Sharif Digital Repository

Abstract We report the well-controlled preparation of WS2 nanosheets-CdS nanoparticle heterojunction for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting application. The WS2 nanosheets with an average thickness of ~5 nm and lateral dimensions of ~200 nm were synthesized via liquid phase exfoliation of bulk WS2 in water/ethanol solution, followed by deposition onto ITO substrate via electrophoretic method. CdS nanoparticles were grown via facile successive ion layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Using these two well-controlled methods, CdS/WS2/ITO and WS2/CdS/ITO systems were fabricated. The loading of WS2 nanosheets was... 

Discharge characteristics of nanorods (NRs), microsized and nanosized copper (II) oxide (CuO) particles prepared via thermal decomposition and thermal oxidation routes are examined as cathode materials of a Zn/CuO cell without membrane separators. The electrochemical discharge is examined galvanostatically at a current density of 500 mAg−1 and reveals that the first discharge cycles of all the CuO materials contain one potential plateau; subsequent discharge cycles involve three potential plateaus. Each potential plateau is due to an electrochemical reaction. The first, second, and third potential plateaus are attributed to Cu2O3, CuO, and Cu2O discharges,... 

The corrosion inhibition effect of zinc acetylacetonate (ZAA) and benzothiazole (BTH) mixture was evaluated for mild steel in 3.5% NaCl solution. To this end, ZAA:BTH mixtures ranged from 6:1 to 1:6 mol ratios were examined by weight loss and open circuit potential to obtain optimal mole ratio. The optimal mixture of ZAA:BTH at 1:5 mol ratio showed a significant corrosion inhibition efficiency proved by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization studies. The addition of the optimal mixture of ZAA:BTH to epoxy coating showed a considerable increase of corrosion protection evaluated by salt spray exposure  

In this study, the effects of pulse current mode on corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of anodized coatings were explored. Thickness and hardness measurements, polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to take mechanical and corrosion behaviors of the anodized coatings into consideration. Also, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was utilized to characterize the surface morphology of the coatings. It was shown that in short anodizing times, coating thickness is controlled by the heat concentrated on coating. Although at prolonged anodizing times, the coating thickness is affected by average current density. Hardness measurements showed... 

The electrocodeposition of Ni-TiO2 nanocomposite single layers and Ni-TiO2/TiO2 multilayers from a Watts bath containing a TiO2 sol on copper substrates was investigated by different deposition techniques. Compared with direct current (DC) deposition, both pulse plating (PP) and pulse reverse plating (PRP) facilitated higher incorporations of TiO2 nanoparticles. Morphological studies conducted by scanning electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that the microstructure of the Ni-TiO2 nanocomposite coatings are affected both by pulse potentials and durations, indicating that higher incorporations of TiO2 nanoparticles refine the microstructure. The results... 

HAp and HAp/ZrO2 composite coatings were successfully electrodepesited on 316L stainless steel substrates in the solutions containing ZrO2 particles at different concentrations. The effects of ZrO2 content on characteristics of the coatings were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and bonding strength test. Polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were carried out in order to evaluate corrosion behavior of the coatings. In-vitro test in SBF and further SEM observations were performed to examine bioactivity of the coatings. HAp/ZrO2 composite coatings showed better... 

The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol was studied over Ni, Co and Cu binary or ternary alloys on graphite electrodes in a NaOH solution (0.1 mol/L). The catalysts were prepared by cycling the graphite electrode in solutions containing Ni, Cu and Co ions at cathodic potentials. The synergistic effects and catalytic activity of the modified electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was found that, in the presence of methanol, the modified Ni-based ternary alloy electrode (G/NiCuCo) exhibited a significantly higher response for methanol oxidation compared to the other samples. The anodic peak... 

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin film was electrodeposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) by chronoamperometry. The SEM images showed that hexagonal sheets of CdS deposited on the ITO surface. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed this structure for CdS crystals and the average of crystalline size and the lattice constant parameters are approximately 39.54 and a = 0.4136, c = 0.6696 nm respectively. Photo-electrochemical investigations were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. CdS band edges and density of states (DOS) were determined by CV technique. The band gap energy (Ebg) was measured... 

In this study, the effect of surface modified nano-zirconia (nano-ZrO2) on the corrosion protection of epoxy coating on mild steel was investigated. An organosilane (trimethoxy methyl silane) was used as a surface modifier to improve the dispersability of the inorganic nanoparticles in the organic coating matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the sol-gel surface modified nanoparticles. The dispersability of the modified and unmodified nano-zirconia in an epoxy coating was examined by field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and salt spray were employed to... 

Impedance characteristics of the negative electrode of lead-acid battery were derived on the basis of fundamental interfacial processes occurring at the electrode. The solution of the governing equations was presented in terms of a simple equivalent circuit consisting of resistive and capacitive loops in which charge transfer and sulfate layer formation and also mass transfer (Warburg) elements are considered. The kinetic parameters were deduced by fitting the theoretically derived impedance to the experimental data. Impedance at various States of Charge (SoC) was also examined  

Self-organised and vertically oriented titanium oxide nanotube array (TNTA) has been synthesised by potentiostat anodisation of Ti foil in fluoride-based electrolyte. By varying the anodisation voltage from 8 V to 24 V it was possible to gradually change the topologies of nanotubes. The size of TNTAs was measured using SEM images and also determined based on a non-destructive optical method. In addition, photoelectrochemical properties of nanotubular TiO2/Ti electrodes were examined by anodic photocurrent response, potentiodynamic polarisation measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A general equivalent circuit model was proposed for photoelectrochemical system consists of... 

The influence of an externally applied bias on photocatalytic performance of crystallized TiO2/Ti nanotubular electrode formed by anodization in fluoride-based electrolyte were investigated and compared to the behavior of multiporous TiO2 electrode. The photoelectrocatalytic oxidation behavior of methanol over the nanotubular electrode has been studied by measuring photocurrent response, potentiodynamic polarization spectroscopy and using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was found that the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation and the charge transfer rate constant of reaction on TiO2/Ti nanotubular electrode can significantly be increased by applying electrochemical bias. Moreover,... 

Electrochemical oxidation of l-ascorbic acid on polycrystalline silver in alkaline aqueous solutions is studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and impedance spectroscopy (IS). The anodic electro-oxidation starts at -500 mV versus SCE and shows continued anodic oxidation in the cathodic half cycle in the CV regime signifying slowly oxidizing adsorbates. Diffusion coefficient of ascorbate ion measured under both voltammetric regimes is around 1.4 × 10-5 cm2 s-1. Impedance spectroscopy measures the capacitances associated with double layer and adsorption around 50 μF cm-2 and 4 mF cm-2 as well as the adsorption and decomposition resistances (rates). © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All... 

Oxygen reduction on a polycrystalline silver electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The reaction occurred by a two-electron pathway. The steps in the mechanism were observed in the cyclic voltammograms recorded with different scan rates. The intermediates formed in the steps were detected by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy  

The electrochemical corrosion behavior of finemet alloy at various heat treatment temperatures was investigated. Thermal behavior and structural changes were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry, respectively. The electrochemical corrosion of amorphous and annealed samples was investigated in 0.10 M NaOH solution using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and linear sweep voltammetery. Changes in morphology of the samples before and after corrosion were characterized using optical microscope. The results showed that structural relaxation and nanocrystallization during the heat treatment improved corrosion behavior of the alloy. The heat-treated alloy at... 

Nanostructured molybdenum oxide having a particle size in the range of 30-80 nm was prepared by potentiodynamic electrodeposition method, and the effects of H2SO4 concentration on its capacitive behavior were studied by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Poor to fair capacitive behaviors were witnessed depending on the electrolyte concentration and conditions of charge/discharge. Increasing acid concentration to 0.02 M had favorable effect, while beyond that, the effect was detrimental. Capacitance around 600 F g-1 was recorded in the potential range of 0 to -0.55 V vs. Ag/AgCl  

Nanostructured molybdenum oxide was potentiodynamically deposited onto a stainless steel surface from an aqueous bath by cycling the potential between 0 and -0.75 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The deposit consisted of particulates in the range of 30 to 80 nm. Electrochemical studies under galvanostatic charge/discharge and also impedance spectroscopy revealed capacitive behavior in the potential range of -0.3 to -0.55 V vs. Ag/AgCl with the value of 477 F g-1 at 0.1 mA/cm2. An equivalent circuit comprising of three parallel branches consisting of double-layer capacitance, Warburg impedance, and a constant phase element signifying pseudo-capacitance each coupled with their corresponding resistances was... 

Ag@Pt nanoparticles synthesized with different Ag/Pt mass ratios utilizing ultrasonic treatment method. These materials were supported on Vulcan XC-72 and utilized as cathode in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The morphology of this material characterized through the x-ray diffraction (XRD), induced coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) as well as; high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. To begin with, it was proven that, the prepared Ag@Pt/C catalyst possessed a core–shell nanostructure. The electrochemical properties of this material investigated through the Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and... 

In this work, a comparative study has been performed on two ex-situ and one in-situ doping of titania photoanodes with reduced graphene oxide. The presence of finely dispersed reduced graphene oxide facilitates electron transport and reduces electron-hole recombination resulting in a better performance of doped titania photoanodes. It was found that in-situ doping, i.e. introduction of graphene oxide in solution together with titania precursor was the most performant case of graphene doping. This result was obvious by studying dye-sensitized solar cells based on such doped photoanodes but was also and mainly analytically demonstrated by subjecting the obtained materials to characterization...