Physics

Suitability Of Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) Nanocomposites for

Enhanced Water Splitting: A Review

Salman Ahmad Fani1, Subhojyoti Sinha2*, Deepak Basandrai1*

1
Department of Physics, Lovely Professional University, Punjab-144411, India,
2
Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and
Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu-603203, India
Corresponding Authors: *sinhasubhojyoti@gmail.com, *deepakbasandrai@gmail.com
Abstract: Green energy resources as a replacement of fossil fuels have become topic
of consideration amongst researchers. Production of energy by water splitting is
emerging as a very permissive source in this context that can generate hydrogen which
can be considered as a next-generation fuel. Even though there is a considerable
amount of research in this field still the efficiency of hydrogen production (HER-
hydrogen evolution reaction) is not up to the mark. Different catalysts in combination
with nanostructured metal oxides, metal phosphide, 2D materials, and graphene
nanosheets have been showing promising results in the improvement of efficiency. This
review work provides a comprehensive study of various methods of water splitting by
electrocatalysis and examines several nanocomposites based on reduced graphene
oxide (rGO). The electrochemical properties of rGO-nanocomposites, including current
density, overpotential, and Tafel slope, are analyzed and compared herein. In addition,
the paper reviews ZnO/rGO nanocomposites in various forms and analyzes their
photochemical and photoelectrochemical properties for water splitting. Furthermore, this
review analyzes the photoelectrochemical performance of ZnO/rGO heterostructures
with Cu2O, CeO2, and metals such as Ni, Co, and Mn. This review aims to provide
insights into the advancements and potential of rGO-based nanocomposites for efficient
water splitting and can serve as a roadmap for future research in this field.
Keywords: Green energy resources, water splitting, HER-hydrogen evolution reaction,
reduced graphene oxide (rGO)