Study of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Ni‐Mo‐P Electrodes in Alkaline Solutions

Abstract

Nickel‐molybdenum‐phosphorous electrodes were prepared by electrodeposition, and their activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction was studied in 1 M NaOH using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and steady‐state polarization techniques. Active and stable electrodes were obtained by deposition of three successive layers of Ni, Ni‐P, and Ni‐Mo‐P and creating a concentration gradient in the topmost layer. It was found that the increase in electrode activity was due to increases in both the surface roughness and the intrinsic activity, as compared with Ni‐P, Ni‐Mo, and Ni electrodes. The reaction mechanism and the kinetic parameters were determined.