One of the most common methods of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesis is application of an electric-arc plasma. However, the final product in the form of cathode deposit is composed of carbon nanotubes and a variety of carbon impurities. An assay of carbon nanotubes produced in arc discharge systems available on the market shows that commercial cathode deposits contain about 10% CNTs. Given that ...

Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is a gripping bio-electrochemical device producing H2 gas from renewable biomass while at the same time treat wastewater.  Through extensive global research efforts in the latest decade, the performance of MECs, including energy efficiency, hydrogen production rate (HPR), and hydrogen recovery have achieved significant breakthroughs. However, employi...

The development of rechargeable zinc–air batteries is hindered by the low energy- conversion efficiency and short cycle life, which are partly due to the unsatisfactory performance oxygen electrocatalysts on air-cathode. The low catalysts partially complexity gas- involving multiphase interface required for cataly sis reactions, it is often acquired only a fraction loaded catalyst that in ...

Searching for low-cost and efficient catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction has been actively pursued owing to its importance in clean energy generation and storage. While developing new catalysts is important, tuning the electronic structure of existing catalysts over a wide electrochemical potential range can also offer a new direction. Here we demonstrate a method for electrochemical li...

Transition metal carbides (TMCs) and transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have attracted attention as promising electrocatalysts that could replace noble metals of high price and limited supply. Relative to parent metals, TMC and TMN behave like noble metals for electrochemical reactions such as oxidation of hydrogen, CO and alcohols, and reduction of oxygen. When TMC and TMN are combined with othe...

Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is a gripping bio-electrochemical device producing H2 gas from renewable biomass while at the same time treat wastewater.  Through extensive global research efforts in the latest decade, the performance of MECs, including energy efficiency, hydrogen production rate (HPR), and hydrogen recovery have achieved significant breakthroughs. However, employi...

Corrosion of carbonaceous catalyst support materials such as carbon black has been known for conventional Pt/C catalysts, which is recognized as one of the cause of catalyst degradation [1]. To improve the durability of cathode catalyst, especially at high potentials during startstop periods, a more oxidation-resistant catalyst support at high potentials (>1.0 V) is desired for automotive and r...

A multi-nuclear solid-state NMR approach is employed to investigate the lithium-air battery, to monitor the evolution of the electrochemical products formed during cycling, and to gain insight into processes affecting capacity fading. While lithium peroxide is identified by 17O solid state NMR (ssNMR) as the predominant product in the first discharge in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) based electroly...

A series of new CO tolerant anode catalysts for reformate type polymer electrolyte fuel cells are proposed that are superior to state-of-the-art Pt-Ru metal alloy catalysts. Composite catalysts based on platinum and metal complex were fabricated by a new procedure where carbon supported platinum precursor and nitrogen containing organic metal complex were heat-treated in Ar atmosphere at temper...