Mesoporous Ta2O5 nanoparticles as an anode material for lithium ion battery and an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 43; no. 39; pp. 18125 - 18135
• Main Authors: Manukumar, K.N., Kishore, Brij, Manjunath, K., Nagaraju, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 27.09.2018
• Subjects: Anode; Lithium ion battery; Mesoporous; Photocatalytic hydrogen generation; Surface area; Ta2O5; Lithium ion battery; Photocatalytic hydrogen generation; Anode; Mesoporous; Surface area; Ta2O5
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.08.075

Mesoporous Ta2O5 nanoparticles (NPs) with high surface area were prepared using an 1-methyl 3-(2-bromoethyl) imidazolium bromide ionic liquid (IL) as structure directing and porous inducing agent. We have characterized the Ta2O5 nanoparticles (NPs) by XRD, BET analysis, TEM, SEM, DRS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and TG-DTA. From BET analysis a large surface area of asprepared Ta2O5 NPs was found to be 236.1 m2 g−1. More importantly, Ta2O5 nanoparticles are less explored anode material for lithium ion battery as well as an effective photocatalyst for hydrogen generation. The significant reversible capacity of 150 mAh g−1 has been observed in Ta2O5 NPs even after 50 cycles at C/10 current rate. In addition to this, asprepared Ta2O5 NPs synthesized using IL exhibited remarkable hydrogen generation of 563.5 μmolg−1 h−1 compared to other Ta2O5 samples which are due to high surface area, small pore wall thickness and presence of surface hydroxyl groups on the photocatalyst. Mesoporous Ta2O5 NPs are employed as anode materials for lithium ion battery and efficient photocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. [Display omitted] •Mesoporous Ta2O5 NPs have been prepared by using ionic liquid as co-solvent.•Ta2O5 NPs delivered charge capacity of 150 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at C/10 current rate.•Ta2O5 NPs exhibited significant H2 generation of 563.5 μmolg−1 h−1.