Search

Abstract: Rhodium phthalocyanin was shown to exhibit high catalytic activity toward oxalic acid oxidation in terms of the onset potential and current density. The onset potential for the oxidation of oxalic acid is much lower than those of the previous electrodes. The substrate specificity and the effect of anion were also examined. The results suggest that oxalic acid would first coordinate to the Rh center in the catalytic cycle. An amperometric sensor for oxalic acid was constructed using Rh phthalocyanin. This sensor worked at a low applied potential (0.75V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode). The limit of detection of the sensor reached 1μM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) with a PtRu anode and a Pt cathode were prepared using an anion exchange membrane (AEM) as an electrolyte instead of a cation exchange membrane (CEM), as in conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The maximum power density of DEFCs significantly increased from 6mWcm−2 to 58mWcm−2 at room temperature and atmospheric pressure when the electrolyte membrane was changed from CEM to AEM. The anode and cathode polarization curves showed a decrease in the anode potential and an increase in the cathode potential for AEM-type DEFCs compared to CEM-type. This suggests that AEM-type DEFCs have superior catalytic activity toward both ethanol oxidation and oxygen reduction in alkaline medium than in acidic medium. The product species from the exhausted liquid from DEFCs operated at a constant current density were identified by enzymatic analysis. The main product was confirmed to be acetic acid in AEM-type, while both acetaldehyde and acetic acid were detected in 1:1 ratio in CEM-type. The anodic reaction of AEM-type DEFCs can be estimated to be the oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid via a four-electron process under these experimental conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: l-Ascorbic acid (AA), also known as vitamin C, is an environmentally-benign and biologically-friendly compound that can be used as an alternative fuel for direct oxidation fuel cells. While direct ascorbic acid fuel cells (DAAFCs) have been studied experimentally, modelling and simulation of these devices have been overlooked. In this work, we develop a mathematical model to describe a DAAFC and validate it with experimental data. The model is formulated by integrating the mass and charge balances, and model parameters are estimated by best-fitting to experimental data of current–voltage curves. By comparing the transient voltage curves predicted by dynamic simulation and experiments, the model is further validated. Various parameters that affect the power generation are studied by simulation. The cathodic reaction is found to be the most significant determinant of power generation, followed by fuel feed concentration and the mass-transfer coefficient of ascorbic acid. These studies also reveal that the power density steadily increases with respect to the fuel feed concentration. The results may guide future development and operation of a more efficient DAAFC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Electrochemical oxidation of fuel compounds in acidic media was examined on eight electrodes (Pt, Ru, PtRu, Rh, Ir, Pd, Au, and glassy carbon) simultaneously by multiple cyclic voltammetry (CV) with an electrochemical cell equipped with an eight-electrode configuration. Direct-type polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), in which aqueous solutions of the fuel compounds are directly supplied to the anode, were also evaluated. The performances of direct PEFCs with various anode catalysts could be roughly estimated from the results obtained with multiple CV. This multiple evaluation may be useful for identifying novel fuels or electrocatalysts. Methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, 2-propanol, and d-glucose were oxidized selectively on Pt or PtRu, as reported previously. However, several compounds that are often used as reducing agents show electrochemical oxidation with unique characteristics. Large current was obtained for the oxidation of formic acid, hypophosphorous acid, and phosphorous acid on a Pd electrode. l-Ascorbic acid and sulfurous acid were oxidized on all of the electrodes used in the present study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nonenzymatic glucose fuel cells were prepared by using a polymer electrolyte membrane and Pt-based metal catalysts. A fuel cell with a cation exchange membrane (CEM), which is often used for conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cells, shows an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.86V and a maximum power density (P max) of 1.5mW cm−2 with 0.5M d-glucose and humidified O2 at room temperature. The performance significantly increased to show an OCV of 0.97V and P max of 20mW cm−2 with 0.5M d-glucose in 0.5M KOH solution when the electrolyte membrane was changed from a CEM to an anion exchange membrane (AEM). This is due to the superior catalytic activity for both glucose oxidation and oxygen reduction in alkaline medium than in acidic medium. The anodic reaction of the fuel cell can be estimated to be the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid via a two-electron process under these experimental conditions. The crossover of glucose through an electrolyte membrane was negligibly small compared with methanol and may not represent a serious technical problem due to the cross-reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have demonstrated the electrocatalytic oxidation of oxalic acid by carbon-supported Rh octaethylporphyrin at low overpotential in acidic solutions. As a result of C–C bond cleavage, CO2 generation from oxalic acid was clearly verified. The onset potential of oxalic acid oxidation was much lower than those for noble-metals and Co macrocycles. Repeated scans in cyclic voltammetry indicated that oxalic acid oxidation by Rh porphyrins is a stable reaction. Oxalic acid oxidation was suppressed by the presence of halides. The suppression effect of halides increases with increasing the atomic number in order: Br− >Cl− >F−. The reaction rates drastically decreased with an increase in pH of the test solutions. The suppression effect of halides and pH dependence are best explained on the basis of the competitive adsorption of oxalic acid and other anions on Rh(III) octaethylporphyrin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have found that certain kind of complexes on carbon black catalyze borohydride electro-oxidation. All of the Rh porphyrins tested in this study exhibited high activity regardless of the structure of the porphyrin ligands. While other metalloporphyrins also catalyzed borohydride electro-oxidation, the activities were much lower than those of Rh porphyrins. Even Rh tetrakis(4-methylphenyl)porphyrin, which exhibited the highest activity, scarcely catalyzed the chemical decomposition of borohydride under open-circuit conditions. These metalloporphyrin-based catalysts tested do not promote H2 electro-oxidation. Other Rh complexes (Rh2Cl2(CO)4 and Rh phthalocyanin) also catalyze borohydride electro-oxidation. Rh2Cl2(CO)4 oxidizes borohydride at lower potentials than Rh porphyrins; it can catalyze borohydride even below 0V vs. RHE. A one-compartment H2-generator that also generates electric power was constructed using Rh2Cl2(CO)4 as an anode catalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]