Influence of underpotentially deposited Sb onto Pt anode surface on the performance of direct formic acid fuel cells

We first reported on electrocatalytic activity and stability of antimony modified platinum (PtSb_upd) as anode catalyst in direct formic acid fuel cells. Sb modified Pt (PtSb_upd) was prepared by underpotential deposition technique applying constant potential of 0.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3M KCl) and its modified surface was characterized by XRD and XPS. The electrocatalytic oxidation activity by cyclic voltammograms and the single cell power performance of Sb modified Pt were measured and their results were compared with the data of unmodified Pt electrode. PtSb_upd induced lower onset potential of formic acid oxidation and twice higher power density of 250 mW cm⁻² was observed.     

The study of Pt@Au electrocatalyst based on Cu underpotential deposition and Pt redox replacement

Electrochemical study of the decorated Pt@Au catalyst synthesized by Cu underpotential deposition (UPD)-Pt redox replacement technique has been conducted in this work. The parameters affecting the Cu UPD on Au/C nanoparticles in sulfuric acid electrolyte, including the UPD potential, deposition time and potential sweep rate, were investigated in detail. Anode stripping method was used to calculate the charge of the deposited Cu adlayers. Results showed that Pt@Au catalyst prepared by this UPD-redox replacement approach is not a core-shell structure but a decorated structure. A series of decorated Pt@Au/C catalysts with various Pt coverages were synthesized and examined for formic acid oxidation (FAO). It is found that the specific activity of Pt atoms increases with the decrease of Pt surface coverage on Au. Life test showed that better stability was pertained for this decorated Pt@Au/C catalyst compared to Pt/C towards FAO.     

Fabrication of palladium coated nanoporous gold film electrode via underpotential deposition and spontaneous metal replacement: A low palladium loading electrode with electrocatalytic activity

An electrochemical approach to nanoporous film-based gold catalyst design using the underpotential deposition and redox replacement technique is presented. The procedure consisted of the underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper on the gold nanoporous film, with subsequent replacement of the copper by palladium at open circuit in a palladium containing solution. The resulting electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. The electrocatalytic activity of as-prepared palladium nanoporous gold film electrodes toward the oxygen reduction reaction is presented.     

Study on surface modification of AB5-type alloy electrode with polyaniline by electroless deposition

A new polyaniline (PANI)-coated technique was adopted for a AB₅-type alloy (La_0.64Ce_0.25Pr_0.03Nd_0.08Ni_4.19Mn_0.31Co_0.42Al_0.23) in order to improve its electrochemical and kinetic properties. FE-SEM observation and FT-IR analysis results revealed that the PANI electroless deposited to the surface of alloy particles. Through the PANI-coating the initial discharge capacity increased from 299 to 331 mAh/g and the high rate discharge ability (HRD) increased from 8.5 to 45.0% at discharge current density of 1440 mA/g. For kinetic properties, linear polarization, EIS, anodic polarization and cyclic voltammetry measurements suggested that charge-transfer resistance decreased and the hydrogen absorption rate of the alloys increased after PANI-coating.     

Chemistry and kinetics of chemical vapour deposition of pyrocarbon: VII. Confirmation of the influence of the substrate surface area/reactor volume ratio

Carbon deposition from a methane–hydrogen mixture (p_CH4=17.5 kPa, p_H2=2.5 kPa) was studied at an ambient pressure of about 100 kPa and a temperature of 1100°C, using deposition arrangements with surface area/reactor volume ratios, [A_S/V_R], of 10, 20, 40 and 80 cm⁻¹. Steady-state deposition rates and corresponding compositions of the gas phase as a function of residence were determined. The deposition rates in mol/h increase with increasing [A_S/V_R] ratio at all investigated residence times up to 1 s. However, surface-related deposition rates in mol/m²h decreased. As the same results have been obtained in a preceding study using pure methane at a partial pressure of 10 kPa, it has been confirmed that all the kinetics can be determined by changing the [A_S/V_R] ratio.