Enhanced stability of symmetrical polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell single cells based on novel hierarchical microporous-mesoporous carbon supports

Fuel cell electrodes were prepared from Pt nanocluster activated hierarchical microporous-mesoporous carbon powders. The carbon supports were synthesized from molybdenum carbide applying the high-temperature chlorination method. Six different synthesis temperatures within the range from 600 to 1000 °C were used for preparation of carbon supports. Thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen sorption, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy methods were used to characterize the structure of the electrode materials and symmetrical membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). The MEAs prepared were used to conduct the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)single-cell measurements. The polarization and power density curves for single cells were calculated to evaluate the activity of the catalyst materials synthesized. The electrochemically active surface area (from 2.4 to 11.9 m² g^?1) was obtained in order to estimate the contact surface areas of platinum and Nafion® electrolyte. The values of the electrolyte resistance, polarization resistance, and cell degradation rate were calculated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data. The carbon materials synthesized within temperature range from 600 to 850 °C were found to be the most suitable supports for PEMFCs, having higher maximum power density values and better stability (cell potential degradation 240 μV h^?1) than commercial carbon-based (Vulcan XC72; 670 μV h^?1) single cells.     

ZIF-Induced d-Band Modification in a Bimetallic Nanocatalyst: Achieving Over 44 % Efficiency in the Ambient Nitrogen Reduction Reaction

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers a sustainable solution towards ammonia production but suffers poor reaction performance owing to preferential catalyst–H formation and the consequential hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Now, the Pt/Au electrocatalyst d-band structure is electronically modified using zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF) to achieve a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of >44 % with high ammonia yield rate of >161 μg mg_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ under ambient conditions. The strategy lowers electrocatalyst d-band position to weaken H adsorption and concurrently creates electron-deficient sites to kinetically drive NRR by promoting catalyst–N₂ interaction. The ZIF coating on the electrocatalyst doubles as a hydrophobic layer to suppress HER, further improving FE by >44-fold compared to without ZIF (ca. 1 %). The Pt/Au-N_ZIF interaction is key to enable strong N₂ adsorption over H atom.     

Structure and absolute configuration of enhydrin bromohydrin

X-ray study of enhydrin bromohydrin, C₂₃H₂₉BrO₁₀, reveals that the crystal has space groupP2₁2₁2₁ with cell parametersa =10.08,b = 26.97, andc = 8.94 Å. There are four molecules in the unit cell. The structure was solved by direct methods, with three-dimensional CuK diffractometer data to = 75 °, and refined by block-diagonal least squares to anR index of 11.4% for 2254 reflections. The molecule is a germacronolide sesquiterpene having acis sterochemistry at the C(1), C(10) double bond and atrans configuration at the epoxide ring, C(4)-O-C(5). The absolute configuration established on the basis of the anomalous scattering of CuK. radiation by the bromine atom shows that the asymmetric atoms have the 4R, 5R, 6S, 7S, 8S, 9S, 20S, and 22S configurations.     

Plasmonic Hotspots in Air: An Omnidirectional Three‐Dimensional Platform for Stand‐Off In‐Air SERS Sensing of Airborne Species

Molecular‐level airborne sensing is critical for early prevention of disasters, diseases, and terrorism. Currently, most 2D surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates used for air sensing have only one functional surface and exhibit poor SERS‐active depth. “Aerosolized plasmonic colloidosomes” (APCs) are introduced as airborne plasmonic hotspots for direct in‐air SERS measurements. APCs function as a macroscale 3D and omnidirectional plasmonic cloud that receives laser irradiation and emits signals in all directions. Importantly, it brings about an effective plasmonic hotspot in a length scale of approximately 2.3 cm, which affords 100‐fold higher tolerance to laser misalignment along the z‐axis compared with 2D SERS substrates. APCs exhibit an extraordinary omnidirectional property and demonstrate consistent SERS performance that is independent of the laser and analyte introductory pathway. Furthermore, the first in‐air SERS detection is demonstrated in stand‐off conditions at a distance of 200 cm, highlighting the applicability of 3D omnidirectional plasmonic clouds for remote airborne sensing in threatening or inaccessible areas.     

Reversible water-swellable chitin gel

A novel, reversible, water-swellable chitin gel has been produced by the carboxymethylation of a dry chitin film. The property of this material is that unlike carboxymethyl-chitin, it takes up water but is not soluble and retains a degree of rigidity even when wet. The degree of swelling depends on the reaction conditions and alkali (sodium or potassium hydroxide) used as a co-reactant during the carboxymethylation. Upon drying, the gel returns to its dry film form. This water uptake and loss is cyclic, which is a desirable property in certain applications and is a tremendous advantage in the handling of this material. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2049–2053, 1997     

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and thickness with a convergent beam

A new approach to the simultaneous measurement of refractive index and thickness based on the focus shifts of a convergent beam intercepted by a test plate is proposed. By using ray optics, a defined focus shift can be derived as a function of the refractive index and thickness as well as the angular position of the test plate with respect to the optical axis. From a pair of focus shifts obtained at two different angular positions, it is shown that the desired measurands can be simultaneously determined without prior knowledge of either parameter. A simulation result for the proposed concept based on graphically solving the equations of their respective focus shifts is presented.