Mixed Transition‐Metal Oxides: Design,Synthesis, and Energy‐Related Applications

A promising family of mixed transition‐metal oxides (MTMOs) (designated as A_xB_3‐xO₄; A, B=Co, Ni, Zn, Mn, Fe, etc.) with stoichiometric or even non‐stoichiometric compositions, typically in a spinel structure, has recently attracted increasing research interest worldwide. Benefiting from their remarkable electrochemical properties, these MTMOs will play significant roles for low‐cost and environmentally friendly energy storage/conversion technologies. In this Review, we summarize recent research advances in the rational design and efficient synthesis of MTMOs with controlled shapes, sizes, compositions, and micro‐/nanostructures, along with their applications as electrode materials for lithium‐ion batteries and electrochemical capacitors, and efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in metal–air batteries and fuel cells. Some future trends and prospects to further develop advanced MTMOs for next‐generation electrochemical energy storage/conversion systems are also presented.     

电化学合成纳米材料和小分子材料在电解制氢领域的应用

氢气是一种清洁、高效、可再生的新型能源,并且是未来碳中和能源供应中最具潜力的化石燃料替代品。因此,可持续氢能源制造具有极大的吸引力与迫切的需求,尤其是通过清洁、环保、零排放的电解水方法。然而,目前的电解水反应受到其缓慢的动力学以及低成本/能源效率的制约。在这些方面,电化学合成通过制造先进的电催化剂和提供更高效/增值的共电解替代品,为提高水电解的效率和效益提供了广阔的前景。它是一种环保、简单的通过电解或其他电化学操作,对从分子到纳米尺度的材料进行制造的方法。本文首先介绍了电化学合成的基本概念、设计方法以及常用方法。然后,总结了电化学合成技术在电解水领域的应用及进展。我们专注于电化学合成的纳米结构电催化剂以实现更高效的电解水制氢,以及小分子的电化学氧化以取代电解水制氢中的析氧共反应,实现更高效、 增值的共电解制氢。我们系统地讨论了电化学合成条件与产物的关系,以启发未来的探索。最后,本文讨论了电化学合成在先进电解水以及其他能量转换和储存应用方面的挑战和前景。     

Electrochemical Method to Quantify Antioxidants Employing Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity,CUPRAC

CUPRAC is a method used to determine antioxidants quantifying the chromophore [Cu(Nc)₂]⁺, generated upon increases of added antioxidants to a Cu(II) containing solution. In this work, an electrochemical alternative to quantify this complex is presented using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, compared with the classical spectroscopic determinations by UV-Vis. The final results show that the analysis performed by electrochemical methodologies is statistically similar, affording an efficient determination the total antioxidant capacity.     

非电活性分子的活体电化学分析进展

发展非电活性分子的活体电化学分析方法,对于解析这些物质在生理过程和病理过程中的作用具有重要研究意义. 本综述从三种分析策略出发,简要介绍了最近活体电化学传感器的研究进展：1）设计和筛选高选择性配体,通过将特异性的化学反应转换成电化学信号,发展了新型的非电活性分子的活体分析;2）利用微型孔道里的整流效应,结合特异性配体,建立了非电活性分子的新型分析平台;3）结合微电极阵列技术及同时分析多种输出信号的新型分析模式,实现活体中的多种非电活性物质的同时分析.     

A novel strategy for fabrication,activation and cleaning of fully 3D printed flexible planar electrochemical platforms

In recent years, 3D printing of carbon-based conductive filaments has received growing attention for assembling electrodes to be used in a wide variety of electroanalytical devices and applications. Despite the large amount of work present in literature concerning the development of three-dimensional (3D) conductive structures, its potential as dry deposition method for assembling two-dimensional (2D) electrodes to be used in planar configuration is still largely unexplored. In fact, the possibility to rapidly change the geometry of the electrochemical circuits, associated with the reduction of waste and the absence of solvents, which are instead important components of ink and paste formulations, makes this strategy a valid green and efficient alternative to other deposition approaches such as screen-printing technology. We report here a rapid and solvent-free method for assembling fully 3D printed flexible planar electroanalytical platforms (3DEPs) to be used with microliters of liquid. At the same time, a novel protocol for the surface pre-treatment of 3D printed electrodes based on ultrasonication in aqueous NaOH solution followed by electrochemical activation using the same medium, is presented. In addition, the same procedure has proved to be efficient for cleaning the electrode surface after electrochemical passivation, thus confirming the validity of both time-efficient and environmentally-friendly assembling and activation/cleaning procedures developed which allow efficient and reusable electrodes to be produced. Finally, 3DEPs were tested by a proof-of-concept quantification of a commonly used food dye (Brilliant Blue, E-133) in commercial solutions used for homemade food coloring.     

Copper-glucosamine microcubes: synthesis, characterization, and C-reactive protein detection

Cubelike microstructures of glucosamine-functionalized copper (GlcN-CuMC's) have been fabricated by the integration of injection pump and ultrasonochemistry. Although bulk microstructures and the nanostructure of metallic copper exhibit distinct applications, the amino sugar surface-functionalized copper is almost biocompatible and exhibits advanced features such as more crystallinity, high thermal stability, and electrochemical feasibility toward biomolecule (C-reactive protein, CRP) detection. An electrochemical test of this GlcN-CuMC's was demonstrated by immobilization on a conventional gold-PCB (Au-PCB) electrode. The combination of a biointerface membrane, from glucosamine functionalization, and electroactive sites of metallic copper provides a very efficient electrochemical response against various concentration of CRP. A perfect scaling of steady-state currents with r(2) values of 0.9862 (I(pa)) and 0.9972 (I(pc)) indicate the promise of this kind of biofunctionalized microstructure electrode for many surface and interface applications.     

Development of a paper-based,inexpensive, and disposable electrochemical sensing platform for nitrite detection

Electrochemical techniques are attractive for nitrite detection owing to their intrinsic advantages. However, traditional electrochemical sensors often suffer from the effects of fouling due to the adsorption of oxidation products on the electrode surface. In this work, a paper-based, inexpensive, disposable electrochemical sensing platform was developed for nitrite analysis based on a simple and efficient vacuum filtration system. Taking advantage of the physicochemical properties of graphene nanosheets and gold nanoparticles, the mass transport regime of nitrite at the paper-based electrode was thin layer diffusion rather than planar diffusion. In comparison with the electrochemical responses of commercial gold electrodes and glassy carbon electrodes (GCE), a considerably larger current signal was seen at the paper-based sensing interface, which significantly improved its sensitivity for nitrite detection. In particular, the paper-based electrode was a disposable sensing device, so that it effectively avoided the fouling effect arising from the adsorption of oxidation products. Moreover, the paper-based sensing platform made it possible to determine nitrite in environmental and food samples in an accurate, convenient, inexpensive, and reproducible way, indicating that the proposed system is promising for practical applications in environmental monitoring and public health.     

A mini-review of the electro-peroxone technology for wastewaters:Characteristics,mechanism and prospect

The electro-peroxone technology, a novel type of advanced oxidation technology, is widely used in wastewater treatment. Herein, this paper reviews the advantages and problems of the electro-peroxone technology compared with electrochemical oxidation technology, ozonation technology, and traditional peroxone technology. Due to the high kinetics of pollutant degradation, the electro-peroxone process can reduce the reaction time and energy consumption of pollutant treatment in wastewater. The elect...     

能源催化材料的电化学合成

电催化是发展可持续洁净能源技术的基础科学,是电化学能源转换和物质转化的关键环节.精准合成催化活性纳米结构是制约很多电催化反应走向实际应用的重要挑战.与湿化学合成、固相合成和气相沉积等传统方法相比,电化学合成是一种简单、快速、廉价及可控的高效催化材料制备方法,也是一种最为直接的一体化电极制备方法.本文综述了近年来利用电化...     

Fabrication, Characterization and Electrocatalysis of an Ordered Carbon Nanotube Electrode

A method for fabrication of ordered carbon nanotube (CNT) film,which was template-synthesized within the highly ordered pores of a commercially available alumina template membrane,modified glassy carbon(CNT/GC) electrode was established.The CNT/GC electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward dopamine electrochemical reaction without introducing any electrochemically active group into CNT film or activating any electrochemically active group into CNT film or activating the electrode electrochemically.DA undergoes ideal reversible electrochemical reaction on CNT/GC electrode at low scan rate(≤20mV/s) with an excellent reproducibility and stability.The CNT/GC electrode might be used in biosensors because the highly ordered CNT may present a steric effect on more efficient redox reactions of biomolecules.     

Self-assembled naphthalenediimide derivative films for light-assisted electrochemical reduction of oxygen

This naphthalene diimide derivative, DC18, forms highly conjugated semiconducting stacked assemblies over electrodes after electrochemical conditioning. These molecular materials are very efficient towards electrochemical photoreduction of oxygen under visible light.     

Facile Synthesis of Porous Dendritic Bimetallic Platinum–Nickel Nanocrystals as Efficient Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Certain bimetallic nanocrystals (NCs) possess promising catalytic properties for electrochemical energy conversion. Herein, we report a facile method for the one‐step synthesis of porous dendritic PtNi NCs in aqueous solution at room temperature that contrasts with the traditional multistep thermal decomposition approach. The dendritic PtNi NCs assembled by interconnected arms are efficient catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. This direct and efficient method is favorable for the up‐scaled synthesis of active catalysts used in electrochemical applications.     

Recent Advances on the Electrochemical Difunctionalization of Alkenes/Alkynes

Electroorganic synthesis is an emerging area of high impact research in organic chemistry, which is considered as one of the green and efficient methods and attracts growing research attention. In this review, we summarized comprehensively the recent literature reports on the electrochemical oxidative difunctionalization of unsaturated C—C bonds. The reaction types described in this review included electrochemical intermolecular cyclization, electrochemical intramolecular cyclization, and electrochemical difunctionalization of alkenes/alkynes. This review focuses on the discussion of its synthetic generality for the preparation of functionalized compounds and the related electrochemical oxidative reaction mechanism.     

Electrodeposition of Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O: growth,properties, and applications

For a long time, the world has been waiting for a sustainable, inexpensive, and efficient material for application in electronic and energy conversion purposes. Cu₂O thin films made by electrodeposition clearly fulfill the sustainability and cost pre-requisites, and are broadly believed that they could lead to the fabrication of highly efficient devices if well prepared and designed. Here, we review the fundamentals for electrochemical synthesis and the electrodeposition aspects and procedures for growing Cu₂O. The properties of electrodeposited Cu₂O in thin films and nanostructures will be discussed in view of the literature, with emphasis on the electrical and optical properties and applications in photocatalysis and photovoltaics.     

Helically chiral functionalized [6]helicene: Synthesis,optical resolution,and photophysical properties

A short and efficient synthetic pathway leading to a new chiral π-conjugated system is reported. The X-ray structure of the target compound was determined and showed a helical conformation. Its resolution was successfully accomplished, leading to two enantiomers in high optical purity, and their chiroptical properties were examined experimentally. The photophysical properties of the organic material were also evaluated, showing an emission in the visible region, and HOMO and LUMO levels have been estimated experimentally, demonstrating an electrochemical band gap of 2.37 eV.     

Efficient Protocol for Synthesis of β-Hydroxy(alkoxy)selenides via Electrochemical Iodide-Catalyzed Oxyselenation of Styrene Derivatives with Dialkyl(aryl)diselenides

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of β-hydroxy(alkoxy)selenides was developed through the electrochemical iodide-catalyzed oxyselenation of styrene derivatives with dialkyl(aryl)diselenides under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies showed that the cation I⁺ is involved during the whole process, and accelerates the formation of seleniranium ion via substitution and addition reaction with dialkyl(aryl)diselenides and styrene derivatives. The corresponding products are formed in good to excellent yields. This electrochemical oxyselenation provides an efficient strategy for difunctionalization of alkenes.     

Reversible grafting of α-naphthylmethyl radicals to epitaxial graphene

The Kolbe electrochemical oxidation strategy has been utilized to achieve an efficient quasireversible electrochemical grafting of the α-naphthylmethyl functional group to graphene. The method facilitates reversible bandgap engineering in graphene and preparation of electrochemically erasable organic dielectric films. The picture shows Raman D-band maps of both systems.     

Phenolic Composition and Total Antioxidant Capacity by Electrochemical,Spectrophotometric and HPLC‐EC Evaluation in Portuguese Red and White Wines

Phenolic composition and in vitro total antioxidant capacity have been evaluated, in red and white Portuguese wines, by electrochemical methods, spectrophotometric methods, and reverse‐phase high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC‐EC). The different phenolic compounds present in seventeen red and white wines, with different grape varieties, and from different geographical locations, were successfully identified and detected. The wines in vitro total antioxidant capacity, using the method of capture of diphenilpicrilhydrazil (DPPH^.) free radical “efficient concentration” (EC₅₀), and the electrochemical quantitative index (EI), was determined. The wine with the highest total antioxidant capacity exhibited the lowest antioxidant power, and the EI and EC₅₀ assays had a very good correlation.     

Significance of nanomaterials in electrochemical sensors for nitrate detection: A review

Nanomaterial-enabled electrochemical sensors are designed as an economical, efficient, and user-friendly analytical tool for on-site and routine nitrate analysis over a wide range of environmental samples. The remarkable advances and tunable attributes of nanomaterials have greatly improved the analytical performance of electrochemical nitrate sensors. In this review, a comprehensive elucidation of the recent advances in nanomaterial-based electrochemical nitrate sensors is presented. The review firstly provides a general introduction, followed by typical electrochemical sensing methods. The next two sections detail various nanomaterials, including graphene derivatives, carbon nanotubes/fibers, metal/bimetal/metal oxide nanoparticles, and conducting polymers for modifying electrodes in enzymatic and non-enzymatic electrochemical nitrate sensors. Finally, the perspectives and current challenges in achieving real-world applications of nanomaterial-based electrochemical nitrate sensors are outlined.     

Highly efficient and stable blue‐light‐emitting copolyfluorene consisting of carbazole,oxadiazole, and charge‐trapping anthracene groups

This article presents the synthesis and electroluminescent (EL) properties of a stable blue‐light‐emitting copolyfluorene ( P1 ) consisting of carbazole, oxadiazole and charge‐trapping anthracene groups by Suzuki coupling reaction. The hole‐transporting carbazole and electron‐transporting oxadiazole improve charges injection and transporting properties, whereas the anthracene is the ultimate emitting chromophore. The thermal, photophysical, electrochemical, and EL properties of P1 were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter, optical spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and EL devices fabrication and characterization. P1 demonstrated high‐thermal stability with thermal decomposition and glass tranistion temperatures above 400 and 145°C, respectively. In film state, P1 showed blue emission at 451 nm attributed to anthracene chromophore. Photophysical and electrochemical investigations demonstrate that effective energy transfer from fluorene to anthracene segments and charges trapping on anthracene segments leads to efficient and stable blue emission originating from anthracence. Polymer light‐emitting diodes using P1 as the emitting layer (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ P1 /Ca/Al) exhibited excellent current efficiency (5.1 cd/A) with the CIE coordinate being (0.16, 0.11). The results indicate that copolyfluorene is a promising candidate for the blue‐emitting layer in the fabrication of efficient PLEDs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010