0000000001001720
AUTHOR
Irene Gatto
Boosting DMFC power output by adding sulfuric acid as a supporting electrolyte: Effect on cell performance equipped with platinum and platinum group metal-free cathodes
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are promising electrochemical systems capable of producing electricity from the electrochemical oxidation of methanol and the reduction of oxygen. In this work, the effectiveness of the addition of sulfuric acid as a supporting electrolyte for methanol fuel composition was assessed. The results showed that the peak of power curve in DMFCs with Pt/C cathode electrocatalysts increased progressively from 70 mW cm−2 (0 mM of H2SO4) to 115 mW cm−2 with a concentration of 100 mM of H2SO4. These results underlined the positive effect of the addition of a supporting electrolyte in the methanol aqueous solution on the electrochemical output that was enhanced. Plati…
Effect of TiO2 and Al2O3 Addition on the Performance of Chitosan/Phosphotungstic Composite Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Composite chitosan/phosphotungstic acid (CS/PTA) with the addition of TiO2 and Al2O3 particles were synthesized to be used as proton exchange membranes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The influence of fillers was assessed through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, liquid uptake, ion exchange capacity and methanol permeability measurements. The addition of TiO2 particles into proton exchange membranes led to an increase in crystallinity and a decrease in liquid uptake and methanol permeability with respect to pristine CS/PTA membranes, whilst the effect of the introduction of Al2O3 particles on the characteristics of membranes is almost the op…
Progress in polymeric material for hydrogen storage application in middle conditions
Hydrogen sorption using a manganese oxide anchored to PEEK (Poly(ether-ether-keton)) matrix was studied. The functionalization process and the obtained results on hydrogen storage capability of the synthesized polymer are reported. The functionalised polymer was characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Volumetric Hydrogen sorption measurements. Different synthesis conditions in terms of precursor concentration and reaction time were used and the direct correlation between manganese oxide percentage and hydrogen storage capability was confirmed. In this way different powders were synthesised. It is assumed that the sample with 78 …