Bio-Based Graphene Sheet/Copolymer Composite as Supporting Material for Nanocatalysts towards Electrochemical Studies and Direct Alkaline Alcohol Fuel Cells

In this work, graphene carbon sheets (BGS) were prepared from writing paper and lemon peel, and its polymer composite has a higher surface area compared with the existing Vulcan carbon. Further, the use of lead as a promoter for the oxidation of alcohol and CO on platinum-supported poly(amine-terminated cyclophosphazene-co-cyclophosphazene)-biobased graphene sheet (Poly(AFCP-co-CP)-BGS) composite was demonstrated. The size, phase morphology, and distribution of metal nanoparticles on Poly(AFCP-co-CP)-BGS composite as well as the formation of composite based catalysts were confirmed from TEM, XRD, and FTIR studies. The catalytic activity and stability of the prepared catalysts were tested and compared to methanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and CO in 0.5 M KOH solution. The results conclude that the lead-doped Pt/Poly(AFCP-co-CP)-BGS catalyst shows higher oxidation current with respect to onset potential and lower I f / I r ratio for alcohol as well as CO oxidation. In addition, Pt-Pb/Poly(AFCP-co-CP)-BGS catalyst was checked for direct alkaline fuel cells and proved as a potent anode catalyst in alkaline medium for real-time fuel battery applications. In addition, Poly(AFCP-co-CP)-BGS composite also promotes the catalytic reaction compared to Poly(AFCP-co-CP) and BGS supports as noticed from methanol oxidation in alkaline medium. The surface area of the prepared supporting material is 750.72 m2g-1, which is higher than the activated carbon (250.12m2g-1). So, the prepared Poly(AFCP-co-CP)-BGS composite is a potent support for metal deposition, electrooxidation, and single stack fuel cell constructions.

The Role of Particles and Clusters Size on the Catalytic Activity of Different Types of Gold Nanocatalysts for Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation

: In this paper, activation procedures under size effects of some gold nanoparticles (Au101, Aunaked and Aucitrate) and nanoclusters (Au8 and Au9) immobilized on powder Norit® activated carbon (abbreviated to AC) and/or Vulcan carbon (abbreviated to VC) on the catalytic activity of gold nanocatalysts were studied. The gold nanostructures were activated through the washing procedure with a base in MilliQ water or hot toluene and then followed by heating in static air (abbreviated to W+S) or under vacuum (abbreviated to W+V) at 100 °C for 3 h. The highest activity of gold nanocatalysts for benzyl alcohol oxidation was obtained for activated (W+V) ‘naked’ gold nanoparticles immobilized on Norit® activated carbon when the gold nanoparticle diameters was ~4.4 nm.

Under-reporting of greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. cities

Cities dominate greenhouse gas emissions. Many have generated self-reported emission inventories, but their value to emissions mitigation depends on their accuracy, which remains untested. Here, we compare self-reported inventories from 48 US cities to independent estimates from the Vulcan carbon dioxide emissions data product, which is consistent with atmospheric measurements. We found that cities under-report their own greenhouse gas emissions, on average, by 18.3% (range: −145.5% to +63.5%) – a difference which if extrapolated to all U.S. cities, exceeds California’s total emissions by 23.5%. Differences arise because city inventories omit particular fuels and source types and estimate transportation emissions differently. These results raise concerns about self-reported inventories in planning or assessing emissions, and warrant consideration of the new urban greenhouse gas information system recently developed by the scientific community.

Synergistic Catalytic Effects of MoO2 and Vulcan Carbon toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Developing low-cost and high efficient non-platinum catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial toward the fuel cell. Transition metal oxide /carbon materials are a kind of important non-noble metal...

Evaluating the Performance of Three Chambers Microbial Salinity Cell (MSC) Subjected to Different Substrate Concentrations to Accomplish Simultaneous Organic and Salt Removal in the Wastewater

This study aimed to identify the effect of substrate concentration on the performance of A Three chambers Microbial Salinity Cell (a three chambers MSC). In this study, 3 three chambers MSC was made of plexy glass with total volume of 200 ml. Alumunium wrapped with with platinum on vulcan carbon cloth were used as electrodes,with each working area 63 cm2. The results showed that a Three chambers Microbial Salinity Cell was able to generate electricity and at the same time removed salinity. The degree of electricity deneration and salinity removal were influenced by initial substrate concentration in the anode chamber. The higher substrate concentration, the better performance of MSC. The best performance of MSC achieved when COD was 2034 mg/L, resulted in maximum voltage of 0. 44 V, and maximum current density of 0.29 mA/m2. With % CE was 5.4%. The maximum conductivity increase in salinity chamber was from 11.2 µS/cm to 1027 µS/cm (salinity 0.57% ppt).

DETERMINATION OF THE SURFACE FUNCTIONALITY OF NANOCARBON ALLOTROPES BY BOEHM TITRATION

Critical point (CP) in a titration curve to quantify carboxylic, lactonic, and phenolic groups on multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) and Vulcan carbon (VC). Titration technique used was Boehm type and tipping point measurement from titration curve was done by second derivative method. The calculation functional groups on nanocarbons (NCs) presents lowest uncertainty previously published. An order of [Formula: see text]meq/g is the precision of the values obtained, one order of magnitude below reported. Both NCs display a high quantity of carboxylic groups created after being treated with regard to the other functional groups generated, mainly for functionalized Vulcan carbon VC-F.