Bismuth underpotential deposition on tellurium

Electroless underpotential deposition (UPD) of Bi adatoms (Bi_ad) on Te by Bi^III reduction with Ti^III in aqua solution has been investigated. Comparison studies of electroless Bi UPD on Te and of a corresponding electrochemical process have been performed. Bi_ad stability on Te under the open-circuit conditions has been investigated.     

Influence of electrodeposition conditions on the properties of CdTe films

The results of the influence of electrodeposition conditions on the structural, compositional, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties of CdTe thin films deposited in one-step electrochemical method are presented. The CdTe films were prepared electrochemically from aqueous acidic solution with low ratios of Cd²⁺ ions to Te(IV) ions concentration. Instead of commonly used TeO₂, water-soluble Na₂TeO₃ was used as a source of tellurium ions. The cathodic deposition of CdTe was performed at different constant potentials from solutions containing different cadmium and tellurium ions concentration. As-deposited CdTe thin films were studied by different analytical techniques. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra exhibited CdTe formation on the electrode with some amount of tellurium oxides and cadmium oxides. The best quality CdTe deposits, free of TeO₂, were formed in bath containing excess of Cd²⁺ ions and at the potential of ?0.65 V vs. saturated calomel electrode, slightly more positive than E _eq of Cd/Cd²⁺ system. Structural X-ray diffraction studies revealed polycrystallinity of deposits with the highest content of the (111)-oriented cubic (111) form. Optical band gap energy values were found in the range from 1.36 to 1.6 eV for CdTe films prepared at various synthesis conditions. The preliminary photoelectrochemical studies have shown that the variation of the deposition potential as well as bath composition leads to the formation of p- or n-type CdTe films. As-deposited CdTe films were not stable in polysulfide solution under illumination.     

Electrochemical deposition of PbTe onto n-Si(1 0 0) wafers

Electrochemical deposition of PbTe from 50 mM Pb(NO₃)₂ + 1 mM TeO₂ + 0.1 M HNO₃ solution onto n-Si(1 0 0) wafers was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry, ex situ SEM, XRD and EDX. Electrochemical behavior of n-Si(1 0 0) electrode in electrolytes 50 mM Pb(NO₃)₂ + 0.1 M HNO₃ and 1 mM TeO₂ + 0.1 M HNO₃ was also studied. No underpotential deposition (UPD) of Pb and Te onto n-Si was observed in the investigated systems indicating weak Pb–Si and Te–Si interactions. Deposition of Pb and Te on n-Si occurred with overvoltage via 3D island growth. Electrosynthesis of PbTe (NaCl-like structure, a = 0.650 nm) takes place due to codeposition of Pb and Te at potentials E > E_{Pb²⁺/Pb⁰} (lead UPD onto tellurium). Cathodic deposition of PbTe onto n-Si(1 0 0) is irreversible – there is no anodic current in the CV curve. Oxidation of PbTe on n-Si is observed only under illumination, when photoelectrons and photoholes are generated in silicon substrate.     

Characteristics of subtractive anodic stripping voltammetry of Pb and Cd at silver and gold electrodes

Silver and gold electrodes are useful for the quantitative determination of lead and cadmium with subtractive anodic stripping voltammetry (SASV). The use of SASV is essential for achieving good separation between the two peaks, to eliminate the interference of nitrates when cadmium is present and to allow analysis at very low concentrations without the removal of oxygen. The deposition and dissolution of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ proceed at underpotential (UPD) on both electrodes. The UPD properties of the deposits are the main factor determining the analytical characteristics of the ASV method and are strongly affected by the type and concentration of the electrolyte. The effects of anions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻) and acids (HNO₃, HClO₄, H₂SO₄, HCl) are shown. The two electrodes complement each other and, in addition, enable the qualitative identification of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, since the peaks appear in opposite order on the two electrodes. Analysis of mixtures of the two analytes is restricted on gold but not on silver. At gold the two peaks overlap: (i) at concentrations of cadmium higher than 250 nM at deposition times greater than 30 s, (ii) in the presence of copper at concentrations higher than 1 μM, and (iii) in the presence of Triton X-100 at concentrations above 10 mg/l. The repeatability at 10 nM analyte is better than 2.5%. The detection limits for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ at 120 s deposition time and 3500 rpm rotation rate are: dl_Pb/Ag=0.04 nM; dl_Cd/Ag=0.7 nM; dl_Pb/Au=0.1 nM; dl_Cd/Au=0.3 nM. The analysis of lead and cadmium in natural waters has been performed.     

New insights on the Cd UPD on Au(111)

The Cd underpotential deposition (UPD) process on Au(111) was analyzed by means of combined electrochemical measurements and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In the underpotential range 300?ΔE (mV) ?400, 2D Cd islands are formed on the fcc regions of the Au(111)‐(√3 × 22) reconstructed surface without lifting the reconstruction. At lower underpotentials, the 2D Cd islands grow and, simultaneously, new 2D islands nucleate and coalesce with the previous ones forming a complete condensed Cd monolayer (ML). STM images and long time polarization experiments performed at ΔE = 70 mV demonstrate the formation of an Au? Cd surface alloy. At ΔE = 10 mV, the formation of the complete Cd ML is accompanied by a significant Au? Cd surface alloying and the kinetic results reveal two different solid‐state diffusion processes. The first one, with a diffusion coefficient D₁ = 4 × 10^?17 cm² s^?1, could be ascribed to the mutual diffusion of Au and Cd atoms through a highly distorted (vacancy‐rich) Au? Cd alloy layer. The second and faster diffusion process (D₂ = 7 × 10^?16 cm² s^?1) is associated with the appearance of an additional peak in the anodic stripping curves and could be attributed to the formation of another Cd_zAu_x alloy phase. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Underpotential deposition of tin(II) on a gold disc electrode and determination of tin in a tin plate sample

This work describes a study of the underpotential deposition (UPD) of Sn²⁺ on a polycrystalline gold disc electrode using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronocoulometry (CC). Sn²⁺ ions showed well-defined peaks from UPD and UPD stripping (UPD-S) in 1 mol/L HCl solutions, while bulk deposition (BD) and BD stripping (BD-S) of the ions were also observed. The measured UPD shifts, E_UPD, between the UPD-S and the BD-S peaks were more than 200 mV. The UPD charge and the surface coverage of tin were measured by CC. A new method for determining Sn²⁺ was therefore developed, based on the excellent electrochemical properties of the Au/Sn UPD system. A plot of the UPD-DPASV (differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry) signal versus the Sn(II) concentration was obtained for [Sn(II)] of 1.98×10^–7 to 3.64×10^–5 M. The method developed here has been applied to determine the tin in a tin plate sample.     

The electrochemical detection of cadmium using surface-immobilized DNA

An electrochemical assay based on underpotential deposition (UPD) of metal has been utilised for the detection of Cd²⁺ using surface immobilized single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA). Since Cd²⁺ is able to undergo UPD on gold surface, this allows the opportunity to detect the amount of Cd²⁺ accumulated by immobilized ss-DNA directly via voltammetry. This is evidenced by the appearance of Cd²⁺/Cd⁰ electrochemistry at E^0′ of 92 mV (rather than E^0′ of −795 mV in bulk solution) at the ss-DNA modified gold electrode only after an exposure to Cd²⁺ solution. An association constant of 8.33 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ was determined from a Cd²⁺ calibration curve assuming a Langmuir-binding model for Cd²⁺ with surface-immobilized DNA. The high association constant is reflected in a low detectable concentration of 10 pM. The sensing layer can also be regenerated to metal-free status and can be reused up to 18 times without significant signal degradation.     

Catalytic effects of metal submonolayers formed by faradaic adsorption on the anodic oxidation of ascorbic acid at a platinum electrode

The catalytic effects of metal ions on the anodic oxidation of ascorbic acid on a Pt electrode in 1 M HClO₄ were studied by linear sweep voltammetry. The anodic peak due to a two-electron oxidation of ascorbic acid shifts to the negative potential side on the addition of Bi³⁺. This indicates the accelerating effect of Bi³⁺ on the oxidation of ascorbic acid. The presence of other metal ions, such as Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, Tl⁺, Ag⁺ and Sb³⁺, also exerts similar effects. These metal ions were adsorbed on a Pt electrode at underpotentials and the adsorbed metals (denoted as M_ad) still remain on the electrode surface until the electrode potential goes up to and beyond the peak potential of the oxidation of ascorbic acid. On the other hand, metal ions forming no adsorbed layer on Pt, such as Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Ni²⁺, exhibit no catalytic effect. These facts suggest that the presence of a M_ad on Pt is essential for the promotion of the anodic oxidation of ascorbic acid. However, there is a difference in the catalytic action among the M_ad, for example, Cu_ad, Cd_ad, In_ad, Sn_ad and Mo_ad display no catalytic action.The catalytic activity depends on the degree of surface coverage by the M_ad. The maximal effect of the M_ad is attained in the submonolayer region. The effects of metal ions were discussed on the basis that the M_ad plays its major role in the removal of the adsorbed ascorbic acid occupying active sites on the electrode surface, and provides effective sites for the activation of adjacent water molecules. Furthermore, from the ¹³C NMR spectra for the oxidation products, the adsorbed water on the M_ad appears to function by promoting the subsequent hydration steps, following the electron-transfer step of ascorbic acid.     

Preparation of bismuth telluride thin film by electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (ECALE)

Thin-layer electrochemical studies of the underpotential deposition (UPD) of Bi and Te on cold rolled silver substrate have been performed. The voltammetric analysis of underpotential shift demonstrates that the initial Te UPD on Bi-covered Ag and Bi UPD on Te-covered Ag fitted UPD dynamics mechanism. A thin film of bismuth telluride was formed by alternately depositing Te and Bi via an automated flow deposition system. X-ray diffraction indicated the deposits of Bi₂Te₃. Energy Dispersive X-ray Detector quantitative analysis gave a 2: 3 stoichiometric ratio of Bi to Te, which was consistent with X-ray Diffraction results. Electron probe microanalysis of the deposits showed a network structure that results from the surface defects of the cold rolled Ag substrate and the lattice mismatch between substrate and deposit. Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Chemistry, 2005, 22 (11) (in Chinese)     

Separation of no-carrier-added 113,117mSn and 113m,114mIn from alpha particle irradiated natural cadmium target

A natural cadmium foil was irradiated by 42 MeV α-particles to produce ^113,117mSn, ^{111,113m,114m}In simultaneously in the target matrix. After the complete decay of short lived radionuclides, long-lived NCA products were separated sequentially from the bulk cadmium by liquid–liquid extraction using di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) dissolved in cyclohexane as organic phase and HCl as aqueous phase. At the optimum condition, 10^?2 M HCl and 5 % HDEHP, NCA In along with NCA Sn radionuclides (75 %) were separated from the bulk Cd resulting to high separation factors of 2.7 × 10⁴ (D _In/D _Cd) and 500 (D _Sn/D _Cd), respectively. The NCA In was stripped back completely to the aqueous phase by 6 M HCl leaving NCA Sn in the HDEHP phase with a separation factor (D _Sn/D _In) of 3.94 × 10⁶.     

Application of semidifferential electroanalysis to anodic stripping voltammetry

A new voltammetric technique, Semidifferential electroanalysis, in which the semiderivative, e, of the current, i, is measured as a function of electrode potential, has been applied for detection in anodic stripping voltammetry. The semiderivative of the current is defined by [fx131-1.tif] Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Tl⁺ in 0.1 M KNO₃ at different pH values were tested as samples on a hanging mercury drop working electrode. Symmetrical sharp peaks were observed for the re-dissolution processes of metal amalgams formed during pre-electrolysis at -1.0 V vs. SCE. The peak potentials of e vs. E curves for the above three amalgams agreed well with the literature values for d.c. polarographic half-wave potentials. The peak heights were proportional to the pre-electrolysis time up to about 5 min, to the potential scan rate in the range 60–160 mV s^-1, and to the concentrations of Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Tl⁺ in the original solution in the range 10^-6–10^-9 M. The relative standard deviation for the determination of Cd²⁺ was about ±4% at the 2 × 10^-5 M level.     

speciation of Cadmium(II) Using Donnan Dialysis and Differential-Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry in a Flow-Injection System

Abstract

A flow-injection/Donnan dialysis/differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry system was developed for the determination of free cadmium concentrations, [Cd²⁺], in solutions containing organically complexed Cd(II). A small dialysis cell with a strong cation-exchange membrane separating the sample and the receiver channels, was equilibrated in a flow-injection system. The ionic strength of sample and receiver solutions was 0.1 M, with NaNO₃ as the bulk electrolyte. By determining a constant fraction of the Cd²⁺ associated with the membrane phase, [Cd²⁺] of the samples could be measured.

Experimentally determined [Cd²⁺] corresponded well with those calculated, using tabulated stability constants, when citric acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, and oxalic acid were added as ligands. Thus, negatively charged and uncharged complexes were excluded from the membrane. Using the experimental design presented, [Cd²⁺]>5 × 10^×8 M could be determined, but there is a great potential for increasing the sensitivity of the method.

In solutions containing 1.0 μM Cd(II) and 200 mg fulvic acid/l, the inorganic fraction (Cd²⁺ CdNO₃ ⁺ decreased from 57% to 10% when the pH increased from 4.04 to 5.51. In a soil solution from an orthic podzol, having a high concentration of dissolved organic carbon (22.4 mM), the inorganic fraction constituted 53% of the total Cd(II) concentration.     

Synthesis and structure of tetrakis(phenylenethiourea)tellurium(II) chloride dihydrochloride,C28H26N8S4Cl4Te

Reaction of tellurium(IV) with excess phenylenethiourea(2-mercaptobenzimidazole) in aqueous methanolic hydrochloric acid leads to the formation of Te(II) complex, tetrakis(phenylenethiourea)tellurium(II) chloride dihydrochloride. The characterisation and crystal structure of the complex are reported. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 13.939(5), b = 26.523(9), c = 4.873(2) Å, β = 100.29(4)°, V = 1772.6 ų, M = 872.4, D_c = 1.651 g cm^?3, Z = 2, F(000) = 868, μ(MoK_α) = 1.298 mm^?1. Final R = 0.055 and R_W = 0.056 for 918 independent reflections. The tellurium atom in the molecule lies at the crystallographic centre of symmetry and is bonded to four phenylenethiourea sulphur atoms in a square planar arrangement with TeS(1) = 2.678(6), TeS(2) = 2.674(5) Å and S(1)TeS(2) is 90.5(3)°. The ligand behaves as a thione. Chlorine atoms remain outside the coordination sphere of the Te and stabilise the packing arrangement in the unit cell through hydrogen bondings to nitrogen atoms.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Optical Properties of New Cadmium Chalcogenide Clusters of the Type [Cd10E4(E'Ph)12(PR3)4], (E,E' = Te,Se, S)

New cadmium chalcogenide cluster molecules [Cd₁₀E₄(E'Ph)₁₂(PⁿPr₃)₄], E = Te, E' = Te ( 1 ) and [Cd₁₀E₄(E'Ph)₁₂ (PⁿPr₂Ph)₄] E = Te, E' = Se ( 2 ); E = Te E' = S ( 3 ); E = Se, E' = S ( 4 ) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X‐ray structure analysis. The influence of the variation of the chalcogen atom is investigated by structural means and by optical spectroscopy. All cluster‐molecules have a broad emission in the blue‐visible range at low temperature as indicated by photo luminescence (PL) measurements. A clear classification of the emission peak position can be made based on the E' species suggesting that the emission is assigned to transitions associated with the cluster surface ligands. Photoluminescence excitation and absorption measurements display a systematic shift of the band gap to the higher energies with the variation of E and E' from Te to Se to S, as also occurs in the respective series of the bulk semiconductors.     

522—Catalytic oxydation of biological components on platinum electrodes modified by adsorbed metals: Anodic oxidation of glucose

The catalytic oxidation of glucose on Pt electrodes modified by adsorbed metals was studied in 1 M HClO₄ by linear sweep voltammetry. The adsorbed metals (denoted as M_ad, such as Bi_ad and Pb_ad) formed on Pt in the potential region more positive than the reversible potential of an M⁼⁺/M^o couple, lead to a marked increase in the anodic c?urrent of glucose by about one order of magnitude. The catalytic activity depends on the surface coverage by the M_ad. The strongly adsorbed species of lactone type, which are responsible for blocking the successive oxidation, are formed on the electrode surface in the anodic processes of glucose on a bare Pt electrode. The formation of such poisonous species is accelerated in the presence of adsorbed hydrogen on Pt. The effects of M_ad were discussed on the basis that M_ad plays its major role on the Pt electrode surface in removal of the adsorbed hydrogen which initiates the formation of the poisonous species.     

Photoelectrochemical deposition of thin tellurium films

Effect of polychromatic light on the electrochemical deposition of tellurium(IV) ions on a glass carbon electrode from acid solutions of 0.45 M Na₂SO₄ + 0.05 M H₂SO₄ with pH 2.2 was studied. It is shown that electrochemical reduction of tellurium(IV) is possible in two stages in the potentiodynamic mode at potentials in the range from 0 to ?1000 mV. Elementary tellurium is formed in the first stage (E = ?320 ± 20 mV) and is reduced to telluride ions in the second (E = ?700 ± 50 mV). It is demonstrated that, under potentiodynamic deposition conditions, visible light affects the generation of Te^2? ions at potentials more positive than the electrochemical potential. The chronoamperometric method revealed differences in the behavior of transient currents in the dark and under illumination. The elemental composition and the film surface morphology were studied by electron-probe analysis.     

High Sensitivity and Reproducibility of a Bismuth/Poly(bromocresol purple) Film Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Determination of Trace Amount of Cadmium by Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

This work described a novel type of bismuth/poly(bromocresol purple) film modified glassy carbon electrode (denoted as Bi/Poly(BCP)/GCE) for anodic stripping analysis of trace Cd²⁺. The Bi/Poly(BCP)/GCE was fabricated in situ by depositing simultaneously bismuth and cadmium by reduction at ?1.20 V on the poly(BCP) film using a differential pulse voltammetry. Under the optimum conditions, the anodic stripping peak current response increased linearly with the Cd²⁺ concentrations in a range of 2.0×10^?8–1.0×10^?7 M and 1.0×10^?7–6.0×10^?6 M in 0.1 M NaAc‐HAc buffer solution (pH 5.0) with the detection limit of 6.5×10^?9 M (S/N=3). The Bi/poly(BCP)/GCE performed good reproducibility and high sensitivity. Finally, this proposed method was successfully applied to determine the concentration of Cd²⁺ in water samples.     

A square‐planar tellurium(II) complex with Te,Te′‐chelating ligands

While exploring the chemistry of tellurium‐containing dichalcogenidoimidodiphosphinate ligands, the first all‐tellurium member of a series of related square‐planar E^II(E′)₄ complexes (E and E′ are group 16 elements), namely bis(P,P,P′,P′‐tetraphenylditelluridoimidodiphosphinato‐κ²Te,Te′)tellurium(II) (systematic name: 2,2,4,4,8,8,10,10‐octaphenyl‐1λ³,5,6λ⁴,7λ³,11‐pentatellura‐3,9‐diaza‐2λ⁵,4λ⁵,8λ⁵,10λ⁵‐tetraphosphaspiro[5.5]undeca‐1,3,7,9‐tetraene), C₄₈H₄₀N₂P₄Te₅, was obtained unexpectedly. The formally Te^II centre is situated on a crystallographic inversion centre and is Te,Te′‐chelated to two anionic [(TePPh₂)₂N]⁻ ligands in an anti conformation. The central Te^II(Te)₄ unit is approximately square planar [Te—Te—Te = 93.51 (3) and 86.49 (3)°], with Te—Te bond lengths of 2.9806 (6) and 2.9978 (9) Å.     

Application of Anodic Stripping Differential Alternative Pulses Voltammetry for Simultaneous Species Quantification

The second order voltammetric technique Differential Alternative Pulses Voltammetry (DAPV) was applied in anodic stripping mode for simultaneous quantification of traces of species having close E_1/2. The potential‐time waveform and the signal processing allowing the DAPV application in stripping mode are presented. The pulses widths and amplitudes were optimized to obtain maximal sensitivity and resolution at traces of In³⁺ and Cd²⁺ (having E_1/2 difference of 45 mV) simultaneous quantification in presence of excess of Pb²⁺. Precise results for both species concentrations were obtained up to In³⁺ to Cd²⁺ concentration ratio as high as 1 to 10 without any sample pre‐treatment in purified industrial waste waters using 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HCl as supporting electrolyte.     

In situ and real-time surface differential diffraction (SDD) study of Cd underpotential deposition on Au(1 1 1)

In situ and real-time surface differential diffraction (SDD) has been used to study the underpotential deposition (UPD) of Cd on Au(1 1 1) in sulfuric acid media. Comparison of SDD results in sulfate electrolytes with and without the presence of Cd²⁺ ions reveals that the surface reconstruction associated with the sulfate adsorption and desorption dominates the structural effect. It is also found that the reconstructed gold surface is stable upon Cd UPD process. In the initial stages of UPD, Cd atoms bind to the surface in bridge sites. This is followed by an adlayer structure with Cd adsorption in threefold hollow sites before Au/Cd intermixing takes place.