Electrochemical hydrogen storage in porous carbons with acidic electrolytes: Uncovering the potential

Electrochemical hydrogen storage in porous carbon materials is emerging as a cost-effective hydrogen storage and transport technology with competitive power and energy densities. The merits of electrochemical hydrogen storage using porous conductive carbon-based electrodes are reviewed. The employment of acidic electrolytes in such storage systems is compared with alkaline electrolytes. The recent innovations of a proton battery for smaller-scale electricity storage, and a proton flow reactor system for larger (grid)-scale storage and bulk export of hydrogen produced from renewable energy, are briefly described. It is argued that such systems, along with variants proposed by others, all of which rely on electrochemical hydrogen storage in porous carbons, can contribute to the search for energy storage technologies essential for the transition to a zero-emission global economy.     

Kinetic Behavior of Quaternary Ammonium Hydroxides in Mixed Methane and Carbon Dioxide Hydrates

This study evaluates the kinetic hydrate inhibition (KHI) performance of four quaternary ammonium hydroxides (QAH) on mixed CH₄ + CO₂ hydrate systems. The studied QAHs are; tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH), tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH), tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH), and tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPrAOH). The test was performed in a high-pressure hydrate reactor at temperatures of 274.0 K and 277.0 K, and a concentration of 1 wt.% using the isochoric cooling method. The kinetics results suggest that all the QAHs potentially delayed mixed CH₄ + CO₂ hydrates formation due to their steric hindrance abilities. The presence of QAHs reduced hydrate formation risk than the conventional hydrate inhibitor, PVP, at higher subcooling conditions. The findings indicate that increasing QAHs alkyl chain lengths increase their kinetic hydrate inhibition efficacies due to better surface adsorption abilities. QAHs with longer chain lengths have lesser amounts of solute particles to prevent hydrate formation. The outcomes of this study contribute significantly to current efforts to control gas hydrate formation in offshore petroleum pipelines.     

A New Nanocomposite Based on Pt-rGO Embedded Polymelamine Formaldehyde Nanocomposite for Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

Here, polymelamine formaldehyde was decorated on the surface of reduced graphene oxide whose surface was then electrodeposited with a sub-monolayer of platinum nanoparticles. The nanocomposite thus prepared was characterized using several spectroscopic methods. Using the nanocomposite as a potential electrocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction, the products were detected by Raman spectroscopy, gas chromatography, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The analytical results identified methanol as the main product of CO₂ reduction. Moreover, analysis of the liquid products confirmed methanol as the predominant product with a current density of 0.4 mA/cm and a Faradaic efficiency of 93 %.     

Kinetic analysis of the complex process of poly(vinyl alcohol) pyrolysis using a new coupled peak deconvolution method

A peak deconvolution procedure used for the analysis of data corresponding to simultaneous overlapping processes begins with separation of individual processes using functions such as Gaussian, Lorentzian, Weibull, and Fraser–Suzuki (FS) followed by application of kinetic analysis methods to the separated peaks. We propose a coupled peak deconvolution procedure to link the parameters of the FS functions of similar peaks in two DTG curves obtained at different linear heating rates, so that the coordinates of each peak can be obtained in a constrained manner. The proposed technique is a kinetic deconvolution method rather than a pure mathematical deconvolution technique. To analyze individual peaks in our study, the non-parametric kinetic and Freidman’s isoconversional methods have been applied to determine kinetic triplet of each process. This technique has been tested with both simulated and experimental data. Using this technique, the effects of molecular weight and degree of hydrolysis of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) samples on reaction mechanism and activation energy of thermal degradation were studied. The presence of acetate group in the PVA samples causes thermal stability, decreases the rate of main reactions, and increases the activation energy. The results of this study may help tailor heat-resistant materials with proper choice of polymer characteristics.     

Propane-1,2,3-triyl tris(hydrogen sulfate): A mild and effcient recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of biscoumarin derivatives in water and solvent-free conditions简

A simple, efficient, and ecofriendly procedure has been developed using propane-l,2,3-triyl tris（hydrogen sulfate） as a catalyst for the synthesis of biscoumarin derivatives in water and solvent-free conditions. The significant features of the present protocol are simplicity, environmentally benign, high yields, no chromatographic separation, and recyclability of the catalyst.     

CH4 reforming with CO2 for syngas production over La2O3 promoted Ni catalysts supported on mesoporous nanostructured γ-A12O3

Nanostructured -y-A12O3 with high surface area and mesoporous structure was synthesized by sol-gel method and employed as catalyst support for nickel catalysts in methane reforming with carbon dioxide. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, TPR, TPO, TPH, NH3-TPD and SEM techniques. The BET analysis showed a high surface area of 204 m2.g-1 and a narrow pore-size distribution centered at a diameter of 5.5 nm for catalyst support. The BET results revealed that addition of lanthanum oxide to aluminum oxide decreased the specific surface area. In addition, TPR results showed that addition of lanthanum oxide increased the reducibility of nickel catalyst. The catalytic evaluation results showed an increase in methane conversion with increasing lanthanum oxide to 3 mol% and further increase in lanthanum content decreased the catalytic activity. TPO analysis revealed that the coke deposition decreased with increasing lanthanum oxide to 3 mol%. SEM and TPH analyses confirmed the formation of whisker type carbon over the spent catalysts. Addition of steam and Oxide to drv reformin feed increased the methane conversion and led to carbon free ooeration in combined orocesses.     

Morphology of polyaniline nanofibers synthesized under different conditions

Polyaniline nanofibers are readily synthesized by bulk polymerization; ammonium per sulphate (APS) is used as oxidizing agent and hydrochloric acid as dopant without any hard or soft templates. A detailed study was conducted on the effect of a variety of synthetic conditions on the size and morphology of the polyaniline nanostructure. These conditions include the concentration of dopant, and the APS-to-aniline and acid-to-aniline molar ratios. The morphology of the nanofibers was confirmed by SEM and TEM. XRD and FT-IR and UV–visible spectroscopy were used for structural characterization of nanofibers. The results showed that not only the microstructure of the polyaniline product, but also other characteristics, for example conductivity, crystallinity, and, more importantly, the efficiency of the process are strongly affected by the synthetic conditions.     

Fabrication of Electrochemical Sensor Based on CeO2−SnO2 Nanocomposite Loaded on Pd Support for Determination of Nitrite at Trace Levels

Here, an electrochemical sensor based on CeO₂‐SnO₂/Pd was prepared and used for highly selective and sensitive determination of nitrite in some real samples. This nanocomposite was characterized by various methods like X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical behavior of the sensor was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. The results showed excellent catalytic property of the nanocomposite as a an electrocatalyst for nitrite oxidation. In the following, the experimental parameters affecting the analytical signal for nitrite were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection and sensitivity of the sensor were calculated as 0.10 μM and 652.95 μA.mM^?1.cm^?2, respectively. Also, the response of the sensor was linear in the range of 0.36 to 2200 μM of nitrite. Finally, some of the inherent features of the sensor such as repeatability, reproducibility and stability were examined after evaluation of the sensor selectivity in the presence of several interfering species.     

Kinetic Isotope Effect as a Tool To Investigate the Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Pt-based Electrocatalysts – Part II: Effect of Platinum Dispersion

We investigated the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mechanism on Pt nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed on several carbon blacks with various physicochemical properties (i. e. specific surface ranging from 80 to 900 m² g⁻¹, different graphitization degree, etc.). Using the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) along with various electrochemical characterizations, we determined that the rate determining step (RDS) of the ORR is a proton-independent step when the density of Pt NPs on the surface of the carbon support is high. Upon decrease of the density of Pt NPs on the surface, the RDS of the ORR starts involving a proton, as denoted by an increase of the KIE >1. This underlined the critical role played by the carbon support in the oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysis by Pt supported on high surface area carbon.