Supercapacitor, electrochemical measurement and sun light driven nano-photocatalytic applications of Co2TiO4/CoTiO3 nanocomposites synthesized from Pechini sol-gel method
Mohammad Reza Saadati-Gullojeh, Masoud Salavati‐Niasari, Mojgan Ghanbari, Ali Ehsani
Abstract
• Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 nanocomposite was prepared by Pechini method. • Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 nanocomposite was studied for its supercapecitor behavior and photocatalytic activity. • Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 nanocomposite demonstrates specific capacitance of 875 F g ‒1 . • Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 reveals 95% of degradation efficiency towards degradation of methylene blue. The present paper scrutinizes the production and versatile application of Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 nanocomposites (NCs), especially their photocatalytic performance, which outperforms their superior supercapacitor storage. XRD and SEM methods were employed to study the crystalline structure and morphology of the Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 generated by the use of the Pechini process. SEM data show nanoparticles with a small amount of aggregation, emphasizing the impact of certain preparation condition, such as calcination temperature and molar ratio of precursors. The Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 nanocomposites prepared with 0.5:1 molar ratio of Co 2+ :Ti 4+ at 850°C were then thoroughly examined for their potential to store energy as well as for photocatalytic activity. Our research focused on nanoparticle-based supercapacitors and essential nanoparticle properties including energy storage. The synthesized Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 displayed exceptional supercapacitor efficiency. These customized NCs exhibited improved energy storage capability and demonstrated a specific capacitance of 277.7 F g ‒1 . The power density reached 1201.5 W.kg −1 , indicating that Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 NCs have a promising future in high-energy storage systems. Furthermore, cyclic stability tests were the key component that contributed significantly to advancing actual device applications. After 5000 cycles, Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 preserved 97.6% of its capacitance, demonstrating the stability of Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 and endurance for long-term energy storage. In contrast, Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 demonstrated high photocatalytic efficiency with several organic dyes, especially methylene blue (MB), which was 95% destroyed after 90 minutes of reaction time under visible light. The Co 2 TiO 4 /CoTiO 3 impact primarily increased photocatalytic activity by facilitating charge separation and migration, which enhanced organic pollutant degradation. The results add to the expanding field of nanotechnologies and nanoscience, providing a promising avenue for creating sophisticated materials with multifunctional capability.