Unidirectional current flow of reversible redox couples on a MoO3 film-modified microelectrode

In this paper, we have investigated the reactivity of the molybdenum oxide film toward some standard redox systems (e.g., ferrocene (Fc) and its derivatives) and observed a few interesting phenomena. The results demonstrate that the electrochemical behaviour of Fc and its derivatives at the oxide-modified carbon fiber (CF) microelectrode differs from that at a bare CF microelectrode, The conductivity of the molybdenum oxide film is seriously affected by the range and the direction of the potential scan, which influences the electrochemical behaviour of these redox systems at the film electrode. If the cycling potential is more positive than the reduction potential of the molybdenum oxide film, the reduction and oxidation peak currents of Fc and its derivatives could not be observed. The result indicates that the molybdenum oxide film on a microelectrode surface cannot transfer electrons between the surface of the electrode and Fc or its derivatives due to the existence of a high resistance between the interface in these potential ranges. On the other hand, if the lower limit of the scan potential was extended to a potential more negative than the reduction peak potential of the film, the oxidation peak of Fc or its derivatives appeared at about the potential relative to E-0 of Fc or its derivatives on the bare electrode, and the peak current is proportional to the concentration of these couples in the electrolyte. To our surprise, the peak height on the modified electrode is much larger than that on the bare CF microelectrode under the same conditions in the range of low concentration of these couples, and the oxidation peak potential of these couples is more negative than that on the bare CF microelectrode. On the basis of the experimental observation, we propose that these redox couples may undergo an interaction with the reduction state of the molybdenum oxide film. The new phenomena that we observed have been explained by using this interaction. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

A Numerical Model of Rapid Solidification Processing of Ni-Al Alloy in Planar Flow Casting

A numerical model has been developed for simulating the rapid solidification processing (RSP) of Ni-Al alloy in order to predict the resultant phase composition semi-quantitatively during RSP. The present model couples the initial nucleation temperature evaluating method based on the time dependent nucleation theory, and solidified volume fraction calculation model based on the kinetics model of dendrite growth in undercooled melt. This model has been applied to predict the cooling curve and the volume fraction of solidified phases of Ni-Al alloy in planar flow casting. The numerical results agree with the experimental results semi-quantitatively.

Solute transport in nanochannels with roughness-like structures

Newfound attention has been given to solute transport in nanochannels. Because the electric double layer (EDL) thickness is comparable to characteristic channel dimensions, nanochannels have been used to separate ionic species with a constant charge-to-size ratio (i.e., electrophoretic mobility) that otherwise cannot be separated in electroosmotic or pressure- driven flow along microchannels. In nanochannels, the electrical fields within the EDL cause transverse ion distributions and thus yield charge-dependent mean ion speeds in the flow. Surface roughness is usually inevitable during microfabrication of microchannels or nanochannels. Surface roughness is usually inevitable during the fabrication of nanochannels. In the present study, we develop a numerical model to investigate the transport of charged solutes in nanochannels with hundreds of roughness-like structures. The model is based on continuum theory that couples Navier-Stokes equations for flows, Poisson-Boltzmann equation for electrical fields, and Nernst-Planck equation for solute transports. Different operating conditions are considered and the solute transport patterns in rough channels are compared with those in smooth channels. Results indicate that solutes move slower in rough nanochannels than in smooth ones for both pressure- driven and electroosmotic flows. Moreover, solute separation can be significantly improved by surface roughness under certain circumstances.

Numerical investigation on a transition prediction model

A new transition prediction model is introduced, which couples the intermittency effect into the turbulence transport equations and takes the characteristics of fluid transition into consideration to mimic the exact process of transition. Test cases include a two-dimensional incompressible plate and a two-dimensional NACA0012 airfoil. Performance of this transition model for incompressible flows is studied, with numerical results consistent to experimental data. The requirement of grid resolution for this transition model is also studied.