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  • Biomass-derived nanoporous carbons as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction
    Publication . Fernandes, Diana M; Mestre, Ana S.; Martins, Angela; Nunes, Nelson; Carvalho, A. P.; Freire, Cristina
    Electrocatalysts (ECs) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are crucial in fuel cells and for this reason developing cost-effective metal-free ECs with high electrocatalytic activity and high-volume production remains a huge challenge. Herein, we report the application as ORR electrocatalysts of a series of high grade nanoporous carbons, prepared by chemical activation of acid-chars obtained from the H2SO4 digestion and polycondensation (acid-mediated carbonization) of a biomass residue (Agave sisalana). All the nanoporous carbons presented good ORR electrocatalytic activities in alkaline medium. The AC(1) carbon exhibited the most promising ORR performance with E-onset = 0.84 vs. RHE, j(L, 0.26 V, 1600 rpm) = -3.12 mA cm(-2) and n(O2) = 3.6 electrons. The Tafel slopes of all carbons varied between 47 mV dec(-1) (AC(3)) and 250 mV dec(-1) (AC(1)). Furthermore, the carbons revealed superior tolerance to methanol when compared with commercial Pt/C and a competitive long-term electrochemical stability, with current retentions of 75-85 % after 20,000 s. The results obtained in this work suggest a promising method based on sustainable and economical biomass residues towards the development and engineering of novel value-added biomass-derived carbons as effective metal-free electrocatalysts for alkaline fuel cells.
    2020-11-01Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • C-scorpionate Au(III) complexes as pre-catalysts for industrially significant toluene oxidation and benzaldehyde esterification reactions
    Publication . Lapa, Hugo; Guedes Da Silva, M. Fátima C.; Pombeiro, Armando; Alegria, Elisabete; Martins, Luisa
    The new Au(III) complex [AuCl2(Tpms)] (1) and the previously reported [AuCl2(Tpm)]Cl (2), bearing the potentially tridentate ligands tris(1-pyrazolyl)methanesulfonate (SO3C(C3H3N2)(3)(-), Tpms) or hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl) methane (HC(C3H3N2)(3), Tpm), respectively, were synthesized in water at room temperature and characterized using NMR and IR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of 1 was authenticated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The catalytic performance of the Au(III) complexes was tested, for the first time, in toluene and benzyl alcohol oxidation reactions. The oxidative esterification of benzaldehyde, by-product of toluene oxidation, was further explored. In order to optimize the catalytic systems, the influence of parameters such as temperature, reaction time, amount of pre-catalyst and the presence of additives was evaluated. In the peroxidative (by H2O2 or t-BuOOH) oxidation reactions, a maximum total yield (benzylic alcohol and benzaldehyde) of 8% for toluene oxidation with pre-catalyst 1 (6 h, 80 degrees C, H2O2 30% aq. sol.) and a maximum total yield (benzaldehyde and benzoic acid) of 43% for benzyl alcohol oxidation with pre-catalyst 2 (24 h, 80 degrees C, t-BuOOH 70% aq. sol.) with a selectivity of 72% for benzaldehyde, were obtained. The esterification of benzaldehyde yielded, in the presence of 1, a maximum of 27% and 48% of methyl benzoate, at room temperature and 80 degrees C, respectively, and with a selectivity of 78% for methyl benzoate.
    2020-11-01Journal article Restricted access Show more