Activity evaluation of carbon paste electrodes loaded with pt nanoparticles prepared in different radiolytic conditions

Three Pt-based catalysts prepared in different radiolytic conditions and supported on graphite powder were packed into a carbon paste electrode configuration. They were compared to each other, to the commercial (Pt) deposited on activated carbon powder (Johnson Matthey) and to pure Vulcan XC-72 for their respective abilities toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The Tafel parameters were determined for all these electrodes. From the I–V curves and their quantitative treatment, the following order of activity emerged unambiguously and reads: (PtCO)₂ (fcc structure) > (PtCO)₁ (Chini cluster) > (Pt)_neat > (Pt)_JM (Johnson Matthey) ≫ (Vulcan XC-72). As expected, all the Pt-loaded electrodes were more efficient than Vulcan XC-72. The classification appears to be linked with the mean nanoparticle size, and for comparable sizes, with the surface morphology of the materials. The results and the stability of the electrodes suggest that the small particle sizes and the good dispersity on the carbon support were maintained during the HER.     

Multi-iron wells-Dawson heteropolytungstates. Electrochemical probing of siderophoric behavior in sandwich-type complexes

The demetalation process of 10 multi-iron Wells-Dawson polyoxometalates is studied by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. Eight sandwich-type complexes (alphaalphaalphaalpha-Na(16)[(NaOH(2))(2)(Fe(III))(2)(X(2)W(15)O(56))(2)], alphaalphabetaalpha-Na(14)[(NaOH(2))(Fe(III)OH(2))(Fe(III))(2)(X(2)W(15)O(56))(2)], alphabetabetaalpha-Na(12)[(Fe(III)OH(2))(2)(Fe(III))(2)(X(2)W(15)O(56))(2)], and alphabetabetaalpha-Na(14)[(Mn(II)OH(2))(2)(Fe(III))(2)(X(2)W(15)O(56))(2)] (where X = P(V) or As(V))) and two monomeric complexes (alpha-Na(11)[(P(2)(Fe(III)Cl)(2)(Fe(III)OH(2))W(15)O(59))] and alpha-Na(11)[(As(2)(Fe(III)Cl)(2)Fe(III)OH(2))W(15)O(59))]) were selected for this study. All 10 complexes show Fe(III) waves which are well-separated from the redox activity of the W(VI) centers. At room temperature and under mild conditions, iron release from the complexes is observed upon reduction of the Fe(III) centers. This release is controlled by the ionic strength of the medium, the nature and concentration of the anions present in the supporting electrolyte, and by the pH of the solution. This behavior parallels those described for most siderophores which depend on the same parameters.     

Reactions of V-Substituted Polyoxometalates with L-Cysteine

Three polyoxometalates (POMs), (X=P or As) and , in their oxidized and reduced forms, were selected for direct reaction or electrocatalytic reaction with L-cysteine, because they have the most negative formal potentials among those POMs active for the desired reaction. The good linearity of the UV–Visible calibration curve obtained for the reaction of α₂-[P₂V^VW₁₇O₆₂]⁷⁻ with L-cysteine indicates both a simple 1:1 stoichiometry for the process and the possibility to select a wavelength domain in which the one-electron reduced forms of this POM is the only strongly absorbing species in the mixture. Another general result among the three selected POMs is the existence, in each example, of a sharp isosbestic point during the recording of individual spectrakinetics using a photodiode array system. The kinetics could be fitted accuretely to a mono-exponential rate equation and the rate constants were determined. Electrocatalysis of the oxidation of L-cysteine was carried out in the presence of α₂-[H₄P V^IVW₁₇O₆₂]⁹⁻ as an example. The rate constant measured by chronocoulometry for this system compares favourably with that extracted from stopped flow experiments.Dedicated in honor of Professor Michael T. Pope on the occasion of his retirement.     

Sandwich-type phosphotungstates: structure,electrochemistry, and magnetism of the trinickel-substituted polyoxoanion [Ni(3)Na(H(2)O)(2)(PW(9)O(34))(2)](11-)

The novel nickel-substituted, dimeric phosphotungstate [Ni(3)Na(H(2)O)(2)(PW(9)O(34))(2)](11-) (1) has been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and electrochemistry. X-ray single-crystal analysis was carried out on Na(11)[Ni(3)Na(H(2)O)(2)(PW(9)O(34))(2)].21.25H(2)O, which crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 12.2467(6) A, b = 16.6031(7) A, c = 22.4017(12) A, alpha = 73.9870(10) degrees, beta = 87.6060(10) degrees, gamma = 79.344(2) degrees, and Z = 2. The polyanion consists of two lacunary B-alpha-[PW(9)O(34)](9-) Keggin moieties linked via three nickel(II) centers and a sodium ion. The structure of 1 is composed of two fused Keggin fragments that represent different Baker-Figgis isomers (alpha- vs beta-type). Electrochemical studies show that 1 exhibits a stable and reproducible voltammetric pattern, with a first wave featuring a chemically reversible four-electron/four-proton process. An investigation of the magnetic properties indicates that the three nickel centers exhibit ferromagnetic exchange interaction.