Nucleation and Growth Kinetics of Electrodeposited Sulfate-Doped Polypyrrole: Determination of the Diffusion Coefficient of SO42− in the Polymeric Membrane

Electronucleation mechanism of copper in wastewater by controlled electrodeposition analysis

In order to improve the efficiency of copper deposition in wastewater containing the surfactant polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and reveal the mechanism of copper crystals, a controlled electrodeposition process was developed using a low-cost stainless steel cathode and investigated using chronoamperometry (CA), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The theoretical analysis was verified by fitting them to experimental curves and calculating the kinetic parameters of the deposition process. The experimental results showed that Cu(PVP)2 was formed by the reaction between the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bond of PVP and Cu2+. When powdered, reduction of Cu2+ in the Cu(PVP)2 structure was promoted, a positively-charged PVP-coating layer was formed on the surface of the copper crystal nuclei to inhibit the growth of the copper powder. At a potential of -0.2 V, the electrodeposition crystallization curve of copper changed from progressive nucleation to instantaneous nucleation. The kinetic parameters of the deposition process were calculated by fitting the experimental curves to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis. The EIS tests showed that removing the powder reduced the resistance of the organic solvent (PVP) film on the electrode surface and the charge transfer resistance during copper deposition. According to particle size analysis, removing the powder could reduce the growth energy of copper powder on the electrode surface, increase the area of the active part on the electrode surface, increase the current efficiency of copper powder to 84.2%, and control dust. The size of copper powder reached up to around 900 nm.

Mechanism and Kinetics of Palladium Nanoparticles Electrochemical Formation onto Glassy Carbon, from a Deep Eutectic Solvent (Reline)

From electrochemical potentiodynamic and potentiostatic techniques, the electrodeposition mechanism and kinetics of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), from Pd(II) ions dissolved in the choline chloride-urea deep eutectic solvent (reline) at 343 K, are reported for the first time. From the analysis of the potentiostatic current density transients, using the model developed by Palomar-Pardavé et al. [ Electrochim. Acta, 2005, 50, 4736-4745], it shows that the PdNPs electrodeposition occurs by multiple 3D nucleation and diffusion controlled-growth with the simultaneous reduction of residual water on the PdNPs growing surfaces. This model renders not just the quantification of the palladium nucleation kinetics parameters, but it effectively allows deconvolving the individual contributions to the total current and, thus, from the integration of the j-t plots of these contributions. It was demonstrated that the charge amount of each process depends on the deposition time and applied overpotential. From SEM images, it was possible to verify that the palladium deposits were constituted by PdNPs and from XPS measurements that these PdNPs were formed by a metallic palladium (core) and Pd(OH)₂ (shell).

Combination of Pd-Cu Catalysis and Electrolytic H2 Evolution for Selective Nitrate Reduction Using Protonated Polypyrrole as a Cathode

Pd-Cu catalysis is combined with in situ electrolytic H₂ evolution for NO₃^- reduction with protonated polypyrrole (PPy) as a cathode. The surface of PPy is not only beneficial for H₂ evolution, but exclusive for NO₃^- adsorption, and thus inhibits NO₃^- reduction. Meanwhile, the in situ H₂ generation exhibits a much higher utilization efficiency because of the smaller bubble size and higher dispersion. The Pd-Cu catalysts with the ratios of 6:1 and 4:1 exhibit the highest NO₃^--N removal (100%) and N₂ selectivity (93-95%) after 90 min. In comparison with the results obtained with other cathode materials (Ti, Cu, Co₃O₄, and Fe₂O₃) and obtained by other researchers, the new process shows a faster NO₃^--N reduction rate and much higher N₂ selectivity. However, the O₂ generated on the anode can oxidize Cu to Cu₂O that may work as the catalyst for NO₃^--N reduction to NH₄⁺-N by H₂, resulting in more than 60% NH₄⁺-N generated without a proton exchange membrane. Both the PPy film and Pd-Cu catalyst exhibit good stability and there is no Cu²⁺ or Pd²⁺ in solution after reaction. Real industrial wastewater is further treated in this system, the NO₃^--N is reduced from 670 mg L^-1 to less than 100 mg L^-1 in 90 min, and only little amount of NH₄⁺-N is generated.

Production and characterization of cellulose acetate - titanium dioxide nanotubes membrane fraxiparinized through polydopamine for clinical applications

The present paper introduces a study on the preparation and characterization of cellulose acetate - TiO₂ nanotubes membrane. In order to be used as a hemodialysis membrane, fraxiparinized nanotubes have been incorporated into the cellulose matrix. Fraxiparine embedding was performed via strong binding ability of dopamine. Composite membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and water contact angle measurement. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to correlate the morphology of composite membrane with its electrochemical properties. Mott-Schottky test proved titanium dioxide semiconductor incorporation in composite membrane. Permeation test was made to determine pure water flux. The obtained results showed that addition of nanotubes had a positive impact on membrane permeation compared with a control polymeric membrane.

Guest-host complex formed between ascorbic acid and β-cyclodextrin immobilized on the surface of an electrode

This work deals with the formation of supramolecular complexes between ascorbic acid (AA), the guest, and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), the host, that was first potentiodynamically immobilized on the surface of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) throughout the formation of a β-CD-based conducting polymer (poly-β-CD). With the bare CPE and the β-CD-modified CPE, an electrochemical study was performed to understand the effect of such surface modification on the electrochemical response of the AA. From this study it was shown that on the modified-CPE, the AA was surface-immobilized through formation of an inclusion complex with β-CD, which provoked the adsorption of AA in such a way that this stage became the limiting step for the electrochemical oxidation of AA. Moreover, from the analysis of the experimental voltammetric plots recorded during AA oxidation on the CPE/poly-β-CD electrode surfaces, the Gibbs' standard free energy of the inclusion complex formed by the oxidation product of AA and β-CD has been determined for the first time, ∆G0inclus = -36.4 kJ/mol.

Surface morphology and corresponding electrochemistry of polypyrrole films electrodeposited using a water miscible ionic liquid

Polypyrrole layers were deposited on polycrystalline gold from solutions of pyrrole in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and its equimolar mixture with water by using potential controlled electrochemical methods.