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Full-Text Articles in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Augmented Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation At A Co-Electrodeposited Pd/Au Nanoparticle Catalyst, Yaser M. Asal, Ahmad M. Mohammad, Sayed S. Abd El Rehim, Islam M. Al-Akraa Jun 2022

Augmented Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation At A Co-Electrodeposited Pd/Au Nanoparticle Catalyst, Yaser M. Asal, Ahmad M. Mohammad, Sayed S. Abd El Rehim, Islam M. Al-Akraa

Chemical Engineering

In this study, the formic acid electro-oxidation reaction (FAEOR) was catalyzed on a Pd-Au co-electrodeposited binary catalyst. The kinetics of FAEOR were intensively impacted by changing the Pd2+:Au3+ molar ratio in the deposition medium. The Pd1-Au1 catalyst (for which the Pd2+:Au3+ molar ratio was 1:1) acquired the highest activity with a peak current density for the direct FAEOR (Ip) of 4.14 mA cm−2 (ca. 13- times higher than that (ca. 0.33 mA cm−2) of the pristine Pd1-Au0 catalyst). It also retained the highest stability that was denoted in fulfilling ca. 0.292 mA cm−2 (ca. 19-times higher than 0.015 …


Surface Engineering Of Pt Surfaces With Au And Cobalt Oxide Nanostructures For Enhanced Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation, Yaser M. Asal, Islam M. Al-Akraa, Ahmad M. Mohammad May 2022

Surface Engineering Of Pt Surfaces With Au And Cobalt Oxide Nanostructures For Enhanced Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation, Yaser M. Asal, Islam M. Al-Akraa, Ahmad M. Mohammad

Chemical Engineering

This study aims to mitigate the CO poisoning of platinum (Pt) surfaces during formic acid electro-oxidation (FAEO), the essential anodic reaction in the direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). For this purpose, a glassy carbon (GC) electrode was amended sequentially with Pt (n-Pt), gold (n-Au), and cobalt oxide (n-CoOx) nanostructures. Fascinatingly, the ternary modified n-CoOx/n-Au/n-Pt/GC catalyst (for which n-Pt, n-Au, and n-CoOx were sequentially and respectively assembled onto the GC surface) exhibited a remarkable electrocatalytic enhancement toward FAEO, which surpassed ca. 53 times that of the Pt/GC catalyst. Additionally, it exhibited a much (ca. 18 times) higher stability after 3000 …


Effect Of Palladium Loading On Catalytic Properties Of Pd/Gce For The Electro-Oxidation Of Methanol, Formic Acid, And Ethylene Glycol, Islam M. Al-Akraa, Yaser M. Asal, Sohir A. Darwish, Rafik M. Fikry, Reem H. Mahmoud, Mohamed Hassan, Ahmad M. Mohammad Apr 2022

Effect Of Palladium Loading On Catalytic Properties Of Pd/Gce For The Electro-Oxidation Of Methanol, Formic Acid, And Ethylene Glycol, Islam M. Al-Akraa, Yaser M. Asal, Sohir A. Darwish, Rafik M. Fikry, Reem H. Mahmoud, Mohamed Hassan, Ahmad M. Mohammad

Chemical Engineering

This study investigates the influence of the catalyst (Palladium, Pd) mass that loaded onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) on the catalytic activity of methanol (MEO), formic acid (FAEO), and ethylene glycol (EGEO) electro-oxidation, the corresponding principal anodic reactions in the direct methanol (DMFCs), formic acid (DFAFCs), and ethylene glycol (DEGFCs) fuel cells, respectively. By increasing the Pd loading at 0.1 V, the Pd surface area increased from 0.55 cm2 (2 min Pd deposition) to 1.94 cm2 (25 min Pd deposition) which increased the peak currents (IP) of MEO (from 0.181 to 0.608 mA), FAEO (from 0.236 to …


A Competent Mwcnt-Grafted Mnox/Pt Nanoanode For The Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells, Islam M. Al-Akraa, Mamdouh M. Moutaz, Ahmad M. Mohammad, Yaser M. Asal Mar 2022

A Competent Mwcnt-Grafted Mnox/Pt Nanoanode For The Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells, Islam M. Al-Akraa, Mamdouh M. Moutaz, Ahmad M. Mohammad, Yaser M. Asal

Chemical Engineering

A novel “MnOx/Pt/MWCNT-GC” nanocatalyst is recommended for the electrooxidation of formic acid (EOFA), the principal anodic reaction in the direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). The sequential (layer-by-layer) protocol was employed to prepare the catalyst through the electrodeposition of Pt (nano-Pt) and manganese oxide (nano-MnOx) nanoparticles onto the surface of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode supported with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The nano-MnOx could successfully mediate the mechanism of EOFA by accelerating the charge transfer, “electronic effect”. On the other hand, MWCNTs could enhance the catalytic performance by changing the surface geometry that inhibited the adsorption of poisoning CO, which …


Synergistic Enhancement Of Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation On Ptxcuy Co-Electrodeposited Binary Catalysts, Yaser M. Asal, Ahmad M. Mohammad, Sayed S. Abd El Rehim, Islam M. Al-Akraa Feb 2022

Synergistic Enhancement Of Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation On Ptxcuy Co-Electrodeposited Binary Catalysts, Yaser M. Asal, Ahmad M. Mohammad, Sayed S. Abd El Rehim, Islam M. Al-Akraa

Chemical Engineering

A propitious binary catalyst composed of Pt and Cu which were electrodeposited simultaneously onto a glassy carbon (GC) substrate was recommended for the formic acid (FA) electro-oxidation reaction (FAOR); the principal anodic reaction in the direct FA fuel cells (DFAFCs). The simultaneous co-electrodeposition of Pt and Cu in the catalyst provided an opportunity to tune the geometric functionality of the catalyst to resist the adsorption of poisoning CO at the Pt surface that represented the major impediment for DFAFCs marketing. The catalytic activity of the catalyst toward FAOR was significantly influenced by the (Pt4+/Cu2+) molar ratio of the electrolyte during …


Optimization Of Nitrate Removal From Aqueous Solution By Acid-Activated Rice Straw Supported Nano Zero-Valent Iron Using Response Surface Methodology, Dalia A. Ali Eng, Nagwa Mahmoud Al-Mansi Prof, Mohamed Amin Sadek Prof., Ahmad Wafiq Abolnasr Dr. Aug 2020

Optimization Of Nitrate Removal From Aqueous Solution By Acid-Activated Rice Straw Supported Nano Zero-Valent Iron Using Response Surface Methodology, Dalia A. Ali Eng, Nagwa Mahmoud Al-Mansi Prof, Mohamed Amin Sadek Prof., Ahmad Wafiq Abolnasr Dr.

Chemical Engineering

Rice straw is one of the most common agricultural wastes due to its large production amounts. Energy valorization of rice straw is a technology used for nitrate removal as the produced ashes used to generate the adsorbent by means of an alkali dissolution followed by acid precipitation. The novelty of the proposed process is that the production of the nano zero-valent iron supported acid-activated rice straw (AARS-nZVI) adsorbent is carried out without the energy valorization process but, through an acid activation for rice straw followed by precipitation of nZVI particles on its surface. The new adsorbent synthesis, characterization and application …


Nanoscale Colocalization Of Fluorogenic Probes Reveals The Role Of Oxygen Vacancies In The Photocatalytic Activity Of Tungsten Oxide Nanowires, Meikun Shen, Tianben Ding, Steven T. Hartman, Fudong Wang, Christina Krucylak, Zheyu Wang, Che Tan, Bo Yin, Rohan Mishra, Matthew D. Lew, Bryce Sadtler Jan 2020

Nanoscale Colocalization Of Fluorogenic Probes Reveals The Role Of Oxygen Vacancies In The Photocatalytic Activity Of Tungsten Oxide Nanowires, Meikun Shen, Tianben Ding, Steven T. Hartman, Fudong Wang, Christina Krucylak, Zheyu Wang, Che Tan, Bo Yin, Rohan Mishra, Matthew D. Lew, Bryce Sadtler

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Defect engineering is a strategy that has been widely used to design active semiconductor photocatalysts. However, understanding the role of defects, such as oxygen vacancies, in controlling photocatalytic activity remains a challenge. Here, we report the use of chemically triggered fluorogenic probes to study the spatial distribution of active regions in individual tungsten oxide nanowires using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. The nanowires show significant heterogeneity along their lengths for the photocatalytic generation of hydroxyl radicals. Through quantitative, coordinate-based colocalization of multiple probe molecules activated by the same nanowires, we demonstrate that the nanoscale regions most active for the photocatalytic generation of …


Synergistic Interactions Of H2 And N2 With Molten Gallium In The Presence Of Plasma, Maria L. Carreon, Daniel F. Jaramillo-Cabanzo, Indira Chaudhuri, Madhu Menon, Mahendra K. Sunkara Dec 2017

Synergistic Interactions Of H2 And N2 With Molten Gallium In The Presence Of Plasma, Maria L. Carreon, Daniel F. Jaramillo-Cabanzo, Indira Chaudhuri, Madhu Menon, Mahendra K. Sunkara

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The present study examines the interaction of hydrogen and nitrogen plasmas with gallium in an effort to gain insights into the mechanisms behind the synergetic effect of plasma and a catalytic metal. Absorption/desorption experiments were performed, accompanied by theoretical-computational calculations. Experiments were carried out in a plasma-enhanced, Ga-packed, batch reactor and entailed monitoring the change in pressure at different temperatures. The results indicated a rapid adsorption/dissolution of the gas into the molten metal when gallium was exposed to plasma, even at a low temperature of 100 °C. The experimental observations, when hydrogen was used, indicate that gallium acts as a …


Characterization Of Molecular Communication Based On Cell Metabolism Through Mutual Information And Flux Balance Analysis, Zahmeeth Sayed Sakkaff Dec 2016

Characterization Of Molecular Communication Based On Cell Metabolism Through Mutual Information And Flux Balance Analysis, Zahmeeth Sayed Sakkaff

Department of Computer Science and Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Synthetic biology is providing novel tools to engineer cells and access the basis of their molecular information processing, including their communication channels based on chemical reactions and molecule exchange. Molecular communication is a discipline in communication engineering that studies these types of communications and ways to exploit them for novel purposes, such as the development of ubiquitous and heterogeneous communication networks to interconnect biological cells with nano and biotechnology-enabled devices, i.e., the Internet of Bio-Nano Things. One major problem in realizing these goals stands in the development of reliable techniques to control the engineered cells and their behavior from the …