You need JavaScript to view this

Fuel cell electro catalysis; A spectroscopic study

Thesis/Dissertation:

Abstract

Two catalyst systems, for the ultimate use in fuel cell electrodes, have been studied with spectroscopic and general electrochemical methods. Macrocyclic metal N{sub 4}-chelates, one of these catalyst systems, are after certain preliminary preparation steps candidates for the use as electro catalysts in the cathodic reduction of dioxygen. The preliminary preparation consists in a heat-treatment that for yet unknown reasons increases the activity and stability of these catalysts. Metal N{sub 4}-macrocycles, particularly cobalt and iron tetraphenylporphyrins, in various preparation mixtures with carbon, have been heat-treated at temperatures between 300-1000 deg C. Measurements of catalytic activity have been correlated with ESCA and Moessbauer measurements. Carbon supported porphyrins undergo partial decomposition upon pyrolysis and in this process stable bonds with the carbon matrix are formed which stabilize the metal N{sub 4}-unit and facilitates electron transfer between MN{sub 4}-unit and support. The MN{sub 4}-unit remains intact in this process and is thus concluded to be the active site. Pure crystalline porphyrins polymerize upon pyrolysis with a concomitant increase in conductivity which is the reason for the increase in activity for these catalysts. The second catalytic reaction under study is the electrocatalytic reduction of methanol on platinum - a reaction that takes place at  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Oct 01, 1993
Product Type:
Thesis/Dissertation
Report Number:
LUNKDL-NKOO-1022
Reference Number:
SCA: 300505; PA: SWD-93:007436; EDB-94:018838; NTS-94:008795; ERA-19:006839; SN: 94001129762
Resource Relation:
Other Information: TH: Diss. (FD); PBD: Oct 1993
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; ELECTROCATALYSTS; ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY; FUEL CELLS; ELECTRODES; PYROLYSIS; METHANOL; PLATINUM; OXIDATION; PORPHYRINS; 300505; ELECTROCHEMISTRY, MASS TRANSFER, AND THERMODYNAMICS
OSTI ID:
10117154
Research Organizations:
Lund Univ. (Sweden). Dept. of Inorganic Chemistry I
Country of Origin:
Sweden
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94730404; TRN: SE9307436
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS
Submitting Site:
SWD
Size:
61 p.
Announcement Date:
Jun 30, 2005

Thesis/Dissertation:

Citation Formats

Wideloev, A. Fuel cell electro catalysis; A spectroscopic study. Sweden: N. p., 1993. Web.
Wideloev, A. Fuel cell electro catalysis; A spectroscopic study. Sweden.
Wideloev, A. 1993. "Fuel cell electro catalysis; A spectroscopic study." Sweden.
@misc{etde_10117154,
title = {Fuel cell electro catalysis; A spectroscopic study}
author = {Wideloev, A}
abstractNote = {Two catalyst systems, for the ultimate use in fuel cell electrodes, have been studied with spectroscopic and general electrochemical methods. Macrocyclic metal N{sub 4}-chelates, one of these catalyst systems, are after certain preliminary preparation steps candidates for the use as electro catalysts in the cathodic reduction of dioxygen. The preliminary preparation consists in a heat-treatment that for yet unknown reasons increases the activity and stability of these catalysts. Metal N{sub 4}-macrocycles, particularly cobalt and iron tetraphenylporphyrins, in various preparation mixtures with carbon, have been heat-treated at temperatures between 300-1000 deg C. Measurements of catalytic activity have been correlated with ESCA and Moessbauer measurements. Carbon supported porphyrins undergo partial decomposition upon pyrolysis and in this process stable bonds with the carbon matrix are formed which stabilize the metal N{sub 4}-unit and facilitates electron transfer between MN{sub 4}-unit and support. The MN{sub 4}-unit remains intact in this process and is thus concluded to be the active site. Pure crystalline porphyrins polymerize upon pyrolysis with a concomitant increase in conductivity which is the reason for the increase in activity for these catalysts. The second catalytic reaction under study is the electrocatalytic reduction of methanol on platinum - a reaction that takes place at the anode in a methanol fuel cell. This reaction does only reach completion at potentials that are much higher than the reversible potential because of the formation of a tenaciously held reaction intermediate. ESCA and SIMS measurements have been employed to reveal the identity of this intermediate that is not yet fully known. For Pt-sheets used in methanol oxidation some CO-species can be detected, but there is an abundance of other hydrocarbons as well. 105 refs, 12 figs}
place = {Sweden}
year = {1993}
month = {Oct}
}