Studies on state and structure of noble metals in electrocatalyst made by coprecipitation method

The electrocatalysts of Pt/C, PtRu/C and Ru/C were prepared by the impregnation method. The facet characterization, the dispersion and the particle size for the catalysts were determined by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was also used to analyze the state and the valency of the noble metals. The results show that the particle size was in nanometer range and the binary metals have come into being an alloy. The platinum in the catalysts existed in zero valency. The valency of the ruthenium on the surface is different from that in the body, while the ruthenium on the surface existed in oxide-form. PtRu/C and Pt/C are of good activity to the electrooxidation of hydrogen except Ru/C. PtRu/C is more tolerant of CO than Pt/C, and CO is only adsorbed on Pt.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes supported Pt-Fe cathodic catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes supported Pt-Fe cathodic catalyst shows higher specific activity towards oxygen reduction reaction as compared to Pt/MWNTs when employed as cathodic catalyst in direct methanol fuel cell.

Synthesis and gas permeability of novel fluorinated poly(phenylene-co-naphthalimide)s

A new class of high-performance polymers [poly(phenylene-co-naphthalimide)s] was prepared through the Ni(0) catalytic coupling of N-(4-chloro-2-trifluromethylphenyl)-5-chloro-1,8-naphthalimide and 2,5-dichlorobenzophenone. The resulting copolymers exhibited high molecular weights (high inherent viscosities) and a combination of desirable properties such as good solubility in dipolar aprotic solvents, film-forming capability, and mechanical properties. The glass-transition temperatures of the copolymers ranged from 320 to 403 degrees C and increased as the content of the naphthalimide moiety increased. Tough polymer films, obtained via casting from N-methylpyrrolidone solutions, had tensile strengths of 64-107 MPa and tensile moduli of 3.4-4.7 GPa. The gas permeability coefficients of the copolymers were measured for H-2, CO2, O-2, CH4, and N-2. They showed oxygen permeability coefficients and permeability selectivity of oxygen to nitrogen (permeability coefficient for O-2/permeability coefficient for N-2) in the ranges of 1.39-4.31 and 4.92-5.38 barrer, respectively.

Synthesis and characterization of novel sulfonated polyimides from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-naphthyl-2,7-disulfonic acid

A novel sulfonated diamine monomer, 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-naphthyl-2,7-disulfonic acid (BAPNDS), was synthesized. A series of sulfonated polyimide copolymers were prepared from BAPNDS, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTDA) and nonsulfonated diamine 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA). Flexible, transparent, and mechanically strong membranes were obtained. The membranes displayed slightly anisotropic membrane swelling. The dimensional change in thickness direction was larger than that in planar. The novel SPI membranes showed higher conductivity, which was comparable or even higher than Nafion 117. Membranes exhibited methanol permeability from 0.24 x 10(-6) to 0.80 X 10(-6) cm(2)/s at room temperature, which was much lower than that of Nafion (2 x 10-6 CM2/s). The copolymers were thermally stable up to 340 degrees C. These preliminary results have proved its potential availability as proton-exchange membrane for PEMFCs or DMFCs.

质子交换膜燃料电池在无缆水下机器人上的应用研究

质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)作为一种新兴的能源,在汽车和航天器上已经获得成功的应用,本文针对水下环境和PEMFC的特点,对PEMFC在无缆水下机器人(UUV)上试验应用的关键技术进行讨论.

Influence of electrode structure on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) consisting of multi-layer electrodes provide higher performance than those with the traditional electrode. The new electrode structure includes a hydrophilic thin film and a traditional catalyst layer. A decal transfer method was used to apply the thin film to the Nafion(R) membrane. Results show that the performance of a cell with the hydrophilic thin film is obviously enhanced. A cell with the optimal thin film electrode structure operating at I M CH3OH, 2 atm oxygen and 90degreesC yields a current density of 100 mA/cm(2) at 0.53 V cell voltage. The peak power density is 120 mW/cm(2). The performance stability of a cell in a short-term life operation was also increased when the hydrophilic thin film was employed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical performance of mixed ionic-electronic conducting oxides as anodes for solid oxide fuel cell

Mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) oxides, SrFeCo0.5Ox, SrCo0.8Fe0.2O3-delta and La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Co0.2O3-delta have been synthesized and prepared on yttria-stabilized zirconia as anodes for solid oxide fuel cells. Power output measurements show that the anodes composed of such kinds of oxides exhibit modest electrochemical activities to both H-2 and CH4 fuels, giving maximum power densities of around 0.1 W/cm(2) at 950 degrees C. Polarization and AC impedance measurements found that large activation overpotentials and ohmic resistance drops were the main causes for the relative inferior performance to the Ni-YSZ anode. While interlayered with an Ni-YSZ anode, a significant improvement in the electrochemical performance was observed. in particular, for the SrFeCo0.5Ox oxide interlayered Ni-YSZ anode, the maximum power output reaches 0.25 W/cm2 on CH,, exceeding those of both SrFeCo0.5Ox and the Ni-YSZ, as anodes alone. A synergetic effect of SrFeCo0.5Ox and the Ni-YSZ has been observed. Future work is needed to examine the long-term stability of MIEC oxide electrodes under a very reducing environment. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Cobalt boride catalysts for hydrogen generation from alkaline NaBH4 solution

Cobalt boride precursors were synthesized via chemical reaction of aqueous sodium borohydride with cobalt chloride, and followed by heat-treating at various temperatures. The as-prepared Co-B catalysts were characterized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption and catalytic activity test; and were adopted to help accelerating hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4 alkaline solution. The Co-B catalyst treated at 500 degrees C exhibits the best catalytic activity, and achieves an average H, generation rate of 2970 ml/min/g, which may give a successive H, supply for a 481 W proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) at 100% H-2 utilization. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Benzene electro-oxidation in a PEMFC for phenol and electricity cogeneration

In the present investigation, the electrochemically-assisted oxidation of benzene in a H-2-O-2 proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) for electricity and phenol cogeneration is studied. Experiments were carried out in a PEMFC electrochemical reactor using Pd black as cathode electrocatalyst at 60 and 80 degrees C, respectively and 1 atm back pressure. Indeed, it was found that the only product detected under the examined experimental conditions was phenol. The online GC product analysis revealed that it is impossible to produce phenol when the fuel cell circuit is open (I = 0) under all the examined experimental conditions. When the fuel cell circuit was closed, however, the phenol yield was found to follow a volcano-type dependence on the cur-rent of the external circuit. It was found that the maximum phenol yield was 0.35% at 100 mA/cm(2) at 80 degrees C. At the same time, the PEMFC performance was also investigated during the phenol generation process. Furthermore, experiments with the rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE) technique showed that the intermediate oxidation product, i.e. H2O2 existed during the oxygen electro-reduction process. The cyclic voltammograms showed that benzene was strongly adsorbed on the Pd surface, leading to a degradation of the PEMFC performance. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

短时微重力条件下燃料电池性能实验研究

开展了不同重力情况下燃料电池性能的实验研究.利用微重力落塔,对常重力和微重力条件下燃料电池发电时其内部的两相流动开展了可视化现场观测.对重力因素对燃料电池内部传质过程的影响进行了分析和讨论.实验结果表明:当电流密度较大时,在微重力环境中燃料电池性能较常重力环境中的有较明显下降.由于微重力条件下浮升力的消失导致气体不能及时从流道中排出,进而对直接甲醇燃料电池内的传质过程产生负面影响.

直接甲醇燃料电池耐甲醇氧还原电催化剂的研究

燃料电池以其高效、环境友好的发电方式，被誉为21世纪的能源技术。其中，直接甲醇燃料电池（DMFC）更以燃料甲醇来源丰富，价格低廉，储存、携带方便而成为近年的研究热点。目前DNDFC存在的一个主要问题是"甲醇透过"，即甲醇从阳极穿过固体电解质膜进入到阴极，而阴极催化剂一般是Pt/C，因此在阴极会同时发生甲醇氧化和氧还原，严重降低了电池的库仑效率和电压效率。此夕卜甲醇及其氧化中间产物还会使P口C中毒。虽然试验了一些低甲醇透过率的电解质膜，但仍无法完全消除甲醇透过。因此研制对氧还原催化活性高而对甲醇氧化没有活性，即耐甲醇的氧还原电催化剂是一个十分重要的课题。本论文主要从催化剂的组成、热处理、制备方法和载体等方面进行了相关研究，此外，还开展了生物燃料电池阴极电催化剂的研究。具体结果如下：1．热处理对电催化剂性能的影响（1）首次研究了炭载铂（Pt/C）对氧还原和甲醇氧化的催化活性与热处理温度的关系。发现P"C的催化活性随热处理温度的升高而降低，其原因是热处理使R／C中Pt的结晶度提高、粒径变大、表面浓度降低。但是，热处理使PUC催化甲醇氧化活性的降低程度远大于催化氧还原活性的降低程度。该研究提供了一种有效改善P口C催化剂耐甲醇性能的简便方法。（2）研究了炭载四狡基酞著钻（CoPcTc／C）和炭载四苯基铁叶琳（FeTPP／C）对氧还原和甲醇氧化的催化活性与热处理温度的关系。发现800℃热处理的CoPcTc／C对氧还原的催化活性最高；XPS和XRD分析表明，其活性位主要为含CoN4结构的物质。FeTPP／C催化剂与CoPcTc／C类似，700℃热处理的对氧还原催化活性最高。二者对甲醇氧化都没有活性。（3）首次研究了炭载四苯基铁叶琳一铂（FeTPP-Pt/C）复合催化剂对氧还原和甲醇氧化的催化活性与热处理温度的关系。发现热处理使FeTPP-Pt/C对氧还原的催化活性提高，并且优于相应P灯C，这是因为复合催化剂对氧还原的催化活性来源于FeTPP和Pt两部分。另外，FeTPP-Pt／C对甲醇氧化的催化活性随热处理温度的升高而降低，降低幅度大于相应Pt/C，这是因为在复合催化剂中，FeTPP在Pt/C表面的分散会降低甲醇与R的接触。700℃热处理的FeTPP-Pt/C对氧还原的催化活性最高，并且耐甲醇能力很强，非常适合作为DMFC阴极电催化剂。（4）首次研究了FeTPP-TiO2/C复合催化剂对氧还原的催化活性与热处理温度的关系。发现70。℃热处理的FeTPP-TiO2／C对氧还原的催化活性最高，并且稳定性好；复合催化剂提高了氧还原的电子转移数。这是因为TIOZ能够将FeTPP催化氧还原过程中产生的H2O2及时分解为O2和H2O，再重新被FeTPP还原。TIOZ的加入有望改善过渡金属大环化合物催化剂的长程稳定性。此夕卜该复合催化剂对甲醇氧化没有活性。2．制备方法对电催化剂性能的影响（1）首次同时研究了Pt/C对氧还原和甲醇氧化的催化性能，讨论了影响Pt/C催化活性的主要因素。XRD、XPS和TEM分析表明，无定型Pt含量高的Pt/C对氧还原的催化活性较高，表面氧化物含量高的Pt/C对甲醇氧化的催化活性较高。为制备耐甲醇能力强、催化氧还原活性高的Pt/C催化剂提供了理论参考。（2）比较了平衡吸附法和强制沉积法制备的FeTPP-Pt/C催化剂的性能，发现前者对氧还原和甲醇氧化的催化活性都高于后者，这是因为由强制吸附法制备的复合催化剂，FeTPP将一部分Pt覆盖，使其无法发挥活性。3．活性炭载体对Pt/C电催化剂性能的影响利用多种分析手段，系统比较了VulcanXC-72炭和上海松木炭的物理、化学性质对Pt/C电催化剂性能的影响。发现孔径适当、电导率高、灰分和表面含氧基团较少的活性炭作载体时，制得的P口C催化剂的性能较好。为PEMFC中电催化剂载体的选择提供了一些理论依据。4．生物燃料电池阴极电催化剂的研究首次制备了炭载微过氧化物酶-11（MP-11／C）电催化剂，通过循环伏安法、线性扫描法和旋转圆盘电极技术研究发现，MP-11／C对O2还原具有较高的催化活性，并且稳定性好，为生物燃料电池的研制提供了一种较好的酶固定方法。

The effect of methanol and ethanol cross-over on the performance of PtRu/C-based anode DAFCs

In the present work, the cross-over rates of methanol and ethanol, respectively, through Nafion(R)-115 membranes at different temperatures and different concentrations have been measured and compared. The changes of Nafion(R)-115 membrane porosity in the presence of methanol or ethanol aqueous solutions were also determined by weighing vacuum-dried and alcohol solution-equilibrated membranes. The techniques of anode polarization and adsorption stripping voltarnmetry were applied to compare the electrochemical activity and adsorption ability, respectively. To investigate the consequences of methanol and ethanol permeation from the anode to the cathode on the performance of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs), single DAFC tests, with methanol or ethanol as the fuel, have been carried out and the corresponding anode and cathode polarizations versus dynamic hydrogen electrode (DHE) were also performed. The effect of alcohol concentration on the performance of PtRu/C anode-based DAFCs was investigated.

An improved palladium-based DMFCs cathode catalyst

A novel carbon-supported palladium-rich Pd3Pt1/C catalyst prepared by a modified polyol process showed a better cell performance than Pt/C in direct methanol fuel cells, which may be attributed to palladium's inactivity to methanol electro-oxidation while exhibiting good performance to oxygen reduction reaction.

Preparation of highly active Pt/C cathode electrocatalysts for DMFCs by an improved aqueous impregnation method

An improved aqueous impregnation method was used to prepare 40 wt% Pt/C electrocatalysts. TEM analysis of the samples showed that the Pt particles impregnated for a short time have a very narrow size distribution in the range of 1-4 nm with an average size of 2.6 nm. UV-vis spectroscopy measurements verified that the redox reaction between PtCl62- and formaldehyde took place with a slow rate at ambient temperature via a two-step reaction path, where PtCl42- serves as an intermediate. The use of the short-time-impregnated 40 wt% Pt/C as cathode electrocatalysts in direct methanol fuel cells yields better performance than that of commercial 40 wt% Pt/C electrocatalyst. Experimental evidence provides clues for the fundamental understanding of elementary steps of the redox reactions, which helps in guiding the design and preparation of highly dispersed Pt catalyst for fuel cells.