Enhanced oxygen evolution and reduction reactions of porous ternary NiCoFe foam electrodes prepared by dynamic hydrogen template deposition

Abstract

Electrodeposition at high current densities provides excellent means for the production of deposits with a high surface area. Porous deposits attract great interest due to their wide range of possible applications in electrocatalysis. In addition, an advanced porous electrode should have both, micro and nanoscaled features. We report the synthesis of a multiscale open porous foam of NiCoFe and its excellent electrocatalytic performance. At a current density of 1 A cm−2 a 3D dendritic structure with open pores is obtained with pore walls having a morphology that consists of ‘cauliflower-like’ particles containing open multiscaled dendritic structures. Cyclic voltammograms of a smooth NiCoFe electrode are compared with those of the achieved nanodendritic NiCoFe foam electrode. The catalytic activity of the NiCoFe foam is strongly enhanced for both, the cathodic reduction of oxygen and the anodic evolution of oxygen and shows a good reversibility. Therefore the presented new material is promising as bifunctional catalyst in electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices.