Evolution of physicochemical and electrocatalytic properties of NiCo2O4 (AB2O4) spinel oxide with the effect of Fe substitution at the A site leading to efficient anodic O2 evolution in an alkaline environment

Within the framework of this work, spinel-type ternary transition metal oxides of nickel, cobalt and iron with the composition Fe_xNi_1−xCo₂O₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) were prepared and tested as promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline water electrolysis. The hydroxide precipitation method was used for the synthesis. The morphology, structure and specific surface area of the prepared electrocatalysts were determined by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, the Brunauer Emmet Teller method and X-ray photo electron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties were tested by thin-film technique on a rotating disk electrode and in a single-cell laboratory water electrolyzer coupled with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The OER studies indicate that substitution of Ni by Fe increases the electrocatalytic activity of the resulting material significantly. The highest activity was achieved for x = 0.1. Whereas the current density obtained using a pure nickel anode in the water electrolysis test was 54 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage of 1.85 V, in the case of the anode modified with NiCo₂O₄ catalyst the value was 87 mA cm⁻². Using ternary transition metal oxides in the water electrolysis test and under identical conditions, the catalyst with the highest activity displayed a current density of 115 mA cm⁻².     

Experimental and density functional theory studies on PtPb/C bimetallic electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation reaction in alkaline media

Carbon-supported bimetallic Pt_mPb₁ (m = 1, 2, 3) electrocatalysts with different Pt/Pb atomic ratios were synthesized by a polyol method. The X-ray diffraction results reveal that a PtPb alloy formed in the Pt_mPb₁/C electrocatalysts. TEM images show that the PtPb nanoparticles distribute uniformly on the carbon support, and are about 4–5 nm in size. The Pt_mPb₁/C bimetallic catalysts show superior activities toward methanol electrooxidation reaction (MOR) than the Pt/C in alkaline media. Both CO stripping measurements and density functional theory studies reveal that CO adsorption decreased significantly on the Pt_mPb₁/C bimetallic catalysts compared with on pure Pt, which may offer an explanation for the enhanced MOR activity of the Pt_mPb₁/C bimetallic catalysts.     

Experience of a pilot-scale hydrogen-producing anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) treating food waste

A pilot-scale H₂-producing anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) treating food waste was operated. During the operation, the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio was adjusted from 10 to 30 by changing the composition of the food waste. When the C/N ratio was lower than 20, the H₂ yield was maintained at around 0.5 mol H₂/mol hexose_added, accounting for 2.3% of energy conversion efficiency contained in food waste to H₂, but it gradually dropped at higher C/N ratios. The low performance was accompanied by increased production of lactate, propionate, and valerate. In order to recover the performance, alkaline shock (pH 12.5 for 1 day) was imposed on the entire mixed liquor in the fermenter. This alkaline shock method was so effective that the H₂ yield significantly increased to over 0.9 mol H₂/mol hexose_added, and was then stabilized at 0.69 mol H₂/mol hexose_added. In addition, the settling characteristics of H₂-producing ASBR, which was separated into three layers, were investigated. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) as well as volatile suspended solid concentrations of each layer were measured to suggest how to enhance the H₂ production in ASBR operation.     

Influence of steel-concrete interface condition on galvanic corrosion currents in carbonated concrete

This paper presents specific experiments which were developed in order to assess galvanic currents in macrocell corrosion specimens involving active steel in carbonated concrete and passive steel in sound concrete. The influence of the steel-concrete interface condition on the galvanic current was also experimentally investigated. To focus on macrocell corrosion rate assessment, the initiation time of the corrosion process (concrete carbonation) was accelerated. FEM simulations were carried out in order to enhance the physical comprehension of these corrosion experiments. It was found that, in realistic condition, the electrical coupling of active and passive steel areas leads to high galvanic currents and consequently high corrosion levels according to RILEM recommendation. Moreover, steel-concrete interfacial defaults significantly increase the macrocell driving potential and, therefore, the galvanic corrosion current.     

Stand-alone operation of an alkaline water electrolyser fed by wind and photovoltaic systems

Over the last few years, hydrogen technologies have established themselves as key enablers in the medium and long-term development of a new energy model that offers greater sustainability and independence than the present-day one. In this respect, the integration of water electrolysis with renewable energy-based systems can play an important part in the large-scale production of sustainable hydrogen. This paper reports on the complete experimental characterisation of a 1 Nm³ h⁻¹ alkaline water electrolyser located in the Public University of Navarre (UPNa). Specifically, a study was made of the electrical performance, hydrogen production rate, purity of the gases generated and energy efficiency, for a range of operating currents (40–120 A), temperatures (35–65 °C) and pressures (5–25 bar). Additionally, an experimental study was conducted on the electrolyser operation under conditions that are characteristic of a stand-alone wind power and PV-based renewable energy system, installed at the UPNa. The results obtained for the wind power and PV emulations showed that the electrolyser performed correctly, with regard to balance of plant and its principal electrochemical characteristics. Furthermore, the mean energy efficiency of the electrolyser was 77.7% for the wind power emulation, and 78.6% for the PV emulation on a day with stable irradiance, and 78.1% on a day with highly variable irradiance (day with scattered clouds).     

Efficient generation of hydrogen from biomass without carbon monoxide at room temperature – Formaldehyde to hydrogen catalyzed by Ag nanocrystals

In this paper, we present a new route for hydrogen generation from biomass at room temperature without any carbon monoxide over nano-metal-catalysts. It has been found that the Ag nanocrystals are highly efficient and stable catalysts for the CO-free hydrogen production from formaldehyde (HCHO), a model compound of biomass, at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure. By optimizing the structure and component of catalysts, reaction parameters such as temperature, catalyst amounts, oxygen, formaldehyde concentrations, and NaOH concentrations, the hydrogen generation rate has been maintained for hours without any decay. Furthermore, the apparent activation energy of the Ag catalyzed hydrogen production reaction is determined to be 11.8 kJ mol⁻¹, which was much lower than that of the literature results (65 kJ mol⁻¹) without catalyst. Because of its high hydrogen generation rate, hydrogen generation efficiency, lower activation energy, and the low cost, we speculate that this novel Ag catalyst based hydrogen generation reaction should be a promising candidate for providing hydrogen in PEMFCs at room temperature.     

中国锌锰干电池工业50年发展的成就

回顾了中国锌锰干电池工业50年发展的历程和成就。对锌锰干电池的3种主要体系即糊式电池、纸板电池及碱性锌锰电池的发展历史过程作了概要的阐述，并展望了跨世纪的发展前景。     

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Abstract

Anisotropy in stress corrosion cracking of lean grade UNS S32101 and standard grade UNS S32205 hot rolled duplex stainless steels was evaluated in this study. Microstructures were characterised with stereology methods in three orthogonal orientations to quantify anisotropy in phase distribution. Constant extension rate tests were conducted in an autoclave at 2×10^?6 s^?1 in chloride containing alkaline sulphide solution at 170°C. The maximum crack lengths and average crack densities were measured for the rolling longitudinal and transverse longitudinal orientations after stress corrosion cracking tests. Results indicate that stress corrosion crack initiation and growth are a strong function of the microstructure in each orientation. Maximum crack length and average crack density were maximum for the rolling longitudinal orientation. Crack initiation and growth were favoured along the transverse direction. Chlorides enhanced anisotropy in crack growth behaviour by facilitating crack initiation and crack coalescence along phase boundaries, which lead to more severe stress corrosion cracking in the alkaline sulphide environments that were studied.     

Highly active rhodium/carbon nanocatalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium

We report the synthesis and electrochemical characterization of rhodium/carbon (Rh/C) and palladium-rhodium/carbon (Pd-Rh/C) nanocatalysts for ethanol oxidation. Our results, for the first time, demonstrated that in an alkaline environment, Rh/C shows a much higher catalytic activity at low potential range than that of Pd-Rh/C and Pd/C. Intermediate species are produced during the oxidation process on Rh/C, as revealed by the complex impedance spectra (e.g., pseudo-inductive loop) at low potential range (i.e., −0.5 to −0.3 V). Adsorbed oxygen species, which are generated at high potentials, block active surface sites of Rh/C, resulting in the negative polarization resistance.     

Carbon-supported tetragonal MnOOH catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

Carbon-supported MnOOH catalyst was prepared by reducing KMnO₄ with carbon Black Pearls 2000. TEM and XRD characterization results show that nanosized tetragonal MnOOH crystals formed in the specimen when the MnOOH content ranged from 9 wt.% to 36 wt.%. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of the catalyst with different amounts of MnOOH content in alkaline media was investigated using a rotating disc electrode (RDE) and a rotating ring-disc electrode (RRDE). The number of electrons involved in the ORR increased from 3.2 to 3.9 with the increase of the MnOOH content from 9 wt.% to 36 wt.% in the catalyst. The kinetic current increased to 0.0184 A cm⁻² when the MnOOH content was increased to 72 wt.%. However, both the number of electrons and the kinetic current decreased when the MnOOH content was increased from 72 wt.% to 90 wt.%. The MnOOH/C catalyst with optimized MnOOH content and suitable loading in the cathode is promising for applications in alkaline fuel cells.