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Strategic wet-chemical combination of activated charcoal with copper zirconate for enhanced electrocatalytic performance

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Abstract

The preparation of a novel Activated Charcoal (AC) and Copper Zirconate nanocomposite and the investigation of its properties has been reported in this study. Sol–Gel method was carried out for the fabrication of copper zirconate nano-powder, while a simple wet chemical process was used for the synthesis of AC/CuZrO3 nanocomposite. The resultant nanocomposite was then characterized using various techniques such as SEM EDS, XRD, and UV–Vis to analyze the effects that the addition of CuZrO3 has on the electro and photoactivity of AC. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a meaningful modification of optical properties of AC, resulting an improved electrochemical behavior of AC/CuZrO3 nanocomposite as evidenced by EIS. The electrochemical results further showed considerable increase in the efficiency of electrons transport of AC/CuZrO3 NC and the redox potential of the nanocomposite was also increased. The maximum oxidation potential was achieved near a current density of 570 mA/cm2, as compared to that of AC (10 mA/cm2) which reflected the suitability of AC/CuZrO3 for multiple advanced applications including but not limited to electro and photoelectrochemical cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Asbah Batool, Fatima Rashid & Muhammad Abdul Basit

  2. Institute of Advanced Materials, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan

    Asghar Nazir & Muhammad Abdul Basit

  3. Institute of Chemical Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

    Syed Imran Abbas Shah

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  1. Asbah Batool
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  2. Fatima Rashid
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  3. Asghar Nazir
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AB: Data Curation, Experimentation, Methodology, Writing—original draft. FR: Visualization and Investigation. AN: Investigation. SIAS: Investigation. MAB: Conceptualization, Writing—review & editing, Supervision, Resources.

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Batool, A., Rashid, F., Nazir, A. et al. Strategic wet-chemical combination of activated charcoal with copper zirconate for enhanced electrocatalytic performance. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 2121 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-11423-5

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