PS-b-P4VP block copolymer micelles as a soft template to grow openly porous nickel films for alkaline hydrogen evolution
Fagotto Clavijo, Roberto (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Riba-Moliner, Marta (Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona)
González-Campo, Arántzazu (Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona)
Sort Viñas, Jordi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Pellicer Vilà, Eva Maria (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Eiler, Konrad (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)

Date:	2023
Abstract:	Highly porous Ni films have been potentiostatically synthesised by micelle-assisted electrodeposition using custom-made PS-b-P4VP block copolymer micelles as a soft template. Two PS-b-P4VP block copolymers with PS/P4VP block ratios of 1:1 and 1:4 were used for the micelle-assisted electrodeposition, resulting in Ni films with large pores of diameters varying from 25 to 600 nm (1:1), and from 10 to 230 nm (1:4). As a result of the interconnected porosity, and hence the drastic increase of the surface-to-volume ratio, the electrocatalytic performance at hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media is significantly improved in comparison to a dense Ni film, and-more importantly-even in comparison to a highly mesoporous Ni film with monodisperse 10 nm wide pores. Most remarkably, it is discovered that the openly porous Ni electrocatalysts not only lead to a simple increase in HER current density, but also to a lower overpotential and a better long-term performance. While the bulk of the films is metallic, Ni(OH)2 is formed on the surfaces of all Ni films during HER. This effect leads to an initial decrease of the catalytic activity, but provides excellent stability in alkaline media. The presented synthesis process for pure Ni may be readily adopted to any other electroplatable metals and alloys.
Grants:	European Commission 101058076 European Commission 764977 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-292 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2019-108794 GB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-116844RB-C21
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Electrodeposition ; Porous materials ; Electrocatalysis ; Soft templating ; Micelles
Published in:	Catalysis Today, Vol. 423 (November 2023) , art. 113916

DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2022.09.022

10 p, 7.3 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Group of Smart Nanoengineered Materials, Nanomechanics and Nanomagnetism (Gnm3)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles