Sharif Digital Repository

The dearth of efficient, robust, and economical electrocatalysts for water oxidation is dubiously the key obstacle for renewable energy devices, so synthesis of efficient, and cost-effective metal-based water oxidation catalysts is vital. Herein, Co3O4, Co9S8 catalysts and their heterostructure Co3O4/Co9S8 were synthesized and evaluated as water oxidation electrocatalysts. The characterization of Co3O4, Co9S8, and Co3O4/Co9S8 electrocatalysts was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The heterostructure Co3O4/Co9S8 (1.46 V) exhibited water oxidation electrocatalysis at extremely low onset potential compared to... 

The title complex [Mn(tptz)(CH3COO)(OH2) 2]NO3 was synthesized through the reaction of tptz (2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine), nitric acid and manganese(II) acetate. The molecular structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, electrochemistry, EPR, IR, fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy and its oxygen evolving activity has been studied. X-ray structure analysis shows that each Mn(II) ion is seven coordinated by a bidentate acetate, three nitrogen atoms of tptz and two oxygen atoms from two water ligands, which are coordinated in axial positions. The complex acts as an oxygen evolving complex with oxone (2KHSO5·KHSO4·K 2SO4) as primary oxidant in aqueous... 

RGO-α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH ternary heterostructure composite has been developed as an active photocatalyst for photoelectrochemical water splitting. RGO-α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH has been successfully synthesized through one-pot hydrothermal-ionic liquid assisted route using tetrabutyl ammonium L-methioninate [TBA][L-Met]and graphene oxide (GO). The electrochemical studies were carried out to demonstrate the oxygen evolution reaction (OER)and photocatalytic activities. The overpotential reduction by rGO-α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH sample was higher than the nanobean α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH and pristine α-Fe2O3 samples. The photocurrent density enhanced for rGO-α-Fe2O3/β–FeOOH urchin-like structure and obtained as 0.62 mA·cm−2.... 

Developing effective and priceless electrocatalysts is an indispensable requirement for advancing the efficiency of water splitting to get clean and sustainable fuels. Herein, we reported a feasible strategy for preparing a trimetallic (NiCoFe) superior electrocatalyst with a novel open-cage/3D frame-like structure for an oxygen evolution reaction (OER). It is prepared by consequent thermal treatments of a CoFe Prussian blue analogue frame/cage-like structure under an argon (CoFeA-TT) atmosphere and then electrochemical deposition of nickel-cobalt sulfide nanosheets as a shell layer on it. The electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the deposition of NiCo-S on CoFeA-TT... 

A cost-effective, durable, and easy-to-produce improvement in bifunctional electrocatalysts for water splitting is crucial for future renewable energy systems. In this present study, shape-controlled one-dimensional (1D) phosphorized cobalt (CoP) on 3D porous nickel foam (NiF) was synthesized through successive treatment of commercial NiF with acetone and ethanol, followed by hydrothermal growth of Co and final process of phosphorization by thermochemical reactions. The evaluations of products proved reduced overpotential (270 mV at 10 mA. cm−2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process and a low overpotential of 320 mV to reach a high current density of 20 mA. cm−2), low Tafel slope... 

The development of efficient and cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction is highly desirable for applications that are based on sustainable and clean technologies. In this study, we report the synthesis of a series of cerium(iv) oxide and nickel diselenide nanocomposites (NiSe2/CeO2) as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in an alkaline medium. The ratios of the two substances were optimized to reach the highest catalytic activity. The structure and morphology of synthesized materials were investigated by XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, BET, XPS, and TEM techniques. It was observed that the nanocomposite with a 10 : 1 mass ratio of NiSe2to CeO2showed the best... 

Nowadays, there is a growing interest in synthesizing electrodes used in zinc electrowinning, increasing active surface area, decreasing specific energy consumption, and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) overpotential. In this study, modified nanocomposite anodes were synthesized by applying pulsed and constant direct current electrodeposition to improve the catalytic activity of the electrodes toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and reduce energy consumption in zinc electrowinning. By decreasing particle size, the active surface area of PbO2-RuO2 nano-mixed composite electrode was 2.88 and 14.22 times greater than PbO2-RuO2 microcomposite and pure PbO2 electrodes, respectively.... 

Engineering earth-rich, high-efficiency, and nonprecious electrocatalysts is an essential demand for water electrolysis to obtain clean and sustainable fuels. In this research, novel hybrid electrocatalysts based on coupling a hierarchical porous NiCo-mixed metal sulfide with a nanosheet structure (denoted as NiCoS) and a novel three-dimensional (3D) mesoporous open-cage/framelike structure of CoFeS are designed for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this regard, the single-step synthesis of a cobalt iron Prussian blue analog (CoFe PBA) frame/cagelike structure was performed without any etching step. Following a comparative study, CoFe PBA precursors were converted and doped with S, Se, and... 

Increasing energy demands for pollution-free and renewable energy technologies have stimulated intense research on the development of inexpensive, highly efficient, and stable non-noble metal electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, a superior OER performance was achieved using a tri-metallic (Zn, Co, Ni) high-performance electrocatalyst. We successfully fabricated a peony-flower-like hierarchical ZnCo2O4 through an additive-free hydrothermal reaction followed by heat treatment. Then NiCo-LDH (layered double hydroxides) nano-flakes was electrodeposited on the ZnCo2O4/GCE surface to prepare NiCo-LDH/ZnCo2O4/GCE which was used as electrode for OER. The structure and... 

Oxygen evolution was observed upon mixing solid manganese(III) bidentate Schiff base complexes with aqueous solutions of cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate. However, oxygen evolution was not observed upon mixing solutions of the complexes (in acetonitrile) with Ce(IV). Electron-withdrawing substituents on the Schiff base ligands (NO2, Br) enhanced the reactivity of the manganese complexes toward oxygen evolution. Oxygen evolution was also affected by R groups on the ligands, in the order Me > Et Bz. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V  

To improve the efficiency of electrochemical processes for environmental remediation, we present a new type of hybrid nanomaterials based on leaf-like copper-based quaternary transition metals and spongy monolayer graphene. To demonstrate the functionality of the hybrid electrocatalyst, fast and competent electrooxidation of water and glucose is shown. The mechanism of improved catalysis is ascribed to the synergetic catalytic effect of quaternary Cu-Ni-Fe-Co alloy with dendritic morphology along with the highly conductive and spongy structure of the graphene monolayer. It is shown that water oxidation can be performed at a low overpotential of 315 mV to reach a current denisty of 100 mA... 

Precious metal-free electrocatalysts based on two-dimensional nanomaterials have efficiently been used for oxygen evolution reaction; however, the low activity and stability of these materials as compared with noble metals are still distractive. We present a novel and high-performance electrocatalyst based on nanowires of mixed transition metal oxysulfide supported by three-dimensional highly porous graphene networks. Electrochemical studies indicated that the high electron transport medium of nanowires and bilayer graphene nanosheets as well as their high active surface area promote the kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). A quite small overpotential of 260 mV at the current density... 

Synthesis of efficient, low-cost, and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts with earth-abundant resources for electrochemical water electrolysis is a challenging subject for large-scale energy conversion processes. Herein, we report a high-performance electrocatalyst based on vanadium oxysulfide/cobalt-cobalt sulfonitride (VOS/Co-CoSN) for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER). The Co-CoSN film was synthesized on a copper sheet (CS) by a facile electrodeposition method. Then, VOS was electrochemically grown onto the Co-CoSN@CS electrode at various deposition times. At the optimal deposition time (300 s), the obtained VOS-300/Co-CoSN catalyst was studied for OER and HER in... 

The development of electrode materials with simple preparation, favorable price, excellent electrocatalytic activity, and stability are some of the most important issues in the field of electrochemistry. Herein, we prepared Ni–Co/Ni–Co–O–P cotton flower like on a copper sheet (CS) by a convenient, efficient, and scalable electrodeposition method. The Ni–Co/Ni–Co–O–P was employed as effective binder free electrode material in two different applications such as electrocatalytic water splitting and acetaminophen (APAP) sensor. Remarkably, the Ni–Co/Ni–Co–O–P@CS exhibits low overpotentials of 310 and 90 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions in alkaline media, respectively.... 

A new di-manganese complex with "back-to-back" 1,4-bis(2,2′:6,2′′-terpyridin-4′-yl) benzene ligation has been synthesized and characterised by a variety of techniques. The back-to-back ligation presents a novel new mononuclear manganese catalytic centre that functions as a heterogeneous catalysis for the evolution of oxygen in the presence of an exogenous oxidant. We discuss the synthesis and spectroscopic characterizations of this complex and propose a mechanism for oxygen evolution activity of the compound in the presence of oxone. The di-manganese complex also shows efficient and selective catalytic oxidation of sulfides in the presence of H2O2. Density functional theory calculations were... 

Energy and environment crises motivated scientists to develop sustainable, renewable, and clean energy resources mainly based on solar hydrogen. For this purpose, one main challenge is the low cost flexible substrates for designing earth abundant efficient cocatalysts to reduce required water oxidation overpotential. Here, a systematic morphological and electrochemical study has been reported for cobalt oxide/hydroxide nanoflakes simply electrodeposited on four different commercially available substrates, titanium, copper sheet, steel mesh, and nickel foam. Remarkable dependence between the used substrate, morphology, and electrocatalytic properties of nanoflakes introduced flexible porous... 

We used first principles calculations based on density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation to investigate and compare the structural, electronic and optical properties of two photoanode materials, ZnV2O6 and Zn2V2O7, for use in photocatalytic water splitting. After geometry optimization, the calculated structural parameters evince a satisfactory agreement with the reported experimental results indicating that the used method and conditions are suitable. The electronic structures demonstrate that both photocatalysts possess favorable band gaps (2.31 and 2.52 eV) and appropriate band edge positions for oxygen evolution reaction under solar radiation. The relatively light...