Development of nanostructured electrocatalysts for electro-oxygen reduction reaction: study of activity and stability

• Grant number: 14/23486-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: February 01, 2015
• End date: July 12, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Edson Antonio Ticianelli
• Grantee: Ana Maria Gómez Marín
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/16930-7 - Electrocatalysis V: electrocatalytic processes of chemical and electrical energy interconversion, AP.TEM

Abstract

This project aims to develop nanostructured composite electrocatalysts and metal carbide supports for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acid media, and evaluate their electrochemical activity and stability after accelerated stress tests. Studies will be performed at rotating ring/disk thin porous coating electrodes in liquid electrolyte; gas diffusion electrodes in H2/O2 proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) single cells; and dry electrochemical environment using a Nafion® membrane as polymer electrolyte. The main goals of the project are (1) to prepare nanostructured composite materials of platinum and other transition metals; (2) to synthesize transition metal carbides to be used as catalyst supports; (3) to characterize formed materials by using several techniques such as X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; (4) to evaluate their electrocatalytic activity for the ORR, and (5) to determine the electrochemical stability and durability of these materials after submitted to accelerated aging procedures. Emphasis will be given to analyze these structures using the identical location transmission electron microscopy (ILTEM) technique, in order to verify the effects of catalyst layer aging.

Scientific publications

(9)

(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)

GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA M.; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. Effect of transition metals in the hydrogen evolution electrocatalytic activity of molybdenum carbide. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 209, p. 600-610, JUL 15 2017. (14/23486-9, 13/16930-7)

GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA M.; FELIU, JUAN M.; TICIANELLI, EDSON. Oxygen Reduction on Platinum Surfaces in Acid Media: Experimental Evidence of a CECE/DISP Initial Reaction Path. ACS CATALYSIS, v. 9, n. 3, p. 2238-2251, MAR 2019. (13/16930-7, 14/23486-9)

GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA; FELIU, JUAN; EDSON, TICIANELLI. Reaction Mechanism for Oxygen Reduction on Platinum: Existence of a Fast Initial Chemical Step and a Soluble Species Different from H2O2. ACS CATALYSIS, v. 8, n. 9, p. 7931-7943, SEP 2018. (14/23486-9, 13/16930-7)

KOVERGA, ANDREY A.; GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA MARIA; DORKIS, LUDOVIC; FLOREZ, ELIZABETH; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. Role of Transition Metals on TM/Mo2C Composites: Hydrogen Evolution Activity in Mildly Acidic and Alkaline Media. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, v. 12, n. 24, p. 27150-27165, JUN 17 2020. (13/16930-7, 14/23486-9)

GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA M.; BOTT-NETO, JOSE LUIZ; SOUZA, JOAO B., JR.; SILVA, TIAGO L.; BECK, WATSON, JR.; VARANDA, LAUDEMIR C.; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. Electrocatalytic Activity of Different Phases of Molybdenum Carbide/Carbon and Platinum-Molybdenum Carbide/Carbon Composites toward the Oxygen Reduction Reaction. CHEMELECTROCHEM, v. 3, n. 10, p. 10-pg., 2016-10-01. (14/23486-9, 13/16930-7)

GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA M.; BOTT-NETO, JOSE LUIZ; SOUZA, JR., JOAO B.; SILVA, TIAGO L.; BECK, JR., WATSON; VARANDA, LAUDEMIR C.; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. Electrocatalytic Activity of Different Phases of Molybdenum Carbide/Carbon and Platinum-Molybdenum Carbide/Carbon Composites toward the Oxygen Reduction Reaction. CHEMELECTROCHEM, v. 3, n. 10, SI, p. 1570-1579, OCT 2016. (14/23486-9, 13/16930-7)

GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA M.; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. A reviewed vision of the oxygen reduction reaction mechanism on Pt-based catalysts. CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY, v. 9, p. 129-136, JUN 2018. (14/23486-9, 13/16930-7)

GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA M.; FELIU, JUAN M.. Oxygen reduction at platinum electrodes: The interplay between surface and surroundings properties. CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY, v. 9, p. 166-172, JUN 2018. (14/23486-9, 13/16930-7)

GOMEZ-MARIN, ANA MA; TICIANELLI, EDSON A.. Analysis of the electrocatalytic activity of a-molybdenum carbide thin porous electrodes toward the hydrogen evolution reaction. Electrochimica Acta, v. 220, p. 363-372, DEC 1 2016. (14/23486-9, 13/16930-7)