XPS study of the Li intercalation process in sol–gel‐produced V2O5 thin film: influence of substrate and film synthesis modification

We report on the process of lithium intercalation in V₂O₅ thin films deposited onto standard ITO‐coated glass substrates. The films were deposited via a well‐established sol–gel route, and the samples were examined as working electrodes in a range of potentials versus lithium reference electrode. This paper follows up issues arising from parallel spectroscopic characterizations of the films by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Specifically, the XPS examination showed that not all of the Li‐ion charge inserted was accounted for by the V(5) to V(4) reduction, but the stoichiometric balance could be maintained only by considering additional oxygens arising from the intercalation procedure, leading to Li₂O formation. In this work, we have examined the possibility that the source of oxygen is the ITO substrate. To this purpose, films of V₂O₅ deposited on silicon substrates have been prepared using the sol–gel process and examined by XPS after electrochemical intercalation/de‐intercalation cycles. We show that in this case a perfect balance between electrochemical charge, inserted Li and reduced vanadium is obtained. A further indication of ITO‐substrate effects was obtained from examination, by the same methods, of some unconventional V₂O₅ films that had been co‐precipitated with a siloxane, designed to provide a template structure. The results obtained from this material imply that a barrier layer is formed at the ITO interface and, therefore, the formation of Li₂O is avoided. The results are discussed in terms of the possible degradation of conventional V₂O₅ on ITO as a result of electrochemically induced interface reactions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plasma Modified V2O5/PEDOT Hybrid Based Flexible Electrochromic Devices

Vanadium oxide/poly (3,4‐ ethylenedioxythiophene)(V₂O₅‐PEDOT) hybrid materials were prepared in a rotating quartz plasma reactor via capacitively coupled radio frequency (RF 13.56 MHz) plasma. Thin films of V₂O₅‐PEDOT hybrid and V₂O₅ were obtained by electron beam evaporation technique onto flexible PET substrate for electrochromic devices (ECDs) applications. As a counter electrode, both RF magnetron sputtered MoO₃ onto ITO coated PET and only ITO coated PET electrodes were used. Characterizations of the films were carried out via using scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDX) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Hybrid ECDs results showed that synergistic effect depending on improved stability between V₂O₅ and PEDOT. As a result, we developed all solid complementary electrochromic devices including V₂O₅, V₂O₅‐PEDOT and MoO₃ films. The electrochromic device characteristics such as electrochromic contrast, coloration efficiency, switching time were calculated from optical and electrochemical measurements. The highest coloration efficiency and optical contrast were obtained as 53 cm²/C and 17 % for V₂O₅‐PEDOT/MoO₃‐based ECD.     

Enhanced performance as a lithium-ion battery cathode of electrodeposited V2O5 thin films by e-beam irradiation

The influence of electron beam irradiation on the electrochemical properties of electrodeposited V₂O₅ thin films was investigated. V₂O₅ thin films were deposited electrochemically onto indium tin oxide-coated glass from an aqueous vanadyl sulfate hydrate (VOSO₄⋅nH₂O) solution using Pt and Ag/AgCl as the counter electrode and reference electrode, respectively. Electrodeposition was performed potentiostatically at 1.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Electrodeposited samples were then subjected to a 1-MeV electron beam using an electron beam accelerator at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. For comparison, a control sample was not irradiated with the electron beam. Crystallinity change before and after electron beam irradiation was investigated by X-ray diffraction and the oxidation state of vanadium determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to examine surface morphology. It was observed that electron beam irradiation altered the oxidation state of vanadium and increased crystallinity. Significant morphological changes of V₂O₅ thin films were also observed with electron beam irradiation. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to evaluate the electrochemical properties of the synthesized V₂O₅ films in terms of their application as electrodes of lithium-ion battery. Compared with the control sample, which was not irradiated with an electron beam, the electron beam-irradiated V₂O₅ specimens showed much higher capacitance.     

Ionic liquid-assisted electrochemical determination of pyrimethanil using reduced graphene oxide conjugated to flower-like NiCo2O4

The novel hierarchical flower-like superstructure NiCo₂O₄/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrids have been successfully synthesized with a facile one-step hydrothermal process for the determination of fungicide pyrimethanil (PMT). For comparison, various structures of NiCo₂O₄/rGO including hexagonal nanoplates and nanorods were also synthesized. Among them, three-dimensional (3D) flower-like NiCo₂O₄/rGO exhibited the highest electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of PMT. With the synergistic effect of [OMIM]PF₆ ionic liquid (IL), the electrochemical sensor film (NiCo₂O₄/rGO/IL) further facilitated interfacial electron transfer and enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of PMT. Under the optimum conditions, the electrochemical sensor exhibited two linear ranges of 0.1–10.0 μmol/L and 20.0–140 μmol/L for PMT with a low detection concentration of 11.0 nmol/L. Besides, the interference, repeatability, reproducibility and stability measurements were also evaluated. The proposed method was successfully applied to the detection of PMT in water, seawater, fruits and vegetables with good recovery ranging from 93% to 105%, and possessed potential applications in the analysis of real samples.     

A Vanadium(V) Oxide Nanorod Promoted Platinum/Reduced Graphene Oxide Electrocatalyst for Alcohol Oxidation under Acidic Conditions

A Pt‐V₂O₅/rGO ternary hybrid electrocatalyst was designed by using active vanadium(V) oxide (V₂O₅) nanorods and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) components. The V₂O₅ nanorods were synthesized by a simple polyol‐assisted solvothermal method and were incorporated uniformly onto rGO sheets by intermittent microwave heating. Subsequently, Pt nanoparticles (2–3 nm in size) were deposited over the V₂O₅/rGO composite by the conventional polyol reflux method. The electrocatalytic performance of the Pt‐V₂O₅/rGO ternary hybrid and bare Pt/rGO catalysts towards the oxidation of simple alcohols was evaluated in acidic media. The ternary hybrid catalyst exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity than bare Pt/rGO and also showed good stability. The higher electrocatalytic activity of the Pt‐V₂O₅/rGO ternary hybrid was attributed to a synergistic effect among the Pt, V₂O₅, and rGO components. In addition, oxygen‐containing species, such as OH groups, were generated on V₂O₅ at lower potentials. These groups were able to scavenge intermediate species such as CO_ads on the Pt surfaces and helped to regenerate the active sites on the Pt surface more effectively for the routine alcohol oxidation reaction.     

A Novel Biomimetic Hydrogen Peroxide Biosensor Based on Pt Flowers‐decorated Fe3O4/Graphene Nanocomposite

A sensitive and selective amperometric H₂O₂ biosensor was obtained by utilizing the electrodeposition of Pt flowers on iron oxide‐reduced graphene oxide (Fe₃O₄/rGO) nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The morphology of Fe₃O₄/rGO and Pt/Fe₃O₄/rGO was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The step‐wise modification and the electrochemical characteristics of the resulting biosensor were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry methods. Thanks to the fast electron transfer at the Pt/Fe₃O₄/rGO electrode interface, the developed biosensor exhibits a fast and linear amperometric response upon H₂O₂. The linear range of Pt/Fe₃O₄/rGO is 0.1∼2.4 mM (R²=0.998), with a sensitivity of 6.875 μA/mM and a detection limit of 1.58 μM (S/N=3). In addition, the prepared biosensor also provides good anti‐interferent ability and long‐term stability due to the favorable biocompatibility of the electrode interface. The proposed sensor will become a reliable and effective tool for monitoring and sensing the H₂O₂ in complicate environment.     

Rectifying Properties of Oxide Semiconductor Heterostack Films at Elevated Temperatures

Heterostack films of p-type NiO and n-type TiO₂ semiconductors were deposited by a method of chemical solution deposition on a glass substrate having a sputtered ITO (In₂O₃ doped with Sn) electrode. Transparent films with total thickness of about 280 nm were obtained by heat treatments at 600°C. NiO reacted with TiO₂ to give a NiTiO₃ thin layer between them. The films exhibited a typical rectifying I-V behavior and this property was maintained at 300°C. The thickness of the NiTiO₃ intermediate layer increase with the heating time at 600°C and leading to a decrease of the current density at low voltage.     

Peptide Nucleic Acid Immobilized Biocompatible Silane Nanocomposite Platform for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Detection

We have prepared nanocomposite films comprising of 3‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GOPS) and iron‐oxide (Fe₃O₄) onto indium‐tin‐oxide (ITO) glass plate for covalent immobilization of 21‐mer peptide nucleic acid (PNA). These films have been characterized using contact angle, atomic force microscopy (AFM), electrochemical techniques. The electrochemical response of the GOPS/ITO and Fe₃O₄‐GOPS/ITO electrodes has been investigated by hybridization with complementary, non‐complementary and one‐base mismatch using methylene blue as electrochemical indicator. The PNA/Fe₃O₄‐GOPS/ITO bioelectrode exhibits improved specificity and detection limit (0.1 fM) as compared to that of the PNA‐GOPS/ITO bioelectrode (0.1 pM). This PNA/Fe₃O₄‐GOPS/ITO electrode can be utilized for detection of hybridization with the complementary sequence in sonicated M. tuberculosis genomic DNA within 90 s of hybridization time.     

A Novel Enzymatic Glucose Biosensor and Nonenzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor Based on (3‐Aminopropyl) Triethoxysilane Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide

In the present study, a novel enzymatic glucose biosensor using glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized into (3‐aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO‐APTES) and hydrogen peroxide sensor based on rGO‐APTES modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode were fabricated. Nafion (Nf) was used as a protective membrane. For the characterization of the composites, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray powder diffractometer (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used. The electrochemical properties of the modified electrodes were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and amperometry. The resulting Nf/rGO‐APTES/GOx/GC and Nf/rGO‐APTES/GC composites showed good electrocatalytical activity toward glucose and H₂O₂, respectively. The Nf/rGO‐APTES/GC electrode exhibited a linear range of H₂O₂ concentration from 0.05 to 15.25 mM with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.017 mM and sensitivity of 124.87 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻². The Nf/rGO‐APTES/GOx/GC electrode showed a linear range of glucose from 0.02 to 4.340 mM with a LOD of 9 μM and sensitivity of 75.26 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻². Also, the sensor and biosensor had notable selectivity, repeatability, reproducibility, and storage stability.     

Catalytic effects of [Ag(H2O)(H3PW11O39)]3− on a TiO2 anode for water oxidation

A [H₃Ag^I(H₂O)PW₁₁O₃₉]^3?-TiO₂/ITO electrode was fabricated by immobilizing a molecular polyoxometalate-based water oxidation catalyst, [H₃Ag^I(H₂O)PW₁₁O₃₉]^3? (AgPW₁₁), on a TiO₂ electrode. The resulting electrode was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance measurements were performed in aqueous Na₂SO₄ solution (0.1 mol L^?1). We found that a higher applied voltage led to better catalytic performance by AgPW₁₁. The AgPW₁₁-TiO₂/ITO electrode gave currents respectively 10 and 2.5 times as high as those of the TiO₂/ITO and AgNO₃-TiO₂/ITO electrodes at an applied voltage of 1.5 V vs Ag/AgCl. This result was attributed to the lower charge transfer resistance at the electrode-electrolyte interface for the AgPW₁₁-TiO₂/ITO electrode. Under illumination, the photocurrent was not obviously enhanced although the total anode current increased. The AgPW₁₁-TiO₂/ITO electrode was relatively stable. Cyclic voltammetry of AgPW₁₁ was performed in phosphate buffer solution (0.1 mol L^?1). We found that oxidation of AgPW₁₁ was a quasi-reversible process related to one-electron and one-proton transfer. We deduced that disproportionation of the oxidized [H₂Ag^II(H₂O)PW₁₁O₃₉]^3? might have occurred and the resulting [H₃Ag^IIIOPW₁₁O₃₉]^3? oxidized water to O₂.     

Understanding the High-Performance Anode Material of CoC2O4⋅2 H2O Microrods Wrapped by Reduced Graphene Oxide for Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Batteries

Metal oxalate has become a most promising candidate as an anode material for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. However, capacity decrease owing to the volume expansion of the active material during cycling is a problem. Herein, a rod-like CoC₂O₄⋅2 H₂O/rGO hybrid is fabricated through a novel multistep solvo/hydrothermal strategy. The structural characteristics of the CoC₂O₄⋅2 H₂O microrod wrapped using rGO sheets not only inhibit the volume variation of the hybrid electrode during cycling, but also accelerate the transfer of electrons and ions in the 3 D graphene network, thereby improving the electrochemical properties of CoC₂O₄⋅2 H₂O. The CoC₂O₄⋅2 H₂O/rGO electrode delivers a specific capacity of 1011.5 mA h g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹ after 200 cycles for lithium storage, and a high capacity of 221.1 mA h g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹ after 100 cycles for sodium storage. Moreover, the full cell CoC₂O₄⋅2 H₂O/rGO//LiCoO₂ consisting of the CoC₂O₄⋅2 H₂O/rGO anode and LiCoO₂ cathode maintains 138.1 mA h g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g⁻¹ and has superior long-cycle stability. In addition, in situ Raman spectroscopy and in situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction techniques provide a unique opportunity to understand fully the reaction mechanism of CoC₂O₄⋅2 H₂O/rGO. This work also gives a new perspective and solid research basis for the application of metal oxalate materials in high-performance lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.     

Electrochemical Synthesis of Chitosan‐co‐polyaniline/WO3⋅nH2O Composite Electrode for Amperometric Detection of NO2 Gas

An electrode of hydrated tungsten oxide (WO₃?nH₂O) embedded chitosan‐co‐polyaniline (CHIT‐co‐PANI) composite was electrochemically prepared on an indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass surface using mineral acid as a supporting electrolyte. The resulting CHIT‐co‐PANI/WO₃?nH₂O/ITO electrode was characterized using ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composite electrode exhibited a three‐dimensional nanofibrous structure with the diameter of the nanofibers ranging from 20 to 100 nm. The CHIT‐co‐PANI/WO₃?nH₂O/ITO electrode allowed for the low potential detection of NO₂ gas in acidic medium. The NO₂ gas sensing characteristics were studied by measuring change in the current with respect to concentration and time. Using the CHIT‐co‐PANI/WO₃?nH₂O/ITO electrode, NO₂ gas was detected electrochemically without interference at pH 2.0 and 0.25 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The current of the electrochemical cell with the CHIT‐co‐PANI/WO₃?nH₂O/ITO electrode decreased linearly with an increase in NO₂ gas concentration in a range from 100 to 500 ppb with a response time of eight seconds.     

Co3V2O8/石墨烯复合负极材料的合成及其储锂性能

以石墨烯为基底,CoCl2·2H2O和NH4VO3为原料,采用水热结合热处理方法合成了Co3V2O8/石墨烯复合电极材料;采用XRD、Raman、XPS、SEM、(HR-)TEM和恒电流充放电等对材料进行了结构表征与电化学性能测试。结果表明:Co3V2O8/rGO复合材料表现出优异的放电比容量、优秀的倍率性能和稳定的循环性能(当电流密度为200 mA·g^-1,经过100次循环后,可逆放电比容量为1208 mAh·g^-1);Co3V2O8/rGO电极材料表现出优异的倍率和循环性能可以归因于:独特的石墨烯包覆结构可以有效地提高材料的导电性和增强结构的稳定性、缓解Co3V2O8粒子在循环过程中的聚结和膨胀现象;此外,Co3V2O8纳米颗粒均匀地嵌在石墨烯层间防止了石墨烯片层间的堆叠。     

Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor Based on Iron Oxide‐Reduced Graphene Oxide‐Chitosan Modified with DNA‐Celestine Blue

The present study describes a novel and very sensitive electrochemical assay for determination of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) based on synergistic effects of reduced graphene oxide‐ magnetic iron oxide nanocomposite (rGO‐Fe₃O₄) and celestine blue (CB) for electrochemical reduction of H₂O₂. rGO‐Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Chitosan (Chit) was used for immobilization of amino‐terminated single‐stranded DNA (ss‐DNA) molecules via a glutaraldehyde (GA) to the surface of rGO‐Fe₃O₄. The MTT (3‐(4,5‐Dim ethylt hiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenylt etrazolium bromide) results confirmed the biocompatibility of nanocomposite. Experimental parameters affecting the ss‐DNA molecules immobilization were optimized. Finally, by accumulation of the CB on the surface of the rGO‐Fe₃O₄‐Chit/ssDNA, very sensitive amperometric H₂O₂ sensor was fabricated. The electrocatalytic activity of the rGO‐Fe₃O₄‐Chit/DNA‐CB electrode toward H₂O₂ reduction was found to be very efficient, yielding very low detection limit (DL) of 42 nM and a sensitivity of 8.51 μA/μM. Result shows that complex matrices of the human serum samples did not interfere with the fabricated sensor. The developed sensor provided significant advantages in terms of low detection limit, high stability and good reproducibility for detection of H₂O₂ in comparison with recently reported electrochemical H₂O₂ sensors.     

银-磷酸钛纳米复合膜的构建及其电化学生物传感

利用ITO基底上层层组装构建的多层内嵌银纳米粒子的磷酸钛薄膜固定了血红蛋白并且用于生物传感研究。由于银纳米粒子与磷酸钛膜的协同作用,实验中可以观察到Hb的直接电子传递。研究表明所制备的Hb-Ag-TiP/PDDA/ITO电极对H₂O₂响应迅速、稳定,检测限达3.3×10^-6 mol·L^-1。     

High‐performance Flexible Complementary Electrochromic Device Based on Plasma Modified WO3 Nano Hybrids and V2O5 Nanofilm with Low Operation Voltages

Tungsten trioxide‐poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (WO₃‐PEDOT) and tungsten trioxide‐polyfuran (WO₃‐PFu) were prepared by rf rotating plasma polymerization. Electrochromic hybrid thin films were fabricated onto flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/ indium tin oxide (ITO) film using electron beam evaporation method. In order to deeply characterize all films, scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were used. The counter electrode effect on plasma modified WO₃ nano hybrids‐based electrochromic devices (ECDs) was evaluated. By incorporating flexible vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) film as counter electrode, complementary ECDs were constructed through combining the hybrid flexible films (WO₃‐PEDOT, WO₃‐PFu) as working electrodes, which exhibit highly efficient electrochromic performance with low voltage operation. Especially, WO₃‐PEDOT/V₂O₅‐based ECD owns a high optical modulation of 61.5 % at 750 nm driven by −1.0 V (coloration) and +1 V (bleaching) with fast response times (coloration time: 13.58 s, bleaching time: 8.07 s) and a high coloration efficiency of 527 cm² C⁻¹. This study can supply useful and efficient avenue for designing flexible complementary electrochromic device for energy‐saving flexible electronics.     

Fabrication of a Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Implantation‐modified Electrode and its Applications in Electrochemical Sensing

A novel Fe₂O₃ modified indium tin oxide electrode (Fe₂O₃/ITO) was fabricated by iron ion‐implantation method first, and then annealed at 300 °C. Fe₂O₃/ITO reveals good catalytic performance toward hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in phosphate buffer solution due to the Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox couple. Amperometric response shows a linear dependency on the H₂O₂ concentration ranging up to 360 μM with a detection limit of 0.3 μM. Moreover, electrocatalytic activity based on rarely reported higher oxidation states of iron (tentatively assigned to Fe(IV)) was shown to allow the reliable detection of glucose and cysteine. The results show promising application potential of the proposed electrode.     

Tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Sensor Based on Sol–Gel‐Derived V2O5/Nafion Composite Films

Mesoporous V₂O₅/Nafion composite films have been used for the immobilization of tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) (Ru(bpy) ) on an electrode surface to yield a solid‐state electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor. The electrochemical and ECL behavior of Ru(bpy) ion‐exchanged into the composite films has been characterized as a function of the amount of Nafion incorporated into the V₂O₅/Nafion composite. The composite film with 80% Nafion content has the largest pore diameter (4.19 nm) and yields the maximum ECL response for tripropylamine (TPA) because of the fast diffusion of analyte into the film with large pores. Due to the enlarged pore size and enhanced conductivity of the V₂O₅/Nafion composite, the present ECL sensor based on the composite films exhibited around 2 orders of magnitude higher ECL response and one order of magnitude lower detection limit for TPA (10 nM) compared to those obtained with the ECL sensors based on other types of sol–gel ceramic/Nafion composite films such as SiO₂/Nafion and TiO₂/Nafion.     

Electrochemical Proton Intercalation in Vanadium Pentoxide Thin Films and its Electrochromic Behavior in the near-IR Region

This work examines the proton intercalation in vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) thin films and its optical properties in the near-infrared (near-IR) region. Samples were prepared via direct current magnetron sputter deposition and cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the insertion and extraction behavior of protons in V₂O₅ in a trifluoroacetic acid containing electrolyte. With the same setup chronopotentiometry was done to intercalate a well-defined number of protons in the H_xV₂O₅ system in the range of x=0 and x=1. These films were characterized with optical reflectometry in the near-IR region (between 700 and 1700 nm wavelength) and the refractive index n and extinction coefficient k were determined using Cauchy ’s dispersion model. The results show a clear correlation between proton concentration and n and k.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin on a gold ion implantation-modified indium tin oxide electrode

In this paper, a gold nanoparticle-modified indium tin oxide electrode (Au/ITO) was prepared without the use of any cross-linker or stabilizer reagent. The prepared Au/ITO was used as a new platform to achieve the direct electron transfer between Hb and the modified electrode. The proposed electrode exhibited a pair of well-defined redox peaks with a formal potential of ?0.073 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The immobilized Hb showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward H₂O₂ and the electrocatalytic current values were linear with the increasing concentration of H₂O₂ ranging from 1.0?×?10^?6?M to 7.0?×?10^?4?M. The detection limit was 2.0?×?10^?7?M (S/N?=?3) and the Michaelis–Menten constant was calculated to be 0.2 mM. The proposed electrode also showed high selectivity, long-term stability, and good reproducibility.