Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-08-10T12:27:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Geovânia Cordeiro de Assis.pdf: 2354639 bytes, checksum: ce1618c95a4673199ee7b5895baa2e85 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T12:27:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Geovânia Cordeiro de Assis.pdf: 2354639 bytes, checksum: ce1618c95a4673199ee7b5895baa2e85 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-26 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Much of the pollution potential adjunct to human activities is related to the emission of large volumes of household and industrial waste, which, even if treated by conventional methods available, have resistant and toxic chemical species that contaminate the water environment. As a result, many efforts have been devoted to the development of alternative technologies, especially the advanced oxidation processes and, in this context, for heterogeneous photocatalysis. The tin dioxide (SnO2) stands out as an excellent photocatalytic activity material. The objective was to study the photodegradation of rhodamine B mediated by UV irradiation / SnO2 and SnO2 impregnated polystyrene nanofoams in order to evaluate the use of the catalyst impregnated polystyrene nanofoams and its reuse. The nanoparticles of SnO2 were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method, based on the Pechini method, calcination temperatures investigated oxide were 700, 800 and 900 ° C. SnO2 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), surface area analysis (B.E.T) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The nanoparticles of SnO2 were impregnated in nanofoams polystyrene by Thermally Induced Phase Separation mechanism (TIPS), forming the photocatalysts PS/SnO2-700; PS/SnO2-800 and PS/SnO2-900 ° C. The nanofoams PS/SnO2 were characterized by XRD, B.E.T and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The dye used for testing these photocatalysts is Rhodamine B. The tests showed the effectiveness of these catalysts in the degradation of rhodamine B dye, wherein the impregnation with the polystyrene matrix increased a little photocatalytic activity of all the catalysts and the photocatalyst that obtained the best results with 94% tin dioxide was calcined at 700 ° C and the nanofoams PS/SnO2-700 ° C with 98%. Reuse tests were made that catalyst calcined at 700 ° C powder and impregnated, where it was proven that besides having a photocatalytic activity nanofoams PS/SnO2 can be removed more easily, which facilitates the separation of solution and photocatalyst. / Grande parte do potencial poluente adjunto às atividades antrópicas está relacionado com a emissão de grandes volumes de resíduos domésticos e industriais, os quais, mesmo tratados pelos métodos convencionais disponíveis apresentam espécies químicas resistentes e tóxicas que contaminam o meio hídrico. Em função disso, muitos esforços têm sido dedicados ao desenvolvimento de tecnologias alternativas, com destaque para os processos de oxidação avançada e, dentro deste contexto, para a fotocatálise heterogênea. Dentre os óxidos metálicos aplicados na fotocatalise heterogênea, destaca- se o dióxido de estanho (SnO2) na forma nanoestruturada que apresenta propriedades que favorecem a atividade fotocatalítica. O objetivo do trabalho foi preparar nanoespumas de poliestireno e impregnar nanopartículas de SnO2 para degradação fotoquímica da Rodamina B. As nanopartículas de SnO2 foram sintetizadas através do método dos precursores poliméricos, baseado no método de Pechini, as temperaturas investigadas de calcinação do óxido foram 700, 800 e 900 °C. As nanopartículas de SnO2 foram caracterizadas através de Difração de Raio-X, Espectroscopia de Reflectância Difusa (DRS), Análise de área superficial (B.E.T) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (TEM). As nanopartículas de SnO2 foram impregnadas em nanoespumas de poliestireno através do mecanismo de Separação de Fases Induzido Termicamente (TIPS), formando os fotocatalisadores PS/SnO2-700; PS/SnO2-800 e PS/SnO2-900 °C. As nanoespumas PS/SnO2 foram caracterizadas através de DRX , B.E.T e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). O corante utilizado para os testes desses fotocatalisadores foi a Rodamina B. Os ensaios mostraram a eficiência desses catalisadores na degradação do corante rodamina B, sendo que a impregnação na matriz de Poliestireno aumentou um pouco a atividade fotocatalítica de todos os catalisadores e o fotocatalisador que obteve o melhor resultado com 94 % foi o dióxido de estanho calcinado a 700 °C, bem como a nanoespuma PS/SnO2-700 °C com 98 %. Foram feitos ensaios de reuso desse catalisador, calcinado a 700 °C em pó, e impregnado, onde foi comprovado que além de ter uma atividade fotocatalítica a nanoespuma PS/SnO2 pode ser removida com mais facilidade, o que favorece a separação entre a solução e o fotocatalisador.

This thesis focuses on the use of biomolecular assemblies for creating materials with novel properties. Several aspects of biomimetic materials have been investigated, from fundamental studies on membrane shaping molecules to the integration of biomolecules with inorganic materials. Triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) are mathematically defined surfaces that partition space and present a large surface area in a confined space. These surfaces have analogues in many physical systems. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can form intricate structures and it acts as a replica for the wing scales of the butterfly C. rubi, which is characterized by electron microscopy and reflectometry. It was shown to contain a photonic crystal and an analogue to a TPMS. These photonic crystals have been replicated in silica and titania, leading to blue scales with replication on the nanometer scale. Replicas analyzed with left and right handed polarized light are shown be optically active. A macroporous hollow core particle was synthesized using a double templating method where a swollen block copolymer was utilized to create polyhedral nanofoam. Emulsified oil was used as a secondary template which gave hollow spheres with thin porous walls. The resulting material had a high porosity and low thermal conductivity. The areas of inorganic materials and functional biomolecules were combined to create a functional nanoporous endoskeleton. The membrane protein ATP synthase were incorporated in liposomes which were deposited on nanoporous silica spheres creating a tight and functional membrane. Using confocal microscopy, it was possible to follow the transport of Na+ through the membrane. Yop1p is a membrane protein responsible for shaping the ER. The protein was purified and reconstituted into liposomes of three different sizes. The vesicles in the 10-20 nm size range resulted in tubular structures. Thus, it was shown that Yop1p acts as a stabilizer of high curvature structures. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Submitted. Paper 4: Submitted. Paper 5: Submitted.</p>

The topic of this thesis is the degradation of fuel cell electrodes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In particular, the degradation associated with localized fuel starvation, which is often encountered during start-ups and shut-downs (SUs/SDs) of PEMFCs. At SU/SD, O2 and H2 usually coexist in the anode compartment. This situation forces the opposite electrode, i.e. the cathode, to very high potentials, resulting in the corrosion of the carbon supporting the catalyst, referred to as carbon corrosion. The aim of this thesis has been to develop methods, materials and strategies to address the issues associated to carbon corrosion in PEMFC.The extent of catalyst degradation is commonly evaluated determining the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of fuel cell electrode. Therefore, it was considered important to study the effect of RH, temperature and type of accelerated degradation test (ADT) on the ECSA. Low RH decreases the ECSA of the electrode, attributed to re-structuring the ionomer and loss of contact with the catalyst.In the search for more durable supports, we evaluated different accelerated degradation tests (ADTs) for carbon corrosion. Potentiostatic holds at 1.2 V vs. RHE were found to be too mild. Potentiostatic holds at 1.4 V vs. RHE were found to induce a large degree of reversibility, also attributed to ionomer re-structuring. Triangle-wave potential cycling was found to irreversibly degrade the electrode within a reasonable amount of time, closely simulating SU/SD conditions.Corrosion of carbon-based supports not only degrades the catalyst by lowering the ECSA, but also has a profound effect on the electrode morphology. Decreased electrode porosity, increased agglomerate size and ionomer enrichment all contribute to the degradation of the mass-transport properties of the cathode. Graphitized carbon fibers were found to be 5 times more corrosion resistant than conventional carbons, primarily attributed to their lower surface area. Furthermore, fibers were found to better maintain the integrity of the electrode morphology, generally showing less degradation of the mass-transport losses. Different system strategies for shut-down were evaluated. Not doing anything to the fuel cell during shut-downs is detrimental for the fuel cell. O2 consumption with a load and H2 purge of the cathode were found to give around 100 times lower degradation rates compared to not doing anything and almost 10 times lower degradation rate than a simple air purge of the anode. Finally, in-situ measurements of contact resistance showed that the contact resistance between GDL and BPP is highly dynamic and changes with operating conditions. / Denna doktorsavhandling behandlar degraderingen av polymerelektrolytbränslecellselektroder. polymerelektrolytbränslecellselektroder. Den handlar särskilt om nedbrytningen av elektroden kopplad till en degraderingsmekanism som heter ”localized fuel starvation” oftast närvarande vid uppstart och nedstängning av bränslecellen. Vid start och stopp kan syrgas och vätgas förekomma samtidigt i anoden. Detta leder till väldigt höga elektrodpotentialer i katoden. Resultatet av detta är att kolbaserade katalysatorbärare korroderar och att bränslecellens livslängd förkortas. Målet med avhandlingen har varit att utveckla metoder, material och strategier för att både öka förståelsen av denna degraderingsmekanism och för att maximera katalysatorbärarens livslängd.Ett vanligt tillvägagångsätt för att bestämma graden av katalysatorns degradering är genom mätning av den elektrokemiskt aktiva ytan hos bränslecellselektroderna. I denna avhandling har dessutom effekten av temperatur och relativ fukthalt studerats. Låga fukthalter minskar den aktiva ytan hos elektroden, vilket sannolikt orsakas av en omstrukturering av jonomeren och av kontaktförlust mellan jonomer och katalysator.Olika accelererade degraderingstester för kolkorrosion har använts. Potentiostatiska tester vid 1.2 V mot RHE visade sig vara för milda. Potentiostatiska tester vid 1.4 V mot RHE visade sig däremot medföra en hög grad av reversibilitet, som också den tros vara orsakad av en omstrukturering av jonomeren. Cykling av elektrodpotentialen degraderade istället elektroden irreversibelt, inom rimlig tid och kunde väldigt nära simulera förhållandena vid uppstart och nedstängning.Korrosionen av katalysatorbäraren medför degradering av katalysatorn och har också en stor inverkan på elektrodens morfologi. En minskad elektrodporositet, en ökad agglomeratstorlek och en anrikning av jonomeren gör att elektrodens masstransportegenskaper försämras. Grafitiska kolfibrer visade sig vara mer resistenta mot kolkorrosion än konventionella kol, främst p.g.a. deras låga ytarea. Grafitiska kolfibrer visade också en förmåga att bättre bibehålla elektrodens morfologi efter accelererade tester, vilket resulterade i lägre masstransportförluster.Olika systemstrategier för nedstängning jämfördes. Att inte göra något under nedstängning är mycket skadligt för bränslecellen. Förbrukning av syre med en last och spolning av katoden med vätgas visade 100 gånger lägre degraderingshastighet av bränslecellsprestanda jämfört med att inte göra något alls och 10 gånger lägre degraderingshastighet jämfört med spolning av anoden med luft. In-situ kontaktresistansmätningar visade att kontaktresistansen mellan bipolära plattor och GDL är dynamisk och kan ändras beroende på driftförhållandena. / <p>QC 20131104</p>