@article { ISI:000264541800007, title = {Y-junction nanostructures of palladium: enhanced electrocatalytic properties for fuel cell reactions}, journal = {Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry}, volume = {627}, number = {1-2}, year = {2009}, month = {MAR}, pages = {58-62}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA}, address = {PO BOX 564, 1001 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND}, abstract = {

Here we demonstrate the utility of hierarchically designed alumina templates for the formation of palladium Y-junction nanostructures through a chemical vapor deposition route. These structures exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of formic acid (up to 1020\%) compared to that of platinum Y-junction nanostructures, which could be of immense relevance to portable fuel cell technology, since designing a better electrocatalyst for fuel cell reactions continues to be an important challenge. Apart from the obvious applications in fuel cell electrocatalysis, these Y-junction nanostructures could also act as promising candidates for room temperature hydrogen separation and more importantly as interconnects in molecular scale electronic devices. The present method of fabrication of Y-junction nanostructures using hierarchical alumina templates could be extended to other metallic/semiconducting systems facilitating more general opportunities for such hierarchical designs in nanoelectronics. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {electrocatalysts, fuel cells, Hierarchical structures, Nanostructure, Porous alumina membrane, Y-junctions}, issn = {1572-6657}, doi = {10.1016/j.jelechem.2008.12.021}, author = {Subhramannia, Mahima and Ramaiyan, Kannan and Aslam, Mohammed and Pillai, Vijayamohanan K.} } @article { ISI:000325548600016, title = {Redox-mediated synthesis of functionalised graphene: a strategy towards 2D multifunctional electrocatalysts for energy conversion applications}, journal = {ChemPlusChem}, volume = {78}, number = {10}, year = {2013}, month = {OCT}, pages = {1296-1303}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, address = {BOSCHSTRASSE 12, D-69469 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, abstract = {

A simple, one-step synthetic route for developing a two-dimensional multifunctional electrocatalyst is reported, by the functionalisation of graphene using oxidised ethylenedioxythiophene (O-EDOT). The mutually assisted redox reaction between graphene oxide (GO) and EDOT facilitates the reduction of GO to graphene with a concomitant deposition of O-EDOT on the surface of the graphene. The oxidised surface of GO catalyses the reaction without using an added reducing agent, so a controlled and uniform deposition of O-EDOT is ensured on the surface of graphene, which essentially prevents the restacking of the layers. UV/Visible, IR, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy give valid evidence for the reduction and functionalisation of graphene sheets. The functional groups present on the surface of graphene are found to tune the physical and chemical properties of graphene. Consequently, the functionalised material displays enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of oxygen to water and I3- to I- relative to pristine graphene. These distinct property characteristics make the material a versatile cathode electrocatalyst for both alkaline anion-exchange membrane fuel cells and dye-sensitised solar cells.

}, keywords = {electrocatalysts, fuel cells, graphene, redox chemistry, solar cells}, issn = {2192-6506}, doi = {10.1002/cplu.201300153}, author = {Unni, SreeKuttan M. and Bhange, Siddheshwar N. and Anothumakkool, Bihag and Kurungot, Sreekumar} } @article {46704, title = {Bimetallic palladium nickel nanoparticles anchored on carbon as high-performance electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and formic acid oxidation reactions}, journal = {ACS Applied Energy Materials}, volume = {3}, year = {2020}, month = {SEP }, pages = {9285-9295}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

{Herein, we report the synthesis of carbon-supported palladium-nickel electrocatalysts (ECs) (Pd4-xNix/C ECs

}, keywords = {electrocatalysts, Formic Acid Oxidation, fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction, palladium-nickel alloy}, issn = {2574-0962}, doi = {10.1021/acsaem.0c01622}, author = {Goswami, Chiranjita and Saikia, Himadri and Tada, Kohei and Tanaka, Shingo and Sudarsanam, Putla and Bhargava, Suresh K. and Bharali, Pankaj} } @article {46845, title = {Hierarchical nanoflower arrays of Co9S8-Ni3S2 on nickel foam: a highly efficient binder-free electrocatalyst for overall water splitting}, journal = {Chemistry-A European Journal}, volume = {26}, year = {2020}, month = {JUN }, pages = {7900-7911}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

Hydrogen production is vital for meeting future energy demands and managing environmental sustainability. Electrolysis of water is considered as the suitable method for H-2 generation in a carbon-free pathway. Herein, the synthesis of highly efficient Co9S8-Ni3S2 based hierarchical nanoflower arrays on nickel foam (NF) is explored through the one-pot hydrothermal method (Co9S8-Ni3S2/NF) for overall water splitting applications. The nanoflower arrays are self-supported on the NF without any binder, possessing the required porosity and structural characteristics. The obtained Co9S8-Ni3S2/NF displays high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as well as oxygen evolution reaction (OER), activities in 1 m KOH solution. The overpotentials exhibited by this system at 25 mA cm(-2) are nearly 277 and 102 mV for HER and OER, respectively, in 1 m KOH solution. Subsequently, the overall water splitting was performed in 1 m KOH solution by employing Co9S8-Ni3S2/NF as both the anode and cathode, where the system required only 1.49, 1.60, and 1.69 V to deliver the current densities of 10, 25, and 50 mA cm(-2), respectively. Comparison of the activity of Co9S8-Ni3S2/NF with the state-of-the-art Pt/C and RuO2 coated on NF displays an enhanced performance for Co9S8-Ni3S2/NF both in the half-cell as well as in the full cell, emphasizing the significance of the present work. The post analysis of the material after water electrolysis confirms that the surface Co(OH)(2) formed during the course of the reaction serves as the favorable active sites. Overall, the activity modulation achieved in the present case is attributed to the presence of the open-pore morphology of the as formed nanoflowers of Co9S8-Ni3S2 on NF and the simultaneous presence of the surface Co(OH)(2) along with the highly conducting Co9S8-Ni3S2 core, which facilitates the adsorption of the reactants and subsequently its conversion into the gaseous products during water electrolysis.

}, keywords = {cobalt sulfide, electrocatalysts, Hydrogen evolution, overall water splitting, oxygen evolution}, issn = {0947-6539}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202000839, Early Access Date = MAY 2020}, author = {Illathvalappil, Rajith and Walko, Priyanka S. and Kanheerampockil, Fayis and Bhat, Suresh K. and Devi, R. Nandini and Kurungot, Sreekumar} } @article {46874, title = {Mechanistic aspects of methanol electro-oxidation reaction through cyclic voltammetry: is it correct to blame carbon monoxide for catalyst poisoning?}, journal = {Energy Technology}, volume = {8}, year = {2020}, month = {MAY}, pages = {1900955}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

The mechanism of the methanol oxidation reaction is revisited using systematic cyclic voltammetric studies. These studies clearly indicate that the peak during the cathodic scan belongs mainly to electro-oxidation of the carbon monoxide, and that only a fraction of this carbon monoxide remains adsorbed on the electrode, contrary to what previous reports suggested. More details can be found in article number by Bhagavatula L. V. Prasad and co-workers.

}, keywords = {carbon monoxide, cyclic voltammetry, electrocatalysts, electrode poisoning, Methanol oxidation}, issn = {2194-4288}, doi = {10.1002/ente.201900955}, author = {Deshpande, Pooja S. and Chaudhari, Vijay R. and Prasad, Bhagavatula L. V.} } @article {46766, title = {In situ preparation of ionomer as a tool for triple-phase boundary enhancement in 3D graphene supported Pt catalyst}, journal = {Advanced Sustainable Systems}, volume = {5}, year = {2021}, month = {JAN}, pages = {2000125}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

For improving the performance of platinum electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), it is important to enhance the Pt utilization level in the catalyst systems. A high performing electrocatalyst (Pt/3DNG) is developed for PEMFC applications by using nitrogen-doped 3D graphene (3DNG) as the support material and an in situ grafted active {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}triple-phase boundary{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} to more precisely control the formation of the proton conducting ionomer interface at the active sites. Considering the 3D morphology of the system, during the electrode fabrication for realistic single-cell evaluation, the concept of in situ generation of the proton conducting-ionomer based {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}active triple-phase boundary{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} is introduced, which could potentially replace the conventional method of using Nafion ionomer for the electrode preparation. The monomers owing to their small-size can access the pores and inner regions of the 3DNG support, which on UV-curing, undergo polymerization and transform into an ionomer with an extended interfacial network into the nanoregimes of 3DNG. Single cell evaluation of the membrane electrode assembly in a high-temperature PEMFC by using phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole membrane demonstrates the utility of the present strategy.

}, keywords = {electrocatalysts, fuel cells, graphene, oxygen reduction reaction}, issn = {2366-7486}, doi = {10.1002/adsu.202000125, Early Access Date = JUL 2020}, author = {Gangadharan, Pranav K. and Vijayakumar, Vidyanand and Nediyirakkal, Shijil A. and Fernandez, Roshni Tresa and Siddharthan, V. Adhrika and Kurungot, Sreekumar} } @article {48193, title = {Doped 2D VX2 (X = S, Se, Te) monolayers as electrocatalysts for ammonia production: a DFT based study}, journal = {Applied Surface Science}, volume = {602}, year = {2022}, month = {NOV}, pages = {154401}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

Electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions on vanadium dichalcogenides (VX2) with non-metal dopants has been explored herein. Understanding the interface chemistry, inherent electronic and acute synergistic nature of non-metal dopants on two unique phases of VX2 has been meticulously explored through a scrutiny of several non-metal atoms as catalytic centers. The efficacity of N-2 chemisorption and N-N bond activation has been implemented as crucial parameters to realize boron and carbon doped VX2 monolayers to be electrocatalytically active for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). Detailed investigation on the NRR mechanism brings out the pivotal role of thermodynamic favourability for product formation obtained from Gibbs free energy differences. The charge transfer on N and pi-pi* orbital hybridization and electron {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}donor-acceptor {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft} mechanism between the non-metal and N-2 has been found to modulate the electrocatalytic barrier for NRR on VX2 monolayers. This study proposes boron doped VS2 as an efficient chemically feasible, earth abundant sustainable electrocatalyst for NRR with an overpotential as low as 0.06 eV.

}, keywords = {1T and 2H phases, DFT, electrocatalysts, Nitrogen Reduction Reaction, Non metal dopants, Vanadium dichalcogenides}, issn = {0169-4332}, doi = {10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.154401}, author = {Maibam, Ashakiran and BabaRao, Ravichandar and Krishnamurty, Sailaj A.} }