F uel cells (FCs) operating at low temperatures (T < 200 °C)show several very attractive features, including: (a) relatively simple assembly; (b) good compatibility with the environment; and (c) very high efficiency with respect to internal combustion engines. However, the full potential of low-temperature FCs can only be achieved by addressing a number of crucial issues involved in their operation. One of the most important bottlenecks is represented by the slow kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).1 Typical examples of low-temperature fuel cells include proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs).1 To achieve energy conversion efficiencies and power densities compatible with applications, all these devices require suitable ORR electrocatalysts (ECs) to minimize cathode polarization losses.Ideally, ORR ECs should possess the following features: a) Active sites capable of the highest turnover frequency at the lowest overpotentials; b) A large active surface area, maximizing the number of active sites; c) A morphology that facilitates the efficient transport of reactants and products to and from the active sites; d) High electron conductivity, to minimize ohmic losses; e) A high dielectric environment to aid the ion exchange processes between the active sites and the ion-conducting membrane; f) High stability under operating conditions, to achieve high durability.To comply with these requirements, state-of-the-art ORR ECs consist of Pt-nanocrystals supported on conductive carbon nanoparticles (NPs) that possess a spherical morphology and a large surface area 2 (indicated as "Pt/C ref. ECs"). These systems are characterized by a high dispersion of the ORR active sites, which are easily accessible by the reactants. Their performance is comparable to that of pristine "Pt-black" ECs, but with a reduced loading of precious metal. However, the large-scale rollout of FC technology employing Pt/C ref. ECs is hindered by their insufficient durability and very high costs."Carbon nitride-based electrocatalysts" (CN-based ECs) have shown great promise to address the issues outlined above. CN-based ECs are composed of a carbon-based matrix embedding nitrogen atoms. The matrix coordinates metal-based species, including: (a) NPs of metals (e.g., Pt, Pd), metal alloys (e.g., PtNi x , PdCo y Ni z ), oxides (e.g., Fe 3 O 4 ) or carbides (e.g., FeC x ); or (b) coordination complexes of single metal atoms (e.g., Fe, Co).3 There are two main driving forces behind the development of CN-based ECs. CN-based ECs including Pt-group elements (PGMs) show very high ORR activity and a remarkable tolerance towards the oxidizing conditions typical at the cathodes of low-temperature FCs. 4 The carbon nitride (CN) matrix embeds the various inorganic NPs in "nitrogen coordination nests". 5These strong interactions inhibit the main mechanisms involved in the long-term degradation of typical Pt/C ref. ECs, especially particle agglomeration and particle detachment from the support.
This report describes the electrochemical behavior of a family of “core‐shell” electrocatalysts consisting of a carbon nitride (CN) “shell” matrix and a “core” of conducting carbon nanoparticles (NPs). The CN “shell” matrix embeds PdCoNi alloy NPs and covers homogeneously the carbon “core”. The chemical composition of the materials is determined by inductively‐coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP‐AES) and microanalysis; the structure is studied by powder X‐ray diffraction (powder XRD); the morphology is investigated by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM). The surface activity and structure are probed by CO stripping. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics, reaction mechanism, and tolerance towards contamination from chloride anions are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry with the thin‐film rotating ring‐disk electrode (CV‐TF‐RRDE) method. The effect of N concentration in the matrix (which forms “coordination nests” for the Pd‐based alloy NPs bearing the active sites) on the ORR performance of the electrocatalysts is described. Results show that N atoms: 1) influence the evolution of the structure of the materials during the preparation processes, and 2) interact with alloy NPs, affecting the bifunctional and electronic ORR mechanisms of active sites and the adsorption/desorption processes of oxygen molecules and contaminants. Finally, the best PdCoNi electrocatalyst shows a higher surface activity in the ORR at 0.9 V vs. RHE with respect to the Pt‐based reference (388 μA cmPd‐2 vs. 153 μA cmPt‐2).
In this report, the preparation of Fe-carbon nitride (CN)-based electrocatalysts (ECs) with a “core-shell” morphology for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is described. The ECs consist of spherical XC-72R carbon nanoparticles, the “cores”, that are covered by a CN matrix, the “shell”, that embeds Fe species in “coordination nests”. The latter consist of hollow cavities in the CN matrix, whose internal surface is covered by N- and C-ligands able to stabilize alloy nanoparticles or active sites. Two families of CN-based ECs are prepared, which are grouped on the basis of the concentration of N atoms in the CN “shell”. Each group comprises of both a “pristine” and an “activated” EC; the latter is obtained from the “pristine” EC by a suitable series of treatments (A) devised to improve the ORR performance. The chemical composition of the CN-based ECs is determined by Inductively-Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and microanalysis. The thermal stability under both inert and oxidizing atmospheres is gauged by High-Resolution Thermogravimetric Analysis (HR-TGA). The structure is probed by powder X-ray diffraction, and the morphology is inspected by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). The surface area of the CN-based ECs is determined by nitrogen physisorption techniques, and the surface composition is probed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance and reaction mechanism of the CN-based ECs in the ORR is investigated in both acid and alkaline environments by cyclic voltammetry with the Thin-Film Rotating Ring-Disk Electrode setup (CV-TF-RRDE). The influence of the preparation parameters and of the treatments on the physicochemical properties, the ORR performance, and reaction mechanism is studied in detail. In the alkaline environment the FeFe2-CNl900/CA“core-shell” EC shows a remarkable ORR onset potential of 0.908 V vs. RHE which, with respect to the value of 0.946 V vs. RHE of the Pt/C ref., classifies the proposed materials as very promising “Platinum Group Metal-free” ECs for the ORR
Understanding the structure-property relationships and the phenomena responsible for ion conduction is one of the keys in the design of novel ionomers with improved properties. In this report, the morphology and the mechanism of ion exchange in a model anion exchange membrane (AEM), poly(vinyl benzyl trimethyl ammonium bromide)-block-poly(methylbutylene) ([PVBTMA][Br]-b-PMB), is investigated with small angle X-ray scattering, high-resolution thermogravimetry, modulated differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and broadband electrical spectroscopy. The hyper-morphology of the material consists of hydrophilic domains characterized by stacked sides of [PVBTMA][Br] which are sandwiched between "spaghetti-like" hydrophobic cylindrical parallel domains of the PMB block. The most important interactions in the hydrophilic domains occur between the dipoles of ammonium bromide ion pairs in the side chains of adjacent chains. A reordering of the ion pair dipoles is responsible for a disorder-order transition (Tδ) at high temperature, observed here for the first time in AEMs, which results in a dramatic decrease of the ionic conductivity. The overall mechanism of long range charge transfer, deduced from a congruent picture of all of the results, involves two distinct ion conduction pathways. In these pathways, hydration and the motion of the ionic side groups are crucial to the conductivity of the AEM. Unlike the typical perfluorinated sulfonated proton-conducting polymer, the segmental motion of the backbone is negligible.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.