Screen-printed electrodes modified with AuBi nanoparticles for direct oxidation of alcohols and glucose in alkaline direct fuel cells

• Grant number: 22/13157-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: February 06, 2023
• End date: August 05, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Campos Janegitz
• Grantee: Luiz Otávio Orzari
• Supervisor: Wolfgang Schuhmann
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/23342-0 - Development of novel immunosensor architechtures for the detection of Huntington and Parkinson Diseases biomarkers, BP.DD

Abstract

Constant scientific effort is applied in the development of innovative energy obtention alternatives, due to severe damage already done to the planet. Fuel cells can convert chemical energy directly into electricity and this technology is among the most efficient in such context, while also being one that accepts the use of ecologically-friendly materials. As ethanol and glucose present high-energy bonds, especially in the form of C-C, it is interesting to produce catalysts able to cleave these molecules in controlled electrochemical reactions, for an extended time, without losing efficiency. This project aims to develop such materials for a miniaturized screen-printed electrode system, by electroplating Au and Bi over a carbon ink surface. Being a highly stable metal, Au is often disregarded as an efficient catalyst for alkaline fuel cells, but recent works have demonstrated that specific parameters, such as a high purity of Au(111) planes and the electrolyte pH can make Au-based catalysts extremely efficient for alcohols and sugars oxidation. It is expected that by substituting part of Au content with Bi, in an optimal proportion, the device could have greater cost-effectiveness, due to the relatively lower price of Bi precursors and its different catalyzes mechanisms enhancement effects, such as diminishing OH adsorption energy barrier, synergetic electronic response, and low CO poisoning. In this context, scanning droplet cell microscopy can be employed to determine the optimal composition of these devices, targeting a better performance in closer to real fuel cell applications for both fuels. (AU)