Waste plastics derived nickel-palladium alloy filled carbon nanotubes for hydrogen evolution reaction

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 341; p. 139982
• Main Authors: Nangan, Senthilkumar, Natesan, Thirumalaivasan, Sukmas, Wiwittawin, Okhawilai, Manunya, Justice Babu, Kaliyamoorthy, Tsuppayakorn-aek, Prutthipong, Bovornratanaraks, Thiti, Wongsalam, Tawan, Vimal, Vrince, Uyama, Hiroshi, Al-Enizi, Abdullah M., Kansal, Lavish, Sehgal, Satbir S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Alloys; Carbon nanotubes; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Hydrogen generation; Nickel palladium; Waste plastics; Carbon nanotubes; Waste plastics; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Nickel palladium; Hydrogen generation; Alloys
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139982

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composed of bimetallic nickel-palladium (NiPd) nanoparticles encapsulated in graphitic carbon shells (NdPd@CNT) are prepared by the chemical vapour deposition method using waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic carbon sources and NiPd-decorated carbon sheets (NiPd@C) catalyst. The characterization results reveal that the face-centered cubic crystalline (fcc)-structured NiPd bimetallic alloy nanoparticles are encased by thin carbon nanotubes. The bimetallic synergism of NiPd nanoparticles actuates the outer CNT layers and accelerates the electrical conductivity, stimulating the electrochemical activity toward an effective hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). By virtue of the collective individualities of highly conductive aligned carbon walls and bimetallic active sites, the NiPd@CNT-equipped HER delivers a minimum overpotential of 87 mV and a Tafel slope value of 95 mV dec−1. The existing intact contact between NiPd and CNT facilitates continuous electron and ion transportation and firm stability toward long-term hydrogen production in HER. Notably, the NiPd@CNT reported here produces excellent electrochemical activity with minimal charge transference resistance, substantiating the efficacy of NiPd@CNT for futuristic green hydrogen production. [Display omitted] •PET plastics inspired NiPd@CNT is prepared by two-step strategy.•Highly durable graphite sheets encased metal nanocomposites are formed.•NiPd@CNT provides efficient hydrogen evolution reaction activity.