Cathodic behavior of graphite in KF-AlF3-based melts with various cryolite ratios

The cathodic behavior of graphite in KF-AlF₃-based melt with various cryolite ratios (CR; molar ratio of KF to AlF₃) were investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry, sampled-current voltammetry, and chronopotentiometry. The limiting current of aluminum deposition and critical current density of potassium intercalation on graphite cathode in KF-AlF₃-based melt decreased with the increase of CR of the melt. Lowering the CR of KF-AlF₃-based melt suppressed the potassium intercalation but enhanced the formation of aluminum carbide. In the KF-AlF₃-based melt with CR of 1.0, formation of Al₄C₃ seriously occurred, which resulted not only from the chemical reaction of aluminum and carbon but also from the electrochemical reduction of carbon under higher overpotential. However, both the X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy failed to detect the existence of potassium–graphite intercalation compound and Al₄C₃ in the resultants after galvanostatic electrolysis.     

在LiCl-KCl-ZnCl2熔盐体系中电化学共还原提取钕

针对镧系元素钕,本文通过循环伏安、开路计时电位、方波伏安等方法研究了773 K时Nd（Ⅲ）在钼电极上在LiCl-KCl-ZnCl₂熔盐体系中的电化学行为及Zn-Nd合金的形成过程. 结果表明：在LiCl-KCl-ZnCl₂熔盐中,Nd（Ⅲ）在预先沉积的Zn 阴极上欠电位沉积形成三种Zn-Nd金属间化合物. 基于电化学行为研究,采用恒电位电解提取Nd并用方波伏安曲线测量来检测Nd（Ⅲ）离子浓度的变化,然后通过电解前后Nd（Ⅲ）离子浓度变化评估了Nd的电解提取效率. 实验结果表明：-1.84 V恒电位电解进行50 h后,Nd（Ⅲ）离子浓度接近于零,提取效率为99.67%. 在973 K时通过恒电流电解提取Nd并获得了Zn-Nd合金,通过X射线衍射（XRD）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）附带能量散射谱（EDS）对合金的相组成和微观形貌进行了分析. XRD分析表明在Zn-Nd合金中存在Nd₂Zn₁₇,LiZn 和Zn相,EDS能谱分析表明Nd在合金中的原子分数高达14.99%.     

Selective ethylene formation by pulse-mode electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using copper and copper-oxide electrodes

Although the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with a copper electrode produces hydrocarbons, the activity toward the conversion of CO₂ is lost for several 10 min by the deposition of poisoning species on the electrode. To solve the poisoning species problem, the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ was carried out using a copper electrode with a pulse electrolysis mode with anodic as well as cathodic polarization. The anodic polarization intervals suppressed the deposition of poisoning species on the electrode, and the amount of two hydrocarbons, CH₄ and C₂H₄, barely decreased even after an hour. By choosing appropriate anodic potential and time duration, the selectivity for the C₂H₄ formation was greatly enhanced. The enhancement was found to be due to the copper oxide formed on the copper electrode. The selectivity was further improved when the electrochemical reduction was made with the copper-oxide electrode. The highest efficiency of about 28% is obtained at −3.15 V.     

Kinetics and mechanism of interaction between methanol and adsorbed oxygen on a smooth polycrystalline platinum electrode: Transients of the open-circuit potential

The method of transients of the open-circuit potential, combined with cathodic potentiodynamic pulses, is used for studying the methanol interaction with preliminarily adsorbed oxygen (O_ads) in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. It is established that, for the larger part of the time period required for a full reduction of a monolayer of O_ads in solutions of methanol on polycrystalline platinum, the process occurs at large coverages of the surface by O_ads (?_O). In the region of medium coverages, transients of the open-circuit potential are accurately described by the equation that corresponds to the mechanism of “conjugated reactions.” The mechanism of the methanol interaction with O_ads happens to be close to that for formic acid, which is explained by a dissociative character of these HCO compounds. Kinetic parameters characterizing the methanol reaction with O_ads in the region of large and medium coverages are determined and analyzed.     

Electrochemical behavior of acidic acetonitrile solutions at platinum and gold electrodes

Hydrogen evolution reactions from acidic MeCN solutions were studied at Pt and Au electrodes. The acids studied were HCl and HPic in a wide range of concentrations. LiClO₄ and Et₄NClO₄ (0.4 M) were used as supporting electrolytes. Quasi steady state polarization curves show that the reaction is irreversible with a Tafel slope of 2 RT/F after diffusion polarization and pseudo-ohmic drop have been corrected. Non-stationary techniques reveal that the electrochemical reaction is preceded by a chemical reaction attributed to slow dissociation of ACN·2 HCl and ACN·3 HPic species. Equilibria and chemical rate constants for both species were evaluated by chronopotentiometry. The values obtained explain satisfactorily the results accomplished under potentiodynamic conditions. Data at the RDE confirm the existence of a previous chemical reaction. MeCN electroadsorption in the double layer potential region at Pt accounts for the solvent levelling effect towards H adsorption between Pt and Au. Furthermore, an inhibitory effect over hydrogen evolution and hydrogen oxidation is reported at more negative potentials at both Pt and Au electrodes.     

Electrochemical characterization and stress corrosion cracking behavior of α-brass in molybdate-containing electrolytes

One of the major challenges in material design is the achievement of reasonable operational efficiency through understanding the factors affecting the material’s performance particularly strength and service lifetime characteristics. In this work, the electrochemical behavior of 72Cu–28Zn α-brass alloy in Na₂MoO₄-containing electrolytes was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical frequency modulation techniques complemented with scanning electron microscopy. Also, stress corrosion cracking behavior of the alloy under both open-circuit potential and anodic applied potentials, using the slow strain rate technique, was evaluated. The results drawn from the different techniques are comparable.     

Effect of cationic composition of melts M2WO4-M2W2O7-UO2WO4 (M = Li, Na, K, Cs) and parameters of electrolysis to uranium dioxide electrodeposition characteristics

The effect of solvent salt cation, temperature of electrolysis, and cathodic deposition potential to basic characteristics of uranium dioxide potentiostatic electrodeposition (cathodic current efficiency, current density, and product deposition rate) in electrolyte system M₂WO₄-M₂W₂O₇-UO₂WO₄ (M = Li, Na, K, Cs) was studied in air. A conclusion was made that optimum electrodeposition and production of deposits not contaminated with supporting electrolyte decomposition products need higher cathodic polarization close to the solvent decomposition potentials and higher temperatures (up to 900°C). A melt based on K₂WO₄ was selected as the electrolyte providing satisfactory electrodeposition parameters of uranium dioxide with the composition close to stoichiometric.     

Investigation of the “permanent” electrochemical promotion of catalysis (P-EPOC) by electrochemical mass spectrometry (EMS) measurements

The phenomenon of electrochemical promotion of catalysis (EPOC) is most often fully reversible. Subsequent to long-lasting polarization, however, the new steady-state open-circuit catalytic activity after current interruption may remain significantly higher than that before polarization. This phenomenon has been reported as “permanent electrochemical promotion of catalysis” (P-EPOC). The catalytic oxidation of C₂H₄ was studied over a Pt/YSZ/Au electrochemical cell under excess O₂ at 375 °C, combining cyclic voltammetry and mass spectrometry. It has been found that after positive current interruption, the catalytic rate remains in a highly active P-EPOC steady-state, where it is almost double than the initial open-circuit rate. During this highly active steady-state, the application of a similar negative current for a similar time period has been found to result in the return of the catalytic rate to the initial open-circuit state. Similar reversibility of the rate has been observed after cyclic voltammetry experiments where after a complete potential oscillation the open-circuit rate is almost the same to that before polarization. These establish the reported mechanism for the origin of P-EPOC, on promoting species storage and concomitant migration to the metal/gas interface after positive current interruption, through the three phase boundaries.     

Studies on electrodeposition of Zn–MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocomposite coatings on mild steel and its properties

Pure zinc and Zn–MoS₂ composite coatings were prepared by electrodeposition from zinc sulfate–chloride bath containing uniformly dispersed MoS₂ nanoparticles. The effect of MoS₂ on the deposition properties morphology, crystallographic orientation, and corrosion behavior were studied. The electrokinetic properties (zeta potential) and size distribution statistics in plating bath for the particles were evaluated using dynamic light scattering experiments. The Zn and Zn–MoS₂ deposition process was studied by linear polarization and cyclic voltammetry. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, and potentiodynamic polarization measurements were used to characterize the coatings. The addition of MoS₂ to the electrolyte significantly changed the microstructure and crystallographic orientation of the zinc deposits and enhanced the corrosion resistance of the coatings. The morphological and electrochemical properties of the zinc coatings were observed to be significantly affected by the incorporation of MoS₂ particles into the zinc matrix.     

Variations in the Charge and Open-Circuit Potential of a Platinum Electrode during Adsorption of Iodine and Iodide Ions

The adsorption of iodine and iodide anions on a Pt/Pt electrode (0.5 M H₂SO₄ as a supporting solution) is compared using potentiodynamic and galvanostatic charging curves, transients of the current and open-circuit potential (OCP), and analytical measurements. Variations in the charge and OCP during the adsorption obey relationships derived for strong adsorption of neutral species and ions on a hydrogen electrode with the formation of irreversibly adsorbed atoms. The main product of the I₂ and I^– chemisorption in acid solutions is adsorbed iodine atoms. However, adsorption of iodine occurs in noticeable amounts and above a monolayer in the form of species that undergo electrodesorption during a cathodic polarization to potentials of the beginning of hydrogen adsorption. In the presence of a monolayer of adsorbed iodine atoms, potential of the zero total charge of a Pt/Pt electrode is in the oxygen adsorption region.     

Electrochemical properties and corrosion inhibition of AA6061 in tropical seawater

The corrosion inhibition of aluminum and its alloys is the subject of tremendous technological importance due to the increased industrial applications of these materials. This study reports the results of potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the corrosion inhibition of AA6061 aluminum alloys in seawater using sodium benzoate as an inhibitor. The electrochemical measurements for aluminum alloys in seawater after varied immersion period showed that the presence of sodium benzoate significantly decreases the corrosion currents densities (i_corr), corrosion rates and double layer capacitance (C_dl), as simultaneously increase the values of polarization resistance (R_p). Charge transfer process and development of thin film on the specimen have been proven by morphology study using SEM.     

Cathodic etching for fabrication of super-hydrophobic aluminum coating with micro/nano-hierarchical structure

A facile method for fabricating super-hydrophobic surfaces on the magnetron sputtering aluminum film by cathodic electrochemical etching followed by the modification of myristic acid was presented in this article. The morphologies and the compositions of the films were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The corrosion behavior of the super-hydrophobic film was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization measurement, linear polarization measurement, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. After the treatment with cathodic electrochemical etching, the thin aluminum film remained unbroken and the bulk structure of the aluminum coating maintained a microcrystalline morphology while the surface of the coating presented a petal-shaped microstructure dotted with nano-sized floccules. Aluminum myristate was formed on the nano/microstructural surface of the coating when the sample was modified in melting myristic acid. The static water contact angle on the surface was larger than 165°, which demonstrated that a super-hydrophobic film was prepared on the magnetron sputtering aluminum coating. The corrosion resistance of the aluminum coating was enhanced remarkably because of the super-hydrophobic modification.     

LiCl-KCl-LaCl3熔盐体系中La(III)的电化学行为

在773 K条件下,研究了La（III）在LiCl-KCl熔盐中W和Ni电极上的电化学行为。La（III）还原反应是一步三电子转移的准可逆反应;通过在Ni电极上直接电沉积La的方法可以获得La-Ni金属间化合物;恒电位电解可以获得含三种金属间化合物（LaNi₅、La₇Ni₁₆和La₂Ni₃）的La-Ni合金层,并且通过X射线衍射仪（XRD）和扫描电镜-能谱分析仪（SEM-EDS）确定物相并表征结构。采用开路计时电位法估算了LaNi₅金属间化合物的标准生成吉布斯自由能。揭示了恒电位电解方法是制备La-Ni镀层合金以及提取熔盐中La的有效方法。     

Electrochemical dissolution of chalcopyrite studied by voltammetry of immobilized microparticles

The characteristics of anodic electrochemical dissolution of chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) powder in hydrochloric acid medium with sodium chloride have been studied. Cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry of immobilized microparticles using paraffin-impregnated graphite electrode was employed. Present work is focused on electrochemical identification of chalcopyrite cathodic and anodic reaction products within the potential range of −0.7 to +0.8 V (vs. SCE) in hydrochloric acid solution containing sodium chloride and/or copper(II) chloride.     

Cathodic polarization behavior of self-supporting polyaniline film electrode

The preparation method of a self-supporting doped-polyaniline film electrode and its open-circuit potential (OCP) in NaClO₄ and Na₂SO₄ solutions with different pH value as well as cathodic polarization behavior have been investigated for the purpose of discussing the corrosion electrochemical behavior of polyaniline (PANI) in the acid solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals that the lower pH corresponds to higher doping level of H⁺ in the film and a more positive OCP of PANI film electrode. OCP of the PANI film reached 0.35 V vs. SCE in 1M H₂SO₄, which is more positive than that of most metals, suggests that PANI would act as cathode when it couples with these metals. The cathodic polarization experiments indicate that the dominating cathodic polarization process of PANI is reversible doping and dedoping reaction and the reduction of dissolve oxygen has very little contribution to it. The potentiostatic current-time curves exhibit a large transient current density at initial stage of polarization, which should be attributed to the charge stored in the film and a relative less steady state current density at the subsequent stage of polarization, which is provided by its doping/dedoping equilibrium activity. Such a current characteristic of PANI electrode might be the force of PANI to provide the passivation protection for some active-passive metals. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 10, pp. 1205–1212. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

在LiCl-KCl-AlCl3熔盐中直接电化学还原Sm2O3及Al-Sm合金的形成

在803 K LiCl-KCl熔盐中,研究了通过添加助剂AlCl3直接电化学还原Sm2O3和Al-Sm合金的形成。以SmCl3为原料作为参照,采用循环伏安和方波伏安方法,研究了Sm2O3在LiCl-KCl-AlCl3熔盐体系中的电化学行为。通过对比发现在两个体系中,峰的数量和位置基本一致,这说明在LiCl-KCl熔盐中,加入AlCl3之后,可以将Sm2O3有效氯化。计时电位结果表明,当阴极电流比-139.8 mA.cm-2更负时,Al和Sm共同还原。为了提取Sm,采用恒电流从LiCl-KCl-AlCl3-Sm2O3熔盐中电解得到Al-Sm合金样品,并进行XRD表征,结果表明可以通过调节AlCl3和Sm2O3的浓度得到不同相的Al-Sm合金。     

在LiCl-KCl-AlCl3熔盐中直接电化学还原Sm2O3及Al-Sm合金的形成

在803 K LiCl-KCl熔盐中, 研究了通过添加助剂AlCl₃直接电化学还原Sm₂O₃和Al-Sm合金的形成。以SmCl₃为原料作为参照, 采用循环伏安和方波伏安方法, 研究了Sm₂O₃在LiCl-KCl-AlCl₃熔盐体系中的电化学行为。通过对比发现在两个体系中, 峰的数量和位置基本一致, 这说明在LiCl-KCl熔盐中, 加入AlCl₃之后, 可以将Sm₂O₃有效氯化。计时电位结果表明, 当阴极电流比-139.8 mA·cm^-2更负时, Al和Sm共同还原。为了提取Sm, 采用恒电流从LiCl-KCl-AlCl₃-Sm₂O₃熔盐中电解得到Al-Sm合金样品, 并进行XRD表征, 结果表明可以通过调节AlCl₃和Sm₂O₃的浓度得到不同相的Al-Sm合金。     

Sodium sulfite: A promising reagent in the electrochemical oxidation of metallic silver

Among the complexing agents suitable for the electrochemical silver recovery, a promising one is sodium sulfite forming silver complexes with high stability constants: according to our data, log β₁ ∼ 5.3, log β₂ ∼ 8.2. This reagent is accessible and cheap, but nevertheless it almost never has been used for these purposes. We studied the stability of the sodium sulfite solutions in air and showed a possibility of using them for a long period. Using the methods of potentiodynamic polarization and potentiostatic electrolysis, we have studied characteristics of the process of metallic silver oxidation in the sulfite media. The anodic polarization process of the silver dissolution is shown to occur with 100% yield with respect to the consumed current. Simultaneously, on the cathode deposited up to 90% of dissolved silver.     

Electrochemical Formation of Al-Li Alloys by Codeposition of Al and Li from LiCl-KCl-AlF3 Melts at 853 K

The electrochemical behavior of Al(III) ions was studied in molten LiCl-KCl melts on a molybdenum electrode. Cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and chronoamperometry were used to explore the deposition mechanism of Al and Li. Cyclic voltammetry expriment indicates that under potential deposition(UPD) of lithium on pre-deposited aluminium led to the formation of liquid Al-Li alloys at 853 K. The diffusion coefficient of Al(III) ions at 853 K in LiCl-KCl-AlF₃(1%, mass fraction) melts was determined to be (2.79±0.05)×10^?5 cm²/s. Chronopotentiograms and chronoamperograms demonstrate that the codeposition of Al(III) and Li(I) ions formed Al-Li alloys at cathodic current densities higher than ?0.28 A/cm² or cathodic potentials more negative than ?2.20 V. X-Ray diffraction(XRD) pattern indicates that Al-Li alloys with different phases formed via galvanostatic electrolysis. Inductively coupled plasma(ICP) analyses of the samples obtained by electrolysis show that lithium and aluminium contents of Al-Li alloys could be controlled by AlF₃ concentration and current intensity.     

Electrochemical behavior of uranyl in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride mixture with water

Electrochemical behaviors of U(VI) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C₄MimCl) with various water contents investigated by chronopotentiometry and cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical reduction of U(VI) was identified to follow two processes: a lower valence intermediate U(V) was initially formed at the potential of ca. ?0.2 V(vs. Ag wire). Then, further deposition of UO₂ was followed at around ?0.8 V. Little amount of water (1–4 wt%) in C₄MimCl, however, has an effect on the U(VI) reduction by changing the current density of the redox reaction and the diffusion coefficient of U(VI) in C₄MimCl. The deposited product by potentiostatic electrolysis on the surface of stainless steel electrode was characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. Although the electrodeposited black film was amorphous, the electrochemical reduced product of U(VI) can be still confirmed to be UO₂ by XRD after the crystallization of the amorphous deposits at 1,073 K in nitrogen atmosphere.