Reduced graphene oxide-polyimide/carbon nanotube film decorated with NiSe nanoparticles for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions

An efficient electrocatalyst based earth-abundant materials for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a prerequisite for improving the efficiency of producing hydrogen. However, the synthesis of such electrocatalysts by a simple and environmentally friendly method is still a tremendous challenge. Herein, NiSe nanoparticles were in situ deposited on the reduced graphene oxide-polyimide/carbon nanotube (RGO-PI/CNT) film by a green electrodeposition method. The NiSe nanoparticles on the RGO-PI/CNT (NiSe-RGO-PI/CNT) film was employed directly as a highly active HER electrocatalyst. The RGO-PI/CNT film allowed NiSe nanoparticles to grow rapidly on its surface. NiSe nanoparticles with a small size of 35–45   nm were distributed uniformly on the surface of the RGO-PI/CNT film. The good dispersity of NiSe nanoparticles permitted the exposure of more active sites, which enhanced the activity of HER on the NiSe-RGO-PI/CNT film. The NiSe-RGO-PI/CNT film performed well HER behaviors featured by a low overpotential (270   mV), a small Tafel slope (61   mV   dec −1 ) and a considerable stability. The efficient HER performance of the NiSe-RGO-PI/CNT film was originated from the synergistic effect between the RGO-PI/CNT film and NiSe nanoparticles. This exploration provided a straightforward and green method to prepare a film electrocatalyst for HER.