In this study the performance enhancement effect of structural ordering for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is systematically studied. Two samples of PtCu3 nanoparticles embedded on a graphitic carbon support are carefully prepared with identical initial composition, particle dispersion and size distribution, yet with different degrees of structural ordering. Thus we can eliminate all coinciding effects and unambiguously relate the improved activity of the ORR and more importantly the enhanced stability to the ordered nanostructure. Interestingly, the electrochemically induced morphological changes are common to both ordered and disordered samples. The observed effect could have a groundbreaking impact on the future directions in the rational design of active and stable platinum alloyed ORR catalysts.

Herein we report the electrocatalytic activity of boron-doped graphene for the reduction of CO2. Electrolysis takes place at low overpotentials leading exclusively to formate as the product (vis-à-vis benchmark Bi catalyst). Computational studies reveal mechanistic details of CO2 adsorption and subsequent conversion to formic acid/formate.

In this work, gold-incorporated polyethylenedioxythiophene nanocomposite material has been synthesized chemically, employing reverse emulsion polymerization method. Infrared and Raman spectroscopic studies revealed that the polymerization of ethylenedioxythiophene leads to the formation of polymer polyethylenedioxythiophene incorporating gold nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscope studies showed the formation of polymer nanorods of 50–100 nm diameter and the X-ray diffraction analysis clearly indicates the presence of gold nanoparticles of 50 nm in size.

Ensembles of graphite‐based nanotubes (see Fig.) have been produced by extending a template approach successfully used for metals and semiconductors to carbons. The outer andinner diameters of the tubules can be controlled by varying the time allowed for the polymerization of acrylonitrile within the pores of a nanotubes formed in the pores are subsequently graphitized at high temperatures to form the graphitized nanotubes .

Herein, we report a one-pot synthesis of highly stable Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) using 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) as a reductant and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS-) as a dopant for PEDOT and particle stabilizer. The synthesis demonstrated in this work entails the reduction of HAuCl4 using EDOT in the presence of PSS-. The formation of AuNPs with concomitant EDOT oxidation is followed by UV-vis spectroscopy at various time intervals. Absorption at 525 nm is due to the surface plasmon band of AuNPs (violet), and broad absorption above 700 nm is due to oxidized PEDOT that was further characterized to be in its highly oxidized (doped) state, using FT-Raman spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy shows a polydisperse nature of the particles, and the selected area electron diffraction pattern reveals the polycrystalline nature of AuNPs. With stabilizers such as sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) (green) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (blue), the absorbance around 525 nm was found to be negligibly small, while PSS- showed high absorbance at 525 nm (violet) and above 700 nm (oxidized PEDOT). PSS- also allows complete oxidation of EDOT and serves as an effective dopant for PEDOT. While AuNPs covered by PEDOT alone cannot be dispersed in aqueous solutions, PSS- renders Au-PEDOT water soluble. The hydrodynamic diameter of the nanocomposite estimated from the dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements increases in the order Na-PSS < SDS < PVP. Interestingly, the color of the Au(nano)-PEDOT/PSS- aqueous dispersion changed reversibly between violet and blue and vice versa on addition of NaOH and HCl, respectively. This reversible color change appears to be a combination effect of acid/base on the properties of PEDOT, in turn changing the environment around the embedded AuNPs. The nanoparticle dispersion also exhibited very high stability in presence of 3.0 M NaCl. Remarkably, the nanocomposite Au(nano)-PEDOT/PSS- was found to function as an effective catalyst to activate the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of excess NaBH4, and the calculated apparent rate constant value of 4.39 x 10-2 s-1 is found to be higher than those obtained using other nanocomposites with SDS and PVP and comparable to the values reported in the case of other encapsulants.

A new class of corrosion inhibitors, namely, polyamino-benzoquinone (PAQ) has been synthesized and its inhibiting action on the corrosion of mild steel in 1N H2SO, and 1N HC1 has been investigated by various corrosion monitoring techniques. A preliminary screening of the inhibition efficiency of the polymer was carried out by self corrosion studies. PAQ is found to behave better in 1N H2SO, than 1N HC1. Potentiodynamic polarization studies clearly reveal the fact that PAQ is a mixed-type inhibitor. PAQ is able to reduce considerably the permeation current through the steel surface in both the acids. Changes in impedance parameters (R~t and C~) are indicative of adsorption of PAQ on the metal surface leading to the formation of a protective film which grows with increasing exposure time. The adsorption of this polymer is also found to obey Temkin's adsorption isotherm in both acids thereby indicating that the main process of inhibition is by adsorption. UV spectral studies were also carried out to establish the actual mechanism of inhibition of corrosion.

We discovered using SECM of the electro-reduction of CO2 on a Au substrate in CO2-saturated KHCO3 solutions that (i) formate comes solely from the direct reduction of bicarbonate; and (ii) CO forms only from CO2 reduction (under low pH conditions) and at higher applied potentials. The results point to the possibility of the selective reduction of CO2 to the formate product.

We report here the synthesis of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles incorporated poly-(3,4)ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) matrix in aqueous medium and its catalytic performance towards 4-nitrophenol reduction. This simple one-pot synthesis involving a redox reaction between 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and palladium chloride (PdCl 2 ) precursor, leads to the formation of Pd nanoparticles supported on particulate PEDOT. Pd nanoparticles of size 1-9 nm were found to distribute uniformly over the PEDOT matrix. Morphology of the Pd-PEDOT nanocomposite was characterized by field emission-scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and the crystallographic details obtained using X-ray diffraction. The chemical nature of the PEDOT support matrix was analyzed using Fourier transform-infra red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the composite was demonstrated using a model reaction, i.e., reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. The value of the apparent rate constant, ca. 65.8 9 10 -3 s -1 obtained using UV visible spectroscopy of the reduction of 4-nitrophenol at the Pd-PEDOT nanocomposite is comparable to those reported for other catalytic systems.