Electrocatalytic and Enhanced Photocatalytic Applications of Sodium Niobate Nanoparticles Developed by Citrate Precursor Route.

ABSTRACT: Development of cost effective and efficient electrocatalysts is crucial to generate H₂ as an alternative source of energy. However, expensive noble metal based electrocatalysts show best electrocatalytic performances which acts as main bottle-neck for commercial application. Therefore, non-precious electrocatalysts have become important for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of high surface area (35?m²/g) sodium niobate nanoparticles by citrate precursor method. These nanoparticles were characterized by different techniques like X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrocatalytic properties of cost-effective sodium niobate nanoparticles were investigated for HER and OER in 0.5?M KOH electrolyte using Ag/AgCl as reference electrode. The sodium niobate electrode showed significant current density for both OER (?2.7?mA/cm²) and HER (?0.7?mA/cm²) with onset potential of 0.9?V for OER and 0.6?V for HER. As-prepared sodium niobate nanoparticles show enhanced photocatalytic property (86% removal) towards the degradation of rose Bengal dye. Dielectric behaviour at different sintering temperatures was explained by Koop's theory and Maxwell-Wagner mechanism. The dielectric constants of 41 and 38.5 and the dielectric losses of 0.04 and 0.025 were observed for the samples sintered at 500?°C and 700?°C, respectively at 500?kHz. Conductivity of the samples was understood by using power law fit.

SUBMITTER: Farooq U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6418189 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature