One-step synthesis of nitrogen-doped porous carbon for supercapacitors utilizing KNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> as an electrolyte

Nitrogen-doped porous carbons were prepared using a facile method, with low-biotechnology fulvic acid potassium salts as a precursor. The prepared carbons had a high surface area (1623 m² g^?1) and good electrochemical properties, making them suitable electrode materials for supercapacitors. Nitrogen-doped porous carbons were tested as an electrode in both 6 M KOH aqueous solution and different concentrations KNO₃ aqueous solution. The nitrogen-doped porous carbons with unique microstructure and nitrogen functionalities exhibited a capacitance of 235 F g^?1 in a 6 M KOH aqueous solution. Electrochemical investigation showed that the nitrogen-doped porous carbons exhibited a broad potential operational window in a 2.5 M KNO₃ aqueous solution. Furthermore, a high capacitance retention of 88.1 % was achieved even after 5000 cycles at 1.7 V. Potassium nitrate solutions in a wide range of concentrations were also proven to be promising electrolytes for electrochemical capacitors because they are cheap, noncorrosive, electrochemically stable, and compatible to diverse current collectors.     

Hydration numbers of ions in aqueous solutions of KOH, KCl, KI, and KIO3 according to refractometric data

Ion hydration in aqueous solutions of KOH, KCl, KI, and KIO₃ was studied by refractometry. The sum of the hydration numbers of the potassium ion and each anion in these compounds and the hydration numbers of OH^?, Cl^?, I^?, and IO ₃ ^? anions were determined by the Lorentz-Lorenz equation at different salt concentrations. The model suggests that the polarizability of the hydrated ion is proportional to the cube of the ion radius and the volume of the hydrated ion equals the sum of the nonhydated ion and hydration shell volumes. The hydration numbers of the anions calculated by the proposed procedure increase with their radii in the sequence: OH^?, Cl^?, I^?, and IO ₃ ^? .     

Nitrate-containing ionic liquids as active membrane components of nitrate-selection electrodes

Two dialkylimidazolium nitrate ionic liquids (ILs) have been tested for use as an active component of plasticized PVC membranes in nitrate ion selective electrodes (ISEs). The potentiometric reversibility and the main electrochemical characteristics of the ISEs in KNO₃ solutions have been studied. The test membranes contain 5% of the active component and demonstrate a near-Nernstian response to NO ₃ ^? . The use of a more hydrophobic IL based on dioctadecylimidazolium increases the sensitivity and decreases the detection limit: the slope of the electrode function is 57 mV/pC, and C _min = 3.7 · 10^?6 mol/L. The pH range of the membrane performance has been studied, and the potentiometric selectivity to NO ₃ ^? in the presence of several foreign anions has been determined. The new electrode exceeds the commercially available analogue (an ELIT 021 nitrate-selective electrode) in the detection limit and response time. The utility of the new electrode for the direct potentiometric determination of nitrate ILs in aqueous solutions has been demonstrated.     

The Measurement of the Gibbs Energy of Transfer Between Oil and Water Using a Nano‐Carbon Paste Electrode

The use of nano‐carbon paste electrodes for the measurement of Gibbs energies of transfer between oil and aqueous phases is reported. In this method the oil of interest is used as the binder for the nano‐carbon paste electrodes and the molecule of interest is dissolved in the organic or aqueous phase. Voltammetry is performed over a period of time and used to monitor the transfer of the molecule between the two phases. The method is illustrated for the transfer of ferrocenemethanol between water and oil using the ferrocenemethanol / ferroceniummethanol (FcCH₂OH/FcCH₂OH⁺) redox couple. Three pairs of voltammetric peaks were observed in a 0.1 M KCl solution when the nano‐carbon paste electrode was modified by dissolution of FcCH₂OH in the binder oil: P1 [E=0.23 V, 0.17 V vs. Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl)], P2 [E=0.36 V, 0.32 V vs. Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl)] and P3 [E=0.55 V, 0.46 V vs. Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl)]. These are assigned to the FcCH₂OH species existing in the aqueous solution [FcCH₂OH(aq)/FcCH₂OH⁺(aq)], originating in the oil (o) [FcCH₂OH(o)/FcCH₂OH⁺(aq)] and to oxidation of adsorbed (ads) material on the nano‐carbon [FcCH₂OH(ads)] respectively. When supporting electrolyte containing the anions Cl^?, NO₃^? or SCN^? was used, an expulsion of the oxidised ferrocene occurred and the difference in midpoint potentials (E_mid) between the peaks P1 and P2 observed in these experiments allowed the calculation of the Gibbs energy (ΔG°) of transfer of ferrocenemethanol from water to oil. The average ΔG° value thus obtained was (?12.7±0.2) kJ mol^?1. For more hydrophobic anions (X^?=PF₆^?, AsF₆^?), the electron transfer is coupled to the transfer of the anion into the oil and the ΔG° for the transfer of the ion pair of FcCH₂OH⁺ and X^? ions from water to oil was found to be ?1.3 and ?3.9 kJ mol^?1 for PF₆^? and AsF₆^? respectively.     

Electrochemical performance of metal-organic framework synthesized by a solvothermal method for supercapacitors

A series of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on isonicotinic acid and nickel nitrate were successfully synthesized by a solvothermal method as electrode materials for supercapacitor. The MOF were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms. Electrochemical properties of the materials were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 6 M KOH aqueous solutions. The effect of solvothermal time, temperature and the mol ratio of isonicotinic acid and nickel nitrate on the electrochemical performance were also studied. The maximum specific capacitance is found to be 634 F g^?1 at 5 mV s^?1 and the stable cycling properties measurement showed the sample kept 84% after 2000 cycles at a 50 mV s^?1 scan rate.     

Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Impedance Study of Glucose Oxidation on a Nickel Hydroxide Modified Au Electrode in Alkaline Solution

The electrochemical quartz crystal impedance (EQCI) technique has been applied to investigate glucose oxidation on bare and Ni(OH)₂‐modified Au electrodes in 0.2 mol L^?1 KOH aqueous solution. The EQCI responses suggest different contributions of H⁺‐release and OH^?‐incorporation reactions of the Ni(OH)₂‐film redox process in 0.2 mol L^?1 aqueous KOH at different potentials. Glucose adsorption on the Ni(OH)₂‐modified Au electrode was studied. A mechanism for potential cyclic redox process of glucose at Ni(OH)₂‐modified Au electrode is suggested, mainly based on a comparative EQCI analysis with direct glucose oxidation on bare gold and glucose ad‐/desorption on Ni(OH)₂ film.     

Activity coefficients of sodium,potassium, and nitrate ions in aqueous solutions of NaNO3, KNO3, and NaNO3+KNO3 at 25°C

Ion selective electrodes have been used to measure the activity coefficients at 25°C of individual ions in aqueous solutions of NaNO₃ up to 3.5 molal, KNO₃ up to 3.5 molal and mixtures of NaNO₃ and KNO₃ up to 2.4 molal total nitrate ion concentration. The experimental results confirm that the activity coefficient of anion and cation in aqueous single electrolyte solutions of NaNO₃ and KNO₃ were different from each other over the whole range of concentrations studied. These effects are attributed to the ion-ion and ion-solvent interactions. The results also show that the activity coefficients of nitrate ions in the presence of sodium and potassium counterions do not depend significantly on the nature of the counterions present in the solution. The experimental data obtained in this study were correlated by a model proposed previously.     

Improving the electrochemical performances of active carbon-based supercapacitors through the combination of introducing functional groups and using redox additive electrolyte

High-performance and low-cost electrochemical capacitors (ECs) are essential for large-scale applications in energy storage. In this work, the specific capacitance of active carbon (AC) electrode was significantly improved through the combination of introducing functional groups on the surface of AC and adding redox-active molecules (K₃Fe(CN)₆) into 2?M KOH aqueous electrolytes. The surface-oxygen functionalized AC (FAC) was synthesized using HNO₃ echoed as the electrode and 2?M KOH with 0.1?M K₃Fe(CN)₆ as the electrolyte. The surface functional groups of the AC not only contribute to the pseudocapacitance but also increase the active sites of the electrode/electrolyte interface, which enhances the electrochemical activity of the Fe(CN)₆^3?/Fe(CN)₆^4? redox pair, thus leading to high capacitance. In the redox electrolyte, the specific capacitance was much higher in 229.17?F?g^?1 (1?A?g^?1) achieved for those FAC than in raw AC (only 147.06?F?g^?1). Similarly, the FAC electrode suggested high energy density and extended cycling stability in the KOH?+?K₃Fe(CN)₆ electrolyte.     

Solubility of some phenolic compounds in aqueous alkali metal nitrate solutions from (293.15 to 318.15) K

This paper is continuation of the study concerning the solubility-temperature dependence data for some phenolic compounds (PhC), contained in olive mill wastewater (OMWW), in two nitrate salts (KNO₃ and NaNO₃) aqueous solutions. The solubilities of PhC were determined in the temperature ranging from (293.15 to 318.15) K. It has been observed that the solubility, in aqueous nitrate solutions, increases with increasing temperature. Results showed that alkali metal nitrate has a salting-out effect on the solubility of PhC. The effect of the anion of the electrolyte on the solubility of PhC is observed by comparing these results with values reported in the previous papers for the effect of LiCl, NaCl and KCl. For each cation, the solubilites of the phenolic compounds are higher with nitrate anion than with chloride anion. Results were interpreted in terms of the salt hydration shells and the ability of the solute to form hydrogen-bond with water. The solubility data were accurately correlated by a semi empirical equation. The standard molar Gibbs free energies of transfer of PhC (Δ_trG^°) from pure water to aqueous solutions of the nitrate salts have been calculated from the solubility data. The decrease in solubility is correlated to the positive Δ_trG^° value which is mainly of enthalpic origin.     

The effect of NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> and OH<Superscript>−</Superscript> ions on the laser ablation of Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> ion on Type 304 stainless steel

Type 304 stainless steel specimens artificially contaminated with CsCl solution were treated with KOH solution and KNO₃ solution, respectively. Cs⁺ ion removal tests by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm at a given fluence of 57.3 J/cm² were performed. The surface morphology and the relative atomic mole ratio of the specimen surface were investigated by SEM and EPMA. The order of Cs⁺ ion removal efficiency of laser was no-treatment < KOH < KNO₃ during the 42 shots. From the investigation of XPS peaks around 532.7 and 292.9 eV, KNO₃ on a surface of specimen was found to be fully decomposed during the laser irradiation. It was suggested that Cs₂O particulates formed by the reaction between the reactive oxygen generated from the nitrate ion and Cs⁺ ion on the metal surface could be easily suspended. For the KOH system, FeOOH was formed during the laser irradiation and it changed into Fe₂O₃. It was also suggested that Cs₂O particulates were formed by the reaction between the reactive oxygen generated from the decomposition of K₂O and Cs⁺ ion on the metal surface..     

Coupled diffusion produced by hydrolysis of aqueous potassium phosphate

Conductimetric and diaphragm cell techniques have been used to measure diffusion of aqueous potassium phosphate solutions at 25°C from 0.01 to 0.10 mol-dm^–3 (M). A significant portion of the aqueous K₃PO₄ component diffuses as equimolar amounts of potassium hydrogen phosphate and potassium hydroxide produced by hydrolysis: K₃PO₄+H₂O=K₂HPO₄+KOH. Because OH^– diffuses more rapidly than HPO ₄ ^2– , the total flow of KOH exceeds the flow of K₂HPO₄. The extra flow of KOH constitutes coupled transport of a second solute component. Ternary diffusion coefficients that describe interacting flows of K₃PO₄ and KOH components are reported. At low concentrations where phosphate is strongly hydrolyzed, the molar flux of the KOH component produced by diffusion of K₃PO₄ is six times larger than the flux of the K₃PO₄ component. Binary diffusion coefficients for aqueous K₂HPO₄ solutions are also reported. It is shown that ternary transport coefficients for K₃PO₄ solutions can be estimated from the properties of binary solutions of K₂HPO₄ and KOH.     

Thermodynamic characteristics of protolytic equilibria of L-serine in aqueous solutions

The heat effects of the reaction of aqueous solution of L-serine with aqueous solutions of HNO₃ and KOH were determined by calorimetry at temperatures of 288.15, 298.15, and 308.15 K, and ionic strength values of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 (background electrolyte, KNO₃). Standard thermodynamic characteristics (Δ_r H ^o, Δ_r G ^o, Δ_r S ^o, ΔC _p ^o) of the acid-base reactions in aqueous solutions of L-serine were calculated. The effect of the concentration of background electrolyte and temperature on the heats of dissociation of amino acid was considered. The combustion energy of L-serine by bomb calorimetry in the medium of oxygen was determined. The standard combustion and formation enthalpies of crystalline L-serine were calculated. The heats of dissolution of crystalline L-serine in water and solutions of potassium hydroxide at 298.15 K were measured by direct calorimetry. The standard enthalpies of formation of L-serine and products of its dissociation in aqueous solution were calculated.     

A study of the gold/aqueous electrolyte interphase by modulated reflection spectroscopy

The admittance and differential reflectivity of an electrode of polycrystalline gold in contact with aqueous 0.02 M NaF, KClO₄, 0.01 M Na₂SO₄ and KCl have been measured in the range of potential where the electrode is ideally polarized (?0.7 V to 0.8 V NHE). In NaF and KClO₄ evidence was obtained for the compression of the adsorbed layer of water. The increase of the number of water molecules, with respect to the number in the least original state (at?4μC cm^?2), is 3% at +8 μC cm^?2 and at?17 μC cm^?2. At the potential of zero charge the water dipoles are oriented preferentially with the oxygen towards the metal. In KCl the optical measurements confirm the existence of two types of Au?Cl^? interaction and the covalent character of the bond at the most positive charges.     

Supercapacitive behaviors of the nitrogen-enriched activated mesocarbon microbead in aqueous electrolytes

The activated nitrogen-enriched novel carbons (a-NENCs) have been prepared by direct carbonization of polyaniline/activated mesocarbon microbead composites and further activated by 16 M?HNO₃. The electrochemical performances and supercapacitive behaviors of the a-NENCs in 6 M KOH, 1 M?H₂SO₄, and 0.5 M?K₂SO₄ solutions are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic life, leakage current, and self-discharge measurements. The results demonstrate that the supercapacitors perform definitely supercapacitive behaviors; especially in 6 M KOH electrolyte, the supercapacitor represents much better electrochemical performance with more excellent reversibility, shorter relaxation time of 1.11 s, and nearly ideal polarizability. The maximum specific capacitance of the supercapacitors using a-NENCs as active electrode material is 85.1 F?g^?1 at a rate of 500 mA?g^?1 in 6 M?KOH. These outcomes indicate that the 6 M?KOH aqueous solution is a promising electrolyte for the supercapacitor with a-NENCs as electrode material.     

The electrooxidation of methanol and related compounds at ruthenium dioxide-coated electrodes

The underlying metal was observed to corrode when a ruthenium dioxide-coated titanium electrode was anodized in an aqueous methanol solution. With a similarly coated platinum electrode peaks were observed on the voltammogram below 1.0 V which were attributed to methanol oxidation on the underlying metal. This effect was more pronounced when the electrode was subjected during cycling to potentials close to 0 V. Rapid oxidation of methanol on RuO₂ was observed at potentials above 1.0 V, the rate at a given potential increasing in an approximately linear manner with increasing alcohol concentration. The rate of reaction also increased with increasing temperature and increasing surface roughness. Tafel slope values were rather high (>100 mV decade^?1) and a mechanism involving anodically generated species such as OH_ads was proposed to account for these results. The variation of activity with pH was similar to that reported earlier for oxygen evolution at these anodes and this was again explained in terms of partial deactivation of the surface due to a combination of proton loss and phosphate ion adsorption at intermediate pH values. The release of carbon dioxide from aqueous solutions of higher alcohols at 25°C confirmed the high oxidizing power of RuO₂ anodes.     

Study of the behavior of chromium(III) in potassium nitrate solutions at 25°C

Solubility in the KNO₃-Cr(NO₃)₃-H₂O system at 25°C was studied by an isothermal method. The existence of solid phases of potassium nitrate and chromium(III) nitrate nonahydrate was confirmed by constructing a phase diagram, chemical analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Crystallization of potassium nitrate from aqueous solutions was studied. Potassium nitrate does not interact with chromium(III) nitrate within the range of micro and macro concentrations. The capture of chromium(III) by KNO₃ crystals is due to adsorption and occlusion of a mother solution.     

Assessment of Potassium Zinc Ferrocyanide as an Alkali-Metal Ion-Exchanger in Ion-Selective Electrodes

Abstract

Silicone rubber membranes containing potassium zinc ferrocyanide have been assessed as ion-selective electrode sensors for the determination of alkali metal ions. The slope of the calibration graph for potassium ion is 59 mV per decade change in concentration within the concentration range 5 × 10^?4 to 10^?1 M at 25°C. Selectivity constants (K_K + _/M+)are 9. 5, Cs⁺; 3. 3, Rb⁺; 0. 025, Na⁺; 0. 003, Li⁺; and 1.8, NH₄ ⁺, calculated from potential data obtained at 10^?1 M concentrations of each ion separately. Similar membranes prepared from PVC responded similarly with a slight improvement in selectivity.     

惰性盐辅助合成介孔石墨化碳片及其电容性能

以惰性盐KCl为模板、硝酸镍为金属催化剂镍源、葡萄糖为碳源,通过碳化处理制备了介孔石墨化碳片。利用扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X-射线衍射仪和比表面测试仪对介孔石墨化碳片进行了表征。探讨了碳片形成的机理,采用三电极测试体系研究了介孔石墨化碳片电极材料的电化学性能。结果表明,10 g KCl制备的碳片比表面积最大(989 m2·g-1),在6 mol·L-1KOH电解液中,当电流密度为0.5 A·g-1时,比电容达到180 F·g-1;当电流密度达到10 A·g-1时,比电容维持在148 F·g-1,显示了电极具有较好的倍率性能;在10 A·g-1条件下,2 000次循环充放电测试后电容没有发生衰减,展示了在超级电容器方面的应用潜力。     

Improvement of capacitance activity for Cu‐doped Ni‐based metal–organic frameworks by adding potassium hexacyanoferrate into KOH electrolyte

Cu‐doped Ni‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) nanomaterials fabricated through a one‐pot hydrothermal reaction were characterized, and their performance as supercapacitor electrode materials was further studied for the first time. The results indicated that the doping of foreign metals and the introduction of K₃[Fe(CN)₆] in the KOH electrolyte significantly improve the performance of the supercapacitor. The results indicated that the Ni_2.6Cu_0.4 MOFs material shows the highest specific capacitance (1282 F g^?1 at 1 A g^?1 in mixed 2 M KOH and 0.1 M K₃[Fe(CN)₆]) and optimal capacitance retention (85.7% after 2000 cycles). This work provides a feasible optimization strategy for the construction of MOFs‐based supercapacitor electrode materials with excellent performance, and also provides a reliable experimental and theoretical basis for practical industrial production.