Electrocatalysis in direct ethanol fuel cell with alcohol chemical co-production

• Grant number: 12/04112-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Edson Antonio Ticianelli
• Grantee: Andre Gustavo Sato
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/07629-6 - Electrocatalysis IV: fundamental and applied aspects of electrocatalytic processes, bio-electrocatalysis and kinetic instabilities, AP.BIOEN.TEM

Abstract

The complete ethanol electro-oxidation in direct ethanol fuel cells generates CO2 and H2O, involving 12 electrons transfer per molecule. In acid electrolyte, and Pt electrocatalysts, the reaction runs in parallel forming two undesirable by-products: acetic acid (corrosive) and acetaldehyde (toxic and volatile), yielding only 2 and 4 electrons, respectively and diminishing the Faradaic efficiency of the fuel cell. Previous work of the candidate, in heterogeneous catalysis, showed copper-based catalysts highly active and selective to ethyl acetate and H2 formed directly from ethanol. Although income just 2 electrons per molecule of ethanol, ethyl acetate as electrocatalytic effluent can be recycled. And by forming a protective monolayer on copper-based catalysts, Pd is expected to have double effect: a barrier effect, since it is selectively permeable to H2, and the promoter, as Pd-based catalysts becomes ethyl acetate from ethanol via oxidative reaction, thus consuming acetic acid in excess. The objective of this research is the study and development of novel catalysts based on copper and Pd covered by a monolayer of Pt or Pd employed as anode in the direct ethanol fuel cell. In a hybrid propulsion system for vehicles, the electricity generated in the fuel cell feeds an electric motor while ethyl acetate may be used as fuel in internal combustion engines. The electrochemical reactions will be investigated by electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry with the reaction products analyzed on line by gas chromatography and or mass spectrometry.

Scientific publications

(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)

SATO, ANDRE G.; BIANCOLLI, ANA L. G.; PAGANIN, VALDECIR A.; DA SILVA, GABRIEL C.; CRUZ, GLAUBER; DOS SANTOS, ANTONIO M.; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. Potential applications of the hydrogen and the high energy biofuel blend produced by ethanol dehydrogenation on a Cu/ZrO2 catalyst. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, v. 40, n. 42, SI, p. 14716-14722, NOV 9 2015. (12/04112-5, 11/50727-9)

SATO, ANDRE G.; SILVA, GABRIEL C. D.; PAGANIN, VALDECIR A.; BIANCOLLI, ANA L. G.; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. New, efficient and viable system for ethanol fuel utilization on combined electric/internal combustion engine vehicles. Journal of Power Sources, v. 294, p. 569-573, OCT 30 2015. (12/04112-5, 11/50727-9)

SATO, ANDRE G.; BIANCOLLI, ANA L. G.; PAGANIN, VALDECIR A.; DA SILVA, GABRIEL C.; CRUZ, GLAUBER; DOS SANTOS, ANTONIO M.; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. Potential applications of the hydrogen and the high energy biofuel blend produced by ethanol dehydrogenation on a Cu/ZrO2 catalyst. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, v. 40, n. 42, p. 7-pg., 2015-11-09. (11/50727-9, 12/04112-5)