Specimen transfer from the electrolyte to the UHV in a closed system and some examinations of the double layer on Cu

A transfer system is described which permits the electrochemical preparation of specimens in a purified argon atmosphere and their transport into the UHV for surface analysis. This transfer prevents contamination and oxide formation on semi-noble metals. Reactive metals from only a few monolayers of oxide. This permits examination of electrochemically prepared metal surfaces, which is otherwise not possible. For hydrophobic copper surfaces, the composition of the electrical double layer may be studied. The extraction of the electrode strips the electrolyte off in the vicinity of the Helmholtz layer. For NaClO₄ solutions, the amount of Na⁺ ions and the excess charge decrease linearly with the electrode potential in agreement with a constant electrode capacity. The formation of a prepassive and passive layer leads to a pronounced increase of adsorbed Na⁺ ions. For Cs₂SO₄, specific and co-adsorption of both ions is observed with a minimum in the region of the potential of zero charge.     

Electrochemical nanogravimetric studies of platinum in acid media

Electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance (EQCN) is one of the most powerful tools to obtain information on the events occurring at the electrode surface. This method has been exploited to monitor the surface mass changes and hence to draw conclusions in respect of the formation and removal of adsorbed species and oxides as well as changes in the electrochemical double layer also in the case of platinum electrodes. However, the results that had been obtained so far are somewhat contradictory, and consequently diverse interpretations can be found in the literature. Therefore, it is worth to review the knowledge accumulated and to carry out systematic study in this respect. In this work smooth and platinized platinum electrodes in contact with acidic solutions were studied using EQCN technique. The effects of temperature, the nature of cations and anions, pH, concentrations, potential range were investigated on the electrochemical, and the simultaneously detected nanogravimetric responses. It is shown that in the underpotential deposition (upd) of hydrogen the adsorption/desorption of species from the solution phase is governed by the oxidative desorption/reductive adsorption of hydrogen; however, unambiguos conclusions cannot be drawn regarding the actual participation of anions and water molecules in the surface coverage. In the hydrogen evolution region a weak cation adsorption can be assumed and the potential of zero charge can be estimated. Cs⁺ cations affect the EQCN response in the hydrogen upd region. In some cases, e.g., in the case of upd of zinc the mass change can be explained by an induced anion adsorption. Two types of dissolution processes have been observed. A platinum loss was detected during the reduction of platinum oxide, the extent of which depends on the positive potential limit and the scan rate, and to a lesser extent on the temperature. The platinum dissolution during the electroreduction of oxide is related to the interfacial place exchange of the oxygen and platinum atoms in the oxide region. At elevated temperatures two competitive processes take place at high positive potentials: a dissolution of platinum and platinum oxide formation.     

Examination of the role of ion size in determining double layer properties on the basis of a generalized mean spherical approximation

A new model for the diffuse double layer which accounts for the effects of ion size and solution permittivity is described. It is then used to estimate the potential drop across the diffuse layer at negative charge densities for the cases that Li⁺ and Cs⁺ are the electrolyte cations. The potential drop in the Li⁺ system is considerably smaller than that in the Cs⁺ system at 1 M, and both values are smaller than the value predicted by the Gouy–Chapman model. As the electrolyte concentration decreases these differences become smaller so that at 0.01 M, the present model predicts that the diffuse layer potential drop is approximately 90% of the Gouy–Chapman estimate. The results of the model are used to examine the differences in inner layer structure at mercury electrodes with Li⁺ and Cs⁺ ions at the outer Helmholtz plane, and to reconsider the question of the specific adsorption of Cs⁺ at negative-charge densities.     

Generation and electrochemical nanogravimetric response of the third anodic hydrogen peak on a platinum electrode in sulfuric acid media

Platinum electrodes have been investigated in sulfuric acid solutions in the hydrogen adsorption–desorption region by electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance (EQCN). It was found that a well-developed peak (the so-called third peak) between the two main peaks appeared when, following the cycling in the oxide region, the electrode was kept at potentials just more positive than the potential of hydrogen evolution under the same conditions. The extent of this third peak and its ratio to oxidation peaks of the strongly and weakly adsorbed hydrogen depend on the waiting time at potentials mentioned above as well as on the scan rate. Similarly to the other two peaks, the simultaneous EQCN response shows a slight mass increase which can be assigned to adsorption of HSO₄ ^? ions at the platinum surface. Because the third peak appears only after a potential excursion in the oxide region, it is related to the formation of specific surface sites on which hydrogen can be adsorbed with an energy which falls between the energies of the weakly and strongly bound hydrogen. The waiting time effect indicates that this adsorption is a slow process, and it is the very reason that it cannot be observed during the second cycle. The scan rate dependence can be elucidated by the transformation of this type of adsorbed hydrogen to the other two forms.     

Der Einfluß der Kationen alkalischer Elektrolyte auf die Geschwindigkeit der kathodischen Sauerstoffreduktion an Platin

The dependence of the rate of the oxygen reduction on the nature of cations [Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, (CH₃)₄N⁺] is studied at smooth platinum and porous carbon loaded with a platinum catalyst in alkaline solutions.The rest potentials are shifted to more negative values from Li⁺ to (CH₃)₄N⁺, likewise the cathodic polarization is increased with the size of the cations. A change of the potential drop within the diffuse double layer caused by increasing cation concentration with growing size of ions is of minor importance in 0.5N alkaline solutions. Specific adsorption of (Rb⁺), Cs⁺ and (CH₃)₄N⁺ has to be considered, which would give rise to a decrease of the rate of the electrochemical reaction.Secondly the observed effect can be attributed to ion pairing of charged species (O₂ ^–) involved in the overall reaction and the cations. The stability of the hyperoxide ion is increased from (CH₃)₄N⁺ to Li⁺ by interaction with the cations. Consequently the velocity of the rate determining charge transfer step is accelerated in this direction.The experimental findings are in favour of the second interpretation, because the effect is not enhanced in more dilute solutions.

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Mit 7 Abbildungen     

Preparation of Thallium Hexacyanoferrate Film and Mixed‐Film Modified Electrodes with Cobalt(II) Hexacyanoferrate

Thallium hexacyanoferrate films have been prepared from various aqueous electrolyte solutions using consecutive cyclic voltammetry. The cyclic voltammograms recorded the direct deposition of thallium hexacyanoferrate films from the mixing of Tl³⁺ and [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ions from solutions of seven cations: Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, H⁺, and Tl⁺. An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the in situ growth of the thallium hexacyanoferrate films. The thallium hexacyanoferrate film shows a single redox couple with a formal potential between +0.6 V and +1.2 V, and shows a cation effect (H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, and Tl⁺). A mixed film and a two‐layered modified electrodes composed of a thallium hexacyanoferrate film with cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate film were prepared.     

Electrochemically induced transformations of ruthenium(III) trichloride microcrystals in salt solutions

Ruthenium (III) trichlorid solid crystals have been mechanically attached to gold surfaces and studied by cyclic electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements in the presence of aqueous solutions of different concentrations containing M⁺Cl⁻, where M⁺=H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺. The RuCl₃ and the complexes formed during the electrochemical transformations show two or more reduction and reoxidation pairs of waves, depending on the experimental conditions (concentration, scan rate, and potential range). The voltammetric peaks are shifted into the direction of higher potentials with increasing electrolyte concentrations except at very high concentrations when the peaks belong to the first reduction/reoxidation processes move oppositely. The mass change was reversible, during reduction mass increase, while during oxidation mass decrease occurred at medium electrolyte concentrations in two, more or less distinct steps. At high or low concentrations the mass excursions are more complex involving different mass increase/decrease regions as a function of potential which vary with the potential range of the measurements. The peak potentials and the electrochemical activity strongly depend on the nature of the cations and pH. It is related to the formation of complexes in different compositions. The mass change decreases with increasing electrolyte concentrations attesting the important role of the water activity and the transport of solvent molecules. It was concluded that in dilute solutions during the first reduction step M⁺ ions enter the surface layer. The strongly hydrated Li⁺ ions transfer water molecules into the microcrystals, while simultaneously with the incorporation of K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺ ions H₂O molecules leave the surface layer. The opposite transport of ions and solvent molecules occur during oxidation. In the course of further reduction the incorporation of all ions studied except that of Cs⁺ ions is accompanied with water sorption. The number of sorbed water molecules is proportional to the hydration number of these ions. A reaction scheme is proposed in which M⁺ _m-3[Ru^IIICl _m (H₂O) _n ]^3-m · xH₂O (m≥3) and [Ru^IIICl _m (H₂O) _n ]^3-m (Cl⁻)_3-m · xH₂O (m≤3) type complexes are reduced to the respective – or depending on the electrolyte concentration higher or lower – Ru(II)chloro complexes resulting in mixed valence compounds (phases). Taking into account the layered structure of RuCl₃ the electrochemical reduction can be explained as an intercalation reaction in that mixed valence intercalation phases with a general formula M _x ⁺(H₂O) _y [RuCl₃] ^x− are formed from RuCl₃·x H₂O. The reduction/reoxidation waves are related to the redox transformations of Ru(III) to Ru(II) sites, while the composition of the polynuclear complexes and the structure of microcrystals change. Presented at the 4th Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Greifswald, March 13.−16., 2005.     

Influence of the structure of boundary layers and the nature of counterions on the position of the isoelectric point of silica surfaces

Dependences of electrokinetic potentials of different silica materials (nano-and ultraporous glasses, a quartz glass plane-parallel capillary, and monodisperse spherical particles of silicon oxide) on the pH of solutions containing single-, double-, and triple-charged cations have been compared. It has been shown that the degree of hydration of a single-charged cation and the structure of an interface substantially affect the position of the isoelectric point (IEP). The most hydrated Na⁺ ions have virtually no effect on the position of the IEP up to their concentration of 0.1 M irrespective of the thickness of an ion-permeable layer at the surface of a solid phase. A reduction in the radius of a hydrated cation (K⁺, Cs⁺) enables its penetration into an ion-permeable layer and, as a consequence, causes the IEP to shift toward larger pH values depending on the parameters of this layer. Two IEPs are observed in LaCl₃ solutions: one at a pH value close to pH_IEP in NaCl solutions and another at a higher pH value corresponding to the charge reversal of the Stern layer.     

Synthesis and adsorption investigations of zeolites MCM-22 and MCM-49 modified by alkali metal cations

Ion exchange was made on MCM-22 and MCM-49 zeolites with different Si/Al molar ratios, with Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺ ions and the study of the influence of alkali metal cations on CO₂ adsorption properties was performed. The degree of ion-exchange decreased for larger cations (Cs⁺) apparently due to steric hindrances. The exchange with different cations led to a decrease in the surface area and the micropore volume. Our study shows that the adsorption capacity of the tested zeolites depends significantly on the nature and the concentration of the charge-compensating cations. The highest CO₂ adsorption capacity was obtained on the MWW zeolites with the lowest Si/Al molar ratio and the Li⁺ or K⁺ cations.     

Formation and redox behaviour of polycarbazole prepared by electropolymerization of solid carbazole crystals immobilized on an electrode surface

Carbazole solid crystals have been mechanically attached to platinum or gold electrodes by two different methods and investigated by cyclic electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements in the presence of aqueous acidic media. It was demonstrated that oxidative dimerization and polymerization can also be accomplished under such conditions. During electropolymerization, anions and water molecules enter the surface layer; however, these species leave the film after the reduction of the polymer formed. The mass changes observed in the course of the redox transformations of polycarbazole film can be explained by potential- and time-dependent sorption/desorption of H⁺ and ClO₄ ⁻ ions. The electroactivity of the polymer diminishes in more dilute acid media; however, it is recovered again in concentrated HClO₄ solutions. In more dilute acid solution the extent of the water sorption (film swelling) increases.     

Reduction‐Induced Highly Selective Uptake of Cesium Ions by an Ionic Crystal Based on Silicododecamolybdate

Cation adsorption and exchange has been an important topic in both basic and applied chemistry relevant to materials synthesis and chemical conversion, as well as purification and separation. Selective Cs⁺ uptake from aqueous solutions is especially important because Cs⁺ is expensive and is contained in radioactive wastes. However, the reported adsorbents incorporate Rb⁺ as well as Cs⁺, and an adsorbent with high selectivity toward Cs⁺ has not yet been reported. Highly selective uptake of Cs⁺ by an ionic crystal (etpyH)₂[Cr₃O(OOCH)₆(etpy)₃]₂[α‐SiMo₁₂O₄₀]?3 H₂O (etpy =4‐ethylpyridine) is described. The compound incorporated up to 3.8 mol(Cs⁺) mol(s)^?1 (where s=solid) by cation‐exchange with etpyH⁺ and reduction of silicododecamolybdate with ascorbic acid. The amount of Cs⁺ uptake was comparable to that of Prussian blue, which is widely recognized as a good Cs⁺ adsorbent. Moreover, other alkali‐metal and alkaline‐earth‐metal cations were almost completely excluded (<0.2 mol mol(s)^?1).     

Applications of Macrocyclic Polyethers in Analytical Sensors and Ion Separation

Artificial macrocyclic polyethers were synthesized and applied as neutral carriers for ion-selective PVC membrane electrodes, ion-chromatographic packing materials, extractants and adsorbents for ion separation, coating materials for piezoeletrical membrane sensors for organic species, and ion-transport carriers through liquid membranes. Ion-selective electrodes such as those for K⁺ Na⁺, UO₂²⁺, Cs⁺, Pb²⁺, Fe³⁺, Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions based on crown ether-phosphotungstic acid (PW) precipitates and dithio crown ethers respectively were prepared and showed good sensitivity and selectivity. Crown ether-PW precipitates were applied as adsorbents of rare-earth ions and some common heavy-metal ions. Some rare-earth ions were easily extracted with crown ethers, especially 15-crown-5. Poly(stytene/divinyl benzene) cryptand-22 resin was synthesized and applied as a bifunctional stationary phase of ion chromatography to separate bom cations and anions, even some organic carboxylate geometric isomers. Crown ethers such as mono-benzo-15-crown-5 was successfully applied as a coating material on piezoelectric quartz membrane sensors for some organic species. The oscillation frequency of the crown-ether quartz-membrane sensor was sensitive to organic vapours such as amines and alcohols. Upon adsorption of organic species on the crown-ether quartz membrane, the oscillation frequency of the sensor decreased obviously. Special crown ether such as dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxyacetic acid, decyl-cryptand-22 and 1, 4-dihydro-pyridine-18-crown-5 were synthesized and successfully applied as ion-transport carriers (ionophores) for transport of Na⁺ K⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions through liquid membranes.     

Ammonothermal Synthesis and Characterization of Cs2[Zn(NH2)4]

Cs₂[Zn(NH₂)₄] was synthesized under ammonothermal conditions (sc‐NH₃, 523 K, 155 MPa) from CsNH₂ and Zn. Growth of cm‐sized crystals succeeded upon application of a temperature gradient. The crystal structure is based on the motif of a hexagonal closed packing of [Zn(NH₂)₄]^2– ions with occurrence of no significant hydrogen bridges according to distances and vibrational spectroscopy. Cs⁺ ions are located within octahedral and tetrahedral holes of the packing.     

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of perchlorate and perrhenate anion adsorption on polycrystalline gold electrode

The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) was used to study adsorption/desorption of perchlorate and perrhenate ions on a bare polycrystalline gold electrode. An electrode mass change in perrhenate solution was about double that of perchlorate. The equivalent mass of adsorbed anions (about 260 and 120 g F⁻¹ respectively) suggests adsorption of perchlorate and perrhenate anions on a polycrystalline gold electrode in the double-layer region. Water molecules are partially expelled from the gold surface during the initial stages of anion adsorption. The water loss is about three times larger for perrhenate compared to perchlorate due to the bigger ionic radius (volume) of the perrhenate anion.     

Selective adsorption of europium/III/ and americium/III/ in non-proliferative mycobacterial suspensions

The absorption effect of 5% w/w non-proliferative cell suspensions of Mycobacterium smegmatis on labelled solutions of Eu³⁺ ions, both alone and in admixtures with Am³⁺, Co²⁺ and Cs⁺, was studied at pH 1.0 as a function of time and cationic concentration. For 10 M concentrations of Eu, Co and Cs, selective adsorption of the trivalent lanthanide and actinide ions was practically quantitative after 90 min; no significant adsorption was observed for cobalt and cesium ions. Column adsorption measurements with the mycobacterial biomass showed that desorption of the M³⁺ ions did not occur at less than 2M HCl and remained incomplete even at higher acidities.     

Adsorption of ions onto polymer surfaces and its influence on zeta potential and adhesion phenomena

 The adhesion behavior that governs many technologically and biologically relevant polymer properties can be investigated by zeta potential measurements with varied electrolyte concentration or pH. In a previous work [1] it was found that the difference of the adsorption free energies of Cl^- and K⁺ ions correlates with the adhesion force caused by van der Waals interactions, and that the decrease of adhesion strength by adsorption layers can be elucidated by zeta potential measurements. In order to confirm these interrelations, zeta potential measurements were combined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Force–distance curves between poly(ether ether ketone) and fluorpolymers, respectively, and the Si₃N₄ tip of the AFM device in different electrolyte solutions were measured and analysed. The adsorption free energy of anions calculated from the Stern model correlates with their ability to prevent the adhesion between the polymer surface and the Si₃N₄ tip of the AFM device. These results demonstrate the influence of adsorption phenomena on the adhesion behavior of solids. The results obtained by AFM confirm the thesis that the electrical double layer of solid polymers in electrolyte solutions is governed by ion adsorption probably due to van der Waals interactions and that therefore van der Waals forces can be detected by zeta potential measurements. Received: 18 November 1997 Accepted: 19 January 1998     

Electrochemical properties of sulfur adsorbed on gold electrodes

The electrochemical properties of sulfur adsorbed on gold electrodes were studied in 10^?5M solutions of S^2? in 1 M NaOH. In general, ∵_S is less than a monolayer. At E=0.05 V only, a monolayer will be formed after long times. The sulfur layer is stable in the potential range between ?0.6 and +0.4 V. At lower potentials, sulfur can be desorbed cathodically (charge Q_red), but at higher potentials, where layers of gold oxide are formed, the sulfur is oxidized anodically (charge Q_ox). From the ratio Q_red·6/Q_ox=γ, the electrosorption valency γ=?2 is obtained. This means, that the sulfide ions are almost completely discharged during adsorption. The same layer can be formed by adsorption from polysulfide solutions, which can be explained by a break of the sulfur bond and adsorption of single sulfur atoms. The double layer capacity decreases during adsorption of sulfur indicating the formation of an insulating sulfur layer with a dielectric constant of about 2. The anodic adsorption of sulfide ions is limited by diffusion only. For longer polarisation times, the coverage is independent of time, i.e. place exchange reactions between Au and S can be excluded. The cathodic desorption as well as the anodic oxidation of the adsorbed sulfur are potential dependent charge transfer processes, as can be concluded from potentiodynamic measurements with various sweep rates.     

Desorption of Asphaltenes from Silica-Coated Quartz Crystal Surfaces in Low Saline Aqueous Solutions

The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to study desorption of asphaltenes from silica-coated quartz crystals upon exposure to various aqueous low saline solutions of different salt concentrations and cationic valency. Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy measurements confirmed desorption in selected experiments. The amount of desorption was related to the type and concentration of electrolyte and the sequence of injecting the electrolyte solutions. Initial desorption upon exposure to solutions with high ionic strength was likely due to repulsion between negatively charged sites acquired at the silica and the asphaltenes. During the injection of low saline aqueous solutions, a critical expansion of the diffuse double layer was required for desorption to occur. Comparatively lower desorption of asphaltenes was observed in the CaCl₂ solutions than in NaCl and seawater solutions.     

Effect of the diffuse double layer on the interpretation of EQCM results in dilute NaClO4 solutions

The response of the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) in dilute NaClO₄ solutions was studied with gold and iron electrodes during a stepwise increase of the perchlorate concentration. In the range from 10⁻⁴ M to 7.8×10⁻² M, the quartz resonant frequency of the 10 MHz AT cut crystals increased by about 700 Hz, indicating a mass loss on the electrode. A model was developed in which the diffuse double layer and the oscillating bulk electrolyte layer, characterised by the velocity decay length of the damped shear wave in solution, are treated as two independent, superimposed sheets. By assuming a characteristic thickness of the diffuse double layer according to the Gouy–Chapman theory and by treating the diffuse double layer as a rigid sheet, the measured mass loss could be simulated qualitatively. The viscosity changes in the diffuse double layer as well as in the sensed electrolyte bulk layer were found to be negligible in the concentration range investigated. In dilute solutions, the frequency shift following a concentration change is entirely due to thinning of the diffuse double layer with increasing concentration. The results demonstrate the importance of diffuse double layer effects for EQCM measurements in dilute electrolytes.     

Adsorption of 137Cs on titanate nanostructures

Various types of sodium and potassium titanate nanostructures (nanotubes, nanofibers, nanoribbons, nanwires) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM and TEM, as well BET and BJH methods. Adsorption of radiotracer ¹³⁷Cs⁺ ions from aqueous solutions on synthesized titanate nanostructures was investigated in batch technique as a function of contact time, concentration of sodium ions and pH of the solutions. It was found that among the studied nanostructures nanotubes shows the highest selectivity for ¹³⁷Cs, which is related to a zeolitic character of Cs⁺ adsorption. The efficient adsorption of ¹³⁷Cs was obtained in Na⁺ solutions with concentration below 10^?2 M, at pH 7–9 and in contact time above 2 h. Moreover, nanotubes have the higher specific surface area than other nanostructures, which results in better availability of ion exchange groups and high ion exchange capacity. These properties of nanotubes indicate that they may be used for adsorption of ¹³⁷Cs from various types of nuclear wastes.