National Chemical Laboratory

About: National Chemical Laboratory is a facility organization based out in Pune, Maharashtra, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Nanoparticle. The organization has 8891 authors who have published 14837 publications receiving 387600 citations.

Low Surface Energy Plane Exposed Co3O4 Nanocubes Supported on Nitrogen-Doped Graphene as an Electrocatalyst for Efficient Water Oxidation

Abstract: Herein, we report a simple and scalable synthesis of Co3O4 nanocubes possessing exposed low surface energy planes supported on nitrogen-doped graphene (Co3O4-NC/NGr) by a hydrothermal method as an efficient electrocatalyst for water oxidation. Three different types of morphologies of Co3O4 (i.e., nanocubes, blunt edge nanocubes and spherical particles) have been synthesized by systematically varying the reaction time. Subsequently, their catalytic activity toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has been screened in alkaline medium. Among the three different morphologies, the intermediate architecture (i.e., the blunt edged nanocubes designated as Co3O4-NC/NGr-12h) has shown the highest OER activity. The catalyst displayed an overpotential (η) of ∼280 mV at 10 mA/cm2 in 1 M KOH solution, which is lower than that of the other prepared samples such as Co3O4-NC/NGr-3h (∼348 mV), Co3O4-NC/NGr-9h (∼356 mV), Co3O4-NC/NGr-24h (∼320 mV), Co3O4-NC/Gr-12h (∼300 mV) and Co3O4 (∼310 mV). Along with that, the electroch...

Solid acid catalyzed synthesis of furans from carbohydrates

Abstract: The alternative feedstock, biomass (particularly lignocelluloses), having the profuse availability, is promising for the synthesis of several value-added chemicals which are currently obtained from fossil feedstock. In this article, the synthesis of two extremely significant furan chemicals viz. furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are discussed. In the synthesis of furans from biomass, numerous challenges, i.e., use of edible sugars as substrates, selectivity to furans, their isolation in pure form, reuse of catalyst, environmental issues, etc., are perceived and in the recent past researchers tried to resolve those by developing advance methodologies. This article comprehensively summarizes the latest progress made in the above-mentioned areas and also provides commentary on the analyses of results, rationale for observed activity and mechanisms, etc. It also discusses future aspects of this work.