Flower like strontium molybdate for efficient energy conversion applications

Novel and cost-effective electrocatalysts are most important materials considered for the renewable energy conversion applications. Metal molybdates have gained great attention because of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). These products still need to be improved for practical applications. In this work, SrMoO4 nanostructures were successfully synthesized via trouble-free co-precipitation method. Scheelite-type tetragonal-phase SrMoO4 nanostructures were substantiated using X-ray diffraction. Raman spectra confirmed existence of MoO42- group whereas Fourier transform infrared spectra corroborated different functional groups in well-crystallized SrMoO4 material. Morphologies of the prepared SrMoO4 nanostructures were identified by using the scanning electron microscopy images. The high surface area and porosity of electrocatalysts significantly enhanced the electro-chemical performance. Then, the surface area, pore diameter and pore volume of SM2 were 13 m(2)/g, 4.474 nm and 0.004 cc/g, respectively. The existence of unique flower like morphology and spindle-like rods of SrMoO4 material confirmed the OER activity with elevated 409 F/g specific capacitance. Compared to different molar ratios of SrMoO4 materials, 1:5 M ratios of SrMoO4 nanostructures showed outstanding catalytic action toward OER performance with 187 mV at 10 mA/cm(2) and a small 20.5 mV/dec Tafel slope. In addition, SM2 electrode showed better durability in 16 h chronoamperometry test without any decay. Therefore, optimizing the proper molar ratio of SrMoO4 material is one of the important parameters to obtain a good candidate for electrochemical water-splitting applications.

Automated summary

Novel and cost-effective electrocatalysts, such as SrMoO4 nanostructures, were successfully synthesized via a trouble-free co-precipitation method, showing high surface area and porosity. The unique flower-like morphology and spindle-like rods of SrMoO4 material confirmed its outstanding OER activity.