An experimental study of electroreduction of CO2 to HCOOH on SnO2/C in presence of alkali metal cations(Li^+,Na^+,K^+,Rb^+and Cs^+)and anions(HCO3^-,Cl^-,Br^-and I^-)

It is well-known that the electrolytes can influence the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide(ERCO2)in aqueous media.In this work,we explore the effects of alkali metal cations and anions(Li^+,Na^+,K^+,Rb^+,Cs^+,HCO3^-,Cl^-,Br^-,I^-)on the current density and product selectivity for the ERCO2 into formic acid(HCOOH)on the SnO2/carbon paper(Sn O2/C)electrode.Results of the ERCO2 experiments show that for the cations,the promotion effects on current density and faradaic efficiencies(FEs)are in the order of Li^+b Na^+b K^+b Cs^+b Rb^+.For the anions,the current density values are in the order of Na HCO3 b NaClb Na Br b Na I and KHCO3 b KCl≈KI b KBr,respectively,and that on the FEs for the formation of the HCOOH(FEHCOOH)is HCO3-b Cl-b Br-b I-.Based on this result,the effects of alkali metal cations and anions on ERCO2 are discussed.

Preparation and application of pharmaceutical wastewater treatment by praseodymium doped SnO_2/Ti electrocatalytic electrode

Praseodymium was selected as a promoter for SnO2/Ti electrode to improve the electrocatalytic performance by electrodeposition in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment; the micrograph and the structure were characterized by SEM and XRD. Mixture uniform design was used in the optimization of the electrolytic conditions; mathematical model was established according to the rate of wiping COD off, which revealed the relationship between the current intensity, time of electrolysis, the amount of doped Pr, and the ratio of area （SnOJTi：Al）. On the basis of the analysis of the empirical model, the optimized parameters had been obtained; the rate of wiping COD off was up to 94.9%, it decreased from 392 to 20 mg/L. Experimental results showed that the electrocatalytic performance of the electrode doped with Pr was superior for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.

Study on the Drift Calibration Method and Device for the Tin Oxide pH Electrode

Drift phenomenon has been known as the drawback of sensors and causes inaccuracy on the long-term measurement. In general,there are two methods to reduce the drift problem.One is to tune the parameters of the fabrication process to improve the properties of the front-ended device.Another is to compensate the drift phenomenon by adding extra drift compensation circuit or software in the back-ended readout circuit.In this study,a drift calibration method for the potentiometric sensor was presented and the drift calibration method was performed by using the circuit.According to experimental results,the drift phenomenon of the SnO_2 pH electrode was reduced by the drift calibration device.

Composite Electrode SnO_2/TiO_2 for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Composite nanoporous electrode SnO2/TiO2 was fabricated for the dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with N3 (Cis-Ru). After introducing of TiO2, the open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) was higher than that of the pure SnO2 electrode, while short-circuit photocurrent (Isc) was varied with the ratio of the TiO2. Appropriate content of the TiO2 can be beneficial to the efficiency of the solar cell, and it gives negative impact on the composite electrode when the content of TiO2 is higher.

Electrochemical Oxidation of Chlorimuron-ethyl on Ti/SnO_2-Sb_2O_5/PbO_2 Anode for Waste Water Treatment

The electrochemical oxidation of chlorimuron-ethyl on metry. The electrochemical behaviour of the electrode in a sodium Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5/PbO2 electrode was studied by cyclic voltamsulfate solution and in the mixture solution of sodium sulfate and chlorimuron-ethyl was studied. The experimental results of cyclic voltammetry show that the acidic medium was suitable for the efficient electrochemical oxidation of chlorimuron-ethyl. Some electro-generated reagent was formed in the electrolysis process and chlorimuron-ethyl could be oxidized by the electro-generated reagent. A Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5/PbO2 electrode was used as the anode and the electrolysis experiment was carried out under the optimized conditions. The electrolysis process was monitored by UV-Vis spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）, and the chemical oxygen demand（COD） was determined by the potassium dichromate method. The mechanism of chlorimuron-ethyl to be oxided was studied primarily by the cyclic voltammetry and UV-Vis spectrometry. The results of electrolysis experiment demonstrate the possibility of the electrode to be used as an anode for the electrochemical treatment of chlorimuron-ethyl contained in waste water.

A high activity of Ti/SnO_2-Sb electrode in the electrochemicaldegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol in aqueous solution

Electrochemicaldegradation of2,4-dichlorophenol （2,4-DCP） in aqueous solutionwas investigated over Ti/SnO2-Sb anode. The factors influencing thedegradation rate, such as applied currentdensity （2-40 mA/cm2 ）, pH （3-11） and initial concentration （5-200 mg/L）were evaluated. Thedegradation of2,4-DCP followed apparent pseudo first-order kinetics. Thedegradation ratio on Ti/SnO2 -Sb anode attained 〉 99.9% after 20 min of electrolysis at initial 5-200 mg/L concentrations at a constant currentdensity of 30 mA/cm2 with a 10 mmol/L sodium sulphate （Na2SO4 ） supporting electrolyte solution. The results showed that 2,4-DCP （100 mg/L）degradation and total organic carbon （TOC） removal ratio achieved 99.9% and 92.8%, respectively, at the optimal conditions after 30 min electrolysis. Under this condition, thedegradation rate constant （k） and thedegradation half-life （t1/2 ）were 0.21 min1 and （2.8 ± 0.2） min, respectively. Mainly carboxylic acids （propanoic acid, maleic acid, propanedioic acid, acetic acid and oxalic acid） weredetected as intermediates. The energy efficiencies for2,4-DCPdegradation （5-200 mg/L）with Ti/SnO2-Sb anode ranged from 0.672 to 1.602 g/kWh. The Ti/SnO2-Sb anodewith a high activity to rapid organic oxidation could be employed todegrade chlorophenols, particularly2,4-DCP inwastewater.

Electrical characteristics of chlorophyll-a polyvinyl alcohol photovoltaic cells

A type of photovoltaic cell was made by sandwiching micro-crystalline chlorophyll-a (chla) layer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film between two semiconductive optical transparent SnO2 electrodes, such as SnO2/chla/PVA/SnO2. The cell showed a dark rectifying effect and presented photovoltaic properties on illumination, which was illustrated by the charge distribution in the cell. It was suggested mat the SnO2/chla junction might be responsible for photovoltage and the chla/ PVA for the charge separation upon irradiation of visible light. The equivalent electric circuit was discussed and its equivalent component values were calculated.