FeNi3 and Ni-based nanoparticles as electrocatalysts for magnetically-enhanced alkaline water electrolysis

Today, hydrogen mainly originates from fossil sources (gas, oil, and coal). Room temperature water electrolysis is an interesting alternative for renewable electricity storage, even if it is well-known that high-temperature systems are more efficient. To address this issue, we studied different non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) catalysts for alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by recording cyclic voltamperograms with a rotating disk electrode set up. Physicochemical characterizations of Ni-based and FeNi3-based catalysts were performed using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Ni synthesized by the hot injection method is a good catalyst for HER, yet still less active than Pt/C. FeNi3 with and without a Ni surface doping is very good OER catalysts, slightly better than commercial unsupported IrO2. Electrochemical tests under alternating magnetic field (AMF) using these nanoparticles are ongoing, as these materials are compatible with AMF activation.