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Marrocchi A, Cerza E, Chandrasekaran S, Sgreccia E, Kaciulis S, Vaccaro L, Syahputra S, Vacandio F, Knauth P, Di Vona ML. Hydrochar from Pine Needles as a Green Alternative for Catalytic Electrodes in Energy Applications. Molecules 2024; 29:3286. [PMID: 39064865 PMCID: PMC11278999 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29143286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) serves as a sustainable method to transform pine needle waste into nitrogen-doped (N-doped) hydrochars. The primary focus is on evaluating these hydrochars as catalytic electrodes for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), which are pivotal processes with significant environmental implications. Hydrochars were synthesized by varying the parameters such as nitrogen loading, temperature, and residence time. These materials were then thoroughly characterized using diverse analytical techniques, including elemental analysis, density measurements, BET surface area analysis, and spectroscopies like Raman, FTIR, and XPS, along with optical and scanning electron microscopies. The subsequent electrochemical assessment involved preparing electrocatalytic inks by combining hydrochars with an anion exchange ionomer (AEI) to leverage their synergistic effects. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous reports on catalytic electrodes that simultaneously incorporate both a hydrochar and AEI. Evaluation metrics such as current densities, onset and half-wave potentials, and Koutecky-Levich and Tafel plots provided insights into their electrocatalytic performances. Notably, hydrochars synthesized at 230 °C exhibited an onset potential of 0.92 V vs. RHE, marking the highest reported value for a hydrochar. They also facilitated the exchange of four electrons at 0.26 V vs. RHE in the ORR. Additionally, the CO2RR yielded valuable C2 products like acetaldehyde and acetate. These findings highlight the remarkable electrocatalytic activity of the optimized hydrochars, which could be attributed, at least in part, to their optimal porosity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta Marrocchi
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (E.C.); (L.V.)
| | - Elisa Cerza
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (E.C.); (L.V.)
| | - Suhas Chandrasekaran
- Tor Vergata University of Rome, Department Industrial Engineering and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy (LIME), 00133 Roma, Italy; (S.C.); (E.S.)
| | - Emanuela Sgreccia
- Tor Vergata University of Rome, Department Industrial Engineering and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy (LIME), 00133 Roma, Italy; (S.C.); (E.S.)
| | - Saulius Kaciulis
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN-CNR, Monterotondo Stazione, 00015 Roma, Italy;
| | - Luigi Vaccaro
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (E.C.); (L.V.)
| | - Suanto Syahputra
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, MADIREL (UMR 7246) and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy (LIME), Campus St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille, France; (S.S.); (F.V.); (P.K.)
| | - Florence Vacandio
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, MADIREL (UMR 7246) and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy (LIME), Campus St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille, France; (S.S.); (F.V.); (P.K.)
| | - Philippe Knauth
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, MADIREL (UMR 7246) and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy (LIME), Campus St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille, France; (S.S.); (F.V.); (P.K.)
| | - Maria Luisa Di Vona
- Tor Vergata University of Rome, Department Industrial Engineering and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy (LIME), 00133 Roma, Italy; (S.C.); (E.S.)
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Kwarteng PK, Syahputra S, Pasquini L, Vacandio F, Di Vona ML, Knauth P. Electrodeposited Ionomer Protection Layer for Negative Electrodes in Zinc-Air Batteries. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:680. [PMID: 37505046 PMCID: PMC10385867 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13070680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The protection of zinc anodes in zinc-air batteries (ZABs) is an efficient way to reduce corrosion and Zn dendrite formation and improve cyclability and battery efficiency. Anion-conducting poly(N-vinylbenzyl N,N,N-trimethylammonium)chloride (PVBTMA) thin films were electrodeposited directly on zinc metal using cyclic voltammetry. This deposition process presents a combination of advantages, including selective anion transport in PVBTMA reducing zinc crossover, high interface quality by electrodeposition improving the corrosion protection of zinc and high ionomer stiffness opposing zinc dendrite perforation. The PVBTMA layer was observed by optical and electron microscopy, and the wettability of the ionomer-coated surface was investigated by contact angle measurements. ZABs with PVBTMA-coated Zn showed an appreciable and stable open-circuit voltage both in alkaline electrolyte (1.55 V with a Pt cathode) and in miniaturized batteries (1.31 V with a carbon paper cathode). Cycling tests at 0.5 mA/cm2 within voltage limits of 2.1 and 0.8 V gave a stable discharge capacity for nearly 100 cycles with a liquid electrolyte and more than 20 cycles in miniaturized batteries. The faster degradation of the latter ZAB was attributed to the clogging of the carbon air cathode and drying or carbonation of the electrolyte sorbed in a Whatman paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Papa K Kwarteng
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, MADIREL (UMR 7246), Electrochemistry of Materials Group, Campus St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Suanto Syahputra
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, MADIREL (UMR 7246), Electrochemistry of Materials Group, Campus St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Luca Pasquini
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, MADIREL (UMR 7246), Electrochemistry of Materials Group, Campus St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Florence Vacandio
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, MADIREL (UMR 7246), Electrochemistry of Materials Group, Campus St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Maria Luisa Di Vona
- Tor Vergata University of Rome, Department Industrial Engineering, Via del Politecnico 1, 00173 Roma, Italy
| | - Philippe Knauth
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, MADIREL (UMR 7246), Electrochemistry of Materials Group, Campus St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille, France
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Nallayagari AR, Sgreccia E, Pasquini L, Sette M, Knauth P, Di Vona ML. Impact of Anion Exchange Ionomers on the Electrocatalytic Performance for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction of B-N Co-doped Carbon Quantum Dots on Activated Carbon. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:46537-46547. [PMID: 36194150 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c11802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Composite electrocatalytic electrodes made from B-N co-doped carbon quantum dots (CQD) and various anion exchange ionomers (AEI) are studied for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solutions. The quantity and positions of dopants in CQD, prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, are analyzed by various spectroscopies, including 11B NMR spectroscopy that evidenced boronic acid at edge sites. The AEI are synthesized with various backbones, including more hydrophilic polysulfone, hydrophobic poly(alkylene biphenyl), and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) with intermediate hydrophilicity; the functional groups are trimethylammonium moieties grafted on long (LC) or short (SC) side chains. The CQD/AEI ink is drop-casted on activated carbon paper, and the samples are fixed on a rotating disk electrode and studied in three-electrode configuration in oxygen-saturated 0.1 M KOH. The onset potentials are among the best in the literature (Eonset ≈ 0.94 V vs RHE). The highest electrocatalytic activity is observed for electrodes containing AEI with long side chains; the sample containing PPO LC attains excellent ORR currents approaching that of benchmark Pt/C cloth. The electrocatalytic performances are discussed in view of the many relevant AEI parameters, including hydrophilicity, oxygen permeability, catalyst dispersivity, and ionic conductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Reddy Nallayagari
- Dep. Industrial Engineering and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133Roma, Italy
- MADIREL (UMR 7246) and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Campus St Jérôme, 13013Marseille, France
| | - Emanuela Sgreccia
- Dep. Industrial Engineering and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133Roma, Italy
| | - Luca Pasquini
- MADIREL (UMR 7246) and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Campus St Jérôme, 13013Marseille, France
| | - Marco Sette
- Dep. Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133Roma, Italy
| | - Philippe Knauth
- MADIREL (UMR 7246) and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Campus St Jérôme, 13013Marseille, France
| | - Maria Luisa Di Vona
- Dep. Industrial Engineering and International Laboratory: Ionomer Materials for Energy, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133Roma, Italy
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