Electro-oxidation of alcohols over electrochemically activated nickel alloys for energy-saving hydrogen production

Water electrolysis has been considered as a green and sustainable technique for hydrogen production, while the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the insufficient active sites remain bottlenecks for practical performance. Herein, we present in situ electrochemical activation of nickel (Ni) alloys for water splitting assisted by the electro-oxidation of organic molecules. It has been discovered that in situ electrochemical activation results in an increased degree of metal oxidation, thereby inducing more high-valence active metal species (NiOOH). These species not only function as active sites for surface adsorption but also facilitate electron transfer. Subsequently, two representative organic molecules, methanol and ethanol, are introduced to further promote the water electrolysis. Through a combination of electrochemical testing and in situ Raman spectroscopy, it has been revealed that the activated Ni alloy demonstrates a stronger response to the adsorbed alcohol molecules and tends to form β-NiOOH at lower potentials compared to the pristine one, resulting in enhanced water splitting. The present work advances a simple activation method for transition metal-based electrocatalysts for highly efficient alcohol oxidation-assisted water electrolysis.