Synthesis of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are known to have potential applications in multi-disciplinary fields. This thesis deals with design and synthesis of metal nanoparticles on semiconducting graphitic-carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and copper sulfide supports for photocatalysis and hydrogen evolution reactions. This thesis also contains a comprehensive study of shape dependent property of metal oxides for hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reaction. First chapter of this thesis describes the introduction and importance of nanoscience in our day-to-day life. New innovations in the field of electrocatalysis and future scope of hydrogen and oxygen evolution have been well elucidated at the end of this chapter. Second chapter illustrates the synthesis of Pt and Pd nanoparticles on g-C3N4 surface to prepare C3N4/Pd and C3N4/Pt nanoparticles. Pt nanoparticle decorated on C3N4 shows higher activity in hydrogen evolution than C3N4/Pd, whereas, C3N4/Pd exhibits better performance in nitro compound reaction. Third chapter elucidates the synthesis of AgPd, AgPt, and AgAu bimetallic alloy nanoparticles on g-C3N4 surface for hydrogen evolution. Bimetallic nanoparticles have been synthesized from C3N4/Ag via galvanic exchange, where Ag acted as sacrificial atom. Electrocatalytic study revealed that C3N4/AgPt is an efficient electrocatalyst than C3N4/AgPd and C3N4/AgAu nanoparticles. Fourth chapter delineates the synthesis of an efficient hydrogen evolution catalyst, CuS/Au heterostructure using a green synthetic approach. The as-synthesized catalyst has also been proved to be an active photocatalyst for methylene blue dye degradation under the illumination of visible light. Fifth chapter reported the synthesis of one-dimensional RuO2 nanorod for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction, an efficient and stable bifunctional electrocatalyst. RuO2 nanorod has been synthesized via calcination at 500 °C and the mechanism of formation has also discussed in detail. Chapter sixth depicts a new and novel method for the synthesis of IrO2 n