterwards a comparison between hydrogen overvoltage measured on Ni–Co alloys with and without in situ activation has been made. The in situ activation clearly shows an improvement of electrocatalytic properties of Ni–Co alloys for hydrogen evolution reaction. Depending on the alloy the best conditions are reached with different amounts of sodium molybdate in the electrolyte. The values of exchange current density for Ni–Co alloys without Mo, are an average of about 4.1 10−6 A/cm2, while by using in situ activation, these values are about 3.5·10−4 A/cm2. Therefore, exchange current density presents a value nearly one hundred-fold higher when molybdate ions are present in solution. Moreover, two Tafel slope values have been determined for HER on Ni–Co alloys with and without Mo in situ activation. Those Tafel slope values are different, so as their range of both overvoltage and current density, probably highlighting a different kinetic mechanism.