Ni₃S₂ in Situ Grown on Ni Foam Coupled with Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Solution

Abstract

Searching for a highly efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline solution is still challenging. In this work, we report a HER electrocatalyst composed of Ni foam, Ni₃S₂, and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NF@Ni₃S₂@NCNTs). The good lattice matching between Ni and Ni₃S₂, interstitial doping of C and N atoms, and synergistic effect of NCNTs make NF@Ni₃S₂@NCNTs highly efficient HER electrocatalysts in alkaline solution. NF@Ni₃S₂@NCNTs exhibit an overpotential of 93.89 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2, a Tafel slope of 54 mV dec^-1, and superior stability for HER in 1 M KOH solution. Our findings will promote the reasonable design and synthesis of an efficient electrocatalyst for HER in alkaline electrolytes.