Gold Decorated Graphene by Laser Ablation for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol and Ethanol

A well‐known limitation in the fabrication of metal‐graphene composite has been the use of surfactants that strongly adsorb on the surface and reduce the performance of the catalyst. We demonstrate here a novel one‐pot synthesis of gold nanoparticles by laser ablation of gold strip and in‐situ decoration on graphene substrate. Not only the impregnation of nanoparticles was linker free, but also the synthesis by itself was surfactant‐free. The composite materials were well characterized morphologically and functionally using electron microscopy, X‐ray and electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Zeta potential, electrochemical measurements and UV‐Visible spectroscopic techniques. This linker‐free gold‐graphene based composite has been employed for catalytic applications pertaining to electrooxidation. We have explored the use of this composite as a binder‐free electrode in electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and ethanol in alkaline medium. Additionally, the onset potential for ethanol oxidation was found to be more negative, ?100 mV, an indication of its promising application in direct ethanol fuel cells.     

An Effective Pd–Ni2P/C Anode Catalyst for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

The direct formic acid fuel cell is an emerging energy conversion device for which palladium is considered as the state‐of‐the‐art anode catalyst. In this communication, we show that the activity and stability of palladium for formic acid oxidation can be significantly enhanced using nickel phosphide (Ni₂P) nanoparticles as a cocatalyst. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals a strong electronic interaction between Ni₂P and Pd. A direct formic acid fuel cell incorporating the best Pd–Ni₂P anode catalyst exhibits a power density of 550 mW cm^?2, which is 3.5 times of that of an analogous device using a commercial Pd anode catalyst.     

适用于汽油参比燃料TRF的多环芳香烃生成机理

构造了一个包括287种组分和1569个反应的汽油参比燃料TRF(toluene reference fuel)燃烧过程中多环芳香烃(PAHs)生成机理的详细化学反应动力学模型,引入四种PAH生长路径将多环芳香烃的生成机理发展到芘A4(C20H12)水平,并通过对PAH产率的分析,指出乙炔(C2H2)、丙炔(C3H3)、乙烯基乙炔(C4H4)以及含有奇数碳原子的环戊二烯自由基(C5H5)和茚基(C9H7)等物质对PAHs生成和生长起到重要作用.该机理可以较准确计算基础燃料(PRF)和TRF火焰的着火延迟期、燃烧火焰中小分子(PAH前驱体C2H2、C3H4等)和PAHs的物质浓度.通过与实验数据的比较表明,该机理在不同温度、压力、化学计量比下具有较好的性能.由此分析,该机理对碳烟前驱物PAHs的预测性能是可靠的.     

生物柴油替代混合物化学动力学模型构建及路径分析

以癸酸甲酯(C₁₁H₂₂O₂)和正庚烷(nC₇H₁₆)作为生物柴油替代混合物,通过相对分子质量、低热值以及含氧量与实际生物柴油对比确定两种组分按摩尔比1：1混合,并在此基础上构建了一个由691种组分、3226个基元反应组成的生物柴油替代混合物的化学动力学机理. 在激波管条件下该机理计算的着火延迟与实验数据吻合很好;在发动机条件下该机理计算的缸内压力与实验值吻合很好,CO、未燃碳氢和NOx与实验结果趋势一致.此外,本文还对替代混合物的低温反应动力学过程进行了分析,结果表明癸酸甲酯脱氢产物主要为MD2J和MDMJ. MD2J在低温阶段的主要消耗途径除了加氧之外,还有与正庚烷基(C₇H₁₅-1)第一次加氧产物(C₇H₁₅O₂-3)进行交叉反应;发生分解反应生成MP2D及与氧发生脱氢反应生成MD2D. 另一种主要脱氢产物MDMJ在低温阶段的主要消耗途径为通过同分异构转化为MD2J和MD3J.     

基于膦酸基的高温质子交换膜的研究进展

提高质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFCs)的工作温度,不但可以提高电催化剂的活性以及电催化剂对原料气中CO等杂质气体的耐受能力,少用甚至不用Pt 等贵金属作电催化剂,还可以简化PEMFCs的水热管理系统,提高PEMFCs的综合能量转化效率. 实现高温PEMFCs的核心是开发能够适用于高温PEMFCs的高温质子交换膜(HT-PEM),是PEMFCs的研究热点. 在众多HT-PEM候选材料中,基于膦酸基的质子交换膜材料是最具前途的候选材料之一,是制备HT-PEM的主要研究方向. 本文综述了基于膦酸基的HT-PEM的研究进展,讨论了膦酸基参与的质子传导机理,比较了纯聚合物膦酸膜、膦酸基接枝改性膜、酸-碱两性膜、掺杂型复合膜的电导率、物理化学稳定性、机械性能等. 最后,展望了基于膦酸基的HT-PEM的发展趋势.     

碱性固体燃料电池碱性聚合物电解质膜的最新研究进展

最近,碱性聚合物电解质膜燃料电池(APEMFC)因具有电极反应动力学快以及不依赖于贵金属铂催化剂等诸多优点而成为一个热门话题.作为其中一个关键部件,碱性聚合物电解质膜直接影响燃料电池的性能和成本.然而,迄今为止,仍然没有令人满意的碱性电解质膜材料.为此,大量研究被开展和报道.本文综述了近三年内文献中关于燃料电池碱性聚合物电解质膜的最新研究进展:包括各种各样的合成策略,构效关系,水管理以及非原位或原位稳定性测试等等.尤其是一些新的金属离子基阴离子交换膜和冠醚基阴离子交换膜首次被提及和评论.此外,还进一步预测了将来的发展趋势.     

Hollow Spheres of Iron Carbide Nanoparticles Encased in Graphitic Layers as Oxygen Reduction Catalysts

Nonprecious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction are the ultimate materials and the foremost subject for low‐temperature fuel cells. A novel type of catalysts prepared by high‐pressure pyrolysis is reported. The catalyst is featured by hollow spherical morphologies consisting of uniform iron carbide (Fe₃C) nanoparticles encased by graphitic layers, with little surface nitrogen or metallic functionalities. In acidic media the outer graphitic layers stabilize the carbide nanoparticles without depriving them of their catalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). As a result the catalyst is highly active and stable in both acid and alkaline electrolytes. The synthetic approach, the carbide‐based catalyst, the structure of the catalysts, and the proposed mechanism open new avenues for the development of ORR catalysts.     

Highly Active Bidirectional Electron Transfer by a Self‐Assembled Electroactive Reduced‐Graphene‐Oxide‐Hybridized Biofilm

Low extracellular electron transfer performance is often a bottleneck in developing high‐performance bioelectrochemical systems. Herein, we show that the self‐assembly of graphene oxide and Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 formed an electroactive, reduced‐graphene‐oxide‐hybridized, three‐dimensional macroporous biofilm, which enabled highly efficient bidirectional electron transfers between Shewanella and electrodes owing to high biomass incorporation and enhanced direct contact‐based extracellular electron transfer. This 3D electroactive biofilm delivered a 25‐fold increase in the outward current (oxidation current, electron flux from bacteria to electrodes) and 74‐fold increase in the inward current (reduction current, electron flux from electrodes to bacteria) over that of the naturally occurring biofilms.     

Metastable Ionic Diodes Derived from an Amine‐Based Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity

A highly rigid amine‐based polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM), prepared by a polymerization reaction involving the formation of Tröger’s base, is demonstrated to act as an ionic diode with electrolyte‐dependent bistable switchable states.     

Mapping Platinum Species in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells by Spatially Resolved XAFS Techniques

There is limited information on the mechanism for platinum oxidation and dissolution in Pt/C cathode catalyst layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) under the operating conditions though these issues should be uncovered for the development of next‐generation PEFCs. Pt species in Pt/C cathode catalyst layers are mapped by a XAFS (X‐ray absorption fine structure) method and by a quick‐XAFS(QXAFS) method. Information on the site‐preferential oxidation and leaching of Pt cathode nanoparticles around the cathode boundary and the micro‐crack in degraded PEFCs is provided, which is relevant to the origin and mechanism of PEFC degradation.