Design and preparation of 3D porous Ni–P/Ni integrated electrodes by electrodeposition for hydrogen evolution by electrolysis of water

Developing non-noble metal catalysts with low prices, high activity and strong stability plays a vital role in the storage and transformation of clean energy. In this study, the 3D porous structure of NF was modified in situ by electrodeposition. The electrochemical active area of Ni/NF porous structure was increased by 85.4% after 500 ​s electrodeposition. The structure, composition and morphology of the catalyst were studied by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM and BET. In order to further improve the activity of HER, the surface of Ni–P/Ni/NF was hydrophilically treated with PSS-PPy. Compared with Ni–P/Ni/NF, the wetting angle of PSS-PPy/Ni–P/Ni/NF decreased by 32.3% from 53.6° to 79.2° and the overpotential decreased by 25.5% from 145 ​mV to 108 ​mV at the current density of 10 ​mA/cm2. PSS-PPy/Ni–P/Ni/NF also showed stable electrocatalytic activity. In a word, these findings have great prospects for the design and preparation of porous electrodes.