Stable and efficient hydrogen evolution activity of tungsten-incorporated nanocrystalline perovskite BaSnO3 electrocatalyst

•BaSnO3:1 % W prepared by H2O2 coprecipitation route blue shifted bandgap to 4.29 eV.•BaSnO3:1 % W sample showed electrochemical over potential of 295 mV at 10 mA/cm2.•W incorporation into BaSnO3 exhibited high initial current density and 12 h stability. The increasing demand in energy consumption and alarming environmental concern is compelling to develop alternative renewable and clean energy sources. Hydrogen (H2) is identified as a potential candidate due to its abundance, high gravimetric energy density, and no carbon footprint. Presently, splitting of water is a highly promising method for sustainable hydrogen generation, and the key challenge is to develop a stable and high-performing electrocatalysts for H2 evolution reaction (HER) as a renewable energy source. Metal oxides are excellent alternative electrocatalysts to noble metals due to their cost effectiveness, tunability and abundance. Ternary perovskite barium stannate (BaSnO3) has been intensely explored for water splitting and electrocatalysis related applications. Tungsten (W) 1 % incorporated BaSnO3 synthesized by facile hydrogen peroxide route is explored as an electrocatalyst for HER activity in acidic medium for the first time. The pure and W-incorporated BaSnO3 exhibited promising HER activity with an overpotential value of 233 and 295 mV at 10 mA/cm2 with enhanced electrochemical surface area of 7.309 and 3.075 Fcm−2, respectively. A 12-hour stability test not only concluded the durability and performance of H2 evolution activity but also confirmed the enhanced initial current density for the W-incorporated BaSnO3 sample. [Display omitted]