Enhanced hydrogen production through alkaline electrolysis using laser-nanostructured nickel electrodesEnhanced hydrogen production through alkaline electrolysis using laser-nanostructured nickel electrodes Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2022-09-262021enPL, MF, MT, AK, NP acknowledge financial support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 871124 Laserlab-Europe. The authors would like to acknowledge the HELLAS-CH national infrastructure (MIS 5002735) implemented under “Action for Strengthening Research and Innovation Infrastructures,” funded by the Operational Programme” Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (NSRF 2014–2020) and co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).This study describes the fabrication of ultrafast laser-induced periodic nanostructures on Nickel sheets and their use as cathodes in alkaline electrolysis. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, laser-nanostructured Ni sheets were used as cathode electrodes in a custom-made electrolysis cell at actual, Hydrogen producing conditions, and their efficiency has been compared to the untreated Nickel sheets. The electrochemical evaluation showed higher Jpeaks, lower overpotential, and enhanced double-layer capacitance for the nanostructured electrode. A decrease in the Tafel slope was also found for the nanostructured electrode. The hydrogen production efficiency was found to be 3.7 times larger for the laser-nanostructured Nickel electrode, which was also confirmed by current-time measurements during electrolysis. Also, a novel approach is proposed to improve the stability of the current density during electrolysis and, therefore, the hydrogen production process by about 10%.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/International Journal of Hydrogen Energy467537162-37173 Poimenidis Ioannis Ποιμενιδης Ιωαννης Tsanakas Michael D. Papakosta Nikandra Klini Argyro Farsari Maria Moustaizis Stavros Μουσταιζης Σταυρος Loukakos Panagiotis A. Elsevier Alkaline electrolysis Electrolysis cell Hydrogen production Ultrafast laser nanostructuring