Electrodeposited polyaniline on Pd-loaded TiO2 nanotubes as active material for electrochemical supercapacitor

Layer interfacing strategy to derive free standing CoFe@PANI bifunctional electrocatalyst towards oxygen evolution reaction and methanol oxidation reaction

Developing inexpensive, highly electrochemically active, and stable catalysts towards electrochemical studies remains challenge for researchers. In this regard, binder-free CoFe@PANI composite electrocatalyst is deposited on nickel foam (NF) substrate via successive electrodeposition of polyaniline (PANI) and CoFe-LDH at Room temperature (RT). As deposited binder-free CoFe@PANI electrocatalyst displays high electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in alkaline media. In CoFe@PANI structure, interfacing of high-electron conducting PANI establishes strong interconnection with CoFe-LDH by tuning electronic structures, which accelerates the electrochemical performance towards OER and MOR. For OER, CoFe@PANI requires low overpotential (η10) of 237 mV to reach current density (Id) of 10 mA cm-2 and displays low Tafel slope value of 46 mV dec-1 in 1 M KOH solution. Also, it displayed specific Id of 120 mA cm-2, when it was tested for MOR in 1 M KOH with 0.5 M methanol solution. The superior electrocatalytic activity of CoFe@PANI is mainly ascribed to high electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), abundant active sites and fast electron transfer between electrocatalyst and electrode surface. Of note, the current work may open new era for design and development of non-precious highly active and stable hybrid electrocatalysts at RT for various applications.

Nanostructured TiO2 Arrays for Energy Storage

Because of their extensive specific surface area, excellent charge transfer rate, superior chemical stability, low cost, and Earth abundance, nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) arrays have been thoroughly explored during the past few decades. The synthesis methods for TiO₂ nanoarrays, which mainly include hydrothermal/solvothermal processes, vapor-based approaches, templated growth, and top-down fabrication techniques, are summarized, and the mechanisms are also discussed. In order to improve their electrochemical performance, several attempts have been conducted to produce TiO₂ nanoarrays with morphologies and sizes that show tremendous promise for energy storage. This paper provides an overview of current developments in the research of TiO₂ nanostructured arrays. Initially, the morphological engineering of TiO₂ materials is discussed, with an emphasis on the various synthetic techniques and associated chemical and physical characteristics. We then give a brief overview of the most recent uses of TiO₂ nanoarrays in the manufacture of batteries and supercapacitors. This paper also highlights the emerging tendencies and difficulties of TiO₂ nanoarrays in different applications.

The Enhanced Energy Density of rGO/TiO2 Based Nanocomposite as Electrode Material for Supercapacitor

TiO2 electrode material is a poor choice for supercapacitor electrodes because it has low conductivity, poor cyclic stability, and a low capacitance value. It is inevitable to enhance electrode materials of this kind by increasing the surface area and combining high electronic conductivity materials. In the current research work, it was proposed to combine reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as it might provide a large surface area for intercalation and deintercalation, and also, it could establish the shorter paths to ion transfer, leading to a reduction in ionic resistance. The size, surface morphology, and crystalline structure of as-prepared rGO/TiO2 nanocomposites were studied using HRTEM, FESEM, and XRD, respectively. Using an electrochemical workstation, the capacitive behaviors of the rGO/TiO2 electrode materials were assessed with respect to scan rate and current density. The capacitances obtained through cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge techniques were found to be higher when compared to TiO2 alone. Furthermore, the as-synthesized nanocomposites were able to achieve a higher energy density and better cycle stability.

Gas Sensors Based on Titanium Oxides (Review)

Nanostructured titanium compounds have recently been applied in the design of gas sensors. Among titanium compounds, titanium oxides (TiO2) are the most frequently used in gas sensing devices. Therefore, in this review, we are paying significant attention to the variety of allotropic modifications of titanium oxides, which include anatase, rutile, brukite. Very recently, the applicability of non-stoichiometric titanium oxide (TiO2−x)-based layers for the design of gas sensors was demonstrated. For this reason, in this review, we are addressing some research related to the formation of non-stoichiometric titanium oxide (TiO2−x) and Magnéli phase (TinO2n−1)-based layers suitable for sensor design. The most promising titanium compounds and hetero- and nano-structures based on these compounds are discussed. It is also outlined that during the past decade, many new strategies for the synthesis of TiO2 and conducting polymer-based composite materials were developed, which have found some specific application areas. Therefore, in this review, we are highlighting how specific formation methods, which can be used for the formation of TiO2 and conducting polymer composites, can be applied to tune composite characteristics that are leading towards advanced applications in these specific technological fields. The possibility to tune the sensitivity and selectivity of titanium compound-based sensing layers is addressed. In this review, some other recent reviews related to the development of sensors based on titanium oxides are overviewed. Some designs of titanium-based nanomaterials used for the development of sensors are outlined.

Plant-Extract-Mediated Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used in several fields including catalysis, bioengineering, photoelectricity, antibacterial, anticancer, and medical imaging due to their unique physical and chemical properties. In the traditional synthesis method of MNPs, toxic chemicals are generally used as reducing agents and stabilizing agents, which is fussy to operate and extremely environment unfriendly. Based on this, the development of an environment-friendly synthesis method of MNPs has recently attracted great attention. The use of plant extracts as reductants and stabilizers to synthesize MNPs has the advantages of low cost, environmental friendliness, sustainability, and ease of operation. Besides, the as-synthesized MNPs are nontoxic, more stable, and more uniform in size than the counterparts prepared by the traditional method. Thus, green preparation methods have become a research hotspot in the field of MNPs synthesis. In this review, recent advances in green synthesis of MNPs using plant extracts as reductants and stabilizers have been systematically summarized. In addition, the insights into the potential applications and future development for MNPs prepared by using plant extracts have been provided.

Construction of mesoporous carbon microsphere/polyaniline composites as high performance pseudocapacitive electrodes

Mesoporous carbon microspheres (MCMs), as a supercapacitor electrode material, have good gravimetric capacitance and rate performance; however, their low volumetric capacitance, which results from their low density, restricts their application as a micro power source. Herein, polyaniline was introduced into the channels of MCMs to achieve a synergistic effect and significantly increase the volumetric capacitance. MCMs with a high surface area and pore volume allowed the uniform dispersion of PANI within their channels in nanoscale dimensions. The interconnected carbon framework could provide excellent electrical conductivity and alleviate the structural collapse of PANI. Moreover, PANI could function not only as an active pseudocapacitive material that facilitated energy storage but also as a proton transport media that promoted a rapid protonation/deprotonation process during the redox reaction in the internal channels. As a result, PANI/MCM composites, even with a poor pore structure, delivered a high volumetric capacitance of 539F cm^-3 at 1 A g^-1 and an excellent rate performance of 83% at current densities ranging from 0.5 to 20 A g^-1. In addition, PANI/MCM composites exhibited good cycling stability, retaining 84% of the capacitance after 1000 charge/discharge cycles at 1 A g^-1, owing to the high mechanical strength of the MCMs. Therefore, this synthesis strategy could provide an efficient and scalable solution for the development of supercapacitor electrode materials.

The Impact of In Situ Polymerization Conditions on the Structures and Properties of PANI/ZnO-Based Multiphase Composite Photocatalysts

We have synthesized polyaniline/ZnO-based (PANI/ZnO) multiphase composite photocatalysts from acid media by a newly proposed two-step in situ polymerization. The first step of synthesis yielded PANI salt required for the PANI/ZnO synergistic effect. In the second step, the aniline oxidation continued, without ZnO dissolution, and it produced PANI base. Thus, both PANI salt and base phases in the composites were detected by FTIR and UV/Vis, while the presence of both ZnO and PANI polymer was confirmed by XRD. Additionally, XRD also showed Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O and Zn(SO4)(H2O) phases in PANI/ZnO-based multiphase composites. Furthermore, the impact of the synthesis conditions on the morphology of the composites was investigated by FE-SEM. The images displayed that ZnO particles were encapsulated in PANI sheets that were formed by the aniline oligomers. Photocatalytic evaluation of PANI/ZnO-based catalysts (i.e., degradation of Acid Blue 25 dye) was conducted and the obtained results confirmed that all the studied composites experienced the PANI/ZnO synergistic effect. It was observed that the best photocatalytic properties were held by the PANI/ZnO_2 sample due to its optimal particle size.

Pd-based nanoparticles: Plant-assisted biosynthesis, characterization, mechanism, stability, catalytic and antimicrobial activities

Among various metal nanoparticles, palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) are one of the most important and fascinating nanomaterials. An important concern about the preparation of Pd NPs is the formation of toxic by-products, dangerous wastes and harmful pollutants. The best solution to exclude and/or minimize these toxic substances is plant mediated biosynthesis of Pd NPs. Biogenic Pd-based NPs from plant extracts have been identified as valuable nanocatalysts in various catalytic reactions because of their excellent activities and selectivity. They have captured the attention of researchers owing to their economical, sustainable, green and eco-friendly nature. This review attempts to cover the recent progresses in the fabrication, characterization and broad applications of biogenic Pd NPs in environmental and catalytic systems. In addition, the stability of biosynthesized Pd NPs and mechanism of their formation are investigated.

Noble metal-based materials in high-performance supercapacitors

This review comprehensively summarizes and evaluates the recent progress in the research of noble metals and their composite electrode materials for supercapacitors.

Unique Core-Shell Nanorod Arrays with Polyaniline Deposited into Mesoporous NiCo2O4 Support for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes

Polyaniline (PANI), one of the most attractive conducting polymers for supercapacitors, demonstrates a great potential as high performance pseudocapacitor materials. However, the poor cycle life owing to structural instability remains as the major hurdle for its practical application; hence, making the structure-to-performance design on the PANI-based supercapacitors is highly desirable. In this work, unique core-shell NiCo2O4@PANI nanorod arrays (NRAs) are rationally designed and employed as the electrode material for supercapacitors. With highly porous NiCo2O4 as the conductive core and strain buffer support and nanoscale PANI layer as the electrochemically active component, such a heterostructure achieves favorably high capacitance while maintaining good cycling stability and rate capability. By adopting the optimally uniform and intimate coating of PANI, the fabricated electrode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 901 F g(-1) at 1 A g(-1) in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte and outstanding capacitance retention of ∼91% after 3000 cycles at a high current density of 10 A g(-1), which is superior to the electrochemical performance of most reported PANI-based pseudocapacitors in literature. The enhanced electrochemical performance demonstrates the complementary contributions of both componential structures in the hybrid electrode design. Also, this work propels a new direction of utilizing porous matrix as the highly effective support for polymers toward efficient energy storage.

Analysis of photocurrent and capacitance of TiO2 nanotube–polyaniline hybrid composites synthesized through electroreduction of an aryldiazonium salt

TiO₂ nanotube–polyaniline hybrid composites were synthesized using an aminophenyl under-layer electrochemically grafted on TiO₂ obtaining improvements in photocurrent and capacitance.