Abstract
In this study, a nickel(II) N '-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)morpholine-4-carbothiohydrazide complex has been evaluated as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in the presence of 0.2 M [NBu4][BF4], and deaerated DMF. The cyclic voltammetry shows two reduction peaks at-0.95 V and -1.34 V corresponding to the reduction of the couples Ni2+/Ni+1 and Ni1+/Ni respectively and the two oxidation peaks appeared at 0.68 V and 1.04 V. Additionally, the hydrogen evolution reaction was investigated using a known concentration of acetic acid. The second reduction peak was shifted to approximately 57 V relative to the free acetic acid reduction peak. The maximum activity was recorded in the presence of 31.5 equivalents of acetic acid and reached the current saturation at 235 mu A.