Abstract:
Energy generation and storing is a major issue that world is facing nowadays as fossil fuels are
running out at a higher pace. So, this is call of time to explore alternative to these conventional
energy sources. Scientists have found a number of reusable and natural energy sources other
than fossil fuels, which are environment friendly and renewable. Those include solar energy,
ocean energy, wind energy etc. but a major problem with the sources is, these do not supply
energy uniformly, all the time. So, to maintain a constant source of energy, several storage
devices are required, which are able to store energy at peak times of generation and can give
away when energy production is low. These storage systems may be in the form of heat storage,
mechanical energy storage, batteries or capacitors. Zeolites possess strong catalytic properties
due to their highly porous structure and geometry. Along with acting as catalysts, they also
carry several other functions for various applications. Hydrothermally synthesized zeolites are
used in water treatment, catalytic cracking, organo-chemical conversions and many more.
Keeping in view the above mentioned issues, zeolites were opted as a catalyst for water splitting
and for capacitive purposes. ZSM-5 was synthesized by solvent free hydrothermal method,
along with its two forms doped with 1 gm of Zr and Ce salts. These synthesized ZSM-5 sample
and its composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, BET and FTIR techniques, through
which ZSM-5 was found to be a highly porous crystalline material, having surface area of 299
m2/g. These properties are highly affected by doping. Resultant ZSM-5 and its composites were
electrochemically active, so employed as a catalyst for water splitting and for capacitance
analysis in pallets form. Zr-ZSM-5 was active towards water splitting, showing current density
of 220 mAcm-1 and taffel slope of 87 mV/dec. Doped samples showed higher dielectric activity
as compared to pure one. Ce-ZSM-5 showed dielectric constant of 7.4 x 103 with angular losses
of 1.5.
