Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry

Tolmachev, Yu.; Petrii, O.

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3382-5pmid: N/A

Reviewed herein are recent advances in the synthesis and performance of Pt–Ru electrocatalysts, including core–shell-like, for anodes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) and in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) employing reformate gas. Model systems allowing for a better understanding of composition–property and structure–property relationships, in particular of their CO-tolerance and degradation mechanisms, as well as opportunities for innovative syntheses, support optimization, and durability improvements are discussed. Some other new electrocatalysts for DMFC and PEMFC anodes are compared with Pt–Ru systems.

Ueda, Mikito

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3428-8pmid: N/A

Studies using low-temperature chloroaluminate molten salts are introduced. The physical and chemical properties have been elucidated from around the 1930s, and electrodeposition of Al alloys was reported more recently. Electrodeposition of Bi, Sb, and Te using an AlCl3-NaCl-KCl molten salt is also introduced as an application of molten salts.

Seyyedin, Seyyed; Yaftian, Mohammad; Sovizi, Mohammad

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3411-4pmid: N/A

Cobalt oxyhydroxide combination with graphene oxide (CoOOH@GO) as a novel conductive matrix is developed for high performance lithium/sulfur batteries. Enhancement retention of polysulfide species into matrix of cobalt oxyhydroxide anchored on graphene oxide flakes by strong chemical binding of carbon-sulfur is demonstrated. Sulfur incorporated in the sheet-like morphology of CoOOH@GO delivers high initial discharge specific capacity of 1190.85 mAh/g, which raises 260 mAh/g with respect to graphene oxide/sulfur (GO/S) as a cathode material. Furthermore, CoOOH@GO/S maintains the average coulombic efficiency of 96 % after 300 cycles at 1 C rate with capacity retention of about 61 %. Good current rate capability of CoOOH@GO/S cathode reveals that the resulting composite is open platform for electrolyte diffusion and fast ion transportation leading to the improved electrochemical performance of lithium/sulfur batteries.

Chundak, Mykhailo; Yoshitake, Michiko; Vaclavu, Michal; Matolin, Vladimir; Chikyow, Toyohiro

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3400-7pmid: N/A

We investigate the introduction of oxygen vacancies by the interaction of Pt with CeO2(111) (ceria) thin epitaxial film grown on Cu(111) and the influence of the vacancies on resistive switching behavior. For this purpose, we used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and conductive atomic force microscopy. We found out that after Pt deposition, the ceria film was partially reduced. By our estimation, the reduction occurs not only at the Pt/CeO2 interface, but also on the surface of the ceria film which is not covered by Pt, after Pt deposition and annealing. A different distribution of oxygen vacancies in the film proves to have an influence on the resistance switching process of the film. Finally, the proper balance between the reduced and the unreduced species in order to obtain relatively stable repeatable resistance switch with clear resistance window is discussed.

Meng, Wei; Wen, Lina; Song, Zhonghai; Cao, Ning; Qin, Xue

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3412-3pmid: N/A

Rechargeable Li–O2 batteries are attracting more and more interest due to their high energy density. Meanwhile, the replacement of high-cost and scarce precious-metal catalysts has attracted more and more attention. Currently, many academic researchers have paid attention to find highly efficient metal-free catalysts as air cathode material. Herein, the boron-doped carbon microspheres (B-CMs) were prepared through a novel and facile static calcination method and showed high electrocatalytic activity as a cathode material. The battery with a B-CM cathode delivered a high initial discharge capacity of 13,757.2 mAh g−1 and outstanding coulombic efficiency of 90.1 % at 100 mA g−1. In addition, stable cyclability (151 cycles with stable discharge voltage of ~2.60 V with a cutoff capacity of 1000 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1) has been exhibited. These performances are due to three main points: boron carbide compound changed the surface area of the CMs and formed the mesopore architectures as well as the large surface area of 683.738 m2 g−1; the reduce of boron atom can slow down the oxidation of the CMs during the cyclings; and finally, the electron-deficient boron atom introduction greatly facilitated Li+ diffusion and electrolyte immersion and enhanced the oxygen reduction and evolution reaction kinetics.

Li, Guangyin; Zhang, Zhanjun; Huang, Zhenlei; Yang, Chengkai; Zuo, Zicheng; Zhou, Henghui

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3399-9pmid: N/A

Effect of secondary particle fracture on the accumulated cycle capacity fade of LiNi1-x-yCoxMnyO2 cathode is difficult to evaluate since performance degradation of electrode material is always caused by several factors simultaneously. Herein, LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 single particles (Sin-P) are prepared and introduced as a reference to understand the accumulated cycle capacity fade caused by the secondary particle fracture of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 secondary particles (Sec-P). Sec-P exhibited accumulated cycle capacity fade compared to Sin-P when cycled at high rate, high voltage, and high temperature. The accumulated cycle capacity fade was mainly caused by the secondary particle fracture of Sec-P, which was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Further, XPS and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis indicated that the surface property changes and resistance rise were responsible for the accumulated cycle capacity fade. The study provides a novel way to analyze the accumulated cycle capacity fade caused by the secondary particle fracture and is helpful for understanding the performance degradation mechanism of electrode material.

Kovalenko, V.L.; Kotok, V.A.; Sykchin, A.A.; Mudryi, I.A.; Ananchenko, B.A.; Burkov, A.A.; Sololvov, V.A.; Deabate, S.; Mehdi, A.; Bantignies, J.-L.; Henn, F.

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3405-2pmid:

Mohammed, Elbeshary; De Keersmaecker, Michel; Verbeken, Kim; Adriaens, Annemie

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3402-5pmid: N/A

In this study, sodium salts of saturated linear carboxylic acids with the general formula CH3(CH2) n−2COONa (n = 14, 18)—labeled NaC14 and NaC18—were used to inhibit the corrosion of metallic lead via the development of protective coatings for lead heritage objects. The salts were dissolved in water/ethanol 1:1 (V/V) mixture at 50 °C to increase their solubility, and the coatings were formed by immersing lead samples in the resulted solutions for 24 h. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A hydrophobic layer of lead carboxylates appeared to form on the metal surface, and its corrosion inhibition properties were examined by linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a corrosive solution simulating the environment of museums with uncontrolled conditions. The lead carboxylates formed a protective barrier that inhibited further lead corrosion.

Wang, Shumin; Gao, Tingting; Li, Yan; Li, Shichao; Zhou, Guowei

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3410-5pmid: N/A

Vesicular polyaniline (VPANI) has been fabricated for the first time via a facile two-step method, which uses high-quality multilamellar vesicular SiO2 as hard templates. The graphene-wrapped VPANI (VPANI@RGO) composites were prepared by self-assembling graphene oxide onto VPANI and subsequently conducting the hydrothermal reduction process. The morphological characterization of the composites confirms the uniform wrapping of the graphene sheets on the VPANI. The structural characterization of the composites reveals a strong π–π electron and hydrogen bond interaction in the composites. The VPANI@RGO composites exhibit an excellent supercapacitor performance with an enhanced specific capacitance (573 F g−1) and a good cycling stability, which maintains its capacity of up to 85.7 % over 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1.

Zhang, Kaiyue; Chen, Si; Feng, Yaqing; Shan, Zhongqiang; Meng, Shuxian

doi: 10.1007/s10008-016-3409-ypmid: N/A

A novel polymer gel electrolyte was used to improve the performance and long-term stability in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The polymer gel electrolyte (PGE) was prepared by mixing 5 wt% poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) and 2 % TiO2 nanoparticles. The conductivity of PGE with P25 reached 9.98 × 10−3 S/cm, which increased by 34.9 % compared with 7.40 × 10−3 S/cm of PGE without P25, and the diffusion coefficient was also increased by 19.0 %. Different photoelectrodes were obtained by using three kinds of surfactants (cetylamine, octadecylamine, and P123) as pore-forming materials, and their morphologies were contrasted through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that gel electrolyte can increase the short-circuit current density (J sc) from 11.01 to 12.99 mA/cm2 in DSSCs. Moreover, unlike the liquid electrolyte, the gel electrolyte is more conducive to the TiO2 photoelectrodes with larger pores. In conclusion, the efficiency of DSSC with gel electrolyte and P123 as pore-forming material was 6.73 %, which was 12 % higher than the liquid electrolyte in the same test condition. In addition, the sealed gel electrolyte DSSCs showed better stability than did liquid electrolyte DSSCs during nearly 600 h.