Electrochemical properties of Ni-P electrode materials modified with nickel oxide and metallic cobalt powders

Ni-P+NiO+Co composite layers were obtained by electrolytic codeposition of amorphous Ni-P with NiO and Co powders from an electrolyte containing suspension of powders. In order to obtain improvements in electrochemical properties of these layers, they were modified by thermal and chemical treatment. The activity of the obtained layers for the hydrogen evolution reaction was studied in 5 M KOH using steady-state polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was found, that chemical treatment of Ni-P+NiO+Co layer enlarges the real surface area. This layer is characterized by enhanced electrochemical activity towards hydrogen evolution as compared with Ni-P+NiO+Co as-deposited and Ni-P+NiO+Co after thermal treatment layers. (C) 2004 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.