Ni,Fe,Co-LDH Coated Porous Transport Layers for Zero-Gap Alkaline Water Electrolyzers.

Next-generation alkaline water electrolyzers will be based on zero-gap configuration to further reduce costs related to technology and to improve performance. Here, anodic porous transport layers (PTLs) for zero-gap alkaline electrolysis are prepared through a facile one-step electrodeposition of Ni,Fe,Co-based layered double hydroxides (LDH) on 304 stainless steel (SS) meshes. Electrodeposited LDH structures are characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirming the formation of high surface area catalytic layers.

Catalytic Dehydration of Fructose to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Aqueous Medium over NbO-Based Catalysts.

The catalytic dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in water was performed in the presence of pristine NbO and composites containing Nb and Ti, Ce or Zr oxides. In all experiments, fructose was converted to HMF using water as the solvent. The catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, N physical adsorption, infrared and Raman spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption of NH.

Improvement of oxidation resistance of polymer-based nanocomposites through sonication of carbonaceous nanoparticles.

The work aim is focused on two different aspects: first, the investigation of the effect of extended ultra-sound-assisted treatment (us) of carbonaceous nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB), on their radical scavenging activity, and second, the investigation of the oxidative resistance of polymer-based nanocomposites, containing us-treated CNTs and CB. Particularly, the CNTs and CB have been subjected to us sonication for different time intervals and the performed analysis reveals that both kinds of nanoparticles show decreased average hydrodynamic diameters and large content of surface defects. Really, the increased content of CNTs and CB defects, achieved during the sonication time, leads to an increased reactivity toward 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycryl (DPPH) radicals and an enhanced anti-oxidant activity toward macro-radicals, coming from the photo-degradation of the host polymer matrix.