Topic of Research Seminar: Spinel NiFe2O4 nanoparticles decorated 2D Ti3C2 MXene sheets for efficient water splitting

Abstract: The design and demonstration of cost-effective, robust, and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for efficient water splitting have attracted a great deal of interest. In this work, composites of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles on the emerging novel two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2 (MXene) sheets were synthesized in order to achieve better electrocatalytic performance. MXene is synthesized by acid etch method from its MAX phase and the composite is synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method. The specific surface area calculated by BET is 36.874 m2/g, 7.1247 m2/g, and 68.69 m2/g for Ti3C2, NiFe2O4, and NiFe2O4/Ti3C2 respectively. NiFe2O4/Ti3C2 composite showed extraordinary kinetic metrics for electrocatalytic OER, an overpotential of 266 mV at a current density of 10 mAcm2, and a Tafel slope of 73.6 mV/dec. for HER an overpotential of 173 mV at 10 mA/cm2 with a Tafel slope of 112.2 mVdec. In 0.5 M KOH. The good electrocatalytic performance of NiFe2O4/Ti3C2 composite in alkaline media is believed to be originated from a well-constructed nanoparticle-sheet interface, synergetic effect, and the high metallic conductivity of Ti3C2 MXene sheets. In the Nyquist plot, charge transfer resistance (Rct) corresponds to the electrocatalytic kinetics at the catalyst/electrolyte interface. Rct value for NiFe2O4/Ti3C2 composite, NiFe2O4 nanoparticles and Ti3C2 sheets are 3Ω, 5Ω, and 9Ω respectively for OER and 1.26Ω, 4.84 Ω and 3.87 Ω respectively for HER.

Subject Field of Topic: Water Splitting

Name of Speaker: Ms. Saba Ahmad

Professorial Rank of Speaker: PhD Scholar (Chemistry Dpt.)

University Email of Speaker: [email protected]

Affiliation of Speaker: NUST School of Natural Sciences (NUST-SNS)

Date and Venue: October 20, 2022, 1400 hrs, School of Natural Sciences (SNS) New building CR # 205, NUST Islamabad Campus