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Gandara M, Mladenović D, Oliveira Martins MDJ, Rakocevic L, Kruszynski de Assis JM, Šljukić B, Sarmento Gonçalves E. MAX Phase (Nb 4AlC 3) For Electrocatalysis Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2310576. [PMID: 38402439 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202310576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
In search for novel materials to replace noble metal-based electrocatalysts in electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices, special attention is given to a distinct class of materials, MAX phase that combines advantages of ceramic and metallic properties. Herein, Nb4AlC3 MAX phase is prepared by a solid-state mixing reaction and characterized morphologically and structurally by transmission and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, nitrogen-sorption, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochemical performance of Nb4AlC3 in terms of capacitance as well as for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is evaluated in different electrolytes. The specific capacitance Cs of 66.4, 55.0, and 46.0 F g-1 at 5 mV s-1 is determined for acidic, neutral and alkaline medium, respectively. Continuous cycling reveals high capacitance retention in three electrolyte media; moreover, increase of capacitance is observed in acidic and neutral media. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed a low charge transfer resistance of 64.76 Ω cm2 that resulted in better performance for HER in acidic medium (Tafel slope of 60 mV dec-1). In alkaline media, the charge storage value in the double layer is 360 mF cm-2 (0.7 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode) and the best ORR performance of the Nb4AlC3 is achieved in this medium (Tafel slope of 126 mV dec-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriene Gandara
- Technological Institute of Aviation, Space Science and Technology Graduate Program, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, São José dos Campos, 50 e 12228-615, Brazil
| | - Dušan Mladenović
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Physical Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, 11158, Serbia
| | - Marta de Jesus Oliveira Martins
- Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials, Laboratory for Physics of Materials and Emerging Technologies, Chemical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, 1049-001, Portugal
| | - Lazar Rakocevic
- Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials, Laboratory for Physics of Materials and Emerging Technologies, Chemical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, 1049-001, Portugal
- Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Department of Atomic Physics, 12-14 Mike Petrovića Street, Belgrade, 11351, Serbia
| | - João Marcos Kruszynski de Assis
- Institute of Aeronautics and Space, Materials Division, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, São José dos Campos, 50 e 12228-904, Brazil
| | - Biljana Šljukić
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Physical Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, 11158, Serbia
- Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials, Laboratory for Physics of Materials and Emerging Technologies, Chemical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, 1049-001, Portugal
| | - Emerson Sarmento Gonçalves
- Technological Institute of Aviation, Space Science and Technology Graduate Program, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, São José dos Campos, 50 e 12228-615, Brazil
- Institute of Aeronautics and Space, Materials Division, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, São José dos Campos, 50 e 12228-904, Brazil
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Roschger M, Wolf S, Billiani A, Mayer K, Hren M, Gorgieva S, Genorio B, Hacker V. Study on Commercially Available Membranes for Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:20845-20857. [PMID: 37332806 PMCID: PMC10269243 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
This study provides a comparison of different commercially available low-cost anion exchange membranes (AEMs), a microporous separator, a cation exchange membrane (CEM), and an anionic-treated CEM for their application in the liquid-feed alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell (ADEFC). Moreover, the effect on performance was evaluated taking two different modes of operation for the ADEFC, with AEM or CEM, into consideration. The membranes were compared with respect to their physical and chemical properties, such as thermal and chemical stability, ion-exchange capacity, ionic conductivity, and ethanol permeability. The influence of these factors on performance and resistance was determined by means of polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) measurements in the ADEFC. In addition, the influence of two different commercial ionomers on the structure and transport properties of the catalyst layer and on the performance were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy, single cell tests, and EIS. The applicability barriers of the membranes were pointed out, and the ideal combinations of membrane and ionomer for the liquid-feed ADEFC achieved power densities of approximately 80 mW cm-2 at 80 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Roschger
- Institute
of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Sigrid Wolf
- Institute
of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Billiani
- Institute
of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Kurt Mayer
- Institute
of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Maša Hren
- Faculty
of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Maribor, Smetanova Ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Selestina Gorgieva
- Faculty
of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Maribor, Smetanova Ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Boštjan Genorio
- Faculty
of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University
of Ljubljana, Večna
Pot 113, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Viktor Hacker
- Institute
of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/C, 8010 Graz, Austria
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Roschger M, Wolf S, Mayer K, Billiani A, Genorio B, Gorgieva S, Hacker V. Influence of the electrocatalyst layer thickness on alkaline DEFC performance. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS 2023; 7:1093-1106. [PMID: 36818600 PMCID: PMC9926948 DOI: 10.1039/d2se01729f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Determining the optimum layer thickness, for the anode and cathode, is of utmost importance for minimizing the costs of the alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) without lowering the electrochemical performance. In this study, the influence of layer thickness on the performance of the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an alkaline medium and resistance was investigated. The prepared gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) were fully characterized, with scanning electron microscopy to determine the layer thickness and electrochemically in half-cell configuration. Cyclic voltammetry and polarization curve measurements were used to determine the oxidation and reduction processes of the metals, the electrochemical active surface area, and the activity towards the ORR and EOR. It was demonstrated that realistic reaction conditions can be achieved with simple and fast half-cell GDE measurements. Single cell measurements were conducted to evaluate the influence of factors, such as membrane or ethanol crossover. In addition, electrochemical impedance spectra investigation was performed to identify the effect of layer thickness on resistance. This successfully demonstrated that the optimal layer thicknesses and high maximum power density values (120 mW cm-2) were achieved with the Pt-free catalysts and membranes used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Roschger
- Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse 25/C 8010 Graz Austria
| | - Sigrid Wolf
- Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse 25/C 8010 Graz Austria
| | - Kurt Mayer
- Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse 25/C 8010 Graz Austria
| | - Andreas Billiani
- Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse 25/C 8010 Graz Austria
| | - Boštjan Genorio
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana Večna pot 113 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Selestina Gorgieva
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor Smetanova ulica 17 2000 Maribor Slovenia
| | - Viktor Hacker
- Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse 25/C 8010 Graz Austria
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Souza FM, Pinheiro VS, Gentil TC, Lucchetti LE, Silva J, L.M.G. Santos M, De Oliveira I, Dourado WM, Amaral-Labat G, Okamoto S, Santos MC. Alkaline direct liquid fuel cells: Advances, challenges and perspectives. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2022.116712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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Determination of the electrochemically active surface area by CO and hydrogen of PtSnRuTa/C-based electrocatalysts and their relationship with catalytic activity against alcohol oxidation. CHEMICAL PAPERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11696-022-02191-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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El Attar A, Chemchoub S, Diallo Kalan M, Oularbi L, El Rhazi M. Designing New Material Based on Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Cu(OH)2–Cu2O/Polypyrrole Catalyst for Ethanol Oxidation in Alkaline Medium. Front Chem 2022; 9:805654. [PMID: 35186892 PMCID: PMC8854777 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.805654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, copper(II) hydroxide (Cu(OH)2) and copper oxide (Cu2O) nanostructures are deposited on functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polypyrrole to report an efficient electrocatalyst for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium. In the first step, the deposition of functionalized multi-walled nanotubes of carbon (F-MWCNTs) on the electrode surface was carried out using drop casting mode followed by the electrodeposition of polypyrrole (PPy) and copper nanoparticles (Cu-Nps) using galvanostatic mode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were performed in order to study the morphology and the structure of the elaborated catalysts. Electrochemical characterization conducted by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the introduction of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes enhances the electric properties of the nanocomposites and offers a large active surface area. The prepared electrocatalyst was then tested in a solution of 0.1 M NaOH containing 0.2 M of ethanol showing high performance (7 mA cm−2 at 0.85 V vs Ag/AgCl) and good stability (over 1800 s) toward ethanol oxidation.
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PdAg/C Electrocatalysts Synthesized by Thermal Decomposition of Polymeric Precursors Improve Catalytic Activity for Ethanol Oxidation Reaction. Catalysts 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/catal12010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An efficient ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) is required to enhance energy production in alcohol-based fuel cells. The use of bimetallic catalysts promises decreasing reliance on platinum group metal (PGM) electrocatalysts by minimizing the use of these expensive materials in the overall electrocatalyst composition. In this article, an alternative method of bimetallic electrocatalyst synthesis based on the use of polymeric precursors is explored. PdAg/C electrocatalysts were synthesized by thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors and used as the anode electrocatalyst for EOR. Different compositions, including pristine Pd/C and Ag/C, as well as bimetallic Pd80Ag20/C, and Pd60Ag40/C electrocatalysts, were evaluated. Synthesized catalysts were characterized, and electrochemical activity evaluated. X-ray diffraction showed a notable change at diffraction peak values for Pd80Ag20/C and Pd60Ag40/C electrocatalysts, suggesting alloying (solid solution) and smaller crystallite sizes for Pd60Ag40/C. In a thermogravimetric analysis, the electrocatalyst Pd60Ag40/C presented changes in the profile of the curves compared to the other electrocatalysts. In the cyclic voltammetry results for EOR in alkaline medium, Pd60Ag40/C presented a more negative onset potential, a higher current density at the oxidation peak, and a larger electrically active area. Chronoamperometry tests indicated a lower poisoning rate for Pd60Ag40/C, a fact also observed in the CO-stripping voltammetry analysis due to its low onset potential. As the best performing electrocatalyst, Pd60Ag40/C has a lower mass of Pd (a noble and expensive metal) in its composition. It can be inferred that this bimetallic composition can contribute to decreasing the amount of Pd required while increasing the fuel cell performance and expected life. PdAg-type electrocatalysts can provide an economically feasible alternative to pure PGM-electrocatalysts for use as the anode in EOR in fuel cells.
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Komatsu JS, Souza FM, Pinheiro VS, Böhnstedt P, de Pape PW, Mandelli D, Santos MC, Carvalho WA. Cotton fabric derived αFe magnetic porous carbon as electrocatalyst for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell. Catal Today 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Fast and Inexpensive Synthesis of Multilayer Graphene Used as Pd Support in Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell Anode. Electrocatalysis (N Y) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12678-021-00685-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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El Attar A, Oularbi L, Chemchoub S, El Rhazi M. Effect of electrochemical activation on the performance and stability of hybrid (PPy/Cu2O nanodendrites) for efficient ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2021.115042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Xie A, Zhang Q, He H, Peng C. Facile synthesis of PdAg nanocatalysts on CeO 2/C composite supports as high-performance catalysts toward alkaline ethanol electro-oxidation. NEW J CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0nj03757e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PdAg nanocatalysts on CeO2/C supports were prepared using a facile, environment-friendly method and exhibited superior performance for ethanol electro-oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayong Xie
- College of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huaqiao University
- Xiamen 361021
- P. R. China
| | - Qing Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huaqiao University
- Xiamen 361021
- P. R. China
| | - Huiqing He
- College of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huaqiao University
- Xiamen 361021
- P. R. China
| | - Cheng Peng
- College of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huaqiao University
- Xiamen 361021
- P. R. China
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