DataVXJournal of Materials SciencePaper
journal article·2024-06Open access

Block copolymer-mediated synthesis of TiO2/RuO2 nanocomposite for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Binod Raj KC, Dhananjay Kumar, Bishnu Prasad Bastakoti

Journal of Materials Science· Volume 59· Issue 23
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Abstract

Abstract An amphiphilic block copolymer, poly (styrene-2-polyvinyl pyridine-ethylene oxide), was used as a structure-directing and stabilizing agent to synthesize TiO2/RuO2 nanocomposite. The strong interaction of polymers with metal precursors led to formation of a porous heterointerface of TiO2/RuO2. It acted as a bridge for electron transport, which can accelerate the water splitting reaction. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis of TiO2/RuO2 samples revealed successful fabrication of TiO2/RuO2 nanocomposites. The TiO2/RuO2 nanocomposites were used to measure electrochemical water splitting in three-electrode systems in 0.1-M KOH. Electrochemical activities unveil that TiO2/RuO2-150 nanocomposites displayed superior oxygen evolution reaction activity, having a low overpotential of 260 mV with a Tafel slope of 80 mVdec−1. Graphical abstract
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Research context

PolymersNanomaterials

OpenAlex topics: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Advanced battery technologies research · Conducting polymers and applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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