An improved solution-tight electrode holder for variable temperature electrochemical studies

With the help of oscillopolarographic methods, the formation of additional adsorption-desorption peaks or incisions in the curves i=f(E) and dE/dt=f(E) was observed for saturated solutions of higher fatty acids in 1 M H₂SO₄. In virtue of the analysis of the first and second polarization cycle, it was found, that, a previous electrode polarization to the adsorption potentials was necessary, if the additional peaks were to be formed. A supposition was made, that the additional peaks originate in the desorption and adsorption of the dimerized molecules of the acids.     

A hierarchical porous MnO2-based electrode for electrochemical capacitor

A hierarchical porous MnO₂-based electrode was prepared and its electrochemical performance for electrochemical capacitors was investigated. In this work, porous MnO₂ film with pore size of 2?C3?nm in diameter was deposited on a three-dimensional porous current collector by cathodic electrodeposition associated with subsequent controlled heat treatment at 200°C for 2?h. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the heat treatment has a great effect on the formation of the porous structure of MnO₂ layer, and the disordered porous structure was caused by dehydration during the heat treatment. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge?Cdischarge tests showed that both energy and power densities are enhanced due to the unique hierarchical porous structure. The electrode delivers a high specific capacitance of 385?F?g^?1 at a high current density of 5?A?g^?1 within a potential window of ?0.05????0.85?V, and also exhibits excellent rate capability and electrochemical stability.     

Impact of porous electrode properties on the electrochemical transfer coefficient

The rate of an activation-controlled electrochemical reaction is determined by two key parameters, the exchange current density, io, and the transfer coefficient, alpha, which is inversely related to the Tafel slope. Assuming that the symmetry factor, beta, is 0.5, the minimum alpha value should be 0.5 for all standard reaction mechanisms, with alpha values larger than this indicating a better electrocatalytic mechanism. The primary goal of this paper is to better understand why alpha values of < 0.5 are often observed experimentally, with specific examples given for the oxygen reduction reaction. These low alpha values cannot be explained by adsorption behavior, but they can result when reactions occur within a porous electrode structure. Consistent with past literature related to Tafel slope predictions, we show that long and narrow pores, a low ionic or electronic conductivity of the electrode layer, and a high io value can cause alpha to be < 0.5, most typically 0.25. However, alpha values between 0.25 and 0.5 are also encountered in practice. We show here that such alpha values can be obtained for reactions occurring at porous films that have nonuniform properties. We also show that the overpotential range over which alpha changes from 0.5 to 0.25 can be quite broad, especially at high temperatures, and thus can be misinterpreted as a true Tafel region with a transfer coefficient between 0.25 and 0.5.     

A new electrochemical method for consolidation of porous rocks

This work shows the preliminary results of a newly developed electrochemical method to seal the porous system of a building stone. The method is based on the use of porous rock as separator in a divided electrochemical reactor, where anolyte and catholyte compositions are selected in such a way that anions in catholyte and cations in anolyte can precipitate as a very insoluble salt. In our experiments, the insoluble salt chosen was barium phosphate. The results obtained show that barium phosphate precipitates in a small area near the catholyte side of the material. The area closer to the surface is where the maximum damage takes place. Accepting that the pore sealing is only produced in this region, the theoretical diminution of accessible porosity in this area should be approximately 25%.     

Biotinylated polypyrrole films: an easy electrochemical approach for the reagentless immobilization of bacteria on electrode surfaces

Biotinylated bacteria were immobilized onto biotin/avidin modified electrode surfaces. Firstly, an electrospotting deposition method, followed by fluorescence microscopy, showed that bacteria were specifically grafted onto a gold surface. Fluorescence intensity versus the quantity of bacteria deposited on the surface was correlated, allowing determination of the microbial saturation point. Secondly, biotinylated bacteria were immobilized onto a glassy carbon macro-electrode in order to assess immobilized bacterial denitrification activity. During a 7-day trial, the modified electrode completely denitrified 5 mM nitrate, with a rate of 1.66 mM/day over the first 3 days. When the same electrode was placed in fresh nitrate solution, the denitrification rate dropped to 0.80 mM/day. Crucially, the immobilized bacteria did not become detached from the electrode during the study.     

Study of anodizing process on aluminium foam to improve the corrosion behavior

Aluminium foam is obtained by the production of air into metallic melt. This material shows a very low density together with good mechanical properties, high impact energy absorption, and fire resistance. Different production ways to obtain metallic foam are possible. Considering the cost, the Alporas process is particularly interesting. By means of this production method, a block of metallic foam with close cells is obtained. By slicing, foam panels are obtained. The mechanical cut promotes the formation of an open cells texture on the surface. In this last case, the complex morphology of aluminium foam could be a critical point considering the corrosion behavior in aggressive environments, where localized corrosion phenomena, as pitting or crevice corrosion, are likely to occur. The anodizing treatment is one of the most used methods to improve the corrosion resistance of aluminium and aluminium alloys. The aim of this paper is to perform an anodization treatment to enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminium foam. Constant voltage anodization (12 V for 60 min) and pulsed current anodization (0.04 A/cm² for 60 seconds and 0.01 A/cm² for 15 seconds, repeated for 15 cycles) have been carried out in 15 wt% H₂SO₄ at 20°C. The anodized samples are observed in cross section by optical and electronic microscopes to investigate the structure of the anodic oxide layer and the presence of defects and to measure the thickness of the layer. The corrosion protection performance and the compactness of layers are evaluated using acetic salt spray test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.     

Application of silver electrode to the electrochemical studies of hemoglobin

Several aspects of the application of silver electrode to the electrochemical studies of hemoglobin have been discussed in this paper . The silver electrode could not only be used directly as the electrode for the electrochemical studies of hemoglobin, but also react with phenothiazine and benzimidazole to give stable and useful mediator-coated electrodes. In addition, the silver electrode could help sodium dodecyl sulfate to give full play to its promoting effect on the protein.     

Distribution of geometrical current density inside a flow-by porous electrode: Effect of electrode parameters and electrochemical reactions

The effect of the difference between the equilibrium potentials of the target and side reactions, the solution flow rate, and specific surface area of porous electrode (PE) on the distribution of the geometrical current density along the solution flow i_g(y) at various average current densities is studied by the method of mathematical modeling. It is found that the largest range of the variation of i_g(y) (the exponential decrease along the solution flow) is typical for the conditions that provide the limiting current mode of the target reaction on the entire PE surface in the absence of simultaneous hydrogen evolution. All changes in the operation conditions, which reduce the uniformity of the distribution of the current inside PE along the X axis and hamper reaching the limiting current mode (for example, a decrease in the equilibrium potential difference, an increase in the flow rate or specific surface area of PE) lead to more uniform distribution of i_g(y).     

A review of electrode materials for electrochemical supercapacitors

In this critical review, metal oxides-based materials for electrochemical supercapacitor (ES) electrodes are reviewed in detail together with a brief review of carbon materials and conducting polymers. Their advantages, disadvantages, and performance in ES electrodes are discussed through extensive analysis of the literature, and new trends in material development are also reviewed. Two important future research directions are indicated and summarized, based on results published in the literature: the development of composite and nanostructured ES materials to overcome the major challenge posed by the low energy density of ES (476 references).     

A new approach to nickel electrolytic colouring of anodised aluminium

Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyse nickel on anodic aluminium surfaces after stripping the anodic aluminium oxide. The metal was electroplated at the bottom of the pores of anodised aluminium during electrolytic colouring in solutions without (Watts) and with (citrate) complexing agents, respectively. A relation between the anodic-cathodic processes, changes of the structure and composition of the coating in dependence on the used solution were studied. A morphology study performed after stripping the anodic aluminium oxide revealed the crucial influence of the anodic process/cycle and the complexing agent on the nickel structure on the aluminium surface. Off-time of half-way rectified current influenced the nickel deposition in the pores of anodic alumina negatively.     

Structural and electrochemical properties of a porous nanostructured SnO2 film electrode for lithium-ion batteries

A B₂O₃-doped SnO₂ thin film was prepared by a novel experimental procedure combining the electrodeposition and the hydrothermal treatment, and its structure and electrochemical properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and galvanostatic charge–discharge tests. It was found that the as-prepared modified SnO₂ film shows a porous network structure with large specific surface area and high crystallinity. The results of electrochemical tests showed that the modified SnO₂ electrode presents the largest reversible capacity of 676 mAh g^?1 at the fourth cycle, close to the theoretical capacity of SnO₂ (790 mAh g^?1); and it still delivers a reversible Li storage capacity of 524 mAh g^?1 after 50 cycles. The reasons that the modified SnO₂ film electrode shows excellent electrochemical properties were also discussed.     

3D-printed porous electrodes for advanced electrochemical flow reactors: A Ni/stainless steel electrode and its mass transport characteristics

Porous electrodes have shown high performance in industrial electrochemical processes and redox flow batteries for energy storage. These materials offer great advantages over planar electrodes in terms of larger surface area, superior space time yield and enhanced mass transport. In this work, a highly ordered porous stainless steel structure was manufactured by 3D-printing and coated with nickel from an acidic bath by electrodeposition in a divided rectangular channel flow cell. Following the electrodeposition, the volumetric mass transport coefficient of this electrode was determined by the electrochemical reduction of 1.0×10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ of ferricyanide ions by linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The convection diffusion characteristics are compared with other geometries to demonstrate the novelty and the advantages of 3D-printed porous electrodes in electrochemical flow reactors. Robust porous electrodes with tailored surface area, composition, volumetric porosity and flow properties are possible.     

Low temperature fabrication of efficient porous carbon counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Porous carbon counter electrodes have been fabricated at low temperature by coating an organic binder free carbon slurry onto F-doped tin oxide conducting glass. The carbon slurry is prepared by ball-milling a dispersion of activated carbon in aqueous SnCl₄ solution. During ball-milling, SnCl₄ hydrolyzes and transforms into stannic acid gel, which acts as an inorganic “glue” to connect the carbon particles during film preparation. Dye-sensitized solar cells employing this carbon electrode achieve efficiency as high as 6.1% which is comparable to that of the cells using sputtering Pt as counter electrode.     

Direct wiring of cytochrome c's heme unit to an electrode: electrochemical studies

A novel strategy for the immobilization of cytochrome c on the surface of chemically modified electrodes is demonstrated and used to investigate the protein's electron-transfer kinetics. Mixed monolayer films of alkanethiols and omega-terminated alkanethiols (terminated with pyridine, imidazole, or nitrile groups that are able to ligate with the heme) are used to adsorb cytochrome c to the surface of gold electrodes. The use of mixed films, as opposed to pure films, allows the concentration of adsorbed cytochrome to remain dilute and ensures a higher degree of homogeneity in their environment. The adsorbed protein is studied using electrochemical methods and scanning tunneling microscopy.     

A new approach for estimating the recrystallization rate and equilibrium melting temperature

A method is described for measuring the heat and rate of recrystallization following partial melting. The method uses a specific sequence of temperatures with a differential scanning calorimeter, and the melting and recrystallization processes were confirmed by optical observations. The method was applied to poly(butylene terephthalate). The rate of recrystallization was found to be roughly two orders of magnitude faster than isothermal crystallization from the melt. The melting temperatures obtained from recrystallization were used in the Hoffman–Weeks equation to deduce 236°C as the equilibrium melting temperature for poly(butylene terephthalate). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 133–141, 1998     

用于非水介质分析的新型离子选择电极: 水膜电极的设想及验证

本文首次提出了一种新型离子选择电极—水膜电极, 采用水溶液作为液膜, 可分析有机溶液中的组分. 这种电极用于非水介质中的分析 , 有其独特的优点, 可直接测量非水溶液中某种离子的平衡活度(或浓度), 对理论研究有较大的意义. 本文提出的水膜电极能应用于不与水相混溶的低介电常数有机溶剂, 扩展了离子选择电极在非水介质中的研究与应用.     

A new approach to high temperature photoresists based on styrylpyridinium units

Four linear polyesters containing styrylpyridinium units were prepared from 2,6-bis(p-hydroxystyryl)pyridine and terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid, respectively. The polyesters are thermally stable in the 365 to 450°C range. The decomposition temperature is higher for aromatic polyesters, lower for their aliphatic analogs. The polyesters are photoreactive and crosslink on irradiation with UV. The crosslinking mechanism is 2 + 2 cycloaddition. The polyesters form protonated complexes with CF₃COOH which absorb at longer wavelengths and are also photoreactive. The quantum yield of the photoreaction and the relative photosensitivities of the polyesters and their complexes were determined.     

Effects of concentration and temperature of alkaline solutions on the electrochemical stability of a gas diffusion electrode

The working life of a gas diffusion electrode performing in 1, 5 and 10 M KOH was investigated at 25, 55 and 80° C. During the performance, the wetting of the electrode could be monitored by means of a radioisotope tracer method with a tritiated aqueous solution of KOH. The polarization became less in 1 M KOH with increasing temperature due to the progress in the moderate wetting of the electrode by the electrolytic solution. Upon increasing the concentration of the electrolytic solution, the working life was prolonged at 25°C, although a large polarization was observed. The working life at 80°C was considerably shorter at all concentrations of the electrolytic solution. It is suggested that the carbon carrier of the electrode is corroded appreciably by the electrolytic solution at high temperatures.     

A new sensor for electrochemical determination of captopril using chlorpromazine as a mediator at a glassy carbon electrode

A new simple, selective and rapid cyclic voltammetric method is reported for the accurate and precise determination of captopril using chlorpromazine as a suitable electrocatalyst. It has been shown by cyclic voltammetry, single step chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy that chlorpromazine can catalyze the oxidation of captopril in aqueous buffer solution and produces a sharp oxidation peak current at about 0.625 V vs. saturated calomel reference electrode. The catalytic oxidation peak current of captopril is linearly dependent on its concentration and enables the determination of captopril over the concentration range of 8–1000 μM at pH 5.0, with a detection limit of 4.8 μM. The relative standard deviation for the determination of 400 μM captopril is 0.66% (n = 9). The influence of potential interfering substances on the determination of captopril was studied. The method was satisfactorily applied to the determination of captopril in real samples such as drug and urine.