Synthesis and characterization of MFe2O4 sulfur nanoadsorbents

Nanoparticles of ferrites (Fe₃O₄, NiFe₂O₄, CuFe₂O₄, and MnFe₂O₄) were prepared by a reverse (water/oil) microemulsion method. The microemulsion system consisted of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, 1-butanol, cyclohexane, and a metal salt solution. The procedure was carried out using aqueous ammonia as the coprecipitating agent. Nanosized particles were characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and pyridine adsorption. The NiFe₂O₄ sample exhibited narrow mesoporous pore size distribution and high surface area ≈233 m²/g. It achieved good adsorption activity towards the dibenzothiophene (DBT) compound (166.3 μmol/g of DBT adsorbent). The structural properties obtained were very interesting for potential applications in the desulfurization process in petroleum refining.     

Fabrication and electrochemical performance of nickel ferrite nanoparticles as anode material in lithium ion batteries

Nano-sized nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) was prepared by hydrothermal method at low temperature. The crystalline phase, morphology and specific surface area (BET) of the resultant samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and nitrogen physical adsorption, respectively. The particle sizes of the resulting NiFe₂O₄ samples were in the range of 5–15 nm. The electrochemical performance of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles as the anodic material in lithium ion batteries was tested. It was found that the first discharge capacity of the anode made from NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles could reach a very high value of 1314 mAh g⁻¹, while the discharge capacity decreased to 790.8 mAh g⁻¹ and 709.0 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.2 mA cm⁻² after 2 and 3 cycles, respectively. The BET surface area is up to 111.4 m² g⁻¹. The reaction mechanism between lithium and nickel ferrite was also discussed based on the results of cycle voltammetry (CV) experiments.     

Effect of 1-octanethiol as an electrolyte additive on the performance of the iron-air battery electrodes

It has recently been established that 1-octanethiol in the electrolyte can allow iron electrodes to be discharged at higher rates. However, the effect of thiol additives on the air electrode has not yet been studied. The effect of solvated thiols on the surface positive electrode reaction is of prime importance if these are to be used in an iron-air battery. This work shows that the air-electrode catalyst is poisoned by the presence of octanethiol, with the oxygen reduction overpotential at the air electrode increasing with time of exposure to the solution and increased 1-octanethiol concentration in the range 0–0.1 mol dm⁻³. Post-mortem XPS analyses were performed over the used air electrodes suggesting the adsorption of sulphur species over the catalyst surface, reducing its performance. Therefore, although sulphur-based additives may be suitable for nickel-iron batteries, they are not recommended for iron-air batteries except in concentrations well below 10 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³.

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Electrolysis energy efficiency of highly concentrated FeCl2 solutions for power-to-solid energy storage technology

An electrochemical cycle for the grid energy storage in the redox potential of Fe involves the electrolysis of a highly concentrated aqueous FeCl₂ solution yielding solid iron deposits. For the high overall energy efficiency of the cycle, it is crucial to maximize the energy efficiency of the electrolysis process. Here we present a study of the influence of electrolysis parameters on the energy efficiency of such electrolysis, performed in an industrial-type electrolyzer. We studied the conductivity of the FeCl₂ solution as a function of concentration and temperature and correlated it with the electrolysis energy efficiency. The deviation from the correlation indicated an important contribution from the conductivity of the ion-exchange membrane. Another important studied parameter was the applied current density. We quantitatively showed how the contribution of the resistance polarization increases with the current density, causing a decrease in overall energy efficiency. The highest energy efficiency of 89 ± 3% was achieved using 2.5 mol L⁻¹ FeCl₂ solution at 70 °C and a current density of 0.1 kA m⁻². In terms of the energy input per Fe mass, this means 1.88 Wh g⁻¹. The limiting energy input per mass of the Fe deposit was found to be 1.76 Wh g⁻¹_.

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Facile synthesis of layered reduced graphene oxide–copper sulfide (rGO-CuS) hybrid electrode for all solid-state symmetric supercapacitor

A straightforward process for synthesis of hybrid porous electrode material composed of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and copper sulfide (CuS) with layered structure on the stainless steel substrate is developed. As-synthesized hybrid electrode shows hexagonal crystal structure of CuS with 77 m² gm⁻¹ specific surface area and 22 nm average pore size. The specific capacitance obtained with rGO-CuS5 hybrid electrode is 1201 F g⁻¹ at the sweep rate of 5 mV s⁻¹ in 1 M LiClO₄ aqueous electrolyte. The majority of charge stored by diffusion-controlled process indicates benefits of layered structures for solid-state energy storage. The rGO-CuS5-based hybrid symmetric supercapacitor delivers a specific capacitance (C_s) as high as 109 F g⁻¹ at a sweep rate of 5 mV s⁻¹ with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-LiClO₄ gel electrolyte. Also, the specific energy of 44 Wh kg⁻¹ and specific power of 1.4 kW kg⁻¹ with 87% stability after 6000 cycles at an applied current of 5 mA are obtained. The simple process of synthesis of layered hybrid electrode material for flexible supercapacitor promises its use in smart textile and wearable electronic devices.

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Magnetic NiFe2O4 Nanoparticles Prepared via Non-Aqueous Microwave-Assisted Synthesis for Application in Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation

Phase-pure spinel-type magnetic nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) nanocrystals in the size range of 4 to 11 nm were successfully synthesized by a fast and energy-saving microwave-assisted approach. Size and accessible surface areas can be tuned precisely by the reaction parameters. Our results highlight the correlation between size, degree of inversion, and magnetic characteristics of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, which enables fine-tuning of these parameters for a particular application without changing the elemental composition. Moreover, the application potential of the synthesized powders for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media was demonstrated, showing that a low degree of inversion is beneficial for the overall performance. The most active sample reaches an overpotential of 380 mV for water oxidation at 10 mA cm⁻² and 38.8 mA cm⁻² at 1.7 V vs. RHE, combined with a low Tafel slope of 63 mV dec⁻¹.     

富氮洋葱碳包覆的Ni/NiFe2O4纳米棒析氧电催化剂

将镍铁金属配位聚合物前驱体在惰性气氛下热分解制备了富氮洋葱碳(ONC)包覆的Ni/Ni Fe_2O_4多孔纳米棒复合析氧电催化剂,与Ni@ONC,Ni Fe_2O_4材料及传统Ru O_2催化剂相比,得益于这种富氮洋葱碳包覆的Ni/Ni Fe_2O_4一维多孔纳米异质结构,Ni/Ni Fe_2O_4@ONC材料拥有更优异的导电性能和更大的电化学活性面积(0.149 m F),因而表现出更优异的析氧电催化性能。Ni/Ni Fe_2O_4@ONC纳米棒在1 mol·L~(-1) KOH溶液中,10 m A·cm-2下的析氧过电位仅为299 m V,塔菲尔斜率为73 m V·dec-1,展现出优异的析氧稳定性能。     

A study of some kinetic aspects of the CCl4 interaction with oxide ions in KCl-SrCl2 melts with different content of SrCl2

A comparative investigation of a complex process of the interaction between CCl₄ vapor and oxide ions O^2– (carbochlorination) in K₂SrCl₄ and KSr₂Cl₅ melts at 973 K was performed by the potentiometric method using Pt(O₂)|ZrO₂(Y₂O₃) membrane oxygen electrode as reversible to oxide ion. The analysis of the limiting stages of this process was made on the basis of van't Hoff diagrams. The entire process can be divided into three stages with corresponding limiting processes: the rate of CCl₄ dissolution in the melts for stage 1, the chemical reaction in the melts for stage 2, and the rate of the contamination of the melts with oxygen-containing admixtures for the stage 3. The rate constants of the carbochlorination process in both melts at 973 K were calculated using the data corresponding to stage 2 as (4.4 ± 0.25) × 10⁵ kg mol⁻¹ min⁻¹ for K₂SrCl₄ and (1.83 ± 0.5) × 10⁵ kg mol⁻¹ min⁻¹ for KSr₂Cl₅. The final concentration of oxide ions after the treatment is higher ( = (1.6 ± 0.7) × 10⁻⁷ mol kg⁻¹ for KSr₂Cl₅ and  = (2.5 ± 1.3) × 10⁻⁸ mol kg⁻¹ for K₂SrCl₄ melt, respectively). This corresponds to the difference in the oxoacidic properties of the studied melts.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Graphene Aerogel-Supported MnxFe3−xO4 for Oxygen Reduction in Urea/O2 Fuel Cells

Graphene aerogel-supported manganese ferrite (Mn_xFe_3−xO₄/GAs) and reduced-graphene oxide/manganese ferrite composite (MnFe₂O₄/rGO) were synthesized and studied as cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions in urea/O₂ fuel cells. MnFe₂O₄/GAs exhibited a 3D framework with a continuous macroporous structure. Among the investigated Fe/Mn ratios, the more positive oxygen reduction onset potential was observed with Fe/Mn=2/1. The half-wave potential of MnFe₂O₄/GAs was considerably more positive than that of MnFe₂O₄/rGO and comparable with that of Pt/C, while the stability of MnFe₂O₄/GAs significantly higher than that of Pt/C. The best urea/O₂ fuel cell performance was also observed with the MnFe₂O₄/GAs. The MnFe₂O₄/GAs exhibited an OCV of 0.713 V and a maximum power density of 1.7 mW cm⁻² at 60 °C. Thus, this work shows that 3D structured graphene aerogel-supported MnFe₂O₄ catalysts can be used as an efficient cathode material for alkaline fuel cells.     

Electronic Energy Structure and the Nature of Chemical Bonding in Monoferrites with a Spinel Structure M(Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn)Fe2O4

The electronic energy structure and FeK XANES in monoferrites MgFe₂O₄, MnFe₂O₄, NiFe₂O₄, and ZnFe₂O₄ were calculated with the FEFF8 program. In both normal (MnFe₂O₄, ZnFe₂O₄) and invert (MgFe₂O₄, NiFe₂O₄) spinels, hybridization of the p-states of oxygen with the 3d-states of transition metal ions leads to a similarity in the formation of the top of the valence band. In contrast to the magnetic nickel and manganese ions, the nonmagnetic zinc and magnesium ions are not actively involved in chemical bonding. It is shown that when Mn and Fe lie in the same coordination spheres of the absorbing iron atom the 3d-states are split and the curve of the densities of the p-states of transition element ions with different spin orientations changes in shape.     

A Single Drop Fabrication of the Cholesterol Biosensor Based on Synthesized NiFe2O4NPs Dispersed on PDDA‐CNTs

A cholesterol biosensor based on cholesterol oxidase‐poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)‐carbon nanotubes‐nickel ferrite nanoparticles (ChOx‐PDDA‐CNTs‐NiFe₂O₄NPs) solution is easily fabricated by using a single dropping step on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. This technique is an alternative way to reduce complexity, cost and time to produce the biosensor. The uniformly dispersed materials on the electrode surface enhance the catalytic reaction of cholesterol oxidase and electron transfer from the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide in the system. The nickel ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by co‐precipitation and calcination at various temperatures. These nanoparticles were then characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The synthesized material calcined at 700 °C was well defined and presented the octahedral metal stretching with cubic NiFe₂O₄NPs phase. In cyclic voltammetric study, the ChOx‐PDDA‐CNTs‐NiFe₂O₄NPs/GCE showed 0.43 s⁻¹ charge transfer rate constant (K _s), 7.79×10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ diffusion coefficient value (D ), 0.13 mm² electroactive surface area (A _e) and 3.58×10⁻⁸ mol cm⁻² surface concentration ( ). This modified electrode exhibits stability in term of percent relative standard deviation (%RSD=0.62 %, n=10), reproducibility (%RSD=0.81, n=10), high sensitivity (25.76 nA per mg L⁻¹ cm⁻²), linearity from 1 to 5,000 mg L⁻¹ (R²=0.998) with a low detection limit (0.50 mg L⁻¹). Its Michaelis‐Menten constant (K _m) was 0.14 mM with 0.92 μA maximum current (I _max) and demonstrated good selectivity without the effects of electroactive species such as ascorbic acid, glucose and uric acid. The cholesterol biosensor was successfully applied to determine cholesterol levels in human blood samples, showing promise due to its simplicity and availability.     

Preparation and characterization of graphene nanosheets dispersed pyrrole-chorobenzaldehyde-heptaldehyde conjugated terpolymer nanocomposites for DNA detection

A new conductive terpolymer/graphene nanosheet hybrid composite has been synthesized by polymerizing pyrrole, chlorobenzaldehyde, and heptaldehyde (PPyCB&;H), in the presence of graphene nanosheets (GNS), using p-toluene sulfonic acid as a catalyst. Fourier transform infrared spectra, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of PPyCB&;H/GNS hybrid nanocomposites. Further, the resultant nanocomposite material is coated on ITO to construct an electrochemical sensor for the reliable detection of single-strand DNA (tDNA) which is cleaved from the genomic DNA of Escherichia coli. Under optimized conditions, linear detection of genomic DNA (tDNA) with concentration ranging from 1.3 × 10⁻¹² to 1.3 × 10⁻²³ M is observed and it is repeatable with a 1.3 × 10⁻²³ M lowest level detection limit. The present modified electrode of PPyCB&;H/GNS may show utility for constructing highly sensitive electrochemical sensors for the detection of E. coli.

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The synergistic effect between graphene oxide nanocolloids and silicon dioxide nanoparticles for gallic acid sensing

For the first time, the synergistic effect of graphene oxide nanocolloids (nano-GO) and silicon dioxide (silica) nanoparticles (SiO₂-nanoparicles) has been used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the determination of gallic acid (GA). The modified electrode surface was characterised by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The electrochemical behaviour of the modified electrode was then studied, using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), showing that the electrode was sensitive to GA in a concentration range of 6.25 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹, with a correlation coefficient R² of 0.9956 and a limit of detection of 2.09 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). The proposed method was successfully used for the determination of GA in red wine, white wine and orange juice, with recoveries of 102.3, 95.4 and 97.6%, respectively.

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Synthesis of porous C/Fe3O4 microspheres by spray pyrolysis with NaNO3 additive for lithium-ion battery applications

In this work, we successfully synthesized porous C/Fe₃O₄ microspheres by spray pyrolysis at 700ºC with a sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) additive in the precursor solution. Furthermore, we studied their electrochemical properties as anode material for Li-ion batteries. The systematic studies by various characterization techniques show that NaNO₃ catalyzes the carbonization of sucrose and enhances the crystallization of Fe₃O₄. Moreover, an aqueous etching can easily remove sodium compounds to produce porous C/Fe₃O₄ microspheres with large surface areas and pore volumes. The porous C/Fe₃O₄ microspheres exhibit a reversible capacity of ~780 mAh g^–1 in the initial cycles and ~520 mAh g^–1 after 30 cycles at a current density of 50 mA g^–1. Moreover, a reversible capacity of ~400 mAh g^–1 is attainable after 200 cycles, even at a high current density of 500 mA g^–1. The wide range of pores produced from the removal of sodium compounds might enable easy electrolyte penetration and facilitate fast Li-ion diffusion, while the N-doping can promote the electronic conductivity of the carbon. These features of porous C/Fe₃O₄ microspheres led to the improved electrochemical properties of this sample.

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Carboxylated Hexagonal Boron Nitride/Graphene Configuration for Electrosynthesis of High-Concentration Neutral Hydrogen Peroxide

The electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via two-electron (2e⁻) oxygen (O₂) reduction reaction (ORR) has great potential to replace the traditional energy-intensive anthraquinone process, but the design of low-cost and highly active and selective catalysts is greatly challenging for the long-term H₂O₂ production under industrial relevant current density, especially under neutral electrolytes. To address this issue, this work constructed a carboxylated hexagonal boron nitride/graphene (h-BN/G) heterojunction on the commercial activated carbon through the coupling of B, N co-doping with surface oxygen groups functionalization. The champion catalyst exhibited a high 2e⁻ ORR selectivity (>95 %), production rate (up to 13.4 mol g⁻¹ h⁻¹), and Faradaic efficiency (FE, >95 %). The long-term H₂O₂ production under the high current density of 100 mA cm⁻² caused the cumulative concentration as high as 2.1 wt %. The combination of in situ Raman spectra and theoretical calculation indicated that the carboxylated h-BN/G configuration promotes the adsorption of O₂ and the stabilization of the key intermediates, allowing a low energy barrier for the rate-determining step of HOOH* release from the active site and thus improving the 2e⁻ ORR performance. The fast dye degradation by using this electrochemical synthesized H₂O₂ further illustrated the promising practical application.     

Preparation of thiazolidin-4-one derivatives using ZnO–NiO–NiFe2O4 nano-composite system

The hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO–NiO–NiFe₂O₄ nano-composite is reported. The sample was utilized to characterize via XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, FT-IR, UV–Vis, and BET techniques. The sample consisted of three different phases as ZnO (hexagonal), NiO (cubic), and NiFe₂O₄ (cubic) with the average particle size as 34 nm and specific surface area, average pore diameter, and pore volume as 64.35 m² g^?1, 13.02 nm, and 0.201 cm³ g^?1, respectively. Catalytic behavior of the nano-composite was investigated on the synthesis of thiazolidin-4-one derivatives under thermal and ultrasonic irradiation condition. Our results show that the catalytic activity of ZnO–NiO–NiFe₂O₄ nano-composite is much higher than ZnO, NiO, and NiFe₂O₄ metal oxides. All products were prepared in high yields with short reaction times. In addition, the catalyst was recovered for at least five times.

     

One-step CZT electroplating from alkaline solution on flexible Mo foil for CZTS absorber

In this work, Cu-Zn-Sn (CZT) is co-electrodeposited onto a flexible Mo substrate exploiting an alkaline bath (pH 10). The plating solution is studied by cyclic voltammetry, highlighting the effects of potassium pyrophosphate (K₄P₂O₇) and EDTA-Na₂ on the electrochemical behavior and stability of the metallic ionic species. The optimized synthesis results in a homogeneous precursor layer, with composition Cu 44 ± 2 at. %, Zn 28 ± 1 at. %, and Sn 28 ± 2 at. %. Soft and reactive annealing are employed respectively to promote intermetallic phase formation and sulfurization of the precursor to obtain CZTS. Microstructural (XRD, Raman), morphological (SEM), and compositional (EDX, XRF) characterization is carried out on CZT and CZTS films, showing a minor presence of secondary phases. Finally, photo-assisted water splitting tests are performed considering a CZTS/CdS/Pt photoelectrode, showing a photocurrent density of 1.01 mA cm⁻² at 0 V vs. RHE under 1 sun illumination.

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Hollow Porous MnFe2O4 Sphere Grown on Elm-Money-Derived Biochar towards Energy-Saving Full Water Electrolysis

The development of inexpensive and efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts is significant for widespread practical applications of overall water splitting technology. Herein, a one-pot solvothermal method is used to prepare hollow porous MnFe₂O₄ spheres, which are grown on natural-abundant elm-money-derived biochar material to construct MnFe₂O₄/BC composite. When the overpotential is 156 mV for both the oxygen evolution reaction and the hydrogen evolution reaction, the current density reaches up to 10 mA cm⁻², and its duration is 10 h. At 1.51 V, the overall water decomposition current density of 10 mA cm⁻² can be obtained in 1 m KOH. This work proves that elm-money-derived biochar is a valid substrate for growing hollow porous spheres. MnFe₂O₄/BC give a promising general strategy for preparing the effective and stable bifunctional catalysis that can be expand to multiple transition metal oxide.     

The NiFe2O4 - MgFe2O4 series as electrode materials for electrochemical reduction of NO x

Solid solutions of spinel-type oxides with the composition (x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.6, 1.0) were prepared with the glycine-nitrate combustion synthesis (x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.6) and the citric-acid combustion synthesis (x = 1.0). The oxides were used as electrode materials in a pseudo-three-electrode setup in the temperature range of 400–600 °C. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize the electrochemical behavior in 1% NO and 10% O₂. Measurements show that NiFe₂O₄ has relatively high cathodic activity in both NO and O₂, whereas MgFe₂O₄ shows much higher activity in NO compared to O₂. MgFe₂O₄ was also measured with cyclic voltammetry in 1% NO₂ and different gas mixtures of NO and O₂ at 300 and 400 °C. Results show that the cathodic activities (−0.6 V) are relatively high with current ratios, , ranging from 10.1–167.7 and with a maximum at 400 °C. Dilatometry measurements were performed on the materials in air up to 1,000 °C, and they showed that the Curie temperature could be detected for all samples. Four-point DC resistivity measurements at elevated temperatures show that Ni_0.4Mg_0.6Fe₂O₄ has the highest conductivity, whereas Ni_0.7Mg_0.3Fe₂O₄ and NiFe₂O₄ have the highest conductivity at lower temperatures.     

Novel photosensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cell based on ionic liquid–doped blend polymer electrolyte

The existing energy situation demands not only the huge energy in a short time but also clean energy. In this regard, an integrated photo-supercapacitor device has been fabricated in which photoelectric conversion and energy storage are achieved simultaneously. A novel carbazole-based dye is synthesized and characterized for photosensitizer. The silver-doped titanium dioxide (Ag-TiO₂) is synthesized, and it is used as photoanode material. Different concentrations of tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI)-doped polyvinyl alcohol–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVA-PVP) blend polymer electrolytes are prepared, and their conductivity and dielectric properties were studied. Reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) is synthesized by a one-pot synthesis method and confirmed using Raman spectroscopy for counter electrode material in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and supercapacitor electrodes. The DSSC having 4% Ag-TiO₂–based photoanode showed the highest efficiency of 1.06% (among r-GO counter electrodes) and 2.37% (among platinum counter electrodes). The supercapacitor before integration and after integration exhibits specific capacitance of 1.72 Fg⁻¹ and 1.327 Fg⁻¹, respectively.

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