An experimental and theoretical investigation of NiO-rGO composites for hydrogen evolution reactions

Abstract

Producing hydrogen (H2) as a sustainable energy carrier is most effectively achieved through the process of electrochemical water splitting. Although noble metals like Pt-based electrocatalysts are effective, their cost and availability limit large-scale application. Nickel-based materials excel in catalyzing hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), but their low electronic conductivity restricts scalability. Our study introduces a simple synthesis of NiO coupled with rGO, forming NiO-rGO composites with enhanced surface area, which shows remarkable electrocatalytic performance in HER. The NiO-rGO exhibits low overpotentials (176 mV) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in acidic solutions. The experimental studies are well supported by first-principles DFT methods. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.