title: Cu-Based Nanocomposites as Multifunctional Catalysts.
abstract: Herein, we report the synthesis of Cu/Cu2 O nanocomposites by a one-step hydrothermal process at 180 °C, for which the resulting morphology is dependent on the hydrothermal reaction time (24, 72, and 120 h). With a longer reaction time of 120 h, a rod-shape morphology is obtained, whereas at 72 and 24 h assemblies of nanoparticles are obtained. The rod-shaped (120 h) particles of the Cu/Cu2 O nanocomposites show a much higher efficiency (6.3 times) than the agglomerates and 2.5 times more than the assemblies of nanoparticles for the hydrogen-evolution reaction. During the oxygen-evolution reaction, the nanorods produce a current that is 5.2 and 3.7 times higher than that produced by the agglomerated and assembled nanoparticles, respectively. The electrocatalysts are shown to be highly stable for over 50 cycles. As catalysts for organic synthesis, a 100 % yield is achieved in the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction with the nanorods, which is higher than with the other nanocomposite particles. This result demonstrates the significant enhancement of yield obtained with the nanorods for cross-coupling reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India), Fax.
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Catalysis Research and Innovation and Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Gyandshwar Kumar
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India), Fax.
authors.forename: Soumen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India), Fax. ashok@chemistry.iitd.ernet.in.|Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, Punjab, 160062, India. ashok@chemistry.iitd.ernet.in.
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ganguli
keywords: cross-coupling; hydrogen-evolution reaction; hydrothermal synthesis; nanoparticles; oxygen-evolution reaction