Nickel selenide nanostructures as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Electrochemical water splitting has gained momentum for the development of alternative energy sources. Herein, we report the synthesis of two different nickel selenide nanostructures of different morphology and composition employing hydrothermal method. NiSe2 nanosheets were obtained by the anion-exchange reaction of Ni(OH)2 with Se ions for 15 h. On the other hand, NiSe nanoflakes were synthesized by the direct selenization of nickel surface with the reaction time of 2 h. Tested as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction, NiSe2 nanosheets and NiSe nanoflakes can afford a geometric current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 198 mV and 217 mV respectively. The measured Tafel slope values of NiSe nanoflakes are 28.6 mV dec−1, which is three times lower as compared with NiSe2 nanosheets (72.1 mV dec−1). These results indicates the HER kinetics of NiSe nanoflakes are at par with the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst and also complimented with the short synthesis time of 2 h. Further, both nickel selenides exhibit ultra-long term stability for 30 h as evident from constant current chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results.