{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T16:50:40Z","timestamp":1791910240252,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":72,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"57","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786492800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786492800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Advanced Materials"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Nickel\u2010based cathodes are widely used in alkaline water electrolysis, yet the nature and stability of the active surface under operating conditions remains unclear. In particular, the role of metal\/oxo\u2013hydroxo interfacial structures in governing hydrogen evolution activity is not well understood. Here, we employ a multimodal, depth\u2010sensitive approach combining\n                    <jats:italic>operando<\/jats:italic>\n                    Ni L\u2010edge X\u2010ray absorption spectroscopy, depth\u2010sensitive X\u2010ray absorption measurements in total electron yield and Auger electron yield modes, X\u2010ray photoelectron spectroscopy, isotopically labeled nano secondary ion mass spectrometry, and online electrochemical mass spectrometry to directly track the evolution of Ni\/NiO\n                    <jats:sub>x<\/jats:sub>\n                    H\n                    <jats:sub>y<\/jats:sub>\n                    interfaces during the hydrogen evolution reaction. Using well\u2010defined sputtered Ni thin films as a model system, we show that progressive reduction of near\u2010surface oxide\/hydroxide species is accompanied by a gradual loss of hydrogen evolution activity. Depth\u2010resolved measurements reveal a predominantly metallic outermost surface under cathodic bias, while NiO\n                    <jats:sub>x<\/jats:sub>\n                    H\n                    <jats:sub>y<\/jats:sub>\n                    forms on the surface upon relaxation to open\u2010circuit conditions. Importantly, mild anodic pre\u2010conditioning regenerates subsurface NiO\n                    <jats:sub>x<\/jats:sub>\n                    H\n                    <jats:sub>y<\/jats:sub>\n                    species, resulting in a sustained increase in hydrogen evolution activity upon subsequent cathodic polarization. These results establish the crucial role of metal\/oxo\u2013hydroxo interfaces as active phases for hydrogen evolution and provide a framework for engineering robust, Earth\u2010abundant HER cathodes capable of operating under dynamic, real\u2010world electrolysis conditions.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.74591","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T05:35:02Z","timestamp":1786599302000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Active Phase of Nickel Electrocatalysts Driving Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"38","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4117-6873","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yifeng","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Materials Imperial College London  London 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