THE BEHAVIOR OF NI-CO-P BASE AMORPHOUS-ALLOYS FOR WATER ELECTROLYSIS IN STRONGLY ALKALINE-SOLUTIONS PREPARED THROUGH ELECTROLESS DEPOSITION

The electrochemical behaviour of different binary Ni-P and Co-P as wel l as ternary Ni-Co-P amorphous metal alloys prepared by electroless de position has been studied to test their suitability as electrocatalyst materials for water electrolysis. Exchange current densities and Tafe l slopes for the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions were determin ed from quasi-steady state polarization curves obtained in 1 M KOH and 6 M KOH solutions at temperatures ranging from 30-degrees to 90-degre es-C. In addition, the influence of thermal, chemical and electrochemi cal treatments on the polarization behaviour was studied and X-ray ana lysis and SEM were applied for the characterization of the sample mate rial. The electrochemical behaviour of the electroless prepared amorph ous metal alloys was found to be advantageous and very similar to that already reported for the conventionally prepared amorphous materials.