Evaluating the Unique Characteristics of SrZnO2/rGO Nanocomposite as an Effective Electroactive Catalyst for HER
摘要
The demand for efficient and sustainable hydrogen synthesis via electrochemical water splitting (EWS) presents a considerable challenge in developing economical, outstanding performance electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution process (HER). This work presents a new nanocomposite comprising strontium zinc oxide (SrZnO2) integrated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), produced by a straightforward hyrothermal procedure. The integration of rGO increases the conductivity and a specific surface area (SSA), consequently accelerating the flow of electrons and enhancing catalytic efficiency. The produced SrZnO2/rGO catalyst has been thoroughly examined using numerous analytical methods. Structural and morphological analyses validate the effective synthesis of SrZnO2/rGO composite with a uniformly dispersed, layered structure. The electrochemical assessment in an alkaline environment indicates that the SrZnO2/rGO catalyst has a minimal overpotential (187 mV) at 10 mA/cm2, a reduced Tafel slope (67 mV/dec), and remarkable enduring reliability of 50 h via chronoamperometric analysis. The improved HER efficiency is due to the combined effect of SrZnO2 and rGO, which enhances the transmission of charge and enhances the availability of catalytic sites. The findings indicate that SrZnO2/rGO is a favorable, accessible, and economical catalyst for excellent hydrogen evolution, presenting a potential alternative to noble metal catalysts.