01692nas a2200193 4500008004100000022001400041245015300055210006900208260011000277300001600387490000600403520084100409100002401250700002401274700002001298700002401318700002501342856013101367 2014 eng d a2046-206900aNanophase CulnS(2) nanosheets/CuS composite grown by the SILAR method leads to high performance as a counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells0 aNanophase CulnS2 nanosheetsCuS composite grown by the SILAR meth aTHOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLANDbROYAL SOC CHEMISTRYcMAY a21989-219960 v43 a

Single phase CulnS(2) (CIS) nanosheets are synthesized on TiO2 coated FTO by the simple technique of Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption Reaction (SILAR) followed by annealing at 500 degrees C. Annealing at a lower temperature of 250 degrees C is found to yield CuS nanoparticles in addition to the CIS phase. Both single phase CIS and the CuS/CIS nanocomposite were examined as counter electrodes for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The CIS-CuS composite is found to have a synergistic effect on the catalytic performance toward the reduction of tri-iodide, yielding a power conversion efficiency of 6.3% as compared to pristine CIS (5%) or CuS (3.5%). The possible reasons behind the high performance of the composite are elucidated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

1 aBhosale, Reshma, K.1 aAgarkar, Shruti, A.1 aAgrawal, Ishita1 aNaphade, Rounak, A.1 aOgale, Satishchandra uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/nanophase-culns2-nanosheetscus-composite-grown-silar-method-leads-high-performance-counter-001868nas a2200289 4500008004100000022001400041245009900055210006900154260007100223300001600294490000600310520085500316653001901171653002401190653002401214653001201238653002201250653003401272653001801306100002001324700002301344700001601367700002101383700002201404700002501426856012701451 2015 eng d a1944-824400aNiS1.97: a new efficient water oxidation catalyst for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation0 aNiS197 a new efficient water oxidation catalyst for photoelectro a1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USAbAMER CHEMICAL SOCcSEP a20053-200600 v73 a

NiS1.97, a sulfur-deficient dichalcogenide, in nanoscale form, is shown to be a unique and efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) catalyst for H-2 generation by water splitting. Phase pure NiS1.97 nanomaterial is obtained by converting nickel oxide into sulfide by controlled sulfurization method, which is otherwise difficult to establish. The defect states (sulfur vacancies) in this material increase the carrier density and in turn lead to favorable band line-up with respect to redox potential of water, rendering it to be an effective photoelectrochemical catalyst. The material exhibits a remarkable PEC performance of 1.25 mA/cm(2) vs NHE at 0.68 V in neutral pH, which is almost 1000 times superior as compared with that of the stoichiometric phase of NiS2. The latter is well-known to be a cocatalyst but not as a primary PEC catalyst.

10adichlacogenide10aFaradaic efficiency10aHydrogen generation10aNiS1.9710anonstoichiometric10aphotoelectrochemical catalyst10asulfurization1 aBhosale, Reshma1 aKelkar, Sarika, A.1 aParte, Golu1 aFernandes, Rohan1 aKothari, Dushyant1 aOgale, Satishchandra uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/nis197-new-efficient-water-oxidation-catalyst-photoelectrochemical-hydrogen-generation-001873nas a2200181 4500008004100000245011400041210006900155260000800224300001400232490000600246520121400252100001701466700001801483700001701501700002301518700002501541856012501566 2017 eng d00aNanotubular hard carbon derived from renewable natural seed gel for high performance sodium-ion battery anode0 aNanotubular hard carbon derived from renewable natural seed gel  cAUG a6909-69150 v23 a

Electrical energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors are perhaps the most researched topic today in view of its critical implications for the successful implementations of various renewable energy harvesting initiatives. Amongst the various battery systems being currently examined, the Li-battery continues to be a main player, but the Na-ion battery has been attracting significant attention lately due to the concerns about the limited reserves and high cost of Li. Hard carbon is recognized to be a good anode material for Na-battery. In this work we present a novel approach to synthesize such hard carbon from a natural gel derived from the commonly used Basil seeds (Osimum Basilicum) which swell 30 times their weight by absorbing water. The hard carbon obtained by pyrolysis of the freeze-dried mucilage possesses sheet-like and tubular morphology with decorated surface defects attributed to the presence of oxygen functionalities. This hard carbon shows a good reversible capacity of 195 mAh g(-1) at 0.1A g(-1) with an impressive approximate to 91% retention of initial capacity after 300 cycles and sustains high current densities with not much change in capacity value.

1 aSharma, Neha1 aGawli, Yogesh1 aAhmad, Absar1 aMuhammed, Musthafa1 aOgale, Satishchandra uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/nanotubular-hard-carbon-derived-renewable-natural-seed-gel-high-performance-sodium-ion