Georgetown University

YuYe J Tong

Eric G Sorte

De-Jun Chen

Bingchen Du

Dejun Chen

Provided are batteries and fuel cells incorporating a stripline detector for use in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The stripline batteries and fuel cells can be used for in situ NMR measurement of battery or fuel cell chemistry. Also provided are methods for measuring in situ battery and fuel cell NMR using the stripline batteries and fuel cells of the invention.

Stripline detector for in situ battery and fuel cell NMR

A rotating dual-electrode infrared cell for in situ electrochemical attenuated-total-reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IRS) comprising:

Dual in situ infrared spectroscopy for fuel cells

A system for carrying out electrochemical nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (EC-NMR) is disclosed, along with methods of manufacturing the EC-NMR system, and methods of using the EC-NMR system to monitor electrochemical reactions. The system comprises interdigitated electrodes arranged in a cylindrically symmetric manner. The system allows for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to be carried out on a sample during electrolysis with minimal effect to its sensitivity.

High-resolution in situ electrochemical NMR with interdigitated electrodes

Stripline detector for in situ battery NMR

Provided are electrocatalysts, fuel cells, methods of making fuel cells, and methods of generating an electric current, each featuring a platinum (Pt)-containing substrate in contact with an aqueous solution comprising Pb. Electrocatalysts of the invention are formed via underpotential deposition (UPD) when a trace amount of Pbis present in the electrolyte of a half anodic cell for oxidizing formic acid using Pt as the anode. Surprisingly, the UPD process dramatically enhances the activity of formic acid oxidation, at least as much as 10-fold compared with palladium (Pd) black. In an embodiment, the electrocatalyst comprises a Pt-containing substrate, a submonolayer of lead (Pb) adsorbed onto the Pt-containing substrate, and an aqueous solution comprising Pb, wherein the concentration of Pbin the aqueous solution is 10 to 500 &#x3bc;m.

Electrocatalysts, and fuel cells containing them

A superior, industrially scalable one-pot ethylene glycol-based wet chemistry method to prepare platinum-adlayered ruthenium nanoparticles has been developed that offers an exquisite control of the platinum packing density of the adlayers and effectively prevents sintering of the nanoparticles during the deposition process. The wet chemistry based method for the controlled deposition of submonolayer platinum is advantageous in terms of processing and maximizing the use of platinum and can, in principle, be scaled up straightforwardly to an industrial level. The reactivity of the Pt(31)-Ru sample was about 150% higher than that of the industrial benchmark PtRu (1:1) alloy sample but with 3.5 times less platinum loading. Using the Pt(31)-Ru nanoparticles would lower the electrode material cost compared to using the industrial benchmark alloy nanoparticles for direct methanol fuel cell applications.

Growing community of inventors

Gaithersburg, MD, United States of America

YuYe J Tong