Advanced Electrocatalysts for Low-Temperature Fuel Cells

This book introduces the reader to the state of the art in nanostructured anode and cathode electrocatalysts for low-temperature acid and alkaline fuel cells. It explores the electrocatalysis of anode (oxidation of organic molecules) and cathode (oxygen reduction) reactions. It also offers insights into metal-carbon interactions, correlating them with the catalytic activity of the electrochemical reactions.

The book explores the electrocatalytic behaviour of materials based on noble metals and their alloys, as well as metal-metal oxides and metal-free nanostructures. It also discusses the surface and structural modification of carbon supports to enhance the catalytic activity of electrocatalysts for fuel-cell reactions.

 

1. Introduction. Nanostructured anodes and cathodes for acid and alkaline fuel cells

      1.1. Nanostructured Pt-based catalysts

      1.2. Pd-based nanomaterials for fuel cell applications

      1.3. Alternative nanoanodes and nanocathodes

             1.3.1. Metal-free electrocatalysts 

 

2. Recent advances on electrocatalysts for PEM and AEM fuel cells

      2.1. Anode nanomaterials

             2.1.1. Alloys and core-shell nanostructures

             2.1.2. Metal-metal oxides nanocatalysts<

             2.1.3. CO-tolerant anode electrocatalysts

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      2.2. Cathode nanomaterials

             2.2.1. Pt and Pd-based alloyed nanostructures

             2.2.2. Alcohol-tolerant nanostructured cathodes

 

3. Electrocatalysis of alternative liquid fuels for PEM Direct Oxidation Fuel Cells

      3.1. Formic Acid Oxidation Reaction (FAOR)

      3.2. Ethylene Glycol Oxidation Reaction (EGOR)

      3.3. Glycerol Oxidation Reaction (GOR)

 

4. Nanocatalysts for AEM Direct Oxidation Fuel Cells

      4.1. Nanoalloyed electrocatalysts

             4.1.1. Pt-based
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4.1.2. Pd-based

      4.2. Metal-metal oxide electrocatalysts

            4.2.1. Pt-based

            4.2.2. Pd-based

      4.3. Core-shell nanostructures

            4.3.1. Pt-based

            4.3.2. Pd-based

 

5. Application of novel carbonaceous materials as support for fuel cell electrocatalysts

      5.1. Graphene

            5.1.1. Synthesis techniques

            5.1.2. Doping with heteroatoms

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; 5.2. Ordered M

esoporous Carbon

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nbsp;        5.2.1. Surface functionalization

      5.3. Green carbons

            5.3.1.  Biomass as source of novel carbons

            5.3.2. New family of green carbons supports

     

6. Progress on the functionalization of carbon nanostructures for Fuel Cell electrocatalysts

      6.1. Functionalization of carbon supports with aqua regia

      6.2. Surface modification of carbonaceous materials with green chemicals

 

7. Non-noble metal electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

      7.1. Graphene-based nanocathodes

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      7.2. Green carbons-based nanocathodes

 

Prof. Dr. Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Varela is Full Professor at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Saltillo Campus, Mexico. He obtained his Master degree in Solar Energy from the National University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1998, and his PhD in Metallurgical Engineering and Electrochemistry from École Polytechnique de Montréal (Canada) in 2004. His PhD thesis focused on the development of anode electrocatalysts for Direct Propane Fuel Cells. Then, he joined the Chemical Engineering Department of École Polytechnique de Montréal as a post-doctoral fellow (2004-2005). Since January of 2006, Dr. Rodríguez-Varela is a Researcher at Cinvestav Saltillo Campus (Full Professor since 2009). At Cinvestav, he has worked in the development and characterization of nanostructured anode and cathode electrocatalysts for PEMFCs, DAFCs and MFCs. He has served as President of the Mexican Hydrogen Society (2012-2014) and Coordinator of the Mexican Hydrogen Network (2015). Member of the Scientific Committee of Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems (2007-to date) and Guest Editor of the same journal (2008-2013). Guest Editor of Journal of Applied Electrochemistry (2015). Dr. Rodríguez-Varela has been Principal Investigator of several national research projects and two bilateral international projects with China and India, funded by the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT).