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High-temperature polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) are a very important type of fuel cells since they operate at 150–200 °C, making it possible to use hydrogen contaminated with CO. However, the need to improve the stability and other properties of gas-diffusion electrodes still impedes their distribution. Self-supporting anodes based on carbon nanofibers (CNF) are prepared using the electrospinning method from a polyacrylonitrile solution containing zirconium salt, followed by pyrolysis. After the deposition of Pt nanoparticles on the CNF surface, the composite anodes are obtained. A new self-phosphorylating polybenzimidazole of the 6F family is applied to the Pt/CNF surface to improve the triple-phase boundary, gas transport, and proton conductivity of the anode. This polymer coating ensures a continuous interface between the anode and proton-conducting membrane. The polymer is investigated using CO2 adsorption, TGA, DTA, FTIR, GPC, and gas permeability measurements. The anodes are studied using SEM, HAADF STEM, and CV. The operation of the membrane–electrode assembly in the H2/air HT-PEMFC shows that the application of the new PBI of the 6F family with good gas permeability as a coating for the CNF anodes results in an enhancement of HT-PEMFC performance, reaching 500 mW/cm2 at 1.3 A/cm2 (at 180 °C), compared with the previously studied PBI-O-PhT-P polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effect of Cu powder dispersion and morphology on the surface structure and the physical–chemical and catalytic properties of Cu–CeO2 catalysts prepared by mechanochemical synthesis was studied in the preferential CO oxidation in a H2-rich stream (CO-PROX). Two catalysts, produced by 30 min ball-milling from CeO2 and 8 mass% of copper powders and with particle sizes of several tens (dendrite-like Cu) and 50–200 nm (spherical Cu obtained with levitation-jet method), respectively, were characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy methods, a temperature-programmed reduction with CO and H2, and with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The catalyst synthesized from the "large-scale" dendrite-like Cu powder, whose surface consisted of CuxO (Cu+) agglomerates located directly on the surface of facetted CeO2 crystals with a CeO2(111) and CeO2(100) crystal planes exposition, was approximately two times less active at 120–160 °C than the catalyst synthesized from the fine Cu powder, whose surface consisted of CuxO (Cu2+) clusters of 4–6 nm in size located on the steps of facetted CeO2 nanocrystals. Although a large part of CO2 reacted with a ceria surface to give carbonate-like species, no blockage of CO-activating centers was observed due to the surface architecture. The surface structure formed by the use of highly dispersed Cu powder is found to be a key factor responsible for the catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of XRD and TEM studies of a metastable phase state in Fe73Ti5B19O3 and Fe55Ti16B27O2 films, which is formed upon magnetron deposition under preset conditions, and of the evolution of the state in the course of subsequent annealing at 500 °C for 1, 5, and 9 h and experimental data on the magnetic microstructure and magnetic properties are reported. The annealed films were found to be characterized by a nanocrystalline structure, which is represented by two crystalline phases, namely, the ferromagnetic solid solution αFe(Ti), and nonferromagnetic boride FenB. The Ti content in the films determines the grain size of the αFe(Ti) phase, whereas the content of B localized within the grain boundaries determines the ratio of the volume fractions of amorphous and nanocrystalline phases in the structure. In contrast to the ferromagnetic Fe73Ti5B19O3 films, the Fe55Ti16B27O2 films are superparamagnets both in the deposited state and after annealing at 500 °C for 1 and 5 h because of the higher volume fraction of the amorphous phase in the structure. The 9 h annealing of the Fe55Ti16B27O2 films transfers them into the ferromagnets owing to the development of the amorphous phase crystallization, increase in the content of nanocrystalline ferromagnetic phase αFe(Ti) grains, and realization of exchange interaction between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive LaNiO3 (LNO) films with an ABO3 perovskite structure deposited on silicon wafers are a promising material for various electronics applications. The creation of a well-defined columnar grain structure in CSD (Chemical Solution Deposition) LNO films is challenging to achieve on an amorphous substrate. Here, we report the formation of columnar grain structure in LNO films deposited on the Si-SiO2 substrate via layer-by-layer deposition with the control of soft-baking temperature and high temperature annealing time of each deposited layer. The columnar structure is controlled not by typical heterogeneous nucleation on the film/substrate interface, but by the crystallites' coalescence during the successive layers' deposition and annealing. The columnar structure of LNO film provides the low resistivity value ρ~700 µOhm·cm and is well suited to lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) film growth with perfect crystalline structure and ferroelectric performance. These results extend the understanding of columnar grain growth via CSD techniques and may enable the development of new materials and devices for distinct applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient use of renewable energy sources requires development of new electrocatalytic materials for electrochemical energy storage systems, particularly fuel cells. To increase durability of high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell (HT-PEMFC), Pt/carbon black based catalysts should be replaced by more durable ones, for example Pt/carbon nanofibers (CNF). Here, we report for the first time the quantitative ascorbic acid assisted deposition of Pt onto electrospun polyacrylonitrile-based CNF composite materials. The effect of their subsequent post-treatment at various temperatures (250 and 500 °C) and media (vacuum or argon-hydrogen mixture) on the Pt/C catalyst morphology is investigated. All obtained samples are thoroughly studied by high resolution electron microscopy, and Pt electrochemically active specific surface area was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents results of investigation of Fe65.3–100Zr34.7–0N7.5–0 films prepared by dc magnetron deposition on glass substrates and subsequent 1-hour annealing at temperatures of 300–600 °C. The influence of the chemical and phase compositions and structure of the films, which were studied by TEM, SEM, XRD, and GDOES, on their mechanical properties determined by nanoindentation and static magnetic properties measured by VSM method is analyzed. The studied films exhibit the hardness within a range of 14–21 GPa, low elastic modulus (the value can reach 156 Gpa), and an elastic recovery of 55–83%. It was shown that the films are strong ferromagnets with the high saturation induction Bs (up to 2.1 T) and low coercive field Hc (as low as 40 A/m). The correlations between the magnetic and mechanical properties, on one hand, and the chemical composition of the films, their phase, and structural states as well, on the other hand, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile/DMF dopes containing salts of nickel, cobalt, zirconium, cerium, gadolinium, and samarium, makes it possible to obtain precursor nanofiber mats which can be subsequently converted into carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites by pyrolysis at 1000–1200 °C. Inorganic additives were found to be uniformly distributed in CNFs. Metal states were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). According to XPS in CNF/Zr/Ni/Gd composites pyrolyzed at 1000 °C, nickel exists as Ni0 and as Ni2+, gadolinium as Gd3+, and zirconium as Zr4+. If CNF/Zr/Ni/Gd is pyrolyzed at 1200 °C, nickel exists only as Ni0. For CNF/Sm/Co composite, samarium is in Sm3+ form when cobalt is not found on a surface. For CNF/Zr/Ni/Ce composite, cerium exists both as Ce4+ and as Ce3+. Composite CNF mats were platinized and tested as cathodes in high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC). Such approach allows to introduce Pt–M and Pt–MOx into CNF, which are more durable compared to carbon black under HT-PEMFC operation. For CNF/Zr/Ni/Gd composite cathode, higher performance in the HT-PEMFC at I >1.2 A cm-2 is achieved due to elimination of mass transfer losses in gas-diffusion electrode compared to commercial Celtec®P1000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents results of investigation of Fe 65.3-100 Zr 34.7-0 N 7.5-0 films prepared by dc magnetron deposition on glass substrates and subsequent 1-hour annealing at temperatures of 300-600 °C. The influence of the chemical and phase compositions and structure of the films, which were studied by TEM, SEM, XRD, and GDOES, on their mechanical properties determined by nanoindentation and static magnetic properties measured by VSM method is analyzed. The studied films exhibit the hardness within a range of 14-21 GPa, low elastic modulus (the value can reach 156 Gpa), and an elastic recovery of 55-83%. It was shown that the films are strong ferromagnets with the high saturation induction Bs (up to 2.1 T) and low coercive field Hc (as low as 40 A/m). The correlations between the magnetic and mechanical properties, on one hand, and the chemical composition of the films, their phase, and structural states as well, on the other hand, are discussed.