Functional nanostructures for electrochemical catalytical activities

• Main Author: Zhang, Yunlu
• Other Authors: Huang Yizhong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Materials::Nanostructured materials
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/140474
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The discovery of nanomaterials has proven to be one of the phenomenal breakthroughs in the history of scientific research. With its versatile properties and wide applicability in various fields, researchers are keen to explore more on how nanomaterials can further integrate into our daily lives. This project aims to study the synthesis of functional ZnO nanostructures for electrochemical catalytical activities. ZnO nanorods were synthesised by hydrothermal synthesis with zinc nitrate hexahydrate and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as the precursors. SEM and FIB imaging showed that ZnO nanorods were successfully synthesised along with the variation of experimental parameters such as type of substrate, reactant concentration, reactant concentration ratio, temperature and sputtering. The ZnO nanorods were also of high purity and crystallinity based on the EDS spectrum and XRD pattern obtained. However, there were some unique nanostructure observed and presence of two types of nanostructures on a single substrate which will be discussed. The electrochemical catalytical activities of the samples were evaluated in terms of their OER performance using a three-electrode system. Based on the results obtained, the ZnO nanorod samples exhibited great stability against time.