Synthesis of SnO2 Nanostructures and Their Application for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

SnO 2 hierarchical architectures were synthesized with a surfactant-free hydrothermal synthesis route. We found that the acid or alkaline amount (HCl or NaOH) of the solution had a remarkable effect on the morphology of as-synthesized products. The SnO 2 nanostructures were selected as a support of Pt catalyst (Pt/SnO 2 ) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in the acidic media. The influence of SnO 2 morphologies on the electrochemical performance has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweeping voltammetry using the rotating disk electrodes. In addition, the effect on the catalytic activity in different electrolyte concentration was taken into account. Kinetic study shows that the HER on the Pt/SnO 2 (flower) electrocatalyst gives a higher exchange current density and a lower overpotential in H 2 SO 4 solution with high concentration.

Nanoscience and the Scherrer equation versus the ‘Scherrer–Gottingen equation’

“…Finally, although the page numbers are certainly 98-100, the incorrect starting page 96 is used in all but one of the papers cited here. [6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14] It is clear that from the outset, Scherrer's paper was cited with errors and these errors were copied from paper to paper. This situation has culminated in the 'birth' of a fictitious co-author -N.G.W.…”

“…Therefore it is of interest that a significant and growing number of recent articles attribute the original paper to two authors: P. Scherrer and N.G.W. Gottingen, [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] although it is clear from a digitised version of the original article ( Figure 1) 15 that Scherrer is the only author. The original paper is in German and a clue to the identity of the enigmatic co-author N.G.W.…”

Strategies for designing metal oxide nanostructures

“…Zhang et al [208] reported the direct growth of 3D SnO2 dendrites with 1D nanorods as constituent nanostructures from a basic water-ethanol mixed solutions by using Na2SnO3·3H2O as the precursor reagent. Hierarchical SnO2 nanospheres were also synthesized from Na2SnO3·3H2O aqueous solutions [209].…”

Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Nanostructured Cu/Ni–Co Coating Electrode for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media

“…The selection criterions of the alternative electrode for water electrolysis include low hydrogen over-potential, high electrocatalytic activity, high electrical conductivity, electrochemical stability, and reasonable cost. Alloying is a common approach to improve the intrinsic activity of hydrogen evolution of metal electrodes [ 5 ]. In particular, nickel and its alloys are well-known non-precious metal electrocatalysts for hydrogen production in alkaline electrolytes because of their special corrosion resistance and highly intrinsic electrocatalytic activity toward HER.…”