Sun, T.Zhang, C.Chen, J.Yan, Y.Zakhidov, Anvar A.Baughman, Ray H.Xu, L.2016-10-272016-10-272015-04-132015-04-132050-7488http://hdl.handle.net/10735.1/5106Three-dimensionally (3D) ordered macro-/mesoporous (3DOM/m) Ni is fabricated by the chemical reduction deposition method using lyotropic liquid crystals (LLC) to template the mesostructure within the regular voids of a colloidal crystal (opal). The thereby achieved structural advantages of combining well-ordered bicontinuous mesopores with 3D interconnected periodic macropores, such as abundant exposed catalytically active sites, efficient mass transport, and high electrical conductivity, make this non-noble metal structure an excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst. The 3DOM/m Ni exhibits a low onset overpotential of 63 mV (vs. RHE) and a small Tafel slope of 52 mV per decade, as well as a long-term durability in alkaline medium. These distinct features of the 3DOM/m Ni render it a promising alternative to Pt-based HER electrocatalysts.enCC BY 3.0 (Attribution)©2015 The Royal Society of Chemistry. This article may not be further made available or distributed.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Liquid crystalsNickelPrecious metalsReduction (Chemistry)Colloidal crystalsElectric conductivityTextSun, T., C. Zhang, J. Chen, Y. Yan, et al. 2015. "Three-dimensionally ordered macro-/mesoporous Ni as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction." Journal of Materials Chemistry A 3(21), doi: 10.1039/c5ta01383f321