Vincenza Modafferi

A Novel Anode Based on Ni-Modified Perovskite for Direct Alcohol Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

A Ni-modified La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Co0.2O3 / Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 catalyst was prepared by incipient wetness. The product thus obtained was calcined at 1100°C for 2 h in static air. After thermal activation, Ni was mainly present as highly dispersed La2NiO4 on the surface of perovskite surface. The thermal reduction at 800 °C caused the occurrence of metallic Ni on the surface. Surface area was determined by BET measurement. The catalyst was used as anode in IT-SOFCs fed with methanol. Studies under steam reforming, partial oxidation and autothermal reforming of methanol were carried out at 800°C. A comparison was made between the performance of SOFCs fed with syngas or methanol. The results with methanol are promising both in terms of energy density as well as suitable performance for portable power sources.

Preparation of PVA/ Sm(NO3)3-Sm2O3 Composites Nanofibers by Electrospinning Technique

. In this work PVA/Sm2O3 composite fibers and Sm2O3 fibers (PVA and Sm(NO3)3 were used as precursors) were prepared by using electrospinning technique. The fibers obtained were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Synthesis, Characterization and Sensing Properties of Nanostructured V2O5 Prepared by Electrospinning

Electrospinning is a simple and inexpensive method for generating nanofibers. In this regard, here we report preliminary data on the morphological and microstructural characterization of V2O5/PVAC composite nanofibers prepared by electrospinning from a solution containing poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAC) and vanadium(diisoproproxide) in ethanol. The synthesized vanadium pentoxide-based nanofibers have been used as sensing layer for monitoring of low ammonia concentrations in air.