Three-dimensional Nanoporous Cu-Doped Ni Coating as Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Hydrazine Sensing and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Abstract Developing a cost-effective and efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst with simple synthesis strategy for hydrazine sensing and H evolution reaction (HER) is of utmost importance. Herein, a three-dimensional porous Cu-doped metallic Ni coating on Ti mesh (Ni(Cu) coating/TM) was successfully electrodeposited by a facile electrochemical method. Electrochemical etching of the electrodeposited Ni(Cu) coating with metallic Ni and Cu mixed phase on a Ti mesh contributed to the formation of a three-dimensional porous Cu-doped metallic Ni coating. Owing to the large specific surface area and enhanced electroconductivity caused by the porous structure and Cu doping, respectively, the developed Ni(Cu) coating/TM exhibited superior hydrazine sensing performance and electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The Ni(Cu) coating/TM electrode presented a good sensitivity of 3909 μA mM−1 cm−2 and two relatively broad linear ranges from 0.004 mM to 2.915 mM and from 2.915 mM to 5.691 mM as well as a low detection limit of 1.90 μM. In addition, the Ni(Cu) coating/TM required a relatively low HER overpotential of 140 mV to reach −10 mA cm−2 and exhibited robust durability in alkaline solution. The excellent hydrazine electrooxidation and HER performance guarantee its promising application in hydrazine detection and energy conversion.