Design of High-Quality Pt–CeO2 Composite Anodes Supported by Carbon Black for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Application

A Pt on nano-sized CeO₂ particles that in turn are supported on carbon black (CB) was synthesized using the co-impregnation method. This potential anode material for fuel cell applications was synthesized in a stepwise process. The pure CeO₂ was synthesized using an ammonium carbonate precipitation method, and the Pt particles dispersed on the CeO₂ in such a way that a uniform dispersion with the CB was obtained (Pt–CeO₂/CB). The electrochemical activity of the methanol (CH₃OH) oxidation reaction on the Pt–CeO₂/CB was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry experimentation. The onset potential of CH₃OH oxidation reaction on the Pt–CeO₂/CB anode was shifted to a lower potential as compared with that on commercially available Pt–Ru/carbon (C) alloy anode. In addition, the activation energy of the Pt–CeO₂/CB anode was much lower than that of the Pt–Ru/C alloy anode. Moreover, the current density of the Pt–CeO₂/CB anode was much higher than that of the Pt–Ru/C alloy anode at temperatures between 28° and 60°C. These results suggest that the anode performance of the Pt–CeO₂/CB anode at the operating temperature of typical fuel cells (80°C) is superior to that of the more usual Pt–Ru/C alloy anode. Importantly, the rare metal, Ru, is not required in the present anode material and the amount of Pt required is also significantly reduced. As a consequence, we report a promising candidate Pt–CeO₂/CB composite anode for application in the development of direct methanol fuel cells.     

Influence of dry operating conditions: observation of oscillations and low temperature CO oxidation over Co3O4 and Au/Co3O4 catalysts

A Sm(III) exchanged NaY zeolite prepared from aqueous SmCl₃ was modified with various amounts of fluorine using NH₄F. These fluorinated zeolites exhibit enhanced catalytic activity for the dealkylation of cumene. The evaluation of acid sites by infrared spectroscopy and pyridine adsorption was correlated with fluorine content.     

The Effect of Aluminum Ions on the DC Etching of Aluminum Foil

A study has been made of the electrochemical etching of 99.99% aluminum foils at a current density of 50 mA cm^–2in AlCl₃–HCl solutions (1 m Cl^–) at 80 °C. The solutions were made by dissolving metallic aluminum into 1m HCl solution, to give a Cl^– concentration of 1 m. The number density of etch tunnels and the homogeneity of tunnel length decreased, and the mean pit size and its standard deviation increased with increasing Al³⁺ concentration. The results were discussed based on potential transients at a current density of 50 mA cm^–2, current–potential curves at a scan rate of 10 m Vs^–1 and electrochemical impedance spectra.     

Chemospecific ring-opening polymerization of α-methylenemacrolides

α-Methylenemacrolides having various groups, such as aromatic, ether, and amine, were enzymatically, anionically, and radically polymerized. The polymerization with the lipase catalyst successfully afforded polymers only through the ring-opening process, whereas the vinyl polymerizations selectively proceeded by using anionic and radical initiators. The polyesters obtained by the enzymatic polymerization have a polymerizable methacrylic methylene group in the main-chain, in addition to the aromatic and polar groups, and were further radically polymerized to quantitatively produce a cross-linked polymer gel.     

Rheological characteristics of mesophase pitch

Rheological characteristics of two pretreated petroleum pitches, during their transformation to mesophase, have been studied by using rotalional viscometer. Simultaneously, the formation, growth, coalescence of mesuphase spheres, and the alignment of coalesced mesophase were observed by Hot-Stage-Cinema-Microscope, discussed with the results of viscosity change and the Q.I. content. It is found that both pretreated pitches were Newtonian fluids at low temperature, but behaved pseudoplastics as increase of mesophase content above 390C. Shear thinning behaviour was also apparent in the shear rate range of 1.9–20 sec⁻¹ at temperature above 390C. The apparent viscosity-temperature curves of this pyrolysed pitches were much affected by the pretreatment conditions.     

Effect of water pretreatment on CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> capture using a potassium-based solid sorbent in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor

A bubbling fluidized bed reactor was used to study CO₂ capture from flue gas by using a potassium-based solid sorbent, sorbKX35 which was manufactured by the Korea Electric Power Research Institute. A dry sorbent, sorbKX35, consists of K₂CO₃ for absorption and supporters for mechanical strength. To increase initial CO₂ removal, some amount of H₂O was absorbed in the sorbent before injecting simulated flue gas. It was possible to achieve 100% CO₂ removal for more than 10 minutes at 60°C and a residence time of 2 s with H₂O pretreatment. When H₂O pretreatment time was long enough to convert K₂CO₃ of sorbKX35 into K₂CO₃ · 1.5H₂O, CO₂ removal was excellent. The results obtained in this study can be used as basic data for designing and operating a large scale CO₂ capture process with two fluidized bed reactors. This work was presented at the 6 ^th Korea-China Workshop on Clean Energy Technology held at Busan, Korea, July 4–7, 2006.     

Decomposition of chlorofluorocarbons on TiO2ZrO2

The decomposition of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the presence of water was examined over a variety of solid acid catalysts. The TiO₂ZrO₂ catalyst was found to have the highest activity and longest life among the catalysts examined. The activity of the TiO₂ZrO₂ catalysts depended upon the content of TiO₂. At the contents of TiO₂ from 58 to 90 mole%, the TiO₂ZrO₂ catalysts exhibited high activity, and these catalysts were proven to contain TiZrO₄ crystal. From the study of the XRD peak intensity of the TiZrO₄ crystal, it was highest on the TZ-58 which contained 58 mole% of TiO₂, and decreased with increasing the content of TiO₂. Furthermore, the conversion of CFC113 measured at 673 K was highest at TZ-58, and decreased gradually with increasing TiO₂ content. Therefore, the TiZrO₄ crystal influences the activity of decomposition of CFC113. However, the TiO₂ZrO₂ catalyst was gradually deactivated during the reaction due to the elimination of titanium atoms. A good relationship was found between the activity on TiO₂ZrO₂ catalyst and bond energy of CCl in the compounds of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorocarbons, suggesting that the rate controlling step was the cleavage of CCl bond.     

Characterization of styrene–methyl methacrylate–n-butyl acrylate terpolymers. II. Effects of sequence distribution on glass transition temperature

The effects of sequence distribution on the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the title terpolymers prepared by radical polymerization were studied. T_g was examined by thermomechanical analysis. The average diad concentrations, as estimation of sequence distributions were calculated from monomer reactivity ratios. A modified Gibbs–Dimarzio equation for binary copolymers was extended to terpolymers to explain the relation between observed T_g and average diad concentrations. The observed T_g showed good agreement with the calculated values determined by the extended equation.     

Deposition of dense isotropic carbon from acetylene in fluidized bed

Pyrolytic carbon was deposited from acetylene in a fluidized bed at 1100°C on alumina microspheres. In case when only argon was used as the diluent gas, density and BAF of the deposit decreased and deposition yield increased with increasing acetylene concentration. Hydrogen sypply suppressed carbon formation and, consequently, caused an increase in density and Lc. BAF was relatively independent of hydrogen concentration. It was found that high density, isotropic carbon can be deposited from acetylene at 1100°C, if an appropriate proportion of hydrogen is added.     

Change of the amorphous state by heat treatment below the glass transition temperature

This study was undertaken to elucidate the state of a polymer in the amorphous state through a change of motion of the molecular chain caused by heat treatment below the glass transition temperature. From dielectric measurements of amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) heat-treated below T_g, it was found that the average relaxation time, the distribution of relaxation time and the dielectric strength increase with increase of heat treatment. From these results, it was concluded that the amorphous state becomes more random by heat treatment.