A comparative study on effect of g-C3N4 and GO as additives on Cu3Mo2O9-based nanocomposites as potential hydrogen storage material

Abstract

Cu3Mo2O9 was synthesized through hydrothermal method in the existence of bis(acetylacetanato) propylene diamine (H2acacpn) Schiff-base ligand as a capping agent. Effect of amount of ligand on the morphology and size uniformity was investigated to optimize ideal sample as an electrode material. Also, Cu3Mo2O9-based composites designed in the presence of graphene oxide (GO) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), separately. The microstrain, porosity and magnetic properties of samples compared to achieved optimized electrode materials. Electrochemical hydrogen storage capacity of carbonous composites compared with pristine Cu3Mo2O9 electrode in 2.0 M KOH electrolyte and applying 1 mA constant current. Results show the increasing in the discharge capacity by applying GO as additive in the composite texture of Cu3Mo2O9. So, maximum discharge capacity reached to 1200 mA h/g for GO based Cu3Mo2O9 composites. However, pristine Cu3Mo2O9 presents 560 mA h/g discharge capacity. The g-C3N4 based composites cannot show developed hydrogen storage discharge capacity (400 mA h/g) due to blocking active sites of Cu3Mo2O9 nanoparticles.