Non-noble metal composite cathodes for hydrogen evolution. Part II: The Ni-MoO2 coatings electrodeposited from nickel chloride-ammonium chloride bath containing MoO2 powder particles

Abstract

In this work the procedure of the deposition of composite Ni-MoO2 coatings onto Ni mesh from the nickel chloride-ammonium chloride electrolyte containing suspended MoO2 powder particles, under simulated industrial deposition conditions for commercial cathodes, has been presented. The morphology of the obtained coatings was investigated by SEM, the composition by EDS and the phase composition by XRD techniques. The polarization characteristics for hydrogen evolution on the obtained Ni-MoO2 coatings were investigated in the 32 wt.% NaOH at 90 degrees C and compared with the one recorded for the commercial De Nora's coating (DN). It was shown that the best Ni-MoO2 coating posses identical polarization characteristics as the commercial one. By the cross section and XRD analysis of deposited samples it was confirmed that MoO2 powder particles were occluded by the Ni deposit, being uniformly distributed in the deposit.