Morphologically controlled synthesis of 1-dimensional selenium dioxide and study of its application as catalyst for diesel fuel additive

In this research work, selenium dioxide (SeO₂) nanorods have been prepared by a solvothermal method in which a strong reducing agent (NaBH₄) was used to reduce precursor salt into SeO₂ nanorods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was applied to observe the crystal structure which confirmed its tetragonal geometry. Moreover, morphology and particle size were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM fully described the 1-dimensional morphology of SeO₂ nanorods which then arranged themselves to create a 3-dimensional flower-like structure with an average particle size of 50 nm. Also, the catalytic activity of SeO₂ nanorods as diesel-additive was studied by defining different parameters such as fire and flash points, calorific value, cloud and pour points, specific gravity, and kinematic viscosity. Subsequently, SeO₂ nanorods proved to be an excellent diesel additive due to higher total heat content and lower value of kinematic viscosity which enhances the better performance of the diesel engine.     

Proton conductivity of phosphoric acid derivative of fullerene

The proton conductive property of methano [60] fullerene diphosphoric acid has been investigated under various humidity conditions at the temperature range between 15 and 45 °C. It shows proton conductivity as high as 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C under relative humidity of 95%. Thermal analyses including TG–DTA and thermal desorption mass spectroscopy (TDS) confirm that the compound is thermally stable up to 200 °C. Proton conduction of the compound depends very much on humidity or water content. The logarithmic conductivity at 25 °C is increased linearly with increasing relative humidity. The activation energy (E_a) estimated from the slope of log(σT) vs. 1/T is decreased from 1.08 to 0.52 eV, as the relative humidity is increased from 40% to 75%. The humidity dependence of conductivity is discussed in the light of the observed hydration isotherm.     

Classical, phenomenological analysis of the kinetics of reactions at the gas-exposed surface of mixed ionic electronic conductors

The kinetics of reactions occurring at the gas-exposed surfaces of charged mixed ionic electronic conductors (MIECs) are examined from theoretical first principles. Analysis based on the classical electrochemical potential-transition state theory model reveals that the nature of the reactions is electrochemical in general. However, the influence of the surface potential on the reaction rate is opposite for adsorption and incorporation reactions. Two-dimensional finite volume models of an MIEC as working electrode in a half-cell configuration are presented. The results for a simple, two-step reduction process show that the effect of the surface potential on the rate of reactions is minimal for incorporation-limited reactions but more influential for adsorption-limited reactions. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Modeling of environmentally significant interfaces: Two case studies

When some parameters cannot be easily measured experimentally, mathematical models can often be used to deconvolute or interpret data collected on complex systems, such as those characteristic of many environmental problems. These models can help quantify the contributions of various physical or chemical phenomena that contribute to the overall behavior, thereby enabling the scientist to control and manipulate these phenomena, and thus to optimize the performance of the material or device. In the first case study presented here, a model is used to test the hypothesis that oxygen interactions with hydrogen on the catalyst particles of solid oxide fuel cell anodes can sometimes occur a finite distance away from the triple phase boundary (TPB), so that such reactions are not restricted to the TPB as normally assumed. The model may help explain a discrepancy between the observed structure of SOFCs and their performance. The second case study develops a simple physical model that allows engineers to design and control the sizes and shapes of mesopores in silica thin films. Such pore design can be useful for enhancing the selectivity and reactivity of environmental sensors and catalysts. This paper demonstrates the mutually beneficial interactions between experiment and modeling in the solution of a wide range of problems.     

The use of combined LC-GC for the analysis of fuel products: A review

A review of the analysis of petroleum fuels, oils, tars and engine exhaust particulate extracts by on-line coupled LC-GC is presented.     

Electrocatalytic activity of ordered intermetallic PtSb for methanol electro-oxidation

Ordered intermetallic PtSb had been synthesized by arc-melted and then sintering treatment. The electro-oxidation of liquid methanol on PtSb was investigated at room temperature by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results are compared to those at a polycrystalline platinum electrode surface. It was found that PtSb intermetallic was catalytically more active than pure platinum according to the onset potential and current density. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and XPS technologies had been used to investigate the crystal structure and electron effect.     

杂原子Y分子筛的二次合成及其吸附脱硫性能

采用液-固相同晶取代反应制备了骨架含Ga的Y型分子筛, 并对其吸附脱硫性能进行了研究. 在室温, 空速为7 h−1的条件下, 镓化Y型分子筛([Ga]AlY)处理噻吩、四氢噻吩、4,6-二甲基二苯并噻吩(4,6-DMDBT)正壬烷溶液(硫含量500 μg•g−1), 每克吸附剂吸附硫的量分别为7.7、17.4、14.5 mg. 采用密度泛函理论(DFT)中的广义梯度近似方法(GGA)计算各分子中硫原子上的电荷数, 噻吩中硫原子的电荷数为−0.159, 而4,6-DMDBT和四氢噻吩分别为−0.214、0.298. 四氢噻吩和4, 6-DMDBT中硫原子上的电子密度大于噻吩中硫原子上的电子密度, 这就使得四氢噻吩和4,6-DMDBT中的硫原子与吸附位间的作用会远大于噻吩中的硫原子与吸附位间的作用, 吸附容量必然会大很多. 采用[Ga]AlY处理抚顺石油二厂的催化裂化汽油(硫含量：299 μg•g−1), 每克吸附剂处理2.1 mL汽油时, 处理后汽油的硫含量为54.8 μg•g−1, 说明[Ga]AlY对汽油脱硫有一定的效果.     

Characterization of Pt-Ru/C catalysts by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and temperature-programmed surface reaction

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was employed to characterize carbon black supported Pt-Ru catalysts, which are commercially available to be utilized as the anode of polymeric-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells. Both Pt and Ru were found partially oxidized in the as-received form. Upon exposure to hydrogen at room temperature, the catalysts were completely reduced to the metallic state. The bimetallic nanoparticles on the Pt-Ru/C catalysts possess an inner core enriched in Pt, which is surrounded by a Ru-rich outer shell. Such a core–shell structure retained even at an elevated reduction temperature of 623 K. Temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) was carried out to explore the reactivity of adsorbed CO toward hydrogen on various catalysts. Both the peak temperature of the TPSR profile and the amount of methane generated during the course of TPSR were sensitive to the surface composition of Pt–Ru nanoparticles. In combination of XAS and TPSR results, a slight difference in the nanostructure between two Pt-Ru/C catalysts was manifested.     

Synthesis and characterization of P2O5–SiO2–X (X = phosphotungstic acid) glasses as electrolyte for low temperature H2/O2 fuel cell application

A new class of proton conducting glass membranes for hydrogen fuel cell applications are being developed using phosphotungstic acid. These glasses are being design to yield high proton conductivities could be potential substitutes for electrolytes in H₂/O₂ fuel cell. P₂O₅–SiO₂–PWA glasses have been non-crystalline phases confirmed by structural studies. The glass materials showed good mechanical and thermal stability, and also found a maximum proton conductivity of 9.1 × 10⁻² S/cm at 90 °C and 30% RH. The average pore size less than 5 nm was determined by Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) desorption method. The electrochemical activity was investigated by polarization curves and current–voltage profiles. A maximum power density value of 10.2 mW/cm² was obtained using 0.15 mg/cm² of Pt/C loaded on electrode and 5P₂O₅–87SiO₂–8PWA glasses at 30 °C and 30% humidity.     

Screening the origin and weathering of oil slicks by attenuated total reflectance mid-IR spectrometry

The combination of attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform mid-infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTMIR) and multivariate pattern recognition is presented as a fast and convenient methodology to ascertain the source product an oil slick comes from and to evaluate the extent of its weathering. Different types of hydrocarbons (including crude oils, several heavy distillates and the Prestige's heavy fuel oil) were spilled on metallic containers designed ad hoc and their fate monitored by ATR-FTMIR. Not only environmental conditions were considered for weathering but artificial IR- and UV-irradiation. Pattern-recognition studies revealed that the different hydrocarbons clustered at different locations on the score plots and that the samples corresponding to each oil became ordered according to the extent of their weathering. Among them, fuel oil samples coming from the recent disaster of the Prestige tanker off the Galician shoreline showed a distinctive behaviour. Comparison of natural-, IR- and UV-weathering of a crude oil showed that IR solar radiation can be important in oil-weathering, in addition to broadly-reported UV degradation.