scholarly journals Influence of Nanocrystalline Palladium Morphology on Alkaline Oxygen Reduction Kinetics

Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliran Hamo ◽  
Avichay Raviv ◽  
Brian A. Rosen

The structure sensitivity of the alkaline oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on palladium is of great interest as cost considerations drive the need to find a replacement for platinum catalysts. The kinetics of alkaline ORR were investigated on nanocrystalline palladium (Pd) films with domain sizes between 14 and 30 nm that were synthesized by electrodeposition from aqueous electrolytes. Ten Pd films were prepared under varying electrodeposition parameters leading to each having a unique texture and morphology. The sensitivity of initial alkaline ORR kinetics to the Pd surface structure was evaluated by measuring the kinetic current density and number of electrons transferred for each film. We show through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and voltammetry from rotating disc electrodes (RDEs) that the fastest alkaline ORR kinetics are found on Pd surfaces with high surface roughness, which themselves are composed of fine grains. Such a study is useful for developing membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) based on directly electrodepositing catalyst onto a conductive diffusion layer.

2007 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 699-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.R. Elezovic ◽  
B.M. Babic ◽  
LJ.M. Vracar ◽  
N.V. Krstajic

The oxygen reduction reaction was investigated in 0.1 M NaOH solution, on a porous coated electrode formed of Pt particles supported on carbon cryogel. The Pt/C catalyst was characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The results demonstrated a successful reduction of Pt to metallic form and homogenous Pt particle size distribution with a mean particle size of about 2.7 nm. The ORR kinetics was investigated by linear sweep polarization at a rotating disc electrode. The results showed the existence of two E - log j regions, usually referred to polycrystalline Pt in acid and alkaline solution. At low current densities (lcd), the Tafel slope was found to be close to -2.3RT/F, while at high current densities (hcd) it was found to be close to -2?2.3RT/F. It is proposed that the main path in the ORR mechanism on Pt particles was the direct four-electron process, with the transfer of the first electron as the rate determining step. If the activities are expressed through the specific current densities, a small enhancement of the catalytic activity for Pt/C was observed compared to that of polycrystalline Pt. The effect of the Pt particle size on the electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction was ascribed to the predominant (111) facets of the platinum crystallites. .


2003 ◽  
Vol 780 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Essary ◽  
V. Craciun ◽  
J. M. Howard ◽  
R. K. Singh

AbstractHf metal thin films were deposited on Si substrates using a pulsed laser deposition technique in vacuum and in ammonia ambients. The films were then oxidized at 400 °C in 300 Torr of O2. Half the samples were oxidized in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from a Hg lamp array. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and grazing angle X-ray diffraction were used to compare the crystallinity, roughness, and composition of the films. It has been found that UV radiation causes roughening of the films and also promotes crystallization at lower temperatures.Furthermore, increased silicon oxidation at the interface was noted with the UVirradiated samples and was shown to be in the form of a mixed layer using angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Incorporation of nitrogen into the film reduces the oxidation of the silicon interface.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 655-658
Author(s):  
Andrei Bejan ◽  
Dragos Peptanariu ◽  
Bogdan Chiricuta ◽  
Elena Bicu ◽  
Dalila Belei

Microfibers were obtained from organic low molecular weight compounds based on heteroaromatic and aromatic rings connected by aliphatic spacers. The obtaining of microfibers was proved by scanning electron microscopy. The deciphering of the mechanism of microfiber formation has been elucidated by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy measurements. By exciting with light of different wavelength, florescence microscopy revealed a specific optical response, recommending these materials for light sensing applications.


Photonics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
Rajeev R. Kosireddy ◽  
Stephen T. Schaefer ◽  
Marko S. Milosavljevic ◽  
Shane R. Johnson

Three InAsSbBi samples are grown by molecular beam epitaxy at 400 °C on GaSb substrates with three different offcuts: (100) on-axis, (100) offcut 1° toward [011], and (100) offcut 4° toward [011]. The samples are investigated using X-ray diffraction, Nomarski optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The InAsSbBi layers are 210 nm thick, coherently strained, and show no observable defects. The substrate offcut is not observed to influence the structural and interface quality of the samples. Each sample exhibits small lateral variations in the Bi mole fraction, with the largest variation observed in the on-axis growth. Bismuth rich surface droplet features are observed on all samples. The surface droplets are isotropic on the on-axis sample and elongated along the [011¯] step edges on the 1° and 4° offcut samples. No significant change in optical quality with offcut angle is observed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 977-984
Author(s):  
Mayya V. Kulikova ◽  
Albert B. Kulikov ◽  
Alexey E. Kuz’min ◽  
Anton L. Maximov

AbstractFor previously studied Fischer–Tropsch nanosized Fe catalyst slurries, polymer compounds with or without polyconjugating structures are used as precursors to form the catalyst nanomatrix in situ, and several catalytic experiments and X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy measurements are performed. The important and different roles of the paraffin molecules in the slurry medium in the formation and function of composite catalysts with the two types of aforementioned polymer matrices are revealed. In the case of the polyconjugated polymers, the alkanes in the medium are “weakly” coordinated with the metal-polymer composites, which does not affect the effectiveness of the polyconjugated polymers. Otherwise, alkane molecules form a “tight” surface layer around the composite particles, which create transport complications for the reagents and products of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and, in some cases, can change the course of the in situ catalyst formation.


Coatings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 823
Author(s):  
Shizheng Yang ◽  
Hongliang Lv ◽  
Likun Ai ◽  
Fangkun Tian ◽  
Silu Yan ◽  
...  

InP layers grown on Si (001) were achieved by the two-step growth method using gas source molecular beam epitaxy. The effects of growth temperature of nucleation layer on InP/Si epitaxial growth were investigated systematically. Cross-section morphology, surface morphology and crystal quality were characterized by scanning electron microscope images, atomic force microscopy images, high-resolution X-ray diffraction (XRD), rocking curves and reciprocal space maps. The InP/Si interface and surface became smoother and the XRD peak intensity was stronger with the nucleation layer grown at 350 °C. The Results show that the growth temperature of InP nucleation layer can significantly affect the growth process of InP film, and the optimal temperature of InP nucleation layer is required to realize a high-quality wafer-level InP layers on Si (001).


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (02) ◽  
pp. 1550027 ◽  
Author(s):  
NADIR. F. HABUBI ◽  
RAID. A. ISMAIL ◽  
WALID K. HAMOUDI ◽  
HASSAM. R. ABID

In this work, n- ZnO /p- Si heterojunction photodetectors were prepared by drop casting of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on single crystal p-type silicon substrates, followed by (15–60) min; step-annealing at 600∘C. Structural, electrical, and optical properties of the ZnO NPs films deposited on quartz substrates were studied as a function of annealing time. X-ray diffraction studies showed a polycrystalline, hexagonal wurtizte nanostructured ZnO with preferential orientation along the (100) plane. Atomic force microscopy measurements showed an average ZnO grain size within the range of 75.9 nm–99.9 nm with a corresponding root mean square (RMS) surface roughness between 0.51 nm–2.16 nm. Dark and under illumination current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the n- ZnO /p- Si heterojunction photodetectors showed an improving rectification ratio and a decreasing saturation current at longer annealing time with an ideality factor of 3 obtained at 60 min annealing time. Capacitance–voltage (C–V) characteristics of heterojunctions were investigated in order to estimate the built-in-voltage and junction type. The photodetectors, fabricated at optimum annealing time, exhibited good linearity characteristics. Maximum sensitivity was obtained when ZnO / Si heterojunctions were annealed at 60 min. Two peaks of response, located at 650 nm and 850 nm, were observed with sensitivities of 0.12–0.19 A/W and 0.18–0.39 A/W, respectively. Detectivity of the photodetectors as function of annealing time was estimated.


1995 ◽  
Vol 382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Pehnt ◽  
Douglas L. Schulz ◽  
Calvin J. Curtis ◽  
Helio R. Moutinho ◽  
Amy Swartzlander ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIn this article we report the first nanoparticle-derived route to smooth, dense, phase-pure CdTe thin films. Capped CdTe nanoparticles were prepared by injection of a mixture of Cd(CH3)2, (n-C8H17)3 PTe and (n-C8H17)3P into (n-C8H17)3PO at elevated temperatures. The resultant nanoparticles 32-45 Å in diameter were characterized by x-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. CdTe thin film deposition was accomplished by dissolving CdTe nanoparticles in butanol and then spraying the solution onto SnO2-coated glass substrates at variable susceptor temperatures. Smooth and dense CdTe thin films were obtained using growth temperatures approximately 200 °C less than conventional spray pyrolysis approaches. CdTe films were characterized by x-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy. An increase in crystallinity and average grain size as determined by x-ray diffraction was noted as growth temperature was increased from 240 to 300 °C. This temperature dependence of film grain size was further confirmed by atomic force microscopy with no remnant nanocrystalline morphological features detected. UV-Vis characterization of the CdTe thin films revealed a gradual decrease of the band gap (i.e., elimination of nanocrystalline CdTe phase) as the growth temperature was increased with bulk CdTe optical properties observed for films grown at 300 °C.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1025-1026 ◽  
pp. 427-431
Author(s):  
Ping Gao ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Wei Tian Wang

Orthorhombic HoMnO3 films were prepared epitaxially on Nb-doped SrTiO3 single crystal substrates by using pulsed laser deposition technique. The films showed perfectly a-axis crystallographic orientations. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the films. The complex dielectric properties were measured as functions of frequency (40 Hz~1 MHz) and temperature (80 K~300 K) with a signal amplitude of 50 mv. The respective dielectric relaxation peaks shifted to higher frequency as the measuring temperature increased, with the same development of real part of the complex permittivity. The cole-cole diagram was obtained according to the Debye model, and the effects of relaxation process were discussed.


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