Tabah Ditalistya, Muhammad Iqbal Syauqi, Linda Suyati, Iwan Syahjoko Saputra, Aspiyanto Aspiyanto, Sun Theo Constan Lotebulo Ndruru, Robertus Wahyu N. Nugroho, Firda Amalia, Mohammad Jihad Madiabu, Dewangga Oky Bagus Apriandanu, Dicky Annas
Hydrogen fuel is widely recognized as one of the cleanest and most sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, offering transformative potential for the future energy landscape. However, a critical challenge in realizing a hydrogen-based economy lies in the development of efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable hydrogen production technologies. The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a key step in water electrolysis, has attracted extensive attention as a pathway toward scalable hydrogen generation. In this work, we emphasize the rational design of a ternary nanocomposite system composed of cerium oxide (CeO2), cerium vanadate (CeVO4), and trace amounts of gold (Au) nanoparticles synthesized via a green, biogenic approach using Morinda citrifolia (noni) leaf extract. The resulting nanocomposites, with an average particle size of 14.97 nm, exhibit remarkable improvements in conductivity, charge-transfer dynamics, and electrochemical activity. Electrochemical characterization demonstrates a high double-layer capacitance (Cdl) of 234.1 mF/cm2, a low overpotential of 175 mV, a Tafel slope of 224 mV/dec, and a reduced charge transfer resistance of 412.11 Ω, collectively confirming their high catalytic performance. Importantly, hydrogen production using the Au/CeVO4-CeO2 nanocomposite electrode reaches 1.86 × 10−4 mol/cm2, underscoring the critical role of synergistic interfacial interactions among CeO2, CeVO4, and Au in driving HER efficiency. These findings highlight the promise of green-synthesized nanocomposites as high performance HER catalysts, bridging sustainable materials innovation with the urgent need for clean and scalable hydrogen energy solutions. © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, Tembalang, Central Java, Semarang, 50275, Indonesia; Research Center for Catalysis, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), B.J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, 15314, Indonesia; Department of Cosmetic Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu, Jati Agung, South Lampung, 35365, Indonesia; Research Center for Molecular Chemistry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), B.J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, 15314, Indonesia; Research Center for Polymer Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), B.J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, 15314, Indonesia; Research Center for Nuclear Beam Analysis Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), B.J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, 15314, Indonesia; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Bogor, 16154, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, 16242, Indonesia