Electrochemically synthesized faceted CuInTe2nanorods as an electron source for field emission applications

Cyclic voltammogram recorded for CuInTe₂in aqueous electrolyte and chronoamperometry curve obtained during electrodeposition.

Electrochemically Identifying Degradation Pathways of Carbon-Supported Pt Catalysts Assists in Designing Highly Durable Catalysts

Supported Pt catalysts are considered highly efficient in many applications because of their unique catalytic properties. Their poor durability hampers their use in practical applications, particularly in novel energy-conversion devices such as fuel cells. A facile electrochemical procedure that combines the evaluation of the electrochemical surface area with a breakthrough in direct electrochemical quantification of the Pt content was utilized. Catalytic performance-related factors and kinetics of Pt nanoparticle (Pt_nano) growth on a carbon substrate were probed under high-temperature annealing and ambient-temperature potential polarization, respectively. Apart from the Pt dissolution/redeposition pathway, we demonstrated that the crystal migration/coalescence pathway in catalyst degradation could not be ignored at ambient temperature. We report the enhanced durability and long-term activity of carbon-supported Pt catalysts, where the Pt_nano surface was partially encapsulated by nonspecific noble metal clusters; inhibition of the migration/coalescence pathway and effective exposure of Pt_nano surface active sites led to such enhancements.

3D nanoporous gold scaffold supported on graphene paper: Freestanding and flexible electrode with high loading of ultrafine PtCo alloy nanoparticles for electrochemical glucose sensing

Recent advances in on-body wearable medical apparatus and implantable devices drive the development of light-weight and bendable electrochemical sensors, which require the design of high-performance flexible electrode system. In this work, we reported a new type of freestanding and flexible electrode based on graphene paper (GP) supported 3D monolithic nanoporous gold (NPG) scaffold (NPG/GP), which was further modified by a layer of highly dense, well dispersed and ultrafine binary PtCo alloy nanoparticles via a facile and effective ultrasonic electrodeposition method. Our results demonstrated that benefited from the synergistic effect of the electrocatalytically active PtCo alloy nanoparticles, the large-active-area and highly conductive 3D NPG scaffold, and the mechanically strong and stable GP electrode substrate, the resultant PtCo alloy nanoparticles modified NPG/GP (PtCo/NPG/GP) exhibited high mechanical strength and good electrochemical sensing performances toward nonenzymatic detection of glucose, including a wide linear range from 35 μM- to 30 mM, a low detection limit of 5 μM (S/N = 3) and a high sensitivity of 7.84 μA cm(-2) mM(-1) as well as good selectivity, long-term stability and reproducibility. The practical application of the proposed PtCo/NPG/GP has also been demonstrated in in vitro detection of blood glucose in real clinic samples.

Printing graphene-carbon nanotube-ionic liquid gel on graphene paper: Towards flexible electrodes with efficient loading of PtAu alloy nanoparticles for electrochemical sensing of blood glucose

The increasing demands for portable, wearable, and implantable sensing devices have stimulated growing interest in innovative electrode materials. In this work, we have demonstrated that printing a conductive ink formulated by blending three-dimensional (3D) porous graphene-carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly with ionic liquid (IL) on two-dimensional (2D) graphene paper (GP), leads to a freestanding GP supported graphene-CNT-IL nanocomposite (graphene-CNT-IL/GP). The incorporation of highly conductive CNTs into graphene assembly effectively increases its surface area and improves its electrical and mechanical properties. The graphene-CNT-IL/GP, as freestanding and flexible substrates, allows for efficient loading of PtAu alloy nanoparticles by means of ultrasonic-electrochemical deposition. Owing to the synergistic effect of PtAu alloy nanoparticles, 3D porous graphene-CNT scaffold, IL binder and 2D flexible GP substrate, the resultant lightweight nanohybrid paper electrode exhibits excellent sensing performances in nonenzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and mechanical properties.

A facile Pt catalyst regeneration process significantly improves the catalytic activity of Pt–organic composites for the O2 reduction reaction

Combination of the “nano-size” effect and Cl⁻ complexation ability causes massive electrodissolution of Pt under acidic conditions to promote the regeneration of Pt–organic composites and to significantly improve the catalytic performance of the O₂ reduction reaction.