SINGLE STEP AQUEOUS SYNTHESIS OF UNSUPPORTED PTNI NANOALLOYS USING FLOWER EXTRACT AS REDUCING AGENT AND THEIR COMPOSITIONAL ROLE TO ENHANCE ELECTROCATALYTIC ACTIVITY

The PtNi nanoalloys have been synthesized with 3-4 nm average size by aqueous solution using flower extract (Kigelia Africana) as reducing agent and used as an effective electrocatalytic nanomaterials due to their combined properties associated with both the metals. In this work, a single step method has been performed to assemble PtNi nanoalloys with tunable compositions (Pt/Ni atomic ratio) under microwave irradiation with 300 W and max 280 psi for 8-10 min. The size and compositions with crystanality of as prepared PtNi bimetallic nanostructures have been confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), DLS and AFM techniques. The cyclovoltammeter study has revealed the better catalytic activity for ethanol redox by PtNi as nanocatalysts. Here we have used a simple and environmentally benign approach with scale-up synthesis for energy storage applications in the place of pure platinum due to its high cost and rare availability.