A novel dimer - Heteropolytungstate with a vanadium atom as the centre - Synthesis and structural characterization of (H3O)(4)[VW12O40Na (H2O)(4)](2)

A novel dimer-tungstovanadate, (H3O)(4)[VW12O40Na (H2O)(4)](2), was hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, TGA-DSC thermal analysis and polarograpy. The yellowish crystal crystallized in the triclinic system, space group P1, a = 1.464 5(3) nm, b = 1.468 6(3) nm, c = 1.411 1(3) nm, alpha = 111.82(2)degrees, beta = 93.17(3)degrees, gamma = 117.47(3)degrees, V = 2.210 6(8) nm(3), Z = 1, D-c = 4.552 g . cm(-3), lambda (Mo K alpha) = 0.071 073 nm, mu = 31.402 mm(-1) F(000) = 2 6481 R = 0.078 0. The title compound consists of two Keggin structure units linked together with two hydrated sodium cations to form a dimer with a porous structure with the pore dimension of 0.766 nm X 0.778 5 nm.

Polishable amperometric hydrogen peroxide sensor based on sol-gel-derived conductive composite containing vanadium-17-molybdodiphosphate

A new kind of conductive vanadium-17-molybdodiphosphate/graphite/methylsilicate composite was firstly prepared by the sol-gel technique and used as electrode material for the fabrication of amperometric hydrogen peroxide sensor. The remarkable advantage of the sensor is its excellent reproducibility of surface renewal by simple mechanical polishing.

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study for vanadium hexacyanoferrates: monitoring of film growth and ion effects during redox reactions

An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance was employed to monitor directly the growth of vanadium hexacyanoferrate (VHF) films on platinum substrates during electrodeposition and interfacial coagulation in the solution containing sulfuric acid electrolyte, vanadium(IV) and hexacyanoferrate(III). Mass changes of the gold/crystal working electrode were correlated with cyclic voltammetry data. Effects of cations (NH4+, Li+, Na+ and K+), anions (SO42- and NO3-) and solvent during redox reactions of the films were studied. The results show that cations were incorporated into the film during reduction and expelled from the film during oxidation. Solvent also participates in VHF electrochemistry, and its role cannot be neglected. Anions play no role in VHF electrochemistry. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Electrochemistry of vanadium hexacyanoferrate film

Two stable redox couples, accompanying clear color switches between yellow green and blue, can be observed when the VHCF-coated film platinum electrodes are cyclic potential scanned in 3.6 M H2SO4 and 0.2 M K2SO4 electrolyte solution. Electrochemical results and in situ Fourier transfer infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy demonstrate that the redox reaction of the electroactive iron sites is related to the first redox couple (E-1/2 = 0.81 V) while the second redox couple (E-1/2 = 1.01 V) is due to the redox reactions of the electroactive vanadyl ions. Under the proper conditions, such as in high acidic solutions or thin films (deposition time is less than 2 min) and so on, the third redox couple (E-1/2 = 0.89-0.94 V) can be observed on the cyclic voltammograms, which originates from the redox reactions of the interstitial vanadyl ions. This electrochemical reaction mechanism is investigated by in situ probe beam deflection technique, exchange of K+ ions accompanies with redox reaction of the iron sites, but for redox reaction of the vanadyl ions, both H+ ions, K+ ions and water molecules are involved.

ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF ISOPOLY AND HETEROPOLY ANION TRANSFER ACROSS THE WATER NITROBENZENE INTERFACE .2. VANADIUM-CONTAINING HETEROPOLYTUNGSTATE ANIONS

The electrochemical transfer behaviour of vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anions [PW12-xVxO40]((3+r)-) (x = 1-4) across the water \nitrobenzene interface has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry with cyclic linear current scanning. The transfer of PW11V1O404-, HPW10V2O404-, H2PW10V2O403-, H3PW9V3O403- and H4PW8V4O(40)(3-) across the water \nitrobenzene interface can be observed within the potential window. The effects were observed of pH in the water phase on the transfer behaviour and the formation of vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anions in solution. Heteropolytungstate anions become more stable due to their involving the vanadium atom. The degree of protonation and the dissociation constant of the trivalent vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anion of protonation increase with increasing vanadium content. The transfer processes are diffusion-controlled The standard transfer potential, the standard Gibbs energy and the dissociation constant for vanadium-containing heteropolytungstate anions have been obtained and the transfer mechanisms are discussed.

TRANSPORT OF ELECTROACTIVE SPECIES FE-2+ THROUGH THIN-FILMS OF VANADIUM HEXACYANOFERRATE

It is demonstrated that the electroactive species Fe~(2+) ion can transport easily through the thin films of vanadium hexacyanoferrate (VHF) to the underlaying glassy carbon (GC)electrode surface to be oxidized directly at less positive potential and that it can also be oxidized at the film at more positive potential through the media- tion of redox sites in the film. These two processes yield sequentially clearly distinguished first and second wave in stationary current-potential curves resulting...

Direct spectroscopic evidence for vanadium species in V-MCM-41 molecular sieve characterized by UV resonance Raman spectroscopy

Vanadium species in tetrahedral and octahedral coordination in V-MCM-41 molecular sieve are characterized by UV resonance Raman bands at 1070 and 930 cm(-1) respectively.

Nano-urchin: The formation and structure of high-density spherical clusters of vanadium oxide nanotubes

We report the observation of urchin-like nanostructures consisting of high-density spherical nanotube radial arrays of vanadium oxide nanocomposite, successfully synthesized by a simple chemical route using an ethanolic solution of vanadium tri-isopropoxide and alkyl amine hexadecylamine for 7 days at 180oC. The results show that the growth process of the NanoUrchin occurs in stages, starting with a radial self-organized arrangement of lamina followed by the rolling of the lamina into nanotubes. The longest nanotubes are measured to be several micrometers in length with diameters of ~120 nm and hollow centers typically measured to be ~75 nm. The NanoUrchin have an estimated density of nanotubes of ~40 sr-1. The tube walls comprise layers of vanadium oxide with the organic surfactant intercalated between atomic layers. The interlayer distance is measured to be 2.9 ± 0.1 nm and electron diffraction identified the vanadate phase in the VOx nanocomposite as orthorhombic V2O5. These nanostructures may be used as three-dimensional composite materials and as supports for other materials.

Formation and characterisation of ordered porous vanadium oxide inverse opal materials for Li-ion batteries

This thesis presents several routes towards achieving artificial opal templates by colloidal self-assembly of polystyrene (PS) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) spheres and the use of these template for the fabrication of V2O5 inverse opals as cathode materials for lithium ion battery applications. First, through the manipulation of different experimental factors, several methods of affecting or directing opal growth towards realizing different structures, improving order and/or achieving faster formation on a variety of substrates are presented. The addition of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) at a concentration above the critical micelle concentration for SDS to a 5 wt% solution of PMMA spheres before dip-coating is presented as a method of achieving ordered 2D PhC monolayers on hydrophobic Au-coated silicon substrates at fast and slow rates of withdrawal. The effect that the degree of hydrophilicity of glass substrates has on the ordering of PMMA spheres is next investigated for a slow rate of withdrawal under noise agitation. Heating of the colloidal solution is also presented as a means of affecting order and thickness of opal deposits formed using fast rate dip coating. E-beam patterned substrates are shown as a means of altering the thermodynamically favoured FCC ordering of polystyrene spheres (PS) when dip coated at slow rate. Facile routes toward the synthesis of ordered V2O5 inverse opals are presented with direct infiltration of polymer sphere templates using liquid precursor. The use of different opal templates, both 2D and 3D partially ordered templates, is compared and the composition and arrangement of the subsequent IO structures post infiltration and calcination for various procedures is characterised. V2O5 IOs are also synthesised by electrodeposition from an aqueous VOSO4 solution at constant voltage. Electrochemical characterisation of these structures as cathode material for Li-ion batteries is assessed in a half cell arrangement for samples deposited on stainless steel foil substrates. Improved rate capabilities are demonstrated for these materials over bulk V2O5, with the improvement attributed to the shorter Li ion diffusion distances and increased electrolyte infiltration provided by the IO structure.

3D vanadium oxide inverse opal growth by electrodeposition

Three-dimensional vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) material architectures in the form of inverse opals (IOs) were fabricated using a simple electrodeposition process into artificial opal templates on stainless steel foil using an aqueous solution of VOSO4.χH2O with added ethanol. The direct deposition of V2O5 IOs was compared with V2O5 planar electrodeposition and confirms a similar progressive nucleation and growth mechanism. An in-depth examination of the chemical and morphological nature of the IO material was performed using X-ray crystallography, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman scattering and scanning/transmission electron microscopy. Electrodeposition is demonstrated to be a function of the interstitial void fraction of the artificial opal and ionic diffusivity that leads to high quality, phase pure V2O5 inverse opals is not adversely affected by diffusion pathway tortuosity. Methods to alleviate electrodeposited overlayer formation on the artificial opal templates for the fabrication of the porous 3D structures are also demonstrated. Such a 3D material is ideally suited as a cathode for lithium ion batteries, electrochromic devices, sensors and for applications requiring high surface area electrochemically active metal oxides.