Elevating alkaline hydrogen evolution through neodymium vanadate nanoparticles integrated with tungsten disulfide...

The development of electrocatalysts with exceptional performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) holds tremendous promise for addressing energy crises and environmental concerns. In this study, we synthesized neodymium vanadate nanoparticles encapsulated in tungsten disulfide nanosheets (NdVO₄-NPs@WS₂-NSs) by the solvothermal method and used as an effective electrocatalyst for HER in the alkaline condition. The NdVO₄-NPs@WS₂-NSs nanocomposite was meticulously characterized using an array of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to verify its successful synthesis and structural integrity. The NdVO₄-NPs@WS₂-NSs electrocatalyst exhibits the notable HER catalytic properties, including a minimal overpotential of 115 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2, a low Tafel slope of 63 mV dec^-1, and long-term operational stability (108 hr) in the alkaline condition. The electrocatalytic performance of this nanocomposite significantly surpasses that of the previously reported electrocatalysts. The high performance of the NdVO₄-NPs@WS₂-NSs nanocomposite is attributed to abundance of exposed active sites, elevated exchange current density, favorable surface area, and synergistic interactions. Notably, the NdVO₄-NPs@WS₂-NSs electrode displays a low charge transfer resistance of 6.6 Ω, a substantial electrochemically active surface area of 155 cm², and a faradaic efficiency of 94 %. These findings underscore the potential of the NdVO₄-NPs@WS₂-NSs nanocomposite as a promising electrocatalyst for efficient and sustainable hydrogen production.