Electrochemical synthesis of Ni-Sn alloys in molten LiCl-KCl

The electrochemical formation of Ni-Sn was investigated in molten LiCl-KCl in the temperature range 380-580 °C. Before, an electrochemical study of the Ni²⁺/Ni⁰, Sn⁴⁺/Sn²⁺ and Sn²⁺/Sn⁰ redox couples was performed by cyclic voltametry and chronopotentiometry in a wide temperature range. It had been pointed out that in the case of the Sn⁴⁺/Sn²⁺ redox couple, an insoluble compound is probably formed for T < 460 °C. For higher temperature, this compound becomes soluble and then, the shape of the cyclic voltammogram is analogue to the one usually observed when a diffusion-controlled process is involved. The diffusion coefficient values of Ni²⁺ and Sn²⁺ ions were determined. For instance, D_Ni(II) and D_Sn(II) values deduced from chronopotentiometry were about 2.1 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.7 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ at 440 °C, respectively. Then, Ni-Sn alloys have been formed in potentiostatic mode. The electrochemical route proposed in this paper leads to the formation of crystallized alloys with a well-defined composition depending on the operating conditions.     

Electrochemistry of Sn(II)/Sn in a hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquid

The electrochemical reaction of Sn(II)/Sn was investigated in a room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-n-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMPTFSI) at 25 °C. The anodic dissolution of Sn metal proceeded by a two-electron transfer reaction with a current efficiency of nearly 100%. Electrodeposition of Sn on a Cu substrate is possible in BMPTFSI containing Sn(II). The formal potential of the Sn(II)/Sn is −0.57 V vs. Ag/Ag(I). The diffusion coefficient of Sn(II) was estimated to be ∼1 × 10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹ from chronoamperometric and chronopotentiometric techniques. The initial stage of nucleation of Sn on a polycrystalline Pt substrate was found to be classified into a three-dimensional progressive nucleation under diffusion control by chronoamperometry, suggesting the rate of nucleation is faster than that of crystal growth.     

Reduction process of uranium(IV) and uranium(III) in molten fluorides

This study focused on the electroreduction process of uranium cations in molten fluorides. It involved cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry with and without current reversal, and square wave voltammetry.The results indicate a two-step reduction process for uranium(IV). The first step U(IV)/U(III) exchanging one electron corresponds to a soluble/soluble system and is limited by U(IV) diffusion with D_U(IV) = 1.25 ± 0.35 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ in LiF-NaF at 720 °C.In order to perform a thorough study of the second step U(III)/U(0) in the reduction process, the melt was chemically reduced in U(III) with U metal as reducing agent. Alternatively to the use of LiF-NaF where U metal is unstable at 720 °C, the chemical reduction of U(IV) in U(III) was performed in a LiF-CaF₂-UF₄ solution containing U metal at 810 °C. It has been confirmed that the reduction of U(III) proceeds in one step exchanging three electrons and by a diffusion controlled process with D_U(III) = 2.2 ± 0.7 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ in LiF-CaF₂ at 810 °C.     

Electrochemistry of ytterbium (III) in molten alkali metal chlorides

This work presents the electrochemical study of Yb(III) ions in molten alkali metal chlorides in the temperature range 723-1073 K. Transient electrochemical techniques such as linear sweep, cyclic and square wave voltammetry, and potentiometry at zero current have been used to investigate the reduction mechanism, transport parameters and thermodynamic properties of the reaction YbCl₂ + 1/2Cl₂ = YbCl₃ The results obtained show that the reduction reaction Yb(III) + e⁻ ⇔ Yb(II) is reversible being controlled by the rate of the mass transfer. The diffusion coefficient of [YbCl₆]³⁻ complex ions has been determined at different temperatures in the fused eutectic LiCl-KCl, the equimolar NaCl-KCl and the CsCl media. The apparent standard potential of the soluble-soluble redox system Yb(III)/Yb(II) has been obtained by cyclic voltammetry. The influence of the nature of the solvent on the electrochemical and thermodynamic properties of ytterbium compounds is discussed.     

Neodymium(III) cathodic processes in molten fluorides

The electrochemical behaviour of the Nd(III)/Nd(0) system has been investigated in several molten media and more particularly in LiF-CaF₂. A preliminary study based both on thermodynamic and experimental data showed that it is not possible to observe the Nd(III)/Nd(0) system in LiF-KF and LiF-NaF melts; because the K⁺ and Na⁺ cation reduction waves hide the Nd³⁺ reduction wave. Then, the Nd(III)/Nd(0) system has been investigated at 810 °C using solutions of NdF₃ in fluoride solvents without K⁺ and Na⁺ ions, such as LiF-CaF₂, by cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and square wave voltammetry. Experimental results show that neodymium trifluoride is reduced in Nd(0) in a one-step process exchanging three electrons (Nd(III) + 3e⁻ → Nd(0)). The electrode process is shown to be diffusion controlled. Nd(III) diffusion coefficient is in the range of 1.1-1.3 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ at 810 °C.     

Electrochemical behaviour of americium ions in LiCl-KCl eutectic melt

This work presents a study on the electrochemical properties of AmCl₃ in a molten LiCl-KCl eutectic, at a temperature range of 733-833 K. Transient electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry, on inert metallic tungsten working electrode have been used to investigate the reduction mechanism of Am³⁺ ions. The results show that Am³⁺ is reduced to Am metal by a two-step mechanism corresponding to the Am³⁺/Am²⁺ and Am²⁺/Am⁰ transitions. Formal standard potentials of Am³⁺/Am²⁺ ( versus Cl₂/Cl⁻ at 733 K) and Am²⁺/Am⁰ ( versus Cl₂/Cl⁻ at 733 K) redox couples as well as diffusion coefficients of Am³⁺ and Am²⁺ (2.4 × 10⁻⁵ and 1.15 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ at 733 K, respectively) have been calculated at three different temperatures. In the studied range of temperature, the DAm3+/DAm2+ ratio was found to be around 2. In addition, thermodynamic properties have been calculated for Am³⁺ () and Am²⁺ () and compared to thermodynamic reference data in order to estimate activity coefficients (Am³⁺ = 4.7 × 10⁻³ and Am²⁺ = 2.7 × 10⁻² at 733 K) in the molten LiCl-KCl eutectic.     

Electrochemical studies on the redox mechanism of uranium chloride in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic

The reduction and oxidation processes on platinum and glassy carbon electrodes in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic containing UCl₃ were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the temperature range 660-780 K. Two redox peaks have been observed in the cyclic voltammograms corresponding to the two redox reactions U(IV)/U(III) and U(III)/U which are found to be reversible and quasi-reversible, respectively. The reduction potentials of U(IV)/U(III) and U(III)/U are −0.325 and −1.490 V versus reference electrode (0.1 mol% AgCl in the LiCl-KCl), respectively at 700 K. Chronopotentiometric measurements confirm the three-electron transfer during the reduction of U(III) to U metal. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data at various potentials were interpreted either as diffusion, adsorption or reduction process by nonlinear fit of the impedance data to the simulated equivalent circuits.     

Relative stabilities of Ce(IV) and Ce(III) limiting carbonate complexes at 5-50 °C in Na aqueous solutions, an electrochemical study

The normal potential of the Ce(IV)/Ce(III) redox couple was determined by square wave voltammetry (SWV) at different temperatures in solutions with a constant ratio [CO₃²⁻]/[HCO₃⁻] ≈10 for high ionic strengths (3.29 mol dm⁻³ at 4.39 mol dm⁻³): varies from 259.5 to 198.0 mV/S.H.E. in the 15-50 °C range. Linear variations were found for versus (RT/F)ln(mCO₃²⁻), leading to the stoichiometry, Ce(CO₃)₆⁸⁻ for the Ce(IV) limiting complex. But the slopes of these linear variations were actually found in the range 1.8-1.9, not exactly 2. This was interpreted as dissociation of the Ce(IV) limiting complex following the reaction: Ce(CO₃)₅⁶⁻ + CO₃²⁻ → Ce(CO₃)₆⁸⁻ and as dissociation of the Ce(III) limiting complex following the reaction: Ce(CO₃)₃³⁻ + CO₃²⁻ → Ce(CO₃)₄⁵⁻; for which maximum possible values of log₁₀ K_IV,6 and log₁₀ K_III,4 were estimated via fitting in the 15-50 °C temperature range (log₁₀ K_IV,6 = 0.42 (0.97) and log₁₀ K_III,4 = 0.88 (7.00) at 15 °C (50 °C). The normal potential was found to decrease linearly with T, these variations correspond to , with T⁰ = 298.15 K and . The apparent diffusion coefficient of Ce(IV) was determined by direct current polarography (DCP), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry. It was found to depend on the ionic strength and to be proportional to T.     

Electrochemistry of thorium in LiCl-KCl eutectic melts

This work presents a study of the electrochemical properties of Th chloride ions dissolved in a molten LiCl-KCl eutectic, in a temperature range of 693-823 K. Transient electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiommetry and chronoamperometry have been used in order to investigate the reduction mechanism on a tungsten electrode and the diffusion coefficient of dissolved Th ions. All techniques showed that only one valence state was stable in the melt. The reduction into Th metal was found to occur according to a one-step mechanism, through a nucleation-controlled process which requires an overpotential of several 100 mV. At 723 K, the diffusion coefficient is D_Th(723 K) = 3.15 ± 0.15 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹. EMF measurements indicated that, at 723 K, the standard apparent potential is (723 K) = −2.582 V versus Cl₂/Cl⁻, and the activity coefficient γThCl₄ (723 K) = 4.6 × 10⁻⁴ on the mole fraction scale (based on a pure liquid reference state).     

An electrochemical DNA biosensor developed on novel multinuclear nickel(II) salicylaldimine metallodendrimer platform

An electrochemical DNA biosensor (EDB) was prepared using an oligonucleotide of 21 bases with sequence NH₂-5′-GAGGAGTTGGGGGAGCACATT-3′ (probe DNA) immobilized on a novel multinuclear nickel(II) salicylaldimine metallodendrimer on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The metallodendrimer was synthesized from amino functionalized polypropylene imine dendrimer, DAB-(NH₂)₈. The EDB was prepared by depositing probe DNA on a dendrimer-modified GCE surface and left to immobilize for 1 h. Voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) studies were carried out to characterize the novel metallodendrimer, the EDB and its hybridization response in PBS using [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− as a redox probe at pH 7.2. The metallodendrimer was electroactive in PBS with two reversible redox couples at E°′ = +200 mV and E°′ = +434 mV; catalytic by reducing the E_pa of [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− by 22 mV; conducting and has diffusion coefficient of 8.597 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹. From the EIS circuit fitting results, the EDB responded to 5 nM target DNA by exhibiting a decrease in charge transfer resistance (R_ct) in PBS and increase in R_ct in [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− redox probe; while in voltammetry, increase in peak anodic current was observed in PBS after hybridization, thus giving the EDB a dual probe advantage.     

Electrochemical behavior of Fe(II) in acetamide-urea-NaBr-KBr melt and magnetic properties of inductively codeposited Nd-Fe film

The electroreduction of Fe(II) and Nd(III) in MCl_x-acetamide-urea-NaBr-KBr were studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The reduction of Fe(II) to Fe is an irreversible process, the value of αn_α of the electrode reaction was calculated to be 0.31 and the diffusion coefficient of Fe(II) was calculated to be 9.53 × 10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹ at 343 K. Nd(III) cannot be reduced alone in urea melt, but Nd-Fe can be codeposited by induced codeposition. The composition of Nd-Fe film varies with the Nd(III)/Fe(II) molar ratio, at the potential of −1.25 V the maximum content of Nd in Nd-Fe film is 60.4 wt%. The morphology of Nd-Fe film was investigated by SEM and AFM. Nd-Fe film comprises of nanoparticles with the size about 100-200 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows it is amorphous. After heat-treatment at 1173 K the crystal Nd₂Fe₁₇ phase can be formed. The magnetic properties of the Nd-Fe films were determined using hysteresis loops, at 5 K the coercive field H_c of Nd (62.6 wt%)-Fe amorphous film is 1225 Oe, the remanent magnetization M_R and the saturation magnetization M_S are 5.15 and 15.80 emu g⁻¹, respectively.     

Electrochemistry of TiCl4 in 1-butyl-2,3-dimethyl imidazolium azide

Electrochemical behaviour of titanium tetrachloride solutions in 1-butyl-2,3-dimethyl imidazolium azide (BMMImN₃) at 65 °C has been examined. Ti(IV) reduction was studied with chronopotentiometry and cyclic voltammetry methods in melts with different concentrations of TiCl₄. According to IR spectra, Ti(IV) exists in form of a hexaazidotitanate complex. The electrochemical reduction of this complex was found to proceed irreversibly to Ti(III) species only. Diffusion coefficients of Ti(IV) in this ionic liquid at temperature 65 °C were calculated based on the chronopotentiometry measurements at different TiCl₄ concentrations (D_Ti(IV) = 1.3 ± 0.6 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹).     

A novel micro-spherical CoSn2/Sn alloy composite as high capacity anode materials for Li-ion rechargeable batteries

Micro-scaled spherical CoSn₂/Sn alloy powders synthesized from oxides of Sn and Co via carbothermal reduction at 800 °C were examined for use as anode materials in Li-ion battery. The phase composition and particle morphology of the CoSn₂/Sn alloy composite powders were investigated by XRD, SEM and TEM. The prepared CoSn₂/Sn alloy composite electrode exhibits a low initial irreversible capacity of ca. 140 mAh g⁻¹, a high specific capacity of ca. 600 mAh g⁻¹ at constant current density of 50 mA g⁻¹, and a good rate capability. The stable discharge capacities of 500-515 mAh g⁻¹ and the columbic efficiencies of 95.8-98.1% were obtained at current density of 500 mA g⁻¹. The relatively large particle size of CoSn₂/Sn alloy composite powder is apparently favorable for the lowering of initial capacity loss of electrode, while the loose particle structural characteristic and the Co addition in Sn matrix should be responsible for the improvement of cycling stability of CoSn₂/Sn electrode.     

Mg-doped poly(?-caprolactone)/siloxane biohybrids

Ionically conducting materials based on a poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL)/siloxane organic/inorganic host framework doped with magnesium triflate (Mg(CF₃SO₃)₂) were synthesized by the sol-gel process. In this matrix short PCL chains are covalently bonded to the siliceous network via urethane linkages. In this study the salt content of samples was identified using the conventional notation n, where n indicates the number of (C(O)(CH₂)₅O) PCL repeat units per Mg²⁺ ion. Xerogels with compositions ranging from n = ∞ to 1 were prepared. The only composition studied that was not entirely amorphous was that prepared with n = 1. Xerogels with n ≥ 7 are thermally stable up to at least 200 °C. The composition with the highest conductivity of the series is that with n = 34 (5.9 × 10⁻⁹ and 9.8 × 10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ at 24 and 104 °C, respectively).     

Highly salicylate-selective membrane electrode based on a new thiomacrocyclic Schiff base complex of binuclear copper(II) as neutral carrier

New binuclear metallic complexes of thiomacrocyclic Schiff base, 3,9,13,19 -tetraphenyl-6,16-dithione-1,11-dithio-4,5,7,8,14,15,17,18-octaazacycloeicosa-3,8,13,18-tetraene binuclear metal(II) [M(II)₂-TDDOCT] (M = Cu, Co, Ni), were synthesized and their anion response characteristics were investigated. The performances of the electrodes are considerably influenced by the nature of the central metals. The Cu(II) complex-based electrode exhibited a good selectivity to salicylate anion with an anti-Hofmeister selectivity pattern: Sal⁻ > ClO₄⁻ > SCN⁻ > I⁻ > Benzoate > B_r⁻ > Acetate > F⁻ > SO₃²⁻ > NO₂⁻ > Cl⁻ > NO₃⁻ > SO₄²⁻ > H₂PO₄⁻. The electrode had an excellent linear response to Sal⁻ from 9.0 × 10^− 7 to 1.0 × 10^− 1 M with a slope of − 59.3 mV per decade,a detection limit of 5.0 × 10^− 7 M, and a fast response time within 15 s over the entire concentration series in phosphate buffer solutions of pH 5.0 at 25 °C. Spectroscopic techniques and the influence of lipophilic charged additives on the electrode behavior were used to investigate the response mechanism to Sal⁻. The electrode can be applied to the direct determination of salicylate in human urine and pharmaceutical samples and the results obtained are in accord with the results from a standard method.     

Crown ether bridged homo- and heterodinuclear copper(II) and nickel(II) cyclidene complexes: Interaction with anions

Homodinuclear (3CuCu, 3NiNi) and heterdionuclear (3CuNi) cyclidene complexes linked by two 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 ethers were synthesized and their properties characterized. For the 3CuCu in the negative potential range the mixed-valence state Cu^I-Cu^II was observed and the comproportionation constants were determined. The redox potentials of M^II/III showed a good correlation with DN of the solvent. In acetonitrile solution containing 0.1 mol dm⁻³ Bu₄NPF₆ reversible M^II/III redox processes were observed. However, in the presence of stronger ion pairing anions (e.g. BF₄⁻ and ClO₄⁻) the “potential inversion” occurred. Redox potentials of dinuclear complexes were compared with mononuclear cyclidene complexes. The influence of selected anions (Cl⁻ and NO₃⁻) on the redox process M^II/III was studied. The effect of Cl⁻ anion was different for 3CuCu and 3NiNi. In 3CuCu coordination of two chloride anions took place after oxidation of copper centers. In the 3NiNi complex two Cl⁻ anions were coordinated to one of the nickel(II) centers facilitating oxidation, at different potentials, of both nickel(II) cations. The behaviour of heteronuclear complex with Cl⁻ anions was similar to 3NiNi. All dinuclear complexes interacted with NO₃⁻ anions and the observed potential shifts were larger for nickel(II) than for copper(II) cations.     

Grain boundaries and the influence of the ionophilic-ionophobic balance on Li and F NMR and conductivity in low-dimensional polymer electrolytes with lithium tetrafluoroborate

⁷Li and ¹⁹F NMR linewidths and impedance spectra are reported for low-dimensional CmOn (I):LiBF₄ mixtures. Data for the ionophilic polymer C18O5 is compared with that for the ionophobic C18O1 and the block copolymer C16O1O5(21%) (21 mol% of C16O5). In C18O5:LiBF₄ (1:1) narrow ⁷Li linewidths, which were observed in the liquid crystal phase above the side chain melting temperature (∼50 °C), persist in the crystal down to ca. 0 °C and broaden below −20 °C. However, in C18O1:LiBF₄ (1:0.6) narrow ⁷Li linewidths were also observed down to −20 °C suggesting highly mobile neutral aggregates of salt since this system is non-conductive. In the copolymer C16O1O5(21%):LiBF₄ (1:0.7) the linewidths were even narrower down to −70 °C with weak temperature dependence. In all systems ¹⁹F linewidths were significantly broader than ⁷Li linewidths. The complex plane plots obtained by impedance spectroscopy exhibit characteristic minima identified with ‘grain boundary’ resistance and, following heat treatment, minima with weak temperature dependence identified with ‘internal crystal’ resistance, R_i, and conductivities, σ_i ≥ 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹. Four-component mixtures of copolymers CmO1O5 and CmO1O4 with LiBF₄ and ‘salt-bridge’ poly(tetramethylene oxide)-dodecamethylene copolymers gave conductivities of ca. 4 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 20 °C with weak temperature dependence. A novel carrier-hopping mechanism of lithium transport decoupled from side chain melting in the crystalline state is postulated.      

Properties of Ni1−xFex (0.1 < x < 0.9) and Invar (x = 0.64) alloys obtained by electrodeposition

Electrodeposition of Ni_1−xFe_x (x = 0.1-0.9) films was carried out from a chloride plating solution containing saccharin as an organic additive at a constant current density (5 mA/cm²) and a controlled pH of 2.5. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the existence of an fcc, or γ phase, in the range of 10-58 wt.% Fe, a mixed fcc/bcc phase in the range of 59-60 wt.% Fe, and a bcc, or α phase in the range of 64-90 wt.% Fe. The saturation magnetization, B_s, of electrodeposited Ni_1−xFe_x alloys at the room temperature was found to increase with the increase of Fe-content and follows the Slater-Pauling curve, but deviates from as-cast bulk NiFe alloys. The coefficient of thermal expansion, CTE, of electrodeposited alloys at room temperature also deviates from as-cast bulk NiFe alloys. Annealing of α-Ni₃₆Fe₆₄ alloy results in a martensitic α → γ phase transformation, which takes place between 300 and 400 °C. It was demonstrated that thermal treatment above 400 °C was necessary to obtain magnetic and mechanical properties similar to those to conventional Invar alloy. Annealing of α-Ni₃₆Fe₆₄ alloy at 700 °C brings about a decrease of B_s from 1.75 to 0.45 T. By controlling the annealing conditions of α → γ martensitic transformation, it is possible to adjust the CTE of Ni₃₆Fe₆₄ alloy over the broad limits from 2.7 to 8.7 × 10⁻⁶/°C.     

Conformational characteristics of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in methanol

The conformational characteristics of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in methanol at 25 °C were investigated by static light scattering and viscometry for high molar mass (M_w) PEO fractions covering M_w = 3.42 × 10⁵-5.05 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹. No trace of downturn in the plot of angular dependence of Kc/R_θ at low angle was found. Experimental scaling laws for the second virial coefficient (A₂), the third virial coefficient (A₃), the radius of gyration and the intrinsic viscosity ([η]) were determined. The exponents characterizing these scaling laws confirmed that the PEO chain in methanol has a flexible conformation with relatively large excluded volume, but methanol is not as good solvent as water. On the other hand, the low value of interpenetration function (Ψ) and the relatively higher order of the dimensionless parameter Π are considered to be an indication of local chain stiffness. All the results obtained in this study allow us to conclude that the overall chain conformation of PEO assumed in methanol is basically a random coil, but is intermittently mixed with helical structure.     

Electrochemical formation of Mg-Li alloys at solid magnesium electrode from LiCl-KCl melts

This work presents a study on electrochemical formation of Mg-Li alloys on solid magnesium electrode in a molten LiCl-KCl (50:50, wt.%) system at 753 K. Cyclic voltammetry and open circuit chronopotentiometry were employed to investigate the electrode reaction. For an Mg electrode, the electroreduction of Li(I) takes place at more positive potential values than at the inert W electrode indicating the formation of Mg-Li alloys. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the deposits indicated that α, α + β and β phases Mg-Li alloys with the thickness of 182, 365 and 2140 μm were obtained by potentiostatic electrolysis at −2.26, −2.30 and −2.39 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively. The results showed that formation of α, α + β and β phases Mg-Li alloys could be controlled by applied potential. Lithium contents of Mg-Li alloys can be decreased via electrolysis at low temperature followed by thermal treatment at higher temperature. Mg-Li alloys with excellent mechanical properties can be produced by this novel method.