A Stability Study of Ni/Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Anode for Direct Ammonia Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

In recent years, solid oxide fuel cells fueled with ammonia have been attracting intensive attention. In this work, ammonia fuel was supplied to the Ni/yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) cermet anode at 600 and 700 °C, and the change of electrochemical performance and microstructure under the open-circuit state was studied in detail. The influence of ammonia exposure on the microstructure of Ni was also investigated by using Ni/YSZ powder and Ni film deposited on a YSZ disk. The obtained results demonstrated that Ni in the cermet anode was partially nitrided under an ammonia atmosphere, which considerably roughened the Ni surface. Moreover, the destruction of the anode support layer was confirmed for the anode-supported cell upon the temperature cycling test between 600 and 700 °C because of the nitriding phenomenon of Ni, resulting in severe performance degradation.

Electrochemical and catalytic properties of Ni/BaCe0.75Y0.25O3-δ anode for direct ammonia-fueled solid oxide fuel cells

In this study, Ni/BaCe0.75Y0.25O3-δ (Ni/BCY25) was investigated as an anode for direct ammonia-fueled solid oxide fuel cells. The catalytic activity of Ni/BCY25 for ammonia decomposition was found to be remarkably higher than Ni/8 mol % Y2O3-ZrO2 and Ni/Ce0.90Gd0.10O1.95. The poisoning effect of water and hydrogen on ammonia decomposition reaction over Ni/BCY25 was evaluated. In addition, an electrolyte-supported SOFC employing BaCe0.90Y0.10O3-δ (BCY10) electrolyte and Ni/BCY25 anode was fabricated, and its electrochemical performance was investigated at 550-650 °C with supply of ammonia and hydrogen fuel gases. The effect of water content in anode gas on the cell performance was also studied. Based on these results, it was concluded that Ni/BCY25 was a promising anode for direct ammonia-fueled SOFCs. An anode-supported single cell denoted as Ni/BCY25|BCY10|Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-δ was also fabricated, and maximum powder density of 216 and 165 mW cm(-2) was achieved at 650 and 600 °C, for ammonia fuel, respectively.

Selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors based on an ion imprinting polymer and graphene oxide for the detection of ultra-trace Cd(ii) in biological samples

New selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors were designed based on the deposition of a promising ion imprinted polymer (IIP) on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the detection and monitoring of Cd(ii) in different real samples. Herein, a highly selective Cd-imprinted polymer was successfully synthesized using a novel heterocyclic compound based on the benzo[f]chromene scaffold that acted as a complexing agent and a functional monomer in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (initiator) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (cross-linker). The characterization of the synthesized chelating agent and IIP was performed using FT-IR, SEM, 1H-NMR, EIMS, and EDX analyses. After that, the voltammetric sensor was manufactured by introducing graphene oxide (GO) on the surface of GCE; then, the IIP was grown by a drop coating technique. The electrochemical characterization of the voltammetric sensor (IIP/GO@GCE) was performed by CV and EIS. For comparison, the potentiometric sensor was also prepared by embedding IIP in plasticized polyvinyl chloride and depositing it as one layer on the GCE surface. Anodic stripping voltammetry was used to construct the calibration graph; the IIP/GO@GCE exhibited a wider detection range (4.2 × 10-12-5.6 × 10-3 mol L-1) and extremely low detection limit (7 × 10-14 mol L-1) for Cd(ii). Meanwhile, the potentiometric sensor showed a linear calibration curve for Cd(ii) over a concentration range from 7.3 × 10-8 mol L-1 to 2.4 × 10-3 mol L-1 with a detection limit of 6.3 × 10-10 mol L-1. Furthermore, both sensors offered outstanding selectivity for Cd(ii) over a wide assortment of other common ions, high reproducibility, and excellent stability.

Novel synthesized triazole derivatives as effective corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in 1M HCl solution: experimental and computational studies

This article outlines the synthesis of two derivatives of 4-amino-5-hydrazineyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol for the prevention of carbon steel corrosion in 1M HCl solution. These derivatives are (Z)-3-(1-(2-(4-amino-5-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)hydrazono)ethyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (TZ1) and 5-(2-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)hydrazineyl)-4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (TZ2). Weight loss, electrochemical experiments, surface examinations, and theoretical computation are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the two compounds to be used as corrosion inhibitors. Weight loss and electrochemical studies demonstrate that these derivatives reduce the corrosion rate of carbon steel. To examine the morphology and constitution of the carbon steel surface submerged in HCl solution as well as after adding inhibitors, surface examination tests are performed. Analysis of the test solution via UV-visible spectroscopy is employed to check the possibility of complex formation between inhibitor molecules and Fe2+ ions released during the corrosion process. In order to explore their biological activity, the antibacterial activity was investigated against (E. coli and Bacillus subtilis). Finally, theoretical confirmation of the experimental findings is provided by quantum chemical (DFT) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation studies. More adsorption sites are present in the derivatives of 4-amino-5-hydrazineyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol, which offer a novel perspective for developing new classes of corrosion inhibitors with substantial protective efficacy, especially at high temperatures.

Electrochemical sensor based on amine- and thiol-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes for sensitive and selective determination of uranyl ions in real water samples

Novel selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors based on the modification of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) with novel amine- and thiol-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have been developed for the detection and monitoring of uranyl ions in different real water samples. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were grafted with 2-aminothiazole (AT/MWCNT) and melamine thiourea (MT/MWCNT) via an amidation reaction in the presence of dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) as a coupling agent. This modification for multiwalled carbon nanotubes has never been reported before. The amine and thiol groups were considered to be promising functional groups due to their high affinity toward coordination with uranyl ions. The modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes were characterized using different analytical techniques including FTIR, SEM, XPS, and elemental analysis. Subsequently, 10 wt% MT/MWCNT was mixed with 60 wt% graphite powder in the presence of 30 wt% paraffin oil to obtain a modified carbon paste electrode (MT/MWCNT/CPE). The electrochemical behavior and applications of the prepared sensors were examined using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The MT/MWCNT/CPE sensor exhibited a good linearity for UO22+ in the concentration range of 5.0 × 10-3 to 1.0 × 10-10 mol L-1 with low limits of detection (LOD = 2.1 × 10-11 mol L-1) and quantification (LOQ = 7 × 10-11 mol L-1). In addition, high precision (RSD = 2.7%), good reproducibility (RSD = 2.1%), and high stability (six weeks) were displayed. Finally, MT-MWCNT@CPE was successfully utilized to measure the uranyl ions in an actual water sample with excellent recoveries (97.8-99.3%). These results demonstrate that MT-MWCNT@CPE possesses appropriate accuracy and is appropriate for environmental applications.