Zinc Particles Research Articles

Improve the Zinc Slurry-Air Battery Performance: New Operational Mode to Separate Effects

In recent years, zinc air batteries received substantial interest as a viable next generation of batteries based on their merits of high energy densities, high performance, environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and abundant electrode material. Traditional secondary zinc air flow batteries use zinc metal as an anode. Severe dendrite growth and passivation limits the cycling behavior, which hinders commercialization in the industry. By substituting the zinc plate with a zinc slurry (zinc particles suspended in the alkaline media, typically with a high concentration of potassium hydroxide), the battery can in principle achieve higher energy density and attain more cycles but with very limited performance. Important questions related to such systems include the accessible percentage of Zn capacity, controlled by the formation of passivating layers on the particle and the intrinsic resistance of the slurry.Here, we present a new operational mode to investigate the performance of zinc slurry air battery. The anode of the test battery system consists of 5 cm2 nickel plate as current collector for 5 cm3 zinc slurry. The cathode consists of air electrode, bipolar plate, and current collector. Zinc particles (Spectrum) were suspended in 4M KOH stabilized by polyacrylic acid (PAA). In our testing, the polarization loss was measured and is separated from that associated with the air electrode using a reference electrode. The conductivity of the slurry was measured by the simply modified configuration of the cell. The utilization of zinc is measured by chronopotentiometry. The battery can work at 1.1 V with 200mA/cm2, and the slurry can achieve 48.7% utilization. Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the US Department of Energy Office of Electricity Storage Systems Program directed by Dr. Imre Gyuk and the University of Tennessee Governor’s Chair Fund for support of this work. Figure 1

A Scalable Method for Improving Zn Crystallinity for Low-Gassing Alkaline Batteries

The corrosion of zinc particles in alkaline environments is an energetically parasitic process that produces hydrogen gas as a byproduct. This “gassing” phenomenon is thermodynamically favorable in standard zinc-alkaline battery chemistries. Building hydrogen pressure within these primary cells can eventually lead to cell rupture, leaking the high-pH electrolyte and slurry from the cell, often destroying the electronic device that the cell was meant to power. One of the particle-level variables that can control the gassing and corrosion rate is the particle crystallinity. As the crystallinity of the zinc particles is enhanced (larger grains and fewer grains per particle), a reduction in the rate of this undesirable gassing phenomenon is expected.In this study, we demonstrate a systematic method for enhancing zinc particle crystallinity by thermally growing zinc grains. Since thermally growing zinc grains requires temperature exposure above the melting point of metallic zinc, an oxide layer is first grown around the outside of the particle surface. Oxides tend to have significantly higher melting temperatures than their metallic counterparts and this is true in the zinc/zinc oxide case where the melting temperature of metallic zinc is 420 oC and the melting temperature of zinc oxide is 1975 oC. Forming a thin oxide layer around the particle allows the metallic zinc core to be recrystallized whilst simultaneously retaining the particle shape. Following the grain growth step, the oxide layer is easily washed away with a quick acetic acid treatment. Outlined in this work is a detailed study on the scalable three-step process for growing zinc grains and enhancing bulk zinc powder crystallinity by the following: 1) oxide layer formation, 2) grain growth, and 3) oxide layer removal. Following the treatment, both achievable capacity and the corrosion rate were tested. It will be shown that the higher crystallinity particles have superior performance and lower gassing than traditional Zn powders without the treatment.

Surface Characterization and Optimization of Porous Zinc Anodes to Improve Cycle Stability by Mitigating Dendritic Growth

Zinc-based batteries are a scalable and safe alternative to Lithium-ion batteries due to the nature of abundance, low cost and easy to process. In this work, we have successfully synthesized porous zinc electrodes (PZEs) via a gel-binder method that can stably charge and discharge for over 700 h at 1 mA cm−2 before showing signs of failure. We compared PZEs synthesized from small (60 nm), intermediate (10 μm), and large (150 μm) zinc particles to determine which surface features are best suited to mitigate dendritic growth and to improve electrolyte stability. The zinc deposits on the large PZE shows a stable and flat morphology, which does not form the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) crystal structure that is typically seen on planar zinc anodes. The intermediate PZE has an increased affinity to deposit onto the glass microfiber separator leading to a decrease of active material on the anode that causes instability during galvanostatic cycling. Both planar zinc and small PZE show HCP deposits that are normal to the surface, which result in very poor electrochemical performance. As the particle size increases, the deposits transition from HCP crystals to flat amorphous metal deposits, increasing cyclic stability.

Changes in the parameters of ruminal digesta in vitro when using sunflower husk and zinc in ultrafine form

Relevance. By-products of agricultural processing are considered as raw materials for use in animal feed formulations in order to reduce the cost of animal feeding. The inclusion of mineral supplements can increase the nutritional value of diets and allow the use of lower quality feeds.Methods. The object of the study is ruminal digesta from bull-calves with chronic scar fistula, weighing 240–245 kg, 11–12 months old; ultrafine particles (UFP) of zinc (Zn — size 110 nm, Zn 90%). Metabolom was studied on the basis of tests of the following feed samples: sunflower husk subjected to mechanical grinding without treatment and with treatment (hydromodule (water), ultrasonication at 20°С, 15 minutes, 27 kHz). The level of methane was determined on the “Crystallux-2000M” by gas chromatography, the level of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the contents of the rumen — by gas chromatography on the gas chromatograph “Crystallux-4000M”, determination of nitrogen forms— according to GOST 26180-84.Results. The inclusion of UHF zinc at a dosage of 3.0 mg and 6.0 mg improved the digestibility of DM relative to the control sample by 21.9–22.4% (р ≤ 0.05). The additional inclusion of zinc at a dosage of 1.5 mg and 3 mg contributed to an increase in acetate by 94.7% and 97.9%, propionate —by 85.4% and 71.4% (р ≤ 0.05), butyrate— by 95.6% and 87.3% respectively relative to the control sample. The presence of zinc at a dosage of 6.0 mg significantly increased the concentration of acetate, propionate, butyrate and caproic acid —by 94.9%, 93.2%, 94.4% and 75.4% (р ≤ 0.05) relative to the control. The level of methane formation in all experimental groups relative to the control was significantly lower.

Long-Term Inhalation of Ultrafine Zinc Particles Deteriorated Cardiac and Cardiovascular Functions in Rats of Myocardial Infarction.

Substantial ultrafine zinc particles exist in air pollutions. The level of Zn concentrations in serum and tissue could affect patients with myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of the study is to investigate the change of cardiac functions and peripheral hemodynamics in MI rats after long-term inhalation of ultrafine Zn particles. Coronary artery ligation surgery was performed to induce MI in Wistar rats. The inhalation of ultrafine Zn particles was carried out for 6 weeks after the operation. Physiological and hemodynamic measurements and computational biomechanics analysis were demonstrated in eight groups of rats at postoperative 4 and 6 weeks. There was no statistical significance between shams and shams with inhalation of ultrafine Zn particles. There were significant impairments of cardiac and hemodynamic functions in MI rats. In comparison with MI rats, the inhalation of ultrafine Zn particles for 4 weeks slowed down the progression from MI to heart failure, but the inhalation for 6 weeks accelerated the process. The long-term inhalation of ultrafine zinc particles induced excessive accumulation of zinc in serum and tissue, which deteriorated cardiac and hemodynamic dysfunctions in MI rats. The findings suggested the importance for regulating Zn intake of MI patients as well as looking at ways to lower zinc concentrations in air pollutions.

Failure Analysis of Nickel-Coated Anodes in Zinc-Air Hybrid Flow Batteries

A zinc-air flow battery system pumps "fuel” (a zinc particle/KOH slurry) from a fuel tank to a fuel cell stack, where the zinc particles are combined with oxygen from the air to form zincate ions and produce electricity. The zincate-rich electrolyte is then returned to the fuel tank. During the charging cycle, the electrolyte is passed to the zinc regenerator, where electricity (from renewable sources such as solar or wind) is utilized to convert the zincate ions to zinc particles. The regenerated fuel is pumped back into the fuel tank for the discharge process.Nickel is considered for use as the anode during zinc regeneration as it has been shown to be an active catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, nickel electrodes pose manufacturing challenges due to machinability issues. Alternatively, nickel can be coated on a machinable metal substrate to improve scalability. These electrodes are subjected to open circuit voltage (OCV), OER, and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) during operation of zinc-air flow batteries. The electrodes have been observed to fail during prolonged voltage cycling due to nickel coating delamination, which manifests itself as blistering, flaking, and discoloration. It is hypothesized that this may be due to electrolyte penetration into the pores of the nickel coating during operation. The present work is aimed at analyzing and mitigating the coating delamination process through characterization of various Ni coating recipes. As-fabricated and cycled electrodes are characterized using various microstructural techniques, including optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and x-ray tomography. Coated electrodes are also evaluated electrochemically and the results are correlated with the microstructural analysis. The overall goal of the work is to understand the failure mechanisms and apply the knowledge to fabricate improved coatings for OER electrodes.

Highly Textured Zinc Thin Films through Novel Pulsed Electrodeposition Techniques and Their Applications

The electrodeposition of zinc thin films has been widely investigated with extensive applications in corrosion, battery electrodes, photo- and electro-catalysis. Traditionally, the direct current (DC) method of electroplating has been explored in terms of varying current density to obtain changes in morphology, grain size, preferred crystalline orientation, which in turn have significant consequences for properties such as catalysis and corrosion resistance. We have recently demonstrated [1] a novel, additive-free pulsed plating method to control the specific crystalline growth orientations and average grain size of zinc electrodeposited on steel substrates.Specifically, we have observed a transition of the preferential (002) facets at low peak current density (or low duty cycle) to (101) preferring facets at higher peak current density (or high duty cycle) as determined by the analysis of texture coefficients. Further analysis using scanning electron microscopy reveals a transition from the conventional hexagonal-shaped particles of zinc to needle-shaped structures, accompanied by a change in average crystallite size from 33 to 19 nanometers, determined from X-ray diffraction studies. The variation in morphology is also correlated to crystallographic textures through the analysis of texture coefficients and an understanding of crystallization mechanisms occurring during deposition.Herein, we report on an application of these highly textured zinc-coated steel substrates towards corrosion resistance, through accelerated electrochemical testing. Using industry-standard ASTM methods such as Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR), Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electro-impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, we report on preliminary findings of corrosion potential, current and corrosion rates expressed in mm per year as a function of crystalline texture of the zinc thin films.

(Invited) Sustainability, Safety, Scalability, Rechargeability, and Manufacturability Courtesy of Architected Zinc Anodes

Towards the goal of decarbonizing electrification, concerns remain over the sustainability of the requisite Li and Co, as well as the stringent transportation limits on the amount and operational state of Li allowed in airfreight. Rechargeable zinc-based batteries using aqueous electrolyte offer a compelling alternative to lithium-based batteries with the added benefit of a two-electron anode that augments the energy density, helping to compensate for lower cell voltage inherent to aqueous electrolytes. To solve the standing caveat with rechargeable zinc-based batteries — that they form separator-piercing dendrites — we built on our understanding of the importance of 3D co-continuous wiring of electrons, ion, and molecules in energy-storing nanoarchitectures. Sponge form factors fabricated by fusing ~50 µm zinc particles into a monolithic pore–solid architecture physically prevents formation of dendrites even at high charging current density [1,2]. Throughout the story of the NRL Zn sponge anode, each successive generation of the electrode has been fabricated with manufacturability as a foremost consideration, such that the current sponge formulation (Gen 5) is processed quickly, at scale, to sizes necessary for decarbonizing electrification. I will present the performance of these “big and strong” zinc sponges versus a variety of cathodes and the potential paths forward for the development and transition of this safer energy-storage technology.[1] J.F. Parker, C.N. Chervin, E.S. Nelson, D.R. Rolison, J.W. Long, “Wiring zinc in three dimensions re-writes battery performance―Dendrite-free cycling.” Energy Environ. Sci., 7, 1117–1124 (2014).[2] J.F. Parker, C.N. Chervin, I.R. Pala, M. Machler, M.F. Burz, J.W. Long, and D.R. Rolison, “Rechargeable nickel–3D zinc batteries: An energy-dense, safer alternative to lithium-ion.” Science, 356, 415–418 (2017).

Investigation of the influence of the modified packaging plastic film on the mayonnaise quality parameters during storage

The emergence of new polymer materials, available antimicrobial drugs and modification methods create favorable prerequisites for the invention of a new generation of packaging. It should be related with scientific justification and experimental confirmation of their effectiveness and complete safety. The research of influence of packaging polyethylene film modified with silver and zinc microparticles on organoleptic, physico-chemical and microbiological indices of mayonnaise quality during its storage has been performed. The packaging film was obtained on an extruder XQI-800 using silver salt and zinc oxide. The content of particles in the modified polyethylene film was silver - 38 mg/kg, zinc - 1020 mg/kg. It is shown that mayonnaise stored in a modified plastic film for 3 months at room temperature in a place exposed to light meets the requirements of microbiological safety: there are no bacteria of the Escherichia coli group (ESCH) (coliforms), pathogenic microorganisms, including salmonella, as well as yeast and mold. The organoleptic characteristics and acidity index of mayonnaise were found to be in full compliance with the standardized values during storage, and the dynamics of changes in lipid peroxide number was significantly less intensive than those established for mayonnaise stored in unmodified polyethylene film. The degree of migration of silver and zinc particles into mayonnaise during its storage for 3 months was found to be 23.7% and 16% respectively. The results obtained allow us to evaluate the modified film as a perspective packaging material.

Preparation and Performance Study of Carboxy-Functionalized Graphene Oxide Composite Polyaniline Modified Water-Based Epoxy Zinc-Rich Coatings

Graphene oxide is obtained by oxidation of graphite followed by ultrasonic exfoliation. It is a two-dimensional layered material with a large number of oxygen-containing functional groups on its surface. Polyaniline is a conductive polymer and has a unique corrosion protection mechanism. In this study, carboxy-functionalized graphene oxide/polyaniline (CGO/PANI) composites with a lamellar structure were prepared by in situ polymerization. The lamellar layer was used to form a labyrinthine structure in the coating to effectively retard the penetration of corrosive media. The electrical conductivity of polyaniline can promote the formation of conductive pathways between zinc particles and improve the utilization of zinc powder. Polyaniline is also able to passivate the substrate, further improving the coating’s ability to protect steel substrates against corrosion. In this paper, the in situ polymerization of aniline on carboxy-functionalized graphene oxide flakes was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the improvement of the corrosion resistance of the prepared composites on the epoxy zinc-rich coatings was evaluated by SEM, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and salt spray resistance tests. The results showed that aniline was successfully polymerized in situ on carboxy-functionalized graphene oxide, and the modified coating had significantly improved anticorrosive properties, where the best anticorrosive improvement was achieved when CGO: PANI = 0.03.

Evaluation of macroparticles and nanoparticles of zinc and zinc oxide’s toxicity based on the Artemia salina model

This article is devoted to the study of the effect of macroparticles and nanoparticles of zinc and zinc oxide on animals. The toxicity of pollutants to the fauna of aquatic ecosystems was assessed in course of a laboratory experiment. The test objects, the larvae of crustaceans of Artemia salina, were exposed to the particles of zinc (Zn) and zinc oxide (ZnO). The particle content in the water was 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg per 100 ml. The obtained results of the research indicate that the zinc and zinc oxide nanoparticles in the studied concentrations show a slight degree of toxicity during the 48-hour experiment period. The macroparticles of these substances have higher toxic properties for eggs and larvae of Artemia salina.

Extrusion-free fabrication of zinc-rich powder coatings: Press bonding

Given their environmental benefits, zinc-rich powder coatings (ZRPCs) have been used to replace their solvent-based counterparts. However, current ZRPCs can load only 70 wt% zinc, and therefore cannot meet higher anti-corrosive requirements where the zinc concentration is usually over 80 wt%. Above 70 wt% zinc, powder coatings manufacturers encounter problems with powder homogeneity and extruder screw wear. Here, we demonstrate for the first time an extrusion-free method to fabricate ZRPCs by employing a press to avoid using the extruder. The binder and zinc particles formed a raspberry-like zinc-on-binder structure after press bonding. The zinc dust content can reach about 90 wt% in the coating powders. In addition, the press-bonded zinc-rich coating films with 80 wt% zinc showed slightly lower barrier effects, but a more uniform dispersion of zinc particles and a higher zinc utilization and in turn, longer cathodic protection (110 days), narrower corrosion creepage and fewer localized corrosion sites than the extruded coating films (101 days) with the same zinc content.

Laser transmission welding of dissimilar transparent thermoplastics using different metal particle absorbents

The laser absorbents are necessary in the process of laser transmission welding (LTW) transparent thermoplastics. It has been demonstrated that metal absorbents in LTW have great advantages for achieving a high quality joint, though the decomposition of thermoplastics is difficult to control. Metal particle absorbents with different melting point, including magnesium zinc alloy particles (MZAP), zinc particles (ZnP) and tin particles (SnP), were introduced to investigate the weld morphologies, tensile process and bonding characteristics of the weldments in the present study. The hot-pressing equipment was used to embed the metal particle absorbents in thermoplastic. Lap welding experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of metal particle absorbents and welding parameters (laser power and welding speed) on shear force and the weld morphologies. The discrepancy of shear force–displacement curves, microscopic morphology and element distribution between different weldments were investigated. Compared with the ZnP and SnP absorbents, the weldments with MZAP absorber had the highest shear force of 662 N under the condition of laser power of 35 W and welding speed of 8 mm/s. The underlying reason was attributed to the minimal thermoplastic decomposition and the good interfacial interaction.

Single-Micelle and Single-Zinc-Particle Imaging Provides Insights into the Physical Processes Underpinning Organozinc Reactions in Water.

Micelles on the surfaces of individual metallic zinc particles are imaged by fluorescence microscopy with sensitivity up to single micelles. These micelles are made fluorescent to enable imaging, through the incorporation of boron dipyrromethene fluorophores as representative organic molecular "cargo". Highlighting an advantage of this in situ and sensitive fluorescence technique, the same micelles are not visible by ex situ scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. Examination of micellar solutions with zinc reveals an aging process: micelles do not immediately adhere to the zinc surfaces upon mixing but rather build up over time. Furthermore, at longer times, smaller zinc particles become fully encased in micelle "shells". Once adhered, micelles remain in the local regions of the zinc surface for the duration of the imaging experiments (>2 h). Single micelles are imaged in solution, and their molecular contents are characterized. Two-color fluorescence crossover experiments show that micelles adhered to the surface of the zinc exchange molecular contents with micelles in solution, achieving molecular exchange equilibrium in ∼2.5 h. Unique (non-ensemble averaged) exchange kinetics are displayed by micelles at different locations on the zinc surface, consistent with exchange kinetics of single micelles or small local clusters of micelles. The aging of the micellar solutions and the rate of exchange while on the surface of the zinc suggest that micelle mass transport processes may contribute to overall reaction barriers in sustainable organozinc cross-coupling reactions in micellar water. The observed aging of the system suggests routes for improvement of preparative, bench-scale synthetic reactions involving micellar preparations of organozinc compounds.

Immunopathological Effect of Nano Zinc in Humoral Immune Response of Wistar Rats

Zinc is essential for daily life, though it is considered comparatively safe; but it is toxic at high levels and its immunopathological effects have not been documented. They enter in the cells and tissues and remain there and can cause immunopathological effect. Limited investigations have been carried on immunopathological effect of zinc nano particles on health and immunity of animals and man. Therefore, present study was designed to study the effect of zinc nano particles on humoral immune response in Wistar rats. To conduct this study, 35 rats of six week age were procured from IVRI Bareilly and divided into two groups of 20 rats in Group I (control) of 20 rats in Group II (treated) of 15 rats. The rats of treated group, were given nano zinc particles into stomach by oral gavaging for a period of 90 days and dose rate of nano zinc particles was selected based on NOAEL dose of nano zinc oxide 31.25 mg/kg body weight of rat. Humoral immune response was assessed by hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays from the serum separated from blood of 5 rats from each group at 30th, 60th and 90th DPT. The antigen used was reconstituted commercial Ranikhet Disease Vaccine, R2B strain vaccine Mukteshwar (Indovax Pvt. Ltd., Hissar). There was increase in humoral immune response in treated group but the results were not significant statistically.

Effects of Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 Nanoparticles Concentration in a Silicone Matrix on Complex Permeability and Permittivity in the 1-10 GHz Range

Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.65) nanoferrite particles were used as filler in a silicone polymer matrix in order to obtain a composite material with the purpose of absorbing electromagnetic radiation. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and force modulation microscopy (FMM) and the electromagnetic properties by means of network and impedance analyzers. It was observed that the composite with higher concentrations of Znx (x = 0.5 and 0.65) presented the lowest dispersion, due to the size of the zinc particles. This paper provides a framework for the practical application of absorbent composite materials of MnZn nanoferrite particles combined with silicone rubber to be used in 1-10 GHz frequency bands, with reflectivity values of -24 dB in the 6 GHz frequency range.

Hydrometallurgical Treatment of Converter Dust from Secondary Copper Production: A Study of the Lead Cementation from Acetate Solution

The subject of interest in this study was lead cementation with zinc from solution after conventional agitate acidic leaching of converter dust from secondary copper production. The kinetics of lead cementation from an acid solution of lead acetate using zinc powder was studied. The optimal cementation conditions for removing lead from the solution were determined to have a stirring intensity of 300 rpm, a zinc particle size distribution <0.125–0.4> mm and an ambient temperature. Under these conditions, an almost 90% efficiency in removing lead from solution was achieved. The cementation precipitate contains Pb, and a certain amount of Cu. Lead is present in the cementation precipitate in the PbO, Pb5O8 and Pb(Cu2O2) phases. The solution after cementation was also refined from copper. The solution can be used for further processing in order to obtain a marketable Zn-based product. The resulting cementation precipitate can be further processed and modified to obtain a lead-based product. A kinetic study of the process of lead cementation from solution was also carried out. Based on experimental measurements, the value of apparent activation energy (Ea) which was found to be ~18.66 kJ·mol−1, indicates that this process is diffusion controlled in the temperature range 293–333 K.

Enhanced anticorrosion performance of zinc rich epoxy coatings modified with stainless steel flakes

The effect of a partial replacement of spherical zinc particles by stainless steel flakes (SSF) on the corrosion protection performance of zinc-rich epoxy (ZRE) coating was studied. Salt spray test, open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization tests were utilized to evaluate the anticorrosion performance of the coatings. The results demonstrate that a partial replacement of zinc particles by SSF enhanced the anticorrosion properties of the ZRE coating, and the enhancement was attributed to the synergistic effects by increasing the coating impedance and extending the cathodic protection duration.

3D-Printed Porous Magnetic Carbon Materials Derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Here we report new porous carbon materials obtained by 3D printing from photopolymer compositions with zinc- and nickel-based metal–organic frameworks, ZIF-8 and Ni-BTC, followed by high-temperature pyrolysis. The pyrolyzed materials that retain the shapes of complex objects contain pores, which were produced by boiling zinc and magnetic nickel particles. The two thus provided functionalities—large specific surface area and ferromagnetism—that pave the way towards creating heterogenous catalysts that can be easily removed from reaction mixtures in industrial catalytic processes.

Supported Zinc Nanoparticle Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Furfural

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) of biomass-derived platform chemicals is a sustainable way to produce value added fuels and chemicals as compared to chemo-catalytic hydrogenation pathway [1,2]. Furfural can be hydrogenated to produce furfuryl alcohol (FAL) and 2-methylfuran (MF) which have applications in pharmaceutical, polymer and fuel industries [1,2].In our prior work, zinc stood out as an efficient metal catalyst in comparison to copper and nickel, achieving 86 % Faradaic efficiency (FE) for the ECH of furfural in neutral pH electrolytes at -0.7 V/RHE [3]. However, the yield of desired products was low compared to fractional conversion, due to electro-dimerization of furfural. Zinc nanoparticles can help to increase the yield of FAL and MF while maintaining the same FE due to high surface area to volume ratio, which will aid in increasing the reaction rate for the conversion of intermediate radicals in ECH of furfural to FAL and MF instead of forming dimerized furfural product. Thus, in this work, we synthesized high surface area zinc nanoparticle catalysts to study their activity for the ECH of furfural. Zinc nanoparticle catalysts were synthesized by electrodeposition using 0.2 M zinc chloride as precursor on bare zinc foil at -2 V/Ag-AgCl for 5 h at 50 C [4]. It was found that current densities in the range of 18-20 mA/cm2 lead to electrodeposited zinc particles, whereas higher current densities (21-26 mA/cm2) give rise to electroplated zinc. SEM analysis revealed the presence of fibrous morphology of zinc particles (Figure 1a). EDS analysis showed that the elemental composition of material was 99 wt% zinc with the remainder oxygen. The BET surface area of the catalyst was found to be 5.6 m2/g with average pore size 10.1 nm. The catalyst exhibited type V isotherm with hysteresis loop of type H3 which signifies plate-like particle aggregates [5]. The differential pore volume vs pore width graph depicts that the zinc catalyst contains both mesopores as well as macropores (Figure 1b). ECH of furfural on these catalysts will be compared to similar results for metallic zinc foil. Post electrolysis characterization will aid in in elucidating reaction mechanism.