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ABSTRACT CuZn Alloy- Based Electrocatalyst for CO2 Reduction Amira Alazmi Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the major greenhouse gases and its emission is a significant threat to global economy and sustainability. Efficient CO2 conversion leads to utilization of CO2 as a carbon feedstock, but activating the most stable carbon-based molecule, CO2, is a challenging task. Electrochemical conversion of CO2 is considered to be the beneficial approach to generate carbon-containing fuels directly from CO2, especially when the electronic energy is derived from renewable energies, such as solar, wind, geo-thermal and tidal. To achieve this goal, the development of an efficient electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction is essential. In this thesis, studies on CuZn alloys with heat treatments at different temperatures have been evaluated as electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. It was found that the catalytic activity of these electrodes was strongly dependent on the thermal oxidation temperature before their use for electrochemical measurements. The polycrystalline CuZn electrode without thermal treatment shows the Faradaic efficiency for CO formation of only 30% at applied potential ~−1.0 V vs. RHE with current density of ~−2.55 mA cm−2. In contrast, the reduction of oxide-based CuZn alloy electrode exhibits 65% Faradaic efficiency for CO at lower applied potential about −1.0 V vs. RHE with current density of −2.55 mA cm−2. Furthermore, stable activity was achieved over several hours of the reduction reaction at the modified electrodes. Based on electrokinetic studies, this improvement could be attributed to further stabilization of the CO2•− on the oxide-based Cu-Zn alloy surface.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging modality that noninvasively measures magnetic fields by selectively exciting the magnetization of protons inside the body. When combined with an understanding of electromagnetic theory, MRI can be used in a novel way to provide a powerful tool for measuring the electromagnetic fields and electrical properties of biological tissues. This thesis presents the analytical, numerical, processing and experimental components of a successful implementation of Low-Frequency Current Density Impedance Imaging (LF-CDII), an impedance imaging method based on MRI measurements. The accuracy, stability and noise tolerance of this technique are examined. The first in-vivo LF-CDII experiment was conducted with a clinical MRI scanner, and the conductivity distribution of the heart of a live piglet was obtained. Both the simulation and experimental results show that LF-CDII can be used as a reliable tool for accurate noninvasive, quantitative imaging of tissue conductivities. This thesis also presents new data processing algorithms, imaging procedures and hardware development for the measurement of electromagnetic fields at radio frequencies, based on Polar Decomposition Radio Frequency Current Density Imaging (PD-RFCDI). The method was tested on both numerical models and experiments on phantoms. The results show that the techniques presented here are able to successfully image current density fields without the strict restrictions on the direction and magnitude of the currents required in previous versions of RFCDI.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging modality that noninvasively measures magnetic fields by selectively exciting the magnetization of protons inside the body. When combined with an understanding of electromagnetic theory, MRI can be used in a novel way to provide a powerful tool for measuring the electromagnetic fields and electrical properties of biological tissues. This thesis presents the analytical, numerical, processing and experimental components of a successful implementation of Low-Frequency Current Density Impedance Imaging (LF-CDII), an impedance imaging method based on MRI measurements. The accuracy, stability and noise tolerance of this technique are examined. The first in-vivo LF-CDII experiment was conducted with a clinical MRI scanner, and the conductivity distribution of the heart of a live piglet was obtained. Both the simulation and experimental results show that LF-CDII can be used as a reliable tool for accurate noninvasive, quantitative imaging of tissue conductivities. This thesis also presents new data processing algorithms, imaging procedures and hardware development for the measurement of electromagnetic fields at radio frequencies, based on Polar Decomposition Radio Frequency Current Density Imaging (PD-RFCDI). The method was tested on both numerical models and experiments on phantoms. The results show that the techniques presented here are able to successfully image current density fields without the strict restrictions on the direction and magnitude of the currents required in previous versions of RFCDI.

The aim of this research is to increase the current density of electrical machines by improving the heat transfer from the stator. Hence, this research investigates key heat transfer parameters that limit convective and conductive heat transfer. The current density is interdependent on temperature and parameters governing heat transfer. Therefore, thermal analysis of electrical machines is important to design high current density electrical machines. This research starts by investigating the role air-cooled axial flux machines in the context of electric transportation. These are found to suffer from thermal limitations, forcing the propulsive power to be distributed among several wheels. The machine topology is found to play an important role in the heat transfer limits. The internal rotor topology suffers from heat transfer limits from the casing while the internal stator topology suffers from heat transfer in the rotor-stator gap. Addressing the latter is more challenging. This research does this by investigating a novel evaporative cooling mechanism to transport heat from the machine's internal stator to the outer rotor. A proof of concept was experimentally established and the challenges for adopting this mechanism to an electrical machine are investigated. The research focus is turned to direct oil-cooled machines. These do not suffer from the same thermal limits as they use an external radiator to expel heat. However, direct liquid cooled machines suffer from a non-uniform flow distribution, which affects the stator temperature distribution. To investigate this problem, an efficient thermo-fluid model was developed to predict the flow and temperature distribution in an oil-cooled stator. This was compared to CFD models and validated to within 6% of experimental results. The stator temperature distribution is improved by carefully controlling the flow distribution. The hot spot temperature is reduced by 13 K, doubling the insulation lifetime, or for the same hot spot temperature increasing the current density by 7%. The heat transfer coefficient an oil-cooled machine was measured by adapting the double layer thin film heat flux gauge technique. Correlations for the heat transfer coefficient on the pole piece surfaces are established and compared with analytical and CFD predictions. Finally the focus is turned to conductive heat transfer in concentrated windings. These are shown to suffer from a severe temperature gradient. Heat is transferred from one winding layer to the next and a hotspot is formed on the layer with the longest thermal path. The hotspot limits the current density of the machine. A lumped parameter thermal model was developed to predict the value and location of the hotspot in concentrated windings. To shorten the thermal path of the windings, a heat sink was interleaved between the windings. The new construction offers a reduction in hotspot temperature by up to 70 K. For the same maximum temperature the current density is increased by 30%. This thesis revisits flat windings and addresses their manufacturing challenges. Lastly, the relevance of thermal contact resistances is broadened to the general thermal design of electrical machines. This research shows that modeling the thermal resistance at the interface of concentric geometry by a constant parameter is an oversimplification. This was experimentally demonstrates to change with heat flux, contact pressure and material properties.

The micro PEMFCs were designed and fabricated in-house through a deep UV lithography technique and the SU-8 photoresist was used as microstructure material for fuel cell flow-field plates. The effect of different operating parameters on micro PEMFCs performances and electrochemical impedances was experimentally investigated for three different flow-field configurations (interdigitated, mesh, and serpentine). Experiments with different cell operating temperatures, different backpressures on the H2 flow channels as well as various combinations of these parameters have been conducted for three different flow geometries. Results are presented in the form of the polarization VI curves, PI curves and impedance spectroscopy under different operating conditions. The possible transport mechanisms associated with the parametric effects were discussed. With PI and VI curve were found that, among the three flow patterns considered, significant improvements can be reached with a specified flow geometry. With impedance spectroscopy was found that, the effect of the parameters on high frequency straight line, medium frequency, and low frequency arc. The influence in terms of impedance on dynamic response of the present H2/air micro fuel cell under different operating conditions and flow geometry can be quantitatively measured.

In the study, the micro fuel cells were designed and fabricated in-house through a deep UV lithography technique, and a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition technique was used as microstructure material for fuel cell flow field plates. The conductive and insulating flow field plates include interdigitated, serpentine, parallel, and mesh. The experiments with several operation condition include of different cell operating temperatures, different reactant flow rates, and different operating times. This study of various operating parameters shows the physical phenomenon in the current density distribution in fuel cell reaction area and water accumulation in flow channel, and results are represented by VI curve and PI curve. The relationship of physics phenomenon between fuel cell¡¦s power production and water production rates from the current density distribution and water accumulation, can be found through visualization.

Railguns undergo excessive wear between the projectile and the electromagnetic launcher rails due to the hypersonic relative motion and very large current density involved. The wear effects at the small-scale on the rail-armature interface are not well known but need to be examined in order to support the development of a multishot launcher. Proposed contact regimes in the surface asperity interactions include solidsolid contact, liquid-metal lubricated contact, and arcing. In the present work, a modified Mesoscale Friction Tester (MFT) equipped with a probe and substrate was used to investigate experimentally the arcing and friction conditions that the rail-armature interface would experience. Copper probes with a range of radii of curvature were electrochemically etched and polished to submicrometer roughness. The minimum electrode distances for arcing to occur was found in air at atmospheric pressure and led to a modified Paschen curve where field emission of electrons was the dominant physical mechanism as opposed to Townsend avalanche of ionized gas. Arcing erosion was studied by varying the current, number of strikes, dwell time, and nearest electrode positions horizontally and vertically. Copper-copper friction with a constant normal force resulted in reduced wear when applying a constant current between the electrodes. / text

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-03-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:07:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_ej_me_ilha.pdf: 1547635 bytes, checksum: a172b140a906aaf73e717b9702550ed0 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Com o surgimento da supercondutividade as pesquisas envolvendo aplicações desta, em especial no transporte de energia, obtiveram um avanço promissor ao longo dos anos. Assim, este trabalho objetivou a fabricação de fios supercondutores utilizando o método Powder-In-Tube (PIT), no qual foi inserido dentro de um tubo de prata o pó da cerâmica supercondutora do sistema BSCCO. Estudos preliminares foram feitos em pastilhas feitas com o mesmo material supercondutor e após alguns resultados foram confeccionados os fios supercondutores. Medidas de caracterização foram feitas dentre elas a difratometria de raios-X, medidas elétricas pelo método de quatro pontas e microscopia do tipo (FEG-MEV) equipado com EDS para determinar a morfologia e composição química dos elementos na amostra. Os resultados de difratometria de raios-X apresentaram a formação das fases desejadas do sistema BSCCO de diferentes concentrações dentre elas as fases Bi-2212 Bi- 2223 e Bi-2234 contidas nas amostras sintetizadas. As medidas elétricas detectaram uma queda abrupta na resistência elétrica dos fios mostrando a faixa de transição supercondutora das amostras estudadas. As medidas de densidade de corrente com base no critério de corrente de 1μV/cm, utilizadas nos fios confeccionados, foram obtidos valores da ordem de 1,30 – 3,90 (KA/m2). Nas imagens de microscopia vale ressaltar uma melhora na interação entre os grãos supercondutores nas amostras submetidas a um maior tempo de sinterização e também foi possível verificar e analisar através da extrusão a compactação do pó cerâmico dentro do tubo de prata. O EDS detectou a composição química dos elementos nas amostras bem como a concentração das fases em determinadas regiões analisadas / With the emergence of superconductivity research involving applications of this, particularly in the transport of energy, had a promising advance over the years. This study aims to manufacture superconducting wires using the method Powder-In-Tube (PIT), which was inserted inside a tube of silver powder of superconducting ceramic BSCCO system. Preliminary studies were done on pellets made with the same superconducting material, and after some results were prepared the superconducting wires. Characterization measurements were made among them the X-ray diffraction, electrical measurements by the method of four points and type of microscopy (FEG-SEM) equipped with EDX to determine the morphology and chemical composition of the elements in the sample. The results of X-ray diffraction showed the formation of the desired phases for this type of superconductor, ie the BSCCO system between them was possible to determine the Bi-2212 phase, Bi-2223 and Bi-2234 contained in the synthesized samples. The electrical measurements have detected a sudden drop in electrical resistance of the wires showing the range of superconducting transition with good accuracy. It was possible to perform the calculation of current density in the wires made based on a criterion of 1 μV/cm were obtained and values of around 1,30– 3,90 (KA/m2). The values are consistent with the specifications of the samples and within the limits of our research. In microscopy images is noteworthy improvement in the interaction between the superconducting grains in samples submitted to a higher sintering time and it was possible to verify and analyze the compaction of ceramic powder into silver tube through the extrusion process. The EDX detected the chemical composition of the elements in the samples in a qualitative way