Modification of Cu(111) Surface with Alkylphosphonic Acids in Aqueous and Ethanol Solution. An Experimental and Theoretical Study

Alkylphosphonic acids are well known for their ability to form self-assembled monolayers on hydroxide surfaces. A crucial step to understanding fundamentally how these surfaces are created is the elucidation of the interaction process that leads to such interface creation. In this study, we employed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics to understand this process. The interaction with the Cu(111) surface of three different alkylphosphonic acids (hexyl-, octyl- and decylphosphonic acids) is evaluated in an aqueous acidic and in an ethanol solution by Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations, while EIS measurements are used to put in evidence the impact of the layer made in ethanol on copper protection. Nyquist diagrams of copper samples modified with an alkylphosphonic monolayer showed a higher polarization resistance that mitigates the copper corrosion in an aqueous acid medium. The phase–frequency Bode plots had higher and broader phase maxima for a modified copper surface with phosphonic moieties, which confirmed the ability of this organic layer to prevent copper corrosion.

Influence of Halide Ions on Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon dioxide over Copper Surface

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (ERCO2) to valuable chemicals and fuels is one of the promising approaches for reducing excess CO2 concentration. However, it faces the great challenge of...

Highly Enhanced Catalytic Stability of Copper by the Synergistic Effect of Porous Hierarchy and Alloying for Selective Hydrogenation Reaction

Supported copper has a great potential for replacing the commercial palladium-based catalysts in the field of selective alkynes/alkadienes hydrogenation due to its excellent alkene selectivity and relatively high activity. However, fatally, it has a low catalytic stability owing to the rapid oligomerization of alkenes on the copper surface. In this study, 2.5 wt% Cu catalysts with various Cu:Zn ratios and supported on hierarchically porous alumina (HA) were designed and synthesized by deposition–precipitation with urea. Macropores (with diameters of 1 μm) and mesopores (with diameters of 3.5 nm) were introduced by the hydrolysis of metal alkoxides. After in situ activation at 350 °C, the catalytic stability of Cu was highly enhanced, with a limited effect on the catalytic activity and alkene selectivity. The time needed for losing 10% butadiene conversion for Cu1Zn3/HA was ~40 h, which is 20 times higher than that found for Cu/HA (~2 h), and 160 times higher than that found for Cu/bulky alumina (0.25 h). It was found that this type of enhancement in catalytic stability was mainly due to the rapid mass transportation in hierarchically porous structure (i.e., four times higher than that in bulky commercial alumina) and the well-dispersed copper active site modified by Zn, with identification by STEM–HAADF coupled with EDX. This study offers a universal way to optimize the catalytic stability of selective hydrogenation reactions.

Atomic Scale Insight into Corrosion Inhibition: DFT Study of 2-Mercaptobenzimidazole on Locally De-Passivated Copper Surfaces

A key factor for effective inhibition by organic molecules of the initiation of localized corrosion by pitting is their ability to form a protective organic film in locally de-passivated zones exposing the bare metal next to the oxide-covered surface. Herein, based on quantum chemical DFT calculations, we study the chemistry of the interface between 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) and a copper surface partially covered by a Cu2O passive oxide film. The results show the adaptability of the molecule to adsorb strongly on the different zones, oxide or metal, of a locally de-passivated surface. However, differences in the local adsorption configurations, involving covalent bonding with H-bonding depending on oxide or metal and on conformer, thione or thiolate, lead to the formation of an inhomogeneous organic film. Increasing order of local adsorption strength is oxide walls < metal surface < oxide surface < oxide edges for the thione species, whereas there is no significant difference of local adsorption strength for the thiolate species. Our results suggest that both species of MBI can heal the oxygen and copper low coordinated sites as well as can protect the exposed metal surface, thus enhancing the barrier properties of the passivated surface even when locally defective.

Effect of the distance between the micro/nanostructures on pool boiling heat transfer with water on a copper heater

Copper heaters were made. On the surface of these heaters the arrays of micrococoons were synthesized from silicon oxide (SiOx) nanowires with different concentrations of micro/nanostructures and hence different average distances between them. Boiling curves were obtained for these samples and it was found that heat transfer enhancement during boiling occurs on them in comparison with a smooth copper surface. It was shown that the effect increases with decreasing concentration of micro/nanostructures and reaches a maximum for microrelief with an approximate concentration of microstructures equal to unity per square micron. It was found that surfaces with micrococoons are sufficiently stable and suitable for enhancing heat transfer during boiling.