LSTN Perovskite/Graphite Carbon NitrideHybrids as Electro Catalyst for Water Splitting

Abstract

For future energy uses and transportation, the electrochemical splitting of water utilizing renewable energy is being explored as a sustainable and environmental friendly source of hydrogen fuel. Even so, the mass production through water splitting is restricted due to lower stability of the electrode materials, the successful development of the HER phase in acidic conditions, along with the sluggish kinetics and higher values of overpotential of the complicated OER process involving four electron transfers. These factors combine to make the process difficult. As a result, one of the primary goals of the ongoing study is to develop an efficient bi - functional electrocatalyst that can minimize the overpotential for both OER and HER. The development of highly effective bi - functional electrocatalysts for use in water splitting reactions had been the main focus of this research. The primary emphasis has been done on the preparation of perovskite materials and its hybrids with other active materials. They have a tune able electronic structure due to the compositional and crystalline malleability of perovskite oxides. Herein, LSTN perovskite has been synthesized initially followed by its exsolution in a reduced environment. The hybrid of LSTN has been made with a g-C3N4, to develop LSTN@g-C3N4 coated on very conductive nickel foam. Currently, research has been driven towards double perovskite due to the stable nature of non-stoichiometric perovskite that has an immense influence on transition metal 3d ϭ*- antibonding (eg) orbital electron filling. Moreover, the catalysts have been characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of these characterization represents that catalysts have been prepared successfully. The bifunctional activity of catalysts has been tested by calculating Tafel slope, overpotential, and mass activity. Among the prepared hybrids, 3 wt. % LSTN@gC3N4, has shown the most proficient results with high stability and low resistance value.