Electrochemical behavior of aqueous acid perrhenate-containing solutions on noble metals: critical review and new experimental evidence

Functional Carbon Capsules Supporting Ruthenium Nanoclusters for Efficient Electrocatalytic 99 TcO4 - /ReO4 - Removal from Acidic and Alkaline Nuclear Wastes

The selective removal of the β-emitting pertechnetate ion (99 TcO4 - ) from nuclear waste streams is technically challenging. Herein, a practical approach is proposed for the selective removal of 99 TcO4 - (or its surrogate ReO4 - ) under extreme conditions of high acidity, alkalinity, ionic strength, and radiation field. Hollow porous N-doped carbon capsules loaded with ruthenium clusters (Ru@HNCC) are first prepared, then modified with a cationic polymeric network (R) containing imidazolium-N+ units (Ru@HNCC-R) for selective 99 TcO4 - and ReO4 - binding. The Ru@HNCC-R capsules offer high binding affinities for 99 TcO4 - /ReO4 - under wide-ranging conditions. An electrochemical redox process then transforms adsorbed ReO4 - to bulk ReO3 , delivering record-high removal capacities, fast kinetics, and excellent long-term durability for removing ReO4 - (as a proxy for 99 TcO4 - ) in a 3 m HNO3 , simulated nuclear waste-Hanford melter recycle stream and an alkaline high-level waste stream (HLW) at the U.S. Savannah River Site (SRS). In situ Raman and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analyses showed that adsorbed Re(VII) is electrocatalytically reduced on Ru sites to a Re(IV)O2 intermediate, which can then be re-oxidized to insoluble Re(VI)O3 for facile collection. This approach overcomes many of the challenges associated with the selective separation and removal of 99 TcO4 - /ReO4 - under extreme conditions, offering new vistas for nuclear waste management and environmental remediation.

Rhenium-Based Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting

Due to the contamination and global warming problems, it is necessary to search for alternative environmentally friendly energy sources. In this area, hydrogen is a promising alternative. Hydrogen is even more promising, when it is obtained through water electrolysis operated with renewable energy sources. Among the possible devices to perform electrolysis, proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers appear as the most promising commercial systems for hydrogen production in the coming years. However, their massification is affected by the noble metals used as electrocatalysts in their electrodes, with high commercial value: Pt at the cathode where the hydrogen evolution reaction occurs (HER) and Ru/Ir at the anode where the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) happens. Therefore, to take full advantage of the PEM technology for green H2 production and build up a mature PEM market, it is imperative to search for more abundant, cheaper, and stable catalysts, reaching the highest possible activities at the lowest overpotential with the longest stability under the harsh acidic conditions of a PEM. In the search for new electrocatalysts and considering the predictions of a Trasatti volcano plot, rhenium appears to be a promising candidate for HER in acidic media. At the same time, recent studies provide evidence of its potential as an OER catalyst. However, some of these reports have focused on chemical and photochemical water splitting and have not always considered acidic media. This review summarizes rhenium-based electrocatalysts for water splitting under acidic conditions: i.e., potential candidates as cathode materials. In the various sections, we review the mechanism concepts of electrocatalysis, evaluation methods, and the different rhenium-based materials applied for the HER in acidic media. As rhenium is less common for the OER, we included a section about its use in chemical and photochemical water oxidation and as an electrocatalyst under basic conditions. Finally, concluding remarks and perspectives are given about rhenium for water splitting.

Electrochemical reduction of uranium and rhenium in hydrochloric acid system

The electrochemical reduction of U(VI) and Re(VII) ions on Pt and Mo metals are discussed. The electrochemical behavior of U(VI) and Re(VII) in hydrochloric acid media was investigated using various electrochemical techniques. By analyzing the cyclic voltammogram of U(VI) and Re(VII) recorded on Pt electrode, a series of electrochemical reactions associated with uranium and rhenium were recognized, indicating that U(VI) and Re(VII) undergoes a single-step electron and multistep electron process under experimental conditions, respectively. The reduction of U(VI) and Re(VII) was found to be controlled by charge transfer and diffusion in hydrochloric acid media. The diffusion coefficient of U(VI) and Re(VII)was determined to be 4.22–5.99 × 10−6 cm2 s−1 and 1.50–2.90 × 10−5 cm2 s−1, respectively, and the activation energy for the diffusion are calculated to be 18.12 kJ mol−1 and 14.52 kJ mol−1 by cyclic voltammetry at different temperatures. The reduction process of U(VI) and Re(VII) at hydrochloric acid is further studied by potentiostatic electrolysis. It is feasible to realize the reduction of uranium and rhenium from aqueous solution by electrolysis.

Immobilization of perrhenate using synthetic pyrite particles: Effectiveness and remobilization potential

Radioactive pertechnetate (TcO4^-) has been detected in nuclear waste affected soil and groundwater, posing significant effect on human health and the environment. Yet, cost-effective remediation of Tc-contaminated soil and groundwater remains challenging. To address this critical technology need, we prepared a class of pyrite (FeS₂) particles for effective immobilization of pertechnetate. Using perrhenate (ReO₄^-) as a non-radioactive surrogate of TcO₄^-, we tested the immobilization effectiveness of the material through batch kinetic experiments, and evaluated the remobilization potential of immobilized Re under anoxic (sealed from air) and oxic (exposed to air) conditions and in the presence of humic acid (HA), EDTA, nitrate, and a Chinese loess soil. The results showed that more acidic pH gave faster Re(VII) removal due to more abundant electron sources (Fe²⁺ and S₂^2-). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and/or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses confirmed formation of ReO₂/ReS₂ as the major reduction products. The immobilized Re remained highly stable when aged for 360 days under anoxic conditions at different influence factors. Yet, the immobilized Re was vulnerable to oxygen oxidation, and about 78% of Re was remobilized after 40 days of exposure to air regardless of the initial pH (3.5-9.0) due to excessive pyrite oxidation and the associated pH drop (~2). HA at 120 mg/L inhibited Re remobilization under oxic conditions, which lowered the Re remobilization by ~21% after 40 days of oxic aging. The presence of EDTA facilitated dissolution of Fe but inhibited the dissolution of Re under oxic conditions. Nitrate showed negligible effect on Re remobilization. The presence of a Chinese loess soil effectively inhibited Re remobilization under both oxic and anoxic conditions, lowering the leachable Re by ~32% under oxic conditions. The findings may guide engineered application of pyrite particles as a long-lasting reducing material for immobilization pertechnetate or similar redox-active contaminants in soil and water.

Electrodeposition process of perrhenate ions from KNO3 and Na2SO4 background electrolytes in the presence of citric acid

Processes involved in the electrodeposition of perrhenate ions were studied from two different potassium nitrate and sodium sulfate background electrolytes in the presence of citric acid on graphite electrode by cyclic voltammetry method. Anodic and cathodic potentials of deposited film were determined. After electrolysis process, morphology and content of obtained deposited layers were investigated by SEM and X-Ray methods. The coated film from sodium sulfate background electrolyte was not uniform and Re content was 60.83-65.5%, in case of potassium nitrate electrolyte, the deposited film was more densely located, and Re content was 80.94-82.52%. In the presence of nickel sulfate and citric acid, an alloy was formed with content of Re 80.94-82.52%, 14.10-11.83% of Ni, 4.96-5.66% of impurities, which were confirmed by X-Ray method. The current density decreased with addition of citric acid into sodium sulfate background electrolyte and in cathodic area, the reduction potential of perrhenate ions remained the same, but oxidation potentials changed from 0.25 to 0.35 V and from 0.5 to 0.6 V. The influence of citric acid on potentials of the processes of reduction and oxidation of perrhenate ions from potassium nitrate gave following results: reduction peaks shifted from -0.35 to -0.55 V, and multi peaks of oxidation appeared which were not noticeable without citric acid. It was shown that citric acid has inhibitory effect on reduction and oxidation of perrhenate ions. It is shown that the electrochemical reduction of perrhenate ions leads to the formation of rhenium dioxide in different forms.

Competitive incorporation of perrhenate and nitrate into sodalite

Nuclear waste storage tanks at the Hanford site in southeastern Washington have released highly alkaline solutions, containing radioactive and other contaminants, into subsurface sediments. When this waste reacts with subsurface sediments, feldspathoid minerals (sodalite, cancrinite) can form, sequestering pertechnetate (99TcO4-) and other ions. This study investigates the potential for incorporation of perrhenate (ReO4-), a chemical surrogate for 99TcO4-, into mixed perrhenate/nitrate (ReO4-/NO3-) sodalite. Mixed-anion sodalites were hydrothermally synthesized in the laboratory from zeolite A in sodium hydroxide, nitrate, and perrhenate solutions at 90 °C for 24 h. The resulting solids were characterized by bulk chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) to determine the products' chemical composition, structure, morphology, and Re oxidation state. The XANES data indicated that nearly all rhenium (Re) was incorporated as Re(VII)O4-. The nonlinear increase of the unit cell parameter with ReO4-/NO3- ratios suggests formation of two separate sodalite phases in lieu of a mixed-anion sodalite. The results reveal that the sodalite cage is highly selective toward NO3- over ReO4-. Calculated enthalpy and Gibbs free energy of formation at 298 K for NO3- and ReO4-sodalite suggest that NO3- incorporation into the cage is favored over the incorporation of the larger ReO4-, due to the smaller ionic radius of NO3-. Based on these results, it is expected that NO3-, which is present at significantly higher concentrations in alkaline waste solutions than 99TcO4-, will be strongly preferred for incorporation into the sodalite cage.

New Features in Electroless Deposition of Ternary Coatings on the Base of Ni-P and Co-P

The new features in the electroless (autocatalytic) deposition, structure and properties of Ni-Cu-P, Ni-Sn-P, Ni-Zn-P, Ni-W-P, Co-W-P, and Co-Re-P as well as the quaternary coatings Ni-Sn-Cu-P, Ni-W-Re-P, and Co-Re-Ni-P established in the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPC BAS) are reviewed. The role of disproportionation reactions of Cu(I), Sn(II) and Re(VI) during electroless deposition of Ni-Cu-P, Ni-Sn-P and Co-Re-P is considered. The data about the localization and chemical state of Zn, W and Re are presented. The influence of Cu and Sn added to high P (> 10 wt. %) Ni-P coatings on the thermal stability of their amorphous state is illustrated. A comparison of the corrosion resistance of Ni-Cu-P and Ni-Sn-P with that of Ni-P with the same quantity of phosphorus is given. The application of Ni-Cu-P in a hybrid multilayer with TiN is demonstrated.

Electrochemical deposition and characterization of mixed-valent rhenium oxide films prepared from a perrhenate solution

Cathodic electrodeposition of mixed-valent rhenium oxides at indium tin oxide, gold, rhenium, and glassy carbon electrodes from acidic perrhenate solutions (pH = 1.5 +/- 0.1) prepared from hydrogen peroxide and zerovalent rhenium metal is described. Cyclic voltammetry, variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry, and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) data indicate that the chemical nature of the electrodeposited rhenium species depends mainly upon the potential and supporting electrolyte. The presence of SO4(2-) as a supporting electrolyte inhibits the adsorption of perrhenate, ReO4-, at non-hydrogen adsorbing electrode materials. However, in acidic perrhenate solutions containing only protons and ReO4- anions, strong adsorption of ReO4- at potentials preceding hydrogen evolution occurs. This leads to the formation of an unstable ReIII2O3 intermediate which catalytically disproportionates to form mixed-valent rhenium films consisting of 72% ReIVO2 and 28% Re0. During the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), hydrogen polarization causes the principle deposit to be more reduced, consisting of roughly 64% ReIVO2 and 36% Re0. Conclusively, metallic rhenium can be deposited at potentials preceding the HER at non-hydrogen adsorbing electrode materials, especially in the absence of SO4(2-) anions.

A novel series of rhenium-bipyrimidine complexes: synthesis, crystal structure and electrochemical properties

Four novel rhenium complexes of formula [ReCl(4)(bpym)] (1), [ReBr(4)(bpym)] (2) PPh(4)[ReCl(4)(bpym)] (3) and NBu(4)[ReBr(4)(bpym)] (4) (bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine, PPh(4) = tetraphenylphosphonium cation and NBu(4) = tetrabutylammonium cation), have been synthesized and their crystal structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures of 1 and 2 consist of [ReX(4)(bpym)] molecules held together by van der Waals forces. In both complexes the Re(iv) central atom is surrounded by four halide anions and two nitrogen atoms of a bpym bidentate ligand in a distorted octahedral environment. The structures of 3 and 4 consist of [ReX(4)(bpym)](-) anions and PPh(4)(+) () or NBu(4)(+) (4) cations. The coordination sphere of the Re(iii) metal ion is the same as in 1 and 2, respectively. However, whereas the Re-X bonds are longer the Re-N bonds are shorter than in 1 and 2. This fact reveals that the bpym ligand forms a stronger bond with Re(iii) than with Re(iv) resulting in a stabilisation of the lower oxidation state. [ReX(4)(bpym)] complexes are easily reduced, chemically and electrochemically, to the corresponding [ReX(4)(bpym)](-) anions. A voltammetric study shows that the electron transference is a reversible process characterized by formal redox potentials of +0.19 V (1) and +0.32 V (2) vs. NHE, in acetonitrile as solvent.

Synthesis and Characterization of ReO4-Containing Microporous and Open Framework Structures

A microporous and an open framework structure, [Cu(2)(pzc)(2)(H(2)O)(2)ReO(4)] (I) and [Cu(pzc)(H(2)O)ReO(4)].2H(2)O (II) (pzc = 2-pyrazinecarboxylate), respectively, have been prepared using hydrothermal methods and characterized using IR, TGA, and X-ray diffraction (I Pnma, No. 62, Z = 4, a = 7.4949(9) A, b = 24.975(3) A, c = 9.141(1) A; II P2(1)/c, No. 14, Z = 4, a = 8.5878(9) A, b = 12.920(1) A, c = 9.741(1) A, beta = 92.830(2) degrees ). I and II crystallize as red and blue solids, respectively, and each contains chains constructed from alternating Cu(pzc)(2)/ReO(4) oxide-bridged metal sites. The bidentate pzc ligand further bridges each -Cu-O-Re-O- chain to adjacent chains, via the Cu sites, to form a 3D net in I, with ellipsoidal channels that are approximately 3.3-4.7 A x 12.5 A, and in II, stacked layers of square nets with H(2)O-filled cavities that are approximately 4.4 x 5.1 A. Local ReO(4)(-) groups, a component of common oxidation catalysts, are directed at the channels and cavities of each structure, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that I loses up to 64% of its H(2)O content before decomposition at 225 degrees C, while II loses approximately 100% of its H(2)O content by 265 degrees C.