Surface　engineering　of　both　morphology　and　composition　is　appealing　strategy　for　further　boosting　the　hydrogen　evolution　reaction　(HER)　performances　of　commercial　bulk　nickel　electrode　in　alkaline　media.　However,　modified　surface　structure　with　long-term　stability　is　still　in　desperate　need,　especially　at　industrial-scale　current　density.　Herein,　by　grafting　the　commercial　nickel　electrode　with　well-aligned　nickel-rhenium　(Ni–Re)　alloy　particles,　the　electrode　surface　turns　to　be　highly　hydrophilic,　thus　propelling　the　detachment　of　hydrogen　(H2)　bubbles　from　the　electrode　surface.　In　addition,　the　synergy　within　the　dual　Ni–Re　atom　optimizes　the　electronic　structure　of　electrode　surface,　lowering　the　energy　barriers　for　water　dissociation.　Resultantly,　the　NiRe-modified　nickel　bulk　electrode　shows　fascinating　HER　performance　in　both　activity　and　long-term　stability,　namely　overpotential　of　191　mV@100　mA　cm−2,　stable　operation　for　2000　h　at　200　mA　cm−2　in　H-type　cell,　and　steady　running　for　＞1000　h　at　1000　mA　cm−2　using　the　configuration　of　Ni||Ni-60　%Re　in　the　membrane　electrode　assembly,　outperforming　that　of　the　benchmark　Pt/C　catalysts.　The　results　can　provide　new　insights　for　the　tradeoff　between　activity　and　cost　towards　high-performance　alkaline　water　electrolysis.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.