Comparison of corrosion and oxygen evolution behaviors between cast and rolled Pb–Ag–Nd anodes

The corrosion and oxygen evolution behaviors of cast and rolled Pb–Ag–Nd anodes were investigated by metalloscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and various electrochemical measurements. The rolled anode exhibits fewer interdendritic boundaries and a dispersed distribution of Pb–Ag eutectic mixtures and Nd-rich phases in its cross-section. This feature inhibits rapid interdendritic corrosion into the metallic substrate along the interdendritic boundary network. In addition, the anodic layer formed on the rolled anode is more stable toward the electrolyte than that formed on the cast anode, reducing the corrosion of the metallic substrate during current interruption. Hence, the rolled anode has a higher corrosion resistance than the cast anode. However, the rolled anode exhibits a slightly higher anodic potential than the cast anode after 72 h of galvanostatic polarization, consistent with the larger charge transfer resistance. This larger charge transfer resistance may result from the oxygen-evolution reactive sites being blocked by the adsorption of more intermediates and oxygen species at the anodic layer/electrolyte interfaces of the rolled anode than at the interfaces of cast anode.

Synthesis of Cu_2ZnSnS_4 thin film from mixed solution of Cu_2SnS_3 nanoparticles and Zn ions

The Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film was prepared by a facile solution method without vacuum environment and toxic substance. The formation mechanism of the film was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman scattering measurements. Through cyclic voltammetry and photo-electricity tests, the electrocatalytic activity of the prepared film as the counter electrode of dye-sensitizedsolar cell was also studied. The results show that the mixed precursor solution mainly consists of Cu2SnS3 nanoparticles and Zn ions.After 550 °C annealing process on the precursor film prepared from the mixed solution, Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film is obtained. Besides, itis found that the prepared Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film has the electrocatalytic activity toward the redox reaction of I3?/I? and the dye-sensitized solar cell with the prepared Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film as the counter electrode achieves the efficiency of 1.09%.