Solid-state NaBH4 composites for hydrogen generation: Catalytic activity of nickel and cobalt catalysts

Hydrogen generation from tablets of sodium borohydride with chlorides of nickel and cobalt was studied. The nickel catalysts were shown to be less active in the borohydride hydrolysis than the cobalt catalysts. One of the reasons for the lower activity of the nickel catalyst was the presence of hydrogen on its surface, which hampered the adsorption of reactants. The addition of cobalt to the nickel catalyst increases the hydrogen generation rate. This is due to the introduction of active metal with low adsorption capacity for hydrogen and the higher dispersion of the active component.     

A study of degradation phenomenon of Ni–Pt/CeO2 catalyst towards hydrogen generation from hydrous hydrazine

Catalytic decomposition of hydrous hydrazine (N₂H₄·H₂O) has received considerable attention as a promising chemical hydrogen storage system. But the currently available N₂H₄·H₂O decomposition catalysts always showed poor durability. In the present paper, we report an experimental study of the performance degradation of Ni–Pt/CeO₂ catalyst using TPD-MS, FTIR, HRTEM techniques. Our study on the post-used Ni–Pt/CeO₂ catalyst found that a predominant N₂ species and various reaction intermediates over-strongly bound on the catalyst surface. Furthermore, the amount of the bound N₂ species at Ni sites is approximately linearly correlated with the activity decay degree. These results provide a straightforward explanation of the performance degradation phenomenon and highlight the critical role of adsorbate/catalyst interaction in determination of the catalytic performance.     

Recent progress of anode catalysts and their support materials for methanol electrooxidation reaction

This review paper summarizes the recent progress of anode catalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The electrocatalytic activities of the noble and noble-free catalysts in different electrolyte media are compared and discussed. Noble-free catalysts exhibit high activity in alkaline medium, whereas Pt-based catalysts are the most active MOR catalysts in acidic medium. The types of catalyst support materials for DMFC anodes are also discussed and further divided into carbonaceous and non-carbonaceous materials. The ion and electron transport through the support materials and their effects on the overall performance are elaborated. Lastly, this paper highlights the major challenges in achieving the optimum DMFC performance from the aspect of tailoring the properties of MOR electrocatalysts to pave its way for commercialisation.     

Compressive behaviour of thin catalyst layers. Part II - Model development and validation

In the second part of this study, a new analytical model for catalyst layers (CLs) compression is developed using effective medium theory, using a geometric “unit cell”, to accurately predict the deformation of CLs under compression. Based on SEM images, a representative unit cell is proposed using microstructural properties of CL such as porosity, pore size distribution, and ionomer to carbon weight ratio (I/C) to simplify the random complex structure of CLs. Deformation of the ionomer film that covers carbon agglomerates is found to be the main deformation compared to other mechanisms such as Hertzian compliance of carbon particles and deformation of agglomerates. The present model is validated using the experimental results obtained for five different CL designs, presented in Part 1 of this study. The analytical model is capable of predicting the non-linear compressive behaviour of CLs with a reasonable accuracy since a continuous change of CL porosity is considered in the model. The proposed geometrical model has also been used for other properties of CL in our group and successfully predicted thermal conductivity and gas diffusivity of CL.     

Feasibility of preparing additive manufactured porous stainless steel felts with mathematical micro pore structure as novel catalyst support for hydrogen production via methanol steam reforming

In this paper, an additive manufacturing prepared porous stainless steel felt (AM-PSSF) is proposed as a novel catalyst support for hydrogen production via methanol steam reforming (MSR). In the method, 316 L stainless steel powder with diameter of 15–63 μm is processed by the additive manufacturing technology of selective laser melting (SLM). To accomplish the preparation, the reforming chamber where the AM-PSSF is embedded is firstly divided into an all-hexahedron mesh. Then, the triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) unit with mathematical form, high interconnectivity and large specific surface area is mapped into the hexahedrons based on shape function, forming the fully connected three-dimensional (3D) micro pore structure of the AM-PSSF. By correlating the mathematical parameter and the porosity of the TPMS unit, and taking into account the SLM process, the porosity of the AM-PSSF is well controlled. Based on the designed 3D pore structure model, the AM-PSSF is produced using standard SLM process. The application of the AM-PSSF as catalyst support for hydrogen production through MSR indicates that: 1) both the naked and catalyst-coated AM-PSSF have the characteristics of high porosity, large specific surface area and high connectivity; 2) the MSR hydrogen production performance of the AM-PSSF is better than that of the commercial stainless steel fiber sintered felt. The feasibility of AM-PSSF as catalyst support for MSR hydrogen production may pave a better way to balance different requirements for catalyst support, thanks to the excellent controllability provided by AM on both the external shape and the internal pore structure, and to the produced rough surface morphology that benefits the catalyst adhesion strength. In addition, catalyst support with pore structures that are more accommodated with the flow field and the reaction rate of MSR reaction may be prepared in future, since the entire catalyst support structure, from macro scale to micro scale, is under control.     

Effect of anode iridium oxide content on the electrochemical performance and resistance to cell reversal potential of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

An ideal polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is one that continuously generates electricity as long as hydrogen and oxygen (or air) are supplied to its anode and cathode, respectively. However, internal and/or external conditions could bring about the degradation of its electrodes, which are composed of nanoparticle catalysts. Particularly, when the hydrogen supply to the anode is disrupted, a reverse voltage is generated. This phenomenon, which seriously degrades the anode catalyst, is referred to as cell reversal. To prevent its occurrence, iridium oxide (IrO₂) particles were added to the anode in the membrane-electrode assembly of the PEMFC single-cells. After 100 cell reversal cycles, the single-cell voltage profiles of the anode with Pt/C only and the anodes with Pt/C and various IrO₂ contents were obtained. Additionally, the cell reversal-induced degradation phenomenon was also confirmed electrochemically and physically, and the use of anodes with various IrO₂ contents was also discussed.     

A review of the effects of catalyst and additive on biodiesel production, performance, combustion and emission characteristics

This article is a literature review of the effect of different catalysts and additives on biodiesel production, performance, combustion and emission characteristics. This study is based on the reports of about 60 scientists who published their findings between 1998 and 2010. It was reported that base catalyst produced more biodiesel compared to acid type catalysts. There was not much variation in engine performance with the use of catalyst. Combustion characteristics were improved with the use of additives. It was found that ignition delay was reduced and premixed combustion duration was increased with the addition of catalyst. HC emission and PM emission were reduced with the use of catalysts.     

Electrochemically reduced Pt oxide thin film as a highly active electrocatalyst for direct ethanol alkaline fuel cell

The Pt oxide thin film and Pt thin film were prepared by reactive sputtering and the electrocatalytic activity of the ethanol oxidation reaction was investigated in a KOH solution for developing the alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells. After electrochemical reduction by passing a cathodic electric charge, the Pt oxide thin film showed 29 times larger ethanol oxidation current than the Pt thin film. This superior activity was caused by an increase in the electrochemical active surface area and the existence of residual oxygen, which was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry and XPS measurement. Due to the contribution of the residual oxygen, the rate-determining step of the ethanol oxidation reaction might change, because the Tafel slope of the Pt oxide thin film during the ethanol oxidation reaction was changed by electrochemical reduction. Despite the total Pt amount in the Pt oxide thin film being smaller than that in the Pt thin film, the Pt oxide thin film showed excellent ethanol oxidation activity. Therefore, the Pt oxide treated by electrochemical reduction may be a promising anode catalyst for the direct ethanol fuel cells.     

Neutron poison distribution in the central reflector to reduce the DLOFC temperature of a Th-LEU fueled OTTO PBMR DPP-400 core

In a previous study using a mixture of thorium and 20 a/o% LEU at 16 gram per fuel sphere heavy metal loading and adjusting the effective fuel enrichment to produce the same amount of cumulative energy per fuel sphere as with the 10 a/o% Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), the maximum Depressurized Loss Of Forced Cooling (DLOFC) temperature was reduced from 2273 to 1925 °C and 1811 °C for a symmetric and asymmetric core, respectively using an once-through-then-out (OTTO) fuelling scheme. This article presents an additional strategy for reducing the maximum DLOFC temperature by placing an optimized distribution of neutron poisons in the central reflector. This strategy produced maximum DLOFC temperatures of 1509 and 1448 °C for the symmetric and the asymmetric cores, respectively. These results are impressive as it means that the less complicated OTTO cycle with its lower capital cost achieved the same cumulative energy produced per fuel sphere than the standard six-pass refuelling scheme and that at substantially lower maximum DLOFC temperatures. Both the addition of the neutron poisons to the central reflector and the creation of a radially asymmetric core resulted in lower burn-ups that had to be reversed by increasing the enrichment of the fuel.     

聚乙烯装置催化剂溶液中钛、钒含量测定方法的改进

移取2~3 m L(约1.76~2.64 g)CAB或CAB-2催化剂溶液,在硫酸溶液中以3%过氧化氢为显色剂,分别于410 nm和460 nm处测定混合物吸光度,通过解联立二元方程式求出催化剂溶液中钛、钒含量。