Investigating the kinetic mechanism of the oxygen reduction reaction in non-aqueous solvente

• Grant number: 14/15798-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 15, 2014
• End date: September 14, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fritz Cavalcante Huguenin
• Grantee: Nelson Alexandre Galiote Silva
• Supervisor: Stefano Passerini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/12668-0 - Nanoparticulate Materials for Lithium-air Batteries, BP.DR

Abstract

Due to their high theoretical energy density, lithium-air batteries represent a promising substitute for the state-of-art lithium ion batteries when it comes to energy storage and conversion. However, practical systems have not yet achieved the expected high energy density due to solvent instability, low reactions rates, and chemical irreversibility during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Because the role that the addition of a catalyst plays in the ORR mechanism is not fully understood, this project proposes investigating the ORR mechanism using an electrocatalyst that consist of platinum and carbon nanoparticles, focusing on how the electrocatalyst grain size influences this mechanism. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, and electrochemical experiments shall help to elucidate which species participate in ORR catalysis. Such analyzes will complement to the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data and aid proposal of a kinetic model for these systems. These strategies will assist catalyst development by providing information about how electrode type and catalyst grain size affect the reaction mechanism. (AU)

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)

GALIOTE, NELSON A.; JEONG, SANGSIK; MORAIS, WILLIAM G.; PASSERINI, STEFANO; HUGUENIN, FRITZ. The Role of Ionic Liquid in Oxygen Reduction Reaction for Lithium-air Batteries. Electrochimica Acta, v. 247, p. 610-616, SEP 1 2017. (11/12668-0, 11/21545-0, 14/15798-0)

GALIOTE, NELSON A.; ULISSI, ULDERICO; PASSERINI, STEFANO; HUGUENIN, FRITZ. Role Platinum Nanoparticles Play in the Kinetic Mechanism of Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Nonaqueous Solvents. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, v. 122, n. 28, p. 15826-15834, JUL 19 2018. (11/12668-0, 14/15798-0, 15/16867-9)