A greener approach: microwave-assisted synthesis of nickel selenides anchored on hollow carbon spheres for hydrogen production in alkaline solutions

Clinton M. Masemola; Zakhele Ndala; Nosipho Moloto; Zikhona Tetana; Zhiyu Li; Ella C. Linganiso-Dziike

doi:10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102794

A greener approach: microwave-assisted synthesis of nickel selenides anchored on hollow carbon spheres for hydrogen production in alkaline solutions

Clinton M. Masemola
, Zakhele Ndala
, Nosipho Moloto^*
, Zikhona Tetana
, Zhiyu Li
, Ella C. Linganiso-Dziike^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A rapid, microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was used to synthesize four distinct nickel selenide phases (NiSe, NiSe₂, Ni₃Se₂, and Ni₃Se₄) and their composites with HCSs for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The HCSs/Ni_xSe_y composites exhibited significantly improved HER performance compared to pure nickel selenides, with overpotentials of 211 mV (HCSs/NiSe), 267 mV (HCSs/NiSe₂), 242 mV (HCSs/Ni₃Se₂), and 280 mV (HCSs/Ni₃Se₄) at −10 mA/cm². These composites also demonstrated higher electrochemical active surface areas such as 120 cm² for HCSs/Ni₃Se₄ vs. 57.5 cm² for pure Ni₃Se₄, lower Tafel slopes (41–61 mV/dec), and reduced charge-transfer resistance (61 Ω for HCSs/NiSe vs. 123 Ω for pure NiSe). The enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic interaction between Ni_xSe_y and the conductive-defect-rich HCSs, which facilitated electron transport, exposed active sites, and modulated interfacial electronic structure. This green synthesis approach supports sustainable hydrogen production and aligns with SDGs 7 and 13.

Original language	English
Article number	102794
Journal	Results in Chemistry
Volume	18
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102794
Publication status	Published - Nov 2025
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction
Hollow carbon spheres (HCSs)
Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis
Nickel selenide nanocomposites

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10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102794

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@article{0a1e33b9ae15431a9b03fe9f190195a9,

title = "A greener approach: microwave-assisted synthesis of nickel selenides anchored on hollow carbon spheres for hydrogen production in alkaline solutions",

abstract = "A rapid, microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was used to synthesize four distinct nickel selenide phases (NiSe, NiSe2, Ni3Se2, and Ni3Se4) and their composites with HCSs for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The HCSs/NixSey composites exhibited significantly improved HER performance compared to pure nickel selenides, with overpotentials of 211 mV (HCSs/NiSe), 267 mV (HCSs/NiSe2), 242 mV (HCSs/Ni3Se2), and 280 mV (HCSs/Ni3Se4) at −10 mA/cm2. These composites also demonstrated higher electrochemical active surface areas such as 120 cm2 for HCSs/Ni3Se4 vs. 57.5 cm2 for pure Ni3Se4, lower Tafel slopes (41{\textendash}61 mV/dec), and reduced charge-transfer resistance (61 Ω for HCSs/NiSe vs. 123 Ω for pure NiSe). The enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic interaction between NixSey and the conductive-defect-rich HCSs, which facilitated electron transport, exposed active sites, and modulated interfacial electronic structure. This green synthesis approach supports sustainable hydrogen production and aligns with SDGs 7 and 13.",

keywords = "Alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction, Hollow carbon spheres (HCSs), Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, Nickel selenide nanocomposites",

author = "Masemola, \{Clinton M.\} and Zakhele Ndala and Nosipho Moloto and Zikhona Tetana and Zhiyu Li and Linganiso-Dziike, \{Ella C.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2025",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102794",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

journal = "Results in Chemistry",

issn = "2211-7156",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A greener approach

T2 - microwave-assisted synthesis of nickel selenides anchored on hollow carbon spheres for hydrogen production in alkaline solutions

AU - Masemola, Clinton M.

AU - Ndala, Zakhele

AU - Moloto, Nosipho

AU - Tetana, Zikhona

AU - Li, Zhiyu

AU - Linganiso-Dziike, Ella C.

PY - 2025/11

Y1 - 2025/11

N2 - A rapid, microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was used to synthesize four distinct nickel selenide phases (NiSe, NiSe2, Ni3Se2, and Ni3Se4) and their composites with HCSs for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The HCSs/NixSey composites exhibited significantly improved HER performance compared to pure nickel selenides, with overpotentials of 211 mV (HCSs/NiSe), 267 mV (HCSs/NiSe2), 242 mV (HCSs/Ni3Se2), and 280 mV (HCSs/Ni3Se4) at −10 mA/cm2. These composites also demonstrated higher electrochemical active surface areas such as 120 cm2 for HCSs/Ni3Se4 vs. 57.5 cm2 for pure Ni3Se4, lower Tafel slopes (41–61 mV/dec), and reduced charge-transfer resistance (61 Ω for HCSs/NiSe vs. 123 Ω for pure NiSe). The enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic interaction between NixSey and the conductive-defect-rich HCSs, which facilitated electron transport, exposed active sites, and modulated interfacial electronic structure. This green synthesis approach supports sustainable hydrogen production and aligns with SDGs 7 and 13.

AB - A rapid, microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was used to synthesize four distinct nickel selenide phases (NiSe, NiSe2, Ni3Se2, and Ni3Se4) and their composites with HCSs for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The HCSs/NixSey composites exhibited significantly improved HER performance compared to pure nickel selenides, with overpotentials of 211 mV (HCSs/NiSe), 267 mV (HCSs/NiSe2), 242 mV (HCSs/Ni3Se2), and 280 mV (HCSs/Ni3Se4) at −10 mA/cm2. These composites also demonstrated higher electrochemical active surface areas such as 120 cm2 for HCSs/Ni3Se4 vs. 57.5 cm2 for pure Ni3Se4, lower Tafel slopes (41–61 mV/dec), and reduced charge-transfer resistance (61 Ω for HCSs/NiSe vs. 123 Ω for pure NiSe). The enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic interaction between NixSey and the conductive-defect-rich HCSs, which facilitated electron transport, exposed active sites, and modulated interfacial electronic structure. This green synthesis approach supports sustainable hydrogen production and aligns with SDGs 7 and 13.

KW - Alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

KW - Hollow carbon spheres (HCSs)

KW - Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis

KW - Nickel selenide nanocomposites

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105020575650

U2 - 10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102794

DO - 10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102794

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105020575650

SN - 2211-7156

VL - 18

JO - Results in Chemistry

JF - Results in Chemistry

M1 - 102794

ER -

A greener approach: microwave-assisted synthesis of nickel selenides anchored on hollow carbon spheres for hydrogen production in alkaline solutions

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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