Composite Materials with Combined Electronic and Ionic Properties

In this work, we develop a new type of composite material that combines both electrocatalytic and ionic properties, by doping a silver metal catalyst with an anion-conducting ionomer at the molecular level. We show that ionomer entrapment into the silver metallic structure is possible, imparting unique properties to the catalytic character of the metallic silver. The novel composite material is tested as the cathode electrode of fuel cells, showing significant improvement in cell performance as compared with the undoped counterpart. This new type of material may then replace the current design of electrodes in advanced fuel cells or other electrochemical devices. The possibility to merge different properties into one composite material by molecular entrapment in metals can open the way to new materials, leading to unexplored fields and applications

Integrated motor drives: state of the art and future trends

With increased need for high power density, high efficiency and high temperature capabilities in Aerospace and Automotive applications, Integrated Motor Drives (IMD) offers a potential solution. However, close physical integration of the converter and the machine may also lead to an increase in components temperature. This requires careful mechanical, structural and thermal analysis; and design of the IMD system. This paper reviews existing IMD technologies and their thermal effects on the IMD system. The effects of the power electronics (PE) position on the IMD system and its respective thermal management concepts are also investigated. The challenges faced in designing and manufacturing of an IMD along with the mechanical and structural impacts of close physical integration is also discussed and potential solutions are provided. Potential converter topologies for an IMD like the Matrix converter, 2-level Bridge, 3-level NPC and Multiphase full bridge converters are also reviewed. Wide band gap devices like SiC and GaN and their packaging in power modules for IMDs are also discussed. Power modules components and packaging technologies are also presented

Importance of Particle Size and Distribution in Achieving High-Activity, High-Stability Oxygen Reduction Catalysts

Strongly interacting catalyst supports can influence the nucleation, growth, dispersion, and shape of supported nanoparticles that impact catalytic activity and stability. However, there is little understanding of the limitations of support interactions, and the ability to quantitatively relate particle growth and loading to activity and stability is lacking. Here, we report a statistical framework to quantify the growth of a binary distribution of Pt nanoparticles on tin-doped indium oxide and predict mass and specific activity for the oxygen reduction reaction in acid media with increased Pt loading. Our results reveal that the growth mechanism for Pt on the oxide is directly related to its exceptional electrochemical activity and provide new insight into the relationship between nanoparticle size distribution and activity trends. We also show that catalyst degradation mechanisms can be controlled or altogether eliminated through strong metal–support interactions. The results of this work provide insights into how catalyst preparation influences material and chemical properties and how to develop design goals for next generation catalysts

An optimised synthesis of high performance radiation-grafted anion-exchange membranes

High performance benzyltrimethylammonium-type alkaline anion-exchange membranes (AEM), for application in electrochemical devices such as anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC), were prepared by the radiation grafting (RG) of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) onto 25 μm thick poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films followed by amination with trimethylamine. Reductions in electron-beam absorbed dose and amount of expensive, potentially hazardous VBC were achieved by using water as a diluent (reduced to 30 – 40 kGy absorbed dose and 5%vol VBC) instead of the prior-art method that used organic propan-2-ol diluent (required 70 kGy dose and 20%vol VBC monomer). Furthermore, the water from the aqueous grafting mixture was easily separated from residual monomer (after cooling) and was reused for a further grafting reaction: the resulting AEM exhibited an ion-exchange capacity of 2.1 mmol g-1 (cf. 2.1 mmol g-1 for the AEM made using fresh grafting mixture). The lower irradiation doses resulted in mechanically stronger RG-AEMs compared to the reference RG-AEM synthesised using the prior-art method. A further positive off-shoot of the optimisation process was the discovery that using water as a diluent resulted in an enhanced (i.e. more uniform) distribution of VBC grafts as proven by Raman microscopy and corroborated using EDX analysis: this led to enhancement in the Cl- anion-conductivities (up to 68 mS cm-1 at 80°C for the optimised fully hydrated RG-AEMs vs. 48 mS cm-1 for the prior-art RG-AEM reference). A down-selected RG-AEM of ion-exchange capacity = 2.0 mmol g-1, that was synthesised using the new greener protocol with 30 kGy electron-beam absorbed dose, led to an exceptional beginning-of-life H2/O2 AEMFC peak power density of 1.16 W cm−2 at 60°C in a benchmark test using industrial standard Pt-based electrocatalysts and unpressurised gas supplies: this was higher than the 0.91 W cm-1 obtained with the reference RG-AEM (IEC = 1.8 mmol g-1) synthesised using the prior-art protocol

An optimised synthesis of high performance radiation-grafted anion-exchange membranes

High performance benzyltrimethylammonium-type alkaline anion-exchange membranes (AEM), for application in electrochemical devices such as anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC), were prepared by the radiation grafting (RG) of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) onto 25 μm thick poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films followed by amination with trimethylamine. Reductions in the electron-beam absorbed dose and amount of expensive, potentially hazardous VBC were achieved by using water as a diluent (reduced to 30–40 kGy absorbed dose and 5 vol% VBC) instead of the prior state-of-the-art method that used organic propan-2-ol diluent (required 70 kGy dose and 20 vol% VBC monomer). Furthermore, the water from the aqueous grafting mixture was easily separated from the residual monomer (after cooling) and was reused for a further grafting reaction: the resulting AEM exhibited an ion-exchange capacity of 2.1 mmol g−1 (cf. 2.1 mmol g−1 for the AEM made using a fresh grafting mixture). The lower irradiation doses resulted in mechanically stronger RG-AEMs compared to the reference RG-AEM synthesised using the prior state-of-the-art method. A further positive off-shoot of the optimisation process was the discovery that using water as a diluent resulted in an enhanced (i.e. more uniform) distribution of VBC grafts as proven by Raman microscopy and corroborated using EDX analysis: this led to enhancement in the Cl− anion-conductivities (up to 68 mS cm−1 at 80 °C for the optimised fully hydrated RG-AEMs vs. 48 mS cm−1 for the prior state-of-the-art RG-AEM reference). A down-selected RG-AEM with an ion-exchange capacity = 2.0 mmol g−1, that was synthesised using the new greener protocol with a 30 kGy electron-beam absorbed dose, led to an exceptional beginning-of-life H2/O2 AEMFC peak power density of 1.16 W cm−2 at 60 °C in a benchmark test using industrial standard Pt-based electrocatalysts and unpressurised gas supplies: this was higher than the 0.91 W cm−1 obtained with the reference RG-AEM (IEC = 1.8 mmol g−1) synthesised using the prior state-of-the-art protocol

Development and progression of experimental colitis.

<p>Male, 6 month-old C57BL/6 mice (<i>n</i> = 20) were exposed to 2% DSS in drinking water for up to 5 days. Mice were sacrificed at Day 0, 3, 7, and 14 of the experimental period (<i>n</i> = 5 per time point). (A) Daily body weight of mice sacrificed at Day 14; mice sacrificed at earlier time points followed a similar pattern. <i>*P</i><0.05 compared to initial body weight on Day 0. (B) Disease Activity Index (DAI) was calculated at the time of sacrifice based on weight loss, stool blood, and stool consistency. (C) Colons were excised and measured lengthwise. (D) H&E stained sections were graded for Histologic Severity Score. (E) Representative images of colon histology on Day 0, 3, 7, and 14 (original magnification × 100; arrowhead  =  mononuclear infiltrates, thick arrow  =  mucosal ulceration, thin arrow  =  epithelial hyperplasia). Data represent mean ± SD, <i>***P</i><0.001, <i>*P</i><0.05 vs. Day 0.</p