Co3O4 Nanostructures Research Articles

Aminosilica-Functionalized Co3O4 Nanostructures in Proton Exchange Mixed Matrix Membranes for Enhanced Separation Efficiency of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

This work reports the alterations in the performance and morphology of a Nafion-based proton exchange membrane in the presence of three nano-Co3O4 morphologies (nanorod (R), nanosphere (S), and nanooctahedral (O)) modified by tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS, T) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES, A). The effects of surface chemistry and morphology of Co3O4 nanostructures on the properties of the as-prepared nanocomposite membranes were investigated by water uptake, proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and selectivity measurements. The methanol barrier properties of all nanocomposite membranes improved compared to the control Nafion membrane. The Nafion membranes embedded with aminosilica-functionalized Co3O4 also showed higher proton conductivity and improved methanol barrier properties compared to silica-functionalized Co3O4 and unmodified nanoparticles owing to the strong interaction between amino functionals on the surface of Co3O4 nanostructures and sulfonic moieties of the Nafion matrix. In particular, the incorporation of 5 wt % octahedral aminosilica-functionalized Co3O4 into the Nafion matrix provided the highest selectivity (15.2 × 104 S s–1 cm–3) and the lowermost methanol permeability (5 × 10–7 cm2 s–1), which were 3.6-fold higher and four times lower than that of the control Nafion membrane, respectively.

Facile synthesis of efficient Co3O4 nanostructures using the milky sap of Calotropis procera for oxygen evolution reactions and supercapacitor applications.

The preparation of Co3O4 nanostructures by a green method has been rapidly increasing owing to its promising aspects, such as facileness, atom economy, low cost, scale-up synthesis, environmental friendliness, and minimal use of hazardous chemicals. In this study, we report on the synthesis of Co3O4 nanostructures using the milky sap of Calotropis procera (CP) by a low-temperature aqueous chemical growth method. The milky sap of CP-mediated Co3O4 nanostructures were investigated for oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) and supercapacitor applications. The structure and shape characterizations were done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The prepared Co3O4 nanostructures showed a heterogeneous morphology consisting of nanoparticles and large micro clusters. A typical cubic phase and a spinel structure of Co3O4 nanostructures were also observed. The OER result was obtained at a low overpotential of 250 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a low Tafel slope of 53 mV dec-1. In addition, the durability of 45 hours was also found at 20 mA cm-2. The newly prepared Co3O4 nanostructures using the milky sap of CP were also used to demonstrate a high specific capacitance of 700 F g-1 at a current density of 0.8 A g-1 and a power density of 30 W h kg-1. The enhanced electrochemical performance of Co3O4 nanostructures prepared using the milky sap of CP could be attributed to the surface oxygen vacancies, a relatively high amount of Co2+, the reduction in the optical band gap and the fast charge transfer rate. These surface, structural, and optical properties were induced by reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents from the milky sap of CP. The obtained results of OERs and supercapacitor applications strongly recommend the use of the milky sap of CP for the synthesis of diverse efficient nanostructured materials in a specific application, particularly in energy conversion and storage devices.

Promoting selective water decontamination via boosting activation of periodate by nanostructured Ru-supported Co3O4 catalysts.

The superior catalytic efficiency of ruthenium (Ru)-based nanocomposites in advanced oxidation processes for water decontamination has attracted accumulating attention worldwide. However, rather limited knowledge is currently available regarding their roles in activating periodate (PI), an emerging oxidant with versatile environmental applications. This study firstly delineated that Ru-supported Co3O4 (Ru/Co3O4), a typical Ru-based nanomaterial, can efficiently accomplish PI activation to eliminate multiple organic micropollutants and inactivate different pathogenic bacteria. Almost all eight micropollutants can be completely removed within 2min of Ru/Co3O4-PI oxidation except sulfamethoxazole (SMX), which was degraded ∼70 % at 2min with 100 % mineralization after 10min. The excellent catalytic performance was independent of PI dosages, initial pH, and coexisting water constituents, demonstrating its prominent capability as a selective oxidation strategy. Diverse lines of evidence indicated the dominant role of single oxygen in the Ru/Co3O4-PI system, which triggered the generation of five transformation products of SMX with reduced environmental risks. Concurrently, PI was stoichiometrically converted to the eco-friendly IO3-. Additionally, Ru/Co3O4-PI system achieved 6-log inactivation of different pathogenic bacteria within 1min, implying the feasibility of rapid water disinfection. Overall, this work demonstrated the excellent promise of Ru-based composites in PI activation for highly efficient and selective water decontamination.

Correction: Shape-controlled synthesis of porous Co3O4 nanostructures for application in supercapacitors

Correction for ‘Shape-controlled synthesis of porous Co3O4 nanostructures for application in supercapacitors’ by Ting Zhu et al., J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 7015–7020, https://doi.org/10.1039/C0JM00867B.

Rare Earth Doping Engineering Tailoring Advanced Oxygen-Vacancy Co3 O4 with Tunable Structures for High-Efficiency Energy Storage.

Co3 O4 with high theoretical capacitance is a promising electrode material for high-end energy applications, yet the unexcited bulk electrochemical activity, low conductivity, and poor kinetics of Co3 O4 lead to unsatisfactory charge storage capacity. For boosting its energy storage capability, rare earth (RE)-doped Co3 O4 nanostructures with abundant oxygen vacancies are constructed by simple, economical, and universal chemical precipitation. By changing different types of RE (RE=La, Yb, Y, Ce, Er, Ho, Nd, Eu) as dopants, the RE-doped Co3 O4 nanostructures can be well transformed from large nanosheets to coiled tiny nanosheets and finally to ultrafine nanoparticles, meanwhile, their specific surface area, pore distribution, the ratio of Co2+ /Co3+ , oxygen vacancy content, crystalline phase, microstrain parameter, and the capacitance performance are regularly affected. Notably, Eu-doped Co3 O4 nanoparticles with good cycle stability show a maximum specific capacitance of 1021.3Fg-1 (90.78mAhg-1 ) at 2Ag-1 , higher than 388Fg-1 (34.49mAhg-1 ) of pristine Co3 O4 nanosheets. The assembling asymmetric supercapacitor delivers a high energy density of 48.23Whkg-1 at high power density of 1.2kWkg-1 . These findings denote the significance and great potential of RE-doped Co3 O4 in the development of high-efficiency energy storage.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid via metal-organic framework-structured hierarchical Co3O4 nanoplate arrays

Electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) was examined as an alternative to thermocatalytic methods in which two-dimensional (2D) cobalt-metal–organic framework (Co-MOF, ZIF-L-Co) nanoplate arrays were prepared on nickel foam (NF) and then transformed into hierarchical porous Co3O4 nanostructures by chemical etching and low temperature annealing to form electrode materials. Hierarchical porous nanoarrays formed during synthesis enlarged the surface area of the as-prepared catalysts introduced a large number of defects and exposed active sites leading to reduced charge diffusion, improved mass transfer and efficient HMF oxidation. Co3O4/NF electrode materials were able to achieve a current density of 10 mA·cm−2 at an overpotential of 105 mV in 1 M KOH with 10 mM HMF, which was reduced by 175 mV compared with water oxidation. Electrocatalytic oxidation experiments afforded 100 % HMF conversion and 96.7 % FDCA yields with a minimum 96.5 % faradaic efficiency at 1.43 V vs RHE. The proposed MOF-structured synthesis method fundamentally reduces charge diffusion, improves mass transfer of electrodes and is generally applicable to fabrication of hierarchical porous nanostructured materials.

Controllable synthesis of urea-assisted Co3O4 nanostructures as an effective catalyst for urea electrooxidation

Nonprecious urea-assisted Co3O4 nanostructures with different urea concentrations were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The structural variations of four different electrocatalysts of Co3O4 were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. The change in morphology of all Co3O4 samples can be ascribed to urea-assisted controlled synthesis procedures. Linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies were conducted using a three-electrode system to examine the electrocatalytic behavior of the samples for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) in an alkaline medium. Co3O4 synthesized with a high urea concentration exhibited good electrocatalytic activity for the UOR. At an oxidation potential of 0.65 V, the self-assembled electrocatalysts delivered the highest current density of 98.6 mA g−1. This sample showed a higher electrochemical active surface area (ECSA-242.5 mF cm−2) and BET surface area (22.27 m2 g−1) than others. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity of this sample can be attributed to adding a higher urea concentration during the synthesis steps and its structural morphology, which enhanced the reaction kinetics.

Novel rhombus Co3O4-nanocapsule CuO heterohybrids for efficient photocatalytic water splitting and electrochemical energy storage applications

The most appealing and prominent approach for improving energy storage and conversion performance is the development of heterojunction interfaces with efficient and unique metal oxide nanostructures. Rhombus Co3O4, nanocapsule CuO, and their heterojunction composites were synthesized using a single-step hydrothermal process. The resulting heterojunction Co3O4–CuO nanocomposite outperformed the pristine Co3O4 and CuO nanostructures for the electrochemical supercapacitor and water splitting performances. The composite showed 2.4 and 1.3 times higher specific capacitance than the associated pristine CuO and Co3O4 nanostructures, while its capacitance was 395 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. In addition, long-term GCD results with more than 90% stability and significant capacity retention at higher scan rates revealed the unaffected structures interfaced during the electrochemical reactions. The composite photoelectrode demonstrated more than 20% of photocurrent response with light illumination than the dark condition in water splitting. Co3O4–CuO heterostructured composite electrode showed a 0.16 mA/cm2 photocurrent density, which is 3.2 and 1.7 times higher than the pristine CuO and Co3O4 electrodes, respectively. This performance was attributed to its unique structural composition, high reactive sites, strong ion diffusion, and fast electron accessibility. Electron microscopic and spectroscopic techniques confirmed the properties of the electrodes as well as their morphological properties. Overall, the heterojunction interface with novel rhombus and capsule structured architectures showed good electrochemical performance, suggesting their energy storage and conversion applications.

Trace W-doping flocculent Co3O4 nanostructures with enhanced electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation reaction

The electronic structure of electrocatalysts plays a critical role in the design of methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) catalysts. Herein, a series of Co3O4 electrocatalysts with W doping at different levels, including 0, 2.5, and 5% have been prepared by a facile method. According to results of comparisons, 2.5 % W-doped catalyst exhibits low onset potential and high mass activity (377.75 mA mg−1) in alkaline media, which is 1.825 times higher than that of pure Co3O4 at the same conditions. The superior catalytic activity of 2.5 % W-doped Co3O4 for methanol oxidation is attributed to enhanced dispersibility and optimized electronic structure of Co3O4. The activity and stability of catalytic systems prove W-doped Co3O4 catalyst can be a candidate of efficient electrocatalysts towards MOR.

Thermal Stability and Utilization of 1D-Nanostructured Co3O4 Rods Derived by Simple Solvothermal Processing

For p-type semiconductor nanoparticles, such as the cobalt oxide spinel, enhancing the nanoparticle geometry can expose more of the surface and bring up the sensitivity and applicability, pointing to even more advantageous behaviour in comparison to n-type semiconductors which are known for a somewhat faster reactivity. Here, we present a strategy that relies on fostering a simple synthetic route that can deliver reasonably or comparably performing p-type-semiconducting partially 1D-Co3O4 material prepared under less technically and economically demanding conditions. Structurally monophasic Co3O4 nanoparticles with a spinel structure were indicated by powder X-ray diffraction, while the presence of traces of organic-phase residuals in otherwise chemically homogeneous material was observed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy further showed that the observed fine nanoparticle matter formed agglomerates with the possible presence of rod-like formations. Interestingly, using transmission electron microscopy, it was possible to reveal that the agglomerates of the fine nanoparticulated material were actually nanostructured, i.e., the presence of 1D-shaped Co3O4 rods embedded in fine nanoparticulated matrix was confirmed. In conjunction with the N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, discussion about the orientation, exposure of nanostructured rod domains, and derivative geometry parameters was possible. The nanostructured Co3O4 material was shown to be stable up to 800 °C whereat the decomposition to CoO takes place. The specific surface area of the nanostructured sample was raised. For the purpose of testing the photoactivity of the prepared samples, simple sorption/photodegradation tests using methylene blue as the model pollutant were performed. The degradation performance of the prepared nanostructured Co3O4 was better described by a pseudo-second-order fit, suggesting that the prepared material is worth further development toward improved and stable immobilized photocatalysts.

Electrochemical Performance of Sandwich-Like Porous Co3O4 Nanostructures on Nickel Foam

Co3O4 is a good anode candidate for high-performance lithium ion batteries (LIBs), attributed to its high specific capacity. However, due to its poor conductivity and significant volume expansion during electrochemical reactions, electrochemical performance of Co3O4 electrode is quite poor for practical applications. Co3O4 electrodes with various micro-/nanostructures have been designed and synthesized but their performances are still unsatisfied. In this study, we propose and develop a novel sandwich type of Co3O4 nanostructures by adjusting the ratio of ammonium fluoride and urea during hydrothermal reactions. When this sandwich-like Co3O4 composite electrode was used as the electrode for LIBs, it retained an outstanding reversible capacity of 857 mAh g−1 after 70 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g−1. When the current density was increased to 1000 mA g−1, the reversible capacity was kept at 865 mAh g−1 with insignificant changes of its capacity.

Temperature-Dependent supercapacitive behaviour of Cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanospheres under electrolytes with different pH

Of lately energy, accumulation and storage are the major challenges. Supercapacitors as energy storage devices play a vital role in the future since it has an unlimited charge/discharge life. Here, we utilize the high capacitive ratio of Co3O4 nanostructures which are synthesized and annealed at different temperatures subjecting them to various structural, functional and morphological studies. The effect of annealing in determining the supercapacitive behaviour is studied with the help of Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge-Discharge (GCD) and Electrochemical Impedance studies (EIS). Hence finding out the ambient annealing temperature, which also boosts the workability of material & properties is discussed.

A new approach to in-situ Co3O4 nanostructure decorated free-standing carbon foam derived from phenolic resin for high-performance supercapacitor

Herein, a novel method to fabricate a cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanostructure decorated with lightweight free-standing carbon foam (CF) has been reported. Primarily, the freestanding CF was fabricated via a polyurethane (PU) foam replica method using phenolic resin, followed by oxidation stabilization and finally carbonization at 1000 ºC in an inert atmosphere. After that different contents of Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were decorated on free-standing CF using the in-situ hydrothermal method. The developed foams have been extensively studied for various electrochemical characteristics including cyclic voltammetry (CV), capacitance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 1 M KOH solution using a three-electrode system. The structural and morphological investigation of foams was examined by XRD, Raman, and SEM. It is observed that Co3O4 NPs are uniformly decorated on CF and the electrochemical performance of CF is improved synergistically. Consequently, the specific capacitance (302 F g−1 at mV s−1) was greatly enhanced when the CF was decorated with 10 % Co3O4 NPs. Moreover, an asymmetrical two-cell supercapacitor composed of CF-10Co3O4 positive electrode and CF negative electrode exhibited a specific capacitance of 164 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. The device (CF-10Co3O4//CF) can deliver a high energy density of 44 Wh kg−1 at the power density of 350 W kg−1. The high specific capacitance and large energy density demonstrate the potential application of carbon-Co3O4 decorated foams in compact and lightweight supercapacitors.

Characterization of Co-Mn layered double hydroxide nanostructures covered on Co3O4 as electrode material for supercapacitor applications

In the present work, hybrids of porous Co3O4 nanostructures coated Co-Mn layered double hydroxide nanostructures array on Ni foam (Co3O4/Co-Mn LDH/NF) were designed and prepared via the hydrothermal reactions and calcination processes. The Co3O4 nanostructures can be utilized as the backbone to grow the Co-Mn layered double hydroxide (Co-Mn LDH) nanostructures. The effects of precursors on the morphology of the as-prepared electrodes were investigated by x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical performance of the prepared Co3O4/Co-Mn LDH/NF electrode, compared with Co3O4/NF electrode, illustrated a high gravimetric specific capacitance 1462 F g−1 at current density 2 A g−1, excellent rate capability 71% at 22 A g−1, and excellent cycling stability of 83% capacitance retention after 3000 GCD cycles. Additionally, an asymmetric supercapacitor (Co3O4/Co-Mn LDH/NF//AC) based on the Co3O4/Co-Mn LDH/NF as a positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) as a negative electrode was successfully fabricated with excellent electrochemical performance. The asymmetric supercapacitor with a maximum voltage of 1.6 V has demonstrated a high energy density of 60.37 Wh kg−1 and a high power density of 800 W kg−1. Additionally, a LED can be lit up approximately for 6 min when two ASCs were connected in series. Therefore, this Co3O4/Co-Mn LDH/NF with outstanding electrochemical performance should envision potential practical applications in high-energy storage appliances.

Ethanol gas sensing performance of spinel Mn: Co3O4 nanostructure thin film prepared by spray pyrolysis

In this present, the effect of Mn doping was investigated on the structural, surface morphology, and optical properties of Co3O4 and Mn: Co3O4 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis on a glass substrate. X-ray diffraction patterns of these films show the spinel cubic structure with no secondary phases corresponding to the impurity or other Mn oxides. The grain size of these electrodes was determined about 25 nm. Scanning electron microscopy images show that the Mn changed the Co3O4 surface structure. The optical property was studied by UV–vis spectroscopy in 400–1100 nm and the band gap was determined by two different methods. The UV–vis spectra shows the Mn: Co3O4 thin films have two absorption edges with two direct and indirect band gaps at ∼2.2 and 1.5 eV. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis confirmed that the Mn doping has been done successfully. The resistance of films was measured at about 103 Ω/□, and decreased by increasing Mn concentration. Then the characteristics of the Mn: Co3O4 gas sensors such as sensitivity, response time, recovery time, and operating temperature were investigated under 100 ppm ethanol as a reducing gas. The operation temperature in this research was 250 C. The response time and operating temperature were investigated under 100 ppm ethanol.

Plasma-engraved Co3O4 nanostructure toward improved formaldehyde oxidation performance: Insight into the structure–activity relationship

Improving the surface area and the number of oxygen vacancy are vital for superior catalytic oxidation performance. Here, plasma-engraved technique was used for surface modification of Co3O4 nanostructure (cube and sphere morphology), which was applied to formaldehyde oxidation reaction. It was found that the formaldehyde oxidation can be boosted over plasma-engraved Co3O4 nanostructure, and efficiently realized at room temperature. Based on varied characterizations, it revealed that the plasma-treatment endowed the Co3O4 nanostructure with surface reconstruction (notches and broken fragments on surface), along with high surface area and rich oxygen vacancies. These factors contribute very important effort for improved activity. Besides, surface reaction mechanism was also proposed based on the in-situ DRIFTs, during which the CHOH was transformed to key intermediates (DOM, formate and/or carbonate), and finally to CO2 and H2O. This study also provides a very efficient strategy for surface modification of heterogeneous solid catalyst and their expand application in environmental catalysis.

Controllable synthesis of porous Co3O4 nanorods and their ethanol-sensing performance

A simple strategy for synthesizing porous Co3O4 nanostructures through a hydrothermal process with subsequent thermal decomposition of the obtained Co(CO3)0·35Cl0·20(OH)1.10 precursors was introduced. To understand the growth mechanism of the Co(CO3)0·35Cl0·20(OH)1.10 precursors and realize morphology control of the resultant Co3O4 nanomaterials, a series of controlled experiments were carried out by varying CO(NH2)2 dosages, hydrothermal temperatures and time. The Co3O4 nanorods obtained under optimized synthesis conditions demonstrated porous structural features, which were constructed by well-connected nanograins, leaving many pores composed of the space between nanograins. The ethanol-sensing behaviors of these Co3O4 nanostructures were evaluated, showing the highest response (19.581) and a short response and recovery time (1 s/10 s) to 100 ppm ethanol. Moreover, the Co3O4 sensor demonstrated excellent anti-interference ability toward several interfering gases such as methanol, benzene hexane, and dichloromethane. The stability of the Co3O4 sensor was further confirmed by 14 days of continuous testing. Compared with previously reported works, this Co3O4 sensor still demonstrated outstanding gas sensing properties due to its unique advantages such as 1D porous nanostructures, high BET surface area, abundant oxygen vacancies, and active cobalt sites.

Preparation and electrochemical performance of nanostructured Co3O4 particles

Preparation and electrochemical performance of nanostructured Co3O4 particles

Influencing In situ tuned nanostructures of pulsed laser ablated Co3O4 & WO3 thin film electrodes for binder free flexible operando hybrid supercapacitor devices

Flexible thin-film storage devices have attracted significant devotion owing to their diminutive nature. Flexible thin-film electrode fabrication, Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) plays a crucial role because of its tuneable nanostructures, well-regulated chemical composites, and fine thin film thickness controller. Herein, we tuned thin film Co3O4 nanostructures using PLD varying pulsed repetition rates of 2 Hz, 5 Hz, and 8 Hz, for thin energy storage device fabrications. Furthermore, we have grown WO3 thin films nanostructures through PLD for suitable negatrode in thin-film Hybrid Supercapacitor (HSC) devices. Here we fabricated solid-state TFHSC devices such as Co3O4 || WO3 consuming semi-solid gel electrolyte PVA-KOH. At foremost novel aspect of the Co3O4 || WO3 TFHSC device delivered a supreme volumetric capacitance of 141.9 F cm−3. Also, the device reached the voltage window of 1.6 V. Further, the TFHSC device delivered a determined volumetric specific energy density of 12.62 mWh cm−3 at a volumetric power density of 1.27 W cm−3. The HSC device achieved notable stability performances in cycle life 27,000 with an appropriate coulombic efficiency of above 97% along with remarkable capacitance retentions of 91%. More importantly, the TFHSC are a good approach to building portable energy systems for wearable microelectronics and bio-medical applications.

Utilization of polyvinyl amine hydrolysis product in enhancing the catalytic properties of Co3O4 nanowires: toward potentiometric glucose bio-sensing application

In this study, we used the concept of overnight hydrolysis of polyvinyl amine to grow cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanostructures with enhanced catalytic properties. The controlled synthesis of Co3O4 nanostructures was carried out with the hydrothermal method using hydrolyzed products. Results showed that the hydrocarbon chain and amide groups produced during the growth process have a great impact on both the morphology and catalytic properties of Co3O4 nanostructures. In fact, the hydrolyzed products supported the growth of nanostructures with a well-defined almost one-dimensional (1-D) morphology of Co3O4 nanowires with a high surface/volume ratio. The as-prepared nanowires were loaded with a high amount of glucose oxidase in order to make them sensitive to glucose and observe a potentiometric response in its presence. The performance of the fabricated biosensor was evaluated in terms of different analytical parameters such as linear range, stability, reproducibility, repeatability, life time, selectivity, and response time. Thus, the obtained Co3O4-based glucose biosensor exhibited a linear response over the concentration range from 0.0005 to 6 mM, with a limit of detection of 0.0001 mM. The estimated Nernstian slope for the glucose biosensor was 42 mV/dec, with stability that exceeds four weeks. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the Co3O4 nanowires showed a low charge transfer resistance of 2.2 × 103 Ohms. Practically, the biosensor was used successfully to measure the glucose concentration in real blood samples. The results obtained confirm that the proposed glucose biosensor can be used as an alternative tool for monitoring glucose levels. The synthesis procedure described herein has a high potential to produce nanostructured materials on a large scale with well-defined morphology and improved catalytic properties for possible applications in batteries, supercapacitors, and water splitting.