Effects of copper:aluminum ratio in CuO/Al2O3 nanocomposite: Electrochemical hydrogen storage capacity, band gap and morphology.

CuO/Al 2 O 3 nanocomposites were successfully prepared via a thermal decomposition method using green tea extract as a precipitating agent. The biosynthesized CuO/Al 2 O 3 nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), N 2 adsorption (BET), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Also, the electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of porous CuO/Al 2 O 3 nanocomposites with various aspect ratio of Cu:Al were studied. The discharge capacity of CuO/Al 2 O 3 nanocomposites at the first cycle with 2:1 ratio of each compartments obtained at 330 mAh/g while enhanced to 6750 mAh/g after 14 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]