Electrochemical reactions at a copper electrode in copper-conducting solid electrolytes

Potentiostatic measurements are used to show that, depending on the overvoltage sign, either electrochemical deposition or dissolution of copper occurs at the Cu/Cu₄RbCl₃I₂ interface at overvoltages η > 8–10 mV. At η = 10–100 mV, the reaction rate is limited by the formation and expansion of dissolution centers at the copper surface during anodic polarization and crystallization centers, during cathodic polarization. At η > 120 mV, the reaction rate is limited by charge transfer; the exchange current density is 2.7 mA cm^?2 and the anodic transfer coefficient is ～0.45. Under anodic polarization, formation of electron holes in the electrolyte occurs in parallel with the copper anodic dissolution. Therefore, nonstoichiometry of the electrolyte emerges in the near-electrode layer and divalent copper accumulates there.     

Electrochemical behavior of PbO2/PbSO4 electrode in the presence of surfactants in electrolyte

The electrochemical behavior of PbO₂/PbSO₄ electrode is investigated in 4.5 M H₂SO₄ in presence of three surfactants, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), using cyclic voltametry, electrochemical spectroscopy impedance and galvanostatic discharge as techniques. The micro morphology of the surface of the modified PbO₂ electrodes is examined by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that SDS and CTAB when added in the electrolyte could refine the coating particles and change the roughness of the surface of the electrode leading to a thin film of PbO₂ with amorphous character. In addition, SDS and CTAB shift the hydrogen evolution potential towards more negative values, improve the discharge capacity of the anodic layer and accelerate the charge transfer. Under cathodic polarization, CTAB presents the lowest value of the charge transfer resistance R_ct. In the contrary, STPP shifts the oxygen evolution potential towards more positive values, passivates the surface of the electrode and inhibits completely the reaction of PbO₂ formation.     

Pathways of diffusion mixed with subsequent reactions with examples of hydrogen extraction from hydride-forming electrode and oxygen reduction at gas diffusion electrode

This paper covers the role of the rate-determining step (RDS) in anodic hydrogen extraction from hydride-forming electrode. In general, hydrogen extraction from the electrode proceeds through the following steps: (1) hydrogen diffusion within the electrode, (2) hydrogen transfer from absorbed state to adsorbed state, (3) electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen to hydrogen ion involving charge transfer, and (4) hydrogen ion conduction through the electrolyte. In most theoretical and experimental investigations, it has been assumed that the RDS of anodic hydrogen extraction is hydrogen diffusion through the electrode. In real situation, however, the overall rate of hydrogen extraction is simultaneously determined by the rates of two or more reaction steps including hydrogen diffusion. The present work provides the overview of anodic hydrogen extraction in case that diffusion is coupled with interfacial charge transfer, interfacial hydrogen transfer, and hydrogen ion conduction through the electrolyte as well as the purely diffusion-controlled hydrogen extraction. In addition, the mixed controlled diffusion model was also exemplified with oxygen reduction at gas diffusion electrode of fuel cell system.

     

Behaviour of hydrogen-absorbing metal alloys in an alkaline solution containing hydrazine

When hydrogen-absorbing metal alloys such as TiNi_x and LaNi₅ are immersed in an alkaline solution containing hydrazine, they extract and absorb the hydrogen from the hydrazine molecule. When such metals are used as an electrode, the hydrogen from the hydrazine can also be discharged by anodic polarization with a much larger steady current than is obtained in a KOH solution without hydrazine. It is concluded that the electrode reaction rate is controlled by both the surface reaction between hydrazine and the active point and the discharge step and it is also very sensitive to the surface state.     

Hydrogen diffusivity in the massive LaNi5 electrode using voltammetry technique

The Randles–Sev?ik relationship has been applied to evaluate atomic hydrogen diffusivity in massive LaNi₅ intermetallic compound. The electrode was cathodically hydrogenated in 6 M KOH solution (22 °C), and then voltammetry measurements were carried out at various, very slow potential scan rates (υ?=?0.01–0.1 mV?·?s^?1). At potentials more noble than the equilibrium potential of the H₂O/H₂ system, the anodic peaks were registered as a consequence of oxidation of hydrogen absorbed in cathodic range. The peak potentials linearly increase with the logarithm of the scan rate with a slope of 0.059 V. The slope testifies to a symmetric charge transfer process with symmetry factor α?=?½. The peak currents linearly increase with the square root of the potential scan rate, and the straight line runs through the origin of the coordinate system. The slope of the I _a ^(peak) ?=?f(υ ^1/2) straight line is a measure of the atomic hydrogen diffusion coefficient. Assuming the hydrogen concentration in the LaNi₅ material after cathodic exposure to be C _0,H?=?0.071 mol?·?cm^?3 (63 % of theoretical value), the hydrogen diffusion coefficient equals D _H?=?2.0?·?10^?9 cm²s^?1. Extrapolation of rectilinear segments of potentiodynamic polarization curves with Tafel slopes of 0.12 V and linear polarization dependencies from voltammetry tests allowed the exchange current densities of the H₂O/H₂ system on the tested material to be determined. The exchange current densities on initially hydrogenated LaNi₅ alloy are close to 1 mA?·?cm^?2, irrespective of the electrode potential scan rate.     

Influence of arsenic, antimony and cobalt impurities on the cathodic process in zinc electrowinning

By means of an electrochemical study, the influence of arsenic, antimony and cobalt on cathodic polarization in the zinc electrowinning process, the associated kinetic equations and parameters, and the polarization mechanism have been studied. The results show that the experimental values of the kinetic parameters are in accord with the theoretical values in the ZnSO₄/H₂SO₄ solution with a single impurity is added. In contrast, the charge transfer coefficient α is smaller than the theoretical value in the ZnSO₄/H₂SO₄ solution when the three impurities are added together.     

Theoretical analysis of the influence of the adosorption process on the voltammetric curves in the case of a second order adsorption step followed by a first order charge transfer reaction: Part II. Comparison between linear potential sweep voltammetry and steady state cyclic voltammetry

The voltammetric curves for a 2-step sequential reaction involving a 2nd order adsorption process (such as the catalytic mechanism met in the anodic oxidation of hydrogen) are investigated theoretically by computer calculations. Steady state cyclic voltammetry (s.s.c.v.) is particularly treated by repeating forward and backward sweeps as many times as necessary to reach the steady state. For both l.p.s.v. and s.s.c.v., the usual characteristic features are considered, i.e. E_M, θ_M, i_M as a function of sweep rate υ, especially in the range of υ, where the computed data fit the results derived from analytical solution (quasi-reversible charge transfer, and irreversible charge transfer). In s.s.c.v., indications are given to obtain the kinetic parameters (k₁, k₂, α) from experimental plots.     

Performance of some thiophene derivatives as corrosion inhibitors for 304 stainless steel in aqueous solutions

The inhibitive effect of 2-cyano-3-hydroxy-4(Ar)-5-anilino thiophene derivatives on the corrosion of 304 stainless steel (SS) in 3 M HCl solution has been investigated by weight loss, galvanostatic polarization techniques, and potentiodynamic anodic polarization in 3.5 % NaCl. The results indicate that these compounds act as inhibitors retarding the anodic and cathodic corrosion reactions. The presence of inhibitors does not change the mechanism of either hydrogen evolution reaction or SS dissolution. The activation energy and some thermodynamic parameters are calculated and discussed. These compounds are mixed-type inhibitors in the acid solution, and their adsorption on the SS surface is found to obey the Temkin adsorption isotherm. The results suggest that the percentage inhibition of these thiophene derivatives increases with increasing inhibitor concentration and decreases with increasing temperature. The synergistic parameter (S) was calculated and found to have a value greater than unity, indicating that the enhanced inhibition efficiency caused by the addition of I^?, SCN^?, and Br^? is only due to a synergistic effect. The relationship between molecular structure and inhibition efficiency was elucidated by quantum-chemical calculations using semi-empirical self-consistent field (SCF) methods.     

Catalytic reaction mechanism of L-lactate dehydrogenase: anab initio study

Studies on the catalytic reaction mechanism of L-lactate dehydrogenase have been carried out by using quantum chemical ab initio calculation at HF/6-31G* level. It is found that the interconversion reaction of pyruvate to L-lactate is dominated by the hydride ion H_r transfer, and the transfers of the hydride ionH _r and protonH _r are a quasi-coupled process, in which the energy barrier of the transition state is about 168.37 kJ/mol. It is shown that the reactant complex is 87.61 kJ/mol lower, in energy, than the product complex. The most striking features in our calculated results are that pyridine ring of the model cofactor is a quasi-boat-like configuration in the transited state, which differs from a planar conformation in some previous semiempirical quantum chemical studies. On the other hand, the similarity in the structure and charge between theH _r transfer process and the hydrogen bonding with lower barrier indicates that the H_r transfer process occurs by means of an unusual manner. In addition, in the transition state the electrostatic interaction between the substrate and the active site of LDH is quite strong and the polarization of the carbonyl in the substrate is gradually enhanced accompanying the formation of the transition state. These calculated results are well in accord with the previous experimental studies, and indicate that the charge on the hydride ion H_r is only +0.13e in the transition state, which is in agreement with the reported semiempirical quantum chemical calculations.     

Energy-Saving Electrolytic Hydrogen Generation: Ni2P Nanoarray as a High-Performance Non-Noble-Metal Electrocatalyst

It is highly attractive but challenging to develop earth-abundant electrocatalysts for energy-saving electrolytic hydrogen generation. Herein, we report that Ni₂P nanoarrays grown in situ on nickel foam (Ni₂P/NF) behave as a durable high-performance non-noble-metal electrocatalyst for hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) in alkaline media. The replacement of the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction with such the more thermodynamically favorable HzOR enables energy-saving electrochemical hydrogen production with the use of Ni₂P/NF as a bifunctional catalyst for anodic HzOR and cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction. When operated at room temperature, this two-electrode electrolytic system drives 500 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage as low as 1.0 V with strong long-term electrochemical durability and 100 % Faradaic efficiency for hydrogen evolution in 1.0 m KOH aqueous solution with 0.5 m hydrazine.     

Kinetics of electrochemical reactions on the Ag(Hg)/Ag4RbI5 interface

The electrochemical behaviour of the Ag(Hg)/Ag₄RbI₅ interface is investigated by a potentiostatic pulse method. It is found that the rate-determining step of the electrode reaction is electron transfer with an exchange current density of 68 mA cm^–2 and a transfer coefficient of approximately 0.45. The order of the electrochemical reaction for silver oxidation is estimated from polarization investigations of silver amalgam in various concentrations. From this it is deduced that the mercury is ionized and is implanted in the electrolyte together with silver under anodic polarization: 15Ag+85Hg–100e^–→15Ag⁺+85Hg⁺. From comparison of the electrochemical behaviour of the Ag(Hg)/Ag₄RbI₅ and Ag/Ag₄RbI₅ interfaces it is concluded that the rate of anodic silver dissolution on the Ag/Ag₄RbI₅ interface is limited by crystallization effects. Electronic Publication     

离子液体添加剂[BMIM]HSO4对锌电积过程析氧反应动力学的影响

研究了1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑硫酸氢盐([BMIM]HSO₄)离子液体对锌电积过程析氧反应的影响. 研究工作借助于动电位极化, 电化学阻抗谱, 扫描电镜和X射线衍射等测试技术. 动电位极化曲线及对应的动力学参数分析表明, [BMIM]HSO₄对阳极析氧反应具有催化作用,可提高析氧反应速率常数. 电化学阻抗谱数据表明,[BMIM]HSO₄能显著降低阳极析氧电荷传递电阻,在所研究的1.85-2.10 V电位范围内添加5 mg·L^-1 [BMIM]HSO₄, 电阻值至少降低50%. 此外, 添加剂对阳极表面二次反应具有抑制作用, 其在阳极表面的吸附,阻碍了阴离子的阳极活化位点吸附过程. 电化学测试结果与长时间(120 h)阳极极化后所得阳极表面形貌和结晶取向分析结果相一致. [BMIM]HSO₄的添加能有效抑制中间产物β-PbO₂的形成,促进铅银电极表面大块且疏松多孔α-PbO₂的生成,加速阳极析氧的进行.     

Pathways of diffusion mixed with subsequent reactions with examples of hydrogen extraction from hydride-forming electrode and oxygen reduction at gas diffusion electrode

This paper covers the role of the rate-determining step (RDS) in anodic hydrogen extraction from hydride-forming electrode. In general, hydrogen extraction from the electrode proceeds through the following steps: (1) hydrogen diffusion within the electrode, (2) hydrogen transfer from absorbed state to adsorbed state, (3) electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen to hydrogen ion involving charge transfer, and (4) hydrogen ion conduction through the electrolyte. In most theoretical and experimental investigations, it has been assumed that the RDS of anodic hydrogen extraction is hydrogen diffusion through the electrode. In real situation, however, the overall rate of hydrogen extraction is simultaneously determined by the rates of two or more reaction steps including hydrogen diffusion. The present work provides the overview of anodic hydrogen extraction in case that diffusion is coupled with interfacial charge transfer, interfacial hydrogen transfer, and hydrogen ion conduction through the electrolyte as well as the purely diffusion-controlled hydrogen extraction. In addition, the mixed controlled diffusion model was also exemplified with oxygen reduction at gas diffusion electrode of fuel cell system.     

镍锡析氢活性阴极的电化学制备及其在碱性溶液中的电催化机理

采用恒电流电沉积法在铜箔基底上获得镍锡合金镀层电极. 电子能谱(EDS)、X射线衍射(XRD)以及高分辨透射电镜(HRTEM)分析表明, 随着锡含量的增加, 镀层由镍晶胚与非晶镍锡构成的非晶态结构转变为Ni₃Sn₄与Ni₃Sn₂的混晶结构. 扫描电镜(SEM)分析发现, 非晶结构镍锡合金电极表面粒子分布均匀且粒径细小, Ni₃Sn₄与Ni₃Sn₂混晶结构的镍锡合金电极表面粗糙且断面呈分层自组装结构. 在25℃, 1 mol·L^-1 NaOH溶液中的稳态极化曲线表明非晶结构的镍锡合金电极具有良好的催化活性, 其析氢过电位仅为85 mV. 交流阻抗测试表明, 非晶以及混晶结构的镍锡合金在析氢电催化反应过程中由电化学吸附(Volmer)以及电化学脱附(Heyrovsky) 两个电荷转移过程控制, 且非晶结构电极相比于Ni₃Sn₄与Ni₃Sn₂混晶结构电极的高活性源于其活性氢具有更快的电化学吸附以及脱附速度.     

Investigation of electrochemical reactions on copper electrode in Cu4RbCl3I2 solid electrolyte

Investigations are carried out by potentiostatic method. It is found that at potentials ϕ less than 100 mV, a reaction rate of copper deposition is limited by the formation and the three-dimensional growth of copper nuclei and the rate of copper dissolution is limited by a two-dimensional growth of holes in the metal. The rate of nucleus growth was evaluated at 10⁻⁹...10⁻⁶ μm s⁻¹ depending on the potential. At ϕ>120 mV, the reaction rate is limited by charge transport at the exchange current density of 2.7 mA cm⁻² and the anodic transfer coefficient α_a≈ 0.45. The accumulation of a divalent copper phase on Cu/Cu₄RbCl₃I₂ interface at anodic polarization is explained by a parallel course of Cu⁺ − e → Cu²⁺ reaction.     

Correlation between flat-band potential position and oxygenated termination nature on boron-doped diamond electrodes

This paper deals with a study about the position of the flat-band potential and the surface chemistry of boron-doped diamond electrodes. Successive and mild anodic treatments have been performed on as-deposited electrodes, in H₂SO₄. From Mott–Schottky plots, flat-band potential (V_FB) evolution has been monitored, exhibiting successively negative then positive shifts during surface oxidation, depending on the anodic coulometric charge. Thanks to surface characterization by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), this particular evolution of V_FB has been related to the evolution of specific oxygen functionalities at the surface. While the general trends in the literature is to associate the V_FB displacement with the generation of oxygenated terminations, the results presented in this study exhibit the high sensitivity of V_FB to hydroxyl or ether groups.     

Kinetics of the hydrogen electrode of a fuel cell with eutectic molten electrolyte (Li, K)2CO3 at 923 K in a coulostatic experiment

The anodic process on the hydrogen electrode in eutectic melt (Li, K)₂CO₃ is studied at 923 K by the coulostatic method. The experiment is performed at a relatively high electrode charge which makes its potential deviate from equilibrium by up to 50–100 mV. The relaxation dependence η vs.t is analyzed theoretically within the Ang-Sammels reaction scheme taking into consideration the charge-transfer and adsorption steps. Exchange currents (fluxes) of corresponding processes and the Au, Pt, Ni, and Pd electrode coverages with hydrogen adatoms are estimated. The adsorption step is shown to significantly contribute to the polarization resistance on the hydrogen electrode in a carbonate melt. This should be taken into account when estimating exchange currents of the charge-transfer step by the coulostatic method.     

A study of electrode kinetics by global analysis of a single electrochemical experiment

An efficient method is presented for analyzing electrochemical processes controlled by diffusion and by the kinetics of heterogeneous electron-transfer. The method is based on a three-dimensional concept and has the advantage of utilizing all the data available from a voltammetric experiment. The three-dimensional method provides a useful diagnosis of whether Butler-Volmer kinetics is appropriate and, if so, for calculating the standard heterogeneous charge transfer rate constant, reversible halfwave potential, diffusion coefficient and charge transfer coefficient. Experiments on the [Cr(CN)₆]^3?+e^?[Cr(CN)₆]^4? reaction using cyclic voltammetry are reported and the parameters so determined are shown to agree with literature values.     

Hydrogen evolution and dissolution on smooth ruthenium in sulfuric acid solution

Hydrogen evolution and dissolution were studied under steady-state conditions on smooth ruthenium electrodes in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ at room temperature. Both the anodic current-potential curves, measred under H₂ stirring, and the cathodic curves, measured under N₂ stirring, suggest that the Tafel reaction and convective diffusion are the rate-determining steps at small current densities. At larger cathodic current densities the Volmer reaction becomes predominant. Hydrogen evolution occurs by the Volmer-Tafel mechanism. The coverage with adsorbed hydrogen atoms remains small.