Piezo-Assisted RF Magnetron Sputtering of Ni Nanoparticles on TiO₂ Powder Supports for Electrocatalytic Applications

Water electrolysis is a strategic technology for renewable hydrogen production, but its com-mercialization is limited by the cost and availa-bility of efficient electrocatalysts.1 Nickel (Ni) has emerged as a promising non-precious metal catalyst due to its high activity, stability, and durability.2 This study presents a green, dry, and scalable approach for the preparation of Ni-coated TiO₂ nanopowders via plasma-assisted radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering.3 The process introduces a unique piezo-assited vibrating sample holder, which promotes tum-bling of the nanopowder during deposition, im-proving nanoparticle dispersion, and surface coverage on commercial TiO₂ powder supports.