3d reduced graphene oxide foams embedded with nanocatalysts, synthesizing methods and applications of same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021002778-A1
Application number	US-202017024869-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 18, 2020
Priority date	Aug 10, 2017
Publication date	Jan 7, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of synthesizing a three-dimensional (3D) reduced graphene oxide (RGO) foam embedded with water-splitting nanocatalysts includes providing at least one solution containing at least one precursor of nanocatalysts, and a graphene oxide (GO) aqueous suspension; mixing the GO aqueous suspension with the at least one solution to form a mixture suspension; and performing hydrothermal reaction in the mixture suspension to form a 3D RGO foam embedded with the nanocatalysts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of synthesizing a three-dimensional (3D) reduced graphene oxide (RGO) foam embedded with nanocatalysts, comprising:
providing at least one solution containing at least one precursor of nanocatalysts, and a graphene oxide (GO) aqueous suspension; mixing the GO aqueous suspension with the at least one solution to form a mixture suspension; and performing hydrothermal reaction in the mixture suspension to form a 3D RGO foam embedded with the nanocatalysts.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one precursor comprises Na 2 MoO 4 and L-cysteine.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the mixture suspension is characterized with pH=5.8.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the 3D RGO foam embedded with the nanocatalysts is a 3D RGO-Mo S 2 foam.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one solution comprises a first solution containing nickel (II) nitrate, and a second solution containing iron (III) nitrate.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first and second solutions are formed by dissolving Ni(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O and Fe(NO 3 ) 3 .9H 2 O into deionized water, respectfully.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the mixture suspension is characterized with pH=3.5 and a molar ratio of C:Ni:Fe=14:1:0.33.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the hydrothermal reaction in the mixture suspension is performed in a sealed autoclave for hydrothermal reaction at a predetermined temperature for a period of time.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined temperature is in a ranges of about 160-200° C., and the period of time is in a range of about 7-11 h.

10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the 3D RGO foam embedded with the nanocatalysts is the RGO-Ni—Fe foam.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising freeze-drying the RGO-Ni—Fe foam under about 0.05 mbar vacuum at about −50° C.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to performing hydrothermal reaction in the mixture suspension, ultrasonicating the mixture suspension to remove air bubbles that are trapped in the mixture suspension.

13 . A 3D RGO foam embedded with nanocatalysts, synthesized according to the method of claim 1 .

14 . A device for water splitting, comprising a working electrode containing 3D RGO foams embedded with nanocatalysts, synthesized according to the method of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Univ Arkansas

Inventors

• Zhao Wei
• Wang Daoyuan

Classifications

• C25B11/031

  Porous electrodes · CPC title

• C25B1/04

  by electrolysis of water · CPC title

• C25B11/044 Primary

  Impregnation of carbon · CPC title

• B01J21/18

  Carbon · CPC title

• B01J23/745

  Iron · CPC title