To answer the question of whether Pt(II)-based H(2)-evolving catalysts are stable upon exposure to H(2), the behaviours of some platinum(II) complexes in the presence of H(2) (5 × 10(-4) - 1 atm) have been followed spectrophotometrically. The results reveal that some catalysts are highly stable upon exposure to H(2).

To reduce the platinum group metal (PGM) loading in anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), it is important to transition catalysts with very low PGM content, and eventually that are completely PGM-free. In this work, four supported low-PGM Pt PtRu were prepared using a new, simple, scalable technique: Controlled Surface Tension (CST) method. CST allows for high density of small multi-atom...

The research presented in this dissertation is aimed at the development of electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) based on ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs). The ORR is a key reaction in electrochemical energy devices such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Because of its sluggish kinetics compared to its counterpart reaction (i.e., hydrogen oxidation reaction in fuel cell...

Reaction-rate oscillations in the oxidation of carbon monoxide on the surface of platinum catalysts are studied in a continuous flow reactor at atmospheric pressure using infrared imaging. Small-amplitude temperature oscillations ~0.2–8 K! result in approximately isothermal conditions, where changes in rate constants, for typical activation energies and temperatures, are small. The catalysts ar...

The increasing miniaturization of devices creates the need for adequate power sources and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) are a strong option in the various possibilities under current development. DMFC catalysts are mostly based on platinum, for its outperformance in three key areas (activity, selectivity and stability) within methanol oxidation framework. However, platinum poisoning with pr...

Reduced size and direct electrochemical H2 compression are two distinct advantages of electrolyzers based on the acid-polymer electrolyte membrane technology over those relying on alkaline electrolytes. However, recourse to catalysts based on the scarce platinum-group-metals has hitherto been the price to pay. While the transition metal sulfides and nitrides of group VI have recently shown inte...