A novel polyaniline based nanocomposite derived from used tea biomass: a promising electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

A potential electrocatalyst for alkaline water electrolysis was prepared by using an inexpensive used tea dust biomass wherein the used tea dust biomass was subjected for calcination followed by polymerization with varied amounts of monomer, aniline, to prepare nanocomposites. The thoroughly characterized nanocomposites were tested as potential electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The nanocomposite prepared using 5 mL of aniline requires an overpotential of only 380 mV (1.61 V vs RHE) to generate the current density of 250 mA cm−2 while the sample prepared without aniline requires 450 mV (1.68 V vs RHE) to generate the same amount of current density. Adding optimum amounts of polyaniline increases the number of active sites and conductivity, which are beneficial to facilitate OER. This study demonstrates successful conversion of tea waste biomass, produced in every home, into potential electrocatalyst, which can be used to generate environmentally benign carbon free hydrogen fuel.