Rational design of trace metals selenide-based graphene nanocomposites as efficient electrocatalysts toward intensive oxygen evolution reactions under alkaline conditions

This reported research describes the fabrication of graphene oxide-based trace metal selenide (TMSe) nanocomposites as efficient electrocatalysts toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under alkaline conditions. The nanocomposites were synthesized via a hydrothermal method, ensuring uniform dispersion of metal selenide nanocomposites and graphene oxide (GO) sheets. Comprehensive structural and morphological analyses confirmed their successful synthesis, while electrochemical evaluations demonstrated superior OER performance and excellent stability in 1.0 M KOH. The enhanced OER activities of nanocomposites are attributed to synergistic interactions between the metal selenides and graphene oxide associated with efficient charge transfer and abundant active sites, respectively. Electrochemical measurements revealed low overpotentials (0.27 V, 0.36 V, and 0.29 V for CeSe@GO, LaSe@GO, and SrSe@GO, respectively) and favorable Tafel slopes (238 mVdec⁻¹, 257 mVdec⁻¹, and 231 mVdec⁻¹, respectively). The nanocomposites also exhibited reduced charge transfer resistance (R_ct), which further confirmed their efficient charge transfer kinetics. This work highlights the potential of TMSe@GO nanocomposites as promising electrocatalysts for renewable energy applications, offering high OER activity and long-term stability. These materials could be promising alternatives to the benchmark electrocatalysts (Ir and Ru) used in electrochemical water splitting reactions.