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Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.738  Citation Impact (citeScore): 3 Number of Followers: 6  Open Access journalISSN (Print) 2194-1459 - ISSN (Online) 2194-1467 Published by SpringerOpen  [229 journals]
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- Sustainable construction: the use of cork material in the building
industry
Abstract: Abstract In the ongoing quest for sustainable construction practices, the exploration of innovative materials is paramount, and cork has emerged as a remarkable eco-friendly building material with vast untapped potential. Cork, harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without harming them, possesses a unique combination of qualities that make it an ideal candidate for environmentally conscious construction. Cork is exceptionally renewable and biodegradable. What makes cork even more promising is its compatibility with various existing construction materials, including cement, plastic, and plywood. By integrating cork with these materials, we can improve their structural integrity, thermal performance, and acoustic insulation, while reducing their environmental impact. By harnessing the potential of cork and seamlessly merging its exceptional performance with a planet-conscious approach, the construction industry can significantly reduce its ecological footprint. Cork emerges as a compelling contender in shaping a greener, more resilient construction landscape, offering a sustainable alternative that aligns with our growing commitment to environmentally responsible building practices. This eco-friendly material not only benefits the environment but also enhances the overall quality and sustainability of our built environment.
PubDate: 2024-08-19
- Feasibility study on conversion of biowaste of lemon peel into carbon
electrode for supercapacitor using ZnCl2 as an activating agent
Abstract: Abstract Here, we describe the analysis of the capacitive performance of activated carbon materials derived from the biowaste of lemon. Lemon peel discarded by restaurants after juice extraction is carbonized at 400 0C followed by chemical activation using ZnCl2. The porosity of carbon materials is tailored by varying activation conditions, such as the mass ratio of carbonized lemon peel and ZnCl2, duration of heating, and temperature. The Brunauer–Emmett– Teller (BET) surface area and pore volume of carbon materials prepared at different activating conditions range from 1380 to 2120 m2g−1 and 0.38 to 0.69 cm3 g−1 respectively. The derived carbon materials are amorphous indicated by the broad peaks in the XRD pattern as well as disordered structure of the carbon materials is revealed by the Raman spectroscopic analysis. The systematic analysis of capacitive performance of activated carbons by employing electrochemical techniques like Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic charge/Discharge (GCD) cycles, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in acidic (H2SO4) and alkaline (KOH) media indicates that optimum condition for activation of lemon peel is 600 °C for 60 min with 1:1 mass ratio of carbonized lemon peel and ZnCl2. The superior performance of (ALP-600) is attributed to its high surface area and well-connected hierarchical porous structure. The tiny hump at ~ 0.2 V in CV might be due to the pseudocapacitive nature of oxygen functional groups indicated by FTIR. ALP-600 exhibits the highest specific capacitance of 180 Fg−1 and retains 99.7% of its initial capacitance after 5000 cycles in the acidic electrolyte. The maximum capacitance achieved with ALP-600 symmetric cell in CR2032 coin cell configuration is 0.90F.
PubDate: 2024-08-19
- Performance of high sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) improved with
microcrystalline cellulose and 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose for proton
exchange membranes
Abstract: Abstract Sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) has received substantial attention for its potential to improve the electrochemical behavior and thermomechanical capabilities of direct methanol fuel cells. This study examines how the integration by solution casting of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) onto highly sulfonated PEEK (with a sulfonation degree of 80%) affects its physicochemical properties and morphological structures. The mechanical attributes and proton conductivity of the polymer matrix are impacted by MCC and DAC inclusion into SPEEK membrane. The maximum proton conductivity was seen in the SPEEK/MCC membranes at 70 °C (up to 0.1 S cm−1). The proton conductivity in methanol vapor was increased by SPEEK/DAC membranes at high temperatures as opposed to pristine SPEEK and SPEEK/MCC membranes.
PubDate: 2024-08-10
- The future of tire energy: a novel one-end cap structure for sustainable
energy harvesting
Abstract: Abstract Piezoelectric energy harvesting is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly solution to harvest energy from tire deformation for tire condition monitoring systems in vehicles. Traditional piezoelectric harvesters, such as cymbal and bridge structures, cannot be used inside tires due to their design limitations. The wider adoption of renewable energy sources into the energy system is increasing rapidly, reflecting a global attraction toward the utilization of sustainable power sources (Aljendy et al. in Int J Power Energy Convers 12(4): 314–337, 2021; Yesner et al. in Evaluation of a novel piezoelectric bridge transducer. In: 2017 Joint IEEE International Symposium on the Applications of Ferroelectric (ISAF)/International Workshop on Acoustic Transduction Materials and Devices (IWATMD)/Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). IEEE, 2017). The growing interest in capturing energy from tire deformation for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) aligns with this trend, providing a promising and self-sustaining alternative to traditional battery-powered systems. This study presents a novel one-end cap tire strain piezoelectric energy harvester (TSPEH) that can be used efficiently and reliably inside a tire. The interaction between the tire and energy harvester was analyzed using a decoupled modeling approach, which showed that stress concentration occurred along the edge of the end cap. The TSPEH generated a maximum voltage of 768 V under 2 MPa of load, resulting in an energy output of 32.645 J/rev under 1 MPa. The computational findings of this study were consistent with previous experimental investigations, confirming the reliability of the numerical simulations. The results suggest that the one-end cap structure can be an effective energy harvester inside vehicle tires, providing a valuable solution for utilizing one-end cap structures in high-deformation environments such as vehicle tires.
PubDate: 2024-08-01
- Effect of scandium concentration on the performances of cantilever based
AlN unimorph piezoelectric energy harvester with silicon nitride substrate
Abstract: Abstract Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) offer its ability to sense, control and actuate on sub-micron scale and exhibit its effect on macro scale. To implement any specific MEMS system, small, efficient and long-lifespan micro power sources are required. Piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) along with radioactive source is one of the most promising approaches to harness electrical energy at micro to millimeter range. In this report, a scandium (Sc) doped Aluminium Nitride (AlN) unimorph piezoelectric energy harvester has been demonstrated. Unimorph piezoelectric layer is built on Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) substrate platform that act as cantilever beam and that can be vibrated by inbuilt radioactive system. In particular, Si3N4 as cantilever material and the impact of Sc doping concentration on electrical and mechanical properties of AlN piezoelectric thin film materials have been studied in MATLAB simulation platform. Results obtained from numerical study suggests that the proposed energy harvester model composed of AlScN unimorph piezoelectric (with 10% Sc doping concentration, Sc-10%) layer and Si3N4 cantilever can yield a maximum power output of ~ 19.33 μW and overall mechanical energy conversion efficiency of ~ 91.07%. These are the maximum output power and mechanical energy conversion efficiency numerically obtained from Sc doped AlN piezoelectric energy harvester systems to the best of our knowledge.
PubDate: 2024-07-27
- Enhanced electrochemical validation of metal organic frameworks-derived
TiO2/Fe-TiO2 as an active electrode for supercapacitors
Abstract: Abstract Developing supercapacitor materials that are both efficient and durable, with high cycle life and specific energy, poses a significant challenge due to issues in electrodes such as volume expansion and electrode degradation that occur over time. This work reports a simple, novel, and cost-effective synthesis method to fabricate high surface area “Iron (Fe) doped TiO2 materials” via the metal-organic framework (MOF) route for supercapacitor application. Morphological analysis revealed a disc-like shaped pattern for pristine TiO2 (PT), and a cuboid form for Fe-doped TiO2 (FeT). The electrochemical investigation of MOF-derived PT and FeT electrode materials demonstrated the superior performance of FeT. Cyclic Voltammetry revealed enhanced electrochemical properties in FeT. Galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements confirmed FeT’s higher energy storage capacity, reaching a maximum specific capacitance of 925 Fg− 1. Long-term cycling tests exhibited excellent stability, with FeT retaining 67% of its initial capacitance after 6000 cycles and showing prolonged self-discharge. Overall, the results underscore the potential of Fe-doped TiO2 for high-performance supercapacitors.
PubDate: 2024-07-24
- The photothermal properties of hydrogel nanocomposite embedded with
ZnO/CuO based on PVA/GA/activated carbon for solar-driven interfacial
evaporation
Abstract: Abstract Using the renewable energy, especially solar energy, is an environmental-friendly approach for seawater desalination. Solar evaporation is a promising freshwater harvesting strategy rich in energy, including solar and water energy. Herein, we propose a solar evaporation hybrid hydrogel including polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) as a polymer network, semiconductor oxide nanoparticles (ZnO, CuO) and activated carbon as a photothermal material. Structural properties of hybrid hydrogel were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, surface morphology by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), chemical bonding by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and optical absorption and absorption coefficient (α) of components by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The result showed in visible region, PVA:ZnO:AC hydrogel nanocomposite has a strong absorption (55%) compare of the PVA:CuO:AC hydrogel nanocomposite (35%). In addition, by distillation measurements, the evaporator system demonstrated for PVA:CuO:AC and PVA:ZnO:AC Hydrogel an evaporation rate of 2.29 kg m−2 h−1 and 5.19 kg m−2 h−1 with the evaporation efficiency of 30.66% and 70.80%, respectively, under 0.1 sun irradiation. For PVA:CuO:AC hydrogel, the hardness of Caspian seawater decreased from 6648 to 115 ppm and ion conductance from 8641 (μS) to 244 (μS) and for the PVA:ZnO:AC Hydrogel decreased to 97 ppm and ion conductance to 206 (μS). Experiments showed that with changing type of the ZnO or CuO semiconductor oxide nanoparticles can effectively on regulate the optical properties of the evaporator. Eventually, this work begins a new point of synthesizing cost-effective photothermal absorbers based on metal oxides material and activated carbon nanocomposite.
PubDate: 2024-07-20
- Formulation and development of composite materials for thermally driven
and storage-integrated cooling technologies: a review
Abstract: Abstract The energy consumption for cooling takes up 50% of all the consumed final energy in Europe, which still highly depends on the utilization of fossil fuels. Thus, it is required to propose and develop new technologies for cooling driven by renewable energy. Also, thermal energy storage is an emerging technology to relocate intermittent low-grade heat source, like solar thermal energy and industrial waste heat as well as to exploit off-peak electricity, for cooling applications. This review aims to summarize the recent advances in thermally driven cooling and cold storage technologies, focusing on the formation and fabrication of adopted composites materials, including sorption materials, phase change materials, and slurries. Herein, first the classifications, selection criteria, and properties for these three types of materials is discussed. Then, the application potentials of all the materials are prospected in terms of economic analysis and sustainability.
PubDate: 2024-07-15
- Novel Nafion nanocomposite membranes embedded with TiO2-decorated MWCNTs
for high-temperature/low relative humidity fuel cell systems
Abstract: Abstract Extending the operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) at high temperature (i.e., 120 °C) and/or low relative humidity (< 50% RH) remains a significant challenge due to dehydration and subsequent performance failure of the Nafion electrolyte. We approached this problem by integrating the Nafion matrix with a novel hybrid nanofiller, created through direct growth of TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of carbon nanotubes. This synthetic approach allowed to preserve an effective nanodispersion of Titania particles in the hosting matrix, thereby boosting dimensional stability, hydrophilicity, and physiochemical properties of the Nafion/MWCNTs-TiO2 (NMT-x) nanocomposites compared to parental Nafion. At optimal concentration (i.e., 3 wt% with respect to the polymer), the nanocomposite membrane exhibited high transport characteristics with impressive water retention capabilities, resulting in a proton conductivity of 8.3 mS cm− 1 at 80 °C and 20% RH. The Titania nanoparticles plays a key role in retaining water molecules even under dehydrating conditions, while also directly contributing to proton transport. Additionally, the long carbon nanotubes promote the formation of additional paths for proton conductivity. These combined features enabled the NMT-3 membrane to achieve a maximum power output of 307.7 mW/cm2 in a single H2/air fuel cell (5 cm2 active electrode area and 0.5 mg Pt/cm2 at both electrodes) under very challenging conditions, specifically at 120 °C and 30% RH. This represents a significant advancement towards overcoming the limitations of traditional Nafion membranes and opens up new possibilities for high-temperature, low-humidity H2/air fuel cell applications.
PubDate: 2024-06-06
- Triboelectric power generation performance of polyvinyl alcohol using
ZnO–CuO–AgO trimetallic nanoparticles
Abstract: Abstract Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), a new technology for gathering sustainable energy, have attracted much scientific interest. In this study, we describe a unique method for modifying the triboelectric power generation performance of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) by adding ZnO–CuO–AgO (ZCA) trimetallic nanoparticles to improve the performance of TENGs and answer the requirement for ecologically benign and biodegradable materials. Hydrothermal synthesis adopted to create ZnO–CuO–AgO trimetallic nanoparticles ensures a distinctive structure with a large surface area, essential for enhancing triboelectric power generation. From the AFM results, it is evident that 1% PVA/ZCA showed the highest output voltage of 0.27V. Despite following the general trend, at higher concentrations of ZCA nanofiller in the PVA matrix, the enhancement of output voltage is not observed, which can be attributed to the non-uniform distribution. The effect of spin-coated film thickness and nanoparticle concentration on the triboelectric performance of the PVA nanogenerator is studied by monitoring the open-circuit voltage in response to various mechanical stimuli. Finally, the developed biodegradable nanogenerators in this study can be used for sustainable energy harvesting applications such as wearable electronics, self-powered sensors, and environmental monitoring systems.
PubDate: 2024-05-21
- Mesoporous Pdx-Nix aerogels for electrocatalytic evaluation of
urea-assisted electrolysis
Abstract: Abstract This work presents the synthesis and evaluation of Pd-Ni aerogels toward the urea oxidation reaction (UOR). The incorporation of Ni led to a 0.13 V reduction in the energy required for the oxidation and reduction of PdO compared to monometallic Pd, both in alkaline medium with and without urea. Varying the Ni ratios in Pd (Pd-Ni 4:1, Pd-Ni 1:1, and Pd-Ni 1:4) led to significant changes in the electrochemical behaviour. In alkaline medium without urea, PdNi 4:1 showed the formation of NiOOH at 1.35 V, which promoted oxygen diffusion on the electrode surface and increased the current density, confirming the increase in the active sites of NiOOH and NiPdOOH and enabling urea-based electrolysis at these sites. While palladium aerogels alone are ineffective for UOR, the presence of nickel plays a key role in enhancing the UOR efficiency. On the other hand, physicochemical characterisation revealed that PdNi 4:1 has a crystal size of 4.37 nm and a larger shift in the 2θ positions of the (111) and (200) planes, which favours electronic changes that were investigated by XPS. These changes affected the electrocatalytic activity, which is primarily related to electronic effects. The results of SEM and TEM studies and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm confirmed that the aerogels are highly porous and have an effective surface area and abundant active sites for reactions that allow efficient mass transfer and low diffusion resistance. TEM observations revealed interconnected nanochains indicating optimal electrocatalytic activity for both ORR and UOR due to high mass transfer. These interconnected networks are crucial for improving electrocatalytic activity in the urea oxidation reaction.
PubDate: 2024-05-17
- Characteristics of rice husk biochar briquettes with municipal solid waste
cassava, sweet potato and matooke peelings as binders
Abstract: Abstract Rice husks are not readily biodegradable making their disposal challenging due to the common disposal method of open burning which has negative environmental effects. Additionally, banana, sweet potato and cassava peelings form a large percentage of organic municipal solid waste. Therefore, this study developed rice husk biochar briquettes with organic municipal peelings waste as binders. Rice husks biochar was formed via carbonization processes in a step-down kiln at temperatures ranging between 400 and 500 °C. Organic binders were mixed with the rice husk biochar at different ratios of 10% and 15% before being compacted at a pressure ≤ 7 MPa into briquettes. Thermogravimetric results showed that the developed briquettes had high ash contents ranging from 44% to 47%. Rice husk biochar briquettes with the highest particle density were observed for briquettes with 15% cassava peel binder at 427.1 kg/m3. The highest HHV and maximum attainable flame temperature of 21.75 MJ/kg and 828.7 °C were obtained for rice husk biochar briquettes with 15% matooke peeling organic binder. For all rice husk biochar briquettes, increasing the organic peeling binder had a positive impact of reducing the ash content, while at the same time increasing the peak temperatures, thus contributing to their enhanced thermal stability.
PubDate: 2024-05-15
- CO2 conversion to synthetic fuels using flow cell reactor over Cu and Ag
based cathodes
Abstract: Abstract As a result of electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2), value-added chemicals like as synthetic fuels and chemical feedstocks can be produced. In the current state of the art, copper-based materials are most widely used being the most effective catalysts for this reaction. It is still necessary to improve the reaction rate and product selectivity of CuOx for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). The main objective of this work was synthesized and evaluate the copper oxide electrocatalyst combined with silver (CuO 70% Ag 30%) for the conversion of carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels. The catalysts have been prepared by the oxalate method and assessed in a flow cell system. The results of electrochemical experiments were carried out at room temperature and at different potentials (-1.05 V–0.75 V vs. RHE in presence of 0.1 M KHCO3) and gas and liquid chromatographic analysis are summarized. The CuOx-based electrodes demonstrated the selective of ~ 25% at -0.55 V for formic acid (HCOOH) and over CuO -Ag and selective of ethylene at ~ 20% over CuOx at -1.05 V. Other products were formed as ethylene, ethanol, and propanol (C2H4, EtOH, PrOH) at more positive potentials. On the other hand, carbon monoxide, acetate, ethylene glycol, propinaldehyde, glycoaldehyde and glyoxal (CO, CH3COO, C2H6O2, C3H6O, C2H4O2, C2H2O2) have been formed and detected. Based on the results of these studies, it appears that the formation of synthetic fuels from CO2 at room temperature in alkaline environment can be very promising.
PubDate: 2024-05-14
- Numerical investigation of the effect of an air layer on the melting
process of phase change materials
Abstract: Abstract Designing more effective thermal energy storage devices can result from understanding how air layers impact the melting process. The total efficiency of these systems can be improved by optimizing the melting process of the phase change materials (PCMs), which are utilised to store and release thermal energy. The current study utilises an analysis to evaluate how an air layer would affect melting of the PCM. The enthalpy-porosity combination based ANSYS/FLUENT 16 software is specifically used to accomplish this study, considering the paraffin wax (RT42) as the PCM. The study reveal that the presence of an air layer would impact the dissolution process. This result is assured an increase of melting time of PCM by 125% as a result to having an air layer of 5 cm thickness compared to a cell without an air layer. Furthermore, an increase of the layer thickness beyond 5 cm has a progressive effect on the melting time of PCM. One important component that affects the melting process is the existence of an air layer above the cell. Greater heat transfer resistance from thicker air layers prolongs the time needed to finish melting. The efficient heat transmission of PCM is shown to be reduced when there is an air layer above the cell. The melting process gradually slows down as the air layer thickness rises, which reflects the decreased heat transmission. These results highlight how crucial it is to take the environment into account while creating PCM-filled energy storage cells.
PubDate: 2024-05-14
- Enhancing the physicochemical properties of nickel cobaltite catalyst for
oxygen evolution reaction in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers
Abstract: Abstract Hierarchical hollow urchin-like nickel cobaltite (NiCo2O4) was synthesized using a two-step hydrothermal method. The effects of metal composition and surfactant addition on the morphology, structure, and electrochemical performance toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were investigated. The addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) reduced particle aggregation, resulting in a higher electrochemical active surface area and electrical conductivity. Lowering the Ni content from 1.0 to 0.25 did not alter the morphology and structure of the product to any extent. However, the crystallite size slightly increased. Among the spinels with different Ni and Co compositions, NiCo2O4 exhibited a superior OER electrocatalytic activity, achieving a 380 mV overpotential at 10 mA/cm2 current density. It also delivered a good performance in an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) using 1 M NaOH at 60 °C, reaching a current density of about 420 mA/cm2 at a cell voltage of 1.95 V.
PubDate: 2024-05-14
- Maximizing power generation in single-chamber microbial fuel cells: the
role of LiTa0.5Nb0.5O3/g-C3N4 photocatalyst
Abstract: Abstract Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have attracted a great deal of attention as a promising technology for recovering electricity from organic substances by harnessing the metabolic activities of microorganisms. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a LiTa0.5Nb0.5O3/g-C3N4 (LTN/g-C3N4) heterojunction as a photocathode catalyst within a single-chamber microbial fuel cell operating under both light irradiation and dark conditions. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the composite catalyst, revealing its exceptional purity and unique properties. After 120 h of exposure to visible light, the maximal power density of the MFC containing LTN/g-C3N4-modified carbon cloth was determined to be 667.7 mW/m3. The power density achieved with the presence of light was approximately three times greater than the power density obtained without light in the MFC (235.64 mW/m3). In addition, the study determined that the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 88.4% and 66.5% when exposed to light and in the absence of light, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of the non-precious LTN/g-C3N4 photocatalyst as a viable alternative for effective wastewater treatment and power generation in microbial fuel cells with a single chamber configuration.
PubDate: 2024-05-09
- Analysis and optimization of lead-free perovskite solar cells:
investigating performance and electrical characteristics
Abstract: Abstract Several studies on solar cells using SCAPS-1D were conducted to investigate their performance, which are typically limited to I–V analysis for DC characterization. Therefore, in the present study, a very wide frequency range from 10–2 Hz to 1012 Hz was employed to explore diffusion processes and investigate the performance of lead-free Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) featuring as a novel heterostructure. These investigations concern the optimization of MASnI3 thickness as an absorber. Additionally, the impact of series (Rs) and shunt (Rsh) resistances is also examined. From the I–V analysis, it was determined that the power efficiency (PCE) could be achieved at a thickness of 0.6 µm. Increasing the series resistance (Rs) led to a significant decrease in the fill factor (FF) and (PCE), whereas the shunt resistance (Rsh) demonstrated a notable improvement in both (FF) and (PCE). Analysis of AC characteristics revealed complex impedance (Z*) and modulus (M*) indicative of main ionic transport, recombination, and diffusion processes crucial for optimization. An appropriate equivalent circuit model was developed and validated through deconvolution and theoretical considerations, yielding parameters such as the time constant for each process. It was observed that ionic conductivity and electronic diffusion play key roles in balancing charge collection and recombination losses. The critical influence of series and shunt resistance on low and high-frequency processes was emphasized, underscoring their significance in solar cell efficiency. A strong correlation was established between the evolution of time constants for each process and power conversion efficiency (PCE).
PubDate: 2024-04-25
- Lithiated Nafion membrane as a single-ion conducting polymer electrolyte
in lithium batteries
Abstract: Abstract Single lithium-ion conducting polymer electrolytes are promising candidates for next generation safer lithium batteries. In this work, Li+-conducting Nafion membranes have been synthesized by using a novel single-step procedure. The Li-Nafion membranes were characterized by means of small-wide angle X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis, for validating the proposed lithiation method. The obtained membranes were swollen in different organic aprotic solvent mixtures and characterized in terms of ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability window, lithium stripping-deposition ability and their interface properties versus lithium metal. The membrane swollen in ethylene carbonate:propylene carbonate (EC:PC, 1:1 w/w) displays good temperature-activated ionic conductivities (σ ≈ 5.5 × 10–4 S cm−1 at 60 °C) and a more stable Li-electrolyte interface with respect to the other samples. This Li-Nafion membrane was tested in a lithium-metal cell adopting LiFePO4 as cathode material. A specific capacity of 140 mAhg−1, after 50 cycles, was achieved at 30 °C, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed Li-Nafion membrane.
PubDate: 2024-03-06
- Incorporation of multilayered double hydroxides/sepiolite augments proton
conductivity performance in low sulfonated polyether sulfone octyl
sulfonamide
Abstract: Abstract Low-sulfonation-level polyether sulfone octyl sulfonamide (LSPSO) was blended with a layered double hydroxides (LDHs, Mg2AlCl)/sepiolite nanostructure clay as a filler to create an electrolyte membrane for fuel cell applications. Comprehensive characterization of the composite membranes was conducted, encompassing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, mechanical stability assessment, thermal gravimetric analysis, ion exchange capability, swelling characteristics, water uptake performance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. In comparison to the pristine LSPSO membrane, the presence of LDHs/sepiolite nanoarchitecture material within LSPSO exhibited superior water retention and proton conductivity values, especially at elevated temperatures. The proton conductivity of the composite membranes reached approximately 250 mS/cm, while the unmodified LSPSO membrane only achieved 35 mS/cm at 100 °C. Moreover, LSPSO composite membranes demonstrated enhanced chemical and thermal stability along with higher proton conductivity when compared to pristine LSPSO membranes. These findings highlight the potential of developing tailored LSPSO composite membranes to advance the prospects of commercial applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
PubDate: 2024-03-01
- Influence of the 3D architecture and surface roughness of SiOC anodes on
bioelectrochemical system performance: a comparative study of freeze-cast,
3D-printed, and tape-cast materials with uniform composition
Abstract: Abstract 3D-printed anodes for bioelectrochemical systems are increasingly being reported. However, comparisons between 3D-printed anodes and their non-3D-printed counterparts with the same material composition are still lacking. In addition, surface roughness parameters that could be correlated with bioelectrochemical performance are rarely determined. To fill these gaps, slurries with identical composition but different mass fractions were processed into SiOC anodes by tape-casting, freeze-casting, or direct-ink writing. The current generation was investigated using electroactive biofilms enriched with Geobacter spp. Freeze-cast anodes showed more surface pores and the highest surface kurtosis of 5.7 ± 0.5, whereas tape-cast and 3D-printed anodes showed a closed surface porosity. 3D-printing was only possible using slurries 85 wt% of mass fraction. The surface pores of the freeze-cast anodes improved bacterial adhesion and resulted in a high initial (first cycle) maximum current density per geometric surface area of 9.2 ± 2.1 A m−2. The larger surface area of the 3D-printed anodes prevented pore clogging and produced the highest current density per geometric surface area of 12.0 ± 1.2 A m−2. The current density values of all anodes are similar when the current density is normalized over the entire geometric surface as determined by CT-scans. This study highlights the role of geometric surface area in normalizing current generation and the need to use more surface roughness parameters to correlate anode properties, bacterial adhesion, and current generation.
PubDate: 2024-02-05
