Open AccessHigh Efficiency Water Splitting using Ultrasound Coupled to a BaTiO 3 Nanofluid
Author(s) -
Zhang Yan,
Khanbareh Hamideh,
Dunn Steve,
Bowen Chris R,
Gong Hanyu,
Duy Nguyen Phuc Hoang,
Phuong Pham Thi Thuy
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202105248
Subject(s) - nanofluid , tetragonal crystal system , suspension (topology) , materials science , water splitting , ferroelectricity , particle (ecology) , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , particle size , nanotechnology , phase (matter) , catalysis , chemistry , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , oceanography , mathematics , photocatalysis , homotopy , geology , dielectric , pure mathematics , engineering
To date, a number of studies have reported the use of vibrations coupled to ferroelectric materials for water splitting. However, producing a stable particle suspension for high efficiency and long‐term stability remains a challenge. Here, the first report of the production of a nanofluidic BaTiO 3 suspension containing a mixture of cubic and tetragonal phases that splits water under ultrasound is provided. The BaTiO 3 particle size reduces from approximately 400 nm to approximately 150 nm during the application of ultrasound and the fine‐scale nature of the particulates leads to the formation of a stable nanofluid consisting of BaTiO 3 particles suspended as a nanofluid. Long‐term testing demonstrates repeatable H 2 evolution over 4 days with a continuous 24 h period of stable catalysis. A maximum rate of H 2 evolution is found to be 270 mmol h –1 g –1 for a loading of 5 mg l –1 of BaTiO 3 in 10% MeOH/H 2 O. This work indicates the potential of harnessing vibrations for water splitting in functional materials and is the first demonstration of exploiting a ferroelectric nanofluid for stable water splitting, which leads to the highest efficiency of piezoelectrically driven water splitting reported to date.