Towards low-cost PEM fuel cells: Interfacial effects and material dynamics of a non-PGM electrocatalyst

In this thesis several aspects of PEM fuel cells are discussed. From an atomic scale, e.g. crystal and electronic structure of a non-noble metal material, e.g. (H)zLiMn2O4 (protonated spinel lithium manganese oxide) for electrocatalysis and its dynamics, to meso-macro scale effects such as those concerning transport resistances at the membrane...

Liquid Crystal Sulfonated Aramids as Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

Two sulfonated aramids, poly(2,2’-disulfonylbenzidine terephthalamide) (PBDT) and poly(2,2’-disulfonylbenzidine isophthalamide) (PBDI) were synthesized with the aim to explore their unique morphology for proton exchange membrane applications. Due to the different polymer structures, PBDT forms a nematic liquid crystal, whereas PBDI is isotropic....

Synthesis and characterization of advanced nuclear fuels

Charge carrier transport at the nanoscale: Electron and hole transport in self-assembled discotic liquid crystals: Mobile ionic charges in nanocomposite solid electrolytes

This thesis explores some fundamental aspects of charge carrier transport at the nanoscale. The study is divided in two parts. In the first part, the structural, dynamical and vibrational properties of discotic liquid crystals are studied in relation to the potential of these self-assembled ‘mesophases’ to form molecular conducting wires....

Biofouling of spiral wound membrane systems

Biofouling of spiral wound membrane systems High quality drinking water can be produced with membrane filtration processes like reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF). Because the global demand for fresh clean water is increasing, these membrane technologies will increase in importance in the coming decades. One of the most serious...

Conjugates of lanthanide chelates and phenylboronates for molecular recognition of tumors

Molecular imaging has become a highly important tool in medicine. Recent technological developments allow visualization of molecular events in vivo on a level that has never been achievable before. The importance of chemistry in medical science is growing due to the demand of specific agents for biological targets. This thesis describes a...

Polymer gels for water control: NMR and CT scan studies

As oil and gas reservoirs mature, larger volumes of water are produced. These large volumes of produced water need to be separated, processed, treated and re-injected into the reservoir. All of these processes impose extra costs to the hydrocarbon production. Water rates can increase until production from a certain field is no longer economical....

Two-phase reactive transport of an oil-soluble chemical: An NMR study

An oil-soluble chemical (OSC) is a chemical substance which is soluble and chemically inert in oil, but reacts with water to form a gel. Application of an OSC can be found in oil- and gas production. An increased water production, which usually occurs in mature oil fields, can be remedied by injecting the OSC in the near-wellbore area. The OSC...

Structure and Dynamics of Lithium in Anastase TiO2

A fundamental study on materials for Li-ion batteries

In April 1997 the program "Decentralized Production and Storage for Large-Scale Application of Renewable Energy" of the Delft Interfaculty Research Centre (DIOC) was launched. In this program various groups from several Faculties of the Delft University of Technology studied the feasibility of large scale application of renewable energy. Energy...

Separation of the intra- and extracellular 23Na NMR signals