Photocatalytic and Cathode Active Abilities of Ni-Substituted α-FeOOH Nanoparticles

The present study investigates the relationship between the local structure, photocatalytic ability, and cathode performances in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using Ni-substituted goethite nanoparticles (Ni(x)Fe(1−x)OOH NPs) with a range of ‘x’ values from 0 to 0.5. The structural characterization was performed applying various techniques, including X-ray diffractometry (XRD); thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA); Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR); X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS), both measured at room temperature (RT); (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy recorded at RT and low temperatures (LT) from 20 K to 300 K; Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurement (BET), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). In addition, the electrical properties of Ni(x)Fe(1−x)OOH NPs were evaluated by solid-state impedance spectroscopy (SS-IS). XRD showed the presence of goethite as the only crystalline phase in prepared samples with x ≤ 0.20, and goethite and α-Ni(OH)(2) in the samples with x > 0.20. The sample with x = 0.10 (Ni10) showed the highest photo-Fenton ability with a first-order rate constant value (k) of 15.8 × 10(−3) min(−1). The (57)Fe Mössbauer spectrum of Ni0, measured at RT, displayed a sextet corresponding to goethite, with an isomer shift (δ) of 0.36 mm s(−1) and a hyperfine magnetic distribution (B(hf)) of 32.95 T. Moreover, the DC conductivity decreased from 5.52 × 10(−10) to 5.30 × 10(−12) (Ω cm)(–1) with ‘x’ increasing from 0.10 to 0.50. Ni20 showed the highest initial discharge capacity of 223 mAh g(−1), attributed to its largest specific surface area of 174.0 m(2) g(−1). In conclusion, Ni(x)Fe(1−x)OOH NPs can be effectively utilized as visible-light-activated catalysts and active cathode materials in secondary batteries.