In-situ solvothermal synthesis of FeNiSe/rGO electrocatalyst with superior performance for water splitting

The development of efficient and economically viable electrocatalysts for water splitting remains a significant challenge in renewable energy research. This study presents the synthesis of a FeNiSe/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid electrocatalyst using an in situ solvothermal method. The resulting material surpasses benchmark RuO₂ and Pt/C electrodes in alkaline media for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). It achieves a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 for overall water splitting at a cell voltage of 1.5 V, and HER overpotential of 140 mV. Additionally, the electrocatalyst demonstrates excellent long-term stability during electrochemical testing for both HER and OER, indicating strong practical potential. The improved catalytic performance is attributed to the inherent electrochemical characteristics of FeNiSe in alkaline conditions, the high electrical conductivity of rGO, which prevents FeNiSe aggregation, and the modification of the NiSe electronic structure through iron incorporation. These features position the FeNiSe/rGO hybrid as a viable candidate for integration into water-splitting systems aimed at sustainable hydrogen production and energy storage.