An electrode includes an electrically conductive substrate and a layer of a molybdenum-doped zinc/cobalt oxide (ZnCo.sub.2-xMo.sub.xO.sub.4). The surface of the electrically conductive substrate is at least partially covered by the layer of ZnCo.sub.2-xMo.sub.xO.sub.4, where x is a positive number equal to or less than about 0.1, and the layer of the ZnCo.sub.2-xMo.sub.xO.sub.4 includes spherical-shaped particles. The electrode has a Tafel slope from 75 millivolts per second (mV/s) to 115 mV/s, and a potential of 0.27 to 0.30 volts relative to the reversible hydrogen electrode (V.sub.RHE) at a current density of about 50 mA/cm.sup.2 for a duration of at least 40 hours.

A metal compound thin film, a method of forming the same and a thin film catalyst for water electrolysis are provided. The method includes providing a substrate; and performing plural ink-jet printing operations to the substrate to form the metal compound thin film on the substrate. The substrate is a non-hydrophobic substrate. Each of the ink-jet printing operations includes depositing a first precursor on the substrate by using a first nozzle of an ink-jet system; and depositing a second precursor on the substrate by using a second nozzle of the ink-jet system. A chemical reaction occurs between the first precursor and the second precursor to form a metal compound, and the metal compound thin film includes plural layers of the metal compound. Therefore, patterning the thin film can be easily accomplished, and chemical solution can be effectively saved.

A method for making a catalyst composition is disclosed. The method includes placing a substrate with at least one precursor composition disposed thereon in contact with a ferromagnetic material and placing the substrate and the ferromagnetic material within an induction solenoid. The method further includes generating an alternating magnetic field within the induction solenoid upon energization by a power source supplying alternating current, thereby heating the substrate and the ferromagnetic material to a temperature of from about 200 c to about 1,500 c. The method additionally includes rapidly cooling the substrate and the ferromagnetic material

A method comprises applying a slurry to one or more surfaces of a conductive substrate to form a precursor coating and provide a precursor coated substrate, wherein the slurry includes precursor particles comprising one or more precursor compounds in a slurry medium, and electrochemically oxidizing the one or more precursor compounds to chemically convert the one or more precursor compounds to one or more catalyst compounds and form catalyst particles adhered to the one or more surfaces of the conductive substrate to provide a catalyst coated substrate.

A method of generating hydrogen using an electrocatalyst including NiMo.sub.xCo.sub.2-xO.sub.4 nanoparticles deposited on a nickel foam substrate, where x>0 and x0.06. A first portion of the NiMo.sub.xCo.sub.2-xO.sub.4 nanoparticles have a nano-needle morphology, where the nano-needles assemble to form a sphere in which the nano-needles project horizontally from the sphere, and the sphere has an average diameter of 1-5 micrometers (m).

An electrode includes an electrically conductive substrate and a layer of a molybdenum-doped zinc/cobalt oxide (ZnCo.sub.2-xMo.sub.xO.sub.4). The surface of the electrically conductive substrate is at least partially covered by the layer of ZnCo.sub.2-xMo.sub.xO.sub.4, where x is a positive number equal to or less than about 0.1, and the layer of the ZnCo.sub.2-xMo.sub.xO.sub.4 includes spherical-shaped particles. The electrode has a Tafel slope from 75 millivolts per second (mV/s) to 115 mV/s, and a potential of 0.27 to 0.30 volts relative to the reversible hydrogen electrode (V.sub.RHE) at a current density of about 50 mA/cm.sup.2 for a duration of at least 40 hours.