Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Reaction Involved in Regenerative Electrochemical Energy Conversion Devices that Operate with H2/O2.

• Grant number: 13/03408-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Henrique Barros de Lima
• Grantee: Aniélli Martini Pasqualeti
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/50727-9 - Development of systems for hydrogen production and for the generation and utilization of electrochemical energy, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/11923-5 - Metal sulfide and oxide nanostructures as electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen electrodes, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The development of electrochemical devices that promote regenerative electro-conversion of chemical and electrical energy is of great importance for continuous and secure production of electric energy for the application in hospitals, data processing and storage centers, electric vehicles and electronic equipment. Rechargeable metal/air batteries and unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) are able to provide the power supply efficiently. These devices can produce additional power when required, and be recharged in periods in which there is low use of electricity (rechargeable device). In the URFCs, the molecular hydrogen produced during the charging cycle is stored and directed back into the device when it operates as a fuel cell mode. The electrocatalysts should, therefore, be bifunctional, which means that they should be active for hydrogen oxidation, oxygen reduction and evolution of both of them. The development of bifunctional and stable materials, however, is the challenge for URFCs. The platinum-based electrocatalysts are active for the mentioned reactions, but this metal is scarce and, thus, has a high cost. Unlike the acid electrolyte, the alkaline media enables the use of non-noble metals and thus is viable for use in large scale. Therefore, it is necessary the development of non-platinum active and stable electrocatalysts. Hence, this project aims the synthesis and investigation of the electrocatalytic activity of bifunctional electrocatalysts consisting of non-noble metals for the evolution/oxidation of H2 and for the evolution/reduction of O2 reactions in alkaline and acid electrolytes for the use in rechargeable metal/air batteries and unitized regenerative fuel cells.

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)

PASQUALETI, ANIELLI M.; PADGETT, ELLIOT; KUO, DING-YUAN; MULLER, DAVID A.; LIMA, FABIO H. B.; SUNTIVICH, JIN. Influence of Aliovalent Substitutions on Oxygen Reduction on Tantalum Oxynitrides. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, v. 164, n. 6, p. F645-F650, 2017. (13/16930-7, 16/13323-0, 13/03408-0, 14/11923-5)

PASQUALETI, ANIELLI M.; OLIVEIRA, FRANCISCA E. R.; LIMA, FABIO H. B.. Metal Oxide/Gold Hybrid Nanocomposites as Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Air Electrodes. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 26, n. 11, p. 2171-2174, NOV 2015. (11/50727-9, 13/16930-7, 13/03408-0)

Academic Publications

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

PASQUALETI, Aniélli Martini. Electrocatalysts composed of metalic nitrides, carbides, and oxides for the oxygen electrode. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT) São Carlos.