Effect of hydrothermal treatment on properties of Ni-Al layered double hydroxides and related mixed oxides

The Ni-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with Ni/Al molar ratio of 2, 3, and 4 were prepared by coprecipitation and treated under hydrothermal conditions at 180 °C for times up to 20 h. Thermal decomposition of the prepared samples was studied using thermal analysis and high-temperature X-ray diffraction. Hydrothermal treatment increased significantly the crystallite size of coprecipitated samples. The characteristic LDH diffraction lines disappeared completely at ca. 350 °C and a gradual crystallization of NiO-like mixed oxide was observed at higher temperatures. Hydrothermal treatment improved thermal stability of the Ni2Al and Ni3Al LDHs but only a slight effect of hydrothermal treatment was observed with the Ni4Al sample. The Rietveld refinement of powder XRD patterns of calcination products obtained at 450 °C showed a formation of Al-containing NiO-like oxide and a presence of a considerable amount of Al-rich amorphous component. Hydrothermal aging of the LDHs resulted in decreasing content of the amorphous component and enhanced substitution of Al cations into NiO-like structure. The hydrothermally treated samples also exhibited a worse reducibility of Ni²⁺ components. The NiAl₂O₄ spinel and NiO still containing a marked part of Al in the cationic sublattice were detected in the samples calcined at 900 °C. The Ni2Al LDHs hydrothermally treated for various times and related mixed oxides obtained at 450 °C showed an increase in pore size with increasing time of hydrothermal aging. The hydrothermal treatment of LDH precursor considerably improved the catalytic activity of Ni2Al mixed oxides in N₂O decomposition, which can be explained by suppressing internal diffusion effect in catalysts grains.     

Electrodeposition of hard iron-zirconia dioxide composite coatings from a methanesulfonate electrolyte

A study of electrodeposition of iron-based composite coatings containing zirconia dioxide particles from sulfate and methanesulfonate electrolytes showed that the zirconia dioxide content in the deposits obtained from the latter electrolyte can reach 10–12 wt %. Models of the process of ZrO₂ particle incorporation into an iron matrix were considered. The microhardness of the composite deposits was estimated.     

Transient natural convection induced by electrodeposition of Li+ ions onto a lithium metal vertical cathode in propylene carbonate

Transient natural convection caused by Li⁺ electrodeposition at constant current along a vertical Li metal cathode immersed in a 0.5 M LiClO₄–PC (propylene carbonate) electrolyte was compared with that by Cu²⁺ ion electrodeposition in aqueous CuSO₄ solution. The concentration profile of the Li⁺ ions was measured in situ by holographic interferometry. The interference fringes start to shift with time at a higher current density. The concentration boundary layer thickness for Li⁺ ions was successfully determined. With the progress of electrodeposition, the density difference between the electrolyte at the cathode surface and the bulk electrolyte increased to induce upward natural convection of the electrolyte. The electrolyte velocity was measured by monitoring the movement of tracer particles. The measured transient behavior of the ionic mass and momentum transfer rates normalized with respect to the steady-state value was numerically analyzed. Transient natural convection along a vertical cathode due to Li metal electrodeposition can be reasonably explained by boundary layer theory, similar to the case of Cu electrodeposition in aqueous CuSO₄ solution.     

Growth of silver nanowires by an unconventional electrodeposition without template

We describe an unconventional electrochemistry approach to the preparation of silver nanowires. By the electrodeposition in the dilute solution without supporting electrolyte, silver nanowires with diameter 10–50 nm and length up to several μm have been synthesized. It was found that the absence of the supporting electrolyte played a key role in the formation of silver nanowires, and the products from the solution without supporting electrolytes were very different from those with supporting electrolytes. A possible mechanism concerning the transportation of silver ions by electro-migration and the diffusion was proposed.     

Electrode Processes during Aluminum Electrodeposition in Aromatic Solvents

The aluminum electrodeposition kinetics is studied in solutions of aluminum bromide in such aromatic solvents as benzene, toluene, p-xylene, and ethylbenzene. The effect of the aluminum bromide concentration on the rate of aluminum electrodeposition from a xylene electrolyte is investigated. A failed aluminum-plating electrolyte can be restored to full working capacity by treating it with an alkyl halide. This capability to restore the covering power of aluminum-plating electrolytes decreases in the series CH₃Cl > C₂H₅Br > n-₃H₇Br > n-C₄H₉Br. The temperature dependence of the rate of cathodic aluminum deposition is determined. The calculated effective activation energy for aluminum electrodeposition from a xylene–durene electrolyte is 44.5–64.5 kJ mol^–1.     

Preparation of Co–Al and Ni–Al layered double hydroxide thin films by a sol–gel process with hot water treatment

Using hot water treatment of sol–gel derived precursor gel films, Co–Al and Ni–Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) thin films were prepared. The precursor gel films of Al₂O₃–CoO or Al₂O₃–NiO were prepared from cobalt or nickel nitrates and aluminum tri-sec-butoxide using the sol–gel method. Then, the precursor gel films were immersed in a NaOH aqueous solution of 100 °C. Nanocrystallites of Co–Al and Ni–Al LDH were precipitated with the hot water treatment with NaOH solution. The largest amounts of nanocrystals were obtained with a solution of pH = 10 for Co–Al LDH, and with that of pH = 9 for Ni–Al LDH. X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that this process formed CO₃ ²⁻ intercalated LDHs. Both Co–Al and Ni–Al LDH thin films were confirmed to work as electrodes for electrochemical devices by cyclic voltammogram measurements.     

Oxygen evolution on electrodes of different roughness: an electrochemical noise study

Rough and porous Ni layers have been obtained by cathodic deposition from a NiCl₂, NH₄Cl solution, at high current density. Characterisation by SEM has shown that they consisted of micro-dendrites separated by pores with a typical diameter of 1 m. In addition, circular hollows (10–100 m in diameter) were found on the deposit surface; their density varied with the deposition current density and deposition charge. The surface roughness of the Ni deposits, measured by EIS, was found to increase roughly linearly with the deposition charge, and to be little dependent on current density, provided a threshold value was exceeded. The oxygen evolution reaction has been studied on these electrodes by simultaneous real-time measurements of potential and electrolyte resistance fluctuations. The analysis of the electrochemical noise indicated that the dimensions of oxygen bubbles detaching from the electrodes slightly increased with the deposit surface roughness. It is not clear, however, whether or not this increase was associated with the effect of the small (1 m) or the large (10–100 m) features on the electrode-bubble interactions.     

从2AlCl3/Et3NHCl离子液体中电沉积制备Ni 和Ni-Al 合金

在含Ni2+的2AlCl3/Et3NHCl离子液体中的铜电极上通过恒电位电沉积制备出金属Ni和Ni-Al合金.采用循环伏安和计时电流方法,揭示铜电极上沉积金属Ni的成核机理,研究了电沉积Ni-Al合金的机理,以及恒电位沉积Ni-Al合金工艺条件对沉积Ni-Al合金表面形貌和电流效率的影响.结果表明:在铜电极上电沉积金属Ni的成核机理为受扩散控制的三维瞬时成核过程.在电量≥3.0 C时,电沉积Ni-Al合金的组成基本不再变化.Ni-Al合金的电沉积机理为,Ni的电沉积受扩散控制,同时进行Al的欠电位沉积,在Ni-Al合金电沉积过程中某些Ni-Al合金相的沉积可能受动力学限制而使Ni-Al合金的组成偏离热力学预测结果.在电沉积Ni-Al合金的沉积电流小且平稳,电沉积速率慢条件下,Ni-Al合金表面形貌致密均一,反之就会出现瘤节.电沉积Ni-Al合金的电流效率＞90％.电沉积物的组成接近于Ni3Al合金.     

Solution decomposition of the layered double hydroxide (LDH) of Zn with Al

The layered double hydroxides (LDH) of Zn with Al containing intercalated CO₃²⁻ and NO₃⁻ ions undergo solution decomposition to yield a highly crystalline oxide mixture comprising ZnO and ZnAl₂O₄ at temperatures as low as 150–180 °C under hydrothermal conditions. In contrast solid-state decomposition takes place at a much higher temperature (240–315 °C) in air. Solution decomposition is not only guided by the low octahedral crystal field stabilization energy of Zn²⁺ ions, a factor that also affects solid-state decomposition, but also by solubility considerations. The LDHs of Mg and Ni with Al do not undergo solution decomposition.     

Electrolyte using blend salts of LiTFSI and LLZO for long-term high-safety lithium ion battery

It is crucial to obtain a reliable electrolyte system that is used for replacing thermally unstable and the moisture sensitive LiPF₆ salt in liquid electrolytes for developing excellent cycle stability lithium ion batteries with high safety. In this work, a kind of hybrid electrolytes, adding Ga–Bi co-doped Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) into LiTFSI based commercial electrolyte, was successfully prepared. The results shows that adding Ga–Bi co-doped LLZO ceramic particles is benefit for enhancing conductivity of LiTFSI based commercial electrolyte, which is 3.14 mS cm⁻¹ from 3.02 mS cm⁻¹. Furthermore, the LiFePO₄| |Li cell assembling with LiTFSI based electrolyte with Ga–Bi co-doped LLZO ceramic particles shows good cycle performance and coulomb efficiency (100% except for the initial cycle value of 88%) due to a passivation multi-element film formed for preventing severe corrosion to the Al foil. The battery delivered a high first cycle discharge capacity of 144.2 mAh g⁻¹ (85% of theoretical LiFePO₄.) and a maximum value of 152.6 mAh g⁻¹ after the 69th cycle. After the 300 stable cycle, the capacity of 130.8 mAh g⁻¹ (85.7% of the maximum data) remained.     

Synthesis of Mg–Al–Fe–NO3 layered double hydroxides via a mechano-hydrothermal route

Mg–Al–Fe–NO₃ layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with a constant Mg²⁺/(Al³⁺ + Fe³⁺) molar ratio but varying Al³⁺/Fe³⁺ molar ratios were successfully synthesized by a mechano-hydrothermal (MHT) method from Mg(OH)₂, Al(OH)₃ and Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O or Mg(NO₃)₂·6H₂O as starting materials. The resulting LDHs (MHT-LDHs) were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, FT-IR, and zeta potential, size distribution and specific surface area analyses. It was found that pre-milling played a key role in the LDH formation during subsequent hydrothermal treatment. The MHT route is advantageous in terms of low reaction temperature compared with the conventional hydrothermal method, and the target products are of high crystallinity and good dispersion compared with the conventional mechanochemical (MC) method. The MHT-LDHs had higher specific surface area and zeta potential, and lower hydrodynamic diameter than LDHs obtained by MC method (MC-LDHs). Furthermore, the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions using the LDHs was examined, showing that the MHT-LDHs are of higher removal efficiency than MC-LDHs for the heavy metal pollutant.     

Preparation of Mg–Al layered double hydroxides intercalated with alkyl sulfates and investigation of their capacity to take up N,N-dimethylaniline from aqueous solutions

This study examined the effect of the interlayer spacing of a Mg–Al layered double hydroxide (Mg–Al LDH) on the ability of the Mg–Al LDH to take up a nonionic organic material. Mg–Al LDHs, intercalated with 1-propanesulfonate (PS^?), 1-hexanesulfonate (HS^?), and 1-dodecanesulfonate (DS^?), were prepared by coprecipitation, yielding PS·Mg–Al LDH, HS·Mg–Al LDH, and DS·Mg–Al LDH, respectively. The increase in the alkyl chain lengths of the Mg–Al LDHs (PS^? < HS^? < DS^?) resulted in the perpendicular orientation of the organic acid anions in the interlayer of Mg–Al LDH, which in turn resulted in more organic acid anions being accommodated in the interlayer space. An organic acid anion with a large molecular length was more easily intercalated in the interlayer of Mg–Al LDH than one with a small molecular length. This was attributed to the hydrophobic interaction between the alkyl chains, affecting the intercalation of the organic acid anions. The uptake of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) by Mg–Al LDHs increased in the order PS·Mg–Al LDH < HS·Mg–Al LDH < DS·Mg–Al LDH. The uptake was attributed to the hydrophobic interactions between DMA and the intercalated PS^?, HS^?, and DS^?. Thus, Mg–Al LDH, which has a lot of large interlayer spacings when intercalated with organic acid anions, can take up a large number of DMA molecules from an aqueous solution.     

Electrodeposition of aluminum–hafnium alloy from the Lewis acidic aluminum chloride-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride molten salt

The electrochemistry of Hf(IV) and the electrodeposition of Al–Hf alloys were examined in the Lewis acidic 66.7–33.3 mol% aluminum chloride-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride molten salt containing HfCl₄. When cyclic staircase voltammetry was carried out at a platinum disk electrode in this melt, the deposition and stripping waves for Al shifted to negative and positive potentials, respectively, suggesting that aluminum stripping is more difficult due to the formation of Al–Hf alloys. Al–Hf alloy electrodeposits containing ~13 at.% Hf were obtained on Cu rotating wire and cylinder electrodes. The Hf content in the Al–Hf alloy deposits depended on the HfCl₄ concentration in the melt, the electrodeposition temperature, and the applied current density. The deposits were composed of dense crystals and were completely chloride-free. The chloride-induced pitting corrosion potential of the resulting Al–Hf alloys was approximately +0.30 V against pure aluminum when the Hf content was above 10 at.%.     

Determination of Cd by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after electrodeposition on a graphite probe modified with palladium

Traces of Cd were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after electrochemical preconcentration on a commercial graphite ridge probe modified with Pd. The Pd electrochemically deposited on the probe surface served not only as the modifier but it also protected the graphite surface. Cd was electrodeposited at a controlled potential − 1.2 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode) using the Pd-modified graphite probe as a working electrode. The sensitivity of Cd determination remained unchanged for 300 electrodeposition and atomization cycles. The detection limit (3σ_blank) was improved with increasing time of electrolysis and was 1.2 ng l^− 1 for a 10 min electrolysis time in the presence of 0.1 mol l^− 1 NaNO₃. The procedure was applied for the determination of Cd in (1 + 1) diluted seawater and in (1 + 1) diluted urine samples using the standard addition method.     

High-efficiency electrodeposition of polyindole nanocomposite using MoS2 nanosheets as electrolytes and their capacitive performance

Polyindole (PIn) has attracted extensive interest as promising energy storage materials owing to fairly good thermal stability, high redox activity and stability, however, it is challenging to prepare high-quality PIn in neutral solvents by electrochemical method. Herein, a simple route, based on MoS₂ nanosheets as electrolytes, has been developed for the electrochemical preparation of PIn/MoS₂ nanocomposite in acetonitrile solution. Due to the coordination interaction between indole and MoS₂, the onset oxidation potential of indole in this medium was reduced to 0.5 V from 0.75 V determined in acetonitrile/LiClO₄. The morphologies and structures of as-obtained PIn/MoS₂ nanocomposite were characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman and XPS. The results of thermal analysis indicated that the PIn/MoS₂ nanocomposite had an improved thermal stability relative to PIn and MoS₂ nanosheets. Moreover, the specific capacitance of PIn/MoS₂ nanocomposite was 8.3 times higher than that of PIn prepared acetonitrile/LiClO₄. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the high-efficiency electrodeposition of PIn/MoS₂ nanocomposite in MoS₂-based acetonitrile solution, which will be a promising candidate as a high efficient electrode material in the application of supercapacitors.     

Mixed oxides obtained from Co and Mn containing layered double hydroxides: Preparation, characterization, and catalytic properties

Co-Mn-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with various Co:Mn:Al molar ratios (4:2:0, 4:1.5:0.5, 4:1:1, 4:0.5:1.5, and 4:0:2) were prepared and characterized. Magnesium containing LDHs Co-Mg-Mn (2:2:2), Co-Mg-Mn-Al (2:2:1:1), and Co-Mg-Al (2:2:2) were also studied. Thermal decomposition of prepared LDHs and formation of related mixed oxides were studied using high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analysis. The thermal decomposition of Mg-free LDHs starts by their partial dehydration accompanied by shrinkage of the lattice parameter c from ca. 0.76 to 0.66 nm. The dehydration temperature of the Co-Mn-Al LDHs decreases with increasing Mn content from 180 °C in Co-Al sample to 120 °C in sample with Co:Mn:Al molar ratio of 4:1.5:0.5. A subsequent step is a complete decomposition of the layered structure to nanocrystalline spinel, the complete dehydration, and finally decarbonation of the mixed oxide phase. Spinel-type oxides were the primary crystallization products. Mg-containing primary spinels had practically empty tetrahedral cationic sites. A dramatic increase of the spinel cell size upon heating and analysis by Raman spectroscopy revealed a segregation of Co-rich spinel in Co-Mn and Co-Mn-Al specimens. In calcination products obtained at 500 °C, the spinel mean coherence length was 5-10 nm, and the total content of the X-ray diffraction crystalline portion was 50-90%. These calcination products were tested as catalysts in the total oxidation of ethanol and decomposition of N₂O. The catalytic activity in ethanol combustion was enhanced by increasing (Co+Mn) content while an optimum content of reducible components was necessary for high activity in N₂O decomposition, where the highest conversions were found for calcined Co-Mn-Al sample with Co:Mn:Al molar ratio of 4:1:1.     

Electrodeposition kinetics of tin—antimony alloy from sulfate electrolyte with organic additives

Kinetics of the Sn-Sb alloy electrodeposition from sulfate electrolytes containing organic additives (syntanol DS-10, Formalin, 1,4-butynediol) is studied by the faradaic impedance method. Bright Sn-Sb alloy coatings are plated in this electrolyte at i_c = 0.5-5 A/dm². With increasing i_c, the Sb content in the alloy decreases from 14 to 6.6 wt %     

Utilization of electrodeposition for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry determination of gold

Gold was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after electrochemical preconcentration on the graphite ridge probe used as a working electrode and sample support. The probe surface was electrochemically modified with Pd, Re and the mixture of both. The electrolysis of gold was performed under galvanostatic control at 0.5 mA. Maximum pyrolysis temperature for the probe surface modified with Pd was 1200 °C, with Re 1300 °C. The relative standard deviation for the determination of 2 μg l^− 1 Au was not higher than 5.6% (n = 8) for 2 min electrodeposition. The sensitivity of gold determination was reproducible for 300 electrodeposition and atomization cycles. When the probe surface was modified with a mixture of Pd and Re the detection limit was 31 ng l^− 1 for 2 min electrodeposition, 3.7 ng l^− 1 for 30 min, 1.5 ng l^− 1 for 1 h and 0.4 ng l^− 1 for 4 h electrodeposition, respectively. The procedure was applied to the determination of gold in river water samples. The relative standard deviation for the determination of 2.5 ng l^− 1 Au at 4 h electrodeposition time at 0.5 mA was 7.5%.     

Mg–Al layered double hydroxide intercalated with sodium lauryl sulfate as a sorbent for <Superscript>152+154</Superscript>Eu from aqueous solutions

In the present study, Mg–Al layered double hydroxide intercalated with nitrate anions (LDH-NO₃) was synthesized, modified with the anionic surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate, and applied for the removal of ^152+154Eu from aqueous solutions. Modification of the as-synthesized Mg–Al layered double hydroxide was carried out at surfactant concentration of 0.01 M (the organo-LDH produced denoted LDH-NaLS). The as-synthesized and surfactant-intercalated LDHs were characterized by FT-IR and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The effect of some variables such as solution pH, contact time and sorbate concentration on removal of ^152+154Eu was investigated. The kinetic data obtained were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model rather than the pseudo-first-order model. Intraparticle diffusion model showed that sorption of ^152+154Eu proceed by intraparticle diffusion together with boundary layer diffusion. Experimental isotherm data were well described by Langmuir model. Organo-LDH was found to have higher capacity (156.45 mg g⁻¹) for europium than the as-synthesized LDH-NO₃ (119.56 mg g⁻¹). Comparing LDHs capacities obtained for Eu(III) in the present work with other sorbents reported in literature indicated that LDHs have the highest capacities. Application of the developed process for removal of ^152+154Eu(III) from radioactive process wastewaters was also studied and the obtained results revealed that these LDHs are promising materials for treatment of radioactive wastewaters.     

ZnO–Al2O3–CeO2–Ce2O3 mixed metal oxides as a promising photocatalyst for methyl orange photocatalytic degradation

In this research article, ZnO–Al₂O₃–CeO₂–Ce₂O₃ mixed metal oxides phases were prepared by calcination of Zn–Al/Ce–CO₃ layered double hydroxides (LDH) precursors, and evaluated for the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) as a model textile dye from aqueous solution under UV irradiation. First, Zn–Al–CO₃ and a series of Zn–Al/Ce–CO₃ with different Ce content (5, 10, 15, 20%) were synthesized through co-precipitation method at Zn/(Al+Ce) molar ratio (r) of 3, then subjected to calcination at 500 °C for 6 h. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and pH point of zero charge. The experimental results of the photodegradation reveal that the photocatalyst developed from Zn–Al–Ce10%-CO₃ LDH exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity, with a degradation efficiency of 99.8% after 300 min of irradiation. This performance was mainly ascribed to the presence of difference state of Ce, leading a highest separation efficiency of electrons and holes. The recycling tests suggests a much high photostability and reusability of the photocatalyst.