Development of direct alcohols fuel cells: production of prototypes of high power

• Grant number: 11/10213-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adalgisa Rodrigues de Andrade
• Grantee: Livia Martins da Palma
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Noble metal catalysts (Pt and Pd) for use in direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC) have been proposed for several decades, however, a major stumbling blockage in the commercial application of these devices for power generation is the low power rate gerated by them. Nowdays, the highest values obtained for DAFC are around 50 mW cm-2. So this PhD project aims to develop direct alcohol (ethanol and glycerol) fuel cells with high power density. It will be investigated the following parameters: (i) change in the reactional medium, e.g., performance of the catalysts in DAFCO in basic medium, ( ii) preparation of new compositions and catalysts PdM PdMN (M, N = Sn, Ni, Ru, etc.).The preparation method of the catalysts to be used it will be microwave-assited heating. The physical characterization of electrocatalysts will be accomplished by: Transmission Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray difraction. The electrochemical characterization will be carried out by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry and CO-stripping technique. Controlled potential electrolysis and analysis of products formed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique and in situ infrared (IR)will also be conducted. Finally, it will be performed fuel cell test, durability and stability of the cell devices.

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PALMA, L. M.; ALMEIDA, T. S.; LEONELLO, P. H.; DE ANDRADE, A. R.. Ethanol Electrooxidation by Plurimetallic Pt-Based Electrocatalysts Prepared by Microwave Assisted Heating. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, v. 161, n. 4, p. F473-F479, 2014. (11/10213-6)

PALMA, LIVIA M.; ALMEIDA, THIAGO S.; MORAIS, CLAUDIA; NAPPORN, TEKO W.; KOKOH, K. BONIFACE; DE ANDRADE, ADALGISA R.. Effect of Co-catalyst on the Selective Electrooxidation of Glycerol over Ruthenium-based Nanomaterials. CHEMELECTROCHEM, v. 4, n. 1, p. 39-45, JAN 2017. (11/10213-6)

PALMA, L. M.; ALMEIDA, T. S.; DE ANDRADE, A. R.. Comparative study of catalyst effect on ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium: Pt- and Pd-based catalysts containing Sn and Ru. JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, v. 878, DEC 1 2020. (11/10213-6)

PALMA, L. M.; ALMEIDA, T. S.; OLIVEIRA, V. L.; TREMILIOSI-FILHO, G.; GONZALEZ, E. R.; DE ANDRADE, A. R.; SERVAT, K.; MORAIS, C.; NAPPORN, T. W.; KOKOH, K. B.. Identification of chemicals resulted in selective glycerol conversion as sustainable fuel on Pd-based anode nanocatalysts. RSC ADVANCES, v. 4, n. 110, p. 64476-64483, 2014. (11/10213-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PALMA, Livia Martins da. Direct alcohol fuel cell development: high power prototype production. 2015. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.