Ag-Doped WO3 Nanoplates as Heterogenous Multifunctional Catalyst for Glycerol Acetylation, Electrocatalytic and Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Herein, we report a hydrothermal method to synthesizepristineand Ag-doped WO3 nanoplates and study their multifunctionalcompetence in the accomplishment of enhanced catalytic organic conversionand highly efficient photocatalytic and electrocatalytic H-2 evolution reactions. The as-synthesized nanoplates were characterizedby using various techniques including X-ray diffraction, field emissionscanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, transmissionelectron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and BET surfacearea studies. The significant catalytic performance was shown by 1%Ag-doped WO3 nanoplates with 100% glycerol conversion and90% triacetin selectivity. The photocatalytic activity was also examinedtoward water splitting H-2 evolution reaction which demonstratesthe highest H-2 evolution of 12.06 mmol g(-1) catalyst for 1% Ag-doped WO3 nanoplates in a time spanof 8 h. Moreover, the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactionwas also monitored in acidic media (0.1 M H2SO4) which demonstrates good results for 1% Ag-doped WO3 nanoplateswith a low overpotential of 0.53 V and a low Tafel slope of 40 mVdec(-1).