Bifunctional Multiferroic GdCrO₃ Nanoassemblies for Sustainable H₂ Production Using Electro- and Photocatalysis

In the realm of energy storage and conversion powered by electro- or photocatalysts, tremendous efforts are devoted on producing effective and long-lasting oxide catalysts. Here, we demonstrate multiferroic GdCrO 3 nanoassemblies synthesized using a solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and XPS studies confirm the orthorhombic formation of GdCrO 3 . Scanning and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy shows the formation of nanoassemblies. Ferroelectric study reveals the remnant polarization of 2.36 μC cm –2 and oxygen vacancies. In an alkaline media, GdCrO 3 nanoassemblies act as an efficacious and resilient oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst by showing superior specific activity. Photocatalytic H 2 evolution studies show a high H 2 evolution rate of 2 mmol h –1 g cat –1 and an apparent quantum yield of 23.2%. The mechanism for significant H 2 generation is established by internal electric field-associated charge transfer, as confirmed by XPS measurements.