Solvent‐Less Synthesis of Compositionally Tuned Mixed Metal (Ni−Zn) Ferrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting and Supercapacitance

Abstract Exploring efficient, abundant, economical and stable materials for sustainable energy applications, such as electrochemical water splitting and supercapacitance, is a challenging task. Mixed transition metal spinel ferrites can rationally be customized to attain these features and deliver e...

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Main Authors: Nyemaga M. Malima, Malik Dilshad Khan, Siphamandla C. Masikane, Felipe M. deSouza, Jonghyun Choi, Ram K. Gupta, Neerish Revaprasadu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2024-07-01
Series:ChemElectroChem
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400181
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author Nyemaga M. Malima
Malik Dilshad Khan
Siphamandla C. Masikane
Felipe M. deSouza
Jonghyun Choi
Ram K. Gupta
Neerish Revaprasadu
author_facet Nyemaga M. Malima
Malik Dilshad Khan
Siphamandla C. Masikane
Felipe M. deSouza
Jonghyun Choi
Ram K. Gupta
Neerish Revaprasadu
author_sort Nyemaga M. Malima
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Exploring efficient, abundant, economical and stable materials for sustainable energy applications, such as electrochemical water splitting and supercapacitance, is a challenging task. Mixed transition metal spinel ferrites can rationally be customized to attain these features and deliver enhanced electrochemical activity. The catalytic performance of spinels is remarkably influenced by tuning the cationic occupancy at the tetrahedral or octahedral position. Herein, a set of spinel Ni1‐xZnxFe2O4 (0≤x≤1) nanocomposites were obtained via a scalable solventless thermolysis of metal acetylacetonate precursors at relatively mild temperatures. A suite of techniques such as powder p‐XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and SAED were employed to confirm the formation of the Ni−Zn ferrite solid solutions. It was found that small amounts of Ni at tetrahedral sites were beneficial for charge storage and hydrogen evolution. For instance, Ni0.2Zn0.8Fe2O4 nanocomposite demonstrated superior HER activity with a much lower overpotential of 87 mV compared to the pristine NiFe2O4 (213 mV) or ZnFe2O4 (164 mV) catalysts. However, Ni‐occupied tetrahedral sites were not suitable for OER, whereby the pristine ZnFe2O4 displayed high catalytic activity with an overpotential of 330 mV, outperforming other electrode compositions. The study helps to identify suitable compositions and site tuning for HER, OER and supercapacitors.
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spelling doaj-art-faac70fd0b2c4772a78a8cc3efba00102025-08-20T02:26:06ZengWiley-VCHChemElectroChem2196-02162024-07-011114n/an/a10.1002/celc.202400181Solvent‐Less Synthesis of Compositionally Tuned Mixed Metal (Ni−Zn) Ferrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting and SupercapacitanceNyemaga M. Malima0Malik Dilshad Khan1Siphamandla C. Masikane2Felipe M. deSouza3Jonghyun Choi4Ram K. Gupta5Neerish Revaprasadu6Department of Chemistry University of Zululand Private Bag X1001 KwaDlangezwa 3880 South AfricaDepartment of Chemistry University of Zululand Private Bag X1001 KwaDlangezwa 3880 South AfricaDepartment of Chemistry University of Zululand Private Bag X1001 KwaDlangezwa 3880 South AfricaDepartment of Chemistry Kansas Polymer Research Center Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Kansas 66762 United StatesDepartment of Chemistry Kansas Polymer Research Center Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Kansas 66762 United StatesDepartment of Chemistry Kansas Polymer Research Center Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Kansas 66762 United StatesDepartment of Chemistry University of Zululand Private Bag X1001 KwaDlangezwa 3880 South AfricaAbstract Exploring efficient, abundant, economical and stable materials for sustainable energy applications, such as electrochemical water splitting and supercapacitance, is a challenging task. Mixed transition metal spinel ferrites can rationally be customized to attain these features and deliver enhanced electrochemical activity. The catalytic performance of spinels is remarkably influenced by tuning the cationic occupancy at the tetrahedral or octahedral position. Herein, a set of spinel Ni1‐xZnxFe2O4 (0≤x≤1) nanocomposites were obtained via a scalable solventless thermolysis of metal acetylacetonate precursors at relatively mild temperatures. A suite of techniques such as powder p‐XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and SAED were employed to confirm the formation of the Ni−Zn ferrite solid solutions. It was found that small amounts of Ni at tetrahedral sites were beneficial for charge storage and hydrogen evolution. For instance, Ni0.2Zn0.8Fe2O4 nanocomposite demonstrated superior HER activity with a much lower overpotential of 87 mV compared to the pristine NiFe2O4 (213 mV) or ZnFe2O4 (164 mV) catalysts. However, Ni‐occupied tetrahedral sites were not suitable for OER, whereby the pristine ZnFe2O4 displayed high catalytic activity with an overpotential of 330 mV, outperforming other electrode compositions. The study helps to identify suitable compositions and site tuning for HER, OER and supercapacitors.https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400181
spellingShingle Nyemaga M. Malima
Malik Dilshad Khan
Siphamandla C. Masikane
Felipe M. deSouza
Jonghyun Choi
Ram K. Gupta
Neerish Revaprasadu
Solvent‐Less Synthesis of Compositionally Tuned Mixed Metal (Ni−Zn) Ferrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting and Supercapacitance
ChemElectroChem
title Solvent‐Less Synthesis of Compositionally Tuned Mixed Metal (Ni−Zn) Ferrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting and Supercapacitance
title_full Solvent‐Less Synthesis of Compositionally Tuned Mixed Metal (Ni−Zn) Ferrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting and Supercapacitance
title_fullStr Solvent‐Less Synthesis of Compositionally Tuned Mixed Metal (Ni−Zn) Ferrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting and Supercapacitance
title_full_unstemmed Solvent‐Less Synthesis of Compositionally Tuned Mixed Metal (Ni−Zn) Ferrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting and Supercapacitance
title_short Solvent‐Less Synthesis of Compositionally Tuned Mixed Metal (Ni−Zn) Ferrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting and Supercapacitance
title_sort solvent less synthesis of compositionally tuned mixed metal ni zn ferrites for enhanced electrocatalytic water splitting and supercapacitance
url https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400181
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