Materials for Energy and Environment Group

Mat4En2 Laboratory

Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta” (CMIC)

Research Fields

FUEL CELLS

ORGANOCLAYSHYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC MATERIALS

PEM-FCs

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

SOFCsMATERIALS

PREPARATION&

CHARACTERIZATION

SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN

PRODUCT DESIGN

People

Dr. Luca Zampori,

temporary researcher

Dr. Saverio Latorrata,

temporary researcher

Dr. Paola Gallo Stampino,

staff researcher

Dr. Renato Pelosato,

temporary researcher

Prof. Giovanni Dotelli

Prof. Cinzia Cristiani

Prof. Antonino Giarrusso

Dr. Luca Omati,

PhD student

Research Fields

FUEL CELLS

ORGANOCLAYSHYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC MATERIALS

PEM-FCs

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

SOFCsMATERIALS

PREPARATION&

CHARACTERIZATION

SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN

PRODUCT DESIGN

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells PEM COMPONENTS MATERIALS

Polymeric Membranes• physicochemical and electrical characterization*

Gas Diffusion Layers (GDL) • Microporous layers Formulation• Rheologic characterization of inks• Deposition (Spray, Doctor Blade)• Microstructural and electrical Characterization

Catalytic Layer• In cooperation with Malaga University (Spain), development of

new catalysts• Deposition, microstructural and electrical characterization

Modeling and Simulation of Cell performance

*Cooperation with Pavia University for future development of new polymer electrolyte materials

Typical MPL preparation route

1 10 100 10001E-3

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

visc

osity

(P

a*s)

shear rate s-1

R = 0.0575 (g/g)

Ink formulation

rheology

deposition

Thermal treatment

MPL

PEM TEST BENCH

AC Perturbation

Solartron SL1260

IAC

VAC

Electronic Load

+

-

-0.8

-0.7

-0.6

-0.5

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6Z' (Ohm/cm2)

Z''

(Ohm

/cm

2 )

1A

3A

7A

0

0,1

0,2

0,3

0,4

0,5

0,6

0,7

0,8

0,9

1

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Densità di corrente [mA/cm2]

Po

ten

zia

le [

V]

Impedance Spectroscopy

Polarization curves

Research Fields

FUEL CELLS

ORGANOCLAYSHYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC MATERIALS

PEM-FCs

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

SOFCsMATERIALS

PREPARATION&

CHARACTERIZATION

SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN

PRODUCT DESIGN

Solid Oxide Fuel CellsSOFCs COMPONENTS MATERIALS

• Preparation techniques for SOFC Materials

• Structural and microstructural characterization X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) InfraRed Spectroscopy (FT-IR) ThermoGravimetric analysis (TG) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

• Electrical Characterization Impedance Spectroscopy (IS) in cooperation with Milano Bicocca

University

SOFC Materials preparation route

Co-precipitation synthesis

Standard characterization: XRD, TG, IR

Thermal treatment

MPL

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

2 Theta

Structural and microstructural characterization: Rietveld and SEM-EDS

Impedance Spectroscopy

Research Fields

FUEL CELLS

ORGANOCLAYSHYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC MATERIALS

PEM-FCs

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

SOFCsMATERIALS

PREPARATION&

CHARACTERIZATION

SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN

PRODUCT DESIGN

ORGANOCLAYS• Preparation of modified clays

Quaternary ammonium salt exchanged (ionic) Polymers exchanged (non ionic)

• Structural and microstructural characterization X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) InfraRed Spectroscopy (FT-IR) in cooperation with Genova University ThermoGravimetric analysis (TG) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

• Sorption characterization Adsorption / desorption isotherms in cooperation with Perugia University

• Fields of interest Environmental Biomedical and Biological

Organoclays

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2 4 6 8 10 12

2q

inte

nsity

(a.u

.)

26.5 Å

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2 4 6 8 10 12

2q

inte

nsit

y (

a.u

.)

14 Å

Characterization: XRD, TG, IR

+Orthochlorophenol (OCP)

Nitrobenzene (NB)

0 500 1000 1500 20000

100

200

300

400

500

600

Cs

(g/k

g)

C w (p p m )

N B

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 70000

50

100

150

200

250

300

Cs

(pp

m)

C w (p p m )

Research Fields

FUEL CELLS

ORGANOCLAYSHYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC MATERIALS

PEM-FCs

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

SOFCsMATERIALS

PREPARATION&

CHARACTERIZATION

SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN

PRODUCT DESIGN

Life Cycle Assessment

• Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle *

• Use of LCA data: Materials selection Process Optimization Green Marketing Eco-labeling

* In cooperation with industry

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

fertilizers Refinery

Farm

dairy

Life Cycle Analysis of a Glass of Milk

market

Refinery

Refinery