ABSTRACT
The development of new photoanode materials for hydrogen production and water treatment is in full progress. In this context, hybrid TiO2-Co3O4/Co(OH)2 photoanodes prepared using the sol-gel method using biosurfactants are currently being developed by our group. The combination of TiO2 with a cobalt-based compound significantly enhances the visible absorption and electrochemical performance of thin films, which is mainly due to an increase in the specific surface area and a decrease in the charge transfer resistance on the surface of the thin films. The formation of these composites allows for a 30-fold increase in the current density when compared to cobalt-free materials, with the best TiO2-CoN0.5 sample achieving a current of 1.570 mA.cm-2 and a theoretical H2 production rate of 0.3 µmol.min-1.cm-2 under xenon illumination.
ABSTRACT
Mechanical and chemical stability of proton exchange membranes are crucial requirements for the development of fuel cells for durable energy conversion. To tackle this challenge, bi-functional nanoclays grafted with amino groups and with embedded radical scavengers, that is, CeO2 nanoparticles were incorporated into Aquivion® ionomer. The composite membranes presented high proton conductivity and increased stability to radical attack compared to non-modified Aquivion membranes, demonstrating the effectiveness of the approach based on radical scavenger immobilisation and release from clay nanocontainers.
