Electrocatalytic performance and structural characterization of NiFe phosphosulphide supported on MXene/Ni foam for hydro­gen evolution reaction in alkaline and simulated alkaline seawater

Original scientific paper

Authors

  • Nur Quratul Ainni Muhammad Esham Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1210-6919
  • Nurul Atiqah Izzati Md Ishak Research Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation (CCDCU), Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5 Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0702-7738
  • Suhaila Mohd Sauid Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6567-7843
  • Noor Fitrah Abu Bakar Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0270-424X
  • Saidur Rahman Research Centre for Nanomaterials and Energy Technology (RCNMET), School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, 47500 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2656-3034
  • Siti Kartom Kamarudin Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0383-5049

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3279

Keywords:

Nickel-iron catalyst, MXene-modified Ni foam, dual-anionic doping, alkaline seawater electrolysis, green hydrogen production

Abstract

Efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline and seawater media are essential to advance green hydrogen production. In this study, a phosphorus and sulphur dual-anionic doping approach was utilized to synthesise bimetallic nickel-iron phosphosulphide (NiFePS) on Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene-modified nickel foam (MXene/NF) via hydrothermal growth and phosphosulphidation. Structural analysis of the NiFePS/MXene/NF using field emission scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of well-developed interconnected flower-like archi­tectures uniformly distributed across the MXene/NF substrate. Electrochemical properties of the material were analysed using linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The NiFePS/MXene/NF electrocatalyst required overpotentials of 103 and 164 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² in 1 M KOH and 1 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl, respectively, lower than those of the undoped NiFe/MXene/NF (228 and 223 mV). NiFePS/MXene/NF also exhibited lower Tafel slopes (223 and 166 mV dec⁻¹) compared to NiFe/MXene/NF (375 and 227 mV dec⁻¹) in the respective electrolytes, along with reduced charge transfer resistance (0.64 vs. 2.45 Ω in 1 M KOH; 1.17 Ω vs. 1.29 Ω in 1 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl). The electrocatalyst also maintained stable operation at 100 mA cm⁻² for 24 hours in both media. These findings show that phosphorus and sulphur co-doping offers a promising strategy to developing high-performance NiFe-based HER catalysts for both alkaline and simulated seawater electrolysis.

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Published

23-06-2026

Issue

Vol. 16 (2026)

Section

Electrocatalysis

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Copyright (c) 2026 Nur Quratul Ainni Muhammad Esham, Nurul Atiqah Izzati Md Ishak, Suhaila Mohd Sauid, Noor Fitrah Abu Bakar, Saidur Rahman, Siti Kartom Kamarudin

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Electrocatalytic performance and structural characterization of NiFe phosphosulphide supported on MXene/Ni foam for hydro­gen evolution reaction in alkaline and simulated alkaline seawater: Original scientific paper. (2026). Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering, 16, Article 3279. https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3279

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