Adsorption-Mediated Synthesis of Prussian Blue Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites for Electrochromic and Electrocatalytic Applications

The relentless exploitation of natural resources has intensified the search for alternative and sustainable energy solutions.In this context, Prussian Blue (PB) has emerged as a promising material for energy-related applications.In this work, a facile in situ adsorption-based strategy was employed for the synthesis of Prussian Blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) with integrated bifunctionality.The approach utilized an N-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl diethylenetriamine (TPDT) silicate sol-gel (SSG) matrix, followed by the electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) onto indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, yielding a PB@Au nanocomposite (ITO/TPDT-PB/Au).The fabricated electrodes were comprehensively characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Xray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry.The functional applicability of the electrodes was investigated with respect to electrochromic and electrocatalytic performance.In situ spectro-electrochemical studies of ITO/TPDT-PB electrodes revealed pronounced electrochromic behavior, demonstrating their potential utility in smart window applications.Furthermore, the electrocatalytic activity of ITO/TPDT-PB and ITO/TPDT-PB/Au electrodes was evaluated using oxygen (O) and hydrogen peroxide (HO) reduction as model reactions.The synergistic integration of PB and Au nanoparticles in the ITO/TPDT-PB/Au electrode resulted in a significantly enhanced and selective electrocatalytic response toward HO reduction at -0.055 V, compared to O reduction at -0.283 V.These findings underscore the potential of PB@Au nanocomposites for advanced energy and environmental applications.