| 1. |
- Tahira, Aneela, et al.
(författare)
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Role of cobalt precursors in the synthesis of Co 3 O 4 hierarchical nanostructures toward the development of cobalt‐based functional electrocatalysts for bifunctional water splitting in alkaline and acidic media
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society (Taipei). - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0009-4536 .- 2192-6549. ; 69:4, s. 681-691
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The precursors have significant influence on the catalytic activity of nonprecious electrocatalysts for effective water splitting. Herein, we report active electrocatalysts based on cobalt oxide (Co3O4) hierarchical nanostructures derived from four different precursors of cobalt (acetate, nitrate, chloride, and sulfate salts) using the low-temperature aqueous chemical growth method. It has been found that the effect of precursor on the morphology of nanostructured material depends on the synthetic method. The Co3O4 nanostructures exhibited cubic phase derived from these four precursors. The Co3O4 nanostructures obtained from chloride precursor have demonstrated improved oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) compared to other precursors due relatively higher content of Co3O4 nanostructures at the surface of material. An overpotential of 400 mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at 10 mA cm−2 was observed for HER. The Co3O4 nanostructures derived from the chloride precursor have shown favorable reaction kinetics via 34 mV dec−1 value of the Tafel slope for HER reaction. The Co3O4 nanostructures derived from chloride precursor have also shown an excellent HER durability for 15 hr in alkaline media. Furthermore, the OER functional characterization was carried out onto Co3O4 nanostructures derived from chloride precursor exhibited 220 mV overpotential at 10 mA cm−2 and Tafel slope of 56 mV dec−1. Importantly, the reason behind the favorable catalytic activity of Co3O4 nanostructures derived from chloride precursor was linked to one order of magnitude smaller charge transfer resistance and higher amount of Co3O4 content at the surface of nanostructures than the Co3O4 nanostructures derived from other precursors. The performance of Co3O4 nanostructures derived from chloride precursor via the wet chemical method suggests that cobalt chloride precursor could be of great interest for the development of efficient, stable, nonprecious, and environmentally friendly electrocatalysts for the chemical energy conversion and storage devices.
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| 2. |
- Aftab, Umair, et al.
(författare)
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Mixed CoS2@Co3O4 composite material: An efficient nonprecious electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction
- 2020
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Ingår i: International journal of hydrogen energy. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 0360-3199 .- 1879-3487. ; 45:27, s. 13805-13813
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been identified as a sustainable and environment friendly technology for a wide range of energy conversion and storage applications. The big barrier in realizing this green technology requires a highly efficient, earth-abundant, and low-cost electrocatalyst for HER. Various HER catalysts have been designed and reported, still, their performance is not up to the mark of Pt. Among them, cobalt-based, especially cobalt disulfide (CoS2) has shown significant HER activity and found suitable candidature for HER due to its low cost, simple to prepare, and exhibits good stability. Herein, we synthesized various nanostructured materials including pure CoS2, Co3O4 and their composites by wet chemical methods and found them active for HER. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has revealed a morphology of composite as a mixture of nanowires and round shape spherical nanoparticles with several microns in dimension. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the cubic phase of CoS2 and cubic phase of Co3O4 in the composite materials. The chemical deposition of CoS2 onto Co3O4 has tailored the HER activity of CoS2@Co3O4 composite material. Two CoS2@Co3O4 composite materials were produced with varying amounts of Co3O4 and labeled as samples 1 and 2. The Co3O4 reduced the adsorption energy for hydrogen, decreased the aggregation of CoS2 and uplifted the stability of CoS2@Co3O4 a composite material in alkaline media. Sample 1 requires an overpotential of 320 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA/cm(2) and it exhibits a Tafel slope of 42 mVdec(-1) which is the key indicator for the fast HER kinetics on sample 1. The sample 1 is highly durable for 50 h and also it has excellent stability. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed a small charge transfer resistance of 28.81 Ohms for the sample 1 with high capacitance double-layer value of 0.81 mF. EIS has supported polarization and Tafel slope results. Based on the partial physical characterization and the electrochemical results, the as-obtained sample 1 (CoS2@Co3O4 composite material) will find potential applications in an extended range of energy conversion and storage devices owing to its low cost, high abundance, and excellent efficiency. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Aftab, Umair, et al.
(författare)
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Nickel-cobalt bimetallic sulfide NiCo(2)S(4)nanostructures for a robust hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic media
- 2020
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Ingår i: RSC Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2046-2069. ; 10:37, s. 22196-22203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There are many challenges associated with the fabrication of efficient, inexpensive, durable and very stable nonprecious metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this study, we have designed a facile strategy by tailoring the concentration of precursors to successfully obtain nickel-cobalt bimetallic sulfide (NiCo2S4) using a simple hydrothermal method. The morphology of the newly prepared NiCo(2)S(4)comprised a mixture of microparticles and nanorods, which were few microns in dimension. The crystallinity of the composite sample was found to be excellent with a cubic phase. The sample that contained a higher amount of cobalt compared to nickel and produced single-phase NiCo(2)S(4)exhibited considerably improved HER performance. The variation in the salt precursor concentration during the synthesis of a material is a simple methodology to produce a scalable platinum-free catalyst for HER. The advantageous features of the multiple active sites of cobalt in the CN-21 sample as compared to that for pristine CoS and NiS laid the foundation for the provision of abundant active edges for HER. The composite sample produced a current density of 10 mA cm(-2)at an overpotential of 345 mV. Also, it exhibited a Tafel value of 60 mV dec(-1), which predominantly ensured rapid charge transfer kinetics during HER. CN-21 was highly durable and stable for 30 hours. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the charge transfer resistance was 21.88 ohms, which further validated the HER polarization curves and Tafel results. CN-21 exhibited a double layer capacitance of 4.69 mu F cm(-2)and a significant electrochemically active surface area of 134.0 cm(2), which again supported the robust efficiency for HER. The obtained results reveal that our developed NiCo(2)S(4)catalyst has a high density of active edges, and it is a non-noble metal catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The present findings provide an alternative strategy and an active nonprecious material for the development of energy-related applications.
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| 4. |
- Aftab, Umair, et al.
(författare)
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The chemically reduced CuO-Co3O4 composite as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media
- 2019
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Ingår i: Catalysis Science & Technology. - : ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY. - 2044-4753 .- 2044-4761. ; 9:22, s. 6274-6284
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The fabrication of efficient, alkaline-stable and nonprecious electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction is highly needed; however, it is a challenging task. Herein, we report a noble metal-free advanced catalyst, i.e. the chemically reduced mixed transition metal oxide CuO-Co3O4 composite, with outstanding oxygen evolution reaction activity in alkaline media. Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) was used as a reducing agent for the mixed transition metal oxide CuO-Co3O4. The chemically reduced composite carried mixed valence states of Cu and Co, which played a dynamic role in driving an excellent oxygen evolution reaction process. The X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) study confirmed high density of active sites in the treated sample with a large number of oxygen vacancies. The developed electrocatalyst showed the lowest overpotential of 144.5 mV vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) to achieve the current density of 40 mA cm(-2) and remained stable for 40 hours throughout the chronoamperometry test at the constant potential of 1.39 V vs. RHE. Moreover, the chemically reduced composite was highly durable. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed the low charge transfer resistance of 13.53 ohms for the chemically reduced composite, which was 50 and 26 times smaller than that of Co3O4 and untreated CuO-Co3O4, respectively. The electrochemically active surface area for the chemically reduced composite was found to be greater than that for pristine CuO, Co3O4 and untreated pristine CuO-Co3O4. These findings reveal the possibility of a new gateway for the capitalization of a chemically reduced sample into diverse energy storage and conversion systems such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors.
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| 5. |
- Aftab, Umair, et al.
(författare)
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Two step synthesis of TiO2–Co3O4 composite for efficient oxygen evolution reaction
- 2021
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Ingår i: International journal of hydrogen energy. - : Elsevier. - 0360-3199 .- 1879-3487. ; 46:13, s. 9110-9122
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For an active hydrogen gas generation through water dissociation, the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics due to large overpotential is a main hindrance. Herein, a simple approach is used to produce composite material based on TiO2/Co3O4 for efficient OER and overpotential is linearly reduced with increasing amount of TiO2. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigations reveal the wire like morphology of composite materials, formed by the self-assembly of nanoparticles. The titania nanoparticles were homogenously distributed on the larger Co3O4 nanoparticles. The powder x-ray diffraction revealed a tetragonal phase of TiO2 and the cubic phase of Co3O4 in the composite materials. Composite samples with increasing TiO2 content were obtained (18%, 33%, 41% and 65% wt.). Among the composites, cobalt oxide-titanium oxide with the highest TiO2 content (CT-20) possesses the lowest overpotential for OER with a Tafel slope of 60 mV dec−1 and an exchange current density of 2.98 × 10−3A/cm2. The CT-20 is highly durable for 45 h at different current densities of 10, 20 and 30 mA/cm2. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed the fast charge transport for the CT-20 sample, which potentially accelerated the OER kinetics. These results based on a two-step methodology for the synthesis of TiO2/Co3O4 material can be useful and interesting for various energy storage and energy conversion systems.
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| 6. |
- Amin, Sidra, et al.
(författare)
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A practical non-enzymatic urea sensor based on NiCo2O4 nanoneedles
- 2019
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Ingår i: RSC Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2046-2069. ; 9:25, s. 14443-14451
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We propose a new facile electrochemical sensing platform for determination of urea, based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with nickel cobalt oxide (NiCo2O4) nanoneedles. These nanoneedles are used for the first time for highly sensitive determination of urea with the lowest detection limit (1 mu M) ever reported for the non-enzymatic approach. The nanoneedles were grown through a simple and low-temperature aqueous chemical method. We characterized the structural and morphological properties of the NiCo2O4 nanoneedles by TEM, SEM, XPS and XRD. The bimetallic nickel cobalt oxide exhibits nanoneedle morphology, which results from the self-assembly of nanoparticles. The NiCo2O4 nanoneedles are exclusively composed of Ni, Co, and O and exhibit a cubic crystalline phase. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the enhanced electrochemical properties of a NiCo2O4 nanoneedle-modified GCE by overcoming the typical poor conductivity of bare NiO and Co3O4. The GCE-modified electrode is highly sensitive towards urea, with a linear response (R-2 = 0.99) over the concentration range 0.01-5 mM and with a detection limit of 1.0 mu M. The proposed non-enzymatic urea sensor is highly selective even in the presence of common interferents such as glucose, uric acid, and ascorbic acid. This new urea sensor has good viability for urea analysis in urine samples and can represent a significant advancement in the field, owing to the simple and cost-effective fabrication of electrodes, which can be used as a promising analytical tool for urea estimation.
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| 7. |
- Amin, Sidra, et al.
(författare)
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MoSx-Co3O4 Nanocomposite for Selective Determination of Ascorbic Acid
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. - : AMER SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHERS. - 1533-4880 .- 1533-4899. ; 21:4, s. 2595-2603
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Designing a nanocomposite with sensitive and selective determination of ascorbic acid is challenging task. It is possible through the exploitation of attractive features of nanoscience and nanotechnology for the synthesis of nanostructured materials. Herein, we report the decoration of nanoparticle of MoSx on the surface of Co3O4 nanowires by hydrothermal method. The MoSx nanoparticles shared the large surface on the Co3O4 nanowires, thus it supported in the development enzyme free ascorbic acid sensor. Non-enzymatic sensor based on MoSx-Co3O4 composite was found very selective for the determination of ascorbic acid (AA) in phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.4. The MoSx-Co3O4 nanocomposite was used to modify the glassy carbon electrode to measure AA from variety of practical samples. The MoSx-Co3O4 nanocomposite was used to modify the glassy carbon electrode and it has shown the attractive analytical features such as a low working potential +0.3 V, linear range of concentration from 100-7000 mu M, low limit of detection 14 mu M, and low limit of quantification (LOQ) of 42 mu M. The developed sensor is highly selective and stable. Importantly, it was applied successfully for the practical applications such as detection of AA from grapefruit, tomato and lemon juice. The excellent electrochemical properties of fabricated MoSx-Co3O4 nanocomposite can be attributed to the increasing electro active surface area of MoSx. The presented nanocomposite is earth abundant, environment friendly and inexpensive and it holds promising features for the selective and sensitive determination of AA from practical applications. The nanocomposite can be capitalized into the wide range of biomedical applications.
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| 8. |
- Bhatti, Adeel Liaquat, et al.
(författare)
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An Efficient and Functional Fe3O4/Co3O4 Composite for Oxygen Evolution Reaction
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. - : AMER SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHERS. - 1533-4880 .- 1533-4899. ; 21:4, s. 2675-2680
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The design of efficient, stable, durable and noble metal free electro catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are of immediate need, but very challenging task. In this study, iron induction into cobalt oxide (Co3O4) has resulted composite structure by wet chemical method. The iron impurity has brought an electronic disorder into Fe3O4/cobalt oxide composite thereby efficient oxygen evolution reaction is demonstrated. An addition of iron content into composite resulted the alternation of morphology from Nano rods to clusters of nanoparticles. The successive addition of iron into composite system reduced the onset potential of OER as compared to the pristine cobalt oxide. A Tafel slope of 80 mVdec(-1) indicates the favorable oxygen evolution reaction kinetics on the sample 4. An over-potential of 370 mV is required to reach a 10 mAcm(-2) current density which is acceptable for a nonprecious catalyst. The catalyst is highly durable and stable for 30 hours. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further provided a deeper insight on charge transfer resistance and sample 4 has low charge transfer resistance that supported the OER polarization curves. The sample 4 has more electrochemical active surface area of 393.5 cm(2). These obtained results are exciting and highlighting the importance of composite structure and leave a huge space for the future investigations on composite materials for energy related applications.
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| 9. |
- Bhatti, Adeel Liaquat, et al.
(författare)
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Facile doping of nickel into Co3O4 nanostructures to make them efficient for catalyzing the oxygen evolution reaction
- 2020
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Ingår i: RSC Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2046-2069. ; 10:22, s. 12962-12969
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Designing a facile and low-cost methodology to fabricate earth-abundant catalysts is very much needed for a wide range of applications. Herein, a simple and straightforward approach was developed to tune the electronic properties of cobalt oxide nanostructures by doping them with nickel and then using them to catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an aqueous solution of 1.0 M KOH. The addition of a nickel impurity improved the conductivity of the cobalt oxide, and further increased its activity towards the OER. Analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate, respectively, the morphology, composition and crystalline structure of the materials used. The nickel-doped cobalt oxide material showed randomly oriented nanowires and a high density of nanoparticles, exhibited the cubic phase, and contained cobalt, nickel and oxygen as its main elements. The nickel-doped cobalt oxide also yielded a Tafel slope of 82 mV dec(-1) and required an overpotential of 300 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm(-2). As an OER catalyst, it was shown to be durable for 40 h. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis showed a low charge-transfer resistance of 177.5 ohms for the nickel-doped cobalt oxide, which provided a further example of its excellent OER performance. These results taken together indicated that nickel doping of cobalt oxide can be accomplished via a facile approach and that the product of this doping can be used for energy and environmental applications.
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| 10. |
- Bhatti, Adeel Liaquat, et al.
(författare)
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Nanostructured Co3O4 electrocatalyst for OER : The role of organic polyelectrolytes as soft templates
- 2021
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Ingår i: Electrochimica Acta. - : Elsevier. - 0013-4686 .- 1873-3859. ; 398
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Designing an efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media is highly needed but very challenging task. Herein, we used organic polyelectrolytes such as (carboxymethyl cellulose) CMC and polyacrylamide polymers for the growth of Co3O4 nanostructures by aqueous chemical growth method. The morphology and composition studies were performed on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. The structural properties and the surface chemistry of the Co3O4 electrocatalysts were correlated to the OER performance, and the enhancement mechanism with respect to pristine Co3O4 was observed to be specifically related to the polyelectrolyte templating role.Co3O4@CMC composites displayed reduced crystallite size, producing OER overpotential as low as 290 mV at 10 mAcm−2 in 1.0 KOH and Tafel slope of 71 mVdec−1, suggesting fast transfer of intermediates and electrons during water electrolysis. On the other hand, the use of polyacrylamide and its different templating mechanism resulted in similar crystallite size, but preferential exposed faces and larger surface vacancies content, as demonstrated by HR-TEM and XPS, respectively. Consistently, this material displays cutting-edge OER performance, such as overpotential of 260 mV at 10 mAcm−2 and a low Tafel slope of 63 mVdec−1. The proposed strategy for the preparation of Co3O4 nanostructures in the presence of CMC and polyacrylamide is facile, mass production, thus it could equally contributed towards the realization of hydrogen energy. Therefore, these nanostructures of Co3O4 can be regarded as an alternative and promising materials for the different electrochemical applications including fuel cells, metal air batteries, overall water electrolysis and other energy storage devices.
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