Development and application of overall solution for hydrogen quality analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cell vehiclesEI北大核心CSCD

An analytical method for overall solution for fourteen key trace impurities in fuel cell vehicles was established. A set of analysis platforms were designed for nine of the fourteen key trace impurities including sulfur compoundsformaldehydeformic acidcarbon monoxidecarbon dioxideheliumargonnitrogen and hydrocarbons. The detection limits of all key impurities could satisfy the requirements of ISO 14687-2019 and GB/T 37244-2018with the detection limits of 1×10-5 μµmol/mol for sulfur compounds. The overall solution has been successfully applied in production enterprises. © 2022, Youke Publishing Co.,Ltd. All rights reserved.     

Effect of supports on activity and stability of Pt–Pd catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The platinum–palladium alloy (Pt–Pd) catalysts were prepared on various supports including Vulcan XC72, Hicon Black (HB), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) by a combined approach of impregnation and seeding using NaBH₄ reduction at low temperature. Their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities in single proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) under a H₂/O₂ environment and their stability in an acid electrolyte (0.5 M H₂SO₄) were tested and compared with the Vulcan XC72-supported Pt (Pt/C) catalysts. The presence of the Pd metal as well as different types of supports affected the ORR activity in H₂/O₂ environment and stability in the acid electrolyte. Overall, the HB-supported Pt–Pd (Pt–Pd/HB) catalysts provided the highest current density at 0.6 V under a H₂/O₂ environment, while the MWCNT-supported Pt–Pd (Pt–Pd/MWCNT) catalyst provided the best stability in an acid electrolyte.     

The potential of proton exchange membrane–based electrolysis technology

Hydrogen is an important chemical feedstock for many industrial applications, and today, more than 95% of this feedstock is generated from fossil fuel sources such as reforming of natural gas. In addition, the production of hydrogen from fossil fuels represents most carbon dioxide emissions from large chemical processes such as ammonia generation. Renewable sources of hydrogen such as hydrogen from water electrolysis need to be driven to similar production costs as methane reforming to address global greenhouse gas emission concerns. Water electrolysis has begun to show scalability to relevant capacities to address this need, but materials and manufacturing advancements need to be made to meet the cost targets. This article describes specific needs for one pathway based on proton exchange membrane electrolysis technology.     

Water – A key parameter in the stability of anion exchange membrane fuel cells

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Self-healable Nafion-poly(vinyl alcohol)/phosphotungstic acid proton exchange membrane prepared by freezing–thawing method for direct methanol fuel cell

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Getting the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) closer to mass production requires the creation of a high-performance and long-lasting proton exchange...     

A novel CNT@SnO2 core–sheath nanocomposite as a stabilizing support for catalysts of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Mesoporous SnO₂ coated carbon nanotube (CNT) core–sheath nanocomposite, CNT@SnO₂, was prepared by a hydrothermal method and proposed as a catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The CNT@SnO₂ and its supported Pt catalyst, Pt/(CNT@SnO₂), were characterized by TEM, XRD, cyclic voltammetry, and polarization curves. The CNT@SnO₂ composite showed a much lower anodic current than the CNT, especially at high potentials, indicating the CNT@SnO₂ was more corrosion resistant. The Pt/(CNT@SnO₂) catalyst was electrochemically active and exhibited comparable activity for the oxygen reduction reaction to the CNT supported catalyst (Pt/CNT). More importantly, the long-term stability of the Pt/(CNT@SnO₂) catalyst was significantly higher than that of the Pt/CNT catalyst, which might be mainly due to the fact that the CNT@SnO₂ was more corrosion resistant and mesoporous SnO₂ was beneficial to restrict the Pt migration and aggregation. Consequently, the CNT@SnO₂ would be a promising durable catalyst support for PEMFCs.     

Pt–M (M=Fe,Co, Ni and Cu) electrocatalysts synthesized by an aqueous route for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Nanostructured Pt–M (M=Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) alloy catalysts synthesized by a low temperature (70 °C) reduction procedure with sodium formate in aqueous medium have been investigated for oxygen reduction in sulfuric acid and as cathodes in single proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The Pt–M alloy catalysts show improved catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction compared to pure platinum. Among the various alloy catalysts investigated, the Pt–Co catalyst shows the best performance with the maximum catalytic activity and minimum polarization occurring at a Pt:Co atomic ratio of around 1:7. While mild heat treatments at moderate temperatures (200 °C) improve the catalytic activity due to a cleaning of the surface oxides, annealing at elevated temperatures (900 °C) degrade the activity due to an increase in particle size.     

Pt–Fe cathode catalysts to improve the oxygen reduction reaction and methanol tolerance in direct methanol fuel cells

High surface area carbon-supported Pt and bimetallic Pt–Fe catalysts are investigated for the oxygen electro-reduction reaction (ORR) in low-temperature direct methanol fuel cells (60 °C). The electrocatalysts are prepared using a combination of colloidal and incipient wetness methods allowing the synthesis of carbon-supported bimetallic nanoparticles with a particle size of about 2–3 nm. These materials are studied in terms of structure, morphology and composition using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The electrocatalytic behaviour of these catalysts for ORR is investigated by employing the rotating disc technique. An enhancement of the ORR is observed with the bimetallic Pt–Fe catalyst in the oxygen-saturated electrolyte solution, with and without methanol. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Teresa Iwasita on the occasion of her 65th birthday in recognition of her numerous contributions to interfacial electrochemistry.     

Effect of activated graphite nanofibers on electrochemical activities of Pt–Ru nanoparticles for fuel cells

In this work, graphite nanofibers (GNFs) were chemically activated for high specific surface area, small pore diameter, and high oxygen-containing groups with different KOH/GNFs ratios and used as carbon supports of Pt–Ru nanoparticles for fuel cells. As a result, the oxygen functional groups and specific surface area of carbon supports were increased with increasing the ratios of KOH/GNFs up to 4:1, while the average of Pt–Ru nanoparticle size was decreased owing to the improvement of dispersibility of the Pt–Ru/K–GNFs catalysts. The electrochemical activity of the Pt–Ru/K–GNFs catalysts was improved by the larger available active surface area due to the increase of oxygen functional groups and specific surface area. Therefore, it was found that chemical activation using KOH could influence the surface characteristic of carbon supports, resulting in enhanced electrochemical activity of the Pt–Ru/K–GNFs catalysts of fuel cells.     

Does the chromatomembrane cell improve the quality of environmental analysis?

With the intention of combining partition chromatography and membrane techniques, we succeeded in developing the chromatomembrane cell which has proved to be reliable as an extraction and preconcentration manifold in flow injection analysis. With this technique, two immiscible phases can be induced to flow independently through a block of biporous (macro and micro) PTFE in order to promote analyte exchange. Consequently, the application of chromatomembrane cells in environmental analysis resolves all problems of sample pretreatment simply and effectively whenever a preconcentration step by gas/liquid or liquid/liquid solvent extraction is included. The link-up with analyzers (AAS, UV–Vis photometry, GC, IC, HPLC, voltammetry, ion selective electrodes, etc.) makes possible computer aided automization for environmental monitoring.     

A model for high-surface-area porous Nafion™-bonded cathodes operating in hydrogen–oxygen proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

A critical discussion of dioxygen reduction kinetics using the Tafel (for the irreversible cathode process) and the Butler–Volmer (anode process) rate equations has been used to evaluate the accuracy of “standard” modeling interpretations of experimental cell potential current (E–I) plots. The potential–current curve for what is believed to be an optimized Nafion™-bonded fuel cell cathode was analyzed. It appears to behave as a well-ordered diffusional system and shows high electrocatalyst utilization based on its electrocatalytic and gas diffusion characteristics. The electrode appears to perform as expected, without any anomalous characteristics showing any lower than expected electrocatalyst utilization. Any improvement in electrode performance, which is certainly desirable, seems to demand an improved diffusional structure, barring any potential (although unlikely) change in electrochemical kinetic characteristics.

New Routes to the Synthesis of Mes

New　Routes　to　the　Synthesis　of　Mes...     

Electrooxidation of hydrogen at Pt/carbon nanotube catalysts for hydrogen–air fuel cell

A possibility for application of the method of thin-layer rotating disk electrode (RDE) for investigation of kinetics of hydrogen electrooxidation on highly dispersed platinum catalysts formed on the carbon nanotubes (CNT) is studied. It is shown that the polarization curves of hydrogen oxidation on the studied catalysts approach the calculated curves for the diffusion overpotential of hydrogen reaction both in the acidic and alkaline electrolytes. This is the evidence, on the one hand, for a high activity of proposed catalysts in the hydrogen oxidation reaction and, on the other hand, for incorrect use of the Koutecky–Levich equation for calculating the kinetic currents in the case under consideration. The characteristics of hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell (FC) with anode based of synthesized 40Pt/CNT catalysts are highly comparative with the characteristics of FC containing commercial 60Pt catalyst (HiSPEC 9100) on the anode.     

Effect of de-alloying of Pt–Ni bimetallic nanoparticles on the oxygen reduction reaction

Carbon-supported Pt–Ni alloy nanoparticles with various compositions were prepared by a borohydride reduction method in anhydrous ethanol solvent. Here, we surveyed effect of thermally induced de-alloying on activity of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Especially, changes in surface and bulk structures were investigated through electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements. The activity of as-prepared Pt–Ni alloy nanoparticles showed a monotonous dependence on Pt content. However, heat-treatment induced the phase separation between Pt and NiO and the resultant enhancement in ORR activity without significant increase in surface Pt concentration.     

Electrochemical determination of the surface composition of Pd–Pt core–shell nanoparticles

Different amounts of Pt atoms were deposited onto the surface of Pd nanoparticles supported on carbon black by hydroquinone reduction method in anhydrous ethanol. Here, we surveyed electrochemical probing of surface compositions of Pd–Pt surface alloys. They were calculated from hydrogen desorption, carbon monoxide adlayer oxidation, and reduced carbon dioxide oxidation charges. The surface composition of Pt drastically increased up to Pt[0.3]/Pd/C (23.1 at.% of Pt) and then approached that of pure Pt with the moderate rate of increase.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of 2,2′-binaphthalene-based receptor bearing trimethylsilyl groups to improve the solubility

Two trimethylsilyl groups were introduced at 5- and 5′-positions of 2,2′-binaphthalene to improve the solubility of 2,2′-binaphthalene-based receptors. The X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed the twisted structure of 2 in the solid state. The solubility of 2 was moderately improved by 3.1-fold comparing with mother skeleton 1. As a practical example of 2, receptor 8 bearing two aza-15-crown-5 moieties was prepared and the selective binding of 8 with Ba²⁺ can be observed by the formation of sandwich-like complex, which shows no prevention of binding ability of the receptor by introduction of the bulky substituents.     

A New Route to the Synthesis of Ninhydrin

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯同乙酰乙酸乙酯的钠盐反应得到１，３－二酮氢化茚，再经二氧化硒氧化合成出较高收率的茚三酮。     

Improvement of the stability of NiO–YSZ anode material for solid oxide fuel cell

Improvement of long-term stability of 40vol.%NiO–60vol.% yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) anode material in reducing atmosphere and under exposure to thermal shock through the modification of vacancy concentration and pore shape has been investigated for a solid oxide fuel cell. We varied the amount of Y₂O₃ additives from 8 to 10 mol% in YSZ and the type of carbon pore former, from plated activated carbon to spherical carbon black, to improve the strength and the stability of porous NiO–YSZ anode materials. Modifications by varying the amount of Y₂O₃ additives and carbon pore former result in a highly stable anode, even upon exposure to a reducing atmosphere for 1,200 h. In particular, the strengths of the new anode materials are markedly improved at the same porosity level. Higher strengths do not degrade during a longtime durability test in a reducing atmosphere or upon thermal shock testing. The relatively smaller degradation of electrical conductivity of the new anode material is discussed in terms of the possibility of suppression of the disconnectivity of Ni phases during operation of a solid oxide fuel cell.     

Synthesis of 1,3-Diols: Its Application to the Synthesis of α-Lipoic Acid

1,3-diols have been prepared from monosubstituted olefins, and the utility of this method in the synthesis of α-lipoic acid has been described.