Development of SnCo2O4 spinel supported on the rGO nanosheet with the improved electrochemical performance of OER activity

Alkaline water electrolysis is a promising fuel cell technique that holds the potential for sustainable energy production. This process involves the generation of hydrogen and oxygen gases. Efforts have been focused on creating efficient catalysts utilizing readily available elements for the kinetically challenged process of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). For the enhancement of OER kinetics, we developed the SnCo2O4/rGO (SCO/rGO) nanohybrid via a hydrothermal route for the oxygen evaluation process performed under an alkaline solution (1.0 M KOH). The SCO/rGO exhibited diverse morphology, such as nanoparticles of SCO anchored on the rGO nanosheets that provide greater adsorption surface area for electrolyte ions. The electrocatalyst comprising of SCO/rGO nanohybrid exhibits superior performance compared to its SCO and rGO counterparts, as evidenced by its overpotential of 299 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and impressive durability of 50 h. Furthermore, the SCO/rGO nanohybrid display the lowest Tafel slope of 31.71 mV dec−1 than rGO (58.93 mV dec−1) and SCO (47.31 mV dec−1). Experimental data on active sites and high conductivity can be obtained through electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), contributing to improved electrocatalytic results. The hybridization of a metal oxide (MOx) with a carbon derived substance presents a promising initial approach for manufacturing an outstanding catalyst for applications in water electrochemistry.