Metallic Nickel Hydroxide Nanosheets Give Superior Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Urea for Fuel Cells

The direct urea fuel cell (DUFC) is an important but challenging renewable energy production technology, it offers great promise for energy‐sustainable developments and mitigating water contamination. However, DUFCs still suffer from the sluggish kinetics of the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) owing to a 6 e^? transfer process, which poses a severe hindrance to their practical use. Herein, taking β‐Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets as the proof‐of‐concept study, we demonstrated a surface‐chemistry strategy to achieve metallic Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets by engineering their electronic structure, representing a first metallic configuration of transition‐metal hydroxides. Surface sulfur incorporation successfully brings synergetic effects of more exposed active sites, good wetting behavior, and effective electron transport, giving rise to greatly enhanced performance for UOR. Metallic nanosheets exhibited a much higher current density, smaller onset potential and stronger durability.     

Carbon Monoxide Oxidation on Pt Single Crystal Electrodes: Understanding the Catalysis for Low Temperature Fuel Cells

Herein the general concepts of fuel cells are discussed, with special attention to low temperature fuel cells working in alkaline media. Alkaline low temperature fuel cells could well be one of the energy sources in the next future. This technology has the potential to provide power to portable devices, transportation and stationary sectors. With the aim to solve the principal catalytic problems at the anode of low temperature fuel cells, a fundamental study of the mechanism and kinetics of carbon monoxide as well as water dissociation on stepped platinum surfaces in alkaline medium is discussed and compared with those in acidic media. Furthermore, cations involved as promoters for catalytic surface reactions are also considered. Therefore, the aim of the present work is not only to provide the new fundamental advances in the electrocatalysis field, but also to understand the reactions occurring at fuel cell catalysts, which may help to improve the fabrication of novel electrodes in order to enhance the performance and to decrease the cost of low temperature fuel cells.     

Direct‐methanol Fuel Cell Based on Functionalized Graphene Oxide with Mono‐metallic and Bi‐metallic Nanoparticles: Electrochemical Performances of Nanomaterials for Methanol Oxidation

The catalysts based on 2‐aminoethanethiol functionalized graphene oxide (AETGO) with several mono‐metallic and bi‐metallic nanoparticles such as rod gold (rAuNPs), rod silver (rAgNPs), rod gold‐platinum (rAu‐Pt NPs) and rod silver‐platinum (rAg‐Pt NPs) were synthesized. The successful synthesis of nanomaterials was confirmed by various methods. The effective surface area (ESA) of the rAu‐Pt NPs/AETGO is 1.44, 1.64 and 2.40 times higher than those of rAg‐Pt NPs/AETGO, rAuNPs/AETGO and rAgNPs/AETGO, respectively, under the same amount of Pt. The rAu‐Pt NPs/AETGO exhibited a higher peak current for methanol oxidation than those of comparable rAg‐Pt NPs/AETGO under the same amount of Pt loading.     

Reactivity and Operational Stability of N‐Tailed TAMLs through Kinetic Studies of the Catalyzed Oxidation of Orange II by H2O2: Synthesis and X‐ray Structure of an N‐Phenyl TAML

The catalytic activity of the N‐tailed (“biuret”) TAML (tetraamido macrocyclic ligand) activators [Fe{4‐XC₆H₃‐1,2‐( N COCMe₂ N CO)₂NR}Cl]^2? ( 3 ; N atoms in boldface are coordinated to the central iron atom; the same nomenclature is used in for compounds 1 and 2 below), [X, R=H, Me ( a ); NO₂, Me ( b ); H, Ph ( c )] in the oxidative bleaching of Orange II dye by H₂O₂ in aqueous solution is mechanistically compared with the previously investigated activator [Fe{4‐XC₆H₃‐1,2‐( N COCMe₂ N CO)₂CMe₂}OH₂]^? ( 1 ) and the more aggressive analogue [Fe(Me₂C{CON(1,2‐C₆H₃‐4‐X) N CO}₂)OH₂]^? ( 2 ). Catalysis by 3 of the reaction between H₂O₂ and Orange II (S) occurs according to the rate law found generally for TAML activators (v=k_Ik_II[Fe^III][S][H₂O₂]/(k_I[H₂O₂]+k_II[S]) and the rate constants k_I and k_II at pH 7 both decrease within the series 3 b > 3 a > 3 c . The pH dependency of k_I and k_II was investigated for 3 a . As with all TAML activators studied to‐date, bell‐shaped profiles were found for both rate constants. For k_I, the maximal activity was found at pH 10.7 marking it as having similar reactivity to 1 a . For k_II, the broad bell pH profile exhibits a maximum at pH about 10.5. The condition k_I?k_II holds across the entire pH range studied. Activator 3 b exhibits pronounced activity in neutral to slightly basic aqueous solutions making it worthy of consideration on a technical performance basis for water treatment. The rate constants k_i for suicidal inactivation of the active forms of complexes 3 a – c were calculated using the general formula ln([S₀]/[S_∞])=(k_II/k_i)[Fe^III]; here [Fe^III], [S₀], and [S_∞] are the total catalyst concentration and substrate concentration at time zero and infinity, respectively. The synthesis and X‐ray characterization of 3 c are also described.     

Oxidation Reactivity of Bis(μ‐oxo) Dinickel(III) Complexes: Arene Hydroxylation of the Supporting Ligand

In the nick(el) of time : Bis(μ‐oxo) dinickel(III) complexes 2 (see scheme), generated in the reaction of 1 with H₂O₂, are capable of hydroxylating the xylyl linker of the supporting ligand to give 3 . Kinetic studies reveal that hydroxylation proceeds by electrophilic aromatic substitution. The lower reactivity than the corresponding μ‐η²:η²‐peroxo dicopper(II) complexes can be attributed to unfavorable entropy effects.

     

Novel Polymer Electrolyte Membrane,Based on Pyridine Containing Poly(ether sulfone), for Application in High‐Temperature Fuel Cells

Summary: Novel poly(aryl ether sulfone) copolymers containing 2,5‐biphenylpyridine and tetramethyl biphenyl moieties were synthesized by polycondensation of 4‐fluorophenyl sulfone with 2,5‐(4′,4″ dihydroxy biphenyl)pyridine and tetramethyl biphenyl diol. Copolymers with different molecular weights and different monomer compositions were obtained. These copolymers exhibit excellent film‐forming properties, mechanical integrity, and high modulus up to 250 °C, high glass transition temperatures (above 280 °C) as well as high thermal stability up to 400 °C. In addition to the above properties required for PEMFC application, this novel material shows high oxidative stability and acid doping ability, enabling proton conductivity in the range of 10⁻² S · cm⁻¹ above 130 °C.

Synthesis of copolymers with high acid uptake and ionic conductivity.     

Facile Fabrication of Graphene‐Containing Foam as a High‐Performance Anode for Microbial Fuel Cells

Facile fabrication of novel three‐dimensional anode materials to increase the bacterial loading capacity and improve substrate transport in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is of great interest and importance. Herein, a novel graphene‐containing foam (GCF) was fabricated easily by freeze‐drying and pyrolysis of a graphene oxide–agarose gel. Owing to the involvement of graphene and stainless‐steel mesh in the GCF, the GCF shows high electrical conductivity, enabling the GCF to be a conductive electrode for MFC applications. With the aid of agarose, the GCF electrode possesses a supermacroporous structure with pore sizes ranging from 100–200 μm and a high surface area, which greatly increase the bacterial loading capacity. Cell viability measurements indicate that the GCF possesses excellent biocompatibility. The MFC, equipped with a 0.4 mm‐thick GCF anode, shows a maximum area power density of 786 mW m^?2, which is 4.1 times that of a MFC equipped with a commercial carbon cloth anode. The simple fabrication route in combination with the outstanding electrochemical performance of the GCF indicates a promising anode for MFC applications.     

Direct Electrochemical Oxidation of Cellulose: A Cellulose‐Based Fuel Cell System

Direct electricity generation from cellulose without saccharification and fermentation processes was achieved on gold electrode under the alkaline conditions. We (i) overcame problems with the insolubility of cellulose, and captured its electrochemical potential, and (ii) showed that cellulose was converted to cellulose derivatives due to electrochemical oxidation. In addition, we (iii) constructed a cellulose‐based fuel cell, demonstrating that cellulose can be direct electrical based fuel source. The presented fuel cell system overcomes the enormous distribution challenges encountered with other alternative bioenergy sources such as hydrogen.     

Rational Design of Lower‐Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes via Nanotailoring of Co‐Assembled Composite Structures

A novel in situ co‐assembled nanocomposite LSM‐Bi_1.6Er_0.4O₃ (ESB) (icn‐LSMESB) was obtained by conjugated wet‐chemical synthesis. It showed an enhancement of the cathode polarization at 600 °C by >140 times relative to conventional LSM‐Y_0.08Zr_0.84O_1.92 (YSZ) cathodes and exceptional solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) performance of >2 W cm^?2 below 750 °C. This demonstrates that this novel cost‐effective and broadly applicable process provides new opportunities for performance enhancement of energy storage and conversion devices by nanotailoring of composite electrodes.     

Efficient Hydrogen Oxidation Catalyzed by Strain‐Engineered Nickel Nanoparticles

The hydroxide‐exchange membrane fuel cell (HEMFC) is a promising energy conversion device. However, the development of HEMFC is hampered by the lack of platinum‐group‐metal‐free (PGM‐free) electrocatalysts for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). Now, a Ni catalyst is reported that exhibits the highest mass activity in HOR for a PGM‐free catalyst as well as excellent activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This catalyst, Ni‐H₂‐2 %, was optimized through pyrolysis of a Ni‐containing metal‐organic framework precursor under a mixed N₂/H₂ atmosphere, which yielded carbon‐supported Ni nanoparticles with different levels of strains. The Ni‐H₂‐2 % catalyst has an optimal level of strain, which leads to an optimal hydrogen binding energy and a high number of active sites.     

An Aurivillius Oxide Based Cathode with Excellent CO2 Tolerance for Intermediate‐Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The Aurivillius oxide Bi₂Sr₂Nb₂MnO_12?δ (BSNM) was used as a cobalt‐free cathode for intermediate‐temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT‐SOFCs). To the best of our knowledge, the BSNM oxide is the only alkaline‐earth‐containing cathode material with complete CO₂ tolerance that has been reported thus far. BSNM not only shows favorable activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at intermediate temperatures but also exhibits a low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent structural stability, and good chemical compatibility with the electrolyte. These features highlight the potential of the new BSNM material as a highly promising cathode material for IT‐SOFCs.     

High‐Activity PtRuPd/C Catalyst for Direct Dimethyl Ether Fuel Cells

Dimethyl ether (DME) has been considered as a promising alternative fuel for direct‐feed fuel cells but lack of an efficient DME oxidation electrocatalyst has remained the challenge for the commercialization of the direct DME fuel cell. The commonly studied binary PtRu catalyst shows much lower activity in DME than methanol oxidation. In this work, guided by density functional theory (DFT) calculation, a ternary carbon‐supported PtRuPd catalyst was designed and synthesized for DME electrooxidation. DFT calculations indicated that Pd in the ternary PtRuPd catalyst is capable of significantly decreasing the activation energy of the C? O and C? H bond scission during the oxidation process. As evidenced by both electrochemical measurements in an aqueous electrolyte and polymer‐electrolyte fuel cell testing, the ternary catalyst shows much higher activity (two‐fold enhancement at 0.5 V in fuel cells) than the state‐of‐the‐art binary Pt₅₀Ru₅₀/C catalyst (HiSPEC 12100).     

The Solid‐Phase Synthesis of an Fe‐N‐C Electrocatalyst for High‐Power Proton‐Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The environmentally friendly synthesis of highly active Fe‐N‐C electrocatalysts for proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is desirable but remains challenging. A simple and scalable method is presented to fabricate Fe^II‐doped ZIF‐8, which can be further pyrolyzed into Fe‐N‐C with 3 wt % of Fe exclusively in Fe‐N₄ active moieties. Significantly, this Fe‐N‐C derived acidic PEMFC exhibits an unprecedented current density of 1.65 A cm^?2 at 0.6 V and the highest power density of 1.14 W cm^?2 compared with previously reported NPMCs. The excellent PEMFC performance can be attributed to the densely and atomically dispersed Fe‐N₄ active moieties on the small and uniform catalyst nanoparticles.     

低温燃料电池氧电极催化剂

氧电极催化剂及缓慢的阴极氧还原动力学是制约低温燃料电池商业化的关键瓶颈因素之一。为此,国内外研究者近年来从提高低温燃料电池氧电极催化剂的催化活性和稳定性、降低催化剂的成本、发展非贵金属氧还原催化剂等方面开展了大量的研究工作,有力地促进了低温燃料电池的发展进程。本文在简要介绍低温燃料电池氧电极反应机理的基础上,从催化剂载体、贵金属及其合金催化剂、金属大环化合物及M-N/C类催化剂和过渡金属硫族化合物类催化剂等方面详细综述了低温燃料电池氧电极催化剂近年来的主要研究进展,并指出了各类催化剂目前尚待解决的问题和发展方向。     

Designing a Highly Active Metal‐Free Oxygen Reduction Catalyst in Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Alkaline Fuel Cells: Effects of Pore Size and Doping‐Site Position

To promote the oxygen reduction reaction of metal‐free catalysts, the introduction of porous structure is considered as a desirable approach because the structure can enhance mass transport and host many catalytic active sites. However, most of the previous studies reported only half‐cell characterization; therefore, studies on membrane electrode assembly (MEA) are still insufficient. Furthermore, the effect of doping‐site position in the structure has not been investigated. Here, we report the synthesis of highly active metal‐free catalysts in MEAs by controlling pore size and doping‐site position. Both influence the accessibility of reactants to doping sites, which affects utilization of doping sites and mass‐transport properties. Finally, an N,P‐codoped ordered mesoporous carbon with a large pore size and precisely controlled doping‐site position showed a remarkable on‐set potential and produced 70 % of the maximum power density obtained using Pt/C.