Research Outputs
Novel MoSe2–Ni(OH)2 nanocomposite as an electrocatalyst for high efficient hydrogen evolution reaction
Nowadays, there is a great demand for low-cost and highly active electrocatalyst for the production of clean renewable energy. However, most of the electrocatalysts are noble metal-based which are very costly and unstable. To counter this, electrochemical water splitting in energy storage systems is been widely applied, using non-noble metal-based nanostructured electrocatalysts. In this work, a novel noble metal-free MoSe2eNi(OH)2 nanocomposite electrocatalyst is synthesized using a multi-step hydrothermal technique for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The morphology, structural, chemical composition, and functional features of the synthesized nanomaterials were characterized using different techniques that include scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman analysis. The new developed MoSe2eNi(OH)2 nanocomposite combines a high active surface area with a high chemical stability, generating a novel material with a synergistic effect that enhances water splitting process performance. Thus, an outstanding low Tafel slope of 54 mV dec1 is accomplished in the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Z-scheme configured iron oxide/g-C3N4 nanocomposite system for solar-driven H2 production through water splitting
A nanocomposite composed of α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 is synthesized using a modified ultrasonication approach, which engineered a robust interfacial contact in the system. Phase formation and morphological features are confirmed via XRD and electron-microscopy techniques. XPS revealed the native oxidation states of the elements and chemisorption-mediated interactions in the system. This developed composite produced hydrogen at a rate of 1494 μmolg− 1 h− 1, which is around 6.6 times higher than the g-C3N4 system. The observed enhancement is attributed to the Z-scheme configuration, leading to the suitable band edge alignments, charge separation and extended lifetime of the carriers in the composite.