title: Bio-molecule assisted aggregation of ZnWO4 nanoparticles (NPs) into chain-like assemblies: material for high performance supercapacitor and as catalyst for benzyl alcohol oxidation.
abstract: ZnWO4 nanoparticles (NPs) that are assembled and aggregated together as chain-like morphology have been synthesized via the reaction of Zn(II) salt solution with sodium tungstate in the presence of the DNA scaffold under 5 min of microwave heating. The reaction parameters have been tuned to control the size of the individual particles and diameter of the chains. The significance of different reaction parameters and specific growth mechanism for the formation of particles is elaborated. The DNA-ZnWO4 nanoassemblies have been used in two potential applications for the first time, namely, supercapacitor and catalysis studies. Supercapacitor study revealed that DNA-ZnWO4 nanoassemblies exhibited good electrochemical properties having high specific capacitance value ∼72 F/g at 5 mV s(-1), and electrodes possessed a good cyclic stability with more than 1000 consecutive times of cycling. Catalysis studies have been done for benzyl alcohol oxidation, and it was observed that DNA-ZnWO4 nanoassemblies having smaller diameter gives better catalytic efficiency compared to other morphology. This is further authenticated from their BET surface area analysis. In the future, the self-assembled DNA-ZnWO4 nanoassemblies could be a promising candidate for the synthesis of other mixed metal oxides and should be applicable in various emerging fields like Li ion batteries or photocatalysis, or as luminescent materials.
authors.affiliation: †Electrochemical Materials Science (ECMS) Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi-630006, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sivasankara Rao
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ede
authors.affiliation: ‡Nanomaterials and System Lab, Faculty of Applied Energy System, Science and Engineering College, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ananthakumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramadoss
authors.affiliation: †Electrochemical Materials Science (ECMS) Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi-630006, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nithiyanantham
authors.affiliation: †Electrochemical Materials Science (ECMS) Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi-630006, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anantharaj
authors.affiliation: †Electrochemical Materials Science (ECMS) Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi-630006, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Subrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kundu
mesh_terms: D019905:Benzyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D004247:DNA; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol