Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3279
Electrocatalytic performance and structural characterization of NiFe phosphosulphide supported on MXene/Ni foam for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline and simulated alkaline seawater
Nur Quratul Ainni Muhammad Esham
; Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Nurul Atiqah Izzati Md Ishak
; Research Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation (CCDCU), Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5 Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
*
Suhaila Mohd Sauid
; Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
*
Noor Fitrah Abu Bakar
; Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Saidur Rahman
; Research Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation (CCDCU), Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5 Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Siti Kartom Kamarudin
; Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline and seawater media are essential to advance green hydrogen production. In this study, a phosphorus and sulphur dual-anionic doping approach was utilized to synthesise bimetallic nickel-iron phosphosulphide (NiFePS) on Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene-modified nickel foam (MXene/NF) via hydrothermal growth and phosphosulphidation. Structural analysis of the NiFePS/MXene/NF using field emission scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of well-developed interconnected flower-like architectures uniformly distributed across the MXene/NF substrate. Electrochemical properties of the material were analysed using linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The NiFePS/MXene/NF electrocatalyst required overpotentials of 103 and 164 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² in 1 M KOH and 1 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl, respectively, lower than those of the undoped NiFe/MXene/NF (228 and 223 mV). NiFePS/MXene/NF also exhibited lower Tafel slopes (223 and 166 mV dec⁻¹) compared to NiFe/MXene/NF (375 and 227 mV dec⁻¹) in the respective electrolytes, along with reduced charge transfer resistance (0.64 vs. 2.45 Ω in 1 M KOH; 1.17 Ω vs. 1.29 Ω in 1 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl). The electrocatalyst also maintained stable operation at 100 mA cm⁻² for 24 hours in both media. These findings show that phosphorus and sulphur co-doping offers a promising strategy to developing high-performance NiFe-based HER catalysts for both alkaline and simulated seawater electrolysis.
Keywords
Nickel-iron catalyst; MXene-modified Ni foam; dual-anionic doping; alkaline seawater electrolysis; green hydrogen production
Hrčak ID:
351712
URI
Publication date:
23.6.2026.
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