Interface-Driven Synergism in Silver Zirconate@Graphene Oxide: A Bifunctional Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution and Supercapacitive Energy Storage

Abstract

Herein, silver zirconate over graphene oxide (Ag₂ZrO₃@GO) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via a facile co-precipitation route to develop a bifunctional material for sustainable energy conversion and storage. The interfacial coupling between Ag₂ZrO₃ (SZ) and graphene oxide (GO) facilitates efficient charge transport, suppresses charge carrier recombination, and enhances electrochemical activity, making the composite suitable for both photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and supercapacitor applications. The as-prepared SZ@GO was investigated for visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen generation using EOSIN Y (EY) as a sensitizer, as well as for supercapacitor performance. Among the samples, 20% SZ@GO demonstrated superior photocatalytic activity, producing 4554.84 μmol g⁻¹ of hydrogen within 5 h under visible light irradiation. Electrochemical studies revealed that the 20% SZ@GO electrode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 266 F g⁻¹ at a scan rate of 5 mV s⁻¹. These findings highlight the potential of SZ@GO nanocomposites as efficient materials for both sustainable hydrogen production and high-performance energy storage devices, offering a promising avenue for integrated energy solutions.