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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Manufacturing Of Carbon-Based Hybrid Nanocomposites With Engineered Functionalities Via Laser Ablation Synthesis In Solution (Lasis) Techniques, Erick Leonardo Ribeiro
Manufacturing Of Carbon-Based Hybrid Nanocomposites With Engineered Functionalities Via Laser Ablation Synthesis In Solution (Lasis) Techniques, Erick Leonardo Ribeiro
Doctoral Dissertations
Carbon-based composite materials have long been fabricated and extensively used in our daily lives. In the past decades, with rapid development of nanotechnology, these class of material have gained even more attention owing to their outstanding properties which directly results in their prospects to revolutionize technological development in many fields, ranging from medicine to electronics. Nevertheless, for certain applications, including electrochemical energy storage/conversion devices, the chemically inert nature of these materials creates obstacles and thus requires their coupling with other active species. This thesis explores the use of Laser Ablation Synthesis in Solution (LASiS) in tailoring promising strategies and pathways …
A Characterization Study On Catalyst Layers In Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Luyue Li
A Characterization Study On Catalyst Layers In Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Luyue Li
Doctoral Dissertations
This thesis describes the work for the catalyst layer (CL) characterization study of proton exchange membranes (PEM) for fuel cells. In particular, both the structure and performance of catalyst layers with alternative ionomers were studied. Structure wise, the morphology, surface area and pore size distribution studies were accomplished with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption processed through Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) theory. Water uptake isotherms of the CLs have been developed under well controlled relative humidity (RH) levels. The performance characterization focuses on polarization study, catalyst layer proton conductivity measurement and estimation of the …
Vapor Synthesis And Thermal Evolution Of Supportless, Metal Nanotubes And Application As Electrocatalysts, Robert William Atkinson
Vapor Synthesis And Thermal Evolution Of Supportless, Metal Nanotubes And Application As Electrocatalysts, Robert William Atkinson
Doctoral Dissertations
One of the major limitations of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is the high cost and poor durability of the currently preferred catalyst design, small Pt nanoparticles supported on high surface area carbon (Pt/C). Unsupported, high-aspect ratio nanostructured catalysts, or extended surface catalysts, are a promising paradigm as electrocatalysts for a number of electrochemical reactions. These extended surface catalysts generally exhibit higher specific activities compared to their carbon-supported nanoparticle counterparts that have been ascribed to their unique electronic, surface and structural properties. Extended surface catalysts frequently maintain enhanced durability over supported catalysts during fuel cell operation because they are …
Ab Initio Studies Of Proton Transport In Proton Exchange Membranes, Jeffrey Keith Clark
Ab Initio Studies Of Proton Transport In Proton Exchange Membranes, Jeffrey Keith Clark
Doctoral Dissertations
A molecular-level understanding of the factors that contribute to transport properties of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for fuel cell applications is needed to aid in the development of superior membrane materials. Ab initio electronic structure calculations were undertaken on various PEM ionomer fragments to explore the effects of local hydration, side chain connectivity, protogenic group separation, and specific side chain chemistry on proton dissociation and transfer at low hydration. Cooperative interactions between both intra- and inter-molecular acidic groups and hydrogen bond connectivity were found to enhance proton dissociation at very low degrees of hydration. The energetics associated with proton transfer …