Magnetron Sputter Deposited NiCu Alloy Catalysts for Production of Hydrogen Through Electrolysis in Alkaline Water

NiCu alloy catalysts with varying composition for electrolysis in alkaline water have been prepared by DC magnetron co-sputtering under Ar gas environment at substrate bias of  60 V. Nanocrystallinity, lattice parameters and grain size of the NiCu alloys have been measured by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD). Elemental and microstructural analysis of the NiCu alloy have been done by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To analyze the NiCu alloys activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), cyclic voltammetry measurements have been done in a 6 M KOH at room temperature and further HER activities have been correlated with the varying Cu concentration in NiCu alloy catalysts.