We have performed OER activity of thin Ni(OH)2 electrocatalysts in 1M KOH . To know the change in surface chemical structure, we have performed XPS analysis before and after stability. After 20 hours long stability, the electrocatalyst shows a peak for Ni(0). Can someone suggest an explanation for the conversion of Ni(II) to Ni(0) during the OER process?
Manav Saxena The image you sent shows the XPS spectra of Ni 2p binding energy before and after the OER stability test. The peak for Ni(0) in the after spectrum indicates that some of the Ni(II) species were converted to Ni(0) during the OER process.
The OER stability test's partial conversion of Ni(II) to Ni(0) may have resulted from a reduction process that took place at the catalysts' surface, Ni(OH)2. The electrocatalyst may be experiencing a reduction process in an extremely alkaline environment such as 1molr KOH because of electrons or hydrogen ions in the electrolyte, which would cause the oxidation state of Ni(II) to decrease to Ni(0).
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