Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction activity comparable to platinum exhibited by the Ni/Ni(OH)2/graphite electrode.

Electrochemical dual-pulse plating with sequential galvanostatic and potentiostatic pulses has been used to fabricate an electrocatalytically active Ni/Ni(OH)2/graphite electrode. This electrode design strategy to generate the Ni/Ni(OH)2 interface on graphite from Ni deposits is promising for electrochemical applications and has been used by us for hydrogen generation. The synergetic effect of nickel, colloidal nickel hydroxide islands, and the enhanced surface area of the graphite substrate facilitating HO-H cleavage followed by H(ad) recombination, results in the high current density [200 mA/cm2 at an overpotential of 0.3 V comparable to platinum (0.44 V)]. The easy method of fabrication of the electrode, which is also inexpensive, prompts us to explore its use in fabrication of solar-driven electrolysis.