The goal of current research is probing the relationship between catalyst features and the fuel cell performance with a range of in-depth structural analysis. The study investigated different catalyst systems including core-shell structured catalyst, catalysts with unique carbon-transition metal oxide supports. PtRu catalysts nanoparticles with unique core-shell structure, one of the most practical catalysts in PEMFC technology, have been successfully obtained with the evidence from the characterization results. It is found that the enhanced CO oxidation may be achieved through the interactions between the Pt shell and Ru core atoms, which can modify the electronic structure of the Pt surface by the presence of subsurface Ru atoms or by disrupting the Pt surface arrangement. Furthermore, the possibility of presence of the compressive strain within the Pt rich shell is proved by the lattice measurements, which could significantly affect the catalytic activity. Pt catalysts supported on complex oxide and carbon support were studied to investigate the relationship between the catalyst and its support. Observations from STEM images and HAADF and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry demonstrate the preferential distribution of Pt nanoparticles on the hybrid supports, which include Nb2O3 / C, Ta2O5 / C, (Nb2O3+TiOx) / C, (Ta2O5+TiOx) / C, and (WO3+TiOx)/C). Such evidence indicates the interaction between the catalyst and support is based on the presence of an interconnected oxide network over the carbon support and the presence of Pt strongly connected to the oxide network. In addition, using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), the electronic structure of the catalyst support under various conditions was also studied to provide further evidence of the strong metal support interaction effect. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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[pt] A presente tese tem como objetivo estudar a estabilidade microestrutural da superliga 625 a base de Ni pelas suas propriedades mecânicas e suas várias aplicações na indústria, em três condições distintas: maciça (placa forjada industrialmente), partículas de pó precursora da peça 3D e uma peça produzida por impressão a laser (Deposição Direta de Metais - DMD). Amostras destas condições foram submetidas a tratamentos de solubilização e envelhecimento isotérmico a 650 graus Celsius e 750 graus Celsius durante 10 horas e 100 horas, de modo a promover fenômeno de precipitação e, assim, correlacionar com as propriedades mecânicas do material. A caracterização microestrutural foi realizada por microscopia ótica (MO), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET) no modo convencional utilizando contraste de difração, na modalidade analítica de transmissão/varredura (STEM), e em alta resolução (HRTEM). Espectroscopias de raios X por dispersão em energia (EDS) e de perdas de energia de elétrons (EELS) foram utilizadas para analisar a composição local da matriz e das fases presentes. Foram realizados ensaios de microdureza para avaliar o efeito dos tratamentos térmicos. A análise microestrutural da amostra maciça na condição como recebida apresentou grãos equiaxiais com fases NbTiC e M6C. Com o tratamento térmico de solubilização a 1100 graus Celsius por 40 minutos houve uma dissolução parcial dos carbetos. O envelhecimento a 650 graus Celsius por 10 horas resultou em carbetos de NbTiC e um aumento da dureza em 5 porcento em relação a amostra como solubilizada. Entretanto no tratamento de envelhecimento a 100 horas ocorreu precipitação homogênea da fase gama aumentando a dureza do material em 45 porcento, se comparada à mesma como solubilizada. A liga maciça envelhecida a 750 graus Celsius por 10 horas apresentou os carbetos NbTiC e M23C6 nos contornos de grãos e dispersos na matriz. Já a liga maciça envelhecida por 100 horas a esta mesma temperatura, apresentou a fase δ dispersa na matriz. A análise microestrutural do pó precursor mostrou ser policristalino constituído predominantemente de grãos colunares da matriz austenítica. Análises das amostras produzidas por DMD como recebida revelou estrutura dendrítica com carbetos de Nb e fase Laves nas regiões interdendríticas. A solubilização das amostras DMD durante 40 minutos por 1100 graus Celsius e 1200 graus Celsius mostrou ser insuficientes para a dissolução dos precipitados. A fim de melhorar a difusão do Nb e a dissolução dos carbetos e da fase Laves, foi realizado o tratamento de solubilização a 1200 graus Celsius por 100 horas. Esta amostra tratada a 650 graus Celsius por 100 horas apresentou carbetos M23C6 precipitados nos contornos de grão e nas interfaces entre matriz CFC e a fase Laves. Entretanto, no envelhecimento a 750 graus Celsius durante 100 horas ocorreu à precipitação dos carbetos M23C6 e M6C nos contornos de grão e dispersos na matriz, aumentando assim a dureza do material em 18 porcento, se comparada à mesma como solubilizada. O aumento da microdureza em 12 porcento após o tratamento térmico está relacionado à precipitação dos carbetos nos contornos de grão e dispersos na matriz resultado dos tratamentos térmicos de envelhecimento. / [en] This thesis studies the microstructural stability of Ni-base Super alloy 625 for its mechanical properties and its varieties of applications in the industry, in three different conditions: bulk (industrially forged plate), precursor powder particles for 3D printing process and a sample produced by laser Direct Metal Deposition (DMD). Aiming at promoting precipitation processes and, therefore, correlate with the mechanical properties of the material, samples of these conditions were submitted to solution annealing and isothermal aging treatments at 650 Celsius degrees and 750 Celsius degrees for 10 hours and 100 hours. Characterization of the microstructure was performed by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in the conventional diffraction contrast mode, scanning/transmission (STEM) analytical mode, and high resolution microscopy (HRTEM). Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) were used to analyze the local composition of the matrix and precipitated phases. Micro hardness measurements were performed to evaluate the effect of thermal treatments. The microstructural analysis of the bulk sample in the as-received condition showed an equiaxial grain structure with NbTiC and M6C precipitated phases. Solid solution treatment at 1100 Celsius degrees for 40 minutes allowed partial dissolution of the carbides. Aging at 650 Celsius degrees for 10 hours showed NbTiC carbides and a hardness increase of 5 percent compared to the as-solubilized sample. However, aging at this temperature for 100 hours promoted the homogeneous precipitation of the gama phase, thus increasing the material s hardness by 45 percent, when compared to it as solubilized. The bulk sample aged at 750 Celsius degrees for 10 hours showed grain boundary and homogeneous precipitation of NbTiC and M23C6 carbides. This sample condition upon aging at this temperature for 100 hours shows δ phase homogeneously precipitated in the matrix. The microstructural analysis of the precursor powder showed micrometer size individual particles as polycrystalline, consisting predominantly of columnar grains of the austenitic matrix. Analysis of samples produced by DMD in the as-received condition revealed dendritic microstructure with carbides of Nb and Laves phase in the interdendritic regions. The solution treatment of the DMD samples for 40 minutes at 1100 Celsius degrees and 1200 Celsius degrees proved to be insufficient for the dissolution of the precipitate. In order to enhance diffusion of Nb and so carbide and Laves phase dissolution, a solution anneal was carried out at 1200 Celsius degrees for 100 hours. This sample treated at 650 Celsius degrees for 100 hours showed M23C6 carbides precipitated at grain boundaries and also at the Laves phase/matrix interfaces. However, upon aging at 750 Celsius degrees for 100 hours the precipitation of M23C6 and M6C takes place at the grain boundary and in the austenitic matrix, thus increasing the material s hardness by 18 percent, when compared to it as solubilized. The increase of the hardness by 12 percent after the heat treatment is related to the precipitation of the carbides in the grain boundaries and dispersed in the matrix resulting from the aging thermal treatments.