• Ar/H 2 -treated Ni foam introduces Ni 0 sites and defects for improved electrocatalytic activity. • Pulse-electrodeposition produces vertically aligned NiFe(OH) x nanosheets with high accessibility. • Optimized surface activation and deposition parameters enhance OER kinetics. • NiFe(OH) x /NF maintains structural integrity and activity at high current density in AEM cells. Herein, a binder-free NiFe(OH) x oxygen evolution electrocatalyst is directly grown on Ar/H 2 -treated nickel foam via pulse electrodeposition. The Ar/H 2 treatment generates abundant metallic Ni 0 sites and surface defects, enabling strong catalyst–substrate coupling and accelerated charge transport. Systematic optimization of pulse electrodeposition parameters leads to vertically aligned NiFe(OH) x architectures with enhanced electrocatalytic performance. Under optimal conditions (Ni 2+ :Fe 2+ ≈ 10:1, 10 mA·cm −2 , 1 s on/off, 5 pulses), the catalyst delivers low overpotentials of 260 and 344 mV at current densities of 10 and 100 mA·cm −2 , respectively, in 1 M KOH, along with low Tafel slopes of 50 mV·dec −1 . The electrode exhibits stable operation at 100 mA·cm −2 for 24 h and demonstrates robust performance in an anion-exchange membrane electrolyzer, achieving a cell voltage of 1.52 V at 50 mA·cm −2 and 70 °C. These findings demonstrate that Ar/H 2 surface activation, combined with optimized pulse electrodeposition parameters, provides a rational strategy for the development of scalable and binder-free OER electrodes for alkaline water electrolysis.
Gugtapeh et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: