Facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of Ni/NiO on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction

The advancement of affordable, ultrastable, and efficient electrode materials for basic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) plays a crucial role in industrial hydrogen manufacture, resolving problems caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Ni-based electrocatalysts have been well accepted as potential can...

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Main Authors: Ha Huu Do, Khac Binh Nguyen, Phuong N. Nguyen, Hoai Phuong Pham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Beilstein-Institut 2025-06-01
Series:Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.63
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author Ha Huu Do
Khac Binh Nguyen
Phuong N. Nguyen
Hoai Phuong Pham
author_facet Ha Huu Do
Khac Binh Nguyen
Phuong N. Nguyen
Hoai Phuong Pham
author_sort Ha Huu Do
collection DOAJ
description The advancement of affordable, ultrastable, and efficient electrode materials for basic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) plays a crucial role in industrial hydrogen manufacture, resolving problems caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Ni-based electrocatalysts have been well accepted as potential candidates to replace Pt-based electrocatalysts for HER because of their suitable Gibbs free hydrogen adsorption energy, good intrinsic catalytic properties, and high stability. However, solution-based synthetic approaches can be highly harmful to human beings. In this study, Ni/NiO nanolayers were prepared on stainless steel (SS) via a facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering with various O2 flow rates. The O2 flow rate not only changed the crystal phase but also affected the morphology and atomic ratio of materials, leading to optimized HER efficiency. The evaluation of catalytic activities revealed that the optimal sample of Ni/NiO/SS-10 displayed a higher HER performance than bare SS. To produce H2 at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2, this electrode required a low overpotential of 184 mV and demonstrated remarkable durability over 12 h of operation. The high efficiency is attributed to the collaborative work of the NiO and Ni metal components and the good electrical conductivity of SS, which is advantageous for dissociative adsorption of water molecules, recombination of hydrogen atoms, and improvement of electronic/ionic motion. This work may introduce a facile and eco-friendly strategy for fabricating noble metal-free, efficient nanomaterials for electrocatalytic HER.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Beilstein-Institut
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series Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
spelling doaj-art-8d21e9d7f7d14dbfb2121edd76bc26e62025-08-20T03:28:17ZengBeilstein-InstitutBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology2190-42862025-06-0116183784610.3762/bjnano.16.632190-4286-16-63Facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of Ni/NiO on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reactionHa Huu Do0Khac Binh Nguyen1Phuong N. Nguyen2Hoai Phuong Pham3NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 29TL Street, Ward Thanh Loc, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam The advancement of affordable, ultrastable, and efficient electrode materials for basic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) plays a crucial role in industrial hydrogen manufacture, resolving problems caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Ni-based electrocatalysts have been well accepted as potential candidates to replace Pt-based electrocatalysts for HER because of their suitable Gibbs free hydrogen adsorption energy, good intrinsic catalytic properties, and high stability. However, solution-based synthetic approaches can be highly harmful to human beings. In this study, Ni/NiO nanolayers were prepared on stainless steel (SS) via a facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering with various O2 flow rates. The O2 flow rate not only changed the crystal phase but also affected the morphology and atomic ratio of materials, leading to optimized HER efficiency. The evaluation of catalytic activities revealed that the optimal sample of Ni/NiO/SS-10 displayed a higher HER performance than bare SS. To produce H2 at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2, this electrode required a low overpotential of 184 mV and demonstrated remarkable durability over 12 h of operation. The high efficiency is attributed to the collaborative work of the NiO and Ni metal components and the good electrical conductivity of SS, which is advantageous for dissociative adsorption of water molecules, recombination of hydrogen atoms, and improvement of electronic/ionic motion. This work may introduce a facile and eco-friendly strategy for fabricating noble metal-free, efficient nanomaterials for electrocatalytic HER.https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.63electrocatalystsmagnetron sputteringnickelnickel oxidewater electrolysis
spellingShingle Ha Huu Do
Khac Binh Nguyen
Phuong N. Nguyen
Hoai Phuong Pham
Facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of Ni/NiO on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
electrocatalysts
magnetron sputtering
nickel
nickel oxide
water electrolysis
title Facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of Ni/NiO on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction
title_full Facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of Ni/NiO on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction
title_fullStr Facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of Ni/NiO on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction
title_full_unstemmed Facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of Ni/NiO on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction
title_short Facile one-step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of Ni/NiO on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction
title_sort facile one step radio frequency magnetron sputtering of ni nio on stainless steel for an efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction
topic electrocatalysts
magnetron sputtering
nickel
nickel oxide
water electrolysis
url https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.63
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AT phuongnnguyen facileonestepradiofrequencymagnetronsputteringofninioonstainlesssteelforanefficientelectrodeforhydrogenevolutionreaction
AT hoaiphuongpham facileonestepradiofrequencymagnetronsputteringofninioonstainlesssteelforanefficientelectrodeforhydrogenevolutionreaction