Enhancing the Catalytic Activity of Pd Nanocatalysts for Anion Exchange Membrane Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells by Functionalizing Vulcan XC-72 with Cu Organometallic Compounds.

The most widely used support in low-temperature fuel cell applications is the commercially available Vulcan XC-72. Herein, we report its functionalization with the home-obtained mesityl copper (Cu-mes) and Cu coordinate (Cu(dmpz)L2) organometallic compounds. Pd nanoparticles are anchored on the supports obtaining Pd/C, Pd/C, and Pd/C (on nonfunctionalized support).

Voltammetric techniques for low-cost on-site routine analysis of thymol in the medicinal plant Ocimum gratissimum.

The composition of essential oils varies according to culture conditions and climate, which induces a need for simple and inexpensive characterization methods close to the place of extraction. This appears particularly important for developing countries. Herein, we develop an analytical strategy to determine the thymol content in Ocimum Gratissimum, a medicinal plant from Benin.

Probing Oxygen-to-Hydrogen Peroxide Electro-Conversion at Electrocatalysts Derived from Polyaniline.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a key chemical for many industrial applications, yet it is primarily produced by the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. As part of the Power-to-X scenario of electrosynthesis, the controlled oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) can enable the decentralized and renewable production of HO. We have previously demonstrated that self-supported electrocatalytic materials derived from polyaniline by chemical oxidative polymerization have shown promising activity for the reduction of HO to H in alkaline media.

Rhodium effects on Pt anode materials in a direct alkaline ethanol fuel cell.

The development of efficient catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium requires a synthetic approach that may prevent the surfactant molecules from being adsorbed at the catalytic sites and decreasing the electrochemical performance of the final direct ethanol fuel cell. Toward this goal, the recently reported surfactant-less Bromide Anion Exchange (BAE) method, appears as a promising route to conveniently aim at preparing PtRh alloys dispersed on carbon substrates. The catalysts prepared herein by the BAE method were characterized physicochemically to obtain structural information on the PtRh/C nanomaterials, their morphology (size and shape), and their chemical and surface composition.

Biocompatible Spherical Gold Nanoparticles Synthesis in Aqueous Tetraethylene Oxide Solution and Their Cellular Uptake.

Small well-defined spherical gold nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple non-physical method based on a mixture of gold salt, tetraethylene oxide and water, free of any additional reducing chemical agent or physical method. The ratio of tetraethylene oxide to water was optimized to achieve a fast synthesis within 30 min. Transmission electron microscopy images showed well dispersed gold nanospheres with a size ranging from 10 to 15 nm.

One-Pot Soft-Template Synthesis of Nanostructured Copper-Supported Mesoporous Carbon FDU-15 Electrocatalysts for Efficient CO Reduction.

Copper-supported mesoporous carbon nanocatalysts (Cu/FDU-15) were synthesized using an easy and convenient one-pot soft-template method for low-overvoltage CO electroreduction. TEM imaging revealed the presence of large Cu nanoparticles (diameter 140 nm) with Cu O nanoparticles (16 nm) as an additional phase. From the electron tomography observations, we found that the copper particles were placed inside and on the exterior surface of the porous FDU-15 support, providing an accessible surface for electrocatalytic reactions.

Preparation and Electrochemical Properties of NiCo O Nanospinels Supported on Graphene Derivatives as Earth-Abundant Oxygen Bifunctional Catalysts.

This work reports on the facile synthesis and characterisation of a non-precious-metal bifunctional catalyst for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER). A few-layer reduced graphene oxide-supported NiCo O catalyst is prepared using a rapid and easy two-step method of synthesis. It consists of the solvothermal poyl(vinylpyrrolidone)-assisted assembly of metal complexes onto few-layer graphene followed by a calcination step aiming at converting metal complexes into the spinel phase.

Advances in Electrocatalysis for Energy Conversion and Synthesis of Organic Molecules.

Ubiquitous electrochemistry is expected to play a major role for reliable energy supply as well as for production of sustainable fuels and chemicals. The fundamental understanding of organics-based electrocatalysis in alkaline media at the solid-liquid interface involves complex mechanisms and performance descriptors (from the electrolyte and reaction intermediates), which undermine the roads towards advance and breakthroughs. Here, we review and diagnose recently designed strategies for the electrochemical conversion of organics into electricity and/or higher-value chemicals.

Reversible Electrocatalytic Activity of Carbon-Supported Pt Ni in Hydrogen Reactions.

Hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions (HOR and HER) are studied on Pt Ni /C materials synthesized by the bromide anion exchange method. Physicochemical characterization shows that this surfactant-free method enables the preparation of well-dispersed and effective catalysts for the processes involved in the anode of H /O fuel cells (HOR) and the cathode of water electrolyzers (HER). The Pt-based materials are modified with different Ni contents to decrease the amount of costly precious metal in the electrode materials.

Size-Dependent Electrocatalytic Activity of Free Gold Nanoparticles for the Glucose Oxidation Reaction.

Understanding the fundamental relationship between the size and the structure of electrode materials is essential to design catalysts and enhance their activity. Therefore, spherical gold nanoparticles (GNSs) with a mean diameter from 4 to 15 nm were synthesized. UV/Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and under-potential deposition of lead (UPDPb ) were used to determine the morphology, size, and surface crystallographic structure of the GNSs.

Highly Selective Oxidation of Carbohydrates in an Efficient Electrochemical Energy Converter: Cogenerating Organic Electrosynthesis.

The selective electrochemical conversion of highly functionalized organic molecules into electricity, heat, and added-value chemicals for fine chemistry requires the development of highly selective, durable, and low-cost catalysts. Here, we propose an approach to make catalysts that can convert carbohydrates into chemicals selectively and produce electrical power and recoverable heat. A 100% Faradaic yield was achieved for the selective oxidation of the anomeric carbon of glucose and its related carbohydrates (C1-position) without any function protection.

Chemistry for oncotheranostic gold nanoparticles.

This review presents in a comprehensive ways the chemical methods used to functionalize gold nanoparticles with focus on anti-cancer applications. The review covers the parameters required for the synthesis gold nanoparticles with defined shapes and sizes, method for targeted delivery in tumours, and selected examples of anti-cancers compounds delivered with gold nanoparticles. A short survey of bioassays for oncology based on gold nanoparticles is also presented.

Enhancing the available specific surface area of carbon supports to boost the electroactivity of nanostructured Pt catalysts.

We report increasing improvements in the available specific surface area of the commonly used Vulcan XC 72R and Ketjenblack EC-600JD carbons by simple thermal pre-treatment. The treated Vulcan and Ketjenblack substrates have a specific surface area of 322 and 1631 m(2) g(-1), respectively, instead of 262 and 1102 m(2) g(-1) for the as-received materials, which is a 23 and 48% improvement. Subsequently, when used as platinum nanoparticle (3 nm) supports, the electrochemical active surface area is enhanced by factors of 2.