Thermoelectric properties of PEDOT films prepared by electrochemical polymerization

Thermoelectric (TE) properties of flexible and free‐standing poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) films synthesized via galvanostatic polymerization of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene in propylene carbonate containing sulfated poly(β‐hydroxyethers) (S‐PHE) as polymer electrolyte were elaborately studied. Both electrical conductivities (σ ) and Seebeck coefficients (S ) of the PEDOT:S‐PHE films were increased by decreasing the temperature (T ) or by increasing the current density (J ) during electrosynthesis. Possible reasons for the lack of a trade‐off relation commonly observed between σ and S are discussed on the basis of SEM and oxidation‐level measurements. Preparation of the PEDOT:S‐PHE films was optimized with respect to T and J . In addition, the oxidation level of the PEDOT:S‐PHE films was controlled by potential and the change of their TE performances was discussed in conjunction with the change of chemical species involved. The power factor (PF = σS ²) of the PEDOT:S‐PHE films reached 7.9 μW m^?1 K^?2, leading to a dimensionless TE figure‐of‐merit (ZT ) of 0.013. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55 , 524–531     

EQCM study of redox properties of PEDOT/MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite films in aqueous electrolytes

Electrochemical behavior of poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene composites with manganese dioxide (PEDOT/MnO₂) has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance at various component ratios and in different electrolyte solutions. The electrochemical formation of PEDOT film on the electrode surface and PEDOT/MnO₂ composite film during the electrochemical deposition of manganese dioxide into the polymer matrix was gravimetrically monitored. The mass of manganese dioxide deposited into PEDOT at different time of electrodeposition and apparent molar mass values of species involved into mass transfer during redox cycling of PEDOT/MnO₂ composites were evaluated. It was found that during the redox cycling of PEDOT/MnO₂ composite films with various MnO₂ content, the oppositely directed fluxes of counterions (anions and cations) occur, resulting in a change of the slope of linear parts of the Δf–E plots with changing the mass fraction of MnO₂ in the composite film.Rectangular shape of cyclic voltammograms of PEDOT/MnO₂ composites with different loadings of manganese dioxide was observed, which is characteristic of the pseudocapacitive behavior of the composite material. Specific capacity values of PEDOT/MnO₂ composites obtained from cyclic voltammograms were about 169 F g^?1. The specific capacity, related to the contribution of manganese dioxide component, was about 240 F g^?1.     

Complexation of Rh(III) in diluted sulfuric acid solutions

Complex formation in a system Rh(III)-H₂SO₄-H₂O was studied by the ¹⁰³Rh and ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy at room temperature. The formation of two interrelated systems of mononuclear and polynuclear complexes was established in the above solutions. The predominant species in the first system is a labile ionic pair {Rh(H₂O) ₆ ³⁺ SO ₄ ^2? }⁺, while in the second system, two inert binuclear complexes [Rh₂(μ-SO₄)₂(H₂O)₈]²⁺ and [Rh₂(μ-SO₄)(μ-OH)(H₂O)₈]³⁺ prevail.     

Structure and photochromic properties of molybdenumphosphoric acid/TiO_2 composite films

TiO_2 sol-gel composite films with dropping molybdenumphosphoric acid(PMoA) have been prepared by sol-gel method.The structure and constitute of composite thin films were studied with Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),atomic force microscopy(AFM),and X-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns,respectively.The photochromic behavior and mechanism of composite thin films were inves-tigated with ultraviolet-visible spectra(UV-vis) and electron spin resonance(ESR).FT-IR results showed that the Keggin geometry...     

电沉积WO3薄膜及其光电性能的表征

本文采用电化学法制备了均匀、附着力强的WO3薄膜,研究了不同沉积电位和不同的沉积时间对薄膜的光电性能影响,并使用了XRD,UV-vis,M-S,光电流光谱(IPCE)等分析表征手段对薄膜进行了表征。实验结果表明,所制得的WO3薄膜为单斜晶系,退火后沿(200)晶面择优生长;对比所有沉积电位,-0.45 V沉积电位(vs.SCE)所获得的WO3薄膜均匀致密,薄膜的带边在460 nm(≈2.7 eV),其光电转换性能最好;在实验范围内薄膜越厚,其光电转换性能越好。     

Microprobe study of enhanced Raman scattering effect on WO3/Ag thin films

Enhanced Raman scattering effect on WO₃ thin films, sputtered on a silicon substrate coated-silver thin film, has been evidenced using the MOLE microprobe. The silver surface is very rough and the observed ERS effect seems to be due to the formation of tungsten bronze at the WO₃/Ag interface. Thermal treatment favours silver diffusion in the WO₃ film and the formation of silver tungstate.     

TiO_2/12-磷钨杂多酸/金复合纳米材料的制备及电化学性能

采用水热法制备TiO2纳米管(TNTs),然后以12-磷钨杂多酸(PTA)作为交联剂,运用光催化方法在TiO2纳米管表面负载金纳米颗粒(GNPs),从而得到新型复合纳米材料——TNTs-PTA-GNPs;借助傅立叶变换红外光谱仪,X射线衍射仪和透射电子显微镜分析了新型复合纳米材料的结构及形貌,并利用循环伏安法测试了其电化学性能.结果表明,GNPs均匀分布在TNTs表面,从而大幅度改善纳米材料的导电性;但复合纳米材料中无游离的金纳米颗粒.与此同时,TNTs-PTA-GNPs纳米材料具有良好的生物相容性,且可促进酶与电极之间的直接电子转移.     

Electrodeposition,optical and photoelectrochemical properties of BiVO4 and BiVO4/WO3 films

Research on Chemical Intermediates - BiVO4 films and BiVO4/WO3 heterostructure have been obtained by electrosynthesis method with the use of interferometric control of the thickness of films during...     

Transparent graphene/PEDOT–PSS composite films as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells

Composite films of graphene and polystyreneslufonate doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (graphene/PEDOT–PSS) were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates by spin coating at room temperature and applied as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A 60 nm thick composite film (contained 1 wt% graphene) coated ITO electrode exhibited high transmittance (>80%) at visible wavelengths and high electrocatalytic activity. The energy conversion efficiency of the cell with this film as counter electrode reached 4.5%, which is comparable to 6.3% of the cell with platinum counter electrode under the same experimental condition.     

Infrared optical constants of highly diluted sulfuric acid solution droplets at cirrus temperatures

Complex refractive indices for supercooled sulfuric acid solution droplets in the mid-infrared spectral regime (wavenumber range 6000-800 cm(-1)) have been retrieved for acid concentrations ranging from 33 to 10 wt % H2SO4 at temperatures between 235 and 230 K, from 36 to 15 wt % H2SO4 at temperatures between 225 and 219 K, and from 37 to 20 wt % H2SO4 at temperatures between 211 and 205 K. The optical constants were derived with a Mie inversion technique from measured H2SO4/H2O aerosol extinction spectra that were recorded during controlled expansion cooling experiments in the large coolable aerosol chamber AIDA of Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe. The new data sets cover a range of atmospherically relevant temperatures and compositions in the binary sulfuric acid/water system for which infrared refractive indices have not been published so far, namely, the regime when supercooled H2SO4/H2O solution droplets at T < 235 K are subjected to an environment that is supersaturated with respect to the ice phase. With increasing ice supersaturation, the H2SO4/H2O aerosol particles will continuously dilute by the uptake of water vapor from the gas phase until freezing of the solution droplets eventually occurs when the acid concentration has dropped below a critical, temperature-dependent threshold value. With the aid of the new measurements, the homogeneous freezing process of supercooled H2SO4/H2O solution droplets at cirrus temperatures can be quantitatively analyzed by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thereby overcoming a major drawback from previous studies: the need to use complex refractive indices that were measured at temperatures well above 235 K to deduce the composition of the low-concentrated H2SO4/H2O aerosol particles. As in the case of the complex refractive indices for sulfuric acid solutions with acid concentrations greater than 37 wt % H2SO4, the new low-temperature optical constants for highly diluted droplets also reveal significant temperature-induced spectral variations in comparison with the refractive indices for higher temperatures, which are associated with a change in the equilibrium between sulfate and bisulfate ions.     

Chemical synthesis of poly-o-phenylidenediamine-silicomolybdic acid composite and its electrochemical and spectral properties

A new method for chemical production of composites based on poly-o-phenylidenediamine (PPD) by oxidizing o-phenylidenediamine (OPD) with silicomolybdic acid (SiMo) in neutral and acidic media is developed. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies reveal the presence of small deviations in the properties of composites synthesized. Cyclic voltammetry studies show that the composites are active and exhibit sufficiently high electrochemical stability. The presence of SiMo anions in the PPD matrix is confirmed by electrochemical and spectral studies in combination with x-ray microanalysis of composites. The ratio between the number of phenylazine polymeric links and heteropolyanions is found.     

EIS study on passive films of AISI 304 stainless steel in oxygenous sulfuric acid solution

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Kramers–Kronig (K–K) transforms were made on American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 304 stainless steel (SS) in naturally aerated sulfuric acid solution at room temperature. The K–K relations testify that the systems under investigation comply with the linearity, causality, and stability constraints of linear system theory (LST) and thereby validate the EIS data. The polarization resistance decreased with removing of passive film and pitting formed in the passive layer, due to layer thinning or pitting caused by chloride. The impedance data for 304 SS with passive films can be accurately modeled using individual components of the equivalent circuits. The polarization resistances (Rp) of the 304 SS can be confirmed by Nyquist plots and estimated from the anodic polarization curves. The reaction model of the dissolution‐passivation process of 304 SS in acid solution is proposed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of iodide on the electrochemical reduction of thick oxide films formed on platinum electrodes in sulfuric acid solution

The reduction of thick oxide films formed on Pt under severe anodic conditions was studied in the presence of adsorbed I^?. The Pt electrode covered with a thick oxide film does not adsorb I^?. However, when a superficial monolayer oxide on the thick oxide has been reduced, I^? is irreversibly adsorbed. Iodide adsorbed on its surface blocks the adsorption of hydrogen and retards markedly the cathodic reduction of the inner thick oxide remaining. It was found that the reduction rate of the inner oxide depends only on the coverage by hydrogen, which coexists with adsorbed I^?. These results support the proton-electron theory which has previously been proposed for the explanation of the characteristic reduction of the thick oxide films.     

Combined redox and plasmonic electrochromic effects in WO3/ITO double-layer films

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - In this paper, a double-layer coating with both redox and plasmonic electrochromic properties has been designed and deposited on fluorine doped tin oxide...     

Electrochemical and electrochromic properties of layer-by-layer films from WO(3) and chitosan

The design of improved materials for electrochromic applications now involves extensive use of novel composites, thus requiring an investigation of the mechanisms responsible for electrochromism in these structures. Using films of WO(3) and chitosan produced with the layer-by-layer (LBL) technique, we demonstrate that characteristics such as the number of electrochemical active sites (K), the molar absorption coefficient (epsilon), and the electrochromic efficiency (eta) can be obtained using the quadratic logistic equation (QLE). The complexation ability between chitosan and WO(3) allowed the growth of visually uniform multilayers of the composite, with the same amount of material adsorbed in each deposition cycle. By fitting the absorbance changes (DeltaA) resulting from the electronic intervalence transfer from W(V) to W(VI) sites in four-bilayer LBL films of WO(3)/chitosan and WO(3)/chitosan with ethanol in the precursor dispersion, K was estimated to be ca. 5.5 x 10(-8) mol cm(-2) and 3.6 x 10(-8) mol cm(-2), respectively. The molar absorption coefficient and electrochromic efficiency vary with the charge injected because of the saturation of W(V) sites and the dissipation and feedback effects implicit in the QLE associated with ion-network interactions, such as the proton trapping effect. The LBL film of WO(3)/chitosan showed a smaller molar absorption coefficient and electrochromic efficiency than that containing ethanol because of a greater proton trapping effect for the LBL film with no ethanol. This enhanced trapping effect was seen as a decrease in the electronic flux involved in intervalence transfer in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments.     

Electrochemical properties of LaCePr-oxide/K2WO4 composite electrolyte for low-temperature SOFCs

In this study, we introduced tungstate into solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for the first time by using a La/Pr-doped CeO₂ (LCP)/K₂WO₄ composite as the electrolyte, which exhibited remarkably enhanced grain boundary conduction compared to that of single-phase LCP. The composition dependence of the electrical conductivity was investigated. As a result, the composite with 10 wt% K₂WO₄ was proven to be the optimum ratio, revealing a significantly higher ionic conductivity than LCP, along with a negligible electronic conductivity. The fuel cell using the LCP/K₂WO₄ electrolyte displayed an encouraging performance of 500 mW cm^− 2 at 550 °C. These findings indicate that the LCP/K₂WO₄ composite is a promising electrolyte for low-temperature SOFCs.     

Optical and electrochemical properties of poly(o-toluidine) multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite Langmuir-Schaefer films

Conducting poly(o-toluidine) (POT) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposite (POT-MWNTs) was synthesized by oxidative polymerization. Chloroform solutions of the material were used for the optical characterizations by means of UV-visible spectroscopy and for the fabrication of Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) films. LS films were fabricated at the air-liquid interface by using 0.1 M HCl aqueous solution as the subphase to study the electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite by means of cyclic voltammetry and photoelectrochemical techniques. The optical characterizations gave proof that the presence of MWNTs inside the polymeric matrix produced no change in the (pi-pi*) transition of POT structure, indicating that the polymeric chains were simply wrapped around and not doped by MWNTs. The electrochemical investigations highlighted significant changes in the redox properties of POT-MWNTs LS films with respect to pure POT. The cyclic voltammetric study also revealed high electrochemical stability, confirmed by the estimation of the diffusion coefficient and the photoelectrochemical response of the nanocomposite LS films. This characteristic turned out to be more evident than that obtained in our earlier studied poly(o-anisidine)-MWNTs (POAS-MWNTs) system.     

Peculiarities of electrotransport characteristics of composite membranes PANi/MF-4SK in sulfuric acid solutions

A methodological approach towards assessing the conducting, diffusion, and selective properties of perfluorinated membranes MF-4SK and also their composites with polyaniline (PANi/MF-4SK) is presented. Studying these properties in NaCl and H₂SO₄ solutions makes it possible to elucidate the role played by the nature of counter-ions and co-ions in the charge and mass transfer. It is shown that both individual and composite membranes in their protonic forms are highly selective and, on average, have a conductivity that is higher by a factor of 3.5 as compared with their sodium forms. In contrast, the diffusion permeability is 4-times lower, in line with variation in the charge of the ions that define the mass transfer (co-ions Cl^? or HSO ₄ ^? ). Within the framework of model assumptions on the structure of ion-exchange membranes, the transport and structure parameters of MF-4SK and PANi/MF-4SK are determined in H₂SO₄ solutions for a PANi-saturation of 25%. It is found that aromatic PANi chains localized in aqueous clusters of the template inhibit the diffusion transfer through the PANi/MF-4SK films, whereas the conductivity and transport numbers of PANi/MF-4SK in both NaCl and H₂SO₄ remain virtually unchanged.     

Identification of surface molecular hydrates on solid sulfuric acid films

Infrared spectroscopic and secondary ion mass spectrometric studies reveal the presence of a stable molecular hydrate on the surface of condensed thin films of ionic sulfuric acid hydrates. This surface species is observed to play a role in the interaction of ammonia, reacting rapidly until the material is depleted. A slower, continuous process is also observed, attributed to a diffusion-limited reaction between incoming NH3 and H3O+ located at or near the surface.