Energy Storage, Photocatalytic and Electrochemical Nitrite Sensing of Ultrasound-Assisted Stable Ta2O5 Nanoparticles

Abstract

This paper reports the advanced Ta2O5 nanomaterial, prepared by ultrasonication via DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide) as a solvent; towards the rechargeable Li-ion battery photocatalytic dye degradation and electrochemical nitrite sensing applications. Elemental and structural confirmation of Ta2O5 nanoparticles (NPs) has been characterized by XRD and FTIR. Morphological and compositions are analyzed by SEM with EDS and HRTEM. Surface area, bandgap, and thermal stability results are obtained by BET, DRS, and TGA-DTA analysis. Diffracted peaks are confirmed the orthorhombic phase. FTIR confirmed the presence of the Ta-O stretching vibration band. Ta2O5 anode has maintained the reversible discharge capacity of 192 mAh g(-1) for 200 cyclic rotations at a C/10 rate. Furthermore, Ta2O5 NPs have also exemplified the good photocatalytic activity against Methylene blue dye under visible light irradiation. Nitrite (NO2-) sensing has been performed using Ta2O5 NPs modified glassy carbon electrode as an additional study.