Phytogenic Cu2OBi2O3ZrO2 nanomaterial for supercapacitor and water splitting: Synthesis, characterization, and energy applications.

Copper-based nanocomposites are regarded as sustainable energy materials having tremendous potential for energy storage supercapacitors and energy generation water splitting applications. Herein, a facile Cu-based ternary Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 nanocomposite is prepared by a sustainable, lower-cost, and simple hydrothermal-based phyto-synthesis route by using Amaranthus Viridis L. amaranthaceae plant (abbreviated as AVL.A). The synthesized AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 nanocomposite is characterized by powder-X-ray diffraction and FE-Scanning electron microscopy for its phase composition and surface morphology. The electrochemical efficiency of AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 nanocomposite is investigated for supercapacitors and overall water splitting. The fabricated Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 nanocomposite-based Nickel foam (NF) electrode shows superior performance with a specific capacitance of 524.5 F/g at 2 mV/s and 400 F/g at 1 A/g. The excellent rate capability is observed at scan rates from 2 mv/s to 300 mV/s and at current densities from 0.5 A/g to 30 A/g for AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 –NF. Furthermore, fabricated AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 –NF shows excellent electrochemical stability with 100% Coulombic efficiency till 5000 charge-discharge cycles. As bifunctional electrocatalyst AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 –NF electrode exhibits 117 mV overpotential at 10 mA/cm2 current density for HER kinetics along with 112 mV/dec Tafel slope values. The same Tafel slope value is also observed for OER measurements. These values of overpotential and Tafel slope for AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 –NF suggest a rapid and efficient electrochemical process of AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 –NF bifunctional electrocatalyst for energy generation. Overall study highly proposed AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 –NF as the potential electrode for energy storage supercapacitor and energy generation overall water splitting. Schematic representation of Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 formation and application. [Display omitted] • AVL.A-Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 nanocomposite is prepared by hydrothermal phyto-synthesis. • Surface morphology and phase are described using XRD and FE-SEM. • The Cu 2 OBi 2 O 3 ZrO 2 -NF electrode produced 400 F/g at 1 A/g and 524.5 F/g at 2 mV/s. • Excellent rate performance between 2 mV/s and 300 mV/s, and between 0.5 A/g and 30 A/g. • Outstanding stability with 100% Coulombic efficiency for 5,000 cycles. • Low overpotential (117 mV) and efficient bifunctional electrocatalysis at 10 mA/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]