Preparation of TeO_x-SiO_2 film with excellent third-order nonlinear optical properties by electrochemically induced sol-gel method

TeOx-SiO2 composite films having third-order nonlinearities were prepared by electrochemically induced sol-gel deposition method on ITO substrate.The third-order optical nonlinearities of the films were measured by Z-scan technique.The third-order nonlinear susceptibilities（χ^（（3））） of the as-prepared films are 5.9×10^（-7） to 4.29×10^（-6）esu.The surface morphology and composition of the films were characterized by SEM/EDX,which identified that Te metallic particles well dispersed in TeO_x-SiO_2 gel films.

High-performance zinc-ion batteries enabled by electrochemically induced transformation of vanadium oxide cathodes

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs) have become a research hotspot in recent years,due to their huge potential for high-energy,fast-rate,safe and low-cost energy storage.To realize good electrochemical properties of ZIBs,cathode materials with prominent Zn^(2+) storage capability are highly needed.Herein,we report a promising ZIB cathode material based on electrochemically induced transformation of vanadium oxides.Specifically,K_(2) V_6 O_(16)·1.5 H_(2) O nanofibers were synthesized through a simple stirring method at near room temperature and then used as cathode materials for ZIBs in different electrolytes.The cathode presented superior Zn^(2+) storage capability in Zn(OTf)_(2) aqueous electrolyte,including high capacity of 321 mAh/g,fast charge/discharge ability(96 mAh/g delivered in 35 s), high energy density of 235 Wh/kg and good cycling performance.Mechanism analysis evidenced that in Zn(OTf)_(2) electrolyte,Zn^(2+) intercalation in the first discharge process promoted K_(2) V_6 O_(16)·1.5 H_(2) O nanofibers to transform into Zn_(3+x)V_(2) O_7(OH)_(2)·2 H_(2) O nanoflakes,and the latter served as the Zn^(2+)-storage host in subsequent charge/discharge processes.Benefiting from open-framework crystal structure and sufficiently exposed surface,the Zn_(3+x)V_(2) O_7(OH)_(2)·2_H2 O nanoflakes exhibited high Zn^(2+) diffusion coefficient,smaller charge-transfer resistance and good reversibility of Zn^(2+) intercalation/de-intercalation,thus leading to superior electrochemical performance.While in ZnS04 aqueous electrolyte,the cathode material cannot sufficiently transform into Zn_(3+x)V_(2) O_7(OH)_(2)·2 H_(2) O thereby corresponding to inferior electrochemical behaviors.Underlying mechanism and influencing factors of such a transformation phenomenon was also explored.This work not only reports a high-performance ZIB cathode material based on electrochemically induced transformation of vanadium oxides,but also provides new insights into Zn^(2+)-storage electrochemistry.

Heterostructure Solar Cells Based on Sol-Gel Deposited SnO₂and Electrochemically Deposited Cu₂O

To fabricate a heterostructure solar cell using environmentally friendly materials and low cost techniques, tin oxide (SnO2) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O) were deposited by the sol-gel method and the electrochemical deposition, respectively. The SnO2 films were deposited from a SnCl2 solution containing ethanol and acetic acid. The Cu2O films were deposited using a galvanostatic method from an aqueous bath containing CuSO4 and lactic acid at a temperature of 40°C. The Cu2O/SnO2 heterostructure solar cells showed rectification and photovoltaic properties, and the best cell showed a conversion efficiency of 6.6 × 10-2 % with an open-circuit voltage of 0.29 V, a short-circuit current of 0.58 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 0.39.

Hydrogen induced cracking of X80 pipeline steel

The hydrogen-induced cracking （HIC） behavior of X80 pipeline steel was studied by means of electrochemical charging, hydrogen permeation tests, tension test, and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The experimental results indicate that the increase of charging time and charging current density or the decrease of the solution pH value leads to an increase of the hydrogen content in X80 steel, which plays a key role in the initiation and propagation of HIC. It is found that the majority of macro-inclusions within the as-used X80 steel do not constitute a direct threat to HIC except aluminum oxides, which directly or indirectly lead to HIC. The hydrogen trap density at room temperature is estimated to be pretty high, and this is an essential reason why the steel is sensitive to HIC. After hydrogen charging, the elongation loss rate and area reduction of X80 steel decline obviously, taking a noticeable sign of hydrogen-induced plasticity damages. It is demonstrated that the losses of these plastic parameters have a linear relation to the fracture size due to hydrogen.

Electrochemical performance of Al-substituted Li_3V_2(PO_4)_3 cathode materials synthesized by sol-gel method

The effect of Al-substitution on the electrochemical performances of Li3V2(PO4)3 cathode materials was studied.Samples with stoichiometric proportion of Li3AlxV2-x(PO4)3(x=0,0.05,0.10)were prepared by adding Al(NO3)3 in the raw materials of Li3V2(PO4)3.The XRD analysis shows that the Al-substituted Li3V2(PO4)3 has the same monoclinic structure as the un-substituted Li3V2(PO4)3.The SEM images show that Al-substituted Li3V2(PO4)3 has regular and uniform particles.The electrochemical measurements show that Al-substitution can improve the rate capability of cathode materials.The Li3Al0.05V1.95(PO4)3 sample shows the best high-rate performance.The discharge capacity at 1C rate is 119 mA·h/g with 30th capacity retention rate about 92.97%.The electrode reaction reversibility and electronic conductivity are enhanced,and the charge transfer resistance decreases through Al-substitution.The improved electrochemical performances of Al-substituted Li3V2(PO4)3 cathode materials offer some favorable properties for their commercial application.

Electrochemical performance of LiFePO_4/(C+Fe_2P) composite cathode material synthesized by sol-gel method

A LiFePO4/（C＋Fe2P） composite cathode material was prepared by a sol-gel method using Fe（NO3）3.9H20, LiAc·H2O）, NHaH2PO4 and citric acid as raw materials, and the physical properties and electrochemical performance of the composite cathode material were investigated by X-ray diffractometry （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM） and electrochemical tests. The Fe2P content, morphology and electrochemical performance of LiFePOa/（C＋Fe2P） composite depend on the calcination temperature. The optimized LiFePO4/（C＋FeeP） composite is prepared at 650 ~C and the optimized composite exhibits sphere-like morphology with porous structure and Fe2P content of about 3.2% （mass fraction）. The discharge capacity of the optimized LiFePO4/（C＋FeRP） at 0.1C is 156 and 161 mA.h/g at 25 and 55 ℃, respectively, and the corresponding capacity retentions are 96% after 30 cycles; while the capacity at 1C is 142 and 149 mA.h/g at 25 and 55 ℃, respectively, and the capacity still remains 135 and 142 mA-h/g after 30 cycles at 25 and 55℃, respectively.

Comparative structural and electrochemical properties of mixed P2/O′3-layered sodium nickel manganese oxide prepared by sol-gel and electrospinning methods:Effect of Na-excess content

The effect of Na-excess content in the precursor on the structural and electrochemical performances of sodium nickel manganese oxide(NNMO)prepared by sol-gel and electrospinning methods is investigated in this paper.X-ray diffraction results of the prepared NNMO without adding Na-excess content indicate sodium loss,while the mixed phase of P2/O′3-type layered NNMO presented after adding Na-excess content.Compared with the sol-gel method,the secondary phase of NiO is more suppressed by using the electrospinning method,which is further confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscope images.N_(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms show no remarkably difference in specific surface areas between different preparation methods and Na-excess contents.The analysis of X-ray absorption near edge structure indicates that the oxidation states of Ni and Mn are+2 and+4,respectively.For the electrochemical properties,superior electrochemical performance is observed in the NNMO electrode with a low Na-excess content of 5wt%.The highest specific capacitance is 36.07 F·g^(-1)at0.1 A·g^(-1)in the NNMO electrode prepared by using the sol-gel method.By contrast,the NNMO electrode prepared using the electrospinning method with decreased Na-excess content shows excellent cycling stability of 100%after charge-discharge measurements for 300 cycles.Therefore,controlling the Na excess in the precursor together with the preparation method is important for improving the electrochemical performance of Na-based electrode materials in supercapacitors.

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of sol-gel derived LiMn_(2)O_(4)cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Spinel LiMn_(2)O_(4)has been considered to be the most promising alternative cathode material for the new generation of lithium-ion batteries in terms of its low cost,non-toxicity and easy manufacture.The spinel lithium manganese mixed oxides were prepared from lithium nitrate,manganese nitrate and citric acid by a sol-gel method and were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis,X-ray diffraction,cyclic voltammetry and constant current charging-discharging technique.The different sintering temperatures for different time have strong influence on the structure,initial discharge capacity and cycling performance of the lithium manganese oxide.It shows that the lithium manganese oxides sintered at 700℃for 10 h have a single spinel structure and better electrochemical properties.The initial discharging capacity can be up to 125.9 mAh·g^(-1),even after six cycles,it still retains 109.1 mAh·g^(-1).

Mechanically induced Cu active sites for selective C–C coupling in CO_(2)electroreduction

Developing a convenient method to endow bulk Cu-based electrode with high activity of electrocatalytic CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)to multicarbon(C_(2+))products is desirable but challenging.Herein,for the first time,we report that mechanical polishing induces highly reactive Cu sites for selective C-C coupling in CO_(2)RR.We find that mechanical polishing could endow Cu foil with abundant nanocavity surface structure,which efficiently confines the carbonaceous intermediates to enhance the probability of C-C coupling reaction.By confining the carbonaceous intermediates with Cu nanocavity,the as-prepared electrode delivers a Faradaic efficiency toward C_(2+)products of 65.7%at-1.3 V vs.RHE,which is enhanced up to 1.7 folds compared with that of commercial Cu foil.This work provides a new method to enable Cu foil with high activity of CO_(2)RR to C_(2+)products.

Synthesis of LiMnPO_4/C composite material for lithium ion batteries by sol-gel method

The LiMnPO4/C composite material was synthesized via a sol-gel method based on the citric acid. The X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and electrochemical performance tests were adopted to characterize the properties of LiMnPO4/C. The XRD studies show that the pure olivine phase LiMnPO4 can be obtained at a low temperature of 500 °C. The SEM analyses illustrate that the citric acid used as the chelating reagent and carbon source can restrain the particle size of LiMnPO4/C well. The LiMnPO4/C sample synthesized at 500 °C for 10 h performs the highest initial discharge capacity of 122.6 mA-h/g, retaining 112.4 mA-h/g over 30 cycles at 0.05C rate. The citric acid based sol-gel method is favor to obtain the high electrochemical performance of LiMnPO4/C.

Preparation of anatase TiO_2 with assistance of surfactant OP-10 and its electrochemical properties as an anode material for lithium ion batteries

With the assistance of nonionic surfactant （OP-10） and surface-selective surfactant （CH3COOH）, anatase TiO2 was prepared as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. The morphology, the crystal structure, and the electrochemical properties of the prepared anatase TiO2 were characterized by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）, and galvanostatic charge and discharge test. The result shows that the prepared anatase TiO2 has high discharge capacity and good cyclic stability. The maximum discharge capacity is 313 mAh.g^-1, and there is no significant capacity decay from the second cycle.

Effect of sulphate-reducing bacteria on the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characteristics of 1Cr18Ni9Ti

The electrochemical characteristics of 1Cr18Ni9Ti in sulphate-reducing bacteria （SRB） solutions and the biofilm of SRB on the surface of the 1Cr18Ni9Ti electrode were studied by electrochemical, microbiological, and surface analysis methods. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） of 1Cr18Ni9Ti was measured in the solutions with and without SRB at the culture time of 2, 4, 8 d, respectively. The measurement used two test methods, the nonimmersion electrode method and the immersion electrode method. It was found that the polarization resistance （Rp） of 1Cr18Ni9Ti in the solutions without SRB is the greatest for each test method. When using the nonimmersion electrode method, Rp shifts negatively at first and then positively, and the time constant is only one. Although using the immersion electrode method, the Rp shifts positively at first and then negatively, and the time constant also changes when the biofilm forms. The biofilm observed through SEM is with pores. It was demonstrated that SRB has accelerated corrosion action on 1Cr18Ni9Ti. The protection effect of the biofilm on the electrode depends on the compact degree of the film.

Effects of Different Synthetic Parameters on Structure and Performance of LiMn_2O_4 by Adipic Acid-Assisted Sol-Gel Method

The spinel lithium manganese oxide cathode materials were prepared by adipic acid-assisted sol-gel method at 350～900 ℃ in air. The effects of water content of solution, molar ratio between metal ion and adipic acid, cooling rate, synthesis temperature and particle sizes on structure and electrochemical performance of LiMn_2O_4 are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The result shows that the structure and electrochemical performance of LiMn_2O_4 are greatly affected by synthesis condition, and the optimal synthesis condition is determined. Charge-discharge test reveals that the particle size and cooling rate have significant effects on the electrochemical performance of LiMn_2O_4 cathode materials.

Sol-gel preparation and characterization of Li_(1.3)Al_(0.3)Ti_(1.7)(PO_4)_3 sintered with flux of LiBO_2

Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7（PO4）3 pellets sintered with different mole fractions of LiBO2 were prepared by sol-gel method. The structural identification, surface morphology, ionic conductivity, and activation energy of the pellets were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that all the Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7（PO4）3 pellets sintered with different mole fractions of LiBO2 have similar X-ray diffraction patterns. The sintered pellet becomes denser and the boundary and comer of the particles become illegible with the increase of LiBO2. Among the Lil.3Al0.3Ti1.7（PO3）4 pellets sintered with different mole fractions of LiBO2, the one sintered with 1 mol% LiBO2 shows the highest ionic conductivity of 3.95×10^-4 S.cm^-1 and the lowest activation energy of 0.2469 eV.

Effects of Na content on structure and electrochemical performances of Na_xMnO_(2+δ) cathode material

Sodium manganese oxides,NaxMnO2+δ(x = 0.4,0.5,0.6,0.7,1.0;δ = 0-0.3),were synthesized by solid-state reaction routine combined with sol-gel process.The structure,morphology and electrochemical performances of as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD,SEM,CV,EIS and galvanostatic charge/discharge experiments.It is found that Na0.6MnO2+δ and Na0.7MnO2+δ have high discharge capacity and good cycle performance.At a current density of 25 mA/g at the cutoff voltage of 2.0-4.3 V,Na0.6MnO2+δ gives the second discharge capacity of 188 mA·h/g and remains 77.9% of second discharge capacity after 40 cycles.Na0.7MnO2+δ exhibits the second discharge capacity of 176 mA·h/g and shows better cyclic stability;the capacity retention after 40 cycles is close to 85.5%.Even when the current density increases to 250 mA/g,the discharge capacity of Na0.7MnO2+δ still approaches to 107 mA·h/g after 40 cycles.

Electrochemical properties of spinel compound LiNi_(0.5)Mn_(1.2)Ti_(0.3)O_4 as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

The electrochemical properties of spinel compound LiNi0.5Mn1.2Ti0.3O4 were investigated in this study.The chemicals LiAc·2H2O,Mn（Ac）2·2H2O,Ni（Ac）2·4H2O,and Ti（OCH3）4 were used to synthesize LiNi0.5Mn1.2Ti0.3O4 by a simple sol-gel method.The discharge capacity of the sample reached 134 mAh/g at a current rate of 0.1C.The first and fifth cycle voltammogram almost overlapped,which showed that the prepared sample LiNi0.5Mn1.2Ti0.3O4 had excellent good cycle performance.There were two oxidation peaks at 4.21 V and 4.86 V,and two reduction peaks at 4.55 V and 3.88 V in the cycle voltammogram,respectively.By electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and its fitted result,the lithium ion diffusion coefficient was measured to be approximately 7.76 × 10？11 cm2/s.

Evolution of electrochemically induced stress and its effect on the lithium-storage performance of graphite electrode

The electrochemically induced stress is a key factor that affects the lithium-storage performance of electrode materials.In this study,the origin and evolution of the electrochemically induced stress of the graphite electrode were investigated by in situ experiments and simulations.An in situ optical experiment was performed to observe the electrode color to analyze the concentration and diffusion process of lithium ions inside the graphite electrode.An electrochemical-mechanical coupling model under the same experimental conditions was developed and verified by the experimental lithium concentration,and characterization of the spatiotemporal evolution of the potential,lithium concentration,and stress during the diffusion process was realized.The results showed that lithium intercalation leads to compressive stress,which presents a gradient distribution along the Li+diffusion path,and it exhibits a“piecewise”nonlinear growth trend with increasing lithiation time.In addition,as the potential decreases,the stress increases from slow to fast relative to the lithium-concentration increase,showing the characteristic of stages.The influence of stress on the lithium-storage performance is discussed using the local lithium-intercalation rate and phase-interface migration speed as the key parameters.The lithiation mechanism was analyzed from the perspective of the energy,and it was found that the two factors cause the slow diffusion in the late stage of lithiation,thus affecting the actual lithium-storage performance.This study will enhance the understanding of the electro-chemo-mechanical coupling mechanism and provide guidance for enhancing stress-regulated battery performance.

Investigation on a Sol-gel Coating Containing Inhibitors on 2024-T3 Aluminum Alloy

For a long time, chromate incorporated conversion coatings have been drawn special attention in corrosion protection of aircraft-used aluminum alloys. However, ever-increasing environmental pressures requires that non-chromate conversion coatings be developed because of the detrimental carcinogenic effects of the chromate compounds. In recent years, the sol-gel coatings doped with inhibitors were developed to replace chromate conversion coatings, and showed real promise; A sol-gel coating was prepared and its anti-corrosion behavior was investigated using the potentiodynamic scanning （PDS） and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）. It is found that the sol-gel coating obtained by the hydrolysis and condensation of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane （GPTMS） and tetramethoxysilane （TMOS） is prone to form defects if cured at the room temperature, whereas if cured at a higher temperature （100℃）, these flaws can be avoided. Furthermore, it can be seen that addition of anti-foam agents and surfactants will reduce the faults if cured at the room temperature. Effects of the corrosion inhibitors, CeCl3 and mercaptobenzothiazole （MBT）, in the sol-gel coatings on 2024-T3 aluminum alloy were also investigated. Results show that the corrosion resistance of the sol-gel coatings containing CeCl3 proves to be better than that of the pure and MBT added sol-gel coatings by the electrochemical methods.

Application of g-C_(3)N_(4)/sol-gel nanocomposite on AM60B magnesium alloy and investigation of its properties

To protect the AM60B magnesium alloy from corrosion,a sol-gel coating containing hydroxylated g-C_(3)N_(4)nanoplates was applied.The chemical composition of the hydroxylated g-C_(3)N_(4)nanoplates was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The hydroxylation process did not affect the crystal size,specific surface area,pore volume,average pore diameter,and thermal stability of the g-C_(3)N_(4)nanoplates.After incorporating pristine and hydroxylated g-C_(3)N_(4)nanoplates,dense sol-gel coatings were obtained.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)revealed the uniform distribution of the modified g-C_(3)N_(4)in the coating.The average roughness of the coating was also reduced after adding the modified nanoplates due to the decreased aggregation tendency.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)examinations in simulated acid rain revealed a significant improvement in the anticorrosion properties of the sol-gel film after the addition of the modified g-C_(3)N_(4)due to the chemical bonding of the coating to the nanoplates.

A State-of-the-Art Review of Electrochemical Chloride Extraction for Concrete Structures

Electrochemical chloride extraction is a promising technique for the rehabilitation of concrete structures under chloride induced corrosion. This study consists of an extensive literature review of this treatment including application cases. It is found that the rate of chlorides removed is affected by the total charge passed, whereas increasing charge in a range between 1500 to 2000 Ah/m2 increases the amount of chlorides removed and this can be more effective by increasing current density instead of duration of treatment. Bound chlorides are extracted during treatment and, water works better than Ca(OH)2 as an electrolyte, possibly due to modifications on the concrete pore structure. Moreover, ECE is not efficient in repassivate structures but is efficient in its purpose of removing chlorides if treatment setup is well planned, which justifies the need for better international standards on the topic.