Synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media

To date, most energy needs are provided by the combustion of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels are not sustainable, especially so when the limited reserves deplete significantly in the face of increasing energy demand. This motivates the development of alternative technologies such as the fuel cel...

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Main Author: Tan, Delphine Si Ling.
Other Authors: Wang Xin (SCBE)
Format: Final Year Project
Language:English
Published: 2010
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38858
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-388582023-03-03T15:36:59Z Synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media Tan, Delphine Si Ling. Wang Xin (SCBE) School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Industrial electrochemistry To date, most energy needs are provided by the combustion of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels are not sustainable, especially so when the limited reserves deplete significantly in the face of increasing energy demand. This motivates the development of alternative technologies such as the fuel cell technology for efficient energy conversion and power generation. Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are clean and efficient energy conversion devices. However, commercialization of DEFCs is hindered by the use of Pt, an expensive metal, in the electrocatalysts of DEFCs. Also, the use of acid media in DEFCs leads to severe corrosion. Hence, the possibility of Pd-based electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in alkaline DEFCs is explored. In this project, Pd-Tb/C electrocatalysts were synthesized by a reduction method with NaBH4. Pd-Tb2O3 rod/C and Pd-Tb2O3 cube/C electrocatalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal and calcination method with sodium hydroxide in addition to a reduction method using NaBH4. X-Ray diffraction was used to characterize the structure of the catalysts. Electrochemical tests namely cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques were used to characterize the catalysts’ electrocatalytic activities for EOR in alkaline media. Among the Pd-Tb/C catalysts, 10%Pd-2%Tb/C exhibits superior catalytic activity for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. Pd-Tb2O3 cube/C has higher activity and stability as compared to Pd-Tb2O3 rod/C. Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) 2010-05-20T01:26:46Z 2010-05-20T01:26:46Z 2010 2010 Final Year Project (FYP) http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38858 en Nanyang Technological University 51 p. application/pdf
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider NTU Library
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Industrial electrochemistry
spellingShingle DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Industrial electrochemistry
Tan, Delphine Si Ling.
Synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media
description To date, most energy needs are provided by the combustion of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels are not sustainable, especially so when the limited reserves deplete significantly in the face of increasing energy demand. This motivates the development of alternative technologies such as the fuel cell technology for efficient energy conversion and power generation. Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are clean and efficient energy conversion devices. However, commercialization of DEFCs is hindered by the use of Pt, an expensive metal, in the electrocatalysts of DEFCs. Also, the use of acid media in DEFCs leads to severe corrosion. Hence, the possibility of Pd-based electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in alkaline DEFCs is explored. In this project, Pd-Tb/C electrocatalysts were synthesized by a reduction method with NaBH4. Pd-Tb2O3 rod/C and Pd-Tb2O3 cube/C electrocatalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal and calcination method with sodium hydroxide in addition to a reduction method using NaBH4. X-Ray diffraction was used to characterize the structure of the catalysts. Electrochemical tests namely cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques were used to characterize the catalysts’ electrocatalytic activities for EOR in alkaline media. Among the Pd-Tb/C catalysts, 10%Pd-2%Tb/C exhibits superior catalytic activity for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. Pd-Tb2O3 cube/C has higher activity and stability as compared to Pd-Tb2O3 rod/C.
author2 Wang Xin (SCBE)
author_facet Wang Xin (SCBE)
Tan, Delphine Si Ling.
format Final Year Project
author Tan, Delphine Si Ling.
author_sort Tan, Delphine Si Ling.
title Synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media
title_short Synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media
title_full Synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media
title_fullStr Synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media
title_sort synthesis of pd-tb/c and pd-tb2o3/c electro-catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media
publishDate 2010
url http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38858
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