Ionic liquid functionalized graphene oxide decorated with copper oxide nanostructures towards H2 generation from sodium borohydride

With regards to tackling environmental issues from an economical perspective, hydrogen (H-2) is considered as one of the promising and important alternative energy feedstock. Thus it is essential to develop highly efficient and economical catalyst for H-2 generation. In the present study, a new nanocomposite which is composed of ionic liquid functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO-IL) anchoring copper oxide nanoparticles was synthesized via chemical route. Detailed structural investigations of the rGO-IL-CuO nanocomposite material was done by X-ray diffractions and microscopic techniques employing scanning electron and high resolution transmission electron. The as-prepared nanocomposite was further characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The nanocomposite showed excellent catalytic activity towards H-2 generation from the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. The activation energy of rGO-IL-CuO nanocomposite catalyst was found to be 46.1 kJ/mol. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.