Metal Nickel Foam as an Efficient and Stable Electrode for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Acidic Electrolyte under Reasonable Overpotentials

Acidic electrolytes are advantageous for water electrolysis in the production of hydrogen as there is a large supply of H(+) ions in the solution. In this study, with the applied overpotential larger than the equilibrium potential of Ni(0)/Ni(2+), Ni foam as HER electrode exhibits excellent and stable HER activity with an onset potential of -84 mV (vs RHE), a high current density of 10 mA cm(-2) at -210 mV (vs RHE), and prominent electrochemical durability (longer than 5 days) in acidic electrolyte. The results presented herein may has potential large-scale application in hydrogen energy production.