Cost-Effective Electrodeposited Mixed Transition Metal Electrocatalysts for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract Hydrogen is a clean fuel with high energy density, considered one of the alternative energy sources of the future. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) could produce pure hydrogen on a large scale while striving for effective electrocatalysts. Here, binary and ternary mixed transition metals (Mn, Co, and Ni) were synthesized by an electrodeposition method and employed as efficient HER electrocatalysts. It was found that the combination of transition metals could positively tune the corresponding morphology and activity rather than using single metals. Namely, NiMn electrocatalysts with an onset potential of 83 mV and a Tafel slope of 103 mV.dec− 1 showed superior activity toward HER in alkaline media compared to the other developed electrocatalysts. This high activity was related to improved intrinsic activity, higher energy efficiency, and enhanced conductivity thanks to the synergy between manganese and nickel. NiMn electrocatalyst also displayed a durable and stable performance, rendering it a promising electrocatalyst for efficient electrocatalysis of HER.