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Hydrogen energy

Renewable
energy

Hydrogen energy

The main contemporary industrial processes are based on fossil fuel usage. The reserves of these fuels are estimated to be exhausted during several next centuries. It demands intensive progress in alternative power sources development. On the other hand fossil fuel application leads to the growing environment pollution, causing the so called “greenhouse effect”. Namely, during the last century the CO2 concentration increased about 20%, being the main reason for average temperature increase on Earth. This fact has already caused undesirable climate changes, connected to animal and plants biodiversity disorder.

United Nations (Republic of Serbia is a member) has recognized environment pollution effects and global actions to prevent it have already been taken. From Stockholm conference held in 1972, Kyoto in 1997 to Paris Climate Agreement 2015 United Nations announced several declarations (Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment), to stabilize gas emission and decrease greenhouse effect. European Union has established main targets until 2050, in the frame of Climate and Energy Package, to increase alternative power sources usage and save environment.

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For several decades, researchers at the Center for Green Technologies have been developing catalysts for a more efficient process of water electrolysis, which produces hydrogen as a clean fuel. Composite materials based on metals, alloys and metal oxides, as well as titanium oxide nanotubes decorated with Ru and Pd nanoparticles, are being investigated as cathode catalysts in alkaline environments. The synthesis and characterization of the so-called Mach phases, Ti2AlC and TiSiC, as carriers of Ru or Pd nanoparticles, are being investigated for a more efficient electrolysis of water in acidic environments. For the oxygen evolution reaction, new catalysts based on mixed oxides of nickel, iron and cobalt are being developed, with a highly developed surface area, increased activity and stability.
Hydrogen obtained by water electrolysis is used as a clean fuel in low-temperature fuel cells. Currently, Pt nanocatalysts on carbon supports (Vulcan XC 72) are in use. The biggest problems are: small Pt reserves and high price, as well as insufficient efficiency of existing catalysts, in terms of activity and stability. The subject of this research is the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured catalysts, based on inactive metal-oxide supports for platinum group metal nanoparticles. “Core-shell” catalysts based on metal oxide supports for Pt nanoparticles were synthesized and their activity, chemical and corrosion resistance were tested. Catalysts such as: Ag-Pd, WC-Pd,. Special attention is paid to the optimization of existing and the development of new synthetic procedures, the physicochemical characterization of the obtained catalysts, as well as the testing of chemical and corrosion stability, in order to achieve satisfactory characteristics for possible commercial application. As part of this research, numerous doctoral dissertations have been completed and dozens of papers have been published in the most eminent international journals.

Projects

  1. Bilateral cooperation project between the Republic of Serbia and Germany, 2020-2021, “TiO2 nanotubular arrays decorated with platinum group metal nanoparticles for application in electrocatalysis” – leader Dr. Uroš Lačnjevac, scientific advisor at IMSI, participant Dr. Nevenka Elezović, scientific advisor at IMSI, leader from the German side Prof. Dr. Patrik Schmuki, from Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen.
  2. “Development, characterization and application of nanostructured composite catalysts and interactive supports in fuel assemblies and water electrolysis” – (Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, 2011-2019), leader Prof. Dr. Nedeljko Krstajić, participants from the Center for Green Technologies: Dr. Uroš Lačnjevac, scientific advisor IMSI, Dr. Nevenka Elezović, scientific advisor IMSI
  3. “Synthesis, characterization and application of catalysts based on nanoparticles on various supports, in fuel cells, water electrolysis and electro-organic synthesis“, (Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia, 2006-2010), supervisor Prof. Dr. Nedeljko Krstajić participant from the Center for Green Technologies: Dr. Nevenka Elezović scientific advisor IMSI
  4. “Electrocatalysts based on intermetallic compounds and special alloys for hydrogen evolution, oxidation and absorption reactions” (Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia and Montenegro, 2000-2005), supervisor Prof. Dr. Nedeljko Krstajić, participant from the Center for Green Technologies: Dr. Nevenka Elezović, scientific advisor, IMSI

Recent selected publications:

  1. Elezović N. R., Zabinski P., Lačnjevac U. Č., Krstajić Pajić M. N., Jović V. D.(2021), Electrochemical deposition and characterization of iridium oxide films on Ti2AlC support for oxygen evolution reaction, Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, Vol.25, 351–363(2021). IF za 2019=2.646 (14/27, ELECTROCHEMISTRY)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-020-04816-7
  2. Elezovic N.R., Brankovic G., Zabinski P., Marzec M., Jovic V.D. (2020), Ultra-thin layers of iridium electrodeposited on Ti2AlC support as cost effective catalysts for hydrogen production by water electrolysis, J. Electroanalytical Chemistry 878: 114575, IF(2019)=3.807, 17/81, CHEMISTRY ANALYTICAL
  3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2020.114575
  4. Lačnjevac U., Vasilić R., Dobrota A., Đurđić S., Tomanec O., Zbořil R., Mohajernia S., Nguyen N. T., Skorodumova N., Manojlović D., Elezović N, Pašti I., Schmuki P., (2020), High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis Using Proton-Intercalated TiO2 Nanotube Arrays as Interactive Supports for Ir Nanoparticles“, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, accepted October 7th 2020. IF(2020)=12.732 (8/114, ENERGY & FUELS).
  5. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0TA07492F
  6. Elezovic N.R., Lovic J.D., Jovic B.M., Zabinski P., Włoch G., Jovic V.D. (2019), Synthesis and characterization of AgPd alloy coatings as beneficial catalysts for low temperature fuel cells application, Electrochimica Acta, 307: 360-368, IF(2019)=6.215 (5/26, ELECTROCHEMISTRY).
  7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2019.03.177
  8. Lačnjevac U., Vasilić R, Tokarski T., Cios G., Żabiński P., Elezović N., Krstajić N. (2018), Deposition of Pd nanoparticles on the walls of cathodically hydrogenated TiO2 nanotube arrays via galvanic displacement: A novel route to produce exceptionally active and durable composite electrocatalysts for cost-effective hydrogen evolution, Nano Energy, 47: 527–538 IF=15.548 (za 2018) (8/94 NANOSCIENCE & NANOTECHNOLOGY).
  9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.03.040
  10. Lovic J.D., Elezovic N.R., Jovic B.M., Zabinski P., Gajic-Krstajic Lj., Jovic V.D.(2018), Electrodeposited AgPd alloy coatings as efficient catalysts for the ethanol oxidation reaction, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 43:18498-18508, IF(2019)= 4.939, 24/97 Energy and Fuels).
  11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.08.056
  12. Jović V.D., Jović B.M., Lačnjevac U.Č., Krstajić N.V, Zabinski P., Elezović N.R. (2018), Accelerated service life test of electrodeposited NiSn alloys as bifunctional catalysts for alkaline water electrolysis under industrial operating conditions, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry IF(2016)=3.012 (20/76, CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL)
  13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2017.06.011
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