Raney Nickel 2.0: Development of a high-performance bifunctional electrocatalyst. (1st November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gannon, William J.F.; Dunnill, Charles W.
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 322(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11-01
• Subjects: Alkaline -- Electrolysis -- Bifunctional -- Raney nickel; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2019.134687
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: As a catalytic coating for alkaline electrolysis Raney Nickel is one of the most efficient materials discovered, based largely on the activity of nickel and the porosity of the alloy after leaching. This study improves the electrochemical and corrosion performance of the coating for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution in alkaline water-splitting electrolysis through the use during electrodeposition of a sacrificial stainless-steel counter electrode. Analysis using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the although the elemental make-up is largely similar, the morphology is transformed. Through measurements of the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) after long-term intermittent ageing it was found that the surface area was increased by a factor of six. Assessments and comparisons of the electrochemical performance using 3-electrode chronopotentiometry confirm this is one of the most active bifunctional coatings known.