Compositional alteration of low dimensional nickel sulfides under hydrogen evolution reaction conditions in alkaline media

Abstract

Developing cost-effective electrodes for electrochemical water splitting with minimal kinetic losses remains a primary challenge in water electrolysis. Nickel-based dichalcogenides, particularly sulfides, have emerged as promising candidates for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the stability of various nickel sulfide (NixSy) phases under cathodic potentials in alkaline electrolytes is subject to debate. In this study, we investigate the HER activity and durability of both 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) NixSy nanostructures with diverse chemical compositions. Through cross-correlation analysis of spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization data, we elucidate the transformation behavior of these materials under operating conditions. Our findings reveal that NiS2 tends to undergo conversion to nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2), while Ni-rich phases like Ni3S4 and NiS exhibit greater stability. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in 3D nanostructures, the initial formation of a protective hydroxide layer on the surface inhibits further sulfide transformation. This nickel sulfide/hydroxide composite shows an improved HER activity with lower onset potential (−0.25 V), Tafel slope (105 mV s−1), and charge transfer resistance (17.3 Ω).