OBJECTIVE Although waste is traditionally assessed as a pollutant which needs to be reduced or lessened, its management is certainly necessary. Nowadays, biological fuel cells, through the direct conversion of organic matter to electricity using biocatalysts, represent a technology able to produce sustainable energy by means of waste treatment. This study aims to propose a mean to generate ener...

The novel oriented electrospun nanofiber membrane composed of MOFs and SPPESK has been synthesized for proton exchange membrane fuel cell operating at high temperature and anhydrous conditions. It is clear that the oriented nanofiber membrane displays the higher proton conductivity than that of the disordered nanofiber membrane or the membrane prepared by conventional solvent-casting method (wi...

In order to achieve a distributed actuation in robotics and automation a novel soft actuator technology is being sought worldwide. One of the candidate technologies is based on Electroactive Polymers (EAP). The research to be done in the field of EAP actuators should cover four issues: material improvement, characterization and modeling, actuator design, and applications simulation. Advances on...

Filmes ultrafinos do polímero perfluorado Nafion foram depositados em eletrodos de óxido índio-titânio (ITO) usando a técnica de Langmuir-Scaefer (LS), depois da otimização das condições de composição da subfase. As características morfológicas das camadas foram obtidas por Microscopia de Força Atômica (AFM). Filmes de Nafion LS mostraram boa uniformidade e cobertura completa da superfície do e...

The all-iron flow battery is currently being developed for grid scale energy storage. As with all batteries, the membrane in these systems must meet stringent demands ionic conductivity while limiting unwanted reactant (Fe 3+ ) crossover. In addition, chemistry proton transport across highly desirable to maintain pH levels negative and positive electrolytes. Two membranes are considered, Nafion...

Improving the cathode catalyst layer design requires understanding sources of transport limitations in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. For purpose, a framework consisting on an electron microscopy characterization setup couple with numerical modeling software is proposed. The latter integrates high-performing geometry building capabilities which ensure full phase discretization (carbon, pl...

We report the fabrication and characterization of a novel composite material based on single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT)s and the ionomeric polymer Nafion. SWNTs were airbrushed from a chloroform suspension onto both sides of a Nafion membrane (180 μm) and the electromechanical properties of the composite material were explored. The outer layers of carbon nanotubes acted as electrodes in ord...

Gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) obtained by sputtering metal films on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes are among the most performant used to electrochemically reduce CO2. The present work reveals several essential aspects for fabricating PTFE-based gas (GDEs) CO2 electroreduction (CO2R). We show that adding an additive layer (a mixture of carbon and Nafion™ or only) is required stabilizi...

Three different proton conducting polymeric membrane materials (Nafion® 115, Nafion® 212, and sulfonated Diels-Alder polyphenylene [SDAPP]) were evaluated for use in SO 2 -depolarized electrolyzers the production of hydrogen via hybrid sulfur cycle. Their performance was measured using water feed strategies to minimize overpotential losses while maintaining high product acid concentration. Both...

Proton exchange membranes (PEM), which have been commonly used in fuel cells raised interest for the application harsh environments involving ionizing radiation. Therefore, radiation stability and ability to sustain their functionality under environment are of great interest. Within this study, electron beam irradiation dose range from 50 500kGy was evaluate effects on physico-chemical mechanic...