Microwave‐Assisted Polyol Synthesis of Carbon‐Supported Nickel–Molybdenum Alloy Cathode Electrocatalysts for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis
Rossana Gentile, Laura Zeni Cunha, Carlos A. Campos‐Roldán, Sabrina Campagna Zignani, Antonino Salvatore Aricò, Jacques Rozière, Deborah Jones, Sara CavaliereABSTRACT
A novel microwave‐assisted polyol synthesis was developed to synthesize Ni‐Mo catalysts supported on carbon black for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Optimized Ni‐Mo particles, Ni 85 Mo 15 /KB, demonstrated promising HER activity in alkaline medium, as confirmed by measurements using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) and from in situ single‐cell anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) characterization. The role of Mo in the alloy catalyst on the reaction kinetics, and of the influence of the operating temperature and the KOH concentration were investigated. Electrolysis performed under galvanostatic conditions up to 260 h led to improved cell performance over time. This progressive enhancement is attributed to complete OH − exchange within the membrane and the gradual activation of the membrane‐electrode assembly (MEA), reflecting the adaptability of the system under sustained operation. These findings demonstrate a highly effective and innovative preparation strategy that delivers high stability for AEMWE cathode electrocatalysts, confirming both the robustness of the materials and their strong potential for long‐term hydrogen production applications.