Electrochemical and structural characterization of heat-treated Cr3C2-NiCr coatings

The influence of heat-treatments on the electrochemical behavior of thermal spray Cr3C2-NiCr coatings prepared by high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) was studied in NaCl solution, at 25 degrees C, using open-circuit potential (E-OC) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. Coating characterization were performed before and after the heat-treatments and electrochemical tests by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Auger electron spectroscopy. In addition to the changes in the original powder composition occurring during HVOF process, heat-treatment performed at 450 degrees C caused no significant changes in electrochemical response compared with untreated sample, and at 760 degrees C the main difference was the formation of a thin and defective layer of Cr2O3 at the coating surface, which increased the total impedance at the first day of immersion. Higher influence on the electrochemical was noted for samples treated at 880 degrees C, which also showed higher E-OC and total impedance, and lower corrosion current. This behavior was interpreted considering the formation of a chromium oxide layer on the coating surface, dissolution and decomposition of smaller carbide particles and their surface enrichment with Cr due to C diffusion and dissolution into the matrix, and possible Ni, Cr, and Fe diffusion to coating/substrate interface. (c) 2006 the Electrochemical Society.

WC-CoCr coatings sprayed by high velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) flame on AA7050 aluminum alloy: electrochemical behavior in 3.5% NaCl solution

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Preparation and Characterization of Graphite-Epoxy Composite Modified with Zinc Hexacyanoferrate and Their Electrochemical Behaviour in Presence of Substituted Anilines

The growth of zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF) hybrid film on the surface of graphite-epoxy composite (GEC) electrodes was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry. Surface morphology of the hybrid film was investigated by using scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the type of monovalent cations on the redox behaviour of hybrid film was also studied. This effect indicated that the radius of the hydrated cation mainly determines the ion permeability of the film.The electrochemical behavior of the substituted anilines (procaine and sulfamerazine) in 1 M KCl of the modified GEC electrode showed a decrease of the cathodic currents while increasing the concentration of these analytes. The developed sensor also showed excellent stability for long time usage, higher sensitivity and cost-effective fabrication.

Silver Nanocomposite Electrode Modified with Hexacyanoferrate. Preparation, Characterization and Electrochemical Behaviour Towards Substituted Anilines

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The applicability of hematoxylin-eosin staining plus fluorescence or confocal laser scanning microscopy to the study of elastic fibers in cartilages

This study focuses on the use of hemotoxylin-eosin staining plus fluorescence microscopy for the investigation of elastic fibers in some elastic cartilages. We have observed that elastic fibers are consistently imaged by the proposed procedure and the resolution attained is similar to that obtained with the classical Weigert's fuchsin-resorcin. The results also demonstrate that elastin autofluorescence gives little or no contribution to the final fluorescence and that the use of the confocal laser scanning microscope adds to the resolution, permits the use of thicker sections and reveals of minute structural features. We conclude that this is a relevant tool in elastin research.

Fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging of elastic fibers in hematoxylin-eosin stained sections

We have studied the possibility of associating fluorescence microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining for the identification of elastic fibers in elastin-rich tissues. Elastic fibers and elastic laminae were consistently identified by the proposed procedure, which revealed itself to be easy and useful for the determination of such structures and their distribution. The fluorescence properties of stained elastic fibers are due to eosin staining as revealed by fluorescence analysis of the dye in solution, with no or only minor contribution by the elastin autofluorescence. The main advantage of this technique resides in the possibility of studying the distribution of elastic fibers in file material without further sectioning and staining. The use of the confocal laser scanning microscope greatly improved the resolution and selectivity of imaging elastic fibers in different tissues. The determination of the three-dimensional distribution and structure of elastic fiber and laminae using the confocal laser scanning microscope was evaluated and also produced excellent results.

Microstructural characteristics and electrochemical behavior of Co3O4 sintered electrodes

Co3O4 can be used as electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction. The macro and microstructure of the oxide, obtained by compacting and sintering lithium-doped Co3O4 powder in atmosphere of dry air and in conditions of controlled temperature and time was analyzed by metallographic techniques. The porous material was characterized by XRD, SEM and EDS combined techniques. For working temperatures up to 1200°C, the pellet was consituted of particles with varying sizes over a wide range of particle size and, at higher temperatures CoO is formed and polymorphic transformation was observed. The materials were also characterized electrochemically in alkaline media by open circuit potential and potentiodynamic I/E measurements. The results were compared to those previously prepared by others by thermal deposition.

The relation between structural features and electrochemical activity of MnO2 nanoparticles synthesized from a polyol-made Mn 3O4 precursor

A simple hybrid synthesis processing method was developed to synthesize γ-MnO2 nanocrystalline particles. The polyol method was modified by the addition of nitric acid in order to allow the synthesizing of single-phase Mn3O4 in a large scale. In the sequence, the acid digestion technique was used to transform Mn3O4 into γ-MnO2. Structural and morphological characterization was carried out by X-ray diffractometry, Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption isotherm, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. The synthesized material exhibits a specific capacitance of 125.1 F g-1 at a mass loading of 0.98 mg cm-2. The relation between structural features and electrochemical activity is discussed by comparing the synthesized material with commercial electrolytic manganese dioxide. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

A novel LTCC electrochemical cell construction and characterization: A detection compartment for portable devices

In this work we described for the first time the construction of a 25 μL electrochemical cell from low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material and carbon screen-printed electrode applicable in portable devices. Firstly, a carbon screen-printed electrode was prepared and characterized by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. Afterwards carbon polymeric film and metal pastes were dropped into the LTCC cell cavities in order to determine the device electrodes, and this arrangement was also electrochemically characterized. The great advantage of this promising device is the simple construction method and its widespread applicability in reusable portable devices. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Rapid preparation of alpha-FeOOH and alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures by microwave heating and their application in electrochemical sensors

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Raman Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy Characterizations of Fission Track Method Datable Zircon Grains

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A Silsesquioxane Organically Modified with 4-Amino-5-(4-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol: Thermal Behavior and Its Electrochemical Detection of Sulfhydryl Compounds

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Synthesis and characterization of alpha-nickel (II) hydroxide particles on organic-inorganic matrix and its application in a sensitive electrochemical sensor for vitamin D determination

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Simultaneous determination of epinephrine and dopamine by electrochemical reduction on the hybrid material SiO2/graphene oxide decorated with Ag nanoparticles

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Antibiofilm activity of irrigating solutions associated with cetrimide. Confocal laser scanning microscopy

AimTo evaluate the antibiofilm activity of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX) solutions associated with cetrimide (CTR), and QMiX using confocal laser scanning microscopy.MethodologyEnterococcus faecalis (ATCC- 29212) biofilms were induced on bovine dentine blocks for 14days. The dentine blocks containing biofilm were immersed for 1min in the following solutions: 2.5% NaOCl; 2.5% NaOCl+0.2% CTR; 2% CHX; 2% CHX+0.2% CTR; 0.2% CTR; QMiX. After contact with the solutions, the dentine blocks were stained with Live/Dead((R)) BacLight for analysis of the remaining biofilm using confocal laser scanning microscope. Images were evaluated using the BioImage_L software to determine the total biovolume (m(3)), the green biovolume (live cells) (m(3)) and the percentage of substrate coverage (%). The data were subjected to nonparametric statistical test using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests at 5% significance level.ResultsAfter exposure to irrigants, the total biovolume observed for CHX, CHX+CTR, CTR, QMiX was similar to distilled water (P>0.05). NaOCl and NaOCl+CTR had the lowest total and green biovolume. The CTR and QMiX had intermediate green biovolume, with greater antibacterial activity than CHX and CHX+CTR (P<0.05). The NaOCl and NaOCl+CTR solutions were associated with microorganism removal and substrate cleaning ability.ConclusionsNaOCl and NaOCl+CTR solutions were effective on microorganism viability and were able to eliminate biofilm. The addition of cetrimide did not influence antibacterial activity.