Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Commons^™

Pt/C Modified Proton Exchange Membrane For Improved Fuel Cell Performance, Zhi Cui, Chao Wang, Shui-Yun Shen, Feng-Jing Jiang, Jun-Liang Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The property of proton exchange membrane greatly affects the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). During the operation of a PEMFC, the water produced at the cathode, the water vapor from the humidified feed gas and the water migrated by electro-dragging will reach a balance in the membrane and determine the resistance of PEMFC, and thus affect the performance of PEMFC. Normally, the PEMFC performance strongly depends on the relative humidity of the feed gas, and the performance decreases at lower humidity as a result of lower proton conductivity of the membrane. In this paper, we proposed to …

Photocatalytic Mineralization Of Phenol On Fluidized Titanium Oxide-Coated Silica Gel, Guillermo J. Rincon

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A bench-scale tubular reactor with recirculation was built in order to study the efficiency of the photocatalytic oxidation of phenol on fluidized titanium oxide-coated silica gel beads. A UV-C lamp placed along the central vertical axes of the reactor was used as source of photons. A bed of silica gel beads was fluidized by means of fluid recirculation and forced to follow upward helical flow around the lamp. Anatase was successfully synthetized on silica gel particles of average diameters 224, 357 and 461 µm, as confirmed by scanning electron micrographs, through a sol-gel technique using a titanium (iv)isopropoxide / hydrochloric …

Recent Research Progress For Non-Pt-Based Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysts In Fuel Cell, Ping Song, Ming-Bo Ruan, Jing Liu, Guang-Jun Ran, Wei-Lin Xu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The expensive Pt-based catalyst suffers from its susceptibility to time-dependent drift, methanol crossover, and carbon monoxide (CO) deactivation, which will block the large-scale commercial application of fuel cells. It is, therefore, necessary to develop efficient, low-cost, highly stable non-precious metal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts with high catalytic performance. Here, we will pay attention to the research progress of non-precious metal and heteroatom-doped (N, B, P, S, F) metal-free ORR catalysts. Importantly, we mainly focus on the work developed by Xu’s group with the Fe-based non-precious metal and F/NF-doped metal-free ORR catalysts. The purpose of these works is to improve …

Preparation And Properties Of Binary Oxides CoXCr1-XO3/2 Electrocatalysts For Oxygen Evolution Reaction, Tai-Lai Yang, Wen-Yan Dong, Hui-Min Yang, Li Zhang, Zhen-Hai Liang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Binary metal mixed oxides of Co and Cr with nominal compositional formulas, Co_xCr_1-xO_3/2 (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0), were obtained by thermal decomposition method. The morphologies, crystal forms and valence states of the catalyst powders were analyzed by SEM, XRD and XPS, respectively. And the electrochemical properties, overpotentials and stabilities of Co_xCr_1-xO_3/2 electrodes for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline solution were evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), staircase voltammetry and chronoamperometry, respectively. The results indicated that the mixtures of Co₃O₄ and eskolaite-Cr_{2 …}

Synthesis And Electrochemical Properties Of Cnts/V2O5 Hollow Microspheres, Liang Hao, Lai-Fa Shen, Jie Wang, Jia-Jia Zhu, Xiao-Chen Zhao, Xiao-Gang Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The carbon nanotubes/vanadium oxides (CNTs/V₂O₅) hollow microspheres (VOC) were prepared via solvothermal process. The effects of the ratio for CNTs to V₂O₅ on the morphologies, structures and electrochemical performances were systemically investigated. The results indicate that CNTs dramatically enhanced the rate performances of VOC composite electrodes. When the ratio of CNTs is 7.1%, the VOC composite electrode exhibited the best electrochemical performance, which delivered a specific capacitance of 346 F·g^-1 at 0.5 A·g^-1 and maintained 75% at 8 A·g^-1 in 5 mol L^-1 LiNO₃. A hybrid capacitor …

Porous Co3O4 Hollow Nanospheres Cathode Catalyst For High-Capacity And Long-Cycle Li-Air Batteries, Tong Liu, Na Li, Qing-Chao Liu, Xin-Bo Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this paper, a high specific surface area of porous Co3O4 hollow nanospheres was successfully synthesized via hydrothermal carbonization at 140 °C, followed by calcination using cobalt nitrate hexahydrate (Co(NO3)2·6H2O), hexamethylenetetramine (HMT), sucrose, and sodium citrate (Na3C6H5O7). The porous Co3O4 hollow nanospheres consisted of nanoparticles with high specific surface area of mesoporous structure, and could provide active reaction sites for OER and ORR. When used as lithium-air battery cathode catalyst, the Co3O4/Super P (SP) electrode exhibited excellent cycle performance, resulting in high capacity and long life of lithium-air batteries.

Syntheses And Electrochemical Performances Of Li4Ti5O12 Anode Materials For Lithium Ion Battery, Yong-Long Zhang, Xue-Bu Hu, Yao-Qiong Wang, Dong-Hai Huang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Series of spinel lithium titanate (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) materials were synthesized by one-step solid-state reaction using lithium acetate and TiO₂ as raw materials under different temperatures (750/800/850 °C) and atmospheres (N₂/air). The as-prepared Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ materials were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammotry and charge-discharge test to analyze their crystal structures, microstructures and electrochemical performances. The results show that the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂（L-800N）material obtained at 800 °C under nitrogen atmosphere exhibited better electrochemical performance and smaller particle size. The initial …

Enhancing Grain Boundary Ionic Conductivity In Mixed Ionic–Electronic Conductors, Ye Lin, Shumin Fang, Dong Su, Kyle S. Brinkman, Fanglin Chen

Faculty Publications

Mixed ionic–electronic conductors are widely used in devices for energy conversion and storage. Grain boundaries in these materials have nanoscale spatial dimensions, which can generate substantial resistance to ionic transport due to dopant segregation. Here, we report the concept of targeted phase formation in a Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ–CoFe2O4 composite that serves to enhance the grain boundary ionic conductivity. Using transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy approaches, we probe the grain boundary charge distribution and chemical environments altered by the phase reaction between the two constituents. The formation of an emergent phase successfully avoids segregation of the Gd dopant and depletion of oxygen vacancies …

A Metal-Free Approach To Biaryl Compounds: Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation From Diaryliodonium Salts And Aryl Triolborates, Kuruppu Lilanthi Jayatissa

Dissertations and Theses

Biaryl moieties are important structural motifs in many industries, including pharmaceutical, agrochemical, energy and technology. The development of novel and efficient methods to synthesize these carbon-carbon bonds is at the forefront of synthetic methodology. Since Ullmann’s first report of stoichiometric Cu-mediated homo-coupling of aryl halides, there has been a dramatic evolution in transition metal catalyzed biaryl cross-coupling reactions.

Our work focuses on the discovery and development of an unprecedented reagent combination for metal-free cross-coupling. It is hypothesized that direct carbon-carbon bond formation occurs via a triaryl-λ³-iodane and that electrophile/nucleophile pairing is critical for success in the reaction. Proof-of-concept …

Electrochemical Monitoring Of Cell Wall-Regulated Transient Extracellular Oxidative Burst From Single Plant Cells, Jun-Tao Liu, Yan-Ling Liu, Zhi Cheng, Shi-Jing Chen, Wei-Hua Huang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Oxidative burst by rapid, transient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a fundamental process for plant disease defense and signal transduction. ROS can be protective or toxic depending on their concentrations, and critical balance between ROS production and scavenging is regulated by complex and perfect mechanisms in plant cells. However, the process of rapid and transient ROS burst from plant cells and their regulatory mechanisms are far from being completely understood, owing to the methodological obstacles in real-time monitoring such a fast process. In this work, we showed the application of microelectrode electrochemistry with high spatiotemporal resolution to monitor …

An Enzymatic Ethanol/O2 Biofuel Cell Powered By Commercial Vodka Fuel, Yi-Ming Yan, Lan-Qun Mao

Journal of Electrochemistry

This study demonstrates the performance of a new type alcohol/O₂ biofuel cell assembled by using alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and bilirubin oxidase (BOD) as the biocatalysts of the bioanode and the biocathode for the bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of alcohol and reduction of oxygen, respectively. To construct the bioanode and the biocathode, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were used. In the bioanode, SWCNTs were used as the supporting materials for both methylene green (MG) which was used as the electrocatalyst for the oxidation of NADH and ADH. The as-constructed MG/ADH/SWCNTs-based bioanode exhibits a good activity toward the bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol. In the …

Preparation And Properties Of Titanium Based Metal Oxide Electrodes For Ammonia Nitrogen Wastewater Treatment, Xue Li, Meng Xue, Ling Huang, Jun-Tao Li, Shi-Gang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this paper, four types of titanium based metal oxides electrodes were prepared by thermal decomposition method: Ti/SnO₂+Sb₂O₃, Ti/SnO₂+Sb₂O₃/SnO₂+IrO₂, Ti/SnO₂+Sb₂O₃/SnO₂+RuO₂, Ti/SnO₂+Sb₂O₃/SnO₂+CeO₂. The XRD results show that CeO₂ in Ti/SnO₂+Sb₂O₃/SnO₂+CeO₂ displayed a good crystal structure, and there was no significant oxygen evolution reaction occurred after electrolytic oxidation. Compared with the other three electrodes, the Ce-doped …

Naio4 Oxidation Of Mussel Adhesive Protein Film And Its Corrosion Protection For Mg-1.0ca Alloy, Rui-Qing Hou, Ping-Li Jiang, Shi-Gang Dong, Chang-Jian Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

The effect of oxidation of mussel adhesive protein (Mefp-1) film on the corrosive resistance for Mg-1.0Ca alloy was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atom force microscopy (AFM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and electrochemical methods. The results showed that the NaIO₄ induced oxidation of the pre-formed Mefp-1 film with porous morphology involved structural change of the DOPA group in the protein and resulted in a more uniform film with net-like morphology. The protein film without oxidation had an increasing resistance for the corrosion of Mg-1.0Ca alloy up to 7 days exposure. After oxidation, Epit …

Alumina Supported Iron Catalyst For Hydrogen Production: Calcination Study, Anis H. Fakeeha, Wasim Ullah Khan, Ahmed A. Ibrahim, Raja L. Al-Otaibi, Ahmed S. Al-Fatesh, Moustafa A. Soliman, Ahmed E. Abasaeed

Chemical Engineering

Production of clean hydrogen from thermal decomposition of methane was studied over impregnated 30%Fe/Al2O3 catalysts in a micro-activity fixed-bed reactor. The reactant gases comprising CH4 and N2 in the ratio of 1.5 to 1 were passed through reactor at a flow rate of 25 mL/min. Moreover, effect of calcination was investigated as well. The catalytic activity results indicated that calcination temperature had a significant impact on the performance of 30%Fe/Al2O3 catalyst. The catalyst calcined at 450°C, having CH4 conversion as well as H2 yield over 70%, showed better activity as compared to all other calcination temperatures.

Designed Synthesis Of Nanoporous Organic Polymers For Selective Gas Uptake And Catalytic Applications, Pezhman Arab

Theses and Dissertations

Design and synthesis of porous organic polymers have attracted considerable attentions during the past decade due to their wide range of applications in gas storage, gas separation, energy conversion, and catalysis. Porous organic polymers can be pre-synthetically and post-synthetically functionalized with a wide variety of functionalities for desirable applications. Along these pursuits, we introduced new synthetic strategies for preparation of porous organic polymers for selective CO₂ capture.

Porous azo-linked polymers (ALPs) were synthesized by an oxidative reaction of amine-based monomers using copper(I) as a catalyst which leads to azo-linkage formation. ALPs exhibit high surface areas of up to 1200 …

Advances In Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells: Fabrication Of Efficient Ir/Pd Nanocatalysts For Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation, Islam M. Al-Akraa, Ahmad M. Mohammad, Mohamed S. El-Deab Prof, Bahgat E. El-Anadouli Prof

Chemical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Fe Supported Alumina Catalyst For Methane Decomposition: Effect Of Co Coupling, Anis H. Fakeeha, Ahmed A. Ibrahim, Ahmed S. Al-Fatesh, Wasim Ullah Khan, Yahya A. Mohammed, Ahmed E. Abasaeed, Moustafa A. Soliman, Raja L. Al-Otaibi

Chemical Engineering

In recent years hydrogen production received enormous attention, since it is an environmentally friendly, energy source. The aim of this research was to examine the hydrogen production with the help of methane’s catalytic decomposition. 30% Fe coupled with different % of Co over alumina support, were examined by catalytic decomposition of methane for the production of hydrogen. The catalysts were prepared by impregnation method. The catalytic activity results revealed that the catalysts, coupled 15%Co gave the highest conversion of 72.5% as depicted by the three hour time on stream profile. The fresh and spent catalysts were characterized using different techniques …

Thermo-Catalytic Methane Decomposition: A Review Of State Of The Art Of Catalysts, Ahmed A. Ibrahim, Ahmed S. Al-Fatesh, Wasim Ullah Khan, Moustafa A. Soliman, Raja L. Al-Otaibi, Anis H. Fakeeha

Chemical Engineering

The catalytic methane decomposition to produce carbon oxides–free hydrogen and carbon nanomaterial is a promising method feasible for larger production at a moderate cheap price. The produced hydrogen is refined and can be employed straight in fuel cell and in petrochemical industries to produce ammonia and methanol. Auto-thermal reforming of natural gas, partial oxidation, steam reforming are the conventional techniques for hydrogen production in industry, though these processes incur excessive costs for the purification of hydrogen from producing carbon oxides. Current research work on thermo-catalytic methane decomposition has concentrated on promoting the catalytic activity and stability for simultaneous production of …

On The Catalytic Activity Of Palladium Nanoparticles-Based Anodes Towards Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation: Effect Of Electrodeposition Potential, Islam M. Al-Akraa Dr., Ahmad M. Mohammad Prof, Mohamed S. El-Deab Prof, Bahgat E. El-Anadouli Prof

Chemical Engineering

In this investigation, the catalytic activity of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs)-modified glassy carbon (GC) (simply noted as PdNPs/GC) electrodes towards the formic acid electro-oxidation (FAO) was investigated. The deposition of PdNPs on the GC substrate was carried out by a potentiostatic technique at different potentials and the corresponding influence on the particles size and crystal structure of PdNPs as well as the catalytic activity towards FAO was studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated the deposition of PdNPs in spherical shapes and the average particle size of PdNPs deposited at a potential of 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl(sat.) was the smallest (ca. 8 …

Influence Of Support Type And Metal Loading In Methane Decomposition Over Iron Catalyst For Hydrogen Production, Ahmed A. Ibrahim, Ahmed S. Al-Fatesh, Wasim Ullah Khan, Moustafa A. Soliman, Raja L. Al-Otaibi, Anis H. Fakeeha

Chemical Engineering

Natural gas resources, stimulate the method of catalytic methane decomposition. Hydrogen is a superb energy carrier and integral component of the present energy systems, while carbon nanotubes exhibit remarkable chemical and physical properties. The reaction was run at 700 °C in a fixed bed reactor. Catalyst calcination and reduction were done at 500 °C. MgO, TiO2 and Al2O3 supported catalysts were prepared using a co-precipitation method. Catalysts of different iron loadings were characterized with BET, TGA, XRD, H2-TPR and TEM. The catalyst characterization revealed the formation of multi-walled nanotubes. Alternatively, time on stream tests of supported catalyst at 700 °C …