Ni₃Se₂ nanoforest/Ni foam as a hydrophilic, metallic, and self-supported bifunctional electrocatalyst for both H₂ and O₂ generations

Highlights: • Ni₃Se₂ nanoforest is successfully grown on Ni foam by a facile one-step reaction. • It owns unique characters: hydrophilic, aerophobic, metallic and self-support. • It exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability for both HER and OER. Ni₃Se₂ nanoforest has been successfully grown on Ni foam via a facile one-step and cost-effective solution-chemical route. This handy strategy endues the product with three characteristics: metallic Ni₃Se₂, hydrophilic and aerophobic surface, as well as self-support on highly conductive substrate. The as-synthesized Ni₃Se₂ nanoforest/Ni foam shows excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability for both HER and OER.