Preparation and characterization of metal oxides nanoparticles-based catalysts for energy conversion applications / Mohamed Rabie Rizk Abdelghafar ; Supervised Amina Ali Mazhar , Mohamed Saada Eldeab , Muhammad Gamal Abdelmoghny

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Physical Chemistry

This study demonstrates the manufacturing of 3D non-precious metal porous electro-catalysts using the DHBT technique via simple electro-deposition. Moreover, the prepared porous electro-catalysts were modified in such a way increasing their electro-active surface area via various additives and galvanic electroless decoration as well. The prepared porous electro-catalysts were used as electrodes for various energy conversion applications such as GOR, water splitting, urea-mediated, and glycerol-mediated electrolysis.The following points summarize the work 1-Novel porous Cu/Cu₂O films were prepared by the DHBT method and their activities toward GOR in an alkaline medium were studied. It was found that chloride ions (as an additive in Cu deposition bath) affected the crystal structure and morphology of the prepared films. Furthermore, doping the Cu/Cu2O films with a small amount of Ni resulted in enhanced GOR activity due to a decrease of the charge transfer resistance which was confirmed from EIS measurements. Additives to the deposition bath (e.g., Cl, and/or Ni²+) resulted in a relative increase in the ECSA up to 2.9 times with a concurrent increase in electrocatalytic activity towards GOR while working effectively for a prolonged electrolysis time

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