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Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Photo/electro catalytic green hydrogen production promoted by Ga modified Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4 nano catalysts
Pinki Kotwal1, Rohit Jasrotia2, Anant Vidya Nidhi3
1School of Physics and Materials Science, Shoolini University, Bajhol, Solan, H.P., India; Govt. MAM College, Jammu, India.
Abstract:
The current work concentrates on the fabrication of Ga doped Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4 nanocatalysts via sol-gel auto-combustion (SGA) for the production of green and sustainable source of energy i.e., hydrogen through photocatalytic and electrocatalytic routes. Single-phased cubic crystal structure with Fd3m geometry was observed through XRD patterns. FESEM images show the aggregated and spherical shaped grains with distinct grain boundaries and average grain size of 1.04 and 1.39 μm for the Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4, and Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.02Fe1.98O4 nanomaterials. Soft magnetic behaviour with a coercivity (Hc) and saturation magnetization (Ms) of 235.32-357.26 Oe and 54.65-61.11 emu/g was obtained for the produced nanomaterials. The estimation of photocatalytic nature for generating H2 was conducted using the sacrificial agents i.e., 0.128 M Na2S and 0.079 M Na2SO3. The analysis focused on measuring the maximum H2 generation was achieved by photocatalysts throughout three consecutive 4-h cycles. Out of all compositions, Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.02Fe1.98O4 nanomaterial have the highest photocatalytic activity of 16.71 mmol gcat-1. However, the electrocatalytic behaviour of prepared Co0.6Cu0.4GaxFe2-xO4 (x = 0.00-0.03) electrocatalysts were determined for HER (Hydrogen evolution reaction) reaction. The overpotential values of Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4, Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.01Fe1.99O4, Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.02Fe1.98O4, and Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.03Fe1.97O4 catalysts at 10 mA cm-2 were -0.81, -0.85, -1.03, and 1.21 V, correspondingly. Thus, at cathode current density of 10 mA/cm-2, an elevation in overpotential was noted, which indicates that the undoped Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4 (x = 0.00) electrocatalyst have remarkable electrocatalytic HER activity. Consequently, owing to photo/electro catalytic water splitting traits, the prepared catalysts are highly efficient for the green hydrogen generation.
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