scholarly journals Liquid-Phase Deposition Synthesis of ZIF-67-Derived Synthesis of Co3O4@TiO2 Composite for Efficient Electrochemical Water Splitting

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 420
Author(s):  
Zaffar Ahmed Shaikh ◽  
Asif Ali Laghari ◽  
Oleg Litvishko ◽  
Valery Litvishko ◽  
Tatyana Kalmykova ◽  
...  

In this article, a novel Co3O4@TiO2 composite is synthesized by applying two-step methods. ZIF-67 is synthesized and used as a template for the synthesis of the composite. The composite is designed by using the effective photocatalytic properties of Co3O4 and TiO2. The resulting synthesized composite is supposed to offer superior properties compared to their counterparts. The synthesized Co3O4@TiO2 composite is characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical water splitting, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) studies on the Co3O4@TiO2 composite, is evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) analysis in a 2M aqueous KOH electrolyte. The current generation stability of these samples is deliberated by chronoamperometric measurements. It is observed, from LSV results at a 1 mV/s scan rate, that metal oxides incorporated on other metal oxides have a higher current density and lower onset potential as compared to pure metal oxides. From the obtained results, it has become evident that synthesized studies on the Co3O4@TiO2 composite possess significant potential for electrochemical water splitting with the lowest onset potential, highest current density, better OER, and HER activity.

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ναούμ Βαενάς

Σκοπός αυτής της διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η ανάπτυξη μονοδιάστατων νανοδομών τιτανίας και εν συνεχεία η εφαρμογή τους στην κατασκευή ευαισθητοποιημένων ηλιακών κελιών (Dye Solar Cells - DSCs). Οι νανοσωλήνες τιτανίας αποτελούν την ιδανική επιλογή για τους στόχους αυτής της έρευνας καθώς: α) μπορούν να προετοιμαστούν εύκολα από την ανοδική οξείδωση ενός φύλλου τιτανίου, β) επιτρέπουν τον εύκολο έλεγχο της μορφολογίας τους μέσω της ηλεκτροχημικής νάνο-μηχανικής, γ) εξασφαλίζουν εξαιρετικές ηλεκτρικές ιδιότητες, όπως κατευθυνόμενη κίνηση των ηλεκτρονίων. Οι νανοσωλήνες τιτανίας χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ως ηλεκτρόδια εργασίας (photo-anodes) στα ευαισθητοποιημένα ηλιακά κελιά που κατασκευάστηκαν στη συνέχεια.Τα μορφολογικά και δομικά χαρακτηριστικά των νανοσωλήνων μελετήθηκαν με τις τεχνικές, της μικροσκοπίας ατομικών δυνάμεων (Atomic Force Microscopy - AFM), της μικροσκοπίας ηλεκτρονικής σάρωσης (Scanning Electron Microscopy - SEM), της μικροσκοπίας ηλεκτρονικής διελεύσεως (Transmission Electron Microscopy - TEM), της φασματοσκοπίας υπεριώδους/ορατού (Ultraviolet–Visible - UV-Vis) και της φασματοσκοπίας Ράμαν (Raman spectroscopy). Επιπλέον η αξιολόγηση και ο χαρακτηρισμός των ηλιακών κελιών πραγματοποιήθηκε με τις μεθόδους, της φασματοσκοπίας ηλεκτροχημικής εμπέδησης (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy - EIS), της φασματοσκοπίας φωτοδυναμικού/φωτορεύματος περιοδικά μεταβαλλόμενης έντασης φωτισμού (Intensity Modulated Photovoltage/ Photocurrent Spectroscopy - IMVS/IMPS) και τελικά οι αποδόσεις των φωτοβολταϊκών εξάχθηκαν από την βολταμετρία φωτορεύματος (Linear Sweep Voltammetry - LSV). Κίνητρα για αυτήν την μελέτη αποτέλεσαν η ανάγκη κατανόησης, των βασικών μηχανισμών ανάπτυξης των νανοσωλήνων τιτανίας καθώς και των αρχών λειτουργίας που διέπουν τα ευαισθητοποιημένα ηλιακά κελιά. Στο πρώτο μέρος αυτής της έρευνας πραγματοποιήθηκαν μερικά προκαταρτικά πειράματα, με σκοπό την βελτίωση της μορφολογίας του χρησιμοποιούμενου υποστρώματος τιτανίου, όπως και των νανοσωλήνων τιτανίας που προέκυψαν. Μόλις οι συνθήκες ανοδίωσης σταθεροποιήθηκαν, υψηλής ομοιογένειας και ποιότητας νανοσωλήνες προετοιμάστηκαν και χρησιμοποιήθηκαν σε ευαισθητοποιημένα ηλιακά κελιά με ικανοποιητική απόδοση. Στην δεύτερη φάση αυτού του έργου, οι δομικές ιδιότητες των νανοσωλήνων μελετήθηκαν , με σκοπό να εξασφαλιστεί η ανεμπόδιστη μεταφορά των ηλεκτρονίων. Συγκεκριμένα η επίδραση της διαδικασίας απόπτυσης των νανοσωλήνων διερευνήθηκε συνάρτηση των ηλεκτρικών χαρακτηριστικών των φωτοβολταϊκών συσκευών που τελικά παράχθηκαν. Στο τρίτο στάδιο της διατριβής, προηγμένες δομές νανοσωλήνων προετοιμάσθηκαν μέσω σύνθετων τρόπων ανοδίωσης. Η ποτενσιοστατική και γαλβανοστατική ανοδίωση συνδυάστηκαν για πρώτη φορά στην βιβλιογραφία και οδήγησαν στην εξέλιξη της μεθόδου της ανοδίωσης. Το τελευταίο μέρος της δουλειάς αφιερώθηκε αποκλείστηκα στην αύξηση της απόδοσης των φωτοβολταϊκών που ενσωμάτωναν φωτοηλεκτροδία νανοσωλήνων, μέσω της χρήσης των πιο σύγχρονων ηλεκτρολυτών και χρωστικών. Το οξειδοαναγωγικό ζεύγος κοβαλτίου διαχύθηκε με ευκολία στους πορώδους νανοσωλήνες και σε συνδυασμό με την οργανική χρωστική D35, οδήγησε σε υψηλές φωτοτάσεις και αποδόσεις.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 9974
Author(s):  
Zaffar Ahmed Shaikh ◽  
Nikita Moiseev ◽  
Alexey Mikhaylov ◽  
Serhat Yüksel

Herein, we report a copper oxide-cobalt oxide/nitrogen-doped carbon hybrid (Cu2O-Co3O4/CN) composite for electrochemical water splitting. Cu2O-Co3O4/CN is synthesized by an easy two-step reaction of melamine with Cu2O-Co3O4/CN composite. The designed composite is aimed to solve energy challenges by producing hydrogen and oxygen via electrochemical catalysis. The proposed composite offers some unique advantages in water splitting. Carbon imparts superior conductivity, while the water oxidation abilities of Cu2O and Co3O4 are considered to constitute a catalyst. The synthesized composite (Cu2O-Co3O4/CN) is characterized by SEM, EDS, FTIR, TEM, and AFM in terms of the size, morphology, shape, and elemental composition of the catalyst. The designed catalyst’s electrochemical performance is evaluated via linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The Cu2O-Co3O4/CN composite shows significant electrocatalytic activity, which is further improved by introducing nitrogen doped carbon (current density 10 mA cm−2, onset potential 91 mV, and overpotential 396 mV).


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2849
Author(s):  
Marcin Jan Dośpiał

This paper presents domain and structure studies of bonded magnets made from nanocrystalline Nd-(Fe, Co)-B powder. The structure studies were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. On the basis of performed qualitative and quantitative phase composition studies, it was found that investigated alloy was mainly composed of Nd2(Fe-Co)14B hard magnetic phase (98 vol%) and a small amount of Nd1.1Fe4B4 paramagnetic phase (2 vol%). The best fit of grain size distribution was achieved for the lognormal function. The mean grain size determined from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images on the basis of grain size distribution and diffraction pattern using the Bragg equation was about ≈130 nm. HRTEM images showed that over-stoichiometric Nd was mainly distributed on the grain boundaries as a thin amorphous border of 2 nm in width. The domain structure was investigated using a scanning electron microscope and metallographic light microscope, respectively, by Bitter and Kerr methods, and by magnetic force microscopy. Domain structure studies revealed that the observed domain structure had a labyrinth shape, which is typically observed in magnets, where strong exchange interactions between grains are present. The analysis of the domain structure in different states of magnetization revealed the dynamics of the reversal magnetization process.


1995 ◽  
Vol 378 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kissinger ◽  
T. Morgenstern ◽  
G. Morgenstern ◽  
H. B. Erzgräber ◽  
H. Richter

AbstractStepwise equilibrated graded GexSii-x (x≤0.2) buffers with threading dislocation densities between 102 and 103 cm−2 on the whole area of 4 inch silicon wafers were grown and studied by transmission electron microscopy, defect etching, atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy.


1995 ◽  
Vol 403 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bai ◽  
S. Wittenbrock ◽  
V. Ochoa ◽  
R. Villasol ◽  
C. Chiang ◽  
...  

AbstractCu has two advantages over Al for sub-quarter micron interconnect application: (1) higher conductivity and (2) improved electromigration reliability. However, Cu diffuses quickly in SiO2and Si, and must be encapsulated. Polycrystalline films of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) Ta, W, Mo, TiN, and Metal-Organo Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) TiN and Ti-Si-N have been evaluated as Cu diffusion barriers using electrically biased-thermal-stressing tests. Barrier effectiveness of these thin films were correlated with their physical properties from Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Secondary Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) analysis. The barrier failure is dominated by “micro-defects” in the barrier film that serve as easy pathways for Cu diffusion. An ideal barrier system should be free of such micro-defects (e.g., amorphous Ti-Si-N and annealed Ta). The median-time-to-failure (MTTF) of a Ta barrier (30 nm) has been measured at different bias electrical fields and stressing temperatures, and the extrapolated MTTF of such a barrier is > 100 year at an operating condition of 200C and 0.1 MV/cm.


2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 4081-4085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Batra ◽  
D. Kabiraj ◽  
D. Kanjilal

Germanium (Ge) nanoparticles have attracted a lot of attention due to their excellent optical properties. In this paper, we report on the formation of Ge nanoparticles embedded in GeO2 matrix prepared by electron beam evaporation and subsequent annealing. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies clearly indicate the formation of Ge nanocrystals in the films annealed at 500 °C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies are carried out to verify the evolution of the structure after annealingat each stage. Micro-Raman analysis also confirms the formation of Ge nanoparticles in the annealed films. Development of Ge nanoparticles is also established by photoluminescence (PL) analysis. Surface morphology study is carried out by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It shows the evolution of granular structure of the films with increasing annealing temperature.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Li ◽  
Di Zhang ◽  
Ilker Capoglu ◽  
Karl A. Hujsak ◽  
Dhwanil Damania ◽  
...  

AbstractEssentially all biological processes are highly dependent on the nanoscale architecture of the cellular components where these processes take place. Statistical measures, such as the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the three-dimensional (3D) mass–density distribution, are widely used to characterize cellular nanostructure. However, conventional methods of reconstruction of the deterministic 3D mass–density distribution, from which these statistical measures can be calculated, have been inadequate for thick biological structures, such as whole cells, due to the conflict between the need for nanoscale resolution and its inverse relationship with thickness after conventional tomographic reconstruction. To tackle the problem, we have developed a robust method to calculate the ACF of the 3D mass–density distribution without tomography. Assuming the biological mass distribution is isotropic, our method allows for accurate statistical characterization of the 3D mass–density distribution by ACF with two data sets: a single projection image by scanning transmission electron microscopy and a thickness map by atomic force microscopy. Here we present validation of the ACF reconstruction algorithm, as well as its application to calculate the statistics of the 3D distribution of mass–density in a region containing the nucleus of an entire mammalian cell. This method may provide important insights into architectural changes that accompany cellular processes.


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