Microstructure and some dynamic performances of Ti0.17Zr0.08V0.34RE0.01Cr0.1Ni0.3 (RE = Ce, Dy) hydrogen storage electrode alloys

Microstructure and some dynamic performances of Ti0.17Zr0.08V0.34RE0.01Cr0.1Ni0.3 (RE=Ce, Dy) hydrogen storage electrode alloys have been investigated using XRD, FESEM-EDS, ICP-MS and EIS measurements. The alloy is composed of V-based solid solution phase with a dendritic shape and a continuous C14 Laves phase with a network shape surrounding the dendrite. Pressure-composition isotherm curves indicate that the alloy with Dy addition has a lower equilibrium hydrogen pressure and a wider plateau region. The alloy electrode with Dy addition has higher discharge capacity, while the alloy electrode with Ce addition has better activation and higher cycle stability. The alloy electrode with Ce addition has better electrochemical activity with higher exchange current density (127.5 mA g(-1)), lower charge transfer resistance (1.37 Omega) and lower apparent activation energy (30.5 kJ mol(-1)). The capacity degradation behavior for the alloy electrode is attributed to two main factors: one is the dissolutions of V and Zr element to KOH solution, and another is the larger charge transfer resistance which increases with increasing cycle number.

Effect of cerium on microstructure and electrochemical performance of Ti-V-Cr-Ni electrode alloy

Effect of cerium on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of the Ti0.25V0.35-xCexCr0.1Ni0.3 (x = 0, 0.005) electrode alloy was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (FESEM-EDS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. On the basis of XRD and FESEM-EDS analysis, the alloy was mainly composed of V-based solid solution with body-centered-cubic structure and TiNi-based secondary phase. Ce did not exist in two phases, instead, it existed as Ce-rich small white particles, with irregular edges, distributed near the grain boundaries of the V-based solid solution phase. Discharge capacity, cycle stability, and high-rate discharge ability of the alloy electrode were effectively improved with the addition of Ce at 293 K. It was very surprising that the charge retention was abnormal with larger discharge capacity after standing at the open circuit for 24 h. EIS indicated that addition of Ce improved the dynamic performance, which caused the charge transfer resistance (R-T) to decrease and exchange current density (I-0) to increase markedly. The exchange current density of the electrochemical reaction on the alloy surface with Ce addition was about 2.07 and 3.10 times larger than that of the alloy without Ce at 303 and 343 K, respectively.

Synthesis, structure and electrochemical property of calixarene potassium polyoxometalates

One inorganic-organic hybrid and two host-guest complexes were synthesized from calix[4] arene tetra acetic ether derivative( C60H80O12, L) and potassium polyoxometalates. The structures of the complexes were characterized with the elemental analysis, IR, TG-DTA and X-crystallographic. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal the formation of an ionic crystal, which contains a calix-cluster and calix-cluster-calix line array, and belongs to a typical inorganic-organic hybrid ( complex 1) or has a host-guest structure ( complex 2 and 3). The results of cyclic voltammograms at different scanning rates showed that the anode peak current of complex 1 was proportional to the square root of the scanning rate and the charge transfer process was controlled by pervasion. The anode peak current of complexes 2 and 3 was proportional to the scanning rate and the charge transfer process was controlled by the surface. The results suggest that there are consanguineous relationship between the anode reaction and the structure.

Synthesis, structure and luminescence properties of zinc (II) complexes with terpyridine derivatives as ligands

Five zinc (II) complexes (1-5) with 4 '-phenyl-2,2 ':6 ',2 ''-terpyridine (ptpy) derivatives as ligands have been synthesized and fully characterized. The para-position of phenyl in ptpy is substituted by the group (R), i.e. tert-butyl (t-Bu), hexyloxy (OHex), carbazole-9-yl (Cz), naphthalen-1-yl-phenyl-amine-N-yl (NPA) and diphenyl amine-N-yl (DPA), with different electron-donating ability. With increasing donor ability of the R, the emission color of the complexes in film was modulated from violet (392 nm) to reddish orange (604 nm). The photoexcited luminescence exhibits significant solvatochromism because the emission of the complexes involves the intra-ligand charge transfer (ILCT) excited state. The electrochemical investigations show that the complexes with stronger electro-donating substituent have lower oxidation potential and then higher HOMO level. The electroluminescence (EL) properties of these zinc (II) complexes were studied with the device structure of ITO/PEDOT/Zn (II) complex: PBD:PMMA/BCP/AlQ/ LiF/Al. Complexes 3, 4 and 5 exhibit EL wavelength at 552, 600 and 609 nm with maximum current efficiency of 5.28, 2.83 and 2.00 cd/A, respectively.

Interfacial supramolecular self-assembled monolayers of C-60 by thiolated beta-cyclodextrin on gold surfaces via monoanionic C-60

The supramolecular self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of C-60 by thiolated beta-cyclodextrin (CD) on gold surfaces were constructed for the first time using C-60 monoanion. The results indicate that monoanionic C-60 plays a crucial role in the formation of the C-60-containing self-assembled monolayers. The generation of C-60 monoanion and the formation process of C-60 SAMs were monitored in-situ by UV-visible and near-IR spectroscopy. The resulting C-60 SAMs were fully characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and water contact angle measurements. After the immobilization of C-60 by the SAMs of thiolated beta-CD, the film thickness increased by approximately 1 nm from 0.8 to 1.8 nm as determined by SE, demonstrating the formation of the supramolecular self-assembled monolayers of thiolated beta-CD/C-60. The new C-60 SAMs exhibited one quasi-reversible redox couple at half wave potential of -0.57 V vs SCE in aqueous solution containing 0.1 M KCl. The surface coverage of C-60 on the gold surfaces was estimated to be 1.1 x 10(-10) mol cm(-2). The XPS showed the assembly of C-60 over the thiolated beta-CD SAMs.

Electrogenerated chemi luminescence from Ru(BPY)(3)(2+) ion-exchanged in carbon nanotube/perfluorosulfonated ionomer composite films

The electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) ion-exchanged in carbon nanotube (CNT)/Nafion composite films were investigated with tripropylamine (TPA) as a coreactant at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The major goal of this work was to investigate and develop new materials and immobilization approaches for the fabrication of ECL-based sensors with improved sensitivity, reactivity, and long-term stability. Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) could be strongly incorporated into Nafion film, but the rate of charge transfer was relative slow and its stability was also problematic. The interfusion of CNT in Nafion resulted in a high peak current of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and high ECL intensity. The results indicated that the composite film had more open structures and a larger surface area allowing faster diffusion of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and that the CNT could adsorb Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and also acted as conducting pathways to connect Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) sites to the electrode. In the present work, the sensitivity of the ECL system at the CNT/Nafion film-modified electrodes was more than 2 orders of magnitude higher than that observed at a silica/Nafion composite film-modified electrode and 3 orders of magnitude higher than that at pure Nafion films.

Highly enhanced luminescence from single-crystalline C-60 center dot 1m-xylene nanorods

Single-crystalline C-60 center dot 1m-xylene nanorods with a hexagonal structure were successfully synthesized by evaporating a C-60 solution in m-xylene at room temperature. The ratio of the length to the diameter of the nanorods can be controlled in the range of approximate to 10 to over 1000 for different applications. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the nanorods is about 2 orders of magnitude higher than that for pristine C-60 crystals in air. Both UV and Raman results indicate that there is no charge transfer between C-60 and m-xylene. It was found that the interaction between C-60 and m-xylene molecules is of the van der Waals type. This interaction reduces the icosahedral symmetry of C-60 molecule and induces strong PL from the solvate nanorods.

Electrooxidation of COad intermediated from methanol oxidation on polycrystalline Pt electrode

The poisonous intermediate of methanol oxidation on a Pt electrode was validated to be COad by electrochemical method. An approximate treatment to bimolecular elementary reactions on an electrode was advanced and then was applied to the stripping normal pulse voltammetry (NPV) for complex multistep multielectron transfer processes on plane electrodes to study the kinetics of completely irreversible process Of COad oxidation to CO2. The kinetic parameters for this process, such as standard rate constant (0) and anodic transfer coefficient (alpha) for this irreversible heterogeneous electron-transfer process at electrode/solution interface and apparent diffusion coefficient (D-app) for charge-transfer process within the monolayer of COad on electrode surface, were obtained with stripping NPV method. The effect of the approximate treatment on the kinetic parameters was also analyzed.

Memory devices based on lanthanide (SM3+, EU3+, Gd3+) complexes

Memory effects in single-layer organic light-emitting devices based on Sm3+, Gd3+, and Eu3+ rare earth complexes were realized. The device structure was indium-tin-oxide (ITO)/3,4-poly(ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT)/Poly(N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK): rare earth complex/LiF/Ca/Ag. It was found experimentally that all the devices exhibited two distinctive bistable conductivity states in current-voltage characteristics by applying negative starting voltage, and more than 10(6) write-read-erase-reread cycles were achieved without degradation. Our results indicate that the rare earth organic complexes are promising materials for high-density, low-cost memory application besides the potential application as organic light-emitting materials in display devices.

Modification of electrode surface through electrospinning followed by self-assembly multilayer film of polyoxometalate and its photochromic

Electrospun poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers mat was collected on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. Heat crosslinked nanofibers mat became water-insoluble and firmly fixed on ITO substrate even in water. Oppositely charged poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and Dawson-type polyoxometalate (POM), Na6P2Mo18O62 (P2Mo18), were alternately assembled on PVA nanofibers-coated ITO substrate to construct multilayer film through an electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) technique. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that P2Mo18 multilayer film was selectively deposited on PVA nanofibers while the unoccupied space by nanofibers on bare ITO was acted as substrate at the same time because the electrospun nanofibers have larger surface area and surface energy than the flat substrate. The cyclic voltammograms current responses of the P2Mo18 multilayer film on PVA/ITO electrode showed three well-defined redox couples of P2Mo18, but very small because P2Mo18 multilayer film was selectively deposited on PVA nanofibers with poor conductivity. In addition, the photochromic behavior of P2Mo18 multilayer film on PVA/ITO was investigated through UV-vis spectra and electron spin resonance (ESR). Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) proved that the charge-transfer complex was formed between PAH and P2Mo18 after UV irradiation.

Surface enhanced Raman scattering of p-aminothiophenol self-assembled monolayers in sandwich structure fabricated on glass

A sandwich structure consisting of Ag nanoparticles (NPs), p-aminothiophenol (p-ATP) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), and Ag NPs was fabricated on glass and characterized by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The SERS spectrum of a p-ATP SAM in such sandwich structure shows that the electromagnetic enhancement is greater than that on Ag NPs assembled on glass. The obtained enhancement factors (EF) on solely one sandwich structure were as large as 6.0 +/- 0.62x10(4) and 1.2 +/- 0.62x10(7) for the 7a and 3b(b(2)) vibration modes, respectively. The large enhancement effect of p-ATP SAMs is likely a result of plasmon coupling between the two layers of Ag NP (localized surface plasmon) resonance, creating a large localized electromagnetic field at their interface, where p-ATP resides. Moreover, the fact that large EF values (similar to 1.9 +/- 0.7x10(4) and 9.4 +/- 0.7x10(6) for the 7a- and b(2)-type vibration modes, respectively) were also obtained on a single sandwich structure of Au NPs/p-ATP SAMs/Ag NPs in the visible demonstrates that the electromagnetic coupling does not exist only between Ag NPs but also between Au and Ag NPs.

White electroluminescence from a poly(N-vinylcarbazole) layer doped with CdSe/CdS core-shell quantum dots

Hybrid organic/inorganic white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated of semiconductor polymer poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) doped with CdSe/CdS core-shell semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). The device, with a structure of indium-tin-oxide (ITO)vertical bar 3,4-polyethylene-dioxythiophene- polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)vertical bar PVK:CdSe/CdS vertical bar Al, emitted a pure white light spanning the whole visible region from 400 to 800 nm. The Commission Internationale del'Eclairage coordinates (CIE) remained at x = 0.33, y = 0.34 at wide applied voltages. The maximum brightness and electroluminescence (EL) efficiency reached 180 cd m(-2) at 19 V and 0.21 cd A(-1) at current density of 2 mA cm(-2), respectively. The realization of the pure white light emission is attributed to the incomplete energy and charge transfer from PVK to CdSe/CdS core-shell QDs.

Electrochemical properties of amorphous and icosahedral quasicrystalline Ti45Zr35Ni17Cu3 powders

Ti45Zr35Ni17Cu3 amorphous and single icosahedral quasicrystalline powders were synthesized by mechanical alloying and subsequent annealing at 855 K. Microstructure and electrochemical properties of two alloy electrodes were characterized. When the temperature was enhanced from 303 to 343 K, the maximum discharge capacities increased from 86 to 329 mAh g(-1) and 76 to 312 mAh g(-1) for the amorphous and quasicrystalline alloy electrodes, respectively. Discharge capacities of two electrodes decrease distinctly with increasing cycle number. The I-phase is stable during charge/discharge cycles, and the main factors for its discharge capacity loss are the increase of the charge-transfer resistance and the pulverization of alloy particles. Besides the factors mentioned above, the formation of TiH2 and ZrH2 hydrides is another primary reason for the discharge capacity loss of the amorphous alloy electrode.

Application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for monitoring allergen-antibody reactions using gold nanoparticle-based biomolecular immobilization method

Gold nanoparticles were used to enhance the immobilization amount and retain the immunoactivity of recombinant dust mite allergen Der f2 immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The interaction between allergen and antibody was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Self-assembled Au colloid layer (Phi = 16 nm) deposited on (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTS)-modified GCE offered a basis to control the immobilization of allergen Der f2. The impedance measurements were based on the charge transfer kinetics of the [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) redox pair, compared with bare GCE, the immobilization of allergen Der f2 and the allergen-antibody interaction that occurred on the electrode surface altered the interfacial electron transfer resistance and thereby slowed down the charge transfer kinetics by reducing the active area of the electrode or by preventing the redox species in electrolyte solution from approaching the electrode. The interactions of allergen with various concentrations of monoclonal antibody were also monitored through the change of impedance response. The results showed that the electron transfer resistance increased with increasing concentrations of monoclonal antibody.

A study on the interaction between ibuprofen and bilayer lipid membrane

Ibuprofen is a well-known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which can interact with lipid membranes. In this paper, the interaction of ibuprofen with bilayer lipid membrane was studied by UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance spectroscopy. UV-vis spectroscopy data indicated directly that ibuprofen could interact with lipid vesicles. In electrochemical experiments, ibuprofen displayed a biphasic behavior on bilayer lipid membrane supported on a glassy carbon electrode. It could stabilize the lipid membrane in low concentration, while it induced defects formation, even removed off bilayer lipid membrane from the surface of the electrode with increasing concentration. The mechanism about the interaction between ibuprofen and supported bilayer lipid membrane was discussed.