Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies

Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies

Controlled Electrophoretic Deposition of Ti3C2 Mxene on Ni(OH)2 Nanoparticles/NF for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Document Type : Original Reaearch Article

Authors
Nazli Morovati Sharifi 1
Samira Yousefzadeh 2
1 PhD student, Faculty of Physics, Department of Basic Sciences, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Physics, Department of Basic Sciences, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran.
10.30501/jamt.2026.547527.1347
Abstract
In this study, nickel hydroxide nanoparticles were deposited on nickel foam (NF) via electrodeposition, and then titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂) MXene was coated using the electrophoretic deposition technique at different voltages (1, 3, and 5 V) and times (10, 20, and 30 min), resulting in the Ti₃C₂ MXene/Ni(OH)₂/NF electrode. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed the porous nanostructure of the Ti₃C₂ MXene/Ni(OH)₂/NF electrode. Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the chemical composition and crystalline structure of the synthesized electrodes. Electrochemical measurements indicated that the optimal deposition voltage and time for HER were 3 V and 30 min, respectively. This research introduced the Ti₃C₂ MXene/Ni(OH)₂/NF electrode as a promising alternative to rare and expensive electrocatalysts and demonstrated the effect of voltage and time on the electrophoretic deposition of Ti₃C₂ MXene on the HER activity of the Ti₃C₂ MXene/Ni(OH)₂/NF electrode.
Keywords
Nickel Hydroxide Nanoparticles
Titanium Carbide MXene
Electrophoretic
Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Subjects
1.      Ahmed, M., Lakhan, M. N., Shar, A. H., Zehra, I., Hanan, A., Ali, I., & Wang, J. (2022). Electrochemical performance of grown layer of Ni(OH)2 on nickel foam and treatment with phosphide and selenide for efficient water splitting. Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, 99(1), 100281. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jics.2021.100281
2.      Asen, P., Esfandiar, A., & Mehdipour, H. (2022). Urchin-like hierarchical ruthenium cobalt oxide nanosheets on Ti3C2Tx MXene as a binder-free bifunctional electrode for overall water splitting and supercapacitors. Nanoscale, 14(4), 1347-1362. doi: 10.1039/D1NR07145A
3.      Barajas, J., Lozano, L., Grimaldos, J., Güiza, V., & Blanco, S. (2018). Influence of process parameters on the electrophoretic deposition of zirconia nanoparticle coatings. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1119(1), 012015. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1119/1/012015
4.      Danilovic, N., Subbaraman, R., Strmcnik, D., Chang, K.-C., Paulikas, A. P., Stamenkovic, V. R., & Markovic, N. M. (2012). Enhancing the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction activity through the bifunctionality of Ni(OH)2/metal catalysts. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 51(50), 12495-12498. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201204842
5.      Deng, Z., Wang, J., Nie, Y., & Wei, Z. (2017). Tuning the interface of Ni@Ni(OH)2/Pd/rGO catalyst to enhance hydrogen evolution activity and stability. Journal of Power Sources, 352, 26-33. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.03.111
6.      Durairaj, S., Annamalai, P., Dhanalakshmi, R., & Ghosh, D. (2024). Advances and outlook of Ti3C2-based catalysts for electrocatalytic hydrogen production: A comprehensive overview. Energy & Fuels, 38(21), 20258-20284. doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.4c03966
7.      Feng, A., Yu, Y., Wang, Y., Jiang, F., Yu, Y., Mi, L., & Song, L. (2017). Two-dimensional MXene Ti3C2 produced by exfoliation of Ti3AlC2. Materials & Design, 114, 161-166. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2016.10.053
8.      Gong, M., Wang, D. Y., Chen, C. C., Hwang, B. J., & Dai, H. (2016). A mini review on nickel-based electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. Nano Research, 9(1), 28-46. doi: 10.1007/s12274-015-0965-x
9.      Gu, Y., Wang, Y., Shi, J., Yang, M., Rui, Y., An, W., & Men, Y. (2020). Well-dispersed Pt nanodots interfaced with Ni(OH)2 on anodized nickel foam for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 45(51), 27067-27077. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.07.047
10.    Guo, J., Zhao, Y., liu, A., & Ma, T. (2019). Electrostatic self-assembly of 2D delaminated MXene (Ti3C2) onto Ni foam with superior electrochemical performance for supercapacitor. Electrochimica Acta, 305, 164-174. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2019.03.025
11.    Hassmann, K., & Kühne, H. M. (1993). Primary energy sources for hydrogen production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 18(8), 635-640. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3199(93)90115-Q
12.    Hu, X., Tian, X., Lin, Y. W., & Wang, Z. (2019). Nickel foam and stainless steel mesh as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction and overall water splitting in alkaline media. RSC Advances, 9(54), 31563-31571. doi: 10.1039/C9RA07258F
13.    Kadja, G. T., Natalya, S. A. C., Balqis, F., Azhari, N. J., Nurdini, N., Sumboja, A., … & khalil, M. (2023). Gold nanoparticles−supported Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects, 36, 101059. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoso.2023.101059
14.    Li, D. Y., Liao, L. L., Zhou, H. Q., Zhao, Y., Cai, F. M., Zeng, J. S., & Yu, F. (2021). Highly active non-noble electrocatalyst from Co2P/Ni2P nanohybrids for pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction. Materials Today Physics, 16, 100314. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtphys.2020.100314
15.    Li, S., Tuo, P., Xie, J., Zhang, X., Xu, J., Bao, J., Xie, Y. (2018). Ultrathin MXene nanosheets with rich fluorine termination groups realizing efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Nano Energy, 47, 512-518. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.03.022
16.    Liu, X., Wang, L., Ji, S., Linkov, V., Fu, Q., Li, Z., & Wang, H. (2023). Modulating surface electron density of Ni(OH)2 nanosheets with longitudinal Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets by Schottky effect toward enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction. Dalton Transactions, 52(28), 9721-9730. doi: 10.1039/D3DT01428B
17.    Lokhande, P. E., & Chavan, U. S. (2019). Nanostructured Ni(OH)2/rGO composite chemically deposited on Ni foam for high performance of supercapacitor applications. Materials Science for Energy Technologies, 2(1), 52-56. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mset.2018.10.003
18.    López Ortiz, A., Meléndez Zaragoza, M. J., & Collins-Martínez, V. (2016). Hydrogen production research in Mexico: A review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41(48), 23363-23379. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.07.004
19.    Marbán, G., & Valdés-Solís, T. (2007). Towards the hydrogen economy? International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 32(12), 1625-1637. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2006.12.017
20.    Mohammed, M. M. M., & Chun, D. M. (2019). Deposition of Ni(OH)2 on nickel substrate using vacuum kinetic spray and its application to high-performance supercapacitor. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 30(18), 17481-17490. doi: 10.1007/s10854-019-02098-y
21.    Nikolaidis, P., & Poullikkas, A. (2017). A comparative overview of hydrogen production processes. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 67, 597-611. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.044
22.    Ruqia, B., & Choi, S. I. (2018). Pt and Pt–Ni(OH)2 electrodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline electrolytes and their nanoscaled electrocatalysts. ChemSusChem, 11(16), 2643-2653. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201800781
23.    Sayyar, S., & Yousefzadeh, S. (2025). Hydrothermally synthesized binder-free nickel oxide (NiO) with different morphologies on nickel foam in hydrogen evolution reaction. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 162, 150498. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.150498
24.    Shi, Y., & Zhang, B. (2016). Recent advances in transition metal phosphide nanomaterials: synthesis and applications in hydrogen evolution reaction. Chemical Society Reviews, 45(6), 1529-1541. doi: 10.1039/C5CS00434A
25.    Singh, S., Jain, S., Ps, V., Tiwari, A. K., Nouni, M. R., Pandey, J. K., & Goel, S. (2015). Hydrogen: A sustainable fuel for future of the transport sector. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 51, 623-633. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.06.040
26.    Tang, R., Xiong, S., Gong, D., Deng, Y., Wang, Y., Su, L., & Liao, C. (2020). Ti3C2 2D MXene: Recent progress and perspectives in photocatalysis. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 12(51), 56663-56680. doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c12905
27.    Veziroğlu, T. N., & Şahi, S. (2008). 21st Century’s energy: Hydrogen energy system. Energy Conversion and Management, 49(7), 1820-1831. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2007.08.015
28.    Voiry, D., Chhowalla, M., Gogotsi, Y., Kotov, N. A., Li, Y., Penner, R. M., …, & Weiss, P. S. (2018). Best Practices for Reporting Electrocatalytic Performance of Nanomaterials. ACS Nano, 12(10), 9635-9638. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.8b07700
29.    Xiao, W., Yan, D., Zhang, Y., Yang, X., & Zhang, T. (2021). Heterostructured MoSe2/oxygen-terminated Ti3C2 MXene architectures for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Energy & Fuels, 35(5), 4609-4615. doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c00123
30.    Xu, Q., Jiang, H., Zhang, H., Hu, Y., & Li, C. (2019). Heterogeneous interface engineered atomic configuration on ultrathin Ni(OH)2/Ni3S2 nanoforests for efficient water splitting. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 242, 60-66. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.09.064
31.    Zhong, W., Xiao, B., Lin, Z., Wang, Z., Huang, L., Shen, S., Gu, L. (2021). RhSe2: A superior 3D electrocatalyst with multiple active facets for hydrogen evolution reaction in both acid and alkaline solutions. Advanced Materials, 33(9), 2007894. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202007894
32.    Zhou, W., Jia, J., Lu, J., Yang, L., Hou, D., Li, G., & Chen, S. (2016). Recent developments of carbon-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. Nano Energy, 28, 29-43. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.08.027
Journal of Advanced Materials and Technologies
Volume 15, Issue 1
Spring 2026
Pages 15-26

  • Receive Date 16 December 2025
  • Revise Date 26 May 2026
  • Accept Date 14 June 2026