An electrochemical method for the synthesis of few layer graphene sheets for high temperature applications

We demonstrate an electrochemical technique for the large scale synthesis of high quality few layer graphene sheets (FLGS) directly from graphite using oxalic acid (a weak acid) as the electrolyte. One of the interesting observations is that the FLGS are stable at least up to 800 degrees C and hence have potential application in solid oxide fuel cells as a gas diffusion layer.

Rapid label-free detection of metal-induced Alzheimer's amyloid beta peptide aggregation by electrochemical method

Amyloid beta peptide plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Metal ions are highly enriched in cerebral amyloid deposits in AD and are proposed to be able to mediate A beta conformation. Therefore, a rapid, low-cost, and sensitive detection of metal-induced A beta aggregation and their relation to AD is clearly needed for the clinical diagnosis and treatment. In this report, we study metal-induced A beta aggregation by a rapid, label-free electrochemical method and monitor both the aggregation kinetics and the morphology in the absence or presence of Zn (II) and Cu (II).

Direct toxicity assessment of toxic chemicals with electrochemical method

Electrochemical measurement of respiratory chain activity is a rapid and reliable screening for the toxicity on microorganisms. Here, we investigated in-vitro effects of toxin on Escherichia coli (E. coli) that was taken as a model microorganism incubated with ferricyanide. The current signal of ferrocyanide effectively amplified by ultramicroelectrode array (UMEA), which was proven to be directly related to the toxicity. Accordingly, a direct toxicity assessment (DTA) based on chronoamperometry was proposed to detect the effect of toxic chemicals on microorganisms. The electrochemical responses to 3,5-dichlorophenol (DCP) under the incubation times revealed that the toxicity reached a stable level at 60 min, and its 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) was estimated to be 8.0 mg L-1. At 60 min incubation, the IC50 values for KCN and As2O3 in water samples were 4.9 mg L-1 and 18.3 mg L-1, respectively. But the heavy metal ions, such as Cu2+ Pb2+ and Ni2+, showed no obvious toxicity on E. coli.

Study of CH4 and CO oxidation from electrochemical method

CH4 and CO oxidation reaction on perovskite-like oxides La2-xSrxMO4 (0.01 <= x <= 1.0; M = Cu, Ni) was investigated from cyclic voltammetry method, finding that for suprafacial CO oxidation reaction, the catalyst activity has a close correlation to the area of redox peaks measured in the cyclic voltammetry, the larger the peak area is, the higher the activity will be, while for interfacial CH4 oxidation reaction, the activity depends mainly on the difference in redox potentials (Delta E), and the smaller the difference in redox potentials is, the higher the activity will be.

A novel electrochemical method for simultaneously measuring diffusion coefficient and ion transference number

This paper introduces a new method to estimate the diffusion coefficient and transference number of a salt or an electroactive ion in a solution with little or no supporting electrolyte. The above two parameters can be obtained from a single potential step experiment without previous knowledge of either one. It would appear that the method could also be used in the study of ion transport in a high viscosity solvent or a solid electrolyte. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.

A New Indirect Electrochemical Method for Determination of Ozone in Water Using Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

A new electrochemical methodology has been developed for the detection of ozone using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The method presented here is based on the reaction of ozone with indigo blue dye producing anthranilic acid (ATN). The electrochemical profile of ATN on an electrode of glassy carbon (GC) modified with MWCNT showed an oxidation peak potential at 750 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. An analytical method was developed using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to determine ATN in a range of 50-400 nmol L(-1), with a detection limit of 9.7 nmol L(-1). Ozonated water samples were successfully analyzed by GC/MWCNT electrode and the recovery procedure yielded values between of 96.5 and 102.3%.

A novel electrochemical method for monitoring corrosion under insulation

Purpose - The objective of this work was to develop practical experimental techniques for monitoring corrosion in "difficult-to-test" conditions such as corrosion under insulation (CUI).

Design/methodology/approach - An electrochemically integrated multi-electrode array namely the wire beam electrode (WBE) method has been used in combination with noise signature analysis for the first time to monitor the penetration of corrosive species under simulated corrosion-under-insulation conditions. Corrosion of aluminium exposed under insulation materials such as rock wool, glass wool, cotton wool and tissue paper has been successfully monitored.

Findings - A typical potential noise signature of a major potential jump from AA1100 WBE was observed which corresponded to the corrosive species reaching the WBE surface in WBE current distribution map. A good correlation between the galvanic current maps and the corroded surface was also observed.

Originality/value - The preliminary results suggest that the proposed novel electrochemical method is capable of monitoring CUI.

An electrochemical method for measuring localized corrosion under cathodic protection

 A new method has been developed to measure metal corrosion rates and their distribution under cathodic protection (CP). This method uses an electrochemically integrated multi-electrode array to take local measurements of cathodic current density while simulating a continuous metallic surface. The distribution of cathodic current densities obtained under CP was analyzed to estimate the anodic current component at each electrode of the array. Corrosion patterns determined by this new method have shown good correlation with visual inspection and surface profilometry of the multi-electrode array surface.

Electrochemical method for studying localized corrosion beneath disbonded coatings under cathodic protection

This paper presents a new method for measuring localized corrosion under disbonded coatings by means of an electrochemical sensor, denoted differential aeration sensor (DAS). It measures the distribution of electrochemical currents over an electrode array surface partially covered by a crevice that simulates a disbonded coating. The DAS has been evaluated using immersion tests at open circuit and under cathodic protection (CP) conditions. Under both conditions, anodic as well as cathodic current densities were detected within the crevice. A fundamental understanding for the detection of anodic currents under CP has been explained in terms of basic electrochemistry. Based on the current distribution data provided by the sensor, two different analysis methods have been used to estimate corrosion and its distribution. These methods consisted of a direct application of Faraday's Law to the anodic currents detected by the array, and on a sensor-specific method denoted corrected currents' method. It has been demonstrated that under diffusion controlled conditions this latter method produces a better corrosion estimation than the direct application of Faraday's Law. The corrected currents' method allowed the estimation of corrosion patterns outside the crevice under CP. Good correlation between electrochemical calculations and surface profilometry results has been obtained.