Study of the hydrazine and borohidride ions electro-oxidation reaction on non-noble metal electrocatalysts for alkaline fuel cells.

• Grant number: 13/00197-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): October 07, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Henrique Barros de Lima
• Grantee: Drielly Cristina de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 13/12232-3 - Study of the hydrazine and borohydride ions electro-oxidation reaction on non-noble metal electrocatalysts for alkaline fuel cells, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Passive fuel cells fed with liquid fuels, such as hydrazine and borohydride ions in the anode, and air in the cathode (also called hydrazine or borohydride/air batteries) are promising alternatives as power sources. This is due to their high energy density, autonomy, and easy fuel supply, compared to lithium ion batteries that have high energy density, but with limited autonomy. The hydrazine and borohydride electro-oxidation involves the transfer of 4 and 8 electrons and produces N2 e BO2- (reversible to BH4-) as final products, respectively. An important feature is that these fuels do not have carbon in their composition and, so, do not produce CO or CO2 when they are oxidized. Furthermore, the alkaline electrolytes allow the use of non-noble metals as electrocatalysts, being economically feasible for practical application. However, for the most investigated metals, the electro-oxidation of these fuels competes with parallel reaction pathways, with no or fewer electrons and, therefore, the main challenge is the development of efficient electrocatalysts to lead the reaction to the direct pathway. In this context, this research project aims at the synthesis of non-noble metals-based nanostructured electrocatalysts, guided by theoretical results, and the experimental study of the electrocatalytic activities for the hydrazine and borohydride electro-oxidation reactions. The electrocatalysts will be synthetized in the lab and will be characterized by TEM, XRD, and XAS. The electrocatalytic activities will be studied by electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The reaction pathways will be monitored by on-line DEMS and in situ FTIR (only for borohydride) experiments. The electrocatalysts with the best performance will be tested at the anode in passive alkaline unit fuel cells. Polarization curves will be performed to evaluate their activities in real operating conditions.

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)

QUEIROZ, A. C.; LIMA, F. H. B.. Electrocatalytic activity and stability of Co and Mn-based oxides for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline electrolyte. JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, v. 707, p. 142-150, OCT 15 2013. (13/00197-9, 09/07629-6)

DE OLIVEIRA, DRIELLY C.; SILVA, WANDERSON O.; CHATENET, MARIAN; LIMA, FABIO H. B.. NiOX-Pt/C nanocomposites: Highly active electrocatalysts for the electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 201, p. 22-28, FEB 2017. (11/50727-9, 13/16930-7, 13/12232-3, 13/00197-9)

QUEIROZ, A. C.; SILVA, W. O.; RODRIGUES, I. A.; LIMA, F. H. B.. Identification of bimetallic electrocatalysts for ethanol and acetaldehyde oxidation: Probing C-2-pathway and activity for hydrogen oxidation for indirect hydrogen fuel cells. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 160, p. 423-435, NOV 2014. (08/05156-0, 09/07629-6, 11/50727-9, 13/00197-9)

Academic Publications

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

OLIVEIRA, Drielly Cristina de. Study of the hydrazine and borohydride ions electro-oxidation reactions on nickel and cobalt based electrocatalysts in alkaline electrolyte. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT) São Carlos.