RuO2-ReO3 composite nanofibers for efficient electrocatalytic responses

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) is a promising electrocatalyst.
• Developing advanced composite materials is crucial for improved electrochemical performance.
• Controlling material composition is key to optimizing functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel ruthenium dioxide-rhenium oxide (RuO2-ReO3) electrospun composite nanofibers.
• To investigate the electrocatalytic properties of these nanofibers for capacitance and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensing.
• To determine the optimal composition for enhanced electrochemical performance.

Main Methods:

• Facile synthesis of RuO2-ReO3 composite nanofibers via electrospinning.
• Controlled preparation of precursor solutions and thermal annealing in air.
• Electrochemical characterization by modifying glassy carbon (GC) electrodes with varying RuO2-ReO3 ratios (RuO2-ReO3(n)/GC).

Main Results:

• Specific capacitance and H2O2 reduction sensitivity were significantly enhanced with increasing ReO3 content.
• The RuO2-ReO3(0.11)/GC composite exhibited superior performance.
• Achieved a 20.9-fold increase in specific capacitance (205 F g⁻¹) and a 7.6-fold increase in H2O2 sensitivity (668 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²) compared to pure RuO2/GC.

Conclusions:

• The electrospun RuO2-ReO3 composite nanofibers offer excellent potential for energy storage and sensing applications.
• Controlled doping of ReO3 into RuO2 nanofibers is an effective strategy to enhance electrocatalytic activity.
• The RuO2-ReO3(0.11) composition represents an optimal material for high-performance electrochemical devices.