Silicon-doped niobium suboxide (NbOS): A fuel cell electrocatalyst support with enhanced conductivity and corrosion-resistance

Esfahani, Reza Alipour Moghadam; Black-Araujo, Keenan; Melino, Peter D.; Sullivan, Mason; Easton, E. Bradley

doi:10.1016/j.rineng.2022.100767

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 42 publications

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“…Additionally, the resistance to methanol poisoning must be considered when selecting an ORR catalyst for fuel cells. This is due to methanol molecules (CH 3 OH) being able to effortlessly pass through anodes to cathode membranes [53], thus diminishing the ORR activity of cathode catalysts. The effects of methanol on Ni/rGO and 20 wt% Pt/C catalysts were investigated by plotting the I-t curves in 0.1 M KOH containing 5% methanol.…”

Section: Orr Performance Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Facile Fabrication of Nickel Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Wang,

Qian,

et al. 2023

Nanomaterials

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Due to the depletion of fossil fuels, the demand for renewable energy has increased, thus stimulating the development of novel materials for energy conversion devices such as fuel cells. In this work, nickel nanoparticles loaded on reduced graphene oxide (Ni/rGO) with small size and good dispersibility were successfully prepared by controlling the pyrolysis temperature of the precursor at 450 °C, assisted by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, and exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Additionally, the electron enrichment on Ni NPs was due to charge transfer from the rGO support to metal nickel, as evidenced by both experimental and theoretical studies. Metal–support interactions between nickel and the rGO support also facilitated charge transfer, contributing to the enhanced ORR performance of the composite material. DFT calculations revealed that the first step (from O2 to HOO*) was the rate-determining step with an RDS energy barrier lower than that of the Pt(111), indicating favorable ORR kinetics. The HOO* intermediates can be transferred onto rGO by the solid-phase spillover effect, which reduces the chemical adsorption on the nickel surface, thereby allowing continuous regeneration of active nickel sites. The HO2− intermediates generated on the surface of rGO by 2e− reduction can also efficiently diffuse towards the nearby Ni surface or the interface of Ni/rGO, where they can be further rapidly reduced to OH−. This mechanism acts as the pseudo-four-electron path on the RRDE. Furthermore, Ni/rGO-450 demonstrated superior stability, methanol tolerance, and durability compared to a 20 wt% Pt/C catalyst, making it a cost-effective alternative to conventional noble metal ORR catalysts for fuel cells or metal–air batteries.

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Section: Orr Performance Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Facile Fabrication of Nickel Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Wang,

Qian,

et al. 2023

Nanomaterials

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Investigating the kinetics of small alcohol oxidation reactions using platinum supported on a doped niobium suboxide support

Black‐Araujo,

Nguyen,

Esfahani

et al. 2024

Electrochemical Science Adv

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Platinum nanoparticles deposited on a silicon‐doped niobium suboxide support provided the catalyst known as Pt/NbOS. This was compared to the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst in the ethanol and methanol oxidation reactions for use in direct alcohol fuel cells. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrate that the employment of the metal oxide support provides higher peak oxidation currents and smaller charge transfer resistances during alcohol oxidation. Carbon monoxide (CO) stripping experiments showed enhanced removal of CO by Pt/NbOS compared to Pt/C. Pt/NbOS shows its smallest apparent activation energies of 13.3 and 11.9 J mol‐1, for methanol and ethanol oxidation respectively, which are 38% and 27% lower than those of Pt/C at the same potentials. This increased activity of Pt/NbOS is attributed to the strong metal‐support interactions between the active Pt nanoparticles and the NbOS support which demonstrate its utility in replacing Pt/C in methanol and ethanol fuel cells.

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Silicon-doped niobium suboxide (NbOS): A fuel cell electrocatalyst support with enhanced conductivity and corrosion-resistance

Cited by 2 publications

References 42 publications

Facile Fabrication of Nickel Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Facile Fabrication of Nickel Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Investigating the kinetics of small alcohol oxidation reactions using platinum supported on a doped niobium suboxide support

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