Studies of Adsorption of Cadmium Ions by Biowaste Adsorbent from Aqueous Solutions with Ion-Selective Electrodes and ICP-OES

Using environment-friendly and low-cost biowaste adsorbents as toxic metal ion removal substrates from aqueous solutions has a great economic advantage. This work evaluated pumpkin and potato peel biowastes for the adsorption of cadmium ions. The biowastes were treated with acid or base. Batch experiments were carried out by introducing a known concentration of metal ion solution into the biowaste sorbent at various pH levels. The pH and metal ion concentration was monitored with pH and cadmium ion-selective electrode continuously for two hours, and the final concentration for the metal ion after 24 hours was measured with the cadmium electrode and then confirmed with ICP-OES. L-type isotherms were obtained that fit to Freundlich model. Adsorption isotherms showed chemical adsorption and the kinetics following the second order model. Equilibrium adsorption capacity is higher than 29 mg/g at pH 5.6 when the initial concentration is 220 ppm. Dynamic cadmium adsorption capacity is 17 mg/g from aqueous solution when the feed solution is 220 ppm with pumpkin peel biowaste sorbent. The biowaste materials can be regenerated with acid washing.

Direct Determination of Potassium-Sodium Activity Ratio in Soil Suspension with Two Ion-Selective Electrodes

A K+-selective electrode and a Na+-selective electrode were used to construct a measuring cell without liquid-junction for the determination of the ion activity ratio of K+ to Na+ in soil suspensions. The measured cell potential was not affected by the total electrolyte concentration when the total cation concentration was 10-1-10-3 mol L-1 and the concentration ratio CK+ / CNa+. was 10:1 to 1:50. When the concentration ratios were equal to 1and the total electrolyte concentrations were 10-2 and 10-3 mol L-1, the ion activity ratio measurement would not be affected by pH in the pH range of 3.5 to 11.5 and 4.4 to 11 respectively. Ions other than H+ have no remarkable influence on the measurement. The ion activity ratio of K+ to Na+ measured directly in soil suspension agree well with those in centrifuged supernant solution. The relative deviation was within 4%. From the measured ion activity ratio, the difference of the bonding energies of K+ and Na+ ions was calculated.

Preparation of CeO_2 Nanoparticles and Its Application to Ion-selective Electrodes Based on Acetyl Cellulose

CeO2 nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 30 nm were prepared by sol-gel method at lower temperature. The gel, transformed from the aqueous solution of metal nitrate and citric acid, can be combusted completely at lower temperature. The redox behavior and the crystallization process of the dried gel were studied by thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, rare earth elements ion-selective electrodes based on acetyl cellulose were prepared using ultra fine cerium oxide powders.

Solid-Contact Ion-Selective Electrodes Based on Graphite Paste for Potentiometric Nitrate and Ammonium Determinations

Robust and easy-to-handle solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (SC-ISEs) based on graphite paste have been developed for the potentiometric detection of NO-3 and NH+4 in environmental samples. Polypyrrole (PPy) has been used as intermediate layer and solid contact between the electron-conducting graphite paste substrate and the ion-conducting polyvinylchloride (PVC)-containing membrane with the immobilized ionophore. For the nitrate- and ammonium-selective electrodes, tridodecylmethylammonium nitrate (TDMA-NO3) and nonactin have been used as ion-complexing compounds, respectively. Both ISEs show nearly Nernstian response in the linear range from 10-5 mol/L to 10-1 mol/L with average slopes of >58 mV/decade. The ISEs possess short response times (<20 s).

Elucidation of Abnormal Potential Responses of Cation-Selective Electrodes with Solid-State Membranes to Aqueous Solutions of CuCl2 and CdI2

An empirical solution to abnormal potential responses, showing peaks of emf, of commercial Cu2+- and Cd2+-selective electrodes with solid-state membranes was proposed for aqueous solutions of CuCl2 and CdI2. The two-step processes of Mn+ + Yn? (s: solid phase) MY(s) and MY(s) + 2X? X2MY2?(s) (n = 1, 2) at a test solution/electrode-interface were considered as a model. Here, Mn+, Yn?, and X? refer to a divalent or univalent cation, functional groups of electrode materials, and a halide ion (X? = Cl?, Br?, I?), respectively. By applying electrochemical potentials to these processes at n = 2, we derived an equation. Regression analyses based on the equation reproduced well the plots of emf versus log 2(*[M]t) for the Cd(II) and Cu(II) systems: *[M]t denotes a total concentration of species relevant to M2+ in a bulk of the aqueous solution. Also, we obtained log Ks(CdBr2) = 4.28 ? 0.22, log Ks(CdI2) = 6.98 ? 0.05, log Ks(CuCl2) = 3.96 ? 0.09, and log Ks(CuBr2) = 11.4 at 25?C. The magnitude in ?log Ks reflected that in the logarithmic solubility product, log {*[M2+](*[X?])2}, for bulk water, where *[M2+] or *[X?] denotes a molar concentration of the bulk solu-tion of M2+ or X? at equilibrium, respectively. Moreover, a mixture of CuSO4 with NaCl at the molar ratio of 1:1 yielded a plot similar to that of CuCl2.

Coulometric Response of H-Selective Solid-Contact Ion-Selective Electrodes and Its Application in Flexible Sensors+

The analytical performance of H+-selective solid-contact ion-selective electrodes(SCISEs)based on solid contact polyaniline doped with chloride(PANI(Cl))and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)doped with poly(styrene sulfonate)(PEDOT(PSS))was characterized by a developed coulometric signal transduction method.PEDOT(PSS)solid contact is covered by PVC based H+-selective membrane.The obtained coulometric signal demonstrates that the cumulated charge can be amplified by increasing the capacitance of solid contact.SCISEs covered with spin-coated membrane behave faster amperometric response than electrodes with drop-cast mem-brane.In contrast to earlier works,the amperometric response and impedance spectrum demonstrates H+transfer through SCISEs is independent from the thickness of membrane.The exceptional behavior of PANI(Cl)H+-SCISEs shows that the capacitance estimated from impedance spectrum at low frequency 10 mHz and coulometric signal of PANI(Cl)based SCISEs is influenced by the applied po-tentials,whereas PEDOT(PSS)solid contact is independent from the chosen applied potentials.Furthermore,preliminary investiga-tions of coulometric signal transduction on flexible pH sensor implies its potential applications in wearable sensors for sweat ion concentration detection.

A drug-loaded flexible substrate improves the performance of conformal cortical electrodes

Cortical electrodes are a powerful tool for the stimulation and/or recording of electrical activity in the nervous system.However,the inevitable wound caused by surgical implantation of electrodes presents bacterial infection and inflammatory reaction risks associated with foreign body exposure.Moreover,inflammation of the wound area can dramatically worsen in response to bacterial infection.These consequences can not only lead to the failure of cortical electrode implantation but also threaten the lives of patients.Herein,we prepared a hydrogel made of bacterial cellulose(BC),a flexible substrate for cortical electrodes,and further loaded antibiotic tetracycline(TC)and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone(DEX)onto it.The encapsulated drugs can be released from the BC hydrogel and effectively inhibit the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.Next,therapeutic cortical electrodes were developed by integrating the drug-loaded BC hydrogel and nine-channel serpentine arrays;these were used to record electrocorticography(ECoG)signals in a rat model.Due to the controlled release of TC and DEX from the BC hydrogel substrate,therapeutic cortical electrodes can alleviate or prevent symptoms associated with the bacterial infection and inflammation of brain tissue.This approach facilitates the development of drug delivery electrodes for resolving complications caused by implantable electrodes.

Ionic Liquid-Enhanced Assembly of Nanomaterials for Highly Stable Flexible Transparent Electrodes

The controlled assembly of nanomaterials has demon-strated significant potential in advancing technological devices.However,achieving highly efficient and low-loss assembly technique for nanomate-rials,enabling the creation of hierarchical structures with distinctive func-tionalities,remains a formidable challenge.Here,we present a method for nanomaterial assembly enhanced by ionic liquids,which enables the fabrication of highly stable,flexible,and transparent electrodes featuring an organized layered structure.The utilization of hydrophobic and non-volatile ionic liquids facilitates the production of stable interfaces with water,effectively preventing the sedimentation of 1D/2D nanomaterials assembled at the interface.Furthermore,the interfacially assembled nanomaterial monolayer exhibits an alternate self-climbing behavior,enabling layer-by-layer transfer and the formation of a well-ordered MXene-wrapped silver nanowire network film.The resulting composite film not only demonstrates exceptional photoelectric performance with a sheet resistance of 9.4Ωsq^(-1) and 93%transmittance,but also showcases remarkable environmental stability and mechanical flexibility.Particularly noteworthy is its application in transparent electromagnetic interference shielding materials and triboelectric nanogenerator devices.This research introduces an innovative approach to manufacture and tailor functional devices based on ordered nanomaterials.

Recent progress of self-supported air electrodes for flexible Zn-air batteries

Smart wearable devices are regarded to be the next prevailing technology product after smartphones and smart homes,and thus there has recently been rapid development in flexible electronic energy storage devices.Among them,flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries have received widespread attention because of their high energy density,good safety,and stability.Efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts are the primary consideration in the development of flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries,and self-supported air cathodes are strong candidates because of their advantages including simplified fabrication process,reduced interfacial resistance,accelerated electron transfer,and good flexibility.This review outlines the research progress in the design and construction of nanoarray bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.Starting from the configuration and basic principles of zinc-air batteries and the strategies for the design of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts,a detailed discussion of self-supported air cathodes on carbon and metal substrates and their uses in flexible zinc-air batteries will follow.Finally,the challenges and opportunities in the development of flexible zinc-air batteries will be discussed.

The use of carbon-based particle electrodes in three-dimensional electrode reactors for wastewater treatment

The use of three-dimensional(3D)electrodes in water treatment is competitive because of their high catalytic efficiency,low energy consumption and promising development.The use of particle electrodes is a key research focus in this technology.They are usually in the form of particles that fill the space between the cathode and anode,and the selection of materials used is important.Carbon-based materials are widely used because of their large specific surface area,good adsorption performance,high chemical stability and low cost.The principles of 3D electrode technology are introduced and recent research on its use for degrading organic pollutants using carbon-based particle electrodes is summarized.The classification of particle electrodes is introduced and the challenges for the future development of carbon-based particle electrodes in wastewater treatment are discussed.

Spinal intradural electrodes: opportunities, challenges and translation to the clinic

Damage to the spinal cord disrupts the electrically active nerve cells which normally transmit afferent and efferent signals,resulting in loss of motor,sensory,and autonomic functions.Potential treatments for spinal cord injury utilizing implanted spinal electrodes can be broadly classified into three different categories.The first of these approaches is“spinal stimulation”where electrodes,usually positioned above the level of injury,provide electrical stimulation to target and disrupt pain signals before they reach the brain.The second approach uses“activity-dependent neuro-technologies”,in which electrodes positioned below the level of injury initiate a complex spatiotemporal pattern of stimulation at the lumbar spinal cord to generate a walking gait in the limbs(Minev et al.,2015;Wagner et al.,2018).

Flexible capacitive pressure sensor based on interdigital electrodes with porous microneedle arrays for physiological signal monitoring

Flexible pressure sensors have many potential applications in the monitoring of physiological signals because of their good biocompatibil-ity and wearability.However,their relatively low sensitivity,linearity,and stability have hindered their large-scale commercial application.Herein,aflexible capacitive pressure sensor based on an interdigital electrode structure with two porous microneedle arrays(MNAs)is pro-posed.The porous substrate that constitutes the MNA is a mixed product of polydimethylsiloxane and NaHCO3.Due to its porous and interdigital structure,the maximum sensitivity(0.07 kPa-1)of a porous MNA-based pressure sensor was found to be seven times higher than that of an imporous MNA pressure sensor,and it was much greater than that of aflat pressure sensor without a porous MNA structure.Finite-element analysis showed that the interdigital MNA structure can greatly increase the strain and improve the sensitivity of the sen-sor.In addition,the porous MNA-based pressure sensor was found to have good stability over 1500 loading cycles as a result of its bilayer parylene-enhanced conductive electrode structure.Most importantly,it was found that the sensor could accurately monitor the motion of afinger,wrist joint,arm,face,abdomen,eye,and Adam’s apple.Furthermore,preliminary semantic recognition was achieved by monitoring the movement of the Adam’s apple.Finally,multiple pressure sensors were integrated into a 33 array to detect a spatial pressure distribu-×tion.Compared to the sensors reported in previous works,the interdigital electrode structure presented in this work improves sensitivity and stability by modifying the electrode layer rather than the dielectric layer.

Amorphous Iridium Oxide-Integrated Anode Electrodes with Ultrahigh Material Utilization for Hydrogen Production at Industrial Current Densities

Herein,ionomer-free amorphous iridium oxide(IrO_(x))thin electrodes are first developed as highly active anodes for proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells(PEMECs)via low-cost,environmentally friendly,and easily scalable electrodeposition at room temperature.Combined with a Nafion 117 membrane,the IrO_(x)-integrated electrode with an ultralow loading of 0.075 mg cm^(-2)delivers a high cell efficiency of about 90%,achieving more than 96%catalyst savings and 42-fold higher catalyst utilization compared to commercial catalyst-coated membrane(2 mg cm^(-2)).Additionally,the IrO_(x)electrode demonstrates superior performance,higher catalyst utilization and significantly simplified fabrication with easy scalability compared with the most previously reported anodes.Notably,the remarkable performance could be mainly due to the amorphous phase property,sufficient Ir^(3+)content,and rich surface hydroxide groups in catalysts.Overall,due to the high activity,high cell efficiency,an economical,greatly simplified and easily scalable fabrication process,and ultrahigh material utilization,the IrO_(x)electrode shows great potential to be applied in industry and accelerates the commercialization of PEMECs and renewable energy evolution.

Understanding of the Relationship between the Properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se_(2)Solar Cells and the Structure of Ag Network Electrodes

The relation between the structure of the silver network electrodes and the properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se_(2)(CIGS)solar cells is systemically investigated.The Ag network electrode is deposited onto an Al:ZnO(AZO)thin film,employing a self-forming cracked template.Precise control over the cracked template's structure is achieved through careful adjustment of temperature and humidity.The Ag network electrodes with different coverage areas and network densities are systemically applied to the CIGS solar cells.It is revealed that predominant fill factor(FF)is influenced by the figure of merit of transparent conducting electrodes,rather than sheet resistance,particularly when the coverage area falls within the range of 1.3–5%.Furthermore,a higher network density corresponds to an enhanced FF when the coverage areas of the Ag networks are similar.When utilizing a thinner AZO film,CIGS solar cells with a surface area of 1.0609 cm^(2)exhibit a notable performance improvement,with efficiency increasing from 10.48%to 11.63%.This enhancement is primarily attributed to the increase in FF from 45%to 65%.These findings underscore the considerable potential for reducing the thickness of the transparent conductive oxide(TCO)in CIGS modules with implications for practical applications in photovoltaic technology.

Current collectors’ effects on the electrochemical performance of LiNi_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)O_(2) suspension electrodes for lithium slurry battery

Take after the advantages of lithium-ion battery (LIB) and redox flow battery (RFB), semi-solid flow battery (SSFB) is a promising electrochemical energy storage device in renewable energy utilization. The flowable slurry electrode realizes decouple of energy and power density, while it also brings about new challenge to SSFBs, electron transport between active material and the out circuit. In this consideration, three types of current collectors (CCs) are applied to study the resistance and electrochemical performances of slurry cathodes within pouch cells for the first time. It proves that the electronic resistance (Re) between slurry electrode and the CC plays a decisive role in SSFB operation, and it is so large when Al foil is adopted that the cell cannot even work. Contact angle between Ketjen black (KB) slurry without active material (AM) and the CC is a preliminarily sign for the Re, the smaller the angle, the lower the resistance, and the better electrochemical performance of the cell.

Advanced 3D ordered electrodes for PEMFC applications: From structural features and fabrication methods to the controllable design of catalyst layers

The catalyst layers(CLs) electrode is the key component of the membrane electrode assembly(MEA) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs). Conventional electrodes for PEMFCs are composed of carbon-supported, ionomer, and Pt nanoparticles, all immersed together and sprayed with a micron-level thickness of CLs. They have a performance trade-off where increasing the Pt loading leads to higher performance of abundant triple-phase boundary areas but increases the electrode cost. Major challenges must be overcome before realizing its wide commercialization. Literature research revealed that it is impossible to achieve performance and durability targets with only high-performance catalysts, so the controllable design of CLs architecture in MEAs for PEMFCs must now be the top priority to meet industry goals. From this perspective, a 3D ordered electrode circumvents this issue with a support-free architecture and ultrathin thickness while reducing noble metal Pt loadings. Herein, we discuss the motivation in-depth and summarize the necessary CLs structural features for designing ultralow Pt loading electrodes. Critical issues that remain in progress for 3D ordered CLs must be studied and characterized. Furthermore, approaches for 3D ordered CLs architecture electrode development, involving material design, structure optimization, preparation technology, and characterization techniques, are summarized and are expected to be next-generation CLs for PEMFCs. Finally, the review concludes with perspectives on possible research directions of CL architecture to address the significant challenges in the future.

Probing the electric double layer structure at nitrogen-doped graphite electrodes by constant-potential molecular dynamics simulations

Electric double layer(EDL)is a critical topic in electrochemistry and largely determines the working performance of lithium batteries.However,atomic insights into the EDL structures on heteroatom-modified graphite anodes and EDL evolution with electrode potential are very lacking.Herein,a constant-potential molecular dynamics(CPMD)method is proposed to probe the EDL structure under working conditions,taking N-doped graphite electrodes and carbonate electrolytes as an example.An interface model was developed,incorporating the electrode potential and atom electronegativities.As a result,an insightful atomic scenario for the EDL structure under varied electrode potentials has been established,which unveils the important role of doping sites in regulating both the EDL structures and the following electrochemical reactions at the atomic level.Specifically,the negatively charged N atoms repel the anions and adsorb Li~+at high and low potentials,respectively.Such preferential adsorption suggests that Ndoped graphite can promote Li~+desolvation and regulate the location of Li~+deposition.This CPMD method not only unveils the mysterious function of N-doping from the viewpoint of EDL at the atomic level but also applies to probe the interfacial structure on other complicated electrodes.

Enhanced performance of solution-processed carbon nanotube transparent electrodes in foldable perovskite solar cells through vertical separation of binders by using eco-friendly parylene substrate

The successful utilization of an eco-friendly and biocompatible parylene-C substrate for high-performance solution-processed double-walled carbon nanotube(CNT)electrode-based perovskite solar cells(PSCs)was demonstrated.Through the use of a novel inversion transfer technique,vertical separation of the binders from the CNTs was induced,rendering a stronger p-doping effect and thereby a higher conductivity of the CNTs.The resulting foldable devices exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 18.11%,which is the highest reported among CNT transparent electrode-based PSCs to date,and withstood more than 10,000 folding cycles at a radius of 0.5 mm,demonstrating unprecedented mechanical stability.Furthermore,solar modules were fabricated using entirely laser scribing processes to assess the potential of the solution-processable nanocarbon electrode.Notably,this is the only one to be processed entirely by the laser scribing process and to be biocompatible as well as eco-friendly among the previously reported nonindium tin oxide-based perovskite solar modules.

Comparison of the effect of different external electrodes on discharge plasma-assisted diffusion flame stabilization

To optimize the design of plasma injectors,the influence of different external electrodes on plasma-assisted flame stabilization was assessed by using a nonequilibrium plasma injector flame control setup.The electrical characteristics of the injector,flame structure parameters,flame intensity,discharge power,and cost-to-effectiveness ratio under different external electrodes(four mesh electrodes and one copper foil electrode)were analyzed using electrical and optical methods.The results show that reducing the mesh size of the external electrode leads to a decrease in breakdown voltage.Compared with a ceramic dielectric barrier-based injector,an injector with a quartz dielectric barrier produces a higher breakdown voltage under the same conditions.For the same actuation voltage,the discharge current increases as the mesh size of the external electrode decreases,and combustion is enhanced by the discharge plasma;therefore,it is better to adopt a smaller mesh hole size to realize good flame stabilization under a lower actuation voltage.However,under the studied working conditions,reducing the mesh hole size of the external electrode increases the cost-to-effectiveness ratio of plasma injector-based flame stabilization.Thus,considering the cost-to-effectiveness ratio and the weight of the injector,an external electrode with a larger mesh hole size should be chosen,which contradicts the above rule.

High energy density in ultra-thick and flexible electrodes enabled by designed conductive agent/binder composite

Thick electrodes can increase incorporation of active electrode materials by diminishing the proportion of inactive constituents,improving the overall energy density of batteries.However,thick electrodes fabricated using the conventional slurry casting approach frequently exhibit an exacerbated accumulation of carbon additives and binders on their surfaces,invariably leading to compromised electrochemical properties.In this study,we introduce a designed conductive agent/binder composite synthesized from carbon nanotube and polytetrafluoroethylene.This agent/binder composite facilitates production of dry-process-prepared ultra-thick electrodes endowed with a three-dimensional and uniformly distributed percolative architecture,ensuring superior electronic conductivity and remarkable mechanical resilience.Using this approach,ultra-thick LiCoO_(2)(LCO) electrodes demonstrated superior cycling performance and rate capabilities,registering an impressive loading capacity of up to 101.4 mg/cm^(2),signifying a 242% increase in battery energy density.In another analytical endeavor,time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy was used to clarify the distribution of cathode electrolyte interphase(CEI) in cycled LCO electrodes.The results provide unprecedented evidence explaining the intricate correlation between CEI generation and carbon distribution,highlighting the intrinsic advantages of the proposed dry-process approach in fine-tu ning the CEI,with excellent cycling performance in batteries equipped with ultra-thick electrodes.