Punicalagin Green Functionalized Cu/Cu2O/ZnO/CuO Nanocomposite for Potential Electrochemical Transducer and Catalyst

Abstract

A novel ternary Punica granatum L-Cu/Cu2O/CuO/ZnO nanocomposite was successfully synthesised via green route. In this work, we demonstrate that the green synthesis of metal oxides is more viable and facile compare to other methods, i.e., physical and chemical routes while presenting a potential electrode for energy applications. The prepared nanocomposite was characterised by both microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques revealed different transitional phases with an average nanocrystallite size of 29–20 mm. It was observed that the nanocomposites changed from amorphous-slightly crystalline Cu/Cu2O to polycrystalline Cu/Cu2O/CuO/ZnO at different calcination temperatures (room temperature-RT- 600 °C). The Cu/Cu2O/ZnO/CuO metal oxides proved to be highly crystalline and showed irregularly distributed particles with different sizes. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the purity while together with ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy proved the proposed mechanism of the synthesised nanocomposite. UV-Vis showed improved catalytic activity of the prepared metal oxides, evident by narrow band gap energy. The redox and electrochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposite were achieved by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance (EIS) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD). The maximum specific capacitance (Cs) was calculated to be 241 F g−1 at 50 mV s−1 for Cu/Cu2O/CuO/ZnO nanoplatelets structured electrode. Moreover, all the CuO nanostructures reveal better power performance, excellent rate as well as long term cycling stability. Such a study will encourages a new design for a wide spectrum of materials for smart electronic device applications.

Green synthesis of Cu/Cu2O/CuO nanostructures and the analysis of their electrochemical properties

“…Furthermore, broad vibrational stretches were also observed at 2002 cm −1 and 1433 cm −1 which were mainly attributed to the chemisorbed and physisorbed H 2 O and CO 2 molecules on the surface of Cu/Cu 2 O/CuO particles [59,60]. A Similar behaviour was also reported by other researchers [59][60][61]. Compared to the control (peel extract, Fig.…”

Size and concentration influence of Cu/Cu2O/CuO/ZnO on selected environmental pathogenic bacteria: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus vulgaris

“…Thus, it is plausible to conclude that raising the calcination temperatures from 500 °C to 600 °C simultaneously eliminates the strong OH -and the already rather weak -C=O absorptions, suggesting thermally stable and pure Cu/Cu 2 O/CuO/ZnO nanocomposite. The results are in agreement with our previous FTIR results [31]. The DSC measurements of the prepared Cu/Cu 2 O/ CuO/ZnO nanocomposite were also investigated at different calcination temperatures, Fig.3 (a-e).…”

“…A large exothermic peak at 330 °C ( Fig.3 (d) peak 2) exhibits the poly-crystallization of Cu/Cu 2 O/CuO/ZnO nanocomposite. Therefore, the DSC measurements proved the poly-crystallization of Cu/Cu 2 O/CuO/ZnO nanocomposite occurred at temperatures over 350 0 C which is in agreement with the data acquired from both SEAD and XRD measurements [31]. …”

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Punica Granatum leaf extract and its application towards photocatalytic degradation of Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 dye

“…The color changes arise from the excitation of surface plasmon vibrations with the zinc oxide nanoparticles. It was observed that the absorbance peak was centered near 382 nm, indicating the reduction of zinc nitrate hexahydrate into ZnO-NPs [17][18][19].…”