Converting Energy with Glycerol and CO in a Microfluidic Fuel Cell Equipped with CuBiO/CuO Photocathode: Bypassing Bubbles Challenge of Concurrent Water Splitting.

The imperative to address CO emissions has prompted the search for alternative approaches to capture this gas with minimal energy consumption. In this context, leveraging the CO reduction reaction (CORR) as an oxidant in fuel cells has emerged as a sophisticated strategy to convert this gas into usable energy. This study introduces a hybrid microfluidic photo fuel cell (μPFC) designed for the efficient conversion of CO and glycerol into electrical energy.

A Comprehensive Investigation of Methanol Electrooxidation on Copper Anodes: Spectroelectrochemical Insights and Energy Conversion in Microfluidic Fuel Cells.

Here, we comprehensively investigated methanol electrooxidation on Cu-based catalysts, allowing us to build the first microfluidic fuel cell (μFC) equipped with a Cu anode and a metal-free cathode that converts energy from methanol. We applied a simple, fast, small-scale, and surfactant-free strategy for synthesizing Cu-based nanoparticles at room temperature in steady state (ST), under mechanical stirring (MS), or under ultrasonication (US). The morphology evaluation of the Cu-based samples reveals that they have the same nanoparticle (NP) needle-like form.

Clarifying Glycerol Electrooxidation Studies on Pd-Based Catalysts: Insights Into Catalytic Performance and Practical Challenges.

Escalating biodiesel production led to a surplus of glycerol, prompting its exploration as a valuable resource in industrial applications. Electrochemical systems have been studied, specifically employing noble metal catalysts like palladium for glycerol electrooxidation. Despite numerous studies on Pd-based catalysts for glycerol electrooxidation, a comprehensive analysis addressing critical questions related to the economic feasibility, global sourcing of Pd, and the thematic cohesion of publications in this field is lacking.

Glycerol Electrolyzer with Graphite Anode and Cathode Produces Carbonyl Compounds and Hydrogen: Background Electrocatalysis of a "Nonparticipating" Current Collector.

This study unveils a novel role of bare graphite as a catalyst in glycerol electrooxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions, challenging the prevailing notion that current collectors employed in electrolyzers are inert. Half-cell experiments elucidate the feasibility of glycerol oxidation and hydrogen production on bulk graphite electrodes at potentials exceeding 1.7 V.

Enhanced Power Generation Using a Dual-Surface-Modified Hematite Photoanode in a Direct Glyphosate Photo Fuel Cell.

Given the current and escalating global energy and environmental concerns, this work explores an innovative approach to mitigate a widely employed commercial herbicide using a direct glyphosate (Gly) photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC). The device generates power continuously by converting solar radiation, degrading and mineralizing commercial glyphosate-based fuel, and reducing sodium persulfate at the cathode. Pristine and modified hematite photoanodes were coupled to Pt/C nanoparticles dispersed in a carbon paper (CP) support (Pt/C/CP) dark cathode by using an H-type cell.

Miniaturized 3D-Printed Cell Enables Water/Ethanol Quantification Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy.

A miniaturized and low-cost electrochemical 3D-printed system for rapid and accurate quantification of ethanol content in ethanol fuel using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was developed. The monolithic design of the system incorporates insulating thermoplastic electrode separators, with only the cover being mobile, allowing for easy assembly and handling. The portable device, measuring approximately 26 × 24 mm, has a maximum capacity of 1 mL, making it suitable for lab-on-a-chip and portable analysis.

Interchangeable Biomass Fuels for Paper-Based Microfluidic Fuel Cells: Finding Their Power Density Limits.

Paper batteries are self-pumping emerging tools for powering portable analytical systems. These disposable energy converters must be low-cost and must achieve enough energy to power electronic devices. The challenge is reaching high energy while keeping the low cost.

Black TiO Photoanodes for Direct Methanol Photo Fuel Cells.

Photocatalytic fuel cells (PFCs) are considered the next generation of energy converter devices, since they can harvest solar energy through relatively low-cost semiconductor material to convert the chemical energy of renewable fuels and oxidants directly into electricity. Here, we report black TiO nanoparticle (NP) photoanodes for simple single-compartment PFCs and microfluidic photo fuel cells (μPFCs) fed by methanol. We show that Ti and oxygen vacancy (O) defects at the TiO NPs are easily controlled by annealing in a NaBH-containing atmosphere.

Multi-electrode platform for selective electrochemical sensing: 3D-printed insulating plastic is turned into a five-electrodes chip.

We report a method to turn a 3D-printed plastic piece into a five-electrodes chip for multiple analytes detection. A chip containing Pd, Ni, and Ru working electrodes is used to sense hydroquinone, acetaminophen, salicylic acid, and hydroxychloroquine at once. The analysis is sequentially achieved simply by changing the proper electrode connection, without changing mobile parts, neither adding reactants, nor electrolytes.

Glycerol Is Converted into Energy and Carbonyl Compounds in a 3D-Printed Microfluidic Fuel Cell: and Bi-Modified Pt Anodes.

The combination of energy and chemical conversion can be achieved by designing glycerol fuel cells. However, the anode must promote the reaction at onset potentials low enough to allow a spontaneous reaction, when coupled to the cathodic reaction, and must be selective. Here, we build a three-dimensional (3D)-printed glycerol microfluidic fuel cell that produces power concomitantly to glycolate and formate at zero bias.

Simultaneous separation and electroanalysis in a single polydimethylsiloxane-based platform.

Channel-based microfluidic devices integrating the separation step and detection system are key factors to expand microanalysis application. However, these devices still depend on macroscale external equipment for pre-treatment of the sample, separation, or detection. The integration of all steps in only one stage is critical to improving feasibility.

Harvesting Energy from an Organic Pollutant Model Using a New 3D-Printed Microfluidic Photo Fuel Cell.

The combination of a fuel cell and photocatalysis in the same device, called a photo fuel cell, is the next generation of energy converters. These systems aim to convert organic pollutants and oxidants into energy using solar energy as the driving force. However, they are mostly designed in conventional stationary batch systems, generating low power besides being barely applicable.

Newly designed dual-mode electrochemical sensor onto a single polydimethylsiloxane-based chip.

Here we present a planar polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based millifluidic device in which the channel (at a serpentine-shape) and a new design of electrochemical sensor (dual-mode detection) are assembled into a single chip. The platform makes use of a fully integrated reservoir to place the reference electrode, separating it from the flowing stream. The device was properly characterized aiming to evaluate the influences of channel geometries and diameters, and the electrochemical properties were improved compared with the classical reference electrode configuration.

3D-Printed glycerol microfluidic fuel cell.

A 3D-printed microfluidic fuel cell is presented. Fused deposition modeling is used to build a microchannel with a 0.015 cm cross-sectional area for stable colaminar flow conditions.

Insulating 3D-printed templates are turned into metallic electrodes: application as electrodes for glycerol electrooxidation.

We turned printed plastic pieces into a conductive material by electrochemical polymerization of aniline on the plastic surface assisted by graphite. The conductive piece was then turned into a metallic electrode by potentiodynamic electrodeposition. As a proof-of-concept, we built indirect-3D-printed Pd, Pt and Au electrodes, which were used for glycerol electrooxidation.

Electrochemical cell designed for in situ integrate microextraction and electroanalysis: Trace-level determination of norfloxacin in aqueous samples.

In this work, a newly designed electrochemical cell was assembled for in situ integrated microextraction and electroanalysis. Ionic liquids (ILs) were used as extractors to perform the microextraction, which enabled the pre-concentration of norfloxacin from tap water samples. The featured device can be used to replace conventional liquid-liquid microextraction, reducing the number of steps involved in the process.

New Electrochemical Flow-Cell Configuration Integrated into a Three-Dimensional Microfluidic Platform: Improving Analytical Application in the Presence of Air Bubbles.

A newly configured electrochemical flow cell to be used for (end-channel) amperometric detection in a microfluidic device is presented. The design was assembled to place the reference electrode in a separated compartment, isolated from the flow in the microchannel, while the working and counter electrodes remain in direct contact with both compartments. Moreover, a three-dimensional coil-shaped microfluidic device was fabricated using a nonconventional protocol.

"Bleaching" glycerol in a microfluidic fuel cell to produce high power density at minimal cost.

Glycerol/bleach flow-through microfluidic fuel cells are presented. Carbon paper-modified Pt/C nanoparticles were used as the anode and cathode. Glycerol oxidation in alkaline medium was tested against hypochlorite reduction in alkaline and acidic media.

How do random superficial defects influence the electro-oxidation of glycerol on Pt(111) surfaces?

The glycerol electrooxidation reaction (GEOR) has attracted huge interest in the last decade due to the very low price and availability of this polyol. In this work, we studied the GEOR on Pt(111) electrodes by introducing different densities of random defects. Our results showed that the generation of defects on Pt(111) slightly modified the GEOR onset potential, however it generates changes in the voltammetric oxidation charges and also in the relative production of CO to carbonyl containing compounds, C[double bond, length as m-dash]O.