Search

Currently, the advancement in energy storage technology is a worldwide-based vital challenge, so researchers focused on the development and design of promising electrode materials for energy storage equipment. Perovskite oxide and transition metal selenide nanocomposites can achieve better cycle stability, efficient electric conductivity, high capacity, excellent redox reaction, and inattentive flexibility as electrode materials for energy storage devices and supercapacitor applications. Herein, we present the designed, fabricated, and electrochemical properties of MnSe-supported SrZrO 3 nanocomposite via the Pechini method that exhibited more efficient capacitive performance than pristine SrZrO 3 and MnSe. The result of electrochemical testing indicates that the SrZrO 3 –MnSe nanocomposite electrode possessed a battery-type pseudocapacitive nature and displayed a boosted specific capacitance of 1204 Fg-1 at a 5 mV/s scan rate in aqueous 1 M KOH solution under a three-electrode setup and maintained 95.2% retention after 3000th cycles. It also showed a higher electrochemical active surface area (1680.5 cm2), higher energy density (40 Wh/Kg), long-term cyclic stability performance, and enhanced rate capability compared to other prepared products. As a result, these findings have shown that SrZrO 3 –MnSe nanocomposite can be considered as potential electrode materials and might have emerging applications in commercial products for energy storage devices and supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a novel cost-effective and efficient configuration of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with zinc oxide–multi-walled carbon nanotube (ZnO-MWCNT) composite has been constructed. The ZnO nanoparticles are synthesized by using microwave irradiation–assisted route and subsequently grinded with acid-treated MWCNTs at different concentrations. The ZnO/MWCNT nanocomposites along with N719 dye are used as photoanodes while Pt is used as counter electrode to construct DSSC devices. XRD results confirm polycrystalline ZnO nanoparticles, while SEM and TEM analyses reveal the homogeneous formation of the ZnO/MWCNT nanocomposites with 10–20-nm ZnO nanoparticles. EDS results confirm the Zn, O and C presence, while FTIR confirms the ZnO/MWCNT interactions. UV–visible spectral analyses reveal a reduction in the band gap energy with the increase of MWCNT concentrations, whereas PL result implies inhibition of electron–hole pair recombination process. Photovoltaic investigations indicate that the ZnO/MWCNT (0.5) photoanode delivers a high photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.85% which is 3.85 times better than that of bare ZnO (2.32%). The electrochemical impedance study also reveals that the composite electrode shows high catalytic activity and high electron lifetime. The high photoconversion efficiency in terms of pore size, incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency and optical absorption quality has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice husk, a plentiful agricultural waste, is a natural and environmentally friendly silica reservoir. In this study, a hydrothermal synthesis was employed to produce silica/polypyrrole nanocomposites, with the primary objective of developing corrosion-resistant materials. The nanocomposites are comprehensively characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and electrochemical studies. The results confirmed the successful formation of a silica/polypyrrole nanocomposite and revealed that the adsorption of polypyrrole molecules onto silica clusters controls the formation of larger silica nanoparticles. Pure silica exhibits spherical particles ranging from 500 to 1 μm. A low concentration of polypyrrole results in nanoparticles with dimensions ranging from 100 to 200 nm, while a higher concentration leads to reduced silica nanoparticles with sizes 10–20 nm. Aggregation of spherical nanoparticles is more prominent in silica/polypyrrole nanocomposites than pure silica nanoparticles. The nanocomposites of silica/polypyrrole, namely SP-1, SP-2, and SP-3, demonstrated significantly higher corrosion resistance (Rct) values of 36613 Ω, 44536 Ω, and 49060 Ω, respectively, in comparison to the pure silica (19540 Ω). The corrosion rates of pure silica, SP-1, SP-2, and SP-3 were determined to be 1.2687 mm/yr, 0.4715 mm/yr, 0.4681 mm/yr, and 0.3042 mm/yr, respectively. Silica exhibits remarkable chemical stability and exceptional corrosion resistance, whereas polypyrrole is a conducting polymer endowed with distinctive electrical characteristics. These constituents can be synergistically combined within a nanocomposite matrix, enhancing corrosion resistance. The synthesized nanocomposite exhibits considerable promise as a corrosion-resistant coating agent, presenting a sustainable remedy for corrosion mitigation in different industrial contexts. [Display omitted] • Hydrothermal synthesis of silica/polypyrrole nanocomposite. • Rice husk biowaste was used as a silica source. • Improved corrosion protection due to synergistic effect of silica/polypyrrole. • A sustainable and cost-effective method for corrosion protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]