Hydrogen evolution on Ni/WC composite coatings

Abstract

The catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of Ni/WC composites obtained by electrochemicaldeposition of nickel from a conventional Watt’s bath, using two different ways of depositing the WC particles, wasinvestigated. All the composite coatings exhibited electrocatalytic activity for the HER larger than that of pure Ni inboth alkaline and acid solution. The activity increased with increasing content of WC in the coating and, in thepulsed current regime, with increasing frequency of pulsation. In addition, coatings with smaller particles incorporatedexhibited higher activity than those with larger particles. At a constant potential, an order of magnitudehigher current densities were obtained in some cases.