Three-dimensionally ordered macro-/mesoporous Ni as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction

By Sun, Tingting; Zhang, Chengwei; Chen, Jianfeng; Yan, Yushan; Zakhidov, Anvar A.; Baughman, Ray H. & Xu, Lianbin
Published in J. Mater. Chem. A The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015

Abstract

Three-dimensionally (3D) ordered macro-/mesoporous (3DOM/m) Ni is fabricated by the chemical reduction deposition method using lyotropic liquid crystals (LLC) to template the mesostructure within the regular voids of a colloidal crystal (opal). The thereby achieved structural advantages of combining well-ordered bicontinuous mesopores with 3D interconnected periodic macropores, such as abundant exposed catalytically active sites, efficient mass transport, and high electrical conductivity, make this non-noble metal structure an excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst. The 3DOM/m Ni exhibits a low onset overpotential of 63 mV (vs. RHE) and a small Tafel slope of 52 mV per decade, as well as a long-term durability in alkaline medi

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