Perovskite nanostructure anchored on reduced graphene (rGO) nanosheets as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER)

Abstract

Energy is the basic need of this modern era and water splitting is the best known renewable source of energy. Designing an effective, high performing and durable electrocatalyst has become a serious endeavour to enhance water-splitting efficiency. For this purpose, a hydrothermal method was used to produce a non-toxic, environmentally friendly and cost-effective rGO/ZnSnO₃, a composite material to improve water oxidation. For this, various analytical approaches were used to investigate the structural, textural, compositional, thermal and morphological features of the reported materials. The electrochemical properties of the rGO/ZnSnO₃ nanohybrid was also analyzed by a three-electrode setup in a 1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) and the resulting nanohybrid exhibited exceptionally small overpotential (212 mV) at an ideal current density (j) of 10 mA/cm². The larger electrochemical surface area (ECSA) value 506.25 cm², minimum charge transfer resistance (R_ct) 0.18 Ω and remarkable stability around 20 h revealed that the produced composite material exhibited excellent potential for OER. Further examination revealed a significantly low Tafel value (37 mV/dec), suggesting that the rGO/ZnSnO₃ nanohybrid possesses improved electrocatalytic efficiency and fast reaction kinetics. The nanohybrid mentioned above (rGO/ZnSnO₃) shows significant potential for electrolysis of water and other electrochemical processes attributed to its considerable surface area, various active sites, exceptional stability, rapid electron mobility, low resistivity and favourable electrical conductivity.