@proceedings {47332, title = {Photocatalytic hydrogen production from H2S using nanostructured CNT blended CdZnS/Fe2O3 thin film on glass substrate}, volume = {1495}, year = {2020}, month = {MAR}, publisher = {IOP Publishing Ltd}, abstract = {

A co-precipitation method was employed to prepare the CNT blended CdZnS/Fe2O3\ photocatalyst. Using the powder photocatalyst, the thin film of CNT blended CdZnS/Fe2O3\ photocatalyst over a glass substrate was prepared using the drop-casting method. The obtained thin film was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), photoluminescence (PL), and hydrogen production activity studies in order to obtain information on their structural, morphology, chemical composition, optical and hydrogen production efficiency. The hydrogen production activity of catalyst or effective conversion of H2S into hydrogen (H2) and sulfur (S) using thin-film photocatalyst was evaluated using a simulated sulfide solution. The results showed that 1 mg of CNT blended CdZnS/Fe2O3\ catalyst coated as thin film over glass substrate (4.69 cm2) showed the highest hydrogen production value of 3180 μmol h-1g-1; compared to that of 1 mg CNT blended CdZnS/Fe2O3\ powder of 2510 μmol h-1g-1. From the above results, it is concluded that the thin film form of photocatlyst produced more hydrogen than the powder form. This is attributed to the effective charge separation and increased specific surface area in thin film photocatalyst.

}, doi = {10.1088/1742-6596/1495/1/012035}, author = {Raja, M. Anthony and Vijayarengan, Preethi and Pal, Yash and Nalajala, Naresh and Gopinath, Chinnakonda} } @article {47376, title = {Polyaryletherketone in energy conversion and storage devices - a highly tailorable material with versatile properties}, journal = {Polymer International}, volume = {70}, year = {2021}, month = {AUG}, pages = {1026-1037}, type = {Review}, abstract = {

Polymers have been a highly useful class of material for the last few decades owing to their ease of bulk production and fabrication. With the myriad of applications in day to day life, they have also found an important role in energy conversion and storage devices, not just as a housing material of the device but with an important role in the energy conversion process. Among the several polymers used in this area, polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) are one of the most versatile materials owing to their easy tailorability. The ether and ketone groups can be introduced in the main polymer chain in several ways to achieve the desired material properties. The main role of a polymer in an energy conversion device is that of a barrier to avoid the mixing of reactants and to selectively transport ions from one electrode to the other to maintain charge neutrality. The polymer membrane finds application in various electrochemical energy conversion devices such as fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, redox flow batteries, supercapacitors etc. The main focus of this work is to briefly review the extent of development in the PAEKs in various energy conversion and storage devices. (c) 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.

}, keywords = {electrolyte membrane, energy conversion and storage, fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, redox flow batteries, separator}, issn = {0959-8103}, doi = {10.1002/pi.6233, Early Access Date = APR 2021}, author = {Feroze Gooty Saleha, Wasim and Nalajala, Naresh and Neergat, Manoj} } @article {48469, title = {Photocatalytic setup for in situ and operando ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at MAX IV Laboratory}, journal = {Journal of Synchrotron Radiation}, volume = {30}, year = {2023}, month = {MAY}, pages = {613-619}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

The Ambient-Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (APXPS) endstation at the SPECIES beamline at MAX IV Laboratory has been improved. The latest upgrades help in performing photo-assisted experiments under operando conditions in the mbar pressure range using gas and vapour mixtures whilst also reducing beam damage to the sample caused by X-ray irradiation. This article reports on endstation upgrades for APXPS and examples of scientific cases of in situ photocatalysis, photoreduction and photo-assisted atomic layer deposition (photo-ALD).

}, keywords = {APXPS, photo-ALD, Photocatalysis, solar simulator}, issn = {0909-0495}, doi = {10.1107/S1600577523002801}, author = {Klyushin, Alexander and Ghosalya, Manoj and Kokkonen, Esko and Eads, Calley and Jones, Rosemary and Nalajala, Naresh and Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. and Urpelainen, Samuli} } @article {48800, title = {Possible handle for broadening the catalysis regime towards low temperatures: proof of concept and mechanistic studies with CO oxidation on surface modified Pd-TiO2}, journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, volume = {25}, year = {2023}, month = {AUG }, pages = {22040-22054}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

The present work demonstrates the effect of temperature-dependent surface modification (SM) treatment and its influence in broadening the catalysis regime with Pd-TiO2 catalysts prepared by various methods. Due to SM induced changes, a shift in the onset of CO oxidation activity as well as broadening of the oxidation catalysis regime by 30 to 65 K to lower temperatures is observed compared to the temperature required for virgin counterparts. SM carried out at 523 K for Pd-Photo-TiO2 exhibits the lowest onset (10\% CO2 production - T-10) and T-100 for CO oxidation at 360 and 392 K, respectively, while its virgin counterpart shows T-10 and T-100 at 393 and 433 K, respectively. The SMd Pd-TiO2 catalysts were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It is observed that diffusion of atomic oxygen into Pd-subsurfaces leads to SM and changes the nature of the surface significantly. These changes are demonstrated by work function (\& phi;), surface potential, catalytic activity, and correlation among them. UPS results demonstrate the maximum increase in \& phi; by 0.5 eV for Pd-Photo-TiO2 after SM, compared to all other catalysts. XPS study shows a moderate to severe change in the oxidation states of Pd due to atomic oxygen diffusion into the subsurface layers of Pd. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) study also reveals corroborating evidence that the surface potential increases linearly with increasing temperature deployed for SM up to 523 K, followed by a marginal decrease at 573 K. The \& phi; measured by KPFM and UPS shows a similar trend and correlates well with the changes in catalysis observed. Our results indicate that there is a strong correlation between surface physical and chemical properties, and \& phi; changes could be considered as a global marker for chemical reactivity.

}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d3cp01122d}, author = {Mhamane, Nitin B. B. and Panchal, Suresh and Kolekar, Sadhu K. K. and Ranjan, Ravi and Salgaonkar, Kranti N. N. and Burange, Anand S. S. and Nalajala, Naresh and Datar, Suwarna and Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. S.} } @article {49801, title = {Potential tuneable glucose oxidation to selective C6 molecules and CC cleavage, and parallel green H2 production: sustainable high current density electrolysis}, journal = {Chemical Engineering Journal}, volume = {529}, year = {2026}, month = {FEB}, pages = {172633}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

Current study elucidates the electrocatalytic efficacy of palladium-nanocubes (Pd-NCs) for the selective oxidation of glucose to value-added chemicals with concomitant hydrogen evolution. The Pd-NC catalyst demonstrated exceptional activity and product selectivity, achieving nearly quantitative glucose conversion (\>99 \%) with high gluconic and glucaric acid yield at low anodic overpotential (0.6 V vs. RHE) in alkaline electrolyte. At not-so-high elevated potentials (1.2 V vs. RHE), oxidative CC scission prevails, yielding shorter-chain carboxylates along with C6-acids. Reaction products are thoroughly characterized and quantitatively estimated by NMR spectral methods; NMR methods also provide CC cleavage and mechanistic pathways of glucose to various products. Complementary DFT calculations delineate the thermodynamic favorability of glucose adsorption on Pd-NC surfaces (-1.83 eV) and the exergonic oxidation pathway under applied bias, corroborating experimental product distributions. In a two-electrode electrolyzer, Pd-NC anode paired with Pt/C and Ni2P cathode demonstrates 100 mA/cm(2) at 0.99 V and 1.37 V, respectively, with 48 \% reduction in energy input (26.6 kWh/kg H-2) compared to conventional alkaline electrolysis; critically, H-2 production energy is lower than the usable energy (33.3 kWh/kg H-2). Sustainable chronopotentiometric assays confirm sustainability (similar to 140 h) in alkaline as well as saline electrolytes, underscoring the system{\textquoteright}s resilience against chloride-mediated corrosion. Present work establishes a proof of concept for integrated biomass-component valorization and carbon-negative green hydrogen production, merging atomic-level mechanistic insights with scalable reactor design. Optimization of reaction parameters, including potential tuning, reaction temperature and electrolyte engineering, offers a compelling strategy to further enhance C6 and fragmented product selectivity and overall system efficiency.

}, keywords = {biomass valorization, electrocatalysis, energy conversion, Sustainability}, issn = {1385-8947}, doi = {10.1016/j.cej.2026.172633}, author = {Chauhan, Inderjeet and Patra, Kshirodra Kumar and Vijay, Pothoppurathu M. and Nalajala, Naresh and Mehta, Shweta and Joshi, Kavita and Ravindranathan, Sapna and Gopinath, Chinnakonda S.} }