Efficient multifunctional catalytic and sensing properties of synthesized ruthenium oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Ruthenium oxide is one of the most active electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we report simple wet chemical route to synthesize RuO2 nanoparticles at controlled temperature. The structural, morphological and surface area studies of the synthesized nanoparticles were conducted with X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and BETsurface area studies. The bifunctional electrocatalytic performance of RuO2 nanoparticles was studied under different atmospheric conditions for OER and ORR, respectively, versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in alkaline medium. Low Tafel slopes of RuO2 nanoparticles were found to be ~47 and ~49 mV/dec for OER and ORR, respectively, in oxygen saturated 0.5 M KOH system. Moreover, the catalytic activity of RuO2 nanoparticles was examined against the Horseradish peroxidase enzyme (HRP) at high temperature, and the nanoparticles were applied as a sensor for the detection of H2O2 in the solution.