A Membrane‐Free Neutral pH Formate Fuel Cell Enabled by a Selective Nickel Sulfide Oxygen Reduction Catalyst

Polymer electrolyte membranes employed in contemporary fuel cells severely limit device design and restrict catalyst choice, but are essential for preventing short‐circuiting reactions at unselective anode and cathode catalysts. Herein, we report that nickel sulfide Ni₃S₂ is a highly selective catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in the presence of 1.0 m formate. We combine this selective cathode with a carbon‐supported palladium (Pd/C) anode to establish a membrane‐free, room‐temperature formate fuel cell that operates under benign neutral pH conditions. Proof‐of‐concept cells display open circuit voltages of approximately 0.7 V and peak power values greater than 1 mW cm⁻², significantly outperforming the identical device employing an unselective platinum (Pt) cathode. The work establishes the power of selective catalysis to enable versatile membrane‐free fuel cells.     

A Membrane-Free Neutral pH Formate Fuel Cell Enabled by a Selective Nickel Sulfide Oxygen Reduction Catalyst

Polymer electrolyte membranes employed in contemporary fuel cells severely limit device design and restrict catalyst choice, but are essential for preventing short-circuiting reactions at unselective anode and cathode catalysts. Herein, we report that nickel sulfide Ni₃S₂ is a highly selective catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in the presence of 1.0 m formate. We combine this selective cathode with a carbon-supported palladium (Pd/C) anode to establish a membrane-free, room-temperature formate fuel cell that operates under benign neutral pH conditions. Proof-of-concept cells display open circuit voltages of approximately 0.7 V and peak power values greater than 1 mW cm⁻², significantly outperforming the identical device employing an unselective platinum (Pt) cathode. The work establishes the power of selective catalysis to enable versatile membrane-free fuel cells.     

Tunable Periodically Ordered Mesoporosity in Palladium Membranes Enables Exceptional Enhancement of Intrinsic Electrocatalytic Activity for Formic Acid Oxidation

Developing superior electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation (FAO) is the most crucial step in commercializing direct formic acid fuel cells. Herein, we electrodeposited palladium membranes with periodically ordered mesoporosity obtained by asymmetrically replicating the bicontinuous cubic phase structure of a lyotropic liquid‐crystal template. The Pd membrane with the largest periodicity and highest degree of order delivered up to 90.5 m² g^?1 of electrochemical active surface area and 3.34 A mg^?1 electrocatalysis capability towards FAO, 3.8 and 7.8 times the values of the commercial Pd/C catalyst, respectively. By controlling the temperature and potential of the electrodeposition procedure, the periodicity area and order degree of the mesoporosity are highly tunable. These Pd membranes gave prototype formic acid fueled cells with 4.3 and 2.4 times the maximum current and power density of the commercial Pd/C catalyst.     

Preparation of carbon supported Pd–P catalyst with high content of element phosphorus and its electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation

The carbon supported Pd–P (Pd–P/C) anodic catalyst in direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) was prepared with a novel phosphorus reduction method. The Pd–P/C catalyst obtained possesses the high content of P⁰ in the alloying state. Because alloying P⁰ could decrease the 3d electron density of Pd and the adsorption affinity of CO and H on Pd, alloying P⁰ would promote the formic acid (FA) oxidation through the direct pathway. Therefore, the electrocatalytic performance of the Pd–P/C catalyst for the FA oxidation is much better than that of the Pd/C catalyst.     

High catalytic activity of ultrafine nanoporous palladium for electro-oxidation of methanol, ethanol, and formic acid

Nanoporous palladium (NPPd) with ultrafine ligament size of 3–6 nm was fabricated by dealloying of an Al–Pd alloy in an alkaline solution. Electrochemical measurements indicate that NPPd exhibits significantly high electrochemical active specific surface area (23 m² g⁻¹), and high catalytic activity for electro-oxidation of methanol, ethanol, and formic acid. Mass activities can reach 149, 148, 262 mA mg⁻¹ for the oxidation of methanol, ethanol and formic acid, respectively. Moreover, superior steady-state activities can be observed for all the electro-oxidation processes. NPPd will be a promising candidate for the anode catalyst for direct alcohol or formic acid fuel cells.     

一种新型的甲酸/铁离子燃料电池

以甲酸为燃料、 Fe³⁺为氧化剂组成了一种新型的甲酸/铁离子燃料电池, 阳极催化剂为多壁碳纳米管(MWCNT)或β-环糊精修饰的MWCNT(β-CD-MWCNT)负载的金属钯或钯锡纳米颗粒: PdSn/MWCNT, Pd/β-CD-MWCNT和PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT. 运用循环伏安(CV)和计时电流(CA)等技术研究了各催化剂在碱性条件下对甲酸氧化反应的电催化活性. 结果表明, 加入适量的金属锡能促进钯对甲酸的电催化氧化, 甲酸氧化电位提前, 电流密度增加; 环糊精的改性对催化剂电催化活性有一定提升. 将上述催化剂制成电池阳极片, 碳粉制成电极阴极片, 组成甲酸/铁离子燃料电池并测试其放电性能. 结果表明, 电池的开路电压在0.981.20 V之间; 以PdSn/β-CD-MWCNT为阳极时, 其最大放电电流密度达50 mA/cm², 最大功率密度达12.6 mW/cm², 远优于以Pd/C为阳极的电池性能.     

A Pd/C‐CeO2 Anode Catalyst for High‐Performance Platinum‐Free Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

One of the biggest obstacles to the dissemination of fuel cells is their cost, a large part of which is due to platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts. Complete removal of Pt is a difficult if not impossible task for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM‐FCs). The anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEM‐FC) has long been proposed as a solution as non‐Pt metals may be employed. Despite this, few examples of Pt‐free AEM‐FCs have been demonstrated with modest power output. The main obstacle preventing the realization of a high power density Pt‐free AEM‐FC is sluggish hydrogen oxidation (HOR) kinetics of the anode catalyst. Here we describe a Pt‐free AEM‐FC that employs a mixed carbon‐CeO₂ supported palladium (Pd) anode catalyst that exhibits enhanced kinetics for the HOR. AEM‐FC tests run on dry H₂ and pure air show peak power densities of more than 500 mW cm^?2.     

Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid at Room Temperature: Boosting Palladium Nanoparticle Efficiency by Coupling with Pyridinic‐Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon

The use of formic acid (FA) to produce molecular H₂ is a promising means of efficient energy storage in a fuel‐cell‐based hydrogen economy. To date, there has been a lack of heterogeneous catalyst systems that are sufficiently active, selective, and stable for clean H₂ production by FA decomposition at room temperature. For the first time, we report that flexible pyridinic‐N‐doped carbon hybrids as support materials can significantly boost the efficiency of palladium nanoparticle for H₂ generation; this is due to prominent surface electronic modulation. Under mild conditions, the optimized engineered Pd/CN_0.25 catalyst exhibited high performance in both FA dehydrogenation (achieving almost full conversion, and a turnover frequency of 5530 h^?1 at 25 °C) and the reversible process of CO₂ hydrogenation into FA. This system can lead to a full carbon‐neutral energy cycle.     

NH_4~+对甲酸在炭载Pd催化剂上氧化性能的影响

为了解HClO4、NH4ClO4和NaClO4电解液对炭载Pd(Pd/C)催化剂电极对甲酸氧化的电催化性能的影响,在用X射线衍射(XRD)谱、能量色散谱(EDS)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)对Pd/C催化剂进行表征的基础上,采用电化学方法测量了Pd/C催化剂在不同电解液中对甲酸氧化的电催化性能.发现在不同电解液中,Pd/C催化剂对甲酸氧化的电催化活性和稳定性按NH4ClO4NaClO4HClO4的次序降低.由于甲酸的存在,不同电解液的pH相差较小,因此,电解液的pH影响较小,而阳离子的影响较大.在NaClO4电解液中的性能优于在HClO4电解液中的性能是pH的影响.在NH4ClO4电解液中的性能优于在NaClO4电解液中是由于NH4+能降低CO在Pd/C催化剂电极上的吸附强度和吸附量,这一发现对提高直接甲酸燃料电池(DFAFC)的性能很有意义.     

Electrodeposited PdNi2 alloy with novelly enhanced catalytic activity for electrooxidation of formic acid

Bimetallic palladium–nickel (PdNi₂) alloy catalyst has been prepared for the electrooxidation of formic acid through a simple electrodepositing approach. Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Diffraction revealed that the particle morphology and the crystalline lattice of PdNi₂ alloy were highly different from those of Pd. Although the PdNi₂ catalyst had less noble Pd content, the cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry results clearly demonstrated that its catalytic activity was significantly higher than that of Pd. The novel enhancement of catalytic activity was mainly ascribed to the weak absorption strength of intermediates on Pd through the interaction between Pd and additive Ni, which facilitated the formic acid oxidation through direct pathway.     

中空介孔三氧化钨微球载钯催化剂的甲酸氧化电催化性能

采用喷雾干燥法和焙烧处理制备中空介孔三氧化钨微球(HMTTS),在其表面进一步负载活性成分Pd,得到纳米Pd/HMTTS复合催化剂. 采用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)等对催化剂的形貌和晶型结构进行了表征. 结果表明,Pd纳米粒子为面心立方晶体结构,均匀地分布在HMTTS表面. 采用循环伏安和计时电流法研究了在酸性溶液中Pd/HMTTS 催化剂对甲酸的电催化氧化性能,结果表明Pd/HMTTS 催化剂比普通的三氧化钨载钯催化剂(Pd/WO₃)对甲酸呈现出更高的电催化氧化活性和稳定性.HMTTS独特的中空介孔结构和表面特性以及氢溢流效应有利于甲酸在钯表面的直接脱氢氧化过程的发生.     

Activity of Pt anode catalyst modified by underpotential deposited Pb in a direct formic acid fuel cell

We characterized the electrocatalytic activity of platinum electrode modified by underpotential deposited lead (PtPb_upd) for a formic acid (HCOOH) oxidation and investigated the influence on the power performance of direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFC). Based on the electrochemical analysis using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, PtPb_upd electrode modified by underpotential deposition (UPD) exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic activity for HCOOH oxidation below anodic overpotential of 0.4 V (vs. SCE). Multi-layered PtPb_upd electrode structure of Pt/Pb_upd/Pt resulted in more stable and enhanced performance using 50% reduced loading of anode catalyst. The performance of multi-layered PtPb_upd anode is about 120 mW/cm² at 0.4 V and it also showed a sustainable cell activity of 0.52 V at an application of constant current loading of 110 mA/cm².     

偏钒酸钠对甲酸在Pd/C催化剂上氧化的电催化性能影响的机理

直接甲酸燃料电池的两大问题是Pd催化剂对甲酸氧化的电催化稳定性不好和Pd能催化甲酸分解。研究发现,当Pd/C在偏钒酸钠溶液中浸泡后能吸附上VO3-,吸附上VO3-的Pd/C催化剂对甲酸分解的催化性能会大大降低,由甲酸分解产生的CO的量也大大降低,使Pd/C催化剂被CO毒化的几率也大大降低,因此,在偏钒酸钠溶液中浸泡后的Pd/C催化剂对甲酸氧化的峰电流密度要比没有浸泡的Pd/C催化剂高13%左右。计时电流曲线的测量表明,6000 s时在偏钒酸钠溶液中浸泡后的Pd/C催化剂对甲酸氧化的峰电流密度要比没有浸泡的Pd/C催化剂高42%左右。结果证明,在偏钒酸钠溶液中浸泡能提高Pd/C催化剂对甲酸氧化的电催化活性,特别是电催化稳定性。     

Performance study of palladium modified platinum anode in direct ethanol fuel cells: A green power source

The direct ethanol fuel cell is a green and renewable power source alternative to fossil fuels and produces less emissions compared to a combustion engine. Ethanol can be generated in great quantity from renewable resources like biomass through a fermentation process. Bio-generated ethanol is thus attractive fuel since growing crops for biofuels absorbs much of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from the oxidation of ethanol. The platinum and palladium were co-deposited on graphite substrate by the galvanostatic technique and employed as anode catalyst for ethanol electrooxidation. The information on surface morphology, structural characteristics and bulk composition of the catalyst was obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used for the estimation of the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of the synthesized catalysts in alkaline medium. The CVs for ethanol oxidation revealed superior catalytic activity of Pt–Pd/C compared to Pd/C and Pt/C. The effect of OH^? on ethanol oxidation at Pt–Pd/C catalyst was studied using cyclic voltammetry, quasisteady-state polarization, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The Pt–Pd/C catalyst shows good stability and enhanced electrocatalytic activity is ascribed to the synergistic effect of higher electrochemical surface area, preferred OH^? adsorption on the surface and palladium ad-atom contribution on the alloyed surface.     

聚吡咯改性炭载Pd催化剂促进甲酸电氧化

直接甲酸燃料电池(DFAFC)阳极活性炭载Pd催化剂活性组分易聚集,分散差且存在炭载体的电腐蚀作用,造成催化活性低稳定性差。 为解决上述问题,本文通过调控炭载Pd催化剂的载体改善催化活性和稳定性。 采用低温化学氧化法制备了聚吡咯(PPy)与活性炭复合材料,在聚合过程中加入活性炭,经过高温热解聚吡咯形成复合碳载体负载Pd催化剂,并表征了热解聚吡咯碳修饰催化剂表面形貌,发现聚吡咯修饰后的催化剂载体表面氮元素以吡咯氮的形式存在,催化剂活性组分Pd纳米粒子可稳定在2.25 nm。 通过甲酸电催化氧化性能测试,结果表明,Pd单位质量比活性比Pd/C催化剂提高了2.5倍。     

离子聚合物微球负载钯催化甲酸分解产氢

催化甲酸分解产氢是氢气储存和氢能利用的重要途径。以对乙烯基吡啶和1,3,5-三(溴甲基)-2,4,6-三甲基苯为原料,通过季胺化和聚合,制备了树枝状离子聚合物微球。负载Pd纳米粒子后用于催化甲酸分解产氢。微球的离子交换性能、含N特性以及分子内部空穴使制备的Pd 纳米粒子具有高分散性、小尺寸、均一粒径和优化的电子结构。考察了甲酸浓度和反应温度对产氢速率的影响。结果表明,在50℃、甲酸浓度为1 M、甲酸与钯摩尔比为200、甲酸与甲酸钠摩尔比为3的优化反应条件下,甲酸完全分解时间为30 min。催化剂使用4次后活性无明显下降。     

Palladium on carbon‐catalyzed direct C—H arylation polycondensation of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene with various dibromoarenes

We have demonstrated a direct arylation polycondensation of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene using palladium on carbon (Pd/C) as a catalyst. Pd/C is a low‐cost solid‐supported palladium catalyst, giving one of the effective catalytic systems for direct arylation. The Pd/C‐catalyzed direct arylation polycondensation with acetic acid/potassium carbonate in N,N‐dimethylacetamide furnished a high molecular weight π‐conjugated alternating copolymer of EDOT‐fluorene (M_n = 89,300, M_w/M_n = 3.27) in high yield. The polycondensation of EDOT with various dibromoarenes was also achieved, giving EDOT‐carbazole, EDOT‐dialylamine, and EDOT‐bithiophene polymers. Optical and electrochemical properties of the polymers were also discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 55, 1183–1188     

Electrochemical Hydroxylation of Arenes Catalyzed by a Keggin Polyoxometalate with a Cobalt(IV) Heteroatom

The sustainable, selective direct hydroxylation of arenes, such as benzene to phenol, is an important research challenge. An electrocatalytic transformation using formic acid to oxidize benzene and its halogenated derivatives to selectively yield aryl formates, which are easily hydrolyzed by water to yield the corresponding phenols, is presented. The formylation reaction occurs on a Pt anode in the presence of [Co^IIIW₁₂O₄₀]^5? as a catalyst and lithium formate as an electrolyte via formation of a formyloxyl radical as the reactive species, which was trapped by a BMPO spin trap and identified by EPR. Hydrogen was formed at the Pt cathode. The sum transformation is ArH+H₂O→ArOH+H₂. Non‐optimized reaction conditions showed a Faradaic efficiency of 75 % and selective formation of the mono‐oxidized product in a 35 % yield. Decomposition of formic acid into CO₂ and H₂ is a side‐reaction.     

Mechanistic study of the deactivation of carbon supported Pd during formic acid oxidation

Palladium is an attractive anode catalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFC) because of its high activity relative to Pt, but it suffers significant activity losses during operation of the DFAFC. The deactivation mechanism of a Pd/C catalyst during oxidation of formic acid has been studied by means of electrochemical stripping voltammetry. The stripping characteristics of the anode poison are virtually the same as those of adsorbed CO, and adsorbed CO has a similar poisoning effect. It is therefore proposed that a gradual build-up of adsorbed CO causes the deactivation of Pd in DFAFCs.     

A Carbon–Air Battery for High Power Generation

We report a carbon–air battery for power generation based on a solid‐oxide fuel cell (SOFC) integrated with a ceramic CO₂‐permeable membrane. An anode‐supported tubular SOFC functioned as a carbon fuel container as well as an electrochemical device for power generation, while a high‐temperature CO₂‐permeable membrane composed of a CO₃^2? mixture and an O^2? conducting phase (Sm_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9) was integrated for in situ separation of CO₂ (electrochemical product) from the anode chamber, delivering high fuel‐utilization efficiency. After modifying the carbon fuel with a reverse Boudouard reaction catalyst to promote the in situ gasification of carbon to CO, an attractive peak power density of 279.3 mW cm^?2 was achieved for the battery at 850 °C, and a small stack composed of two batteries can be operated continuously for 200 min. This work provides a novel type of electrochemical energy device that has a wide range of application potentials.