Yohannes Kiros

La0.6Ca0.4CoO3, La0.1Ca0.9MnO3 and LaNiO3 as bifunctional oxygen electrodes

A series of perovskite catalysts was investigated for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolyte and at room temperature, supplied by oxygen or air. ...

Long-term hydrogen oxidation catalysts in alkaline fuel cells

Abstract Pt/Pd bimetallic combination and Raney Ni catalysts were employed in long-term electrochemical assessment of the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in 6 M KOH. Steady-state current vs. potential measurements of the gas diffusion electrodes have shown high activity for these types of catalysts. Durability tests of the electrodes have shown increased stability for the Pt/Pd-based catalysts than the Raney Ni at a constant load of 100 mA/cm2 and at temperatures of 55°C and 60°C, respectively. Surface, structural and chemical analyses by BET surface area, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the composite electrode/catalyst both before and after the electrochemical testing.

Electrocatalytic Properties of Co, Pt, and Pt‐Co on Carbon for the Reduction of Oxygen in Alkaline Fuel Cells

The effect of cobalt, platinum, and cobalt-platinum, alloys on high surface area carbons for oxygen reduction in alkaline electrolyte was investigated. The Pt-Co catalyst with ca. 1:3 atomic ratio ...

Pyrolyzed macrocycles on high surface area carbons for the reduction of oxygen in alkaline fuel cells

Abstract Polarization characteristics and preparation methods of double-layer porous gas diffusion electrodes on various carbon materials in alkaline fuel cells were investigated. The electrodes with active carbon carriers were catalyzed with cobalt/iron tetraphonylporphyrin or silver. These electrodes show a potential of − 186 mV (versus Hg/HgO) at 1.0 A/cm 2 when operated with oxygen at 40 °C and 5 M KOH. Various techniques such as surface area measurements, scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the catalyst layer.

Electrode R&D, stack design and performance ofbiomass-based alkaline fuel cell module

Electrode formulations with different materials and manufacturing techniques were tested electrochemically in order to assess their stability and activity in long-term operations. Cathode electrocatalysts, such as CoTPP, Ca 0,9 La 0.1 MnO 3 and Pt-Co alloys were incorporated in high surface area carbons and operated at a constant load of 100 mA/cm 2 , 80°C and an electrolyte concentration of 6 M KOH. Similarly, anode catalysts with Pt-Pd bimetallic combinations were also tested and ascertained in half-cell measurements. Surface area measurements and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analyses were carried out both before and after the electrochemical test procedures. The electrodes were incorporated into a seven and two cell module design of the external and internal manifolding types and the experiences gained from these design principles are described, respectively. Furthermore, a biomass fed AFC module with all the system descriptions, steps, and a demonstration layout of producer gas to alkaline fuel cell are examined and discussed. Wood charcoal and agro-residues were used as feedstock and as a primary fuel. Power output of the different feedstock in a producer gas fed alkaline fuel cell has the shown potentiality and efficiency to be applied as a stand alone power generator.

Cobalt and cobalt-based macrocycle blacks as oxygen-reduction catalysts in alkaline fuel cells

Abstract The electrochemical reduction of oxygen on high surface are carbons catalyzed by cobalt and pyrolyzed macrocycles has been studied in alkaline fuel cells. Tests were also carried out with ‘green black’, i.e., pyrolyzed phyto-biomass. Galvanostatic polarization curves show that cobalt from cobalt acetate and fine cobalt metal power exhibit a high catalytic activity. The activity of pyrolyzed cobalt tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP) is due to the combined effects of the cobalt additive and the charred residue of the macrocycle. ‘Green black’, with chlorophyll as macrocycle black precursor, has a similar effect. The dissolution of cobalt from the electrode surface has been established. Life tests with these electrodes are reported.

Effects of carbon pretreatment for oxygen reduction in alkaline electrolyte

The effects of different media on carbon pretreatments for oxygen reduction in alkaline electrolyte without application of active electrocatalysts were examined. Low surface area Vulcan XC-72 and h ...

Starch and Cellulose as Fuel Sources for Low Temperature Direct Mode Fuel Cells

This paper is a study about a direct mode fuel cell with a near-neutral-state and alkaline electrolytes. The aim of study was to develop a fuel cell, which operates directly by mixing the fuel with the electrolyte. This arrangement helps to avoid inserting membranes and additional bacterial cultures in fuel cell. The target is also to create a fuel cell with a ca- pacity of few mWcm -2 with the starch as a fuel. Also, glucose and sorbitol have been tested as fuel for the fuel cell.

Separation and permeability of zincate ions through membranes

A novel method for the separation of zincate ions in alkaline media has been developed. This development uses a precipitation reaction of Mn(OH)2 and application on a microporous separator (Celgard ...

Production of Glucose by Starch and Cellulose Acid Hydrolysis and its Use as a Fuel in Low-Temperature Direct-Mode Fuel Cells

The use of glucose, which is produced from the acid hydrolysis of starch and cellulose, is studied as a fuel in a low-temperature direct-mode fuel cell (LTDMFC) with an alkaline electrolyte. Glucose is regarded as being as good a fuel as bioethanol, because both the fuels give 2 electrons per molecule in the fuel cell without carbonisation problems. However, glucose can be produced with fewer processing stages from starch and cellulose than can bioethanol. In the LTDMFC the fuel and the electrolyte are mixed with each other and the fuel cell is equipped only with metal catalysts. Cellulose as a fuel is of great importance because the fuel for the energy production is not taken from food production. A description of an acid hydrolysis method for starch and cellulose is presented. Values for glucose concentrations in each hydrolysate are analysed by means of a chromatographic method. Each glucose hydrolysate was made alkaline by adding of potassium hydroxide before feed in the fuel cell. Polarisation curves were measured, and they were found to produce lower current density values when compared to earlier tests with pure glucose. The Coulombic efficiency of pure glucose electrochemical oxidation in LTDMFC, which was calculated from a ratio of detected current capacity (As) to the maximum current capacity with the release of two electrons per molecule, was also found to be very low. Concerning the hydrolysates, the glucose concentrations were found to have values that were too low when compared to the earlier tests with pure glucose in a concentration of 1 M. The further development demands for the system under consideration are indicated. The concentration of glucose in the hydrolysate is essential to achieve high enough current density values in the LTDMFC.