Renhe Yin

Multilayer Nano Ti ∕ TiO2 – Pt Electrode for Coal-Hydrogen Production

Multilayer nanoporous Ti/TiO{sub 2} films were obtained by controlling electro-oxidation potentials in a sulfuric acid solution. After etching in a dilute hydrogen fluoride solution, the porous layers were deposited and intercalated with Pt and Pt-Ru to form Ti/TiO{sub 2}-Pt and Ti/TiO{sub 2}-PtRu electrodes by using the cyclic voltammetric method. An electron diffraction spectroscopy was used to examine the electrode surface structure. The catalytic activity of the electrodes for electro-oxidation of coal shows that the multilayer nanoporous Ti/TiO{sub 2}-Pt structure improves the electrode performance in comparison to a pure Pt electrode and a Pt coated Ti electrode. The Ti/TiO{sub 2}-Pt-Ru (1: 2) electrode shows even better catalytic activity than the Ti/TiO{sub 2}-Pt. Anode gas analysis shows that the coal electro-oxidation produces mainly CO{sub 2} with trace amount of CO and the cathode gas is pure hydrogen. We also observed some lower hydrocarbon by-products, such as methane. The amount of CO{sub 2} is only about 10% of the amount of H{sub 2} produced.

Combination of electron beam irradiation and electro-reduction — A novel method for direct coal liquefaction

Abstract A novel method was developed to combine electron beam irradiation with electrochemical reduction to increase coal liquefaction yield. Coal samples were irradiated by a stream of high energy electron beam. The samples were treated with tetrahydrofuran to extract the possible products from electron beam irradiation. The products were analyzed to calculate the yield. It was observed that the extract yield increased as the absorbed doses increased. The increase was more significant when the absorbed dose was 25 kGy in O2 atmosphere. The irradiated samples were further electrochemically reduced in sodium hydroxide electrolyte solution for liquefaction. Corresponding elemental analyses, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry, nuclear magnetic resonance and chronoamperometry were employed to investigate the effect of the electron beam irradiation on the electrochemical reduction of coal.

Electro hydrogenation of coal in a Pb/DMF-EtOH system: Structure change of coal observed by organic solvent extraction

Abstract The electro-hydrogenation of coal on Pb electrode in a mixed dimethylformamide-ethanol (DMF-EtOH) electrolyte was investigated. The hydrogenation product was in-situ extracted from the organic solvent and characterized. The electrolysis products show a significant increase in H/C ratio, indicating increased hydrogenation efficiency. IR spectroscopy shows the reduction of C=O bond and aromatic ring, as well as the cleavage of bridge bonds, such as C-O-C, are the main reactions during the electrolysis. This is also confirmed by the increase of γ-H content measured by 1H-NMR.