2018 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Development of a chemical synthesis technique to prepare Cu-Co NWs
| Project/Area Number |
16K04891
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| Research Institution | The University of Shiga Prefecture |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
松本 高利 東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 助教 (50343041)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | Nanowires / Co-Cu / Nanoparticles / Polyol / Alcohol / Cobalt / Copper / Oleylamine |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
By calculation chemistry, the reduction potential of polyol depended on its molecular structure. Thus, increasing the alkyl chain of the polyol, the reduction potential increased: ethylene glycol < 1,3-propanediol < 1,4-butanediol < 1,5 pentanediol. It was experimentally confirmed in the synthesis of Co and Fe.
Similar behavior was found in monoalcohols: 1-hexanol < 1-heptanol < 1-octanol < benzyl alcohol.
Since the formation of nanowires required a balance between reduction and etching, the selection of polyol/alcohol was important. Nanowires are only synthesized in mild reducing agents such as 1-heptanol or ethylene glycol.
The reduction potential between Cu and Co played an important role to control composition because Co ions were not reduced if Cu ions remains in solution.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The progress of the research was delayed for the following reasons:
(a)The metallic distribution in the synthesized Cu-Co nanostructures was not uniform because Cu can redissolve into solution and precipitate with Co on formed Cu surface. Thus, the control of compositions as well as dimensions of Cu-Co nanowires were difficult to be optimized.
(b) Although, solvents with high reduction potential were used, these only favored the formation of Cu and Co nanoparticles with large sizes.
(c) On the other hand, due to the Cu-Co surface was not passivized totally, the stability of the Cu-Co nanostructures were poor affecting the subsequently electrochemical measurements that were used to evaluate the catalytic properties.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
For this year, our research plan consider the following:
(a) Enhancement in the synthesis of Cu-Co nanostructures with controllable dimensions and compositions by using 1-heptanol as reducing agent.
(b) Optimize the electrocatalytic activity of Cu-Co nanostructures by controlling the electrochemical parameters. Likewise, the evaluation of durability of Cu-Co nanostructures as catalyst.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Actually, the catalytic properties will be evaluate by electrochemical measurements. For this reason we did not buy additional equipment. The remained money will be used for buying the precursor and solvents in the electrochemical measurements and in the characterization of the Cu-Co nanostructures.
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Research Products
(11 results)
