Fabrication of SrSnO3/rGO composite via hydrothermal technique as robust electrocatalyst for OER process

Abstract

Developing effective and durable electrocatalysts for long-term energy conversion technologies is still an ongoing problem for researchers. For this purpose, perovskite oxides have attracted significant interest as effective electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OER) in response to their highly adjustable catalytic and electrical properties associated with their compositions. This study presents a novel hydrothermal approach to fabricate SrSnO₃/rGO composite in order to accelerate the four electron transfer mechanisms. Moreover, the physical analyses show that cubic-shaped SrSnO₃ are irregularly dispersed in the form of spherical on the nanosheets of rGO. Compared with pristine, the BET study shows that composite exhibits a greater surface area (59 m² g⁻¹). To evaluate the catalytic kinetics, conductivity and stability, the electrochemical evaluation of the electrode material (SrSnO₃/rGO) was performed in alkaline media with Ni foam (NF) as substrate. The exceptional electrocatalytic performance of the material in the OER could be associated with its unique structure, many active sites, and favorable conductivity. This performance is characterized by fast reaction rates, as indicated by a minimal Tafel constant (33 mV dec⁻¹) along with reduced overpotential (199 mV) at 10 mA cm⁻². Moreover, the chronoamperometry (CA) investigation of the SrSnO₃/rGO composite indicates 35 h of long-term stability. This study presents a viable approach for producing high-performing perovskite composites for effective OER electrocatalysis.

Graphical Abstract