Carbonized Nickel Complex of Sodium Pectate as Catalyst for Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Kirill V Kholin; Aigul F Sabirova; Danis M Kadirov; Ayrat R Khamatgalimov; Mikhail N Khrizanforov; Irek R Nizameev; Mikhail V Morozov; Radis R Gainullin; Timur P Sultanov; Salima T Minzanova; Eugene S Nefed'ev; Marsil K Kadirov

doi:10.3390/membranes13070635

Carbonized Nickel Complex of Sodium Pectate as Catalyst for Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Membranes (Basel). 2023 Jun 30;13(7):635. doi: 10.3390/membranes13070635.

Authors

Kirill V Kholin^{1

2}, Aigul F Sabirova^{1

2}, Danis M Kadirov², Ayrat R Khamatgalimov¹, Mikhail N Khrizanforov^{1

3}, Irek R Nizameev^{1

2

4}, Mikhail V Morozov⁴, Radis R Gainullin^{1

2}, Timur P Sultanov^{1

2}, Salima T Minzanova¹, Eugene S Nefed'ev², Marsil K Kadirov^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry, FRC Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan 420088, Russia.
² Department of Physics, Kazan National Research Technological University, Kazan 420015, Russia.
³ A.M. Butlerov Chemistry Institute, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya Str. 18, Kazan 420008, Russia.
⁴ Department of Nanotechnology in Electronics, Kazan National Research Technical University named after A.N. Tupolev-KAI, Kazan 420111, Russia.

Abstract

Sodium pectate derivatives with 25% replacement of sodium ions with nickel ions were obtained by carbonization to temperatures of 280, 550, and 800 °C, under special protocols in an inert atmosphere by carbonization to temperatures of 280, 550, and 800 °C. The 25% substitution is the upper limit of substitution of sodium for nickel ions, above which the complexes are no longer soluble in water. It was established that the sample carburized to 550 °C is the most effective active element in the hydrogen-oxidation reaction, while the sample carbonized up to 800 °C was the most effective in the oxygen-reduction reaction. The poor performance of the catalytic system involving the pectin coordination biopolymer carbonized up to 280 °C was due to loss of proton conductivity caused by water removal and mainly by two-electron transfer in one catalytic cycle of the oxygen-reduction reaction. The improved performance of the system with coordination biopolymer carbonized up to 550 °C was due to the better access of gases to the catalytic sites and four-electron transfer in one catalytic cycle. The (Ni-NaPG)_800C sample contains metallic nickel nanoparticles and loose carbon, which enhances the electrical conductivity and gas capacity of the catalytic system. In addition, almost four-electron transfer is observed in one catalytic cycle of the oxygen-reduction reaction.

Keywords: 2/4-electron transfer; carbonization; coordination biopolymers; hydrogen-oxidation reaction; nickel complex; oxygen-reduction reaction; proton-exchange membrane fuel cell; sodium pectate.

Grants and funding

The reported study was funded by RSF, project number 22-29-00895. The preparation of the pectin coordination biopolymers was supported by the government assignment for FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS. Electrochemical and DSK-TG studies were performed at the Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry and Specific Surface Area Studies at the Kazan National Research Technical University. The TEM, AFM, and AES studies were performed using the equipment of the Center for Collective Use “Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology” of the Kazan National Research Technological University.