The occurrence of available energy reservoirs is decreasing steeply, therefore we are looking for an alternative and sustainable renewable energy resources. Among them, hydrogen is considered as green fuel with a high density of energy. In nature, hydrogen is not found in a free state and it is most likely present in the compound form for example H2O. Water covers almost 75% of the earth planet. To produce hydrogen from water, it requires an efficient catalyst. For this purpose, noble materials such as Pt, Ir, and Ru are efficient materials for water splitting. These precious catalysts are rare in nature, very costly, and are restricted from largescale applications. Therefore, search for a new earth-abundant and nonprecious materials is a hot spot area in the research today. Among the materials, nanomaterials are excellent candidates because of their potential properties for extended applications, particularly in energy systems. The fabrication of nanostructured materials with high specific surface area, fast charge transport, rich catalytic sites, and huge ion transport is the key challenge for turning nonprecious materials into precious catalytic materials. In this thesis, we have investigated nonprecious nanostructured materials and they are found to be efficient for electrochemical water splitting. These nanostructured materials include MoS2-TiO2, MoS2, TiO2, MoSx@NiO, NiO, nickeliron layered double hydroxide (NiFeLDH)/Co3O4, NiFeLDH, Co3O4, Cu-doped MoS2, Co3O4- CuO, CuO, etc. The composition, morphology, crystalline structure, and phase purities are investigated by a wide range of analytical instruments such as XPS, SEM, HRTEM, and XRD. The production of hydrogen/oxygen from water is obtained either in the acidic or alkaline media. Based on the functional characterization we believe that these newly produced nanostructured materials can be capitalized for the development of water splitting, batteries, and other energy-related devices.

Colloidal Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications is a one-stop reference for anyone with an interest in the fundamentals, synthesis and applications of this interesting materials system. The book presents a simple, effective and detailed discussion on colloidal metal oxide nanoparticles. It begins with a general introduction of colloidal metal oxide nanoparticles, then delves into the most relevant synthesis pathways, stabilization procedures, and synthesis and characterization techniques. Final sections discuss promising applications, including bioimaging, biosensing, diagnostic, and energy applications—i.e., solar cells, supercapacitors and environment applications—i.e., the treatment of contaminated soil, water purification and waste remediation. Provides the most comprehensive resource on the topic, from fundamentals, to synthesis and characterization techniques Presents key applications, including biomedical, energy, electronic and environmental Discusses the most relevant techniques for synthesis, patterning and characterization

Nanoparticles exhibit a range of different properties when compared to bulk materials. Their high surface-area to volume ratio makes them particularly attractive for use as catalysts and recent years have seen an explosion of research in this area. The ability to fine-tune the size and structure of nanoparticles means that it is possible to design catalytic materials for improved activity or specificity. As catalysis is one of the key technologies for more sustainable production of both chemicals and energy, the past few years have seen increasing numbers of nanomaterials reported for these applications. Depending on the application, a number of different catalyst synthesis and optimization protocols can be used. This book provides comprehensive links between the design and fabrication method for nanoparticles and their catalytic performance (activity, selectivity and stability) in various applications. Presenting an introduction to the concept of catalyst design and recent developments in the preparation and characterisation of nanomaterials, followed by several chapters on the design of catalysts for specific applications, this book is a valuable resource for researchers working on catalytic reactions, industrial processes and nanomaterial applications.

This book introduces recent progress in preparation and application of core-shell and yolk-shell structures for attractive design of catalyst materials. Core-shell nanostructures with active core particles covered directly with an inert shell can perform as highly active and selective catalysts with long lifetimes. Yolk-shell nanostructures consisting of catalytically active core particles encapsulated by hollow materials are an emerging class of nanomaterials. The enclosed void space is expected to be useful for encapsulation and compartmentation of guest molecules, and the outer shell acts as a physical barrier to protect the guest molecules from the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the tunability and functionality in the core and the shell regions can offer new catalytic properties, rendering them attractive platform materials for the design of heterogeneous catalysts. This book describes the recent development of such unique nanostructures to design effective catalysts which can lead to new chemical processes. It provides an excellent guide for design and application of core-shell and yolk-shell structured catalysts for a wide range of readers working on design of attractive catalysts, photocatalysts, and electrocatalysts for energy, environmental, and green chemical processes.

"Metal Oxide Core-Shell Nanoparticle Synthesis and Applications" is an essential guide for researchers and scientists working in the field of materials science, particularly in the area of nanotechnology. Author is a distinguished expert in the field, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis and applications of metal oxide core-shell nanoparticles. The book begins with an introduction to the fundamental concepts of nanotechnology and the synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles, followed by a detailed discussion of the core-shell structure and the different synthesis methods used to produce these particles. The author also covers the characterization techniques used to analyze the properties of these particles, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The latter half of the book is dedicated to exploring the various applications of metal oxide core-shell nanoparticles, including their use in catalysis, energy storage, environmental remediation, and biomedical applications. The author provides examples of current research in these areas and discusses the potential future directions for research in this field. Overall, "Metal Oxide Core-Shell Nanoparticle Synthesis and Applications" is a valuable resource for scientists and researchers seeking to advance their understanding of the synthesis and application of metal oxide core-shell nanoparticles. The clear and concise writing style, combined with the extensive references and practical examples, makes this book an essential addition to any materials science library.

Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis and Applications summarizes many of the recent research accomplishments in the area of metal oxide-based nanocomposites. This book focussing on the following topics: Nanocomposites preparation and characterization of metal oxide nanocomposites; synthesis of core/shell metal oxide nanocomposites; multilayer thin films; sequential assembly of nanocomposite materials; semiconducting polymer metal oxide nanocomposites; graphene-based metal and metal oxide nanocomposites; carbon nanotube–metal–oxide nanocomposites; silicon mixed oxide nanocomposites; gas semiconducting sensors based on metal oxide nanocomposites; metal ]organic framework nanocomposite for hydrogen production and nanocomposites application towards photovoltaic and photocatalytic.