Thermal dehydration of lithium metaborate dihydrate and phase transitions of anhydrous product

Reaction steps and mechanisms of the thermal dehydration of lithium metaborate dihydrate were investigated by means of thermoanalytical measurements, high temperature powder X-ray diffractometry, FT-IR spectroscopy, and microscopic observations. The first half of thermal dehydration was characterized by the melting of the sample producing viscous surface layer, the formation of bubbles on the particle surfaces, and the sudden mass-loss taking place by an opportunity of cracking and/or bursting of the bubble surface layer. The second half of the dehydration with a long-tailed mass-loss process in a wide temperature region was divided further into three distinguished reaction steps by the measurements of controlled rate thermal analysis. During the course of the thermal dehydration, four different poorly crystalline phases of intermediate hydrates were observed, in addition to an amorphous phase produced by an isothermal annealing. Just after completing the thermal dehydration, an exothermic DTA peak of the crystallization of β-LiBO₂ was appeared at around 750 K. The phase transition from β-LiBO₂ to α-LiBO₂ was observed in the temperature range of 800-900 K, which subsequently melted by indicating a sharp endothermic DTA peak with the onset temperature at 1101.4 ± 0.6 K.     

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen at Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Cobalt Porphyrin Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

The multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of oxygen in 0.1 M HAc‐NaAc (pH 3.8) buffer solution. Further modification with cobalt porphyrin film on the MWNTs by adsorption, the resulted modified electrode showed more efficient catalytic activity to O₂ reduction. The reduction peak potential of O₂ is shifted much more positively to 0.12 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and the peak current is increased greatly. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were used to characterize the material and the modified film on electrode surface. Electrochemical experiments gave the total number of electron transfer for oxygen reduction as about 3, which indicated a co‐exist process of 2 electrons and 4 electrons for reduction of oxygen at this modified electrode. Meanwhile, the catalytic activities of the multilayer film (MWNTs/CoTMPyP)_n prepared by layer‐by‐layer method were investigated, and the results showed that the peak current of O₂ reduction increased and the peak potential shifted to a positive direction with the increase of layer numbers.     

DNA-mediated charge transport by minor groove-binding polyamide

A novel polyamide-modified electrode was fabricated successfully by surface synthesis. The DNA-mediated charge transport by minor groove-binding polyamide was observed for the first time with a [Ru(NH₃)₆]^2+/3+ probe. Two control experiments on HSC₁₁H₂₂NH₂ SAM/Au electrode, with and without DNA adsorption, confirmed that polyamide–DNA complex was a medium of charge transport. Four different DNA sequences were employed to investigate the effect of the charge transport of the polyamide–DNA complex in the minor groove. The peak current and a positive shift of peak potential were enhanced with the affinity increase between polyamide and DNA sequences. The experimental result offers a powerful tool for exquisite recognition of different sequences of base-pairs in double-stranded DNA.     

Effects of tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate as an electrolyte additive on the electrochemical behavior of lead acid battery

Tetrabutyl ammonium hydrogen sulfate is an ion-paring reagent that has similar properties with ionic liquid. Ionic liquids belong to new branch of salts with unique properties that have ever increasing applications in electrochemical systems especially lithium-ion batteries. For the first time, the effects of tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TBAHS) as an electrolyte additive in battery’s electrolyte was studied on the hydrogen and oxygen evolution overpotential and anodic layer formation on lead–antimony–tin grid alloy of lead acid battery by using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry in aqueous sulfuric acid solution. The grid surface morphology after cyclic redox reaction was studied by using scanning electron microscopy. The results show that, by increasing TBAHS concentration in the electrolyte, hydrogen and oxygen overpotential were increased, and so the crystalline structure of PbSO₄ layer changed. Also, cyclic voltammogram on carbon–PbO paste electrode shows that with presence of TBAHS in the electrolyte, oxidation and reduction peak current intensively increased and peak potential for oxidation and reduction of PbO were dependent on TBAHS concentration.     

Explicit study on the oxidation mechanism of nickel in molten Li2CO3-K2CO3

The oxidation behavior of nickel in Li+K carbonate melt is followed by measuring the open-circuit potential and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under an O₂+CO₂ gas mixture in the ratio 90/10 at a total pressure of 1 atm at 650 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy are employed for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the different compounds involved during the oxidation of nickel. Atomic force microscopy is used for both imaging the evolution of the oxide layer and determining its surface roughness. The in situ oxidation process of nickel demonstrates three stages: rapid formation of a compact surface oxide (first stage), thicker oxide layer (second stage), and a porous oxide structure (third stage). The lithiation reaction has been identified to occur during the second stage. Formation of an intermediate and unstable compound, namely NiCO₃, has been confirmed by XRD. Electronic Publication     

Initial stages of anodic oxidation of silver in sodium hydroxide solution studied by potential sweep voltammetry and ellipsometry

The first stages of the oxidation of polycrystalline silver electrodes in NaOH solutions were studied by potential sweep voltammetry and ellipsometry. Formation of bulk Ag₂O was found to be preceded by dissolution of silver species and deposition of a surface oxide. The equilibrium oxide coverage depended on the electrode potential and occurred within a few seconds. Surface oxide formation probably took place via a process of random electro-deposition. No ageing effect was observed in the chemisorbed layer.     

Some observations on carbon paste electrodes in ac voltammetry

Phase-sensitive alternating current (a.c.) voltammetric techniques were used to examine the background current at carbon paste electrodes. Several different mulling agents were used for the pastes. The available potential span depends on the mulling agent; paraffin oil gives the largest span. Peaks in the background current obtained by cyclic a.c. voltammetry are attributed to current arising from surface functional groups. Chemical or electrochemical oxidation of the electrode surface enhanced the peak current. Little evidence of this current could be found in d.c. cyclic voltammograms because it is obscured by charging current. The anodic potential limit is determined by these surface currents. On the cathodic side, dissolved oxygen is reduced in a process which produced two peaks in the a.c. scan. It was shown that the second peak is due to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water and a method for the quantitation of H₂O₂ was developed which had a detection limit of a few mg l^?1.     

Electron transfer of heme proteins on the ITO electrode in polymer solvents

The redox reaction of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-modified hemoglobin (PEO–Hb) was analyzed in PEO oligomers with cyclic voltammetry. The PEO–Hb was made soluble in PEO with molecular weight of 200 (PEO₂₀₀) containing 0.5 M KCI. Quasi-reversible redox signals of PEO–Hb were obtained by using an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass working electrode. PEO–Hb, cast on the ITO electrode, also showed the redox response in PEO with molecular weight of 400 (PEO₄₀₀). The peak current of PEO–Hb on the ITO electrode gradually increased during potential cycling. The effect of the scan rate on the quantity of electricity (Q) was analyzed after the peak current reached a constant value. The constant Q value was observed at the scan rate ranging from 30 to 500 mV/sec. The number of reactive PEO–Hb molecules was estimated from this constant Q-value. It was suggested that the electron transfer was carried out at the first layer of the PEO–Hb which was in direct contact with the ITO electrode. The quantity of electricity of PEO–Hb increased when the ITO electrode was first washed in an aqueous medium with ultrasonicator. This strongly suggested that the more effective surface area of the ITO electrode turned to be covered with PEO–Hb when the microporous region of the ITO particles was more hydrated.     

Electrochemical study of the corrosion behaviour of carbon steel in fracturing fluid

Corrosion behaviour of carbon steel (K-55) in fracturing fluid was studied with a rotation cylinder electrode, under static and rotation conditions by means of several electrochemical techniques which are as follows: open circuit potential (OCP) decay, potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The corrosion rate was determined by weight loss measurements. The electrode surface after a prefixed immersion time was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicated that carbon steel showed anodic dissolution behaviour that increased under rotating condition. The cathodic polarisation current density also increased with the electrode rotation due to the increased oxygen diffusion on the electrode surface. Two different oxide layers were formed: a dark, thin layer of magnetite tightly adhering to the electrode surface, characterised by localised corrosion spots, and a porous reddish layer of poorly adhering hematite (Fe₂O₃) and maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃). Under higher rotation rate, the developed oxide layer was not so stable, owing to the shear stress induced between the solution and the specimen surface, enhancing the corrosion rate.     

In situ investigations of the interaction of small inorganic acidifying molecules in humidified air with polycrystalline metal surfaces by means of TM‐AFM,IRRAS, and QCM

Initial atmospheric corrosion of copper, silver, and iron induced by humidity and oxidizing agents was studied in situ by three highly surface‐sensitive and complementary techniques: infrared reflection‐absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and tapping‐mode atomic force microscopy (TM‐AFM). These techniques deliver information about the change of the topography of the sample surfaces with emphasis on the shape and lateral distribution of the corrosion products grown within the first 1300–2800 min of weathering (TM‐AFM), as well as chemical (IRRAS) and kinetic (QCM) data. A completely different mechanism of the initial stages of atmospheric corrosion of the three investigated metals could be observed. A uniform growth of corrosion products was seen on the copper surface (identified by IRRAS and XPS to be cuprite‐like) during exposure to synthetic air with 80% relative humidity (RH), whereas the iron surface remained unattacked. The investigations of the silver surface exposed to humidity revealed that silver is attacked by humidity and tends to form oxide and hydroxide surface species. While an increased humidity content of the surrounding atmosphere causes higher corrosion rates on copper, on the exposed silver sample only a change in the degradation mechanism could be observed. The addition of SO₂ to the humidified air causes the growth of so‐called ‘second‐order’ features on copper, identified to be CuSO₃ · xH₂O‐like, which reveals the formation of a new chemical species on the investigated surface. These features are placed on top of the homogeneous formed oxide layer and tend to form well‐defined islands. In contrast to copper, on a silver surface exposed to humidity and SO₂ no new chemical species are formed; nevertheless an increased corrosion rate could be observed owing to a change of the chemistry in the physisorbed water layer. Iron exposed to humidity and SO₂ still remains unattacked. An iron surface is attacked only if exposed to humidity and SO₂ and NO₂, which show a synergistic effect by the oxidation of four‐valent sulfur‐oxygen species by NO₂. Such an attack leads to the formation of pitting corrosion, which was observed in situ and time‐resolved. The pits mainly occur on predamaged surface structures, such as scratches caused from the polishing process of the samples, and therefore promote the initiation of the corrosion. The results obtained demonstrate the high potential of the surface‐sensitive methods applied for investigating the early stages of corrosion of different metals and for obtaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms during degradation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Voltammetric determination of sorbite at a mechanically renewed copper electrode

Potentials and currents of D-sorbitol oxidation peaks as a function of polarization conditions for a copper electrode in situ renewed by mechanically cutting a 0.5-μm surface layer are studied by direct-current cyclic voltammetry. Oxidation peaks of sorbite emerge in cyclic voltammograms recorded in alkaline supporting electrolytes (0.05–0.10 M KOH and NaOH solutions) upon scanning the potential to the anodic region (E _p = 0.50–0.58 V) and in the reverse direction (E _p = 0.60–0.62 V). The shape and parameters of these peaks depend on the concentration of KOH, because of the different copper oxides involved in the oxidation of sorbite formed at the electrode surface. The regeneration of the electrode surface is the necessary condition for good reproducibility of the peak parameters. The signals obtained on the surface of the unrenewed electrodes are almost halved and less reproducible. The calibration graph of the current of the sorbite oxidation peak as a function of its concentration is linear in the range from 5 × 10⁻⁴ to 1 × 10⁻² M.     

Electrochemical rectification at electrode surface modified with poly (acrylic acid) and decane thiol

Gold surface modified with a two-component system consisting of poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) by electropolymerizing acrylic acid (AA) and decane thiol (DT), further functionalized with ferrocene monocarboxylic acid (FMC) through covalent linkage, was used to demonstrate mediated electron transfer resulting in a unidirectional flow of current. The electrode surface was modified using two different configurations. In Configuration 1 (Config. 1), electrode surface modified with FMC showed rectification behavior when contacted with a solution containing methylene blue (MB). In Configuration 2, redox-active bilayer was constructed using polyvinyl pyrollidone (PVP) and hexaamineruthernium (II) chloride [Ru(NH₃)₆]²⁺ showed rectification characteristics. The continuous rectification property of the redox-active bilayer is achieved by releasing the trapped [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺ in the outer layer using a reductant (ascorbic acid). Spectroelectrochemical measurements were made to study the reduction property of the ascorbic acid. Atomic force microscopic images and impedance measurements were also made on the modified electrode surfaces to explore the compactness of the first layer (PAA and PAA/DT).     

Impedance and electric modulus approaches to investigate four origins of giant dielectric constant in CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

The frequency dependence of electric modulus of polycrystalline CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) ceramics has been investigated. The experimental data have also been analyzed in the complex plane of impedance and electric modulus, and a suitable equivalent circuit has been proposed to explain the dielectric response. Four dielectric responses are first distinguished in the impedance and modulus spectroscopies. The results are well interpreted in terms of a triple insulating barrier capacitor model. Using this model, these four dielectric relaxations are attributed to the domain, domain-boundary, grain-boundary, and surface layer effects with three Maxwell–Wagner relaxations. Moreover, the values of the resistance and capacitance of bulk CCTO phase, domain-boundary, grain-boundary and surface layer contributions have been calculated directly from the peak characteristics of spectroscopic plots.     

Pitting corrosion of zinc in alkaline medium by thiocyanate ions

This paper describes the use of potentiodynamic anodic polarization, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques in order to study the pitting corrosion susceptibility of a Zn electrode in KOH solutions containing KSCN as a pitting corrosion agent. Measurements were conducted under different experimental conditions. The results demonstrated that in the absence of KSCN, the anodic voltammetric response displays two anodic peaks prior to reaching the oxygen evolution potential. The first anodic peak A₁ is related to the electroformation of Zn(OH)₂. Peak A₁ is followed by a wide passive region which extends up to the appearance of the second anodic peak A₂. The latter is assigned to the formation of ZnO₂. Addition of SCN⁻ ions to the KOH solutions stimulates the anodic dissolution through peak A₁ and breaks down the passive layer prior to peak A₂. The breakdown potential decreases with an increase in SCN⁻ concentration and temperature, but increases with an increase in KOH concentration and potential scan rate. Successive cycling leads to a progressive increase in breakdown potential. The current/time transients show that the incubation time for passivity breakdown decreases slightly with increasing applied positive potential, SCN⁻ concentration, and temperature.     

High‐Resolution Surface Chemical Analysis of a Trifunctional Pattern Made by Sequential Colloidal Shadowing

We present a new method for creating surface chemical patterns where three chemistries can be periodically arranged at alternate positions on a single substrate without the use of top‐down approaches. High‐resolution chemical imaging by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS), with nanometer spatial resolution, is used to prove the success of the patterning and subsequent chemical modification steps. We use a combination of colloidal self‐assembly, plasma etching, self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) and physical vapour deposition (PVD). The method utilizes a double colloid assembly process in which a first layer of close‐packed colloids is created, followed by plasma etching, coating with gold and deposition of a first SAM layer. A second particle layer is deposited on top of the first layer masking the interstitial spaces containing the first SAM. A second gold layer is deposited followed by a second SAM. After particle removal the surface consists of the pattern containing two different SAMs and a SiO₂ layer that can be readily functionalized with silanes. The possibility in the replacement of the two different thiols is investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and it was found that no replacement is taking place. ToF‐SIMS imaging is used to show the periodicity of the chemical patterns by tracking unique fragment ions from the different surface regions. The patterning method is adaptable to create smaller or larger chemical patterns by appropriate choice of particle sizes. The patterns are useful for immobilizing biomolecules for cell studies or as multiplexed biosensors.     

Long Distance Electron Transfer Across >100 nm Thick Au Nanoparticle/Polyion Films to a Surface Redox Protein

Glutathione‐decorated 5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and oppositely charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) were assembled into {PAH/AuNP}_n films fabricated layer‐by‐layer (LbL) on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes. These AuNP/polyion films utilized the AuNPs as electron hopping relays to achieve direct electron transfer between underlying electrodes and redox proteins on the outer film surface across unprecedented distances >100 nm for the first time. As film thickness increased, voltammetric peak currents for surface myoglobin (Mb) on these films decreased but the electron transfer rate was relatively constant, consistent with a AuNP‐mediated electron hopping mechanism.     

Specific Features of the Adsorption of Carbon Monoxide on a Smooth Polycrystalline Platinum Electrode Modified with Adsorbed Silver Atoms

The adsorption of carbon monoxide at the surface of smooth polycrystalline platinum (smPt) is studied in conditions of a preliminary accumulation of various quantities of silver (θ_Ag) on the surface. A comparison with similar data obtained previously for Pt/Pt is conducted. It is discovered that on smPt, exactly as in the case of Pt/Pt, carbon monoxide undergoes adsorption at sites that are not occupied by adsorbed silver, without forcing the preliminarily adsorbed silver out. At small and intermediate Ag_ad, as opposed to Pt/Pt, a mere two peaks are observed in a voltametric curve in the region of electrodesorption of the mixed layer on smPt. It is shown that, in the region of potentials of the first peak, there occurs practically no transition of silver into solution in the course of oxidation of the mixed layer. Specific features that characterize the behavior of the CO_ads + Ag_ad mixed layer are discussed under the assumption about an “islet” character of the adsorption of silver.     

对苯二胺在血红蛋白/聚L-谷氨酸/玻碳修饰电极上的可逆氧化

采用电聚合法在玻碳电极(GCE)表面得到导电性能良好的聚L-谷氨酸(PGA)薄膜,通过共价键合法将血红蛋白(Hb)固定于电极表面得到稳定且具有催化活性的Hb/PGA/GCE修饰电极,将其用于对苯二胺(PPD)的可逆氧化。 修饰电极交流阻抗及血红蛋白直接电化学实验表明,血红蛋白成功地固定于电极表面,保持良好的电催化活性,能有效催化H₂O₂的还原。 PPD在电极上表现为受吸附控制的准可逆氧化还原反应,I_p,a/I_p,c约为1.02,电极没有明显的钝化现象。 氧化还原峰电流与PPD的浓度均呈良好的线性关系,I_p,a(μA)=3.124+0.705c_PPD(mmol/L)(r=0.9973)。 H₂O₂的存在使PPD氧化还原峰型更对称,可逆性更好,表明体系中PPD氧化与过氧化酶催化途径一致。     

High-temperature carbon-coated aluminum current collector for enhanced power performance of LiFePO4 electrode of Li-ion batteries

The charge/discharge capacity and cycle stability at high C-rate of LiFePo₄ (LFPO) electrodes using three types of Al current collectors, including smooth un-etched Al foil, anodization-etched Al foil, and the etched Al foil covered with a conformal C coating grown at 600 °C in CH₄, were investigated. The results unequivocally demonstrate the strong effects exerted by the surface structure and composition of the Al current collectors on the power performance. In particular, the use of the C-coated current collector not only remarkably increases the power-delivering capability, by 3–7-fold based on different comparison criteria, of the LFPO electrode, but also greatly enhances its cycle stability under high C-rate (5C). The rate enhancement exceeds that of a low-temperature organic-bound C-coating reported in the literature. The enhancements are consistent with observed reduction in overall charge-transfer resistance, which can be attributed to the removal of the native insulating oxide surface layer of the current collector and to the improved adhesion at the active layer/current collector interface. This current collector is also applicable to other cathode and anode (e.g., Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) materials of Li-ion batteries for the same beneficial effects.     

Anodic behavior of tin, indium, and tin–indium alloys in oxalic acid solution

The anodic behavior of tin, indium, and tin–indium alloys was studied in oxalic acid solution using potentiodynamic technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The E/I curves showed that the anodic behavior of all investigated electrodes exhibits active/passive transition. In the case of tin, the active dissolution region involves two anodic peaks (I and II) prior to permanent passive region. On the other hand, the active dissolution of indium involves four peaks (I–IV) prior to permanent passive region. The first (I) can be associated with the active dissolution of indium to InOOH, the second peak (II) to the formation of In(OH)₃, the third peak (III) to partially dehydration of In(OH)₃, and the peak (IV) to complete dehydration of In(OH)₃ to In₂O₃. When the surface is entirely covered with In₂O₃ film, the anodic current falls to a small value (I _pass) indicating the onset of passivation. The active dissolution potential region of the first three tin–indium alloys involves a net anodic contribution peak, and this is followed by a passive region. It is expected that the investigated peak is related to the formation of In₂O₃ and SnO (mixed oxides). When the formation of oxides (the oxides of In and Sn) exceeds its dissolution rate, the current drops, indicating the onset of passivation precipitation of In₂O₃/SnO and SnO₂ on the surface which blocks the dissolution of active sites. The alloys IV and V showed small second peak at about −620 mV which may be related to oxidation of In to In₂O₃ due to high In content in the two examined alloys. The active dissolution and passive current are increase with increasing temperature for all investigated metals and their alloys.