Fe Nanooctahedrons decorated with Pd as Anodes for Direct Glycerol Alkaline-Acid Fuel Cells

• Grant number: 23/15705-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Mauro Coelho dos Santos
• Grantee: Victor Augusto de Paula Guimarães
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims at the preparation, characterization and application of Fe nanooctahedra with Pd decoration as anodic materials and Au nanoparticles as cathode materials of direct glycerol alkaline-acid fuel cells (all materials supported in XC72 carbon). The oxidation of Glycerol in alkaline medium is the reaction at the anode of the cell. The reduction reaction of hydrogen peroxide in acidic medium is the reaction at the cathode of the cell. Membranes treated or not for basic media will be used, such as: Tokuyama alkaline membranes and Nafion membranes. The cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques will be used to study the oxidation reaction of Glycerol and the anodes formed will be tested in alkaline fuel cells - direct glycerol acids. The in-situ infrared technique in half-cell experiments will be used to study the mechanism oxidation reaction of glycerol in alkaline medium by varying the concentration of the electrolyte. The electrocatalysts will be tested for their stability by ICP-MS to measure dissolution in accelerated stress tests. Different physical techniques will be used for the characterization of anodic/cathode materials. The goals are: 1) The oxidation of glycerol to carbonate for cells, or for other products with higher added value, 2) Decrease in the amount of Pd, 3) study of the reaction mechanism, emphasizing the best electrocatalysts and 4) evaluation of the stability of anodic electrocatalysts in accelerated stress tests. It is intended to obtain higher open-circuit potentials, higher current densities, and high power densities in direct alkaline-acidic glycerol fuel cells.