0000000000161788
AUTHOR
Eliana Quartarone
Optical properties of Ge-oxygen defect center embedded in silica films
The photo-luminescence features of Ge-oxygen defect centers in a 100nm thick Ge-doped silica film on a pure silica substrate were investigated by looking at the emission spectra and time decay detected under synchrotron radiation excitation in the 10-300 K temperature range. This center exhibits two luminescence bands centered at 4.3eV and 3.2eV associated with its de-excitation from singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) states, respectively, that are linked by an intersystem crossing process. The comparison with results obtained from a bulk Ge-doped silica sample evidences that the efficiency of the intersystem crossing rate depends on the properties of the matrix embedding the Ge-oxygen defect ce…
PBI-based composite membranes for polymer fuel cells
Abstract In the present study poly(2,2-(2,6-pyridin)-5,5-bibenzimidazole) was used for the preparation of novel MEAs for high-temperature polymer fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). We prepared hybrid materials with two types of silica fillers in order to increase the MEA performances using this polymer. The membranes were characterized in terms of their microstructure and thermal stability. Cell operation tests and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy were used for the characterization of the MEAs. A maximum power density of about 80 mW cm−2 was obtained at 300 mA cm−2 by using an imidazole-modified silica filler. The EIS technique showed that the fillers chiefly help to reduce the charge transfer r…
Lithium ion conducting PVdF-HFP composite gel electrolytes based on N-methoxyethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-imide ionic liquid
Blends of PVDF-HFP and ionic liquids (ILs) are interesting for application as electrolytes in plastic Li batteries. They combine the advantages of the gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) swollen by conventional organic liquid electrolytes with the nonflammability, and high thermal and electrochemical stability of ILs. In this work we prepare and characterize PVDF-HFP composite membranes swollen with a solution of LiTFSI in ether-functionalized pyrrolidinium-imide (PYRA12O1). The membranes are filled in with two different types of silica: i) mesoporous SiO2 (SBA-15) and a commercial nano-size one (HiSilTM T700). The ionic conductivity and the electrochemical properties of the gel electrolytes ar…
MCM-41 silica effect on gel polymer electrolytes based on thermoplastic polyurethane
Abstract Polymer electrolytes were prepared from thermoplastic polyurethane with addition of mixture of N-ethyl(methylether)-N-methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethanesulfonimide (PYRA12O1TFSI) ionic liquid, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfoneimide) salt and propylene carbonate. MCM-41 mesoporous silica was added in proportions ranging from 5 to 20 wt.% with respect to TPU. The electrolytes were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, linear voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The MCM-41 addition to the system was found to improve the electrochemical stability of the membranes and to reduce the gel electrolyte/metallic Li interfacial resistance. The f…