Nanomaterials For Electrocatalysis

Approx.380 pages Approx.380 pages

Global experts provide an authoritative source of information on the use of electrochemical fuel cells, and in particular discuss the use of nanomaterials to enhance the performance of existing energy systems. The book covers the state of the art in the design, preparation, and engineering of nanoscale functional materials as effective catalysts for fuel cell chemistry, highlights recent progress in electrocatalysis at both fuel cell anode and cathode, and details perspectives and challenges in future research.

This book focuses on nanotechnology in electrocatalysis for energy applications. In particular the book covers nanostructured electrocatalysts for low temperature fuel cells, low temperature electrolyzers and electrochemical valorization. The function of this book is to provide an introduction to basic principles of electrocatalysis, together with a review of the main classes of materials and electrode architectures. This book will illustrate the basic ideas behind material design and provide an introductory sketch of current research focuses. The easy-to-follow three part book focuses on major formulas, concepts and philosophies. This book is ideal for professionals and researchers interested in the field of electrochemistry, renewable energy and electrocatalysis.

Illustrating developments in electrochemical nanotechnology, heterogeneous catalysis, surface science and theoretical modelling, this reference describes the manipulation, characterization, control, and application of nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity. It also offers experimental and synthetic strategies in nanoscale surface science. This standard-setting work clariefies several practical methods used to control the size, shape, crystal structure, and composition of nanoparticles; simulate metal-support interactions; predict nanoparticle behavior; enhance catalytic rates in gas phases; and examine catalytic functions on wet and dry surfaces.

Nanomaterials for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells explains nanomaterials and nanocomposites as well as the characterization, manufacturing, and design of alcohol fuel cell applications. The advantages of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are significant for reliable and long-lasting portable power sources used in devices such as mobile phones and computers. Even though substantial improvements have been made in DAFC systems over the last decade, more effort is needed to commercialize DAFCs by producing durable, low-cost, and smaller-sized devices. Nanomaterials have an important role to play in achieving this aim. The use of nanotechnology in DAFCs is vital due to their role in the synthesis of nanocatalysts within the manufacturing process. Lately, nanocatalysts containing carbon such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanocoils have also attracted much attention. When compared to traditional materials, carbon-based materials have unique advantages, such as high corrosion resistance, better electrical conductivity, and less catalyst poisoning. This book also covers different aspects of nanocomposites fabrication, including their preparation, design, and characterization techniques for their fuel cell applications. This book is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers, energy scientists, and electrochemists who are seeking to improve their understanding of how nanomaterials are being used to enhance the efficiency and lower the cost of DAFCs. Shows how nanomaterials are being used for the design and manufacture of DAFCs Explores how nanotechnology is being used to enhance the synthesis and catalysis processes to create the next generation of fuel cells Assesses the major challenges of producing nanomaterial-based DAFCs on an industrial scale

This book systematically summarizes the advanced development of carbon-based nanomaterials for electrochemical catalysis, and it is comprised of four sections. The first section discusses about the fundamental synthesis, characterization techniques, and catalytic effects on the energy conversion and storage mechanism. The second section elaborately reviews various types of electrocatalytic reactions on carbon-based materials and their performance. The third section focuses on batteries about carbon-based materials with different storage mechanism. And the last one, the following enlightenment in terms of theoretical development and experimental research is provided to the general readers: 1) Precise design and construction of local atomic and electronic structures at the interface of catalysts; 2) Selective activation and directed conversion of carbon-based energy-carrying molecules at the interface; 3) Interaction mechanism and regulation of catalyst solid surface interface properties under environment and external field. This book will be useful for researchers and students who are interested in carbon-based nanomaterials, electrochemical catalysts and energy storage.

The basics and principles of new electrochemical methods and also their usage for fabrication and analysis of different nanostructures were discussed in this book. These methods consist of electrochemical methods in nanoscale (e.g. electrochemical atomic force microscopy and electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy) and also electrochemical methods for fabrication of nanomaterials.

Advanced Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications outlines new approaches to the synthesis of nanomaterials (synthesis in flow conditions, laser electrodispersion of single metals or alloys on carbon or oxide supports, mechanochemistry, sol-gel routes, etc.) to provide systems with a narrow particle size distribution, controlled metal-support interaction and nanocomposites with uniform spatial distribution of domains of different phases, even in dense sintered materials. Methods for characterization of real structure and surface properties of nanomaterials are discussed, including synchrotron radiation diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies, neutronography, transmission/scanning electron microscopy with elemental analysis, and more. The book covers the effect of nanosystems' composition, bulk and surface properties, metal-support interaction, particle size and morphology, deposition density, etc. on their functional properties (transport features, catalytic activity and reaction mechanism). Finally, it includes examples of various developed nanostructured solid electrolytes and mixed ionic-electronic conductors as materials in solid oxide fuel cells and asymmetric supported membranes for oxygen and hydrogen separation. Outlines synthetic and characterization methods for nanocatalysts Relates nanocatalysts' properties to their specific applications Proposes optimization methods aiming at specific applications