Engineering topics
Juhas, P
Publications and source records attributed to Juhas, P.
In-Situ Monitoring of Particle Growth at PEMFC Cathode under Accelerated Cycling Conditions
An in-situ method to measure changes in catalyst particle size at the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is demonstrated. Synchrotron X-rays, 58 keV, were used to measure the pair distribution function on an operating fuel cell and observe the growth of catalyst particles under accelerated degradation conditions. The stability of Pt/C and PtCo/C with different initial particle sizes was monitored over 3000 potential cycles. The increase in particle size was fit to a linear trend as a function of cycles. The most stable electrocatalyst was found to be the alloyed PtCo with the larger initial particle size.
Revealing the Mechanisms behind SnO2 Nanoparticle Formation and Growth during Hydrothermal Synthesis: An In Situ Total Scattering Study
The formation and growth mechanisms in the hydrothermal synthesis of SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles from aqueous solutions of SnCl{sub 4} {center_dot} 5H{sub 2}O have been elucidated by means of in situ X-ray total scattering (PDF) measurements. The analysis of the data reveals that when the tin(IV) chloride precursor is dissolved, chloride ions and water coordinate octahedrally to tin(IV), forming aquachlorotin(IV) complexes of the form [SnCl{sub x}(H{sub 2}O){sub 6-x}]{sup (4-x)+} as well as hexaaquatin(IV) complexes [Sn(H{sub 2}O){sub 6-y}(OH){sub y}]{sup (4-y)+}. Upon heating, ellipsoidal SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles are formed uniquely from hexaaquatin(IV). The nanoparticle size and morphology (aspect ratio) are dependent on both the reaction temperature and the precursor concentration, and particles as small as 2 nm can be synthesized. Analysis of the growth curves shows that Ostwald ripening only takes place above 200 C, and in general the growth is limited by diffusion of precursor species to the growing particle. The c-parameter in the tetragonal lattice is observed to expand up to 0.5% for particle sizes down to 2-3 nm as compared to the bulk value. SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles below 3-4 nm do not form in the bulk rutile structure, but as an orthorhombic structural modification, which previously has only been reported at pressures above 5 GPa. Thus, adjustment of the synthesis temperature and precursor concentration not only allows control over nanoparticle size and morphology but also the structure.