The current energy supply of human society is based on fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas which are related to several problems. The reserves are decreasing and their final depletion seems to be just a matter of time. Several approaches have been made to replace fossil fuels by sustainable techniques. Up to now none of these were able to fully replace fossil fuels. From all available renewable energy resources, solar energy will be the only known source that provides sufficient energy to meet the increasing energy demand of humanity. Solar radiation however is most abundant in remote locations and has substantial fluctuations over short and long timescales. Therefore cost effective energy storage and transport is just as important as energy generation. In the presented work the aim is to investigate the reduction of carbon dioxide to various desirable energy storage products by establishing a system that provides an electron transfer from an organic semiconductor onto a redox mediator. Such a system would mimic photosynthesis which is demonstrated magnificently by nature over millions of years.
This thesis addresses the introduction of redox mediator into lithium-oxygen batteries to improve their electrochemical performance especially in terms of practical energy density and round-trip efficiency. In chapter 1, basic electrochemistry regarding lithium-oxygen batteries and redox mediators are introduced. In chapter 2 to 4, comprehensive researches including the discovery of a new redox mediator inspired by biological system, the investigation on kinetic property of redox mediator, and the prevention of shuttle phenomenon are introduced, followed by chapter 5 summarizing the contents. This thesis is targeted to students and researchers interested in electrochemistry and energy storage systems.
As a promising class of organic electron transfer redox mediators, the recently developed triarylimidazoles (TAIs) have been used to achieve indirect electrochemical C-H bonds activation and functionalization. Herein the diffusion and electron transfer rates for the oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol using TAI are reported and compared its electrochemical behavior with that of tris(4-bromophenyl)amine (TBPA), an organic electron transfer mediator that is frequently used for indirect oxidative electrolysis. The results contribute to the understanding of the electron transfer process of electrocatalytic oxidation using TAIs, and offer useful guidelines for their further development and use.
Electrical communication between redox centers of glucose oxidase and vitreous carbon electrodes is established through binding to oligosaccharides, at the periphery of the enzyme, ferrocene functions pendant on flexible chains. Communication is effective when the chains are long (>10 bonds), but when the chains are short (
Hybrid organic-inorganic materials and the rational design of their interfaces open up the access to a wide spectrum of functionalities not achievable with traditional concepts of materials science. This innovative class of materials has a major impact in many application domains such as optics, electronics, mechanics, energy storage and conversion, protective coatings, catalysis, sensing and nanomedicine. The properties of these materials do not only depend on the chemical structure, and the mutual interaction between their nano-scale building blocks, but are also strongly influenced by the interfaces they share. This handbook focuses on the most recent investigations concerning the design, control, and dynamics of hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces, covering: (i) characterization methods of interfaces, (ii) innovative computational approaches and simulation of interaction processes, (iii) in-situ studies of dynamic aspects controlling the formation of these interfaces, and (iv) the role of the interface for process optimization, devices, and applications in such areas as optics, electronics, energy and medicine.
Energy production and storage are central problems for our time. In principle, abundant energy is available from the sun to run the earth in a sustainable way. Solar energy can be directly harnessed by agricultural and photovoltaic means, but the sheer scale of the energy demand poses severe challenges, for example any major competition between biomass production and food production would simply transfer scarcity from energy to food. Indirect use of solar energy in the form of wind looks also promising, especially for those regions not blessed with abundant sunlight. Other modes such as tidal and wave energy may well become important niche players. Inorganic chemistry plays a decisive role in the development of new energy technologies and this Volume covers some promising modes of alternative energy production and storage that minimize the atmospheric burden of fossil-derived carbon monoxide. No one production or storage mode is likely to dominate, at least at first, and numerous possibilities need to be explored to compare their technical feasibility and economics. This provides the context for a broad exploration of novel ideas that we are likely to see in future years as the field expands. This Volume covers a wide range of topics, such as: - Water splitting, only water is a sufficiently cheap and abundant electron source for global exploitation; - Energy conversion by photosynthesis; - Molecular catalysts for water splitting; - Thermochemical water splitting; - Photocatalytic hydrogen production; - Artificial photosynthesis, progress of the Swedish Consortium; - Hydrogen economy; - Reduction of carbon dioxide to useful fuels; - Conversion of methane to methanol; - Dye sensitized solar cells; - Photoinitiated electron transfer in fuel cells; - Proton exchange membranes for fuel cells; - Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells; - Direct Ethanol fuel cells; - Molecular catalysis for fuel cells; - Enzymes and microbes in fuel cells; - Li-Ion batteries; - Magic Angle Spinning NMR studies of battery materials; Supercapacitors and electrode materials. About EIC Books The Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry (EIC) has proved to be one of the defining standards in inorganic chemistry, and most chemistry libraries around the world have access either to the first or second print edition, or to the online version. Many readers, however, prefer to have more concise thematic volumes, targeted to their specific area of interest. This feedback from EIC readers has encouraged the Editors to plan a series of EIC Books, focusing on topics of current interest. They will appear on a regular basis, and will feature leading scholars in their fields. Like the Encyclopedia, EIC Books aim to provide both the starting research student and the confirmed research worker with a critical distillation of the leading concepts in inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry, and provide a structured entry into the fields covered. This volume is also available as part of Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry, 5 Volume Set. This set combines all volumes published as EIC Books from 2007 to 2010, representing areas of key developments in the field of inorganic chemistry published in the Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry. Find out more.
Biosensors and Modern Biospecific Analytical Techniques further expands the Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry series' coverage of rapid analysis based on advanced technological developments. This 12-chapter volume summarizes the main developments in the biosensors field over the last 10 years. It provides a comprehensive study on the different types of biosensors, including DNA-based, enzymatic, optical, self-assembled monolayers and the third generation of biosensors. As well as many technological developments on bioanalytical microsystems and new materials for biosensors, antibody and immunoassay developments have a prominent place in the book. * Provides a comprehensive study on the different types of biosensors * Applications covered include environmental analysis, bioprocess monitoring and biomedicine * An indispensable resource for those working in analytical chemistry
Details the latest advances in bioanalytical applications using enzymes--techniques that are becoming increasingly important in analysis, synthesis, manufacturing and medical diagnosis. Consists of seven articles which cover: enzyme labeled antibodies in bioassays, DNA restriction enzymes and RFLPs in medicine, enzyme-labeled probes for nucleic acid hybridization, unique methodologies of immobilized proteins in bioanalytical systems, dry reagent chemistry fundamentals, the theory and applications of enzyme electrode biosenors, and advances in enzymatically coupled field effect transistors.
