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Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering, Vol. 16 , 2026.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3163

Nickel hydroxide enhanced nickel selenides for oxygen evolution reaction

Francisco J. García-Partida ; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, UANL, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, FCQ, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, CIBYN, PIIT, Apodaca, Nuevo León, C.P, 66628, Mexico
Ricardo Briones-Martínez ; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad S/N Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, N.L, 66451, Mexico
Eduardo M. Sánchez orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-1255-0248 ; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad S/N Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, N.L, 66451, Mexico
Salomé M. de la Parra Arciniega ; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad S/N Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, N.L, 66451, Mexico
Rodrigo Mayen-Mondragon ; UNITA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Vía de la Innovación 410, PIIT-Monterrey Autopista Monterrey km 10, Apodaca 66628, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Nora A. Garcia-Gomez ; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, UANL, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, FCQ, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, CIBYN, PIIT, Apodaca, Nuevo León, C.P, 66628, Mexico *

* Corresponding author.

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Abstract

Transition to sustainable energy systems relies on the development of efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production technologies. A major challenge in this field is designing high-performance electrocatalysts based on earth-abundant, low-cost materials. In this work, three nickel selenide phases, NiSe₂, NiSe, and Ni₃Se₂, along with their corresponding Ni(OH)₂-modified heterostructures, were synthesized on nickel foam and systematically evaluated as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts in alkaline media. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed that the incorporation of Ni(OH)₂ profoundly influenced nucleation pathways and pro­moted more homogeneous active-phase distribution across the three-dimensional substrate. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated that all Ni(OH)₂-modified electrodes exhibited enhanced catalytic performance compared to their unmodified counterparts. Among them, NiSe-OH supported on nickel foam, referred to as NiSe-OH/NF, achieved the lowest overpotential of 177 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and displayed favourable reaction kinetics, as reflected by its Tafel slope. The improved activity was attributed to synergistic interactions between Ni and Se, the activation of the Ni(OH)₂/NiOOH redox couple, and optimized charge-transfer pathways facilitated by the heterostructured interface. Long-term stability tests confirmed that the hybrid catalysts maintained over 86 % of their maximum current density after extended operation. These results establish Ni-Se/Ni(OH)₂ heterostructures as promising, earth-abundant materials for efficient alkaline OER and offer new insights into interface engineering for next-generation electrocatalyst design.

Keywords

Alkaline water splitting; electrocatalyst; heterostructured interfaces; transition metal chalcogenides

Hrčak ID:

346199

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/346199

Publication date:

7.3.2026.

Visits: 62 *