Perfluoropolyethers as hydrophobizing agents for Fuel Cells Gas Diffusion Layer
21st ISFC & ISoFT’15 – Como 2015
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published August 29, 2015
published August 29, 2015
published August 29, 2015
published August 29, 2015
published July 2, 2015
published March 8, 2015
Surface fluorination on TiO2 catalyst induced by photodegradation of perfluorooctanoic acid
Author(s): Sara Gatto, Maurizio Sansotera, Federico Persico, Massimo Gola, Carlo Pirola, Walter Panzeri, Walter Navarrini, Claudia L. Bianchi
Source: Catalysis Today
Volume: 241 Pages: 8-14
Published: Mar (2015)
DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2014.04.031
ABSTRACT:
The photoabatement of perfluorooctanoic acid in aqueous solution has been performed with a commercial nano-sized TiO2-based photocatalyst content of 0.66 g/L under an UV irradiation of 95 W/m2. PFOA degradation intermediates were investigated by HPLC-MS and 19F-NMR analysis. Evidences of adegradation mechanism based on two competitive pathways are discussed: photo-redox and beta-scission pathways. Shorter perfluorinated carboxylic acids, CnF2n+1COOH (n = 1-6), as expected degradation intermediates, were identified and their concentration trends over time were determined. The apparent pseudo-first order kinetic constant expressed as rate of PFOA disappearance was also measured: kapp 0.1296 h-1. The influence of fluoride ions on TiO2 surface was analyzed by XPS technique, revealing asurface modification that affects the performances of the catalyst.
published January 24, 2015
Photocatalytic activity of TiO2-embedded fluorinated transparentcoating for oxidation of hydrosoluble pollutants in turbid suspensions
Author(s): Federico Persico, Maurizio Sansotera, Claudia L. Bianchi, Carlo Cavallotti, Walter Navarrini
Source: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume: 170 Pages: 83-89
Published: Jan (2015)
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2015.01.033
ABSTRACT:
The photodegradative activity of titanium dioxide immobilized into a multilayered transparent fluoropolymeric matrix was studied. The photoactive coating was developed by applying a TiO2-containing fluorinated ionomeric dispersion and a perfluorinated amorphous polymer in an appropriate sequence directly on the UV source. The multilayered coating photocatalytic activity toward hydrosoluble organic pollutants was evaluated in clear as well as in highly turbid conditions obtained by dispersing barium sulfate microparticles in the polluted solution. Rhodamine B-base was chosen as reference organic pollutant. The photoabatement rates with TiO2-embedded fluorinated coating in clear solution and turbid conditions were 0.0923 min-1 and 0.0546 min-1, respectively. In both clear and turbid conditions, TiO2-embedded transparent coating revealed higher photocatalytic activity than merely dispersed TiO2. This behavior was particularly evident at low pollutant concentrations. In addition, catalyst immobilization prevented TiO2 separation and catalyst losses, allowing the development of a simple and efficientcontinuous apparatus.
published August 15, 2014
published July 25, 2014
published July 15, 2014
Perfluoropolyether-functionalized gas diffusion layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Author(s): Massimo Gola, Maurizio Sansotera, Walter Navarribi, Claudia L. Bianchi, Paola Gallo Stampino, Saverio Latorrata, Giovanni Dotelli
Source: Journal of Power Sources
Volume: 258 Pages: 351-355
Published: Jul (2014)
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.02.025
ABSTRACT:
Linear perfluoropolyether (PFPE) peroxide was used to confer superhydrophobic surface properties to gas diffusion layer (GDL) by means of direct functionalization of a GDL based on carbon cloth (CC) material. The thermal decomposition of a linear PFPE peroxide produces linear PFPE radicals that covalently bond the unsaturated moieties on the surface. Perfluorinated radicals are directly and covalently bound to the carbonaceous structure of the CC without any spacer that could decrease both thermal and chemical stability of the GDL. The obtained CC hydrophobicity exceeded the superhydrophobicity threshold and was enduringly stable. The relationship between the linkage of fluorinated chains and the variations of surface chemical?physical properties were studied combining X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), resistivity measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle measurements. Despite the excellent insulating properties of the PFPE polymer, the functionalized carbonaceous materials substantially retained their conductive properties. The PFPE-modified GDLs were tested in a single fuel cell at the lab scale. The cell tests were run at two temperatures (60C and 80C) with a relative humidity (RH) of hydrogen and air feeding gases equal to 80/100% and 60/100%, respectively.
published April 27, 2014
Decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid photocatalyzed by titanium dioxide: Chemical modification of the catalyst surface induced by fluoride ions
Author(s): Maurizio Sansotera, Federico Persico, Carlo Pirola, Walter Navarrini, Alessandro Di Michele, Claudia L. Bianchi
Source: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume: 148-149 Pages: 29-35
Published: Apr (2014)
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2013.10.038
ABSTRACT:
The degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in water was investigated both as photolysis and photocatalysis by slurry titanium dioxide. Different surfactant concentrations, the catalyst nature and concentration as well as the irradiation power of the UV lamp were evaluated. The reactions were conducted using merely the natural dissolved oxygen (DO), in order to simulate conditions of non-enriched water, as industrially feasible. The photomineralization of PFOA was monitored by total organic carbon (TOC) analysis and ionic chromatography (IC). Finally, the photocatalytic powder was analyzed at different reaction times by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) technique in order to study and interpret the catalyst deactivation phenomena occurred during the treatment.
published February 17, 2014
Maskless, fast and highly selective etching of fused silica with gaseous fluorine and gaseous hydrogen fluoride
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Author(s):
Source: Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering
Volume: 24 Issue:2 – 025004 (7 pp)
Published: Feb (2014)
DOI: 10.1088/0960-1317/24/2/025004
ABSTRACT:
In this paper, we have directly buried microchannels in a fused silica substrate using femtosecond laser irradiation followed by chemical etching. By exploiting a synergic effect between gaseous hydrofluoric acid and fluorine (F2), we have obtained microchannels having an outstanding aspect ratio of 86 with a relative etching speed of 17m min?1. Using fluorine we successfully regenerated the etchant ‘in situ‘, thus providing a way to control the bore shape, in particular, the strong conically shaped microchannel can be adjusted by modifying the etching mixture composition. We have avoided water formation during the microchannel construction, thus overcoming one of the major limits that prevents any further increase in the length and the aspect ratio.
2013 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting & Exhibit – Boston – December 1-6, 2013
Macro- and Microscopic Investigation of Anti-icing Properties of Anodized Aluminum Surfaces
Daan Heskes1, Valentina Rizzi2, Matteo Chiesa1, Walter Navarrini2, Maria Vittoria Diamanti2, Marco Stefancich1
1 Laboratory for Energy and NanoScience (LENS), Institute for Future Energy Systems (iFES), Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali ed Ingegneria Chimica ”G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via L. Mancinelli, 7, 20131 Milano, Italy
In this work the (anti-)icing properties of anodized aluminium with different surface chemistries are investigated. In order to obtain anti icing coatings use is made of the surface chemistry as well as the structure of the surface, which are often also related to the hydrophobicity of surface [1]. Recently it was shown that anodized alumina surface, which have a honeycomb like surface structure, can exhibit superhydrophobic properties [2]. In addition to the structural part of the coating also different surfaces chemistries are investigated; bare alumina, silanized and perfluorinated anodized alumina surfaces as well as liquid impregnated surfaces. Characterization is done macroscopically as well as microscopically. Macroscopically the ice adhesive energy, the contact angle and contact angle hysteresis is experimentally measured. The ice adhesive energy is obtained by subjecting the iced samples to a guided impact test. On the Microscopic scale the properties of the surface are investigated using different methods of Atomic Force Microscopy. In order make fully use of the Atomic Force Microscopy imaging also the different surface chemistries on flat samples are examined. First the surface topography of the sample probed to obtain the surface roughness. Using Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy the surface potential of the different samples are mapped [3]. Combining these scales of measurement can enhance the understanding of these kinds of surfaces.
- Farhadi, S., M. Farzaneh, and S. Kulinich, Anti-icing performance of superhydrophobic surfaces. Applied Surface Science, 2011. 257(14): p. 6264-6269.
- Leese, H., et al., Wetting Behaviour of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Nanostructured Porous Anodic Alumina. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2012.
- Suzuki, S., et al., Hydrophobicity and freezing of a water droplet on fluoroalkylsilane coatings with different roughnesses. Langmuir, 2007. 23(17): p. 8674-8677.
published October 31, 2013
Effect of amorphous fluorinated coatings on photocatalytic properties of anodized titanium surfaces.
Author(s): PERSICO F., SANSOTERA M., DIAMANTI M. V., MAGAGNIN L., VENTURINI F., NAVARRINI W.
Source: THIN SOLID FILMS
Volume: 545 Pages: 210-216
DOI:10.1016/j.tsf.2013.08.004
ABSTRACT:
The photocatalytic activity promoted by anodized titanium surfaces coated with different amorphous perfluoropolymers was evaluated. A copolymer between tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro-4-trifluoromethoxy-1,3-dioxole and two perfluoropolyethers containing ammonium phosphate and triethoxysilane functionalities, respectively, were tested as coating materials. These coatings revealed good adhesion to the anodized titanium substrate and conferred to it both hydrophobicity and oleophobicity. The photocatalytic activity of the coating on anodized titanium was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of stearic acid via Infrared spectroscopy. The degradation rate of stearic acid was reduced but not set to zero by the presence of the fluorinated coatings, leading to the development of advanced functional coatings. The morphological variations of the coatings as a result of photocatalysis were also determined by atomic force microscopy.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040609013012960#
published September 5, 2013
