Dysprosium oxide nanoparticle decorated on reduced graphene oxide sheets: Active and sustainable electrocatalyst for OER

The rapid reduction of fossil fuels due to excessive consumption has prompted the development of sustainable energy conversion systems, leading to an increasing energy crisis and environmental concerns. The continuous energy demand motivates researchers to explore new options for energy conversion and water splitting. But, the fabrication of electrocatalysts with low overpotential for water splitting is challenging task. Current study reports the fabrication of rGO-based Dy2O3 composite as an electrocatalyst for water splitting. The rGO-based Dy2O3 was fabricated via a hydrothermal approach. The various physical methods were performed to assess the morphological, vibrational, structural, functional and textual characteristics of synthesized electrocatalysts. In addition, the electrochemical potential of generated materials is evaluated in 1 M KOH electrolyte using Ni foam (NF) serving as conductive material. The electrochemical findings show that rGO-based Dy2O3 composite exhibits a least overpotential of 251 mV at current density (C-d) of 10 mA cm(-2) and possessing Tafel slope (36 mV dec(-1)). The Dy2O3/rGO composite demonstrates stability over a period of 50 h with a minute change in current. The Dy2O3/rGO composite stands out as a favorable catalyst for OER and future energy conversion applications due to its remarkable electrochemical characteristics.