Papers by Keyword: Carbon Cryogel

Abstract: The integration of phosphotungstic acid and niobium oxide forms a bifunctional catalyst that demonstrates an interplay between Brønsted-Lowry and Lewis acid which is able to provide a synergistic effect for the conversion of biomass to LA. This bifunctional acid catalyst shows a higher yield of levulinic acid (LA) (16.4%) as compared to that of sole phosphotungstic acid (10.5%) or niobium oxide (13.2%), presumably caused by a higher selectivity at the tandem steps of the conversion reaction. The bifunctional catalyst was then doped to a lignin-derived carbon cryogel to mitigate the deactivation and leaching of the catalysts. The durability and thermal stability of the carbon cryogel allow the catalyst to recycle up to 3 times while retaining similar performance.

Abstract: Hydrogen generated from clean and renewable energy sources has been considered as an alternate fuel to carbon based fossil fuels for several decades. Although many advances in hydrogen production and usage have been made, storing hydrogen remains a significant challenge. Many drawbacks including energy intensive processes, low volumetric densities, and safety concerns are associated with storing hydrogen as pressured or liquefied. Solid state hydrogen storage is considered to be the most promising method as a safe and effective storage option, but there is still no material or method that satisfies the requirements for a practical approach. A feasible hydrogen storage media should address several issues including targeted storage capacities, thermodynamics and hydrogen sorption kinetics, and safety. Nanostructured materials can provide tailor-made properties for storing and releasing hydrogen to fulfill, at least, the partial requirements. This short review, not a comprehensive review of all the materials or technologies in hydrogen storage, summarizes some of the recent developments in application of nanostructures for solid state hydrogen storage; particular attention has been devoted to the most recent development of nanocomposites with tuned dehydrogenation temperatures and kinetics through the control of pore size and surface chemistry.

Abstract: Mesoporous carbon cryogel synthesized by sol-gel polycondensation and freeze-drying with specific surface area (BET) of 517 m2 g-1 was used as a catalyst support. Pt/C catalysts were prepared by a modified ethylene glycol method (EG). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that the dispersion of the catalyst is very uniform with a mean particle size of about 2.65 nm. Hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) was studied on Pt/C catalyst in 0.5 mol dm-3 HClO4 acid solution. It has been found that HOR appears as a reversible two-electron direct discharged reaction (Tafel slope for this reaction is ≈30mV dec-1) and that Pt/C catalyst exhibits a very high catalytic activity. However, the corresponding value of the exchange current density obtained by dividing the exchange current by the active surface area of Pt particles has the same order of magnitude as those for the HOR in acidic solution at single crystal and polycrystalline Pt.

Abstract: The kinetics of oxygen reduction (ORR) on carbon cryogel supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt / C) in acid solution was studied using the rotating disk electrode technique. This electrocatalyst was prepared by a modified polyol synthesis method and characterized by transmission electron microscopies. The kinetics of ORR shows a significant enhancement at Pt nanoparticle surfaces as compared with the same reaction on polycrystalline Pt surface. The four-electron reduction, with a first-charge transfer-rate determining step, has been found to be operative. However, the specific activity of the Pt / C is similar to that of the polycrystalline Pt electrocatalyst.