Electrocatalysis part III: Kinetics and mechanism of electrochemical processes in energy conversion and storage

Abstract

The electrochemistry group of São Carlos-USP was created in 1973, and starting in 1978, having already a body of qualified researchers, has carried out studies in electrocatalysis applied to processes in electrochemical energy conversion and storage, considering that the development of this area is crucial for the advancement of fundamental electrochemistry and of several technological systems. The present project is related to the study of fundamental processes in electrochemical systems for the conversion and storage of energy, involving fuel cells, industrial electrolysis and high energy batteries. In the area of fuel cells, consideration will be given to fundamental studies of electrocatalysis on metal (mono and polycrystalline) and alloy electrodes; also, electrodes incorporating noble metalcatalysts, pure or in alloys, dispersed on carbon will be studied. Among the various systems related to industrial electrolysis, consideration will be given to oxygen cathodes for application in chlor/alkali cells and to hydrogen cathodes for application in these cells and also for water electrolysis. As in the previous case, the electrocatalytic aspects, fundamental and technological, of these electrochemical processes will be specifically considered. In the area of high energy batteries, the investigations will be directed to kinetic and mechanistic aspects of the synthesis and the ionic intercalation processes in conducting polymers, pure or in composites with transition metals, looking for applications in lithium batteries. At the same time, kinetic and mechanistic studies will be devoted to metal-hydride electrodes for application in nickel-hydride batteries. In all cases, operational systems will be developed on the basis of modified electrodes, high area electrodes and rough, porous and gas diffusion electrodes, which will be used for the study of electrocatalytic reactions of fundamental and applied interest. The project will be executed by a team of 6 faculty members, 4 specialized technicians, 1 pos-doctor, 37 graduate students and 7 undergraduate students, all from the Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, USP, The constitution of the team shows the interest in the training of new researchers, which is one of the keynotes among the objectives of the project. (AU)