Direcionamentos da tecnologia industrial de células a combustível de óxidos sólidos

This manuscript shows an overview of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology based on industrial developments. The information presented has been collected mostly at conferences that the authors attended. It is observed that several companies have been pursuing the development of the SOFC technology. Significant advances in stability and power density have raised the economic interest in this technology recently. It is revealed that the SOFC materials are essentially the same ones that have been used in the past decades, and that the two most important designs of pre-commercial SOFC prototypes are the tubular and planar ones.

Comportamento eletroquímico da N-nitrosotiazolidina ácido carboxílico sobre eletrodos de ouro e mercúrio

The electrochemical behavior of N-nitrosothiazolidine carboxylic acid (NTAC) on gold and hanging mercury electrodes, using the cyclic and square wave voltammetries, was studied. Whereas NTAC suffer reduction in a single step on the mercury electrode, two peaks appears on the cyclic voltammograms on the gold electrode, one anodic peak overlaying the gold oxide process at 1.2 V and one cathodic peak at -0.41 V vs Ag/AgCl, KCl 3.0 mol L-1. The cathodic peak depends on the previous oxidation of NTAC at the electrode surface, presents irreversible and adsorption controlled characteristics and it is suitable for quantitative purposes.

Estudo da degradação de ranitidina via H2O2 eletrogerado/Fenton em um reator eletroquímico com eletrodos de difusão gasosa

The study of the electrochemical degradation of the ranitidine was developed using an electrochemical reactor with a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) as cathode. The electrolysis experiments was performed at constant current (1 < A < 10) and flow rate of 200 L h-1. The process of drug degradation, chemical/electrochemical and electro-Fenton ways, using electrochemical reactor showed best efficiency at current values of > 4 A. The process reached a production of 630 mg L-1 of the H2O2 at 7 A. The ranitidine concentrations was reduced in 99.9% (HPLC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced in 86.7% by electro-Fenton.

Óxidos do tipo perovskita para reação de redução de no com CO

In this work, the perovskite-type oxides LaNiO3, LaMnO3, La0,7Sr0,3NiO3 and La0,7Sr0,3MnO3 were prepared by co-precipitation and tested in the NO reduction with CO at 400 and 500 ºC for 10 h. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen, nitrogen adsorption and chemical analysis. The nonstoichiometric oxygen was quantified by temperature programmed reduction, and the catalytic tests showed that the La0,7Sr0,3MnO3 catalyst presented the higher performance for the reduction reaction of NO with CO. The partial substitution of lanthanum by strontium increased the NO conversion and the N2 yield.

Hidrogenação eletrocatalítica de substratos orgânicos utilizando eletrodos modificados poliméricos contendo partículas de Ni/Pd e Ni/Pt

Novel modified electrodes bearing dispersed Pd and Pt particles have been prepared from poly (allyl ether of the p-benzenesulfonic acid) films with incorporated nickel particles making use of galvanic displacement reactions. The SEM analysis of the new modified electrodes revealed efficient deposition of Pd but weak up-take of Pt. Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of several classes of organic substrates were carried out using the MEs Ni, Ni/Pd and Ni/Pt. The Ni/Pd ME showed to be the best of them for the hydrogenation of double, triple and carbonyl bonds. The complete hydrogenation of the aromatic rings for the well-adsorbed substrates acetophenone and benzophenone is noteworthy.

Otimizaçâo das condições de preparação de eletrodos à base de carbono cerâmico utilizando-se planejamento fatorial

Different parameters of carbon ceramic electrodes (CCE) preparation, such as type of precursor, carbon material, catalyst amount, among others, significantly influence the morphological properties and consequently their electrochemical responses. This paper describes a 2³ factorial design (2 factors and 3 levels with central point replicates), which the factors analyzed were catalyst amount (HCl 12 mol L-1), graphite/precursor ratio, and precursor type (TEOS - tetraethoxysilane and MTMOS - methyltrimetoxysilane). The design resulted in a significant third order interaction for peak current values (Ipa) and a second order interaction for potential difference (ΔE), between thefactors studied, which could not be observed when using an univariated study.

Reaproveitamento de óxidos de manganês de pilhas descartadas para eletrocatálise da reação de redução de oxigênio em meio básico

The oxygen reduction reaction was studied in alkaline media using manganese oxides obtained from spent batteries as electrocatalysts. Three processes were used to recover manganese oxides from spent batteries. The particles obtained were in the range from 8 to 11 nm. The electrochemical experiments indicated a good electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction using the different samples and showing approximately a direct transference of 4 electrons during the process. Even though all the processes were efficient, the best result was observed for the prepared sample using reactants of low cost.

Desenvolvimento de conjunto membrana-eletrodos para célula a combustível de metanol direto passiva

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) without external pumps or other ancillary devices for fuel and oxidant supply are known as passive DMFCs and are potential candidates to replace lithium-ion batteries in powering portable electronic devices. This paper presents the results obtained from a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) specifically designed for passive DMFCs. Appropriated electrocatalysts were prepared and the effect of their loadings was investigated. Two types of gas diffusion layers (GDL) were also tested. The influence of the methanol concentration was analyzed in each case. The best MEA performance presented a maximum power density of 11.94 mW cm-2.

Reator de UV-Ozônio com lâmpada a vapor de mercúrio a alta pressão modificada para tratamento superficial de óxidos transparentes condutivos utilizados em dispositivos poliméricos eletroluminescentes

An UV-Ozone reactor was developed with an ignition tube extracted into HID mercury lamp used to irradiation on zinc oxide (ZnO) and fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) films for PLEDs devices. Different exposures times were used. In contact angle measurements revealed better results for ZnO and FTO by 15 and 5 min, respectively. In Diffuse Reflectance Infra-red Fourier Transformed (DRIFT) spectroscopy allowed the observation of water, hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide adsorbed on the untreated TCO surfaces. After the UV-Ozone treatment the contaminants were significantly reduced or eliminated and the PLEDs devices decreased threshold voltages in comparison with respectively untreated TCOs.

Eletrodos modificados por hidróxido de níquel: um estudo de revisão sobre suas propriedades estruturais e eletroquímicas visando suas aplicações em eletrocatálise, eletrocromismo e baterias secundárias

The present review paper describes the main features of nickel hydroxide modified electrodes covering its structural and electrochemical behavior and the newest advances promoted by nanostructured architectures. Important aspects such as synthetic procedures and characterization techniques such as X-Ray diffraction, Raman and Infrared spectroscopy, Electronic Microscopy and many others are detailed herein. The most important aspect concerning nickel hydroxide is related to its great versatility covering different fields in electrochemical-based devices such as batteries, electrocatalytic systems and electrochromic electrodes, the fundamental issues of these devices are also commented. Finally, some of the newest advances achieved in each field by the incorporation of nanomaterials will be shown.

Potencialidades do uso de ultrassom na determinação do pesticida carbaril empregando eletrodos de diamante

The potentiality of the use of ultrasound radiation in association with a boron-doped diamond electrode was evaluated on the voltammetric determination of the pesticide carbaryl. Improvements in the sensitivity, limit of detection and reproducibility of the measurements were observed due to both, the enhancement of mass transport and the cleaning of the electrode surface provided by ultrasound. Satisfactory recovery levels for carbaryl in pure water (96-98%) and pineapple juice (89-92%) for quiescent and sonovoltammetric methodologies were obtained. These methodologies can be alternative tools for the analyses of pesticides in fruit samples, mainly the insonated condition that improve the analytical performance and dispense intermediary cleanings of the electrode surface.

Eletrodos positivos tubulares para baterias chumbo ácidas produzidas com material ativo nanométrico

Conventional stationary lead acid batteries positive tubular plates have a specific capacity of about 120 Ah/kg. This value represents an active material utilization coefficient of 50%. The production of these plates includes some initial processes to generate the active PbO2 from a precursor material. In the present work it will be presented a proper and novel methodology to assemble tubular plates directely with nanometric powder of PbO2 particles. The utilization coefficient of these plates was about 80%, and they were able to endure more than 130 severe duty cycles. This high utilization coefficient is a higly desirable feature for electric vehicles batteries.

Utilização de eletrodos sólidos de amálgama para a determinação analítica de compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos

This review reports the use of solid amalgam electrodes in the electroanalytical determination of organic and inorganic compounds. The different types of amalgam electrodes are presented, and attention is paid to solid amalgam electrode, and here is presented details about the pre-treatment for activation and renovation and also possible modifications in its surface. The wide potential range, higher signal-to-noise ratio, mechanical stability enabling their application in flowing systems, and principally their resistance toward passivation, indicate that the solid amalgam electrodes are environmentally friendly alternatives to mercury electrodes, without loss in the sensitivity and reproducibility in voltammetric responses.

Degradação fotoeletroquímica do herbicida bentazona sobre eletrodos de carbono modificados por TiO2

This work involved the study of degradation of the herbicide bentazone in aqueous solution by different routes, in order to search a method that generates safe products to the environment. It was tested electrochemical polarization methods involving positive and negative potential, irradiation with UV light and deposition of TiO2 on the electrode surface, seeking a catalytic effect. After different times of degradation, aliquots were removed and the scan of molecular absorption spectrum of UV-Vis was performed. From the spectra decay of bentazone, the kinetics of different processes was accompanied and the rate constants were determined.

Desenvolvimento de tecnologia para confecção de eletrodos e conjuntos eletrodo-membrana-eletrodo (MEA) por impressão à tela para aplicação em módulos de potência de células PEMFC

Significant functions in the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) rely on Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs), such as control the water balance in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), allow suitable gas permeability and porosity, etc. Aware of the GDL importance in the cell performance and its great demand in scale-up projects, the fuel cell research group at Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN) has developed a Sieve Printing method (innovative in Brazil) as a strategic solution for producing GDL and electrodes used in high power PEMFC stacks. The method has shown to be adequate to fabricate low cost electrodes, GDLs of different dimensions and to produce any amount of MEAs for power stacks.