Facile synthesis of polypyrrole/ionic liquid nanoparticles and use as an electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, we report a simple approach based on the complexation of water soluble polymer with metal cations, for fabricating well defined polypyrrole (PPy)/ionic liquid (IL) nanoparticles (24–44 nm in diameter) by chemical oxidation polymerization. This procedure doesn’t require harsh environment such as temperature and pressure and the simple process offers a great possibility for mass production of polymer nanoparticles. The obtained PPy/IL nanoparticles were tested as an electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction. We have not added any transition metal or metal oxide. But, the as-prepared catalyst has ionic liquid which containing 1-allyl-3-methylpyridinium cation and tetrachloronickelate anion complex. The as-prepared catalyst PPy/IL nanoparticles showed the Tafel slope of 53 mV dec<SUP>−1</SUP>. High catalytic activity of PPy/IL for OER is evident from low onset potential of 516 mV (η<SUB>1</SUB> = 328 mV) and high current density observed in the polarization curve. Moreover, the as-prepared catalyst achieved current density of 10 mA cm<SUP>−2</SUP> at low potential of only 583 mV which corresponds to an overpotential of only 392 mV.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> PPy/IL nanoparticles were synthesized via chemical oxidation polymerization. </LI> <LI> Tafel slope 55 mV dec<SUP>−1.</SUP> </LI> <LI> Low onset potential 516 mV (η<SUB>1</SUB> = 328 mV) observed at high current density. </LI> <LI> The catalyst showed remarkable stability and retained 83% of its initial activity. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>