EuMnO3/EuMn2O5/MWCNT nanocomposites: Insights into synthesis and application as potential materials for development of hydrogen storage capacity

Abstract

Although, hydrogen as a novel clean-burning fuel is the most promising option for energy production/consumption systems, the relative low volumetric energy density value has limited success in sorption abilities at ambient conditions. In response to the energy crisis, numerous studies on the rational construction of high-capacity electrode materials have been aimed to address the growing complications. Herein, a novel energetic solid composite based on nano-sized EuMnO3/EuMn2O5 incorporated with multiwalled carbon nanotube (EM/EMM/MWCNT) materials was fabricated via efficient synthesis protocols. An in-situ combustion route was proposed for interfacial architecture design of binary EM/EMM nanocomposites by manipulating the fuel concentration. The fundamental impacts of the Schiff-base ligand tris(2-(2-hydroxyacetophenylidene)ethyl)amine as both fuel and nucleation center on the crystalline phase structure and morphology features of binary EM/EMM products were investigated, for the first time. Correspondingly, the incorporation of MWCNT at varying concentrations was explored for preferable electrochemical hydrogen storage of composite texture in terms of the redox reactivity and improved electronic conductivity. When the MWCNT concentration was 3.0%, the structural advantages of the EM/EMM/MWCNT nanocomposites delivered maximum discharge capacity of 382.50 mAhg−1 after 15 cycles in 2.0 M KOH medium, which was 7.30 times higher than that yield by binary EM/EMM nanocomposites. It can be emphasized that this report suggests freestanding pathways for developing manganite-based electrode materials with highly efficient discharge capacity.