The focus of this research lies on fundamental research to provide guidelines for the design of new nanocatalyst toward improvement of the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). To achieve this overarching goal, several specific steps were taken with aims to: (1) provide guidelines for the design of new catalysts; (2) promote nanocatalyst applications towards alternative e...

Bimetallic nanoparticles have attracted significant attention as their electrochemical and catalytic properties being superior to those of the individual component nanoparticles. In this study, gold-silver hybrid nanoparticles (AuAgNPs) with an Aucore-Agshell nanostructure were successfully synthesized on zinc oxide (ZnO) whiskers. The as-prepared nanocatalyst, denoted AuAgNPsZnO whisker, exhib...

The kinetic of the transesterification reaction over the Cs(x)H(₃-x)PW₁₂O₄₀/Fe-SiO₂ catalyst prepared using sol-gel and impregnation procedures was investigated in different operational conditions. Experimental conditions were varied as follows: reaction temperature 323-333 K, methanol/oil molar ratio = 12/1, and the reaction time 0-240 min. The H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ heteropolyacid has recently attracted s...

SOFCs running on jet fuel reformates are attractive to NASA for its uninhabited aerial vehicle and low emission alternative power missions. The US military has interest in fuel cells due to their lightweight, zero emission and low acoustic signatures in strategic zones. Jet fuels, such as Jet-A and JP-8 are already on board in many applications. If they can be reformed and used in fuel cells, m...

The most common approach in the search for the optimal low temperature fuel cell catalyst remains "trial and error". Therefore, large numbers of different potential catalytic materials need to be screened. The well-established and most commonly used method for testing catalytic electrochemical activity under well-defined hydrodynamics is still thin film rotating disc electrode (TF-RDE). Typical...

Sulfonated magnetic nanoparticles (SO3H-Fe3O4@SiO2 MNPs) have been explored as an efficient, cost-effective, and recyclable nanocatalyst for the facile synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-2H-indazolo[1,2-b]phthalazin-1,6,11(13H)-triones through a one-pot three-component reaction between aldehydes, dimedone, and phthalhydrazide under mild and green (solvent-f...

A novel magnetically recoverable and recyclable nanocatalyst, Cu 2 O-Fe 3 O 4 @TNT, has been developed for the synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles at room temperature in aqueous medium.

Aqueous Mizoroki-Heck coupling reactions under microwave irradiation (MW) were carried out with a colloidal Pd nanocatalyst stabilized with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Many stilbenes and novel heterostilbenes were achieved in good to excellent yields starting from aryl bromides and different olefins. The reaction was carried out in a short reaction time and with low catalyst loading, leadin...

Hydrotalcite nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation of aqueous Mg(NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O and Al(NO(3))(3)·9H(2)O in the presence of urea and subsequent microwave-hydrothermal treatment. The nanoparticles were activated with saturated aqueous Ca(OH)(2), and used to hydrolyze cellulose. A maximum hydrolysis yield of 47.4% with high glucose selectivity (85.8%) was achieved at 423 K. The nano...