Inkjet Printing as High-Throughput Technique for the Fabrication of NiCo2O4 Films

Reyna Dianela Bacelis-Martínez,Geonel Rodriguez Gattorno,Gerko Oskam,Miguel Angel Ruiz-Gómez

doi:10.1155/2017/9647458

Abstract

Owing to its distinctive physicochemical properties, nickel-cobalt mixed oxide (NiCo2O4) has become a promising and innovative material for applications in many technological fields. The design of fast and reliable techniques for the deposition of this material is essential in the development of applications. In this work, NiCo2O4 films were successfully prepared by an inkjet printing technique using a suitable ink obtained from metal nitrates in a glycerol-water mixture. In order to deposit well-defined and uniform film patterns, the instrumental parameters such as drop spacing and inkjet voltage have been explored. The pure crystalline bimetallic nickel cobaltite oxide is obtained at 500°C with a homogeneous compositional distribution along the film. The average thickness observed by scanning electron microscopy is around 490 nm, whereas X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that the film surface presents mixed oxidation states for both metals: Co2+, Co3+, Ni2+, and Ni3+. The electrocatalytic performance of inkjet-printed NiCo2O4 films for the water oxidation reaction is comparable with earlier reports.

Highlights

NiCo2O4 oxide has recently been a motivating topic from the viewpoint of materials science because of its interesting catalytic, electrical, and optical properties
The production of clean energy from renewable sources as in the electrocatalytic water splitting process is an attractive alternative for an energy economy based on hydrogen [20, 21]
Inkjet printing has been efficiently utilized for the preparation of high-quality NiCo2O4 thin films

Summary

Introduction

NiCo2O4 oxide has recently been a motivating topic from the viewpoint of materials science because of its interesting catalytic, electrical, and optical properties. Efficient and stable electrocatalysts are required for the anodic half-reaction due to the multielectron transfer needed for water oxidation, which is important to improve the overall water splitting process [17, 20, 22] In this regard, NiCo2O4 as a cobaltite spinel has shown excellent electrocatalytic properties, because the mixed oxidation states of its cations favor the adsorption of water and hydroxide ions. Its constituent metals are earth-abundant, cheap, and not toxic [4, 10, 22]

Methods

Results

Conclusion