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Beschreibung

Meeting the need for a text on solutions to conditions which have so far been a drawback for this important and trend-setting technology, this monograph places special emphasis on novel, alternative catalysts of low temperature fuel cells. Comprehensive in its coverage, the text discusses not only the electrochemical, mechanistic, and material scientific background, but also provides extensive chapters on the design and fabrication of electrocatalysts.
A valuable resource aimed at multidisciplinary audiences in the fields of academia and industry.

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CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

List of Contributors

Preface

Chapter 1: Principle of Low-temperature Fuel Cells Using an Ionic Membrane

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Thermodynamic Data and Theoretical Energy Efficiency under Equilibrium (j = 0)

1.3 Electrocatalysis and the Rate of Electrochemical Reactions

1.4 Influence of the Properties of the PEMFC Components (Electrode Catalyst Structure, Membrane Resistance, and Mass Transfer Limitations) on the Polarization Curves

1.5 Representative Examples of Low-temperature Fuel Cells

1.6 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgments

References

Chapter 2: Research Advancements in Low-temperature Fuel Cells

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2.3 Alkaline Fuel Cells

2.4 Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

2.5 Regenerative Fuel Cells

2.6 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgments

References

Chapter 3: Electrocatalytic Reactions Involved in Low-temperature Fuel Cells

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Preparation and Characterization of Pt-based Plurimetallic Electrocatalysts

3.3 Mechanisms of the Electrocatalytic Reactions Involved in Low-temperature Fuel Cells

3.4 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgment

References

Chapter 4: Direct Hydrocarbon Low-temperature Fuel Cell

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

4.3 Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

4.4 Direct Ethylene Glycol Fuel Cell

4.5 Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell

4.6 Direct Glucose Fuel Cell

4.7 Commercialization Status of DHFC

4.8 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 5: The Oscillatory Electrooxidation of Small Organic Molecules

5.1 Introduction

5.2 In Situ and Online Approaches

5.3 The Effect of Temperature

5.4 Modified Surfaces

5.5 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgments

References

Chapter 6: Degradation Mechanism of Membrane Fuel Cells with Monoplatinum and Multicomponent Cathode Catalysts

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Synthesis and Experimental Methods of Studying Catalytic Systems under Model Conditions

6.3 Characteristics of Commercial and Synthesized Catalysts

6.4 Methods of Testing Catalysts within FC MEAs

6.5 Mechanism of Degradation Phenomenon in MEAs with Commercial Pt/C Catalysts

6.6 Characteristics of MEAs with 40Pt/CNT-T-based Cathode

6.7 Characteristics of MEAs with 50PtCoCr/C-based Cathodes

6.8 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgments

References

Chapter 7: Recent Developments in Electrocatalysts and Hybrid Electrocatalyst Support Systems for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Current State of Pt and Non-Pt Electrocatalysts Support Systems for PEFC

7.3 Novel Pt Electrocatalysts

7.4 Pt-based Electrocatalysts on Novel Carbon Supports

7.5 Pt-based Electrocatalysts on Novel Carbon-free Supports

7.6 Pt-free Metal Electrocatalysts

7.7 Influence of Support: Electrocatalyst–Support Interactions and Effect of Surface Functional Groups

7.8 Hybrid Catalyst Support Systems

7.9 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 8: Role of Catalyst Supports: Graphene Based Novel Electrocatalysts

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Graphene-based Cathode Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

8.3 Graphene-based Anode Catalysts

8.4 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgment

References

Chapter 9: Recent Progress in Nonnoble Metal Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction for Alkaline Fuel Cells

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Nonnoble Metal Electrocatalysts

9.3 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 10: Anode Electrocatalysts for Direct Borohydride and Direct Ammonia Borane Fuel Cells

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Direct Borohydride (and Ammonia Borane) Fuel Cells

10.3 Mechanistic Investigations of the BOR and BH3OR at Noble Electrocatalysts

10.4 Toward Ideal Anode of DBFC and DABFC

10.5 Durability of DBFC and DABFC Electrocatalysts

10.6 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 11: Recent Advances in Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Low-temperature Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Fundamentals of Electrooxidation of Organic Molecules for Fuel Cells

11.3 Investigation of Electrocatalytic Properties of Nanomaterials

11.4 Anode Electrocatalysts for Direct Methanol or Ethanol Fuel Cells

11.5 Anode Catalysts for Direct Polyol Fuel Cells (Ethylene Glycol and Glycerol)

11.6 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 12: Electrocatalysis of Facet-controlled Noble Metal Nanomaterials for Low-temperature Fuel Cells

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Synthesis of Shape-controlled Noble Metal Nanomaterials

12.3 Applications of Shape-controlled Noble Metal Nanomaterials as Catalysts for Low-temperature Fuel Cells

12.4 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgment

References

Chapter 13: Heteroatom-doped Nanostructured Carbon Materials as ORR Electrocatalysts for Low-temperature Fuel Cells

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Methanol-tolerant ORR Catalysts

13.3 Heteroatom-doped Nanostructured Carbon Materials

13.4 Heteroatom-doped Carbon-based Nanocomposites

13.5 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 14: Transition Metal Oxide, Oxynitride, and Nitride Electrocatalysts with and without Supports for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Cathodes

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Transition Metal Oxide and Oxynitride Electrocatalysts

14.3 Transition Metal Nitride Electrocatalysts

14.4 Carbon Support-Free Electrocatalysts

14.5 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgment

References

Chapter 15: Spectroscopy and Microscopy for Characterization of Fuel Cell Catalysts

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Electron Microscopy

15.3 Electron Spectroscopy: Energy-dispersive Spectroscopy and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

15.4 X-ray Spectroscopy

15.5 Gamma Spectroscopy: Mossbauer

15.6 Vibrational Spectroscopy: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Raman Spectroscopy

15.7 Complementary Techniques

15.8 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 16: Rational Catalyst Design Methodologies: Principles and Factors Affecting the Catalyst Design

16.1 Introduction

16.2 Oxygen Reduction Reaction

16.3 Recent Progress in Search for Efficient ORR Catalysts

16.4 Physics and Chemistry behind ORR

16.5 Rational Design of ORR Catalysts

16.6 Rationally Designed ORR Catalysts Addressing Cost-effectiveness

16.7 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 17: Effect of Gas Diffusion Layer Structure on the Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

17.1 Introduction

17.2 Structure of Gas Diffusion Layer

17.3 Carbon Materials

17.4 Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Treatments

17.5 Microporous Layer Thickness

17.6 Microstructure Modification

17.7 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgment

References

Chapter 18: Efficient Design and Fabrication of Porous Metallic Electrocatalysts

18.1 Introduction

18.2 Advances in the Design and Fabrication of Mesoporous Metallic Materials

18.3 Nanoporous Metallic Materials at Work in Electrocatalysis

18.4 Conclusions and Outlook

References

Chapter 19: Design and Fabrication of Dealloying-driven Nanoporous Metallic Electrocatalyst

19.1 Introduction

19.2 Design of Precursors for Dealloying-driven Nanoporous Metallic Electrocatalysts

19.3 Microstructural Modulation of Dealloying-driven Nanoporous Metallic Electrocatalysts

19.4 Catalytic Properties of Dealloying-driven Nanoporous Metallic Electrocatalysts

19.5 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgments

References

Chapter 20: Recent Advances in Platinum Monolayer Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

20.1 Introduction

20.2 Pt ML on Pd Core Electrocatalysts (PtML/Pd/C)

20.3 Pt ML on PdAu Core Electrocatalyst (PtML/PdAu/C)

20.4 Further Improving Activity and Stability of Pt ML Electrocatalysts

20.5 Conclusions and Outlook

Acknowledgments

References

Index

End User License Agreement

List of Tables

Table 1.1

Table 1.2

Table 2.1

Table 2.2

Table 2.3

Table 2.4

Table 3.1

Table 3.2

Table 4.1

Table 4.2

Table 4.3

Table 4.4

Table 5.1

Table 6.1

Table 6.2

Table 6.3

Table 6.4

Table 6.5

Table 6.6

Table 6.7

Table 6.8

Table 6.9

Table 6.10

Table 6.11

Table 6.12

Table 6.13

Table 6.14

Table 9.1

Table 9.2

Table 10.1

Table 12.1

Table 16.1

Table 16.2

Table 17.1

Table 17.2

List of Illustrations

Figure 1.1

Figure 1.2

Figure 1.3

Figure 1.4

Figure 1.5

Figure 1.6

Figure 1.7

Figure 1.8

Figure 1.9

Figure 1.10

Figure 1.11

Figure 1.12

Figure 1.13

Figure 1.14

Figure 1.15

Figure 1.16

Figure 1.17

Figure 1.18

Figure 1.19

Figure 1.20

Figure 1.21

Figure 1.22

Figure 1.23

Figure 2.1

Figure 2.2

Figure 2.3

Figure 2.4

Figure 2.5

Figure 2.6

Scheme 2.1

Figure 2.7

Figure 2.8

Figure 2.9

Figure 2.10

Figure 3.1

Figure 3.2

Figure 3.3

Figure 3.4

Scheme 3.1

Figure 3.5

Figure 3.6

Figure 3.7

Figure 3.8

Figure 3.9

Figure 3.10

Figure 3.11

Figure 3.12

Scheme 3.2

Figure 3.13

Figure 3.14

Figure 3.15

Figure 3.16

Scheme 3.3

Figure 3.17

Scheme 3.4

Figure 3.18

Scheme 3.5

Figure 4.1

Figure 4.2

Figure 4.3

Figure 4.4

Figure 4.5

Figure 4.6

Figure 4.7

Figure 4.8

Figure 4.9

Figure 5.1

Figure 5.2

Figure 5.3

Figure 5.4

Figure 5.5

Figure 5.6

Figure 6.1

Figure 6.2

Figure 6.3

Figure 6.4

Figure 6.5

Figure 6.6

Figure 6.7

Figure 6.8

Figure 6.9

Figure 6.10

Figure 6.11

Figure 6.12

Figure 6.13

Figure 6.14

Figure 6.15

Figure 7.1

Figure 7.2

Figure 7.3

Figure 7.4

Figure 7.5

Figure 7.6

Figure 7.7

Figure 7.8

Figure 7.9

Figure 8.1

Figure 8.2

Figure 8.3

Figure 8.4

Figure 8.5

Figure 8.6

Figure 8.7

Figure 8.8

Figure 8.9

Figure 8.10

Figure 9.1

Figure 9.2

Figure 9.3

Figure 9.4

Figure 9.5

Figure 9.6

Figure 9.7

Figure 9.8

Figure 9.9

Figure 9.10

Figure 9.11

Figure 9.12

Figure 9.13

Figure 9.14

Figure 9.15

Figure 9.16

Figure 9.17

Figure 9.18

Figure 10.1

Figure 10.2

Figure 10.3

Figure 10.4

Figure 10.5

Figure 10.6

Figure 10.7

Figure 10.8

Figure 10.9

Figure 10.10

Figure 10.11

Figure 10.12

Figure 10.13

Figure 11.1

Scheme 11.1

Scheme 11.2

Scheme 11.3

Scheme 11.4

Figure 11.2

Figure 11.3

Figure 11.4

Figure 11.5

Figure 12.1

Figure 12.2

Figure 12.3

Figure 12.4

Figure 12.5

Scheme 12.1

Scheme 12.2

Figure 12.6

Scheme 12.3

Scheme 13.1

Figure 13.1

Scheme 13.2

Figure 13.2

Figure 13.3

Figure 13.4

Figure 13.5

Figure 13.6

Figure 13.7

Figure 14.1

Figure 14.2

Figure 14.3

Figure 14.4

Figure 14.5

Figure 14.6

Figure 14.7

Figure 14.8

Figure 14.9

Figure 15.1

Figure 15.2

Figure 15.3

Figure 15.4

Figure 15.5

Figure 15.6

Figure 15.7

Figure 15.8

Figure 15.9

Figure 15.10

Figure 16.1

Figure 16.2

Scheme 16.1

Figure 17.1

Figure 17.2

Figure 17.3

Figure 17.4

Figure 17.5

Figure 17.6

Figure 17.7

Figure 17.8

Figure 17.9

Figure 18.1

Figure 18.2

Figure 18.3

Figure 18.4

Figure 18.5

Figure 18.6

Figure 18.7

Figure 18.8

Figure 18.9

Figure 18.10

Figure 18.11

Figure 19.1

Figure 19.2

Figure 19.3

Figure 19.4

Figure 19.5

Figure 19.6

Figure 19.7

Figure 19.8

Figure 19.9

Figure 19.10

Figure 19.11

Figure 19.12

Figure 19.13

Figure 19.14

Figure 19.15

Figure 19.16

Figure 19.17

Figure 19.18

Figure 20.1

Figure 20.2

Figure 20.3

Figure 20.4

Figure 20.5

Figure 20.6

Figure 20.7

Figure 20.8

Figure 20.9

Figure 20.10

Figure 20.11

Figure 20.12

Figure 20.13

Figure 20.14

Figure 20.15

Figure 20.16

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

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Electrocatalysts for Low Temperature Fuel Cells

Fundamentals and Recent Trends

Edited by Thandavarayan Maiyalagan and Viswanathan S. Saji

All books published by Wiley-VCH are carefully produced. Nevertheless, authors, editors, and publisher do not warrant the information contained in these books, including this book, to be free of errors. Readers are advised to keep in mind that statements, data, illustrations, procedural details or other items may inadvertently be inaccurate.

Library of Congress Card No.: applied for

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The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at <http://dnb.d-nb.de>.

© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Boschstr. 12, 69469 Weinheim, Germany

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Print ISBN: 978-3-527-34132-0

ePDF ISBN: 978-3-527-80389-7

ePub ISBN: 978-3-527-80386-6

Mobi ISBN: 978-3-527-80388-0

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List of Contributors

Claude Lamy*

Université de Montpellier

Institut Européen des Membranes

UMR CNRS no 5635

2 Place Eugène Bataillon

CC 047

34095 Montpellier Cedex

France

and

Université de Nantes

Groupe de Recherches HySPàC

CNRS GDR 3652

2 rue de la Houssinière

44322 Nantes Cedex 3

France

[email protected] (Chapters 1 and 3)

N. Rajalakshmi*

International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI)

Centre for Fuel Cell Technology

IIT Madras Research Park, 6 Kanagam Road

Taramani

600113 Chennai

India

[email protected] (Chapter 2)

R. Imran Jafri

International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI)

Centre for Fuel Cell Technology

IIT Madras Research Park, 6 Kanagam Road

Taramani

600113 Chennai

India

K.S. Dhathathreyan

International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI)

Centre for Fuel Cell Technology

IIT Madras Research Park, 6 Kanagam Road

Taramani

600113 Chennai

India

Ayan Mukherjee

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Department of Chemical Engineering

Hauz Khas

110016 New Delhi

India

Suddhasatwa Basu*

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Department of Chemical Engineering

Hauz Khas

110016 New Delhi

India

[email protected] (Chapter 4)

Hamilton Varela*

University of São Paulo

Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos

P.O. Box 780, 13560-970

São Carlos

SP

Brazil

[email protected] (Chapter 5)

Marcelo V.F. Delmonde

University of São Paulo

Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos

P.O. Box 780, 13560-970

São Carlos

SP

Brazil

Alana A. Zülke

University of São Paulo

Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos

P.O. Box 780, 13560-970

São Carlos

SP

Brazil

Mikhail R. Tarasevich

Russian Academy of Sciences

Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry

Leninskii pr. 31

119071 Moscow

Russian Federation

Vera A. Bogdanovskaya*

Russian Academy of Sciences

Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry

Leninskii pr. 31

119071 Moscow

Russian Federation

[email protected] (Chapter 6)

Surbhi Sharma*

University of Birmingham

School of Biosciences

Edgbaston

B15 2TT Birmingham

UK

[email protected] (Chapter 7)

Chunmei Zhang

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry

State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry

5625 Renmin Street

Changchun

130022 Jilin

China

and

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

19 A Yuquan Rd.

Shijingshan District

100039 Beijing

China

Wei Chen*

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry

State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry

5625 Renmin Street

Changchun

130022 Jilin

China

[email protected] (Chapter 8)

Xin Deng

Zhejiang University

College of Chemical and Biological Engineering

38 Zheda Road

Hangzhou

310027 Zhejiang

China

Qinggang He*

Zhejiang University

College of Chemical and Biological Engineering

38 Zheda Road

Hangzhou

310027 Zhejiang

China

[email protected] (Chapter 9)

Pierre-Yves Olu

University Grenoble Alpes

LEPMI

1130 rue de la piscine

BP75

38000 Grenoble

France

and

CNRS

LEPMI

1130 rue de la piscine

BP75

38000 Grenoble

France

and

University of Liège

Department of Chemical Engineering – Nanomaterials Catalysis Electrochemistry

Building B6a

Sart-Tilman

4000 Liège

Belgium

Anicet Zadick

University Grenoble Alpes

LEPMI

1130 rue de la piscine

BP75

38000 Grenoble

France

and

CNRS

LEPMI

1130 rue de la piscine

BP75

38000 Grenoble

France

Nathalie Job

University of Liège

Department of Chemical Engineering – Nanomaterials Catalysis Electrochemistry

Building B6a

Sart-Tilman

4000 Liège

Belgium

Marian Chatenet*

University Grenoble Alpes

LEPMI

1130 rue de la piscine

BP75

38000 Grenoble

France

and

CNRS

LEPMI

1130 rue de la piscine

BP75

38000 Grenoble

France

and

French University Institute (IUF)

103 Blvd Saint Michel

75005 Paris

France

[email protected] (Chapter 10)

Srabanti Ghosh*

Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute

196 Raja S.C. Mullick Road

700032 Kolkata

India

[email protected] (Chapter 11)

Rajendra N. Basu*

Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute

196 Raja S.C. Mullick Road

700032 Kolkata

India

[email protected] (Chapter 11)

Xiaojun Liu

American University

Department of Chemistry

4400 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.

Washington, DC 20016

USA

Wenyue Li

American University

Department of Chemistry

4400 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.

Washington, DC 20016

USA

Shouzhong Zou*

American University

Department of Chemistry

4400 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.

Washington, DC 20016

USA

[email protected] (Chapter 12)

Thandavarayan Maiyalagan*

SRM University

SRM Research Institute

Department of Chemistry

Kattankulathur

603203 Chennai

India

[email protected] (Chapter 13)

Subbiah Maheswari

SRM University

SRM Research Institute

Department of Chemistry

Kattankulathur

603203 Chennai

India

Viswanathan S. Saji

CIOSHI Attingal

Thiruvananthapuram

695101 Kerala

India

Mitsuharu Chisaka*

Hirosaki University

Department of Sustainable Energy

3 Bunkyo-cho

Hirosaki

036–8561 Aomori

Japan

[email protected] (Chapter 14)

Chilan Ngo

Colorado School of Mines

Department of Chemistry

1012 14th St.

Golden, CO 80401

USA

Michael J. Dzara

Colorado School of Mines

Department of Chemistry

1012 14th St.

Golden, CO 80401

USA

Sarah Shulda

Colorado School of Mines

Department of Chemistry

1012 14th St.

Golden, CO 80401

USA

Svitlana Pylypenko*

Colorado School of Mines

Department of Chemistry

1012 14th St.

Golden, CO 80401

USA

[email protected] (Chapter 15)

Sergey Stolbov*

University of Central Florida

4111 Libra Drive, Physical Sciences

Bldg. 430

Orlando, FL 32816-2385

USA

[email protected] (Chapter 16)

Marisol Alcántara Ortigoza

Tuskegee University

Luther Foster Hall

1200 W. Montgomery Rd

Tuskegee, AL 36088

USA

Branko N. Popov*

University of South Carolina

Center for Electrochemical Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering

301 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208

USA

[email protected] (Chapter 17)

Sehkyu Park

Kwangwoon University

Department of Chemical Engineering

20 Kwangwoon-ro, Nowon-gu, 01897 Seoul

South Korea

Jong-Won Lee

Korea Institute of Energy Research

New and Renewable Energy Research Division

152 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, 34129 Daejeon

South Korea

Yaovi Holade

Université de Poitiers

IC2MP

UMR CNRS 7285

Équipe SAMCat

4 rue Michel Brunet

B27 TSA 51106

86073 Poitiers Cedex 09

France

Anaïs Lehoux

Université Paris-Sud

Université Paris-Saclay

Laboratoire de Chimie Physique

Bât 349 Campus d'Orsay

91405 Orsay

France

and

CNRS

Laboratoire de Chimie Physique

UMR 8000

91405 Orsay

France

Hynd Remita

Université Paris-Sud

Université Paris-Saclay

Laboratoire de Chimie Physique

Bât 349 Campus d'Orsay

91405 Orsay

France

and

CNRS

Laboratoire de Chimie Physique

UMR 8000

91405 Orsay

France

Kouakou B. Kokoh

Université de Poitiers

IC2MP

UMR CNRS 7285

Équipe SAMCat

4 rue Michel Brunet

B27 TSA 51106

86073 Poitiers Cedex 09

France

Têko W. Napporn*

Université de Poitiers

IC2MP

UMR CNRS 7285

Équipe SAMCat

4 rue Michel Brunet

B27 TSA 51106

86073 Poitiers Cedex 09

France

[email protected] (Chapter 18)

Zhonghua Zhang*

Shandong University

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education)

250061 Jinan

P.R. China

[email protected] (Chapter 19)

Wang Ying

Shandong University

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education)

250061 Jinan

P.R. China

Kotaro Sasaki*

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Chemistry Department

Upton, NY 11973

USA

[email protected] (Chapter 20)

Kurian A. Kuttiyiel

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Chemistry Department

Upton, NY 11973

USA

Jia X. Wang

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Chemistry Department

Upton, NY 11973

USA

Miomir B. Vukmirovic

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Chemistry Department

Upton, NY 11973

USA

Radoslav R. Adzic

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Chemistry Department

Upton, NY 11973

USA

Preface

Fuel cells are relatively a new technology, opening new frontiers in revolutionary clean power generation. Electrocatalysts for oxygen/fuel reduction or hydrogen oxidation play an essential role in fuel cell operation. This book highlights the high cost and existing technical barriers that make it difficult for the commercialization of the fuel cell technology. The book covers the most recent advances in fuel cell technology highlighting the recent developments of novel low cost, high efficient nanostructured electrocatalysts to alleviate the current situation of heavily relying on the noble metal platinum. The book could serve as a valuable resource for a better understanding of the most current state of electrocatalysis research on low-temperature fuel cells.

The book starts with Chapter 1 on the principles of low-temperature fuel cells using an ionic membrane. A detailed description of thermodynamics, theoretical energy efficiency, and electrical characteristics of hydrogen/oxygen and direct alcohol fuel cells is provided. The chapter also provides two typical examples of low-temperature fuel cells under development and commercialization; that is, direct methanol fuel cell for portable electronics and hydrogen/air polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell for electrical vehicle application. Chapter 2 gives an account of recent research and developments in the different low-temperature fuel cells that include acidic polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, membrane-based alkaline electrolyte fuel cell, direct borohydride fuel cell, and regenerative fuel cell. Chapter 3 provides an interesting account of the electrocatalytic reactions involved in low-temperature fuel cells. The chapter discusses detailed mechanisms of the most important electrochemical reactions involved in low-temperature fuel cells, namely, oxidation of hydrogen, reduction of oxygen, oxidation of carbon monoxide, oxidation of methanol, and ethanol. The next, Chapter 4, presents a comprehensive account of various direct hydrocarbon low-temperature fuel cells. Five different direct hydrocarbon fuel cells, namely, direct methanol, direct ethanol, direct ethylene glycol, direct formic acid, and direct glucose fuel cells, are described. An account of commercialization status of the direct hydrocarbon fuel cells is also provided. Chapter 5 concentrates on oscillatory electrooxidation of small organic molecules with emphasis on the general phenomenology, the use of in situ and online approaches, and the effect of temperature and oscillations on modified surfaces. The electrooxidation of small organic molecules such as formaldehyde, formic acid, methanol, ethanol, and so on is of relevance for the interconversion between chemical and electrical energies. Chapter 6 provides an interpretation of degradation mechanisms of membrane fuel cells. The chapter explains the relationship between the kinetics and the mechanism of degradation processes and parameters of the cathode active layer under different conditions of hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell tests. The support degradation is addressed in detail.

Chapters 7 to 15 focus on the latest developments in platinum and non-platinum catalysts for low-temperature fuel cells. Chapter 7 concentrates on electrocatalysts and hybrid electrocatalyst-support systems for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The chapter examines the recent developments in platinum- and nonplatinum-based nanostructured electrocatalysts as well as different carbon and noncarbon materials used as supports. Hybrid electrocatalyst-support systems combining carbon and noncarbon supports along with the use of polymers and polyoxometalates have also been discussed. Chapter 8 summarizes the graphene-based nanostructured electrocatalysts for fuel cells, including graphene-based oxygen reduction catalysts and graphene-based methanol, ethanol, and formic acid oxidation catalysts. Among the different carbon materials, graphene exhibits several advantages as catalyst support, such as large surface area, high electrical conductivity, and high stability. Chapter 9 explains the current progress in nonnoble metal electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction for alkaline fuel cells. The chapter provides a detailed account of nonnoble metal electrocatalysts that includes carbon-supported metal–Nx matrix, transition metal oxides, transition metal chalcogenides, transition metal carbides/nitrides/oxynitrides, and perovskites, and that is followed by an account of carbon-based metal-free electrocatalysts. Chapter 10 emphasizes the importance of anode electrocatalysts for direct borohydride and ammonia borane fuel cells. The chapter presents the basic concepts and mechanisms of these fuel cells, strategies to isolate ideal anode catalysts, practical benchmarks to evaluate such anode electrocatalyst materials, and insight into the durability of anode materials. Chapter 11 presents recent advances in nanostructured electrocatalysts for low-temperature direct alcohol fuel cells. The next, Chapter 12, presents electrocatalysis of facet-controlled noble metal nanomaterials for low-temperature fuel cells. The chapter starts with an account of the synthesis approaches for various nanostructures followed by the applications of these nanomaterials in oxygen reduction and fuel oxidation, and illustrates structure–activity relationships. Chapter 13 explains heteroatom-doped nanostructured carbon materials as oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for low-temperature fuel cells. Single, dual, and multiheteroatom-doped carbon-based materials are described. Transition metal-oxide, oxynitride, and nitride oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for acidic polymer electrolyte fuel cells are reviewed in Chapter 14. Chapter 15 describes novel spectroscopy and microscopy characterization of fuel cell catalysts.

Chapters 16 to 20 focus on catalyst design strategies. Chapter 16 explains in detail the rational design of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. The rational design approach combines and applies the existing pieces of knowledge on composition, morphology, electronic structure, energetics, and so on in order to propose compositions and structures of novel electrocatalysts that directly tackle specific goals. The chapter encompasses a description of fundamentals of oxygen reduction reaction followed by an account of design factors affecting electrochemical and thermodynamic stability, and catalytic activity with special reference to core–shell structures and doped graphene. The next, Chapter 17, reviews novel strategies used in the development of advanced highly efficient single and dual-layer gas diffusion layers for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The chapter provides a detailed account of the structure of single and dual layer gas diffusion layers and recently developed macroporous substrate materials. Water managements using hydrophilic and hydrophobic additives are addressed. Chapter 18 gives a thorough description of design and fabrication of porous metallic electrocatalysts. Because of their high surface area and tunable porosity, nanoporous metallic materials are expected to provide large number of active sites and aid diffusion during the entire catalytic process. The chapter also explains advanced radiolysis process for synthesis of various core–shell mesoporous nanostructures. Chapter 19 focuses on design and fabrication of dealloying-driven nanoporous metallic electrocatalysts. Besides pure metals, nanoporous binary, ternary, and multicomponent alloys and nanocomposites are also addressed. Chapter 20 provides an interesting account of the synthesis, structure, and performance of the highly active and stable platinum monolayer electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction. Platinum monolayer electrocatalysts offer a drastically reduced platinum content while providing potentials for enhancing their catalytic activity and stability.

We hope that the book will be a handy reference tool for researchers working with low-temperature fuel cells.

T. Maiyalagan Viswanathan S. Saji

1Principle of Low-temperature Fuel Cells Using an Ionic Membrane

Claude Lamy1,2

1Université de Montpellier, Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR CNRS no 5635, 2 Place Eugène Bataillon, CC 047, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France

2Université de Nantes, Groupe de Recherches HySPàC, CNRS GDR 3652, 2 rue de la Houssinière, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France

1.1 Introduction

A technology-oriented civilization needs more and more energy, particularly the emerging and developing countries. Fossil resources, such as coal, natural gas, and hydrocarbons, are the main primary sources of energy, but they are limited in size and volume and may be exhausted in coming few decades. Moreover, they are the main contributors to carbon dioxide (CO2) emission that is the principal component of the greenhouse effect. An alternative approach is to use hydrogen (H2) either to feed fuel cells in power plants, electric vehicles, and electrical devices or to store the intermittent energy (solar, photovoltaic, wind energy, etc.). This approach will strongly limit the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs), depending on the primary sources used for H2 production since it is not a primary source. Among the renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric power, wind, solar, and tidal power, the production of H2 by water (H2O) electrolysis is the most efficient process, leading to high-purity H2, which is suitable to feed a low-temperature fuel cell (LTFC), such as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) or an alkaline fuel cell (AFC) [1–5].

In this context, many investigations were carried out on the development of fuel cells fed either with pure H2 [3–5] or with other fuels, for example, liquid fuels such as methanol (CH3OH) [6,7] or ethanol (C2H5OH) [5,8]. In particular H2/O2 (air) fuel cells, such as PEMFCs, working at relatively low temperatures (ranging from ambient to 70–80 °C), are becoming a mature technology for powering electrical vehicles with an autonomy range approaching 600 km without H2 refueling or for stationary power plants with relatively good electrical efficiencies (40–55%) depending on the applications and working conditions.

On the other hand, the direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC), fed with CH3OH [7] or C2H5OH [8], directly converts the chemical energy of alcohol combustion with O2 into electrical energy. Such devices are particularly suitable for portable electronics, either to recharge their lithium battery or to power them directly. These fuel cells can work either with an acidic electrolyte, such as a proton exchange membrane (PEM), or with a solid alkaline electrolyte, for example, an anion exchange membrane (AEM) in a solid alkaline membrane fuel cell (SAMFC) of similar structure to that of a PEMFC.

In this chapter, we will present the working principle of LTFCs based on the PEM technology, either fed with H2 (pure H2 or reformate gases) or with a low-weight alcohol (CH3OH or C2H5OH). Then, we will discuss the electrical energy efficiency either under equilibrium conditions (j = 0) or under working conditions at a current density (j), the variation of which with the electrode potential (E), that is, the fuel cell characteristics E(j), will be established from a theoretical analysis of the reaction kinetics. Finally, two typical examples of LTFCs under development and commercialization will be given, the first one concerning the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for portable electronics and the second one the H2/air PEMFC for the electrical vehicle.

1.2 Thermodynamic Data and Theoretical Energy Efficiency under Equilibrium (j = 0)

An elementary fuel cell directly converts the chemical energy of combustion with O2 of a given fuel (H2, natural gas, hydrocarbons, kerosene, alcohols, etc.) into electricity (i.e., the Gibbs energy change, −ΔGr) [6,9–11]. Electrons liberated at the anode (negative pole of the cell) by the electrooxidation of the fuel pass through the external circuit and produce an electrical energy, We = nFEcell, equal to −ΔGr, where Ecell is the cell voltage, n the number of electrons involved in the overall electrochemical reaction, and F = 96 485 C the Faraday constant (i.e., the electric charge of one electron mole), and reach the cathode (positive pole), where they reduce O2 (either pure or from air). Inside the fuel cell, the electrical current is transported by migration and diffusion of the electrolyte ions (H+, OH−, O2−, and ).

1.2.1 Hydrogen/oxygen Fuel Cell

The electrochemical reactions involved in the elementary processes of a H2/O2 fuel cell under acidic environment, for example, in a PEMFC (Figure 1.1) are the electrooxidation of H2 at the anode:

(1.1)

and the electroreduction of O2 at the cathode:

(1.2)

where is the electrode potential versus the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) as reference, and is the Gibbs energy change involved in the electrochemical reaction. since the reactions involved are spontaneous for producing energy.

Figure 1.1 Schematic representation of a PEMFC elementary cell showing a PEM on which are pressed the catalytic layers both for the H2 anode and for the O2 cathode.

Similarly, in a fuel cell working in alkaline medium (e.g., an AFC or a SAMFC), the following electrochemical reactions do occur:

(1.3)
(1.4)

In the fuel cell, the electrical balance corresponds to the complete combustion of the fuel in the presence of O2 as follows:

(1.5)

where the thermodynamic data associated with this reaction, under standard conditions (T = 25 °C, p = 1 bar, and liquid H2O), have the opposite sign to those of H2O decomposition:

However, the thermodynamic data to consider (ΔH, ΔG) are those at the working temperature of the device, for example, between 280 and 350 K for the PEMFC and 280–400 K for the AFC (see Table 1.1, where the negative values of the thermodynamic data concern the formation of H2O, which is a spontaneous process).

Table 1.1 Thermodynamic data for the formation of H2O under a pressure of 1 bar as a function of absolute temperature (T = 298–400 K).

H

2

O state

T

(K)

Δ

S

(J mol

−1

K

−1

)

Δ

H

(kJ mol

−1

)

Δ

G

(kJ mol

−1

)

E

eq

(V)

Liquid

298.15

−163.3

−285.83

−237.17

1.229

0.829

Gaseous

298.15

−44.42

−241.81

−228.57

1.184

0.945

Gaseous

300.00

−44.48

−241.83

−228.49

1.184

0.945

Gaseous

310.00

−44.81

−241.93

−228.04

1.182

0.943

Gaseous

320.00

−45.13

−242.03

−227.59

1.179

0.940

Gaseous

330.00

−45.44

−242.13

−227.14

1.177

0.938

Gaseous

340.00

−45.74

−242.23

−226.68

1.175

0.936

Gaseous

350.00

−46.03

−242.33

−226.23

1.172

0.934

Gaseous

360.00

−46.31

−242.44

−225.76

1.170

0.931

Gaseous

370.00

−46.59

−242.54

−225.30

1.168

0.929

Gaseous

380.00

−46.85

−242.64

−224.83

1.165

0.927

Gaseous

390.00

−47.11

−242.74

−224.36

1.163

0.924

Gaseous

400.00

−47.37

−242.84

−223.89

1.160

0.922

The equilibrium cell voltage (Eeq) can thus be evaluated from the Nernst potential at each electrode:

with E0 = −ΔG0/2F the standard cell voltage, that is, at 25 °C, and pH2, pO2, and pH2O the partial pressures of H2, O2, and H2O, respectively. Therefore, by increasing the pressure of reactants (H2 and O2) and decreasing the pressure of the product (H2O), one can increase the cell voltage.

The variation of Eeq with T is contained mainly in the entropic term, that is, ΔS0 = nF (dE0/dT), which is the temperature coefficient of the fuel cell. Thus, assuming that ΔH and ΔS are nearly independent of temperature (see Table 1.1), one may calculate Eeq as follows:

for H2O in the liquid state at 25 °C (ΔH0 = −285.8 kJ mol−1 and ΔS0 = −163.3 J mol−1 K−1).

For H2O in the gaseous state at 25 °C (ΔH = −241.8 kJ mol−1 and ΔS = −44.42 J mol−1 K−1), one obtains the following:

In summary, Eeq may be expressed as a function of temperature and pressure (liquid state) by

(1.6)

or

In the gaseous state (e.g., at T = 400 K with ΔH = −242.8 kJ mol−1 and ΔS = −47.37 J mol−1 K−1), Eeq can be calculated by the following expressions:

(1.7)

or

A fuel cell working under reversible thermodynamic conditions (i.e., at equilibrium with j = 0) does not follow Carnot's theorem, which controls the energy efficiency of an internal combustion engine (ICE), so the theoretical energy efficiency of an elementary cell, , defined as the ratio of the electrical energy produced (We = nFEcell = −ΔGr) to the chemical energy of combustion (−ΔH), that is,

(1.8)

which can be very high (if TǀΔSǀ ≪ ǀΔHǀ).

In the case of a H2/O2 fuel cell working at 25 °C, the energy efficiency of an elementary cell will be , if ΔH is taken with H2O in the liquid state (standard conditions), that is, ΔH is the high heating value (ΔHHHV). But the heat of H2O condensation ΔQcond = ΔHHHV − ΔHLHV = 285.8 − 241.8 = 44 kJ mol−1 (where ΔHLHV = low heating value = 241.8 kJ mol−1 – see Table 1.1) is not useful for producing electrical energy, so a more realistic energy efficiency will be using the thermodynamic data of H2O formation under the gaseous state at 25 °C (Table 1.1). On the other hand, using the Gibbs energy change , given in Table 1.1, allows us to evaluate the specific energy Ws of H2 (expressed in kWh kg−1) as follows:

(1.9)

with M = 0.002 kg the molecular mass of H2. This gives

which is a very high value when not taking into account the weight of the H2 tank.

1.2.2 Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell

The DAFC directly converts the Gibbs energy of combustion of an alcohol into electricity, without a fuel processor. This greatly simplifies the system, reducing its volume and cost [12,13]. Important developments of DAFCs are due to the use of a PEM as electrolyte, instead of a liquid acid electrolyte, as previously done.

The electrical energy We = nFEcell = −ΔGr is related to the Gibbs energy change, ΔGr, of the oxidation reaction of an alcohol with O2. The overall combustion reaction of a monoalcohol CxHyO leading to H2O and CO2, that is,

(1.10)

involves the participation of H2O or of its adsorbed residue (OHads) provided by the cathodic reaction (electroreduction of dioxygen).

The electrochemical oxidation of a monoalcohol in acid medium to reject the CO2 produced can thus be written as follows:

(1.11)

with n = 4x + y − 2. Such an anodic reaction is very complicated from a kinetics point of view since it involves multielectron transfers and the presence of different adsorbed intermediates and several reaction products and by-products (see Section 3.3.4 in Chapter 3). However, from the thermodynamic data it is easy to calculate the standard equilibrium potential, , the theoretical efficiency and the energy density under standard conditions.

According to reaction 1.11, the standard Gibbs energy change, allowing to calculate the standard anode potential , can be evaluated from the standard energy of the formation of reactant (i):

(1.12)

In the cathodic compartment, the electroreduction of O2 does occur as follows:

(1.13)

with , leading to a standard cathodic potential :

(1.14)

The standard Gibbs energy change, , of the overall reaction 1.10 can be evaluated as follows:

(1.15)

leading to under standard conditions:

(1.16)

Then, it is possible to evaluate the specific energy Ws in kWh kg−1, using equation 1.9 where M is the molecular mass of the alcohol, and knowing the enthalpy of formation from the thermodynamic data, one may calculate

(1.17)

and the reversible energy efficiency under standard conditions .

For example, for CH3OH and C2H5OH, the electrochemical oxidation reactions and the standard anode potentials are, respectively, as follows:

(1.18)
(1.19)

This corresponds to the overall combustion reaction of these alcohols in O2:

(1.20)
(1.21)

with the thermodynamic data under standard conditions (see Table 1.2). The corresponding are the following:

Table 1.2 Thermodynamic data associated with the electrochemical oxidation of some alcohols under standard conditions (25 °C, 1 bar, and liquid phase).

Alcohol

(kJ mol

−1

)

(V) versus SHE

(kJ mol

−1

)

(V)

W

s

(kWh kg

−1

)

(kJ mol

−1

)

CH

3

OH

−9.3

0.016

−702

1.213

6.09

−726

0.967

C

2

H

5

OH

−97.3

0.084

−1326

1.145

8.00

−1367

0.969

C

3

H

7

OH

−171

0.098

−1963

1.131

9.09

−2027

0.968

1-C

4

H

9

OH

−409

0.177

−2436

1.052

9.14

−2676

0.910

CH

2

OH–CH

2

OH

−25.5

0.026

−1160

1.203

5.20

−1189

0.976

CH

2

OH–CHOH–CH

2

OH

1

−0.001

−1661

1.230

5.02

−1650

1.01

For higher alcohols, such as n-propanol, for example, the following calculations can be made:

(1.22)

and

(1.23)

with

under standard conditions is thus

and the specific energy is

The enthalpy change of reaction 1.23 is

so the reversible energy efficiency under standard condition is

For all the alcohols listed in Table 1.2, varies from 1.23 to 1.05 V, which is very similar to that of a H2/O2 fuel cell (). The energy density varies from 0.5 to 1 of that of gasoline (which is around 10–11 kWh kg−1); therefore, these compounds are good alternative fuels to hydrocarbons. Furthermore, the reversible energy efficiency is close to 1, while that of the H2/O2 fuel cell is 0.83 at 25 °C (standard conditions).

1.3 Electrocatalysis and the Rate of Electrochemical Reactions

However, under working conditions, the practical electric efficiency of a fuel cell depends on the current density j that is delivered by the cell and is lower than that of the equilibrium reversible efficiency (at j = 0). This is due to the irreversibility of the electrochemical reactions involved at the electrodes, leading to overpotentials ηa at the anode, ηc at the cathode, so the working Ecell becomes (taking into account the ohmic losses Rej coming from the cell resistance Re)

(1.24)

where the overpotentials ηi are defined as the deviation of the working electrode potential Ei(j) from the equilibrium potential [14–16]; that is, ηi = Ei(j) − .

For the H2 electrode, ηa is very small and can be approximated by a linear relationship with j, that is, ηa = Rtj, where Rt is the charge transfer resistance (see Section 1.3.1). But for the alcohol oxidation, ηa is at least 0.3–0.4 V for a reasonable j value (100 mA cm−2), so Ecell, including an overpotential ηc = −0.3 to −0.4 V for the cathodic reaction, will be on the order of 0.4–0.6 V, and the voltage efficiency will be = (0.4/1.2 = 0.33) to (0.6/1.2 = 0.50), under operating conditions. Such a drawback of the direct alcohol fuel cell can be removed only by improving the kinetics of the electrooxidation of the fuel. This needs to have a relative good knowledge of the reaction mechanisms, particularly of the rate determining step, and to search for electrode materials (Pt-X binary and Pt-X-Y ternary electrocatalysts) with improved catalytic properties (see Chapter 3, Section 3.3.4).

From Eq. 1.24, it follows that the increase in the practical fuel cell efficiency ɛcell can be achieved by increasing the voltage efficiency and the Faradaic efficiency ɛF = nexp/nth, the reversible efficiency, , being fixed by the thermodynamic data under the working conditions (temperature and pressure) (see Eq. 1.38.

For a given electrochemical system, the increase in voltage efficiency is directly related to the decrease in overpotentials of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), |ηc|, and alcohol oxidation reaction, ηa, which needs to enhance the activity of the catalysts at low potentials and low temperatures, whereas the increase in Faradaic efficiency is related to the ability of the catalyst to oxidize completely, or not, the fuel into CO2, that is, it is related to the selectivity of the catalyst. Indeed, in the case of C2H5OH, for example, acetaldehyde and acetic acid are formed at the anode [17], which corresponds to a number of electrons involved, 2 and 4, respectively, against 12 for the complete oxidation of C2H5OH to CO2. The enhancement of both these efficiencies is a challenge in electrocatalysis.

In the following section, we will evaluate the different overvoltages involved in an elementary fuel cell and establish the electrical characteristics Ecell(j) of the cell.

1.3.1 Establishment of the Butler–Volmer Law (Charge Transfer Overpotential)

For a given electrochemical reaction A + n e− ↔ B, which involves the transfer of n electrons at the electrode–electrolyte interface, the equilibrium potential (at j = 0), called the electrode potential, is given by the Nernst law as follows:

(1.25)

where is the standard electrode potential versus SHE (whose potential is zero at 25 °C by definition), and ai the activity of reactant (i). As soon as the electrode potential takes a value EA/B different from the equilibrium potential, , an electrical current of intensity I passes through the interface, whose magnitude depends on the deviation from the equilibrium potential. η, which is called the overpotential, is positive for an oxidation reaction (anodic reaction B → A + n e−) and negative for a reduction reaction (cathodic reaction A + n e− → B). The current intensity I is proportional to the rate of reaction (r), that is, I = nFr. For a heterogeneous reaction, r is proportional to the surface area S of the interface, so the kinetics of electrochemical reactions is better defined by the intrinsic rate ri = r/S and the current density j = I/S = nFri.

The electrical characteristics j(E) can then be obtained by introducing the exponential behavior of the rate constant (Arrhenius law) with the electrochemical activation energy, , which comprises two terms: the first one () is the chemical activation energy and the second one (αnFE) is the electrical component of the activation energy. The latter is a fraction α (0 ≤ α ≤ 1) of the total electric energy, nFE, coming from the applied electrode potential E, where α is called the charge transfer coefficient. The chemical activation energy can be decreased by a factor K coming from the presence of a catalytic material in the electrode structure, so electrocatalysis can be defined as the activation of electrochemical reactions both by the electrode potential and by the electrode material (Figure 1.2).

Figure 1.2 Activation barrier for an electrochemical reaction. K is the decrease in activation energy due to the electrode catalyst and αnFE is that due to the electrode potential E.

In the theory of absolute reaction rate, one obtains for a first-order electrochemical reaction, the rate of which is proportional to the concentration ci of reactant (i) [18],

where is the concentration of reactant (i) at the electrode surface and α is the charge transfer coefficient (0 < α < 1), that is, the fraction of the electrical energy that activates the reduction reaction (A → B), and (1 − α) nFE activating the oxidation reaction (B → A). Thus, I = nF(ra − rc) so that j = I/S, that is, the current intensity I divided by the electrode surface area S, is given by

where the indices “a” or “c” stands for the anodic or cathodic reaction, respectively, and ki are the corresponding rate constant.

*At equilibrium j = 0 and ra = rc, so that ja = −jc = j0, E = Eeq, and , where is the bulk concentration of reactant (i). This gives

leading to

j0 is called the exchange current density and the standard rate constant. Then,

where the activity ai of reactant (i) has been replaced by its concentration ci, Keq is the equilibrium constant of reaction A + n e− ↔ B and is the standard electrode potential, with the Gibbs energy of reaction.

This corresponds to the Nernst law.

*Out of equilibrium j = ja + jc ≠ 0 and dividing j by j0 one obtains

(1.26)

or

when assuming no mass transfer limitation, that is, .

This is the Butler–Volmer law with η = E − Eeq the overpotential and j0 the exchange current density.

The expression of the Butler–Volmer law can be simplified in some limiting cases:

For |

η

| ≪

RT

/

nF

(≈ 25.7/

n

mV at 25 °C) then

j

(

η

) =

j

0

(

nF

/

RT

)

η

=

η/R

t

or

(1.27)

This is the Ohm's law.

For

η

RT

/

nF

then

j

(

η

) =

j

0

exp{(1 −

α

) (

nF

/

RT

)

η

} or

η

=

RT

/{(1 −

α

)

nF

)} Ln(

j

/

j

0

) (with

j

> 0),

and for η ≪ −RT/nF, then j(η) = −j0 exp{−α(