Structural and electrochemical studies of annealed LiNiVO4 thin films

We prepared stoichiometric lithium nickel vanadate amorphous thin films by using r.f. magnetron sputtering under controlled oxygen partial pressure. The amorphous films were heated at various temperatures, 300–600 °C, for 8 h. The as‐deposited and annealed thin films were characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, nuclear reaction analysis, Auger electron spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The electrochemical behavior of the various films was studied by the galvanostatic method. The cells were tested in a liquid electrolyte at room temperature, with lithium metal used as the counter and reference electrode. The best electrochemical storage value was obtained with the thin film annealed at 300 °C, which showed superior capacity and small capacity loss during cycling. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

酞菁锰-表面活性剂薄膜电极的电化学表征及其对三氯乙酸的电化学催化作用的研究

将酞菁锰（ＭｎＰｃ）掺入阳离子表面活性剂双十二烷基二甲基溴化铵（ＤＤＡＢ）的氯仿溶液，并涂布于热解石墨电极表面，待氯仿挥发后即制得ＭｎＰｃ－ＤＤＡＢ薄膜电极。循环伏安实验表明，在ＫＢｒ溶液中，该薄膜电极有两对还原氧化峰，第一对峰的Ｅｐｃ１＝－０．２７Ｖ，Ｅｐａ１＝０．０１Ｖ；第二对峰的Ｅｐｃ２＝－０．７６Ｖ，Ｅｐａ２＝－０．６２Ｖ（ｖｓ．ＳＣＥ）。本文着重探讨了第二对峰的电化学行为，估计了该体系的电荷传递扩散系数Ｄｃｔ和表观非均相电极反应速率常数Ｋ０′等电化学参数，并可将该薄膜电极用于催化三氯乙酸的电化学还原。     

Nanostructure Pt Electrode Obtained via Self-assembly of Nanoparticles on Conductive Oxide-coated Glass Substrate

Self-assembly of platinum nanoparticles were applied to fabrication of counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells on conductive oxide-coated glass substrate. The present Pt electrode exhibits high exchange current density of 220 mA/cm^2, which is comparable to those prepared by electrodeposition, magnetron sputtering or thermal decomposition of platinum chloride. After analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), it was found that the catalyst was structurally characterized as nanosized platinum metal clusters and was continuously arranged on electrode surface. The present nanostructure electrode had high electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of iodine in organic solution.     

First radical cation salts of 2,5-bis(1,3-dithian-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene (BDA-TTP) with copper(II) metal complex anions: β-(BDA-TTP)4Cu2Cl6 and (BDA-TTP)2CuCl4

New radical cation salts based on 2,5-bis(1,3-dithian-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene (BDA-TTP) with copper(II) metal complex anions, β-(BDA-TTP)₄Cu₂Cl₆ and (BDA-TTP)₂CuCl₄, were synthesized and structurally characterized. Single crystals were prepared by electrochemical oxidation of BDA-TTP under galvanostatic conditions. X-ray diffraction study demonstrated that the salts have a layered structure, in which the conducting BDA-TTP layers alternate with the [Cu₂Cl₆]²⁻ or [CuCl₄]²⁻ anions. Both salts show the semiconductor-type temperature dependence of the conductivity. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 48–54, January, 2007.     

Characterization of PEDOT film functionalized with a series of automated synthesis ferrocenyl-containing oligonucleotides

In previous works we have described a fully automated synthesis of new ferrocene labelled oligonucleotides (Fc-ODNs) probes with one or more electroactive markers at different position in the chain. These Fc-ODNs have shown good properties to detect ODN target in solution. Here we describe the post-functionalization of a conducting co-polymer based on ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) derivatives by a series of Fc-ODNs. The grafting of the Fc-ODNs probes resulted in the appearance of the ferrocene redox couple which directly confirm the effectiveness of the ODN anchoring compared to traditional approach based on IR spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence of the films. Moreover, the electrochemical response of the modified electrodes analysed in organic media before and after hybridization with ODN target confirm that properties obtain in solution for Fc-ODNs already exist in the film. The changes in the current intensity were found to be dependant on the structure of the grafted ODN that validate our strategy to synthesize an optimal Fc-ODNs.     

米非司酮的吸附伏安特性

在ＰＨ７．０Ｂｒｉｔｔｏｎ－Ｒｏｂｉｎｓｏｎ缓冲溶液中，米非司酮（Ｍｉｆｅｐｒｉｓｔｏｎｅ，ＲＵ４８６）在汞电极上有２个不可逆的线性扫描还原峰，峰电位分别为－１．２３Ｖ和－１．６８Ｖ。本文探讨了第一峰的电化学行为。     

Electrochemical detector with a 20 nl volume for micro-columns liquid chromatography

Summary A flow-through two electrode wall-jet cell with a platinum measuring electrode and a cell volume of 20 nl has been designed and evaluated. It has been used to detect phenols by reversed phase liquid chromatography using short micro bore columns. The linear dynamic range between the measured current and the concentration is greater than 10³ (1.5×10^–7–5×10^–4 mol/l) and the minimum analyzable amount was found to be 10 pg for pyrocatechol. A negligible broadening in the detector permits the use of micro columns down to 0.5 mm internal diameter, packed with 5 m particles, without any substantial distortion of eluted zones.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Study on the anodic reaction of Ni in an alkaline solution by transient pH detection based on scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

The anodic reaction of Ni in an alkaline solution was studied by the tip–substrate voltammetry mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). A platinum microdisc electrode was selected as the tip electrode, which functioned as a pH sensor with transient response capability. The pH value of the solution near the Ni electrode surface varied while the Ni substrate oxidation reaction occurred, and the pH variation could be detected by the tip faradic current. The cyclic voltammogram results showed that two types of hydroxides: i.e. α‐Ni(OH)₂ and β‐Ni(OH)₂ were formed during Ni oxidation in the lower potential region. In the proceedings of α‐Ni(OH)₂ → γ‐NiOOH and β‐Ni(OH)₂ → β‐NiOOH, the process of OH^? concentration decrease in the solution was ahead and behind of electron transfer in the solid phase, respectively. These results indicate that the OH^? adsorption process occurs as an elementary step in the former reaction and the H⁺ diffusion process from the inner to the outer layer of the solid phase occurs as a subsequent step in the latter reaction. The results also revealed that the oxide film on the Ni surface has a two‐layer structure. The real potential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the Ni surface with different cycles is also analyzed in the paper. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on the Electrochemical Characteristics of K2FeO4 Electrode

Discharge performance of K2FeO4 electrode under different conditions was studied by the constant electric current discharge method. The electrochemical characteristics of K2FeO4 electrode were investigated for the first time by means of cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the K2FeO4 electrode made at moderate pressure (20MPa) and discharged at lower current has better discharge performance. It is also found that K2FeO4 electrode is significantly rechargeable.     

Monitoring formation of poly(neutral red) film by EQCM

An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) is employed for monitoring the growth of poly(neutral red) films on platinum in the electrolytic solution containing 5.0 mmol dm⁻³ neutral red, 0.3 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄, and 0.5 mol dm⁻³ Na₂SO₄. The in situ measurement of the frequency changes of the EQCM reveals that both the adsorption/desorption of neutral red and the formation of poly(neutral red) film can be observed together with anion sorption/desorption during the redox transformation of the polymer, and that the polymerization rate of neutral red increases slowly before the 11th cycle and then increases quickly with increasing number of potential cycles. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 284–289. The text was submitted by the authors in English.