Silver Nanoparticle Decorated Perforated Graphene: An Efficient and Low-Cost Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Recently, the fabrication of noble-metal-free, Earth-abundant, inexpensive, and efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has become a challenge for clean and sustainable energy applications. This report details the one-step pyrolysis method for producing perforated graphene (PG) using dead Bougainvillea bracts (natural waste) without activating agents. The properties of the as-prepared PG are studied through basic and electrochemical characterizations. In addition, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are attached to it in weight ratios of 1:5 and 1:8, resulting in a composite catalyst that exhibits notable activity towards HER. The electrochemical performances of the catalysts reveal that PG:Ag 1:5 displays superior electrocatalytic HER activity in an acidic medium, with an onset potential of approximately −143 mV, an overpotential of 327 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², and a Tafel slope of around 125 mV dec⁻¹. In order to assess its stability, the optimized catalyst was subjected to a chronoamperometric study for a duration of 10⁴ s. This study presents a simple and effective way to produce hydrogen sustainably from electrochemical water splitting, using efficient, stable, environmentally friendly, abundant, and low-cost catalysts.