Advanced Inorganic Nanomaterials for Energy Conversion and Catalysis Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Until today, inorganic nanomaterials for energy conversion and catalysis have become increasingly significant in academic research and industrial applications compared to before, such as in air purification, wastewater treatment, bacterial disinfection, and medical science. This is primarily due to unique properties such as their nanoporosity, optical absorption, intense crystalline phases, high specific surface areas, nanomorphology, and high oxidation. Hence, they play a vital role in the successful design of composite catalysts with enhanced efficiency and selectivity and a steady catalytic activity.

This Special Issue aims to track the most recent advances in inorganic nanomaterials in energy conversion and catalysis applications by hosting a mix of original research articles and comprehensive reviews.

Dr. Guan-Ting Pan
Prof. Dr. Chao-Ming Huang
Guest Editors

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• catalysis
• composites
• nanoparticles
• band gap
• electron transfer
• characterization
• electrochemistry
• catalysis applications

Title: High specific capacitance, energy density, and potential energy storage of CuFe2O4 nanofiber incorporated with three-dimensional graphene sheet hybrid electrode
Authors: Te-Wei Chiu
Affiliation: Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, 106 Taiwan
Abstract: The novel and highly enormous multifunctional nanocomposites have attracted more attention because of the materials in energy storage applications. In addition, growing demands for regenerative energy and electric automotive applications in recent decades. Supercapacitor device has more applications in consumer alternative electronic products due to their excellent energy density, rapid charge/discharge time, and safety. The CuFe2O4 incorporated three-dimensional graphene oxide (3D-rGO) nanocomposites have been prepared by an ultrasonication process. The synthesized nanocomposites were studied by different characterization studies such as X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical studies were carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. As prepared CuFe2O4/3DrGO nanocomposites have exhibited an excellent surface area, high energy storage with appreciable durability. In addition, the 3DrGO has enhanced conductivity, decreased agglomeration, and interfacial charge transportation in the nanocomposites. A supercapacitor with CuFe2O4/3DrGO-based electrodes exhibits an excellent specific capacitance of 488.98 Fg-1, a higher current density of 1 A/g, as well as a higher power density at ambient temperature. These energy density values are near the commercialized Ni metal hydride capacitor. After 2000 cycles of charge-discharge in a 2.0 M KOH aqueous electrolyte solution, the CuFe2O4/3DrGO electrodes exhibit an outstanding cyclic stability of roughly 95% at 10 Ag-1. Additionally, the CuFe2O4/3DGO electrode demonstrated stable electrochemical capabilities, when bent and stretched mechanically in the electrode. As a result, intimates that the prepared nanocomposites could have the potential for the storage of energy. *Keywords*: CuFe2O4 nanofiber, Electrospinning, Three-dimensional graphene, Supercapacitors, Specific capacitance.

Title: Synthesis of -SO3H functionalized g-C3N4/BiOI heterojunctions for photo(electro)catalytic applications
Authors: Thomas C. -K. Yang
Affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei-10608, Taiwan. Precision Analysis and Materials Research Center, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei-10608, Taiwan
Abstract: We synthesized a heterojunction photocatalyst combining sulfonic acid-modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4–SO3H) and bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI). The g-C3N4–SO3H and BiOI were prepared via wet-impregnation and hydrothermal methods, respectively. We characterized the BiOI/g-C3N4-SO3H using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. This photocatalyst demonstrates potential for photocatalytic wastewater treatment and photoelectrochemical water oxidation. Furthermore, we employed electrochemical Mott-Schottky measurements to determine the detailed band energy potentials. The results validate the BiOI/g-C3N4-SO3H heterojunction as a promising catalyst for energy and environmental remediation applications.