Electrodeposited Ni–Co–B alloy: application in water electrolysis

In the present study, a new alloy, Ni–Co–B, was investigated for its possible application in water electrolysis and as corrosion resistant coating. The electrolytic alloy used for the present work was deposited by using a pulsed square wave current, having an average current density of about 0.018–0076 A/cm2, with a frequency of about 1000 Hz. The alloy was epitaxially electrodeposited on stainless steel substrates. The average coating thickness is about 20–40 μm and the surface hardness ranges from 750 to 950 VHN (10 g). The thermal conductivity of the electrolytic alloy was tested and the value obtained was about 0.7394 cal/cm s. Furthermore, their electrical conductivity was also tested and the value obtained was 6.8123×107 Ω/m. The XRD analysis of the electrodeposited Ni–Co–B showed a crystalline nature with binary alloy and oxide mixture. The electrocatalytic properties of the alloy were studied by cyclic voltametry in an alkaline medium (1 M KOH). The material showed high electrocatalytic activity for water electrolysis.