The present invention relates to a method of preparing a
composite material, in particular one useful as a catalyst in an electrolytic
hydrogen evolution reaction and / or the
oxygen evolution reaction and / or
urea oxidation-assisted water
electrolysis. Provided is a method of preparing a
composite material, the method comprising the steps of: (i) electrochemically depositing material onto a substrate from a deposition solution comprising a
nickel (II) salt and
graphene oxide, to obtain a
nickel-reduced
graphene oxide composite material comprising
nickel dispersed on reduced
graphene oxide, said composite material being deposited on the substrate; (ii) after step (i), placing the substrate, having the nickel-reduced graphene
oxide composite deposited thereon, in an alkaline solution along with a counter
electrode; and (iii) after step (ii), partially electrochemically oxidising the nickel, to obtain a partially oxidised nickel-reduced graphene
oxide composite material comprising partially oxidised nickel dispersed on reduced graphene oxide, said composite material being deposited on the substrate. The composite of the invention demonstrates high catalytic activity for electrolytic
hydrogen production under
alkaline water electrolysis conditions (for example, a
hydrogen evolution current of up to 500 mA cm-2 at -1.35 V against a
Reversible Hydrogen Electrode).
High activity is demonstrated even when the substrate (on which the composite is deposited) does not contain any, or at most
trace amounts, of nickel. Thus, the
electrode of the invention (that is, the combination of composite material and substrate) demonstrates higher catalytic activity per
unit mass of nickel compared to previous electrodes based on nickel foam. The invention also provides a composite material, an
electrode, a method of electrolytic hydrogen and / or production under alkaline
electrolysis conditions, and a method of electrolytic
urea oxidation under
urea oxidation-assisted water electrolysis conditions, thereof.