https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06507-6
Regular Article
Enhancing electrochemical efficiency of rGO-supported Er2O3 electrocatalyst for water splitting
1
Department of Physics, Government Graduate College, 32100, Taunsa Sharif, Pakistan
2
Department of Physics, University of Education Lahore, D.G.Khan Campus, 32200, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
3
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hafr Al Batin, P.O. Box 39524, Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia
5
Department of Physics, Institute of Southern Punjab, 54400, Multan, Pakistan
6
Department of Nuclear and Renewable Energy, Ural Federal University Named After the First President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, 620002, Ekaterinburg, Russia
7
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy, Technical Engineering College, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
8
Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, 140401, Rajpura, India
Received:
14
February
2025
Accepted:
1
June
2025
Published online:
26
June
2025
An extensive study is being performed on water splitting in agreement with energy concerns and environmental problems. Consequently, transition metal oxide has garnered substantial attention as a crucial catalyst for oxygen evaluation reactions (OER). In this research, Er2O3/rGO composite synthesized using hydrothermal techniques to perform OER activity. Different physical characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), have exploited to investigate the structural, elemental composition, textural, morphological, and functionality of fabricated materials. Moreover, electrochemical finding of nanocomposite reveals an impressively lower overpotential (225.94 mV) and Tafel (34.81 mV dec−1) at j (10 mA cm−2). From chronoamperometric testing, Er2O3/rGO exhibits stable behaviour for 30 h. The electrochemical properties of Er2O3/rGO nanocomposite were enhanced due to enhanced electrochemical surface area (1215 cm2) and reduced resistance. Additionally, EIS results indicated a small value of Rct (0.599 Ω), demonstrating excellent conductivity. The greater electrocatalytic activity of Er2O3/rGO nanocomposite for OER outcomes from its large porosity, improved crystalline framework, and higher surface region which increase intrinsic catalytic activity and structural stability of electrocatalyst. This study offers a valuable guide for developing OER electrocatalysts and displayed superior electrochemical properties of Er2O3/rGO nanocomposite.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
