The Impact of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles on Electrochemical Performance

Abstract:

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles were synthesized via sol–gel method to produce uniform size nanoparticles using n-Octadecyl-trimethoxy silane which gives a good dispersion of silica nanoparticles in hydrophobic mediums. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption tests were used to thoroughly investigate the nanocomposites' morphology and structure. BET results show a high surface are of 760 m²/g and specific high pore size (30Ȧ) and pore volume (0.336 cm³/g). The SEM results present that the mesoporous silica nanoparticles possess a well dispersed and uniform particle morphology and FTIR interpenetrating the well-prepared silica nanoparticles which possess Si-O-Si and Si-O bond. The XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature silica nanoparticles. The electrochemical properties of silica nanoparticles were evaluated in a potassium chloride solution. With the advantages of a large specific surface area and a suitable pore size distribution, a pair of broad and symmetric redox peaks centred at -0.15 V and 0.6 V appears. Mesoporous silica with a large effective specific surface area demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance, making them excellent candidates for supercapacitors and fuel cells.

• Periodical: Journal of Nano Research (Volume 79)
• Pages: 49-60
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-30r16t
• Online since: June 2023
• Authors: Mayetu Segale, Rudzani A. Sigwadi*, Touhami Mokrani
• Keywords: Adsorption-Desorption, Cyclic Voltammetry, Fuel Cell, Mesoporous Silica, Nafion^®, Nanotechnology

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