Y 2 O 3 -Modified Ni-Co Composite Coating as Cathode Materials for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Titanium Substrate

Ni-Co-Y2O3 composite coating was prepared by electrodeposition from an electroplating bath containing a suspension of Y2O3. The morphology and microstructure in view of their possible application as electrocatalytic materials for the hydrogen evolution reaction were characterized by SEM and XRD, respectively. The electrocatalytic efficiency was evaluated on the basis of steady-state polarization, Tafel curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements carried out in 0.50 M Na2SO4 + 0.10 M H2SO4 solution. It was found that hydrogen evolution reaction proceeded better in the presence of Y2O3. The hydrogen evolution potential of Ni-Co-Y2O3 composite electrode moved positively about 100 mV at 13 mA cm-2 compared with that of Ni-Co alloy electrode.