Preface xiii 1 An Introduction to the Exploration of the Electronic Structure Properties of Biologically Active Natural Compounds Using Quantum Chemical Methods 1Ashok Kumar Mishra, Satya Prakash Tewari and Aniket Kumar 1.1 Natural Compounds: Past, Present, and Future 1 1.2 Theoretical Framework for Quantum Chemical Calculations 4 1.3 Theoretical Framework for Biological Activity 21 1.4 Future Scope 23 2 Facile Synthesis of Hybrid Fe3O4/ZnO Nanosphere Composites and Their Potential Applications in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells 27Y. Prapawasit, P. Hemnil, V. Karthikeyan, T. Wongwuttanasatian, Müslüm Arici and V. Seithtanabutara 2.1 Introduction 28 2.2 Materials and Methods 30 2.3 Results and Discussion 32 2.4 Conclusion 44 3 Study and Analysis of Hybrid Nanofluid-Based Heat Pipes for Renewable Energy Applications 49Ramkumar Venkatasamy, Joshuva Arockia Dhanraj, Nadanakumar Vinayagam, Chatchai Sirisamphanwong, Karthikeyan Velmurugan, Rattaporn Ngoenmeesri and Chattariya Sirisamphanwong 3.1 Introduction 50 3.2 Materials and Methods 53 3.3 Methodology and Experimental Analysis 54 3.4 Results and Discussion 56 3.5 Conclusion 66 4 Nanosilver-Based Electrocatalytic Materials 71Ahmed Mourtada Elseman and Sabah M. Abdelbasir 4.1 Introduction 71 4.2 Synthesis Methodologies of Silver-Based Nanomaterials 73 4.3 Electrocatalysis 82 4.4 Conclusions 97 5 Noble Metal-Based Nanocatalysts Dispersed on Functionalized and Alternative Supports for Low-Temperature Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers 111F.J. Rodríguez-Varela, I.L. Alonso-Lemus, J.C. Martínez-Loyola, A. Torres-Núñez, R. Chávez-Alcázar, P.C. Meléndez-González and M.E. Sánchez-Castro 5.1 Introduction 112 5.2 Electrochemical Reactions in Low-Temperature Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers 114 5.3 Covalently Functionalized Supports for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers 117 5.4 Alternative Carbon Supports for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers 123 5.5 Comparison of the Performance of Nanocatalysts for Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Reactions 133 6 Metal Oxide-Based Electrocatalytic Materials for Hydrogen Evolution and Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction 151Amit Mall, Akshaya K. Palai, Pratap Chandra Padhi, Sudheesh K. Shukla, Rashmiprava Sahoo, Trupti R. Das, Santanu Patra and Deepak Kumar 6.1 Introduction 152 6.2 Electrochemical Method 154 6.3 Electrocatalysis 154 6.4 Metal Oxide-Based Catalyst 157 7 Metal--Organic Framework-Based Electrocatalytic Materials 165Athira Krishnan, Rijith S., Sumi V. S. and Bhagya T. C. 7.1 Introduction 166 7.2 Mechanism of Conduction in MOFs 167 7.3 Types of Conductive MOFs 172 7.4 Conductive MOFs in Various Electrocatalytic Applications 174 7.5 Challenges and Forthcoming Outlook 181 7.6 Conclusion 183 8 Carbonaceous Materials for Supercapattery 195J.R. Low, H.N. Lim, I. Ibrahim, C. Y. Foo and Z. Zainal 8.1 Introduction 196 8.2 Mechanism and the Fundamental of Supercapattery 197 8.3 Utilization of Carbonaceous Materials in Supercapattery Application 200 8.4 Conclusion and Outlook 214 9 Graphene-Based Electrocatalytic Materials Toward Electrochemical Water Splitting 229Prasanta Pattanayak, Paulomi Singh, Nitin Kumar Bansal, Snehangshu Mishra and Trilok Singh 9.1 Introduction 230 9.2 Electrochemical Water Splitting: Principles and Mechanism 233 9.3 Synthesis Methods of Graphene 237 9.4 Graphene as Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting 243 9.5 Graphene in Combination with Other Nanostructures 254 9.6 Conclusion 258 10 Graphene Electrocatalysts: New Insights Into the Current State of Water Splitting 271R. Rajalakshmi, A. Rebekah and N. Ponpandian 10.1 Introduction 272 10.2 Overview of Electrochemical Water Splitting 273 10.3 Electrocatalyst Selection Criteria for Electrochemical Water Splitting 279 10.4 Significance of Graphene as an Electrocatalyst 280 10.5 Graphene-Based HER Electrocatalyst 280 10.6 Graphene-Based OER Electrocatalyst 285 10.7 Graphene-Based Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting 290 10.8 Graphene in Combination with Other Nanostructures for Overall Water Splitting 293 10.9 Conclusion and Future Perspectives 295 11 Environmental Electrocatalysis for Air Pollution Applications 303Anupama M. Pillai and Tanvir Arfin 11.1 General Introduction 304 11.2 Introduction of Air Pollution 304 11.3 Global Scenario of Air Pollution 305 11.4 Halogenated Organic Compounds (HOPs) 308 11.5 Perfluorohexane Sulfonate (PFHxS) 311 11.6 Methoxychlor (MXC) 314 11.7 Dioxin and Furan 317 11.8 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 320 11.9 Future Research Direction 321 11.10 Conclusions and Prospects 322 12 Extraction and Purification of Cellulase Enzyme for Bioethanol Production and Its Usefulness as a Sustainable Biofuel 333Ayush Madan, Rakhi Dhiman, Rishabh Garg, Narotam Sharma and Syed Mohsin Waheed 12.1 Introduction 334 12.2 Ethanol as Fuel 337 12.3 Materials and Methods 339 12.4 Results 342 12.5 Discussion 347 12.6 Conclusion and Future Scope 348 13 A Sustainable Catalytic Approach for Wastewater Bodies: An Innovation and Technological Point of View 353Anupama Rajput, Sudheesh K. Shukla, Ravi Kumar, Gaurav Jha, Vikas Kalia and Bindu Mangla 13.1 Introduction 354 13.2 Microbial Processes 359 13.3 Factors Affecting the Rates of Bioremediation 359 13.4 Bioremediation Treatment Processes 361 13.5 Bioremediation 367 13.6 Conclusion 369 14 Electrocatalytic Materials for Renewable Energy: Perspectives and Initiatives 377Trupti R. Das, Rashmiprava Sahoo, Meenakshi Choudhary, Santanu Patra and Sudheesh K. Shukla 14.1 What is the Importance of Renewable Energy in the Current Context? 378 14.2 Renewable Energy Perspective: Connecting Net-Zero and Climate Neutrality Agendas 379 14.3 Efforts of the United Nations to Promote Renewable Energy 380 14.4 Goals for Promoting Renewable Energy in the Sustainable Development Agenda 381 14.5 European Green Deal for the Promotion of Renewable Energy 382 14.6 Initiatives from Different Nations to Support Renewable Energy 384 14.7 Electrocatalytic Materials: Properties and Classification Toward Renewable Energy 386 14.8 Electrocatalytic Materials: Various Applications in Renewable Energy 388 14.9 Electrocatalytic Materials: Importance in Climate Neutral Renewable Energy 390 14.10 Conclusion 391 References 391 Index 397

The book provides a comprehensive overview of various electrocatalytic materials and their applications in renewable energy thereby promoting a sustainable and clean energy future for all. As an important branch of catalysts, electrocatalytic materials exhibit important catalytic reactions that can convert and store energy through reactions involving electron transfer. However, the study of electrocatalytic materials presents a huge challenge due to the highly complicated reaction network, the variety of reaction selectivity, and the puzzling reaction mechanisms. Tremendous research efforts have been made toward the fabrication of efficient electrocatalytic materials that can be used in the energy sectors. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of electrocatalytic materials for different renewable energy applications. Furthermore, the book discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with the development and utilization of electrocatalytic materials for renewable energy. The future utility of different electrocatalytic materials is also well-defined in the context of the renewable energy approach. The contributors to this book are leading experts in the field of electrocatalytic materials for renewable energy, including scientists and engineers from academia, industry, and national laboratories. Their collective expertise and knowledge provide valuable insights into the latest advances in electrocatalysis for renewable energy applications. Audience This book is intended for researchers and professionals in the fields of materials science, chemistry, physics, and engineering who are interested in the development and utilization of electrocatalytic materials for renewable energy.