This document is a student project report on platinum-graphene nanocomposites as electrocatalysts in PEM fuel cells. It was submitted by T.V. Sridharan to Professor Manoj Neergat at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay under his supervision. The report describes the synthesis of Pt/rGO nanocomposites using a modified polyol method, and their physical and electrochemical characterization. TEM analysis showed the successful deposition of platinum nanoparticles on graphene oxide sheets. Electrochemical experiments found the Pt/rGO composite had a higher effective surface area than Pt/C, but similar activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. Further research is needed to fully realize graphene's potential as
CVD grown nitrogen doped graphene is an exceptional visible-light driven phot...Pawan Kumar
The photocatalytic potential of large area CVD grown nitrogen doped graphene (NGr) has been explored though the chemical transformation of 4-nitrobenzene thiol into p,p'-dimercaptoazobenzene. Decoration of NGr with Ag nanocubes with rounded edges to form NGr/Ag nanohybrids resulted in a slight increase in the work-function and a decrease in the n-type character of NGr due to ground state transfer of negative charge from NGr to Ag. The Ag nanocubes exhibited a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at ~425 nm. When the NGr/Ag nanohybrids were illuminated with visible light of wavelength close to the LSPR peak, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) indicated a dramatic change in surface potential of −225 mV and Raman spectra detected electron accumulation in NGr, which are attributed to a high local field enhancement-mediated hot electron injection into NGr and the formation of long-lived charge separated states. Pristine nitrogen doped graphene and its coupled system with plasmonic Ag nanoparticles showed superior photocatalytic performance compared to bare plasmonic Ag catalyst. While standalone Ag NPs were unable to complete the transformation of 4-NBT into DMAB even at a laser power of 10 mW, NGr/Ag nanohybrids completed this transformation at a laser power of 1 mW, pointing to the high photoreduction strength of NGr/Ag. Density functional theory (DFT) based computational modeling was used to examine the electronic structure of graphene doped with graphitic, pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen dopant atoms. DFT results indicated an enhanced chemical reactivity of NGr due to stronger localization of charge at the dopant sites and a pronounced difference in the projected density of states (PDOS) for carbon atoms in proximity to, and distant from, the nitrogen dopant sites.
CVD grown nitrogen doped graphene is an exceptional visible-light driven phot...Pawan Kumar
This document summarizes research on nitrogen-doped graphene (NGr) and its potential as a visible-light photocatalyst. Key points:
- NGr was synthesized using chemical vapor deposition with acetonitrile as the carbon and nitrogen source. Nitrogen doping introduces a bandgap and increases the chemical reactivity of graphene.
- Silver nanoparticles were synthesized to form NGr/Ag nanohybrids. Under visible light, plasmonic effects in silver nanoparticles and excitonic effects in NGr interact, generating "hot electrons" that increase photocatalytic activity.
- The photocatalytic performance of NGr, NGr/Ag nanohybrids, and
Graphene is a one atom thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice. It has excellent mechanical and electrical properties. The document discusses the use of graphene and chemically modified graphene as catalysts. Graphene can be modified through doping with nitrogen or boron to introduce a band gap and alter its conductivity. These doped graphene materials show potential as metal-free catalysts for organic reactions, fuel cells through oxygen reduction, and nitrogen fixation through electrochemical nitrogen reduction. Doped graphene catalysts offer advantages over traditional metal catalysts including lower cost and stability.
Nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes as supports for pt – alternate anodes fo...kutty79
This document summarizes research on using nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes as supports for platinum nanoparticles as an alternative anode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells. Key points:
1. Nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes were synthesized using an alumina membrane template and pyrolysis of polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer.
2. Highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles around 3nm in size were uniformly deposited on the nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes.
3. Electrochemical testing found the platinum catalyst supported on nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes had over 10 times higher catalytic activity for methanol oxidation compared to a commercial platinum on carbon catalyst.
This document describes research on nitrogen-doped vertical graphene (N-VG) as a metal-free electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). N-VG was synthesized by a simple ammonia treatment of vertical graphene (VG). Characterization shows the nitrogen doping introduces defects but maintains the VG morphology. Electrochemical tests reveal the N-VG has enhanced HER performance over VG, with an overpotential of 290 mV at 10 mA/cm2 and a Tafel slope of 121 mV/decade. Density functional theory calculations provide insight into how nitrogen doping can optimize the electronic structure and introduce new active sites to improve the HER activity of N-VG.
This dissertation defense summarizes Yongjia Li's doctoral research on the design of nanostructured catalyst materials. The defense included three parts: (1) using graphene as a catalyst support for hemin, which showed activity for toluene oxidation; (2) developing bimetallic nanocatalysts including Au-Pd porous structures for alcohol oxidation and Au-Cu nanostars for CO2 reduction; and (3) a plasmonic photocatalyst using Au/Pd-TiO2 nanocomposites for tandem benzimidazole synthesis. The research demonstrated how nanostructuring and composition influences catalytic activity, selectivity, and photon absorption efficiency.
CVD grown nitrogen doped graphene is an exceptional visible-light driven phot...Pawan Kumar
The photocatalytic potential of large area CVD grown nitrogen doped graphene (NGr) has been explored though the chemical transformation of 4-nitrobenzene thiol into p,p'-dimercaptoazobenzene. Decoration of NGr with Ag nanocubes with rounded edges to form NGr/Ag nanohybrids resulted in a slight increase in the work-function and a decrease in the n-type character of NGr due to ground state transfer of negative charge from NGr to Ag. The Ag nanocubes exhibited a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at ~425 nm. When the NGr/Ag nanohybrids were illuminated with visible light of wavelength close to the LSPR peak, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) indicated a dramatic change in surface potential of −225 mV and Raman spectra detected electron accumulation in NGr, which are attributed to a high local field enhancement-mediated hot electron injection into NGr and the formation of long-lived charge separated states. Pristine nitrogen doped graphene and its coupled system with plasmonic Ag nanoparticles showed superior photocatalytic performance compared to bare plasmonic Ag catalyst. While standalone Ag NPs were unable to complete the transformation of 4-NBT into DMAB even at a laser power of 10 mW, NGr/Ag nanohybrids completed this transformation at a laser power of 1 mW, pointing to the high photoreduction strength of NGr/Ag. Density functional theory (DFT) based computational modeling was used to examine the electronic structure of graphene doped with graphitic, pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen dopant atoms. DFT results indicated an enhanced chemical reactivity of NGr due to stronger localization of charge at the dopant sites and a pronounced difference in the projected density of states (PDOS) for carbon atoms in proximity to, and distant from, the nitrogen dopant sites.
CVD grown nitrogen doped graphene is an exceptional visible-light driven phot...Pawan Kumar
This document summarizes research on nitrogen-doped graphene (NGr) and its potential as a visible-light photocatalyst. Key points:
- NGr was synthesized using chemical vapor deposition with acetonitrile as the carbon and nitrogen source. Nitrogen doping introduces a bandgap and increases the chemical reactivity of graphene.
- Silver nanoparticles were synthesized to form NGr/Ag nanohybrids. Under visible light, plasmonic effects in silver nanoparticles and excitonic effects in NGr interact, generating "hot electrons" that increase photocatalytic activity.
- The photocatalytic performance of NGr, NGr/Ag nanohybrids, and
Graphene is a one atom thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice. It has excellent mechanical and electrical properties. The document discusses the use of graphene and chemically modified graphene as catalysts. Graphene can be modified through doping with nitrogen or boron to introduce a band gap and alter its conductivity. These doped graphene materials show potential as metal-free catalysts for organic reactions, fuel cells through oxygen reduction, and nitrogen fixation through electrochemical nitrogen reduction. Doped graphene catalysts offer advantages over traditional metal catalysts including lower cost and stability.
Nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes as supports for pt – alternate anodes fo...kutty79
This document summarizes research on using nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes as supports for platinum nanoparticles as an alternative anode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells. Key points:
1. Nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes were synthesized using an alumina membrane template and pyrolysis of polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer.
2. Highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles around 3nm in size were uniformly deposited on the nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes.
3. Electrochemical testing found the platinum catalyst supported on nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes had over 10 times higher catalytic activity for methanol oxidation compared to a commercial platinum on carbon catalyst.
This document describes research on nitrogen-doped vertical graphene (N-VG) as a metal-free electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). N-VG was synthesized by a simple ammonia treatment of vertical graphene (VG). Characterization shows the nitrogen doping introduces defects but maintains the VG morphology. Electrochemical tests reveal the N-VG has enhanced HER performance over VG, with an overpotential of 290 mV at 10 mA/cm2 and a Tafel slope of 121 mV/decade. Density functional theory calculations provide insight into how nitrogen doping can optimize the electronic structure and introduce new active sites to improve the HER activity of N-VG.
This dissertation defense summarizes Yongjia Li's doctoral research on the design of nanostructured catalyst materials. The defense included three parts: (1) using graphene as a catalyst support for hemin, which showed activity for toluene oxidation; (2) developing bimetallic nanocatalysts including Au-Pd porous structures for alcohol oxidation and Au-Cu nanostars for CO2 reduction; and (3) a plasmonic photocatalyst using Au/Pd-TiO2 nanocomposites for tandem benzimidazole synthesis. The research demonstrated how nanostructuring and composition influences catalytic activity, selectivity, and photon absorption efficiency.
This document describes the synthesis and characterization of conductive polyimide/carbon composites with platinum surface deposits. Specifically, it discusses optimizing the conductivity of polyimide/carbon composites by varying the solvent composition, electrodepositing platinum onto the composite via cyclic voltammetry, and characterizing the material properties and electrochemical reactivity of the resulting polyimide/carbon/platinum composites.
Graphene oxide immobilized copper phthalocyanine tetrasulphonamide: the first...Pawan Kumar
The first successful synthesis of DMC directly from methanol and carbon dioxide using a heterogenized
homogeneous graphene oxide immobilized copper phthalocyanine tetrasulphonamide catalyst in the
presence of N,N0-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a dehydrating agent is described. The presence of a
dehydrating agent was found to be vital and in its absence the yield of DMC was found to be decreased
significantly. Under the optimized reaction conditions, the maximum yield of DMC reaches up to 13.3%.
Although the homogeneous copper phthalocyanine tetrasulphonamide catalyst provided a little higher
yield of DMC (14.2%), the facile recovery and recycling ability of the heterogeneous catalyst make the
developed method more attractive from environmental and economical viewpoints.
Maiyalagan, Synthesis and electro catalytic activity of methanol oxidation on...kutty79
Template synthesis of various nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes using different nitrogen containing polymers and the variation of nitrogen
content in carbon nanotube (CNT) on the behaviour of supported Pt electrodes in the anodic oxidation of methanol in direct methanol fuel cells was
investigated. Characterizations of the as-prepared catalysts are investigated by electron microscopy and electrochemical analysis. The catalyst with
N-containing CNT as a support exhibits a higher catalytic activity than that carbon supported platinum electrode and CNT supported electrodes.
The N-containing CNT supported electrodes with 10.5% nitrogen content show a higher catalytic activity compared to other N-CNT supported
electrodes. This could be due to the existence of additional active sites on the surface of the N-containing CNT supported electrodes, which favours
better dispersion of Pt particles. Also, the strong metal-support interaction plays a major role in enhancing the catalytic activity for methanol
oxidation.
Visible light assisted reduction of nitrobenzenes using Fe(bpy)3+2/rGOnanocom...Pawan Kumar
Visible-light-induced photocatalytic reduction of aromatic nitrobenzenes to the corresponding anilinesat room temperature using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) immobilized iron(II) bipyridine complex asphotocatalyst is described. The rGO-immobilized iron catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity thanhomogeneous iron(II) bipyridine complex and much higher than metal free rGO photocatalysts. Theheterogeneous photocatalyst was found to be robust and could easily be recovered and reused for severalruns without any significant loss in photocatalytic activity.
Metal-organic hybrid: Photoreduction of CO2 using graphitic carbon nitride su...Pawan Kumar
A novel heteroleptic iridium complex supported on graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized and used for photoreduction of carbon dioxide under visible light irradiation. The methanol yield obtained after 24 h irradiation was 9934 μmol g−1cat (TON 1241 with respect to Ir) by using triethylamine (TEA) as a sacrificial donor, which was significantly higher as compared to the semiconductor carbon nitride 145 μmol g−1cat under identical conditions. The presence of triethylamine was found to be vital for the higher methanol yield. After the reaction, the photocatalyst could easily be recovered and reused for subsequent six runs without significant loss in photo activity.
Metal-organic hybrid: Photoreduction of CO2 using graphitic carbon nitride su...Pawan Kumar
A novel heteroleptic iridium complex supported on graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized and used
for photoreduction of carbon dioxide under visible light irradiation. The methanol yield obtained after
24 h irradiation was 9934 mmol g1cat (TON 1241 with respect to Ir) by using triethylamine (TEA) as a
sacrificial donor, which was significantly higher as compared to the semiconductor carbon nitride
145 mmol g1cat under identical conditions. The presence of triethylamine was found to be vital for the
higher methanol yield. After the reaction, the photocatalyst could easily be recovered and reused for
subsequent six runs without significant loss in photo activity.
Metal-organic hybrid: Photoreduction of CO2 using graphitic carbon nitride su...Pawan Kumar
A novel heteroleptic iridium complex supported on graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized and used
for photoreduction of carbon dioxide under visible light irradiation. The methanol yield obtained after
24 h irradiation was 9934 mmol g1cat (TON 1241 with respect to Ir) by using triethylamine (TEA) as a
sacrificial donor, which was significantly higher as compared to the semiconductor carbon nitride
145 mmol g1cat under identical conditions. The presence of triethylamine was found to be vital for the
higher methanol yield. After the reaction, the photocatalyst could easily be recovered and reused for
subsequent six runs without significant loss in photo activity.
Cobalt Phthalocyanine Immobilized on Graphene Oxide: An Efficient Visible-Act...Pawan Kumar
New graphene oxide (GO)-tethered–CoII phthalocyanine
complex [CoPc–GO] was synthesized by a stepwise
procedure and demonstrated to be an efficient, cost-effective
and recyclable photocatalyst for the reduction of carbon
dioxide to produce methanol as the main product. The developed
GO-immobilized CoPc was characterized by X-ray
diffraction (XRD), FTIR, XPS, Raman, diffusion reflection UV/
Vis spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission
spectroscopy (ICP-AES), thermogravimetric analysis
(TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
FTIR, XPS, Raman, UV/Vis and ICP-AES along with elemental
analysis data showed that CoII–Pc complex was successfully
grafted on GO. The prepared catalyst was used for the photocatalytic
reduction of carbon dioxide by using water as
a solvent and triethylamine as the sacrificial donor. Methanol
was obtained as the major reaction product along with the
formation of minor amount of CO (0.82 %). It was found that
GO-grafted CoPc exhibited higher photocatalytic activity
than homogeneous CoPc, as well as GO, and showed good
recoverability without significant leaching during the reaction.
Quantitative determination of methanol was done by
GC flame-ionization detector (FID), and verification of product
was done by NMR spectroscopy. The yield of methanol
after 48 h of reaction by using GO–CoPc catalyst in the presence
of sacrificial donor triethylamine was found to be
3781.8881 mmolg1 cat., and the conversion rate was found
to be 78.7893 mmolg1cat.h1. After the photoreduction experiment,
the catalyst was easily recovered by filtration and
reused for the subsequent recycling experiment without significant
change in the catalytic efficiency
Cobalt Phthalocyanine Immobilized on Graphene Oxide: An Efficient Visible-Act...Pawan Kumar
Abstract: New graphene oxide (GO)-tethered–CoII phthalocyanine
complex [CoPc–GO] was synthesized by a stepwise
procedure and demonstrated to be an efficient, cost-effective
and recyclable photocatalyst for the reduction of carbon
dioxide to produce methanol as the main product. The developed
GO-immobilized CoPc was characterized by X-ray
diffraction (XRD), FTIR, XPS, Raman, diffusion reflection UV/
Vis spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission
spectroscopy (ICP-AES), thermogravimetric analysis
(TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
FTIR, XPS, Raman, UV/Vis and ICP-AES along with elemental
analysis data showed that CoII–Pc complex was successfully
grafted on GO. The prepared catalyst was used for the photocatalytic
reduction of carbon dioxide by using water as
a solvent and triethylamine as the sacrificial donor. Methanol
was obtained as the major reaction product along with the
formation of minor amount of CO (0.82 %). It was found that
GO-grafted CoPc exhibited higher photocatalytic activity
than homogeneous CoPc, as well as GO, and showed good
recoverability without significant leaching during the reaction.
Quantitative determination of methanol was done by
GC flame-ionization detector (FID), and verification of product
was done by NMR spectroscopy. The yield of methanol
after 48 h of reaction by using GO–CoPc catalyst in the presence
of sacrificial donor triethylamine was found to be
3781.8881 mmolg1 cat., and the conversion rate was found
to be 78.7893 mmolg1cat.h1. After the photoreduction experiment,
the catalyst was easily recovered by filtration and
reused for the subsequent recycling experiment without significant
change in the catalytic efficiency.
A closed loop ammonium salt system for recovery of high-purity lead tetroxide...Ary Assuncao
This document describes a closed-loop hydrometallurgical process for recovering high-purity lead tetroxide from spent lead-acid battery paste. The process involves leaching the paste with a mixed solution of ammonium acetate, acetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide. The leachate is then reacted with ammonium carbonate to precipitate lead carbonate. Impurities are removed during leaching and precipitation. The regenerated leachate is recycled for the next leaching. Lead carbonate is calcined to produce lead tetroxide with low impurity levels meeting industry standards. This process allows for reagent recirculation and production of a high value lead recovery product.
Magnetic Fe3O4@MgAl–LDH composite grafted with cobalt phthalocyanine as an ef...Pawan Kumar
Magnetically separable layered double hydroxide MgAl–LDH@Fe3O4 composite supported cobalt
phthalocyanine catalyst was synthesized and used for the aerobic oxidation of mercaptans to corresponding
disulfides under alkali free conditions. The catalyst exhibited excellent activity for the oxidation of
mercaptans using molecular oxygen as an oxidant which can be effectively recovered by using an external
magnetic field. In addition, the covalent immobilization of cobalt phthalocyanine to MgAl–LDH@Fe3O4
support prevents the leaching of the catalyst and improves its activity and stability
This document discusses the mechanism of graphene oxide (GO) formation from graphite. The key points are:
1. GO formation involves three distinct steps - first, graphite is converted to a stage-1 graphite intercalation compound (GIC); second, the GIC is converted to "pristine graphite oxide" (PGO); third, PGO is converted to conventional GO upon exposure to water.
2. The first step of GIC formation occurs rapidly. The second step of converting the GIC to PGO is much slower and is the rate-determining step.
3. Partial oxidation experiments show the reaction proceeds from the flake edges inward, with different spectroscopic signatures
Reduced graphene oxide–CuO nanocomposites for photocatalyticconversion of CO2...Pawan Kumar
tReduced graphene oxide (rGO)–copper oxide nanocomposites are prepared by covalent grafting of CuOnanorods on the rGO skeleton. Chemical and structural features of rGO–CuO nanocomposites are probedby FTIR, XPS, XRD and HRTEM analyses. Photocatalytic potential of rGO–CuO nanocomposites is exploredfor reduction of CO2into the methanol under the visible light irradiation. The breadth of CuO nanorods andthe oxidation state of Cu in the rGO–CuO/Cu2O nanocomposites are systematically varied to investigatetheir photocatalytic activities. The pristine CuO nanorods exhibited very low photocatalytic activity owingto fast recombination of charge carriers and yielded 175 mol g−1methanol, whereas rGO–Cu2O andrGO–CuO exhibited significantly improved photocatalytic activities and yielded five (862 mol g−1) andseven (1228 mol g−1) folds methanol, respectively. The superior photocatalytic activity of CuO in therGO–CuO nanocomposites was attributed to slow recombination of charge carriers and efficient transferof photo-generated electrons through the rGO skeleton. This study further excludes the use of scavengingdonor.
Nitrogen-doped graphene-supported copper complex: a novel photocatalyst for C...Pawan Kumar
A copper(II) complex grafted to nitrogen-doped graphene (GrN700–CuC) was synthesized and then
demonstrated as an efficient photocatalyst for CO2 reduction into methanol under visible light irradiation
using a DMF/water mixture. The chemical and microstructural features of GrN700–CuC nanosheets were
studied by FTIR, XPS, XRD and HRTEM analyses. Owing to its truly heterogeneous nature, GrN700–CuC
could be easily recovered after the photocatalytic reaction and showed efficient recyclability for
subsequent runs.
Graphene is a single layer of graphite, which is a pure crystalline form of carbon. It was first isolated in 2004 by researchers at the University of Manchester. Graphene has exceptional properties such as being the thinnest, strongest, most conductive and flexible material known. It is light, transparent and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. These properties give graphene potential applications in areas like batteries, touchscreens, composites and biotechnology. Further research aims to utilize graphene's tunable bandgap for applications like transistors and integrated circuits.
Save fuel & reduce emissions on diesel enginesHabibur Rahman
The document presents information on Rentar Fuel Catalyst and its potential to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It discusses Rentar and HBL Power Systems, provides an overview of how the catalyst works and its applications. It also includes several case studies and testimonials showing fuel savings ranging from 2-12% as well as reductions in emissions. Independent laboratory tests and reports are referenced, demonstrating reductions in particulates, NOx, CO2, hydrocarbons and other emissions.
National Energy Control Services recommends the Rentar fuel catalyst technology to help reduce fleet fuel costs and emissions. Rentar works by separating clustered fuel molecules before combustion to increase surface area exposure to oxygen, improving combustion efficiency. Testing by numerous government and private organizations has independently verified that Rentar reduces fuel consumption, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants while extending engine life. Customers report a return on investment within 6-12 months after installing Rentar, which takes about an hour and requires no additives or maintenance.
Hbl efficient carbon-rentar fuel catalystZolt Energy
The document describes a fuel catalyst called Rentar that is independently verified to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in vehicles and industrial equipment. It reduces fuel consumption by 2-12% and greenhouse gases by up to 19.2%. The catalyst works by increasing the surface area of fuel molecules exposed to oxygen during combustion. It has been tested and approved by several government agencies and is used worldwide to reduce costs and emissions across various on-road and off-road applications.
This document summarizes Nellone Reid's Ph.D. dissertation defense on studying the effects of perfluorinated groups on metal phthalocyanines. The study examines how modifying cobalt phthalocyanine structures with fluorine or perfluorinated alkyl groups affects their ability to catalyze thiol oxidations. Kinetic experiments are conducted to determine how structural changes influence rate constants and equilibrium constants. The goal is to understand how fine-tuning steric and electronic properties through substitution impacts the catalyst's reactivity and stability.
Preparation and performance analysis of Ni/Dolomite CatalystAnant Arya
The document discusses the preparation and testing of a Ni/Dolomite catalyst for cracking tar produced during biomass gasification. The catalyst is prepared by adding nickel nitrate, dolomite, silicate cement, and graphite binders, then dried and calcined. Testing shows the catalyst can crack 94% of tar in the first hour but its activity decreases over time due to coking. Regenerating the catalyst at 700°C can restore its activity. The results suggest Ni/Dolomite is an effective and inexpensive catalyst that improves the hydrogen content of the produced gas during biomass gasification.
Iron is extracted from iron ore deposits in the ground through the blast furnace process. Iron ore, consisting of iron oxides like magnetite and hematite, is heated in the blast furnace to remove oxygen and produce pure iron. Steel is made by further purifying iron through heating it to remove impurities. Aluminum is produced through the electrolysis of alumina, using cryolite to lower the melting point in the process. Catalysts are used in many chemical processes to increase reaction rates and produce desired products through heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions. Fuel cells generate electricity through the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, while rechargeable batteries can be recharged through reversible chemical reactions.
Purpose
Key to good performance
Problem Areas
Catalysts, heat shields and plant up-rates
Burner Guns
Development of High Intensity Ring Burner
Case Studies
Conclusions
This document describes the synthesis and characterization of conductive polyimide/carbon composites with platinum surface deposits. Specifically, it discusses optimizing the conductivity of polyimide/carbon composites by varying the solvent composition, electrodepositing platinum onto the composite via cyclic voltammetry, and characterizing the material properties and electrochemical reactivity of the resulting polyimide/carbon/platinum composites.
Graphene oxide immobilized copper phthalocyanine tetrasulphonamide: the first...Pawan Kumar
The first successful synthesis of DMC directly from methanol and carbon dioxide using a heterogenized
homogeneous graphene oxide immobilized copper phthalocyanine tetrasulphonamide catalyst in the
presence of N,N0-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a dehydrating agent is described. The presence of a
dehydrating agent was found to be vital and in its absence the yield of DMC was found to be decreased
significantly. Under the optimized reaction conditions, the maximum yield of DMC reaches up to 13.3%.
Although the homogeneous copper phthalocyanine tetrasulphonamide catalyst provided a little higher
yield of DMC (14.2%), the facile recovery and recycling ability of the heterogeneous catalyst make the
developed method more attractive from environmental and economical viewpoints.
Maiyalagan, Synthesis and electro catalytic activity of methanol oxidation on...kutty79
Template synthesis of various nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes using different nitrogen containing polymers and the variation of nitrogen
content in carbon nanotube (CNT) on the behaviour of supported Pt electrodes in the anodic oxidation of methanol in direct methanol fuel cells was
investigated. Characterizations of the as-prepared catalysts are investigated by electron microscopy and electrochemical analysis. The catalyst with
N-containing CNT as a support exhibits a higher catalytic activity than that carbon supported platinum electrode and CNT supported electrodes.
The N-containing CNT supported electrodes with 10.5% nitrogen content show a higher catalytic activity compared to other N-CNT supported
electrodes. This could be due to the existence of additional active sites on the surface of the N-containing CNT supported electrodes, which favours
better dispersion of Pt particles. Also, the strong metal-support interaction plays a major role in enhancing the catalytic activity for methanol
oxidation.
Visible light assisted reduction of nitrobenzenes using Fe(bpy)3+2/rGOnanocom...Pawan Kumar
Visible-light-induced photocatalytic reduction of aromatic nitrobenzenes to the corresponding anilinesat room temperature using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) immobilized iron(II) bipyridine complex asphotocatalyst is described. The rGO-immobilized iron catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity thanhomogeneous iron(II) bipyridine complex and much higher than metal free rGO photocatalysts. Theheterogeneous photocatalyst was found to be robust and could easily be recovered and reused for severalruns without any significant loss in photocatalytic activity.
Metal-organic hybrid: Photoreduction of CO2 using graphitic carbon nitride su...Pawan Kumar
A novel heteroleptic iridium complex supported on graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized and used for photoreduction of carbon dioxide under visible light irradiation. The methanol yield obtained after 24 h irradiation was 9934 μmol g−1cat (TON 1241 with respect to Ir) by using triethylamine (TEA) as a sacrificial donor, which was significantly higher as compared to the semiconductor carbon nitride 145 μmol g−1cat under identical conditions. The presence of triethylamine was found to be vital for the higher methanol yield. After the reaction, the photocatalyst could easily be recovered and reused for subsequent six runs without significant loss in photo activity.
Metal-organic hybrid: Photoreduction of CO2 using graphitic carbon nitride su...Pawan Kumar
A novel heteroleptic iridium complex supported on graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized and used
for photoreduction of carbon dioxide under visible light irradiation. The methanol yield obtained after
24 h irradiation was 9934 mmol g1cat (TON 1241 with respect to Ir) by using triethylamine (TEA) as a
sacrificial donor, which was significantly higher as compared to the semiconductor carbon nitride
145 mmol g1cat under identical conditions. The presence of triethylamine was found to be vital for the
higher methanol yield. After the reaction, the photocatalyst could easily be recovered and reused for
subsequent six runs without significant loss in photo activity.
Metal-organic hybrid: Photoreduction of CO2 using graphitic carbon nitride su...Pawan Kumar
A novel heteroleptic iridium complex supported on graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized and used
for photoreduction of carbon dioxide under visible light irradiation. The methanol yield obtained after
24 h irradiation was 9934 mmol g1cat (TON 1241 with respect to Ir) by using triethylamine (TEA) as a
sacrificial donor, which was significantly higher as compared to the semiconductor carbon nitride
145 mmol g1cat under identical conditions. The presence of triethylamine was found to be vital for the
higher methanol yield. After the reaction, the photocatalyst could easily be recovered and reused for
subsequent six runs without significant loss in photo activity.
Cobalt Phthalocyanine Immobilized on Graphene Oxide: An Efficient Visible-Act...Pawan Kumar
New graphene oxide (GO)-tethered–CoII phthalocyanine
complex [CoPc–GO] was synthesized by a stepwise
procedure and demonstrated to be an efficient, cost-effective
and recyclable photocatalyst for the reduction of carbon
dioxide to produce methanol as the main product. The developed
GO-immobilized CoPc was characterized by X-ray
diffraction (XRD), FTIR, XPS, Raman, diffusion reflection UV/
Vis spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission
spectroscopy (ICP-AES), thermogravimetric analysis
(TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
FTIR, XPS, Raman, UV/Vis and ICP-AES along with elemental
analysis data showed that CoII–Pc complex was successfully
grafted on GO. The prepared catalyst was used for the photocatalytic
reduction of carbon dioxide by using water as
a solvent and triethylamine as the sacrificial donor. Methanol
was obtained as the major reaction product along with the
formation of minor amount of CO (0.82 %). It was found that
GO-grafted CoPc exhibited higher photocatalytic activity
than homogeneous CoPc, as well as GO, and showed good
recoverability without significant leaching during the reaction.
Quantitative determination of methanol was done by
GC flame-ionization detector (FID), and verification of product
was done by NMR spectroscopy. The yield of methanol
after 48 h of reaction by using GO–CoPc catalyst in the presence
of sacrificial donor triethylamine was found to be
3781.8881 mmolg1 cat., and the conversion rate was found
to be 78.7893 mmolg1cat.h1. After the photoreduction experiment,
the catalyst was easily recovered by filtration and
reused for the subsequent recycling experiment without significant
change in the catalytic efficiency
Cobalt Phthalocyanine Immobilized on Graphene Oxide: An Efficient Visible-Act...Pawan Kumar
Abstract: New graphene oxide (GO)-tethered–CoII phthalocyanine
complex [CoPc–GO] was synthesized by a stepwise
procedure and demonstrated to be an efficient, cost-effective
and recyclable photocatalyst for the reduction of carbon
dioxide to produce methanol as the main product. The developed
GO-immobilized CoPc was characterized by X-ray
diffraction (XRD), FTIR, XPS, Raman, diffusion reflection UV/
Vis spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission
spectroscopy (ICP-AES), thermogravimetric analysis
(TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
FTIR, XPS, Raman, UV/Vis and ICP-AES along with elemental
analysis data showed that CoII–Pc complex was successfully
grafted on GO. The prepared catalyst was used for the photocatalytic
reduction of carbon dioxide by using water as
a solvent and triethylamine as the sacrificial donor. Methanol
was obtained as the major reaction product along with the
formation of minor amount of CO (0.82 %). It was found that
GO-grafted CoPc exhibited higher photocatalytic activity
than homogeneous CoPc, as well as GO, and showed good
recoverability without significant leaching during the reaction.
Quantitative determination of methanol was done by
GC flame-ionization detector (FID), and verification of product
was done by NMR spectroscopy. The yield of methanol
after 48 h of reaction by using GO–CoPc catalyst in the presence
of sacrificial donor triethylamine was found to be
3781.8881 mmolg1 cat., and the conversion rate was found
to be 78.7893 mmolg1cat.h1. After the photoreduction experiment,
the catalyst was easily recovered by filtration and
reused for the subsequent recycling experiment without significant
change in the catalytic efficiency.
A closed loop ammonium salt system for recovery of high-purity lead tetroxide...Ary Assuncao
This document describes a closed-loop hydrometallurgical process for recovering high-purity lead tetroxide from spent lead-acid battery paste. The process involves leaching the paste with a mixed solution of ammonium acetate, acetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide. The leachate is then reacted with ammonium carbonate to precipitate lead carbonate. Impurities are removed during leaching and precipitation. The regenerated leachate is recycled for the next leaching. Lead carbonate is calcined to produce lead tetroxide with low impurity levels meeting industry standards. This process allows for reagent recirculation and production of a high value lead recovery product.
Magnetic Fe3O4@MgAl–LDH composite grafted with cobalt phthalocyanine as an ef...Pawan Kumar
Magnetically separable layered double hydroxide MgAl–LDH@Fe3O4 composite supported cobalt
phthalocyanine catalyst was synthesized and used for the aerobic oxidation of mercaptans to corresponding
disulfides under alkali free conditions. The catalyst exhibited excellent activity for the oxidation of
mercaptans using molecular oxygen as an oxidant which can be effectively recovered by using an external
magnetic field. In addition, the covalent immobilization of cobalt phthalocyanine to MgAl–LDH@Fe3O4
support prevents the leaching of the catalyst and improves its activity and stability
This document discusses the mechanism of graphene oxide (GO) formation from graphite. The key points are:
1. GO formation involves three distinct steps - first, graphite is converted to a stage-1 graphite intercalation compound (GIC); second, the GIC is converted to "pristine graphite oxide" (PGO); third, PGO is converted to conventional GO upon exposure to water.
2. The first step of GIC formation occurs rapidly. The second step of converting the GIC to PGO is much slower and is the rate-determining step.
3. Partial oxidation experiments show the reaction proceeds from the flake edges inward, with different spectroscopic signatures
Reduced graphene oxide–CuO nanocomposites for photocatalyticconversion of CO2...Pawan Kumar
tReduced graphene oxide (rGO)–copper oxide nanocomposites are prepared by covalent grafting of CuOnanorods on the rGO skeleton. Chemical and structural features of rGO–CuO nanocomposites are probedby FTIR, XPS, XRD and HRTEM analyses. Photocatalytic potential of rGO–CuO nanocomposites is exploredfor reduction of CO2into the methanol under the visible light irradiation. The breadth of CuO nanorods andthe oxidation state of Cu in the rGO–CuO/Cu2O nanocomposites are systematically varied to investigatetheir photocatalytic activities. The pristine CuO nanorods exhibited very low photocatalytic activity owingto fast recombination of charge carriers and yielded 175 mol g−1methanol, whereas rGO–Cu2O andrGO–CuO exhibited significantly improved photocatalytic activities and yielded five (862 mol g−1) andseven (1228 mol g−1) folds methanol, respectively. The superior photocatalytic activity of CuO in therGO–CuO nanocomposites was attributed to slow recombination of charge carriers and efficient transferof photo-generated electrons through the rGO skeleton. This study further excludes the use of scavengingdonor.
Nitrogen-doped graphene-supported copper complex: a novel photocatalyst for C...Pawan Kumar
A copper(II) complex grafted to nitrogen-doped graphene (GrN700–CuC) was synthesized and then
demonstrated as an efficient photocatalyst for CO2 reduction into methanol under visible light irradiation
using a DMF/water mixture. The chemical and microstructural features of GrN700–CuC nanosheets were
studied by FTIR, XPS, XRD and HRTEM analyses. Owing to its truly heterogeneous nature, GrN700–CuC
could be easily recovered after the photocatalytic reaction and showed efficient recyclability for
subsequent runs.
Graphene is a single layer of graphite, which is a pure crystalline form of carbon. It was first isolated in 2004 by researchers at the University of Manchester. Graphene has exceptional properties such as being the thinnest, strongest, most conductive and flexible material known. It is light, transparent and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. These properties give graphene potential applications in areas like batteries, touchscreens, composites and biotechnology. Further research aims to utilize graphene's tunable bandgap for applications like transistors and integrated circuits.
Save fuel & reduce emissions on diesel enginesHabibur Rahman
The document presents information on Rentar Fuel Catalyst and its potential to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It discusses Rentar and HBL Power Systems, provides an overview of how the catalyst works and its applications. It also includes several case studies and testimonials showing fuel savings ranging from 2-12% as well as reductions in emissions. Independent laboratory tests and reports are referenced, demonstrating reductions in particulates, NOx, CO2, hydrocarbons and other emissions.
National Energy Control Services recommends the Rentar fuel catalyst technology to help reduce fleet fuel costs and emissions. Rentar works by separating clustered fuel molecules before combustion to increase surface area exposure to oxygen, improving combustion efficiency. Testing by numerous government and private organizations has independently verified that Rentar reduces fuel consumption, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants while extending engine life. Customers report a return on investment within 6-12 months after installing Rentar, which takes about an hour and requires no additives or maintenance.
Hbl efficient carbon-rentar fuel catalystZolt Energy
The document describes a fuel catalyst called Rentar that is independently verified to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in vehicles and industrial equipment. It reduces fuel consumption by 2-12% and greenhouse gases by up to 19.2%. The catalyst works by increasing the surface area of fuel molecules exposed to oxygen during combustion. It has been tested and approved by several government agencies and is used worldwide to reduce costs and emissions across various on-road and off-road applications.
This document summarizes Nellone Reid's Ph.D. dissertation defense on studying the effects of perfluorinated groups on metal phthalocyanines. The study examines how modifying cobalt phthalocyanine structures with fluorine or perfluorinated alkyl groups affects their ability to catalyze thiol oxidations. Kinetic experiments are conducted to determine how structural changes influence rate constants and equilibrium constants. The goal is to understand how fine-tuning steric and electronic properties through substitution impacts the catalyst's reactivity and stability.
Preparation and performance analysis of Ni/Dolomite CatalystAnant Arya
The document discusses the preparation and testing of a Ni/Dolomite catalyst for cracking tar produced during biomass gasification. The catalyst is prepared by adding nickel nitrate, dolomite, silicate cement, and graphite binders, then dried and calcined. Testing shows the catalyst can crack 94% of tar in the first hour but its activity decreases over time due to coking. Regenerating the catalyst at 700°C can restore its activity. The results suggest Ni/Dolomite is an effective and inexpensive catalyst that improves the hydrogen content of the produced gas during biomass gasification.
Iron is extracted from iron ore deposits in the ground through the blast furnace process. Iron ore, consisting of iron oxides like magnetite and hematite, is heated in the blast furnace to remove oxygen and produce pure iron. Steel is made by further purifying iron through heating it to remove impurities. Aluminum is produced through the electrolysis of alumina, using cryolite to lower the melting point in the process. Catalysts are used in many chemical processes to increase reaction rates and produce desired products through heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions. Fuel cells generate electricity through the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, while rechargeable batteries can be recharged through reversible chemical reactions.
Purpose
Key to good performance
Problem Areas
Catalysts, heat shields and plant up-rates
Burner Guns
Development of High Intensity Ring Burner
Case Studies
Conclusions
This document provides information on alcohols, phenols, and ethers. It discusses their classification, nomenclature, structures, properties, and preparation methods. Alcohols contain an -OH group attached to a carbon atom, while phenols have an -OH group on an aromatic ring. Ethers are formed when a hydrogen is replaced by an alkoxy or aryloxy group. Commonly used alcohols include methanol, obtained from wood, and ethanol, produced commercially by fermentation of sugars. Ethers can be prepared by dehydration of alcohols or the Williamson synthesis reaction.
This is the biggy, the one everyone wants to achieve. Here we will be looking at metal-based chiral catalysis. We will concentrate on bisoxazoline-based Lewis acid catalysis and then look at reductions before finishing with the ubiquitous Sharpless epoxidation and dihydroxylation.
Catalyst poisons & fouling mechanisms the impact on catalyst performance Gerard B. Hawkins
Primary Effects
Secondary Effects
Typical Poisons in hydrocarbon processing
Permanent Poisons
- Arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium…
- Silica, Iron Oxide….
Temporary Poisons
- Sulfur, Chlorides, Carbon
Boiler Feed water impurities
Heavy Metals
Foulants
THE NATURE OF CARBON DEPOSITS FORMED ON CATALYSTS
- CARBON FORMATION
Type A, B, C
- FEEDSTOCK COMPOSITION EFFECTS
COMMERCIAL’ CARBON DEPOSITS
- CARBON BURNING IN AIR
- CARBON REMOVAL BY STEAMING
- CARBON BURN CONTROL METHODS
- CATALYST – REACTION WITH STEAM
- MAXIMUM OXYGEN CONCENTRATION
- TEMPERATURE OF THE CATALYST SURFACE DURING CARBON BURNS
- CONDITIONS TO BURN OFF CARBON COATED CATALYST
- EFFECT OF CARBON FORMATION
The document discusses the chemistry of fire, including the fire triangle of oxygen, fuel, and heat required to start a fire. It explains the four classes of fires based on the type of fuel (A, B, C, D) and defines key terms like pyrolysis, combustion, activation energy, and chain reaction. Fire spread occurs primarily through conduction, convection and radiation. As the fire grows, it can lead to a flashover where the flames spread rapidly to involve the entire compartment.
The document discusses catalytic converter testing and operation. It provides information on:
1) The purpose and types of catalytic converters.
2) Requirements for proper catalytic converter operation including oxygen levels and temperature.
3) Causes of catalytic converter failure and symptoms that could damage a new converter.
4) Tests to evaluate catalytic converter efficiency including pre-catalyst and post-catalyst emissions comparisons and monitoring oxygen sensor responses.
Done By: Silver Group
School Name: Al Khor Independent School for Girls
Environmental Catalysis Module: Students examines different types of catalytic systems, including heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. Depending on the knowledge they gained during activities, the students are then asked to design their projects.
Our Project:
Converting carbon dioxide into oxygen using calcium oxide and metal catalyst
Factory’s smoke contains many harmful and dangerous materials for both human beings and the environment, this project will not only save our ozone layer but it will save many people in the future generation securing a breath full future for humanity.
Emission Control by Catalytic Converter, Jeevan B MJeevan B M
A catalytic converter is an emissions control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas to less toxic pollutants. The catalytic converter was invented by Eugene Houdry, a French mechanical engineer and expert in catalytic oil refining. In the catalytic converter, there are two different types of catalyst at work, a reduction catalyst and an oxidation catalyst.
This document provides an overview of chemical reactions and energetics for a 10th grade IGCSE course. It discusses exothermic and endothermic reactions in relation to energy changes and temperature. It also covers the factors that affect reaction rates, including concentration, particle size, catalysis, and temperature. The document defines oxidation and reduction in terms of electron transfer and identifies redox reactions. It provides examples of exothermic and endothermic reactions and discusses how catalysts can lower the activation energy and increase reaction rates. Interactive links are included to illustrate and reinforce the concepts.
This document discusses various types of reduction reactions including:
1) Catalytic hydrogenation using metals like Pt, Pd, Ni, Ru, Rh to reduce double and triple bonds.
2) Hydride transfer reactions using sources like LiAlH4, NaBH4 to reduce carbonyl groups, nitro groups, and more.
3) Dissolving metal reductions using reactive metals like Li, Na in ammonia solution (Birch reduction) to reduce aromatics.
4) Specific reducing agents and conditions are described for reducing different functional groups selectively like carbonyls, nitriles, alkynes and more.
una seleccíón de acuarelas, dibujos, óleos, pasteles y mixtos realizados entre los años 2003 y 2006. Sin un tema que los coordine especialmente más que la figura humana.
Synthesis and electro catalytic activity of methanol oxidation on nitrogen co...Science Padayatchi
The document discusses the synthesis and electro-catalytic activity of methanol oxidation on nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes supported Pt electrodes. Specifically:
1. Various nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes were synthesized using different nitrogen containing polymers as templates.
2. The nitrogen content and morphology of the carbon nanotubes were characterized using electron microscopy.
3. The catalytic activity of Pt supported on nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes was evaluated for methanol oxidation and compared to Pt supported on regular carbon nanotubes and carbon black.
4. Preliminary results showed that nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes with 10.5% nitrogen content exhibited higher catalytic activity than other supports, likely due to additional active sites from nitrogen
Synthesis and electro catalytic activity of methanol oxidation on nitrogen co...Science Padayatchi
The document discusses the synthesis and electro-catalytic activity of methanol oxidation on nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes supported Pt electrodes. Specifically:
1. Various nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes were synthesized using different nitrogen containing polymers as templates.
2. The nitrogen content and morphology of the carbon nanotubes were characterized using electron microscopy.
3. The electro-catalytic activity of Pt particles supported on nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes was evaluated for methanol oxidation and compared to conventional carbon supports. Nitrogen containing carbon nanotube supported electrodes showed higher catalytic activity.
Recent progress on reduced graphene oxide....suresh kannan
The document summarizes recent progress on using reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based materials as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as a cost-effective alternative to platinum. It discusses how rGO on its own is not effective as a counter electrode but that adding metal nanoparticles to rGO composites improves their catalytic activity and performance in DSSCs. The document reviews various rGO composites that have been studied, including those with silver, nickel, tungsten and platinum nanoparticles, as well as metal oxides and dichalcogenides. It compares the photovoltaic parameters of DSSCs using these rGO composite counter electrodes to those using conventional platinum counter electrodes
This document summarizes research on graphene-based composite materials and their applications in energy storage devices and sensors. It discusses how graphene possesses unique electronic and mechanical properties and can be produced through various methods. Graphene composites with conducting polymers and metal oxides have been used in supercapacitors and shown to provide high specific capacitance values. Graphene composites have also been applied as electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries, demonstrating high reversible capacity and cycling stability. Additionally, graphene composites with metals like platinum and gold have been investigated as electrocatalysts for fuel cells.
C3N5: A Low Bandgap Semiconductor Containing an Azo-Linked Carbon Nitride Fra...Pawan Kumar
Modification of carbon nitride based polymeric 2D materials for tailoring their optical, electronic and chemical properties for various applications has gained significant interest. The present report demonstrates the synthesis of a novel modified carbon nitride framework with a remarkable 3:5 C:N stoichiometry (C3N5) and an electronic bandgap of 1.76 eV, by thermal deammoniation of the melem hydrazine precursor. Characterization revealed that in the C3N5 polymer, two s-heptazine units are bridged together with azo linkage, which constitutes an entirely new and different bonding fashion from g-C3N4 where three heptazine units are linked together with tertiary nitrogen. Extended conjugation due to overlap of azo nitrogens and increased electron density on heptazine nucleus due to the aromatic π network of heptazine units lead to an upward shift of the valence band maximum resulting in bandgap reduction
C3N5: A Low Bandgap Semiconductor Containing an Azo-Linked Carbon Nitride Fra...Pawan Kumar
This document describes the synthesis and characterization of a novel carbon nitride framework called C3N5. C3N5 has a 3:5 carbon to nitrogen stoichiometry and is synthesized by thermal deammoniation of melem hydrazine. Characterization reveals that in the C3N5 polymer, two s-heptazine units are bridged together with an azo linkage. This azo linkage extends the π-conjugated network and lowers the electronic bandgap to 1.76 eV compared to 2.7 eV for g-C3N4. Due to its lower bandgap and electron-rich character, C3N5 shows improved performance for applications in solar cells, photocatalysis
This document describes the synthesis and characterization of Pt-Ru nanoparticles supported on a polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer functionalized carbon nanofiber (CNF) composite catalyst for use in direct methanol fuel cells. Pt-Ru nanoparticles with an average size of 2.6 nm were uniformly dispersed on the PAMAM/CNF support. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed the small, uniform nanoparticles with the characteristic face-centered cubic structure of Pt. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrated that the 20% Pt-Ru-PAMAM/CNF composite electrode exhibited better electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation compared to a commercially available 20% Pt-Ru/C catalyst.
Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers has
been anchored on functionalized carbon nanofibers (CNF)
and supported Pt–Ru nanoparticles have been prepared with
NaBH4 as a reducing agent. The samples were characterized
by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy,
and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. It
was shown that Pt–Ru particles with small average size
(2.6 nm) were uniformly dispersed on PAMAM/CNF
composite support and displayed the characteristic diffraction
peaks of Pt face-centered cubic structure. The electrocatalytic
activities of the prepared-composites (20% Pt–Ru/PAMAMCNF)
were examined by using cyclic voltammetry for
oxidation of methanol. The electrocatalytic activity of the
CNF-based composite (20% Pt–Ru/PAMAM-CNF) electrode
for methanol oxidation showed better performance than that
of commercially available Johnson Mathey 20% Pt–Ru/C
catalyst. The results imply that CNF-based PAMAM composite
electrodes are excellent potential candidates for
application in direct methanol fuel cells.
Synthesis and electro catalytic activity of methanol oxidation on nitrogen co...tshankar20134
The document summarizes research on synthesizing nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes using different nitrogen-containing polymers as templates. Platinum particles were then supported on these nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes and on regular carbon nanotubes and carbon for comparison. Characterization showed the nitrogen-containing carbon nanotube supported platinum catalyst had higher catalytic activity for methanol oxidation than the other catalysts. This was attributed to the existence of additional active sites on the nitrogen-containing carbon nanotube surface, which improved platinum particle dispersion and metal-support interaction.
This document describes a study where Pt-Ru nanoparticles were supported on functionalized carbon nanofibers (CNF) using polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. PAMAM dendrimers were anchored to carboxylated CNF and then used to encapsulate and disperse Pt-Ru nanoparticles on the CNF surface. The composite catalyst (20% Pt-Ru/PAMAM-CNF) showed better performance for methanol oxidation than a commercial 20% Pt-Ru/C catalyst based on cyclic voltammetry tests. Characterization with XRD, SEM and TEM showed the Pt-Ru nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed and small in size (2.6 nm) on the PA
This document describes the synthesis and characterization of Pt-Ru nanoparticles supported on a polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer functionalized carbon nanofiber (CNF) composite catalyst for application in direct methanol fuel cells. Pt-Ru nanoparticles with an average size of 2.6 nm were uniformly dispersed on the PAMAM/CNF composite support. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed the well-dispersed and small Pt-Ru nanoparticles on the composite support. Cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrated that the Pt-Ru/PAMAM-CNF composite electrode exhibited better electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation compared to a commercially available Pt-Ru/C catalyst. The results suggest
The document summarizes the evolution of the thin film rotating disk electrode (TF-RDE) technique for characterizing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of platinum electrocatalysts. Early work developed ink formulations containing platinum catalysts and Nafion ionomer to create relatively thick catalyst layers. Subsequent studies examined how thin Nafion films or "caps" affected oxygen diffusion measurements. More recent improvements involved optimizing ink dispersion and fabrication methods to produce more uniform, thinner catalyst layers. However, the document notes that reported ORR activities still vary significantly depending on experimental conditions. Specifically, the presence of Nafion ionomer creates a complex interface that can affect measured kinetics in poorly defined ways.
Nitrogen doped graphene nanosheet supported platinum nanoparticles as high pe...Science Padayatchi
Functional carbon nanomaterials are significantly important for the development of high performance
sensitive and selective electrochemical biosensors. In this study, graphene supported platinum
nanoparticles (GN–PtNPs) and nitrogen doped graphene supported platinum nanoparticles (N-GN–
PtNPs) were synthesized by a simple chemical reduction method and explored as high performance
nanocatalyst supports, as well as doped nanocatalyst supports, toward electrochemical oxidation of
homocysteine (HCY) for the first the time. Our studies demonstrate that N-doped graphene supported
PtNPs show higher electrocatalytic activity for HCY with an experimental detection limit of 200 pM.
Moreover, N-doped graphene supported Pt was demonstrated to have excellent selectivity in the
electrochemical oxidation of HCY i.e., the detection of HCY is successful in the presence of a 20-fold
excess of ascorbic acid (AA). The practical application of N-doped graphene supported PtNP materials is
effectively shown for the determination of HCY in both human blood serum and urine samples, by
differential pulse voltammetry under optimized conditions. Our findings conclude that N-doped
graphene supported PtNPs can be developed as a high performance and versatile nano-electrocatalyst
for electrochemical biosensor applications.
Double layer energy storage in graphene a studytshankar20134
This document summarizes research on using graphene for energy storage in electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs). Graphene has potential as an EDLC electrode material due to its high surface area and electrical conductivity. Studies have found specific capacitances of graphene electrodes ranging from tens of F/g to over 1000 F/g depending on preparation methods and electrolytes. However, graphene sheets tend to restack reducing surface area availability. Methods to prevent restacking like adding metal oxides or curving graphene sheets have improved capacitance. Research is optimizing graphene properties and composites to enhance energy and power densities for applications requiring high power such as filtering alternating current.
Graphene based metal oxide nanocompocites for heavy metals remediation in waterSifiso Themba Shongwe
This document summarizes a seminar presentation on graphene-based metal oxide nanocomposites for heavy metal remediation in water. It begins with an introduction to graphene and its properties, followed by an overview of synthesizing graphene, metal oxides, and graphene-metal oxide nanocomposites. Characterization techniques are then discussed. The document focuses on using graphene-metal oxide nanocomposites to remove heavy metals from water, referencing several studies demonstrating removal of arsenic. It concludes that these low-cost nanocomposites show potential for efficient heavy metal remediation in water.
This document summarizes research on using various catalysts to promote the dehydrogenation of cyclohexane to produce hydrogen gas. Key findings include:
- Monometallic silver (Ag) catalysts supported on activated carbon cloth showed increasing hydrogen evolution rates with increasing Ag loading up to 10 wt%, but rates decreased at 15 wt% loading likely due to poorer dispersion.
- Bimetallic catalysts with 1 wt% noble metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium) promoted on 10 wt% Ag/ACC showed enhanced hydrogen evolution rates compared to the monometallic Ag catalyst. In particular, a 10 wt% Ag-1 wt% Pt catalyst produced hydrogen at twice the rate of the 10 wt%
Cobalt-entrenched N-, O-, and S-tridoped carbons as efficient multifunctional...Pawan Kumar
We report the synthesis of sustainable and reusable non-noble transition-metal (cobalt) nanocatalysts
containing N-, O-, and S-tridoped carbon nanotube (Co@NOSC) composites. The expensive and benign
carrageenan served as the source of carbon, oxygen, and sulfur, whereas urea served as the nitrogen
source. The material was prepared via direct mixing of precursors and freeze-drying followed by carbonization
under nitrogen at 900 °C. Co@NOSC catalysts comprising a Co inner core and outer electron-rich
heteroatom-doped carbon shell were thoroughly characterized using various techniques, namely, TEM,
HRTEM, STEM elemental mapping, XPS, BET, and ICP-MS. The utility of the Co@NOSC catalyst was
explored for base-free selective oxidative esterification of alcohols to the corresponding esters under
mild reaction conditions; excellent conversions (up to 97%) and selectivities (up to 99%) were discerned.
Furthermore, the substrate scope was explored for the cross-esterification of benzyl alcohol with longchain
alcohols (up to 98%) and lactonization of diols (up to 68%). The heterogeneous nature and stability
of the catalyst facilitated by its ease of separation for long-term performance and recycling studies
showed that the catalyst was robust and remained active even after six recycling experiments.
EPR measurements were performed to deduce the reaction mechanism in the presence of POBN
(α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone) as a spin-trapping agent, which confirmed the formation of
•CH2OH radicals and H• radicals, wherein the solvent plays an active role in a nonconventional manner.
A plausible mechanism was proposed for the oxidative esterification of alcohols on the basis of EPR
findings. The presence of a cobalt core along with cobalt oxide and the electron-rich N-, O-, and
S-doped carbon shell displayed synergistic effects to afford good to excellent yields of products.
Cobalt-entrenched N-, O-, and S-tridoped carbons as efficient multifunctional...Pawan Kumar
The document summarizes the synthesis and characterization of a cobalt-entrenched nitrogen-, oxygen-, and sulfur-tridoped carbon catalyst (Co@NOSC) for the base-free selective oxidative esterification of alcohols. The Co@NOSC catalyst was prepared via one-step pyrolysis of carrageenan, urea, and cobalt nitrate, resulting in a cobalt nanoparticle core surrounded by a nitrogen-, oxygen-, and sulfur-rich carbon shell. Characterization showed the catalyst had a cobalt content of 20.89 wt%. The Co@NOSC catalyst achieved excellent conversions (up to 97%) and selectivities (up to 99%) for the base-free oxidative esterification of various al
Double layer energy storage in graphene a studysudesh789
This document summarizes research on using graphene for energy storage in electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs). Graphene has potential as an electrode material due to its high surface area and conductivity. Studies have measured specific capacitances as high as 205 F/g for graphene electrodes, though capacitance depends on accessible surface area. Graphene electrodes can allow for high power applications with fast charge/discharge rates over 10 kW/kg. Ongoing research aims to prevent restacking of graphene sheets and improve ion accessibility to maximize surface area utilization and energy storage performance.
Similar to Final Report (Graphene supported platinum nanoparticles) (1) (20)
Final Report (Graphene supported platinum nanoparticles) (1)
1. 1 | P a g e
Platinum-Graphene Nanocomposites
as electrocatalysts in PEM Fuel Cells
Submitted by
T.V. Sridharan
(USN No. 1RV12ME108)
Under the guidance of
Professor Manoj Neergat
Department of Energy Sciences and Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
2. 2 | P a g e
CERTIFICATE
Certified that the summer internship project report “Platinum-Graphene
nanocomposite as electrocatalysts in PEM Fuel Cells” is the bonafide work of
T.V. Sridharan, USN No:1RV12ME108, 2rd
year B.Tech in Mechanical
Engineering of R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore carried out under my
supervision during 2.06.2014 to 28.07.2014.
Place: IITB, Powai Signature of the Supervisor
Date: 28-7-2014 Name of Supervisor-
Prof. Manoj Neergat
3. 3 | P a g e
Acknowledgement
With great pleasure, I would like to express my gratitude to my guide, Professor
Manoj Neergat for his ideas, suggestions and encouragement during the course of
the project. I would like to thank his PhD scholars Ramesh Singh, Naresh Nalajala,
Rahul R., Wasim Feroze, Tathaghat Kar, Devi Ruttala Varaprasad, Bapi Bera and
Arup Chakraborty for the academic and technical support they provided during the
project.
4. 4 | P a g e
CONTENTS
Title Page 1
Certificate by the Supervisor 2
Acknowledgement 3
CONTENTS
1. Abstract 5
2. Introduction 6
3. Literature Review 8
4. Experimental
4.1 Materials 11
4.2 Synthesis of Pt/rGO 11
4.3 Synthesis of Pt/C 12
4.4 Physical and Electrochemical Characterization 12
4.5 Electrode preparation 12
5. Results and Discussion
5.1 Physical Characterization
5.1.1 TEM Analysis 13
5.1.2 XRD Analysis 15
5.2. Electrochemical Characterization
5.2.1 Cyclic Voltammetry 17
5.2.2 Oxygen Reduction Reaction 20
6. Conclusion 22
7. References 23
5. 5 | P a g e
1. Abstract
The use of graphene as a support material for a dispersion of platinum nanoparticles was
explored as an alternative to the conventionally used carbon black. The Pt/rGO nanocomposite
was synthesized using a one pot modified polyol method. Platinum nanoparticles were deposited
onto graphene sheets by means of borohydride reduction of H2PtCl6 in a graphene oxide (GO)
suspension. Electrochemical experiments suggested a considerably higher effective catalytic
surface area for the Pt/rGO composite compared to Pt/C of similar metal loading. The activity of
the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) however did not show any significant improvements. The
results indicated the need for future research efforts for graphene to vie for replacement of
carbon black as an effective and economical catalyst support.
6. 6 | P a g e
2. Introduction
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are regarded as promising energy sources
for mobile electronic applications due to their high efficiencies and low operating temperatures.
Their performance and cost are essentially governed by the nature of the electrocatalysts used. It
has long been acknowledged that platinum nanoparticles show superior performance in the
catalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction [1]. However, the commercial success of PEMFCs has
been greatly hindered by high cost of Pt and its ineffective utilization.
One of the prime objectives of PEMFC research is the reduction of precious metal loading on the
electrode without compromising the efficiency of the fuel cell. A great deal of work has focused
on supported metal catalysts which show higher activity and stability compared to unsupported
bulk metal catalysts [2]. A dispersion of the catalyst on support material increases the catalytic
surface area, thereby increasing the utilization efficiency of precious metal. Support materials are
characterized by their surface area, porosity, electrical conductivity, electrochemical stability and
have a strong influence on the performance and durability of catalysts.
Carbon black, because of its high surface area and low cost, has been extensively used as a
support material in PEMFCs [3]. However, carbon blacks are impaired by problems such as, (i)
the presence of organic impurities (ii) entrapment of catalyst nanoparticles in the deep
micropores making them inaccessible to reactants thus leading to reduced catalytic activity [2].
Furthermore, carbon supports and catalytic metals have been reported to degrade under
prevailing conditions of temperature, humidity and potential at the anode. Corrosion of the
support exacerbates the agglomeration and detachment of the catalyst from support materials [4].
Recently, various carbon based nanostructured support materials have come under investigation.
Graphene, a monolayer of graphite composed of carbon atoms in a honeycomb arrangement has
attracted the attention of a multitude of researchers [5]. This two-dimensional (2-D) material has
a theoretical surface area (2630 m2
g-1
) and high conductivity (103–104 S m-1
) that its use as a
catalyst support [5][6].
7. 7 | P a g e
The conductive support facilitates efficient collection and transfer of electrons to the electrode
surface. The large specific surface area coupled with its excellent thermal, electronic and
mechanical properties, make graphene a potential alternate substrate for the deposition of
inorganic nanoparticles to produce highly dispersed composites.
In this study, the effective surface area and activity of Pt/C was compared with Pt/G composite
of the same loading of platinum. Further, the catalytic performance of Pt/G nanocomposites with
different weight compositions of platinum and graphene was studied by means of their cyclic
voltammograms and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) polarization curves. Pt/rGO catalyst was
prepared by simultaneous reduction of H2PtCl6.6H2O and graphene oxide using a modified
polyol method [7]. TEM and XRD were employed to characterize morphology and surface
composition of the samples. The role of graphene as an effective catalyst support was
investigated.
8. 8 | P a g e
3. Literature Review
The unique structural, physical and chemical properties of graphene draw attention to possibility
of the preparation of novel composite materials with superior catalytic properties. Although
single layer graphene catalytic supports have not been reported, promising results from few
layered graphene stacks are encouraging increased research efforts in this direction. Thus it is
important to discuss the properties of graphene which are of relevance to its application as a
catalyst support and its influence on the activity oxygen reduction reaction in PEMFCs.
Graphene has a hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms in a 2 D plane forming a honeycomb
lattice (Figure 1). The planar sheet structure provides a very high surface area for the attaching
catalyst nanoparticles. The large surface area is an advantage lost when graphene sheets
irreversibly agglomerate. The extraordinary properties of graphene are associated with individual
layers.
Figure 1. Graphene monolayer with a honeycomb structure [20]
The carbon atoms in graphene are said to be sp2 hybridized. The bonds provide a strong
hexagonal backbone, and the out-of plane ∏ bonds are responsible for interaction between
different graphene layers. The lone pairs of ∏ electrons are delocalized and facilitate conduction
of charge through the plane normal to the c-axis of graphite (electron conduction along c-axis is
much lower).
Graphene is considered a zero-band gap semiconductor since the valence and conduction bands
overlap. The electronic properties of graphene vary with the thickness, or the number of stacked
layers. At one atom thickness, graphene is transparent suggesting its application in photocatalytic
reactions.
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Among the several exciting properties of graphene, the one that has attracted considerable
attention is its adsorption. Transition metals, and specifically platinum and palladium have been
shown to have remarkable catalytic properties. The adsorption mechanism and interaction
between metal atoms and the graphene support has become vital to fabricate graphene-based
composite catalyst materials. Several research groups have reported the performance of
Pt/Graphene composite as effective electrocatalysts.
Soin et al. synthesized Pt/Graphene nanoflakes electrode for the Methanol Oxidation Reaction.
Microwave plasma assisted chemical vapour deposition technique was used to grow the
vertically aligned graphene nanoflakes. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the characteristics of
highly crystallized few layered graphene. Pt nanoparticles were sputtered onto the graphene
nanoflakes. Cyclic Votammetry curves demonstrated fast electron transfer (ET) kinetics for the
Pt/Graphene electrodes. The rapid electron transfer kinetics was attributed to the highly
graphitized edge structure of the nanoflakes [8].
Ali Grinou et a.l used an aniline stabilized Pt/rGO composite for electrochemical studies. The
nanocomposite was reduced by ethylene glycol solution and aniline stabilized the Pt
nanoparticles, without altering the reduced graphene oxide structure. A marked enhancement of
the electrical conductivity of the composite prepared using the aniline stabilizer was reported and
was attributed to the morphological structure, small particle size, uniform dispersion in large
quantities of Pt NPs and good interfacial interaction between the Pt NPs and rGO hybrid. [9]
Jafri et a.l synthesized Pt nanoparticles supported on nitrogen doped graphene by thermal
exfoliation of graphite oxide. This was performed by dispersing the Pt nanoparticles on the
support using the sodium borohydride reduction process. Electrochemical characterization using
Pt/N-G and Pt/G as the ORR catalyst showed a maximum power density of 440mWcm−2
and
390mWcm−2
, respectively. The improved performance of Pt/N-G was attributed to the
incorporation of nitrogen in the C-backbone leading to increase in the conductivity of
neighbouring C atoms [10].
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The fast electron transport mechanism ascribed to the presence of graphene facilitates and speeds
up the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in fuel cells. Min Ho Seo et al explored the use of graphene
supported electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium. Both Pd
and Pt nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 1.8 nm were dispersed on graphene sheets (GNSs)
through chemical synthesis at a metal loading of 60 wt%. The ORR activity of these catalysts
was investigated in a 0.1 M NaOH solution and was reported to show significantly high activity
for ORR [11].
Several synthesis procedures have been adopted to prepare Pt-Graphene composites. Sequential
reduction involves the separate reduction of graphene from graphene oxide and platinum from its
precursor salt and the subsequent preparation of the composite. An alternate reduction method
involves the simultaneous reduction of both metal nanoparticles and the graphene oxide
[12][13][14]. In the microwave assisted synthesis methods, irradiation helps heating of the
reaction mixture uniformly and rapidly, allowing large-scale and efficient production of
graphene–metal composites [15].
Other techniques for metal nanoparticle decoration on the graphitic nanostructure include
electro-deposition [16], photochemical [17], and solventless bulk synthesis [18]. Although these
methods present some advantages over solution-based techniques, they are expensive and energy
consuming.
In this study, a single step modified polyol method has been employed to disperse Pt
nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide using H2PtCl6 as a Pt precursor, and ethylene glycol
and NaBH4 as a reducing agent for Pt precursor and graphene oxide, respectively. This simpler
one-pot synthesis approach has been adopted to obtain a uniform dispersion of platinum
nanoparticles on the graphene support [7].
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4. Experimental Section
4.1 Materials. Graphite, H2PtCl6, NaBH4 and were obtained from Alfa-Aeser while KMnO4,
NaNO3, C2H6O2, H2O2 and were obtained from Merck. Nafion and N2H4-H2O was obtained from
Sigma Aldrich.
Graphite oxide (GO) was prepared by a modified Hummer’s method (Figure 2) [19]. In brief,
this method involves vigorous stirring of a mixture of graphite powder and sodium nitrate with
concentrated sulfuric acid followed by oxidation by potassium chlorate. The resulting solution is
then washed with deionized water, subject to several cycles of centrifugation and dried to obtain
graphite oxide flakes. This is stored and dispersed in solvents as needed.
Figure 2. Schematic diagram of Hummer’s method [21]
4.2 Synthesis of Pt/graphene nanocomposite.50mg of graphite oxide obtained from the
modified Hummer’s method was dispersed in ethylene glycol (1mg/ml). It was then
ultrasonicated for one hour to exfoliate the graphite oxide to graphene oxide. A homogeneous
graphene oxide slurry was obtained. Subsequently, 120mg of H2PtCl6.6H2O was dissolved in the
graphene oxide slurry and sonicated. The pH of the resultant solution was adjusted to 10 by the
addition 100mg of NaOH and stirring vigorously. The solution was transferred to a round bottom
flask and the temperature was increased up to 120˚C. When the reaction temperature reached
120˚C, 2ml of NaBH4 (20mg/ml) was added dropwise and refluxed at 120˚C for 1 hour. After
complete reduction of H2PtCl6.6H2O to platinum, the solution is cooled and neutralized using 0.1
M HCl (aq) so as to obtain a pH of 7, washed and centrifuged 3 times with water.
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The residue was suspended in 20ml of ethanol and left to dry in the oven at 80˚C for 12 hours.
After drying, the catalyst was ground to a fine powder and used for characterization.
4.3 Synthesis of Pt/carbon nanocomposite. The Pt/C nanocomposite was synthesized through
the sulfito complex route followed by reduction using sodium borohydride. 156.10mg of the
platinum precursor, Na6Pt(SO3)4.6 H2O was dissolved in 25ml of 0.5M H2SO4. The platinum
sulfito complex was added to 200ml of water and the temperature of the mixture was raised to
80˚C. Separately, 40mg of carbon black was dispersed in 20ml of H2O and sonicated for 10
minutes. This was further added to the above platinum solution and stirred continuously. Next,
25ml of H2O2 (30%) was added dropwise for 1½ hours. 25ml of NaBH4 (1mg/ml) was then
dropped into the solution over half an hour to reduce the platinum. The resultant solution was
cooled, washed and centrifuged thrice. The residue was dispersed in 20ml of ethanol and dried in
the oven at 80°C for 12 hours. After drying, the catalyst was ground to a fine powder and used
for characterization.
4.4 Physical and Electrochemical Characterization. The XRD was conducted on a Rigaku
SmartLab® X-ray diffractometer using Cu K radiation (= 0.15406 nm). The HRTEM images
were recorded with JEOL JEM 2100 Field emission electron microscope.
Electrochemical measurements were performed in a three-electrode electrochemical cell using
WaveDriver 20 Bipotentiostat/Galvanostat system from Pine Research Instrumentation, USA.
Platinum served as the counter electrode while Ag/AgCl system was used as the reference
electrode.
4.5 Electrode Preparation: Catalyst ink was prepared by dispersing catalyst powder (5.0 mg)
ultrasonically in 5.0 mL distilled water to form a homogeneous black suspension. Then, 7μL of
Nafion was dropped into the dispersion followed by 10ml of isopropyl alcohol and sonicated for
half an hour. A volume of 56μL of this solution was drop cast onto a clean glassy carbon
electrode (0.196mm2
area) and used as the working electrode. For cyclic voltammetry
measurements, the working electrode was immersed in 0.1 M H2SO4 saturated with highly
purified argon and scanned between -200mV to 800mV. Before the conduction of oxygen
reduction experiment, the solution was purged with 99.9995% O2 for about 10 min. The ORR
was carried out in the same potential range as the cyclic voltammogram at the rate of 20mVs-1
.
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5. Results and Discussions
5.1 Physical Characterization
5.1.1 TEM Analysis
The surface morphology and dispersion of the platinum were determined from TEM analysis.
For the analysis, a drop of colloidal sample was dispersed on a lacey-carbon grid and dried in air.
The TEM images revealed the formation of platinum nanoparticles. Figure 3(a) displays the
reduced graphene oxide sheets on the lacey grid supporting a dispersion of platinum particles.
The folds depict an overlap of few graphene layers at the boundary.
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Figure 3. (a) TEM image of reduced graphene oxide and platinum nanoparticles. (b) Uniform
dispersion of platinum nanoparticles (c) HRTEM of higher magnification (d) selected area
electron diffraction (SAED) pattern of the Pt/rGO composite.
Figure 3(b) shows a uniform, well ordered distribution of platinum nanoparticles on the surface
of the graphene sheets. The high percentage of metal loading is clearly observed. TEM images of
relatively higher magnification from figure 3(c) enabled a rough estimation of the particle size.
The average size of the particles was expected to be ~4-7 nm. The selected area electron
diffraction (SAED) pattern (Figure 3(d)) shows bright rings due to the presence of platinum.
The sharp hexagonal spot patterns correspond to the presence of the graphene sheets.
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5.1.2 XRD Analysis
Figure 4 depicts the XRD patterns obtained from the characterization of reduced graphene oxide
(rGO), 50 wt% Pt/C and 50 wt% Pt/rGO composite catalyst. A sharp peak is observed at
26.6°from the XRD pattern of the rGO. With the reduction of graphite oxide, this peak is
expected to be close to that of graphite structure as seen. Both Pt/C and Pt/rGO displayed
diffraction peaks at 2 theta angles of 39.8°, 46.3°, 67.6° and 81.4° can be indexed to the (1 1 1),
(2 0 0), (2 2 0) and (3 1 1) planes of the face-centered cubic (FCC) Pt crystal (JCPDS card NO.
04-0802.)
Figure 4. X-ray diffraction pattern of rGO (blue), Pt/rGO (red), Pt/C
16. 16 | P a g e
From the XRD, particle size of the platinum nanoparticles dispersed on the graphene support was
estimated using Scherrer’s equation (Equation1).
Equation1. = k/ cos
is the particle Size
k is a dimensionless shape factor , typical taken as 0.94, but varies with the actual shape
of the crystallite;
λ is the wavelength of the X-ray = 0.154 nm for Cu k radiation;
β is the line broadening at half the maximum intensity (FWHM), after.
θ is the Bragg angle.
The plane (2 2 0) was used for calculation at a 2θ angle of = 67.23°. The FWHM, β , was found
to be 2.30576°. Upon calculation using equation1, = 4.32 nm. The size of Pt particles indicated
a good dispersion on the graphene support.
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5.2 Electrochemical Characterization
5.2.1 Cyclic Voltammetry
To investigate the utilization and electrochemical activity of the Pt/rGO composite catalyst in
comparison to the Pt/C catalyst, a cyclic voltammogram was performed in 0.1 M H2SO4
saturated with highly purified argon at a sweep rate of 20mVs-1
. As the potential was increased
in the forward scan, hydrogen desorption peaks were observed in the potential window -0.2 to
0.05V (Figure 5). The potential range 0.05 to 0.5V corresponds to the charge of the double
layer by the oxygenated groups on the carbon/graphene support surface. The oxide formation
region is between 0.55-0.8V to form platinum oxides. In the reverse scan, oxygen evolution from
the platinum surface results in a reduction peak at 0.51V as Pt-O reduces to platinum metal. As
lower potentials from 0.05 to -0.2V on the reverse scan, peaks corresponding to the
adsorption of hydrogen on the surface of platinum are observed. The potential range for
hydrogen adsorption/ desorption processes comprises the hydrogen underpotential deposition
(HUPD) region.
Figure 5. Cyclic voltammograms of Pt/rGO (black) and Pt/C recorded at room temperature in an
argon saturated solution of 0.1M H2SO4
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A clear distinction was observed in the voltammograms of Pt/C and Pt/rGO. The double layer
current in the potential regime 0.05-0.5V in the case of the Pt/rGO composite is significantly
higher as when compared with conventional Pt/C (with equal Pt loading). Graphene is known to
display a high interfacial capacitance partly due to its large specific surface area. The enhanced
double layer consequently renders a higher HUPD current.
Electrochemically active Surface Area: The electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) is
an important parameter that provides information about the number of available active sites. It
accounts not only for the catalytic surface area available for charge transfer but also the access of
a conductive path for electron transfer between the catalyst and the electrode surface. Hydrogen
adsorption/desorption region in an electrochemical system is commonly used to evaluate the
ECSA. The area under the curve is a measure of the hydrogen desorbed, which provides an
estimate of the ECSA.
Equation2 below is commonly employed to calculate the effective surface area.
Equation2. ECSA [cm2
Pt/g Pt] = charge [Qh μC/cm2
]/ (210 [ μC/cm2
]*electrode loading
[gPt/cm2
])
QH- average charge integrated from the voltammogram of the adsorbtion/desorbtion
hydrogen process on the CV curve (mC)
constant 210 shows the charge in theoretical calculation to oxidize a single hydrogen
layer adsorbed on bright platinum (mC)
mPt is the platinum loading on the surface sample (g cm−2
)
The ESCA of the Pt/rGO composite was calculated to be 61.67 m2
/g Pt while that of Pt/C was
35.51 m2
/g Pt. This result indicates a smaller particle size and a far better utilization of Pt in the
Pt/rGO nanocomposites which is essential for improving the practical performance of the
PEMFCs.
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The following cyclic voltammogram, (Figure 6.) depicts the cyclic voltammogram of Pt/rGO
nanocomposite with different Pt loading. It was observed that graphene largely masks the Pt
features for loadings less than 50%. This is due to the high double layer capacitance of the
graphene support.
Figure6. Cyclic voltammograms of Pt/rGO with platinum loading of 20% (red) and 50% (blue)
recorded at room temperature in an argon saturated solution of 0.1M H2SO4
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5.2.2 Oxygen Reduction Reaction
The oxygen reduction reaction was carried out in the potential regime -200 to 800mV in an
oxygen purged solution of 0.1M H2SO4 to compare the activity of Pt/C and Pt/rGO catalyst.
From the ORR depicted in Figure 7, it is observed that the curves are comparable. In the case of
the Pt/rGO composite however, current decays more rapidly as the potential is increased between
-200 and 600mV. This can be ascribed to the presence of unreduced functional groups on the
graphene sheets that hinder the diffusion of oxygen to the surface of the electrocatalyst.
Figure7. ORR polarization curves of Pt/rGO and Pt/C catalyst recorded at room temperature
with a sweep rate of 20mVs-1
in O2-saturated 0.1 M H2SO4 solution.
At higher potentials in the oxide formation region, it is observed that the Pt/rGO current is
marginally higher.
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The effect of varying the platinum loading on the catalytic performance was also studied. It is
seen from Figure 8 that an increase in the metal loading from 20% to 50% resulted in an
increase in the limiting current and half wave potential.
Figure8. ORR polarization curves of Pt/rGO catalyst at metal loading of 20% (black) and 50%
(blue) recorded at room temperature at a rate of 20mVs-1
in O2-saturated 0.1 M H2SO4 solution.
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6. Conclusions
1. A single step modified polyol method was adopted to prepare Pt/rGO composite. This
strategy allowed for efficient synthesis of highly loaded Pt catalyst with small
nanoparticle size and uniform particle dispersion.
2. The platinum features were masked at metal loadings less than 50% on graphene
supports. This is due to the high double layer capacitance of graphene. The requirement
of high metal loadings is a potential area for future research efforts to realize the
application of Pt/rGO composite electrocatalysts.
3. Comparison of the effective surface area of Pt/rGO to that of Pt/C with similar metal
loading revealed the presence of increased number of active sites and higher utilization of
the platinum supported on graphene.
4. Comparison of the oxygen reduction reaction however did not show any significant
improvement in activity of the Pt/rGO composite. This was attributed to the presence of
oxygen moieties on the surface of partially reduced graphene hampering mass transport
of oxygen to the electrode.
The effort to utilize graphene as an alternative support material for platinum catalysts in
fuel cells showed both promise as well as the challenges involved in leveraging the
theoretical properties of high specific surface area, thermochemical stability and
conductivity of graphene that suggest its use as an excellent catalytic support. Further
work is necessary to develop strategies to improve the sluggish oxygen reduction kinetics
and reduce the precious metal loading for to make it an economical and viable alternative
to the presently used carbon supports.
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