Droplet Flow Assisted Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Selected Alcohols under Ambient Condition

This study reports using a droplet flow assisted mechanism to enhance the electrocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol, 2-phenoxyethanol, and hydroxymethylfurfural at room temperature. Cobalt phosphide (CoP) was employed as an active electrocatalyst to promote the oxidation of each of the individual substrates. Surface analysis of the CoP electrocatalyst using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), as well as electrochemical characterization, revealed that it had excellent catalytic activity for each of the substrates studied. The combined droplet flow with the continuous flow electrochemical oxidation approach significantly enhanced the conversion and selectivity of the transformation reactions. The results of this investigation show that at an electrolysis potential of 1.3 V and ambient conditions, both the selectivity and yield of aldehyde from substrate conversion can reach 97.0%.

Mechanism of Dy3+ and Nd3+ Ions Electrochemical Coreduction with Ni2+, Co2+, and Fe3+ Ions in Chloride Melts

The present paper is devoted to the study of the processes of the mechanism of electrochemical coreduction of Dy3+ and Nd3+ ions with Ni2+, Co2+, and Fe3+ ions in the equimolar NaCl-KCl melt at 973 K and characterization of the synthesized samples. The performed voltammetry analysis of the electrochemical coreduction processes elucidated a significant difference in the values of the extraction potentials of the studied metals. This melt testifies that intermetallic compounds of Dy and Nd with Ni, Co, and Fe may be synthesized in the kinetic regime. The intermetallic phases of Dy and Nd with Ni, Co, and Fe are found to be formed along with the phases of metallic Ni, Co, and Fe either during electrolysis at the cathode current densities exceeding the limiting diffusion current of Ni2+, Co2+, and Fe3+ ions or in the potentiostatic regime at the potentials of the corresponding voltammetry curves. Therefore, the following interrelated key parameters affecting the electrochemical synthesis of Dy and Nd intermetallic compounds with Ni, Co, and Fe were determined: (i) composition of the electrolyte, i.e., concentrations of FeCl3, CoCl2, NiCl2, DyCl3, and NdCl3; (ii) cathode current density or electrolysis potential and (iii) electrolysis time. The obtained samples were characterized by micro-X-ray diffraction analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and scanning electron microscopy methods.

Boosting the activity of Prussian-blue analogue as efficient electrocatalyst for water and urea oxidation

The design and fabrication of intricate hollow architectures as cost-effective and dual-function electrocatalyst for water and urea electrolysis is of vital importance to the energy and environment issues. Herein, a facile solvothermal strategy for construction of Prussian-blue analogue (PBA) hollow cages with an open framework was developed. The as-obtained CoFe and NiFe hollow cages (CFHC and NFHC) can be directly utilized as electrocatalysts towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR) with superior catalytic performance (lower electrolysis potential, faster reaction kinetics and long-term durability) compared to their parent solid precursors (CFC and NFC) and even the commercial noble metal-based catalyst. Impressively, to drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline solution, the CFHC catalyst required an overpotential of merely 330 mV, 21.99% lower than that of the solid CFC precursor (423 mV) at the same condition. Meanwhile, the NFHC catalyst could deliver a current density as high as 100 mA cm−2 for the urea oxidation electrolysis at a potential of only 1.40 V, 24.32% lower than that of the solid NFC precursor (1.85 V). This work provides a new platform to construct intricate hollow structures as promising nano-materials for the application in energy conversion and storage.

Monitoring the Palladium Contents in the Tailings Using Stripping Voltammetry

Anodic stripping voltammetry, a classical electroanalytical method has been optimized to analyze trace Pd (II) in tailings. The authors identified the registration conditions in the determination of the analytical signal Pd (II): the composition of background electrolyte and the electrolysis potential. The electroanalytical approaches with an unmodified carbon electrode were used. The use of stripping voltammetry applied to the assessment of the palladium content in geological objects was demonstrated.

Comparative Characteristics of Voltammetric Methods Determination of Platinum in Mineral Raw Materials

The technique of platinum (IV) determination in mineral raw materials with the application of stripping voltammetry has been proposed. The authors determined the registration conditions in the determination of the analytical signal Pt (IV): the composition of background electrolyte, the electrolysis potential. The graphite electrode impregnated with polyethylene was used as a working electrode. The use of stripping voltammetry applied to the assessment of the platinum content in geological objects was demonstrated.

Electrochemical Deposition of Selenium on Copper

The present work concerns studies aiming at determination of optimal parameters of obtaining selenium coatings on a copper substrate through the cathodic reduction from sulphate and citrate solutions. The voltammetric analysis was performed in selected solutions to define electrode reactions within the examined range of potentials as well as an influence of pH on their kinetics. The range of potentials in which selenium is reduced to Se0, and then to Se2- was determined. The next stage was performing several electrolysis, where the working electrode was copper. It was to define an influence of citric acid, sodium sulphate, electrolyte pH and the electrolysis potential on the quality of the obtained coatings. The coatings were analysed with the use of X-ray spectrofluorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.