Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Publication
    Review—Bibliometrics and current research trends on direct carbon-solid oxide fuel cells utilizing biomass as fuel
    (IOP Publishing, 2023)
    Michelle S. Carbonell
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    Al Rey C. Villagracia
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    ;
    Ruey-An Doong
    Biomass is considered a viable alternative source of energy after thermochemical conversion techniques and activation methods are adopted for its conversion to biochar and activated carbon, respectively. This work provides the bibliometrics and recent developments on DC-SOFC using biochar as fuel and is further enhanced through the carbon activation method. This study reported the dominant researchers from different countries and their contributions to the development of DC-SOFC. This study provided an overview of the physicochemical characteristics of the biochar and its corresponding effect in the operation of a DC-SOFC in terms of the electrochemical performance when used as fuel. Data reveal that other biomasses can still be pyrolyzed and used as DC-SOFC fuel. This paper includes that among the alternative carbon fuels to date, pomelo peel char has the most efficient and effective biochar fuel for DC-SOFC, which yields the best output in terms of parameters such as peak power density and fuel utilization rate. The activation method, as applied in biochar fuel, is an effective way to enhance the performance of the fuel cell. Prospects and challenges addressing identified gaps for DC-SOFC with high power output operated with biomass as fuel are similarly discussed.
  • Publication
    Green synthesis and characterization of Graphene quantum dots from key lime juice
    (Springer, 2023)
    Nur Atirah Afifah Sezali
    ;
    Siew Suan Ng
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    ;
    Al Rey Villagracia
    ;
    ;
    Ruey-An Doong
    Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are one of the members of graphene family with unique properties such as quantum confinement effect, photoluminescence effect, and strong conductivity. This work prepared the GQDs using lime juice obtained from the waste of locally grown key limes as the precursor. The hydrothermal method was used in the preparation of the GQDs. The fluorescence effect of the GQDs was observed under a UV lamp irradiation while other characterization was conducted using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The GQD preparation was successful with the emission of a strong blue color when the GQD was put under a 365 nm UV light irradiation. It was found that the particle size of the prepared GQDs was in the range of 0.7–2.8 nm with an average diameter of 1.3 ± 0.5 nm. The characterization results proved the formation of GQDs as one of the graphene nanomaterials.
  • Publication
    Tuning the surface charge of rice straw-derived cellulose nanofibril membrane separator for electrochemical performance enhancement of supercapacitors
    (Elsevier, 2024)
    Md. Asadul Islam
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    ;
    Nur Atirah Afifah Sezali
    ;
    Cheng-Kuo Tsai
    ;
    Ruey-An Doong
    The electrochemical performance of supercapacitors has often overlooked the effect of surface charge on cellulose-based separators. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) produced by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpipridine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidation possess a high anionic surface charge due to the presence of carboxylate groups, which could affect the transport of electrolyte ions. In this work, the surface of CNFs is modified with a cationic polyelectrolyte, namely polydiallydimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC), to yield a nearly-zero surface charge CNF membrane derived from rice straw. The surface modification of CNFs using 20 wt% PDADMAC results in CNF-M2, with a surface charge of +5.3 mV, notable porosity (64 %), excellent electrolyte uptake (225 %), and improved ionic conductivity (5.0 mS cm−1). A symmetric supercapacitor assembled with CNF-M2 as a separator, exhibits enhanced specific capacitance (185.3 F g−1 at 0.1 A g−1), energy density (37.1 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 0.24 kW kg−1), and is able to maintain 100 % capacitance retention over 10,000 cycles in 1.0 M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte solution. This surface modification leads to 1.2–1.4 times increase in energy and power densities compared to the unmodified CNF membrane. Thus, the nearly-zero surface charge of the modified CNF membrane holds promise as a separator that elevates the performance of supercapacitors.