Electrochemical Characterization Research Articles

Investigating Dopant Effects in ZnO as an Electron Transport Layer for Enhanced Efficiency in Organic Photovoltaics

AbstractThe power conversion efficiencies of organic solar cells greatly depend on the device architecture and choice of charge transporting materials. Improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) for inverted organic solar cells is observed when using Sn‐doped ZnO as the electron transporting layer. By doping the elements with different numbers of valence electrons (Al3+ and Sn4+ ions) into the ZnO matrix, device conversion efficiencies of 8.69% and 9.21%, respectively, are achieved. Conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) observations reveal that the Sn‐doped ZnO film exhibits better conductivity due to its larger number of carrier charges. X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) indicates larger oxygen vacancies (OV) in Sn‐doped ZnO. Electrochemical characterization exhibits that there is a reduction in series resistance and charge transfer (CT) resistance for SZO, indicating the optimal charge transport capability of the electron transport layer (ETL). Ultrafast time‐resolved studies further show that, in comparison with Al‐doped ZnO and un‐doped ZnO, the elevated carrier concentration in Sn‐doped ZnO plays a significant role in augmenting the photocurrent. Thus, it is determined how dopants in ETL influence CT mechanisms, enhancing the photovoltaic conversion efficiency, thus contributing to the development of cost‐effective and efficient photovoltaic technologies.

Biological growth properties of marine Enteromorpha-diatom and its adhesion evolution on mortar surfaces

Currently, most research on bio-corroded mortar focuses on cyanobacteria and microorganisms in the marine environment, but the specific mechanism of mortar performance at different stages of the specific biological system of marine dominant algae, Enteromorpha-diatom, is still lacking. Therefore, this paper investigates the growth characteristics of Enteromorpha-diatom proliferation organisms and their attachment evolution on mortar. First, the concentration of Enteromorpha spores over 0 to 15 days was studied. Subsequently, the effects of Enteromorpha-diatom on the properties of mortar at different growth stages over 0 to 360 days were investigated through changes in pH, DO (dissolved oxygen), microstructure, mineral composition, and microstructure in the culture medium. The results showed that Enteromorpha-diatom organisms significantly affected the pH and DO in water through photosynthesis and metabolic activities. Additionally, the adhesion of Enteromorpha-diatom organisms significantly impacted the mechanical properties of mortar, with compressive strength decreasing by 46.1% and flexural strength decreasing by 39.0% over 0 to 360 days. Furthermore, the formation of biofilm, deposition of CaCO3, and accumulation of organic and inorganic substances altered the microstructure of mortar, changing its electrochemical characteristics. The electric flux change rate was 46.1%, and the internal impedance decreased by 59% over 0 to 360 days.

Electrochemical Characterization of Recast Nafion® Film-Modified Electrodes in Acetonitrile with Various Electrolytes

Nafion® is a cation exchange polymer that is commonly used in aqueous energy applications such as fuel cells due to its ability to exclude anions and neutral molecules and increase apparent diffusion of cationic redox molecules. However, this behavior is not well studied in nonaqueous solutions. The behavior of platinum electrodes modified with recast Nafion® films in nonaqueous solutions was observed to be different from its well-studied behavior in aqueous solutions. The reversible redox couple tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate was studied in the nonaqueous, aprotic solvent acetonitrile with different electrolytes (tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate, tetrabutylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate, and ammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate) using cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk voltammetry. An unmodified platinum electrode in the nonaqueous systems and a recast Nafion®-modified platinum electrode equilibrated in an aqueous solution of tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II)chloride hexahydrate were used as controls. Results indicate that the polymer structure in acetonitrile conditions does not allow apparent (Dahms–Ruff) diffusion but does allow significant physical diffusion that would make Nafion a great immobilization option for modifying electrodes with catalysts in nonaqueous systems.

Optimizing Disorder: Pretreatment Strategies for Saccharide-based Hard Carbon Anodes in Na-ion Batteries

Abstract The need for an alternative to lithium-ion batteries motivates the development of sodium-ion batteries, specifically focusing on biomass-derived hard carbon (HC) as anode material. However, the compositional variability in biomass leads to a lack of correlation between the microstructure and properties of HC. In this study, we used four simple carbohydrates present in all biomass-derived precursors as model objects to establish a reliable relationship between pretreatment temperature, the carbonization mechanism, defectiveness, and the electrochemical characteristics of HCs. The statistical analysis of Raman spectra from 25 HC samples enabled us not only to determine the degree of defectiveness in HCs but also, for the first time, to compare materials based on their inhomogeneity—that is, the variation in defectiveness within each HC material. The initial Coulombic efficiency of hard carbons was improved by 40%, reaching 89%, through the simultaneous reduction of surface area, defectiveness, and inhomogeneity. Additionally, the full cell with the HC and Na3V2(PO4)3/С cathode material demonstrated 80% capacity retention after 300 cycles.

Process of magnetite dissolution in orthophosphoric and sulfuric acid solutions according to kinetic and electrochemical methods

The kinetics of dissolution and the electrochemical features of the behavior of magnetite (at cathodic polarization) in solutions of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acids have been studied. Two independent experimental methods established that the rate and current of dissolution in H3PO4 are higher than in H2SO4. This pattern is explained on the basis of the stronger complexing properties of various kinds of phosphate anions in comparison with sulfate anions in solution with iron(III) ions. In the range of studied concentrations of orthophosphoric and sulfuric acids, Fe(II) and Fe(III) ions, the orders of magnitude for orthophosphoric and sulfuric acids are 1.3 ± 0.1; for iron(II) ions – 0.25 ± 0.1, for iron(III) ions – -0.25 ± 0.1

Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence by Knocking Out Gold Active Sites.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of the conventional system of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ luminophore and amine-based coreactants is particularly inefficient on noble metal electrodes. This is due to the formation of a passivating oxide layer on the metal surface inhibiting the electro-oxidation of amines like tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) coreactant, Herein, we demonstrated the enhancement of ECL emission on gold surface by hydroxyl radicals attack that are chemically generated with Cu-Fenton reagent. These radicals selectively deactivate the gold active sites and knockout the metal surface asperities that counterintuitively led to an amplification of the ECL emission. Atomic Force Microscopy shows a massive smoothening of the surface. The electrochemical characterization proves that the involved ECL reaction mechanism switches from direct oxidation to catalytic route, where the kinetics of indirect TPrA oxidation is facilitated on deactivated gold surface. Besides, in situ smoothening of a rough electrode in presence of tandem [Ru(bpy)3]2+/TPrA, the ECL enhancement enables Cu2+ sensing with good reliability and limit of detection. Such atomically smoothened and corrosion-resistant gold surface readily tuned the ECL reactivity and opened new directions on influence of topography and reactivity on ECL mechanisms, thus will be extremely useful for the future development of ECL imaging strategies and highly sensitive ECL sensors.

Directly Fused Porphyrin-Tetracyanopentacenequinone Conjugates: Role of the Cross-Conjugated, Powerful Electron Acceptor in Promoting Highly Efficient Charge Separation.

Tetracyanopentacenequinone, a powerful electron acceptor, is fused directly to the porphyrin π-system to create a new class of donor-acceptor conjugates. Owing to the direct fusion and electron-deficient property of tetracyanopentacenequinone, strong intramolecular charge transfer both in the ground and excited states was witnessed. As a control, porphyrin fused with pentacenequinone was also investigated. Upon complete spectral and electrochemical characterization, the excited state properties were initially probed by time-dependent DFT studies, and the occurrence of electron transfer from different excited states was established. Free-energy calculations revealed higher exothermic electron transfer (> 600 mV) than the control pentacenequinone-porphyrin systems. Pump-probe studies covering broad spatial and temporal regions revealed efficient excited state charge separation. This was unlike the control pentacenequinone-porphyrin system, where slow charge separation was witnessed only in the case of the zinc derivatives but not the free-base ones. The lifetimes of the charge-separated states ranged between 30-500 ps depending on the solvent and metal ion in the porphyrin cavity. The significance of cross-conjugated tetracyanopentacenequinone fused directly to the porphyrin π system in promoting highly exothermic and efficient charge separation, irrespective of its cross conjugation, is borne out from this study.

Hydrothermally Synthesized Cobalt‐Doped NiO Nanoflakes: Enhanced Electrochemical Performance for High‐Performance Supercapacitors

This study examines cobalt‐doped nickel oxide (Co‐NiO) nanomaterials synthesized through a hydrothermal method, focusing on their potential as high‐performance electrodes for supercapacitors. By varying cobalt dopant concentrations (X = 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1), we aimed to enhance the electrochemical properties through strategic Co‐doping. The CoxNi1‐xO nanomaterials were characterized using several techniques, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV‐visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry (CP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The analysis showed that Co‐doping preserved the NiO phase structure while significantly altering the morphology and electrochemical characteristics. The sample with (X = 0.1) achieved a specific capacitance of 880 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g, significantly outperforming the undoped NiO, which had a capacitance of 335 F/g. Additionally, the Co‐NiO demonstrated 83.3% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles at a current density of 10 A/g. These findings highlight the potential of Co‐NiO as an effective electrode material for supercapacitors.

Synthesis of O,F Co-Modified g-C3N4 for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution Activity Improvement and Corrosion Protection

Herein, we report the rational synthesis of porous g-C3N4 co-modified with oxygen (O) and fluorine (F) for the first time. Incorporating colloidal SiO2 during thermal polymerization introduces lattice oxygen, forming C–O bonds, while post-treatment with NH4·HF2 establishes C–F bonds. The dual incorporation of O and F elements extends visible light absorption and effectively promotes the separation and transport of photoexcited charge carriers. Consequently, the co-modified g-C3N4 (O,F-g-C3N4) achieves a 13.2-fold increase in H2 evolution rate compared to pristine g-C3N4. This synthesized O,F-g-C3N4 is then dispersed in waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to create an anti-corrosive coating for Q235 carbon steel substrates. Water resistance, mechanical property, and electrochemical characterization analyses reveal that the O,F-g-C3N4/WPU composite coating exhibits remarkable corrosion resistance with a high protection efficiency of 90.23%. This work offers a straightforward approach for developing highly efficient g-C3N4-based photocatalysts and corrosion-resistant coatings.

Anaerobic Catalyst Design for Alcohol Oxidation: Fine‐Tuning Copper/TEMPO with Bipyridine Proportions

In this study, we investigate the indirect electro‐oxidation of benzyl alcohol using the Copper/TEMPO catalytic system, which combines copper complexes with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) in an anaerobic medium. We reexamine the impact of bpy ligand proportions, exploring ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 on catalytic activity. Cyclic voltammetry and visible spectroscopy reveal distinct electrochemical characteristics and complex formations at different bpy ratios. Simulations uncover intricate energy equilibria involving ion coordination, varying with oxidation state and bpy proportion. Theoretical and experimental spectra align, supporting the proposed structures. The Brønsted base, triethylamine (TEA), essential in this anaerobic system, shows different voltammetric profiles with each ligand ratio, revealing key interactions with bpy complexes. In the presence of benzyl alcohol, the 1:1 and 2:1 ratios exhibit indirect catalytic activity, with the 2:1 ratio yielding significantly higher current densities. This establishes a new optimal condition where [Cu(bpy)₂]²⁺ formed in a 2:1 stoichiometry demonstrates superior activity with a lower redox potential, while maintaining labile coordination points for necessary interactions. Theoretical results also indicate weaker TEMPO coordination to [Cu(bpy)₂]²⁺.

Enhancing the Efficiency of Solar Cells Based on TiO2 and ZnO Photoanodes Through Copper Oxide: A Comparative Study Using Vitis labrusca Extract and N3 Ruthenium Dye

This study investigates the effects of varying CuO doping concentrations on the performance of titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based or zinc oxide (ZnO)-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). TiO2 or ZnO mixed with CuO at different weight percentages (0–50 wt %) was employed as photoanodes in DSSCs, prepared via mechanical mixing. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the structural changes, showing that as the CuO content increased in the hybrid, the CuO peaks (notably at 35.5° and 38.7°) became more prominent. Morphological and elemental characterizations were conducted using SEM and XRF, respectively. The solar cells were photosensitized by Vitis lasbrusca (V.L.) extract and N3 dye. The presence of anthocyanin molecules in the extracted V.L. was confirmed using UV-VIS and FTIR spectroscopy. The electrochemical characterization demonstrated optimal solar conversion efficiencies at a 20% doping level for both photosensitizers. Specifically, in the V.L. dye, TiO2-CuO achieved a conversion efficiency of 7.18%, and ZnO-CuO reached 5.77%. In the N3 dye, TiO2-CuO showed an efficiency of 11.34%, and ZnO-CuO, 9.55%. Notably, undoped photoanodes displayed a significantly lower photovoltaic performance: for V.L. dye, TiO2 showed 1.12% and ZnO 0.87%; for N3 dye, TiO2 showed 6.02% and ZnO 4.39%. Doping was therefore effective, yielding up to a seven-fold increase in performance in the case of V.L. with TiO2, compared to undoped DSSCs. The results demonstrate that using the hybrid photoanode led to a considerable increase in performance compared to using only TiO2 or ZnO photoanodes, highlighting the potential of DSSCs as sustainable energy sources.

Current‐Dependent Product Distribution and Reaction Mechanisms of Glycerol Electrooxidation on Nickel

AbstractThe Glycerol Electrooxidation Reaction (GEOR) is a promising alternative to oxygen evolution in electrochemical processes like hydrogen production and CO2 reduction. Although GEOR has attracted increasing attention, its oxidation kinetics in alkaline media are not well understood. In this study, electrochemical characterization and kinetic analysis were conducted using nickel foil as the electrocatalyst. Four galvanostatic conditions (1, 3, 5, and 10 mA cm−2) were evaluated to study product distribution. Increasing the current density from 3 to 5 mA cm−2 led to a fivefold decrease in formate production, indicating a shift in GEOR selectivity within the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) region. At 10 mA cm−2, formate remained as major product, followed by glycolate and glycerate, while tartronate and oxalate production were significantly inhibited, reducing the total Faradaic Efficiency (FE) by half relative to 5 mA cm−2. Rate constants showed increased kinetics for glycerate, glycolate, oxalate, and tartronate as current increased, surpassing formate production at 5 mA cm−2. Spectroelectrochemical measurements revealed the reaction order for GEOR (αGEOR ~1) and OER (αOER ~3), showing that GEOR proceeds via a more efficient oxidative pathway, requiring interaction with just one NiOOH species, while OER involves three highly oxidized Ni‐species.

Silver Linings: Electrochemical Characterization of TiO2 Sol-Gel Coating on Ti6Al4V with AgNO3 for Antibacterial Excellence

This study aimed to synthesize TiO2 and silver-containing TiO2 layers on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy substrates, also known as titanium grade 5 (TiGr5), to provide corrosion resistance and antibacterial activity. The TiO2 layers were prepared through the sol-gel method and dip-coating technique. Silver introduction into the layers was performed in two different ways. One was the impregnation method by dipping the TiO2 layer-covered metal in aqueous AgNO3 solutions of various concentrations (TiO2/AgNO3), and the other was by direct introduction of AgNO3 into the precursor sol (Ag-TiO2). The two methods for incorporating AgNO3 into the coating matrix are novel, as they preserve silver in its ionic form rather than reducing it to metallic silver. The samples were put through electrochemical characterization, namely potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and were tested in Hank’s solution, simulating a physiological environment. The behavior of the layers was monitored over time. Also, the thin layers’ thickness and adhesion to the substrate were determined. Microbiological evaluation of the Ag-doped coatings on glass substrates confirmed their significant bactericidal activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli. Among the two types of coatings, the impregnated coatings demonstrated the most promising electrochemical performance, as evidenced by both EIS and potentiodynamic polarization analyses.

Polymer-modified screen-printed electrode-based electrochemical sensors for doxorubicin detection

In the last decade, intensive research has been performed in the field of analytical electrochemistry, seeking designs of electrochemical sensors capable of providing better analytical characteristics in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, reliability, ease of fabrication and use, and low cost, especially for pharmaceutical drug monitoring. Our research has primarily focused on developing screen-printed electrode-based sensors and their application as electrochemical platforms for drug determination and monitoring, specifically emphasizing their suitability for surface modification. A commercial screen-printed graphene electrode was used as the electrochemical sensing component, which was subsequently modified with polymers, such as polyvinylidene fluoride and chitosan. All studied electrodes were tested using a doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) solution with a concentration of 0.002 mol L-1 dissolved in 0.1 mol L-1 phosphate-buffered saline at pH 6.7. Cyclic voltammetry was used as an electrochemical characterization technique to gather data on all tested electrodes' electrochemical activity. The morphological characterization of the electrodes was done using scanning electron microscopy. The changes in the electrolyte during the electrochemical measurements were followed through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The modified electrodes demonstrated a favorable electrochemical response to DOX and exhibited higher electrical conductivity than the commercial one. The characterization results indicated that the Ch-modified electrode exhibited excellent electrochemical conductivity and demonstrated strong electrochemical performance. The evaluations of this electrode comprised the definition of the lowest limit of detection and limit of quantification among the tested electrodes, with values of 9.822 and 32.741 µmol L-1, respectively, within a linear concentration range from 1.5 to 7.4 µmol L-1. Additionally, the electrodes showed excellent repeatability, stability, and reproducibility, confirming their suitability for sensitive DOX detection.

Vertically Aligned Ultrathin CoNi-LDH@NiS@MXCF Core-Shell Heterostructure for Flexible Supercapacitor Electrodes and Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

A multilayer core-shell heterostructure with CoNi-LDH as the core and NiS nanosheets as the shell is deposited on MXene-coated carbon nanofibers by electrospinning and electrochemical deposition. This unique structure not only combines highly conductive and hydrophilic one-dimensional carbon nanofibers but also exposes abundant two-dimensional reactive sites and multiple ion diffusion channels to maximize material utilization, enhance electron transfer kinetics, accelerate Faraday reaction, high capacitance and strong stability. The CNNS@MXCF electrode exhibits outstanding electrochemical characteristics, including a capacity of 1441.8 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 and excellent cycling stability. The CNNS@MXCF//VN@MXCF device shows a high energy density of 84.4 Wh kg-1 at 0.8 kW kg-1 power density, with nearly 92% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles (30 A g-1). In addition, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) shows a small overpotential of 128 mV, confirming the versatility and large potential of the materials and strategy.

Capacity fade-aware parameter identification of zero-dimensional model for vanadium redox flow batteries

This study proposes a framework for evaluating the electrochemical performance of a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) system. First, a numerical solver for redox flow battery is constructed to represent the multi-physics system through systems of ordinary differential equations, which describe the mass conservation of existing vanadium ions. The present numerical model is validated regarding the voltage by comparing its results with the experimental results of previous studies. Second, we identify the parameters in the governing equations using a genetic algorithm with the present numerical model. We select seven parameters by considering the physical meaning of each parameter related to the electrochemical performance. The voltage for the first charging/discharging cycle and capacity fade data are used to identify the selected parameters. The voltage and capacity fade estimated by the parameters identified using the numerical model align with the previous studies. Finally, we analyze the global sensitivity of the identified parameters in terms of the voltage and capacity fade using the total Sobol’ indices because the high sensitivity confirms that the identified parameters have reliable values. As expected, voltage- and capacity-related parameters show high total Sobol’ indices for the voltage and discharging capacity, respectively. Furthermore, we predict the performance of the VRFBs using the identified parameter set and numerical model during 30-cycle operations. Additionally, the performance is compared according to the current density and vanadium concentration in the electrolyte. The proposed framework can be used to evaluate the electrochemical characteristics of developed VRFBs by identifying parameters related to physical performance, such as voltage and capacity fade. Moreover, the identified parameters can be utilized to predict voltage and capacity performance, enabling the optimization of operating conditions and configurations of VRFBs.

Evolutionary trends and photothermal catalytic reduction performance of carbon dioxide by MOF-derived MnOx

Metal oxide catalysts derived from MOFs can inherit the excellent performance from their parent MOFs, possess abundant surface defects and high stability, and have attracted widespread interest in multiphase catalysis. In this study, we used Mn-MOF as a precursor and systematically investigated the evolution of MnOx catalysts by setting different calcination temperatures and times. XRD, SEM, TEM, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 adsorption–desorption analysis, XPS, H2-TPR, CO2-TPD, electrochemical characterization, and other methods were used to investigate the structural characteristics, microstructure, surface properties, and photoelectric properties of the catalysts. The catalytic performance of the catalysts was also investigated through photocatalytic carbon dioxide hydrogenation reduction tests. Research has shown that calcination temperature and time have a significant impact on the phase structure and surface properties of MnOx, and the physicochemical properties of derived MnOx can be controlled by controlling calcination temperature and time. Among them, MnOx-500 has a wider light absorption range, better electron transfer performance, richer oxygen vacancies, and excellent separation performance of photo generated charge carriers, resulting in higher photocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation and reduction performance. Its CO yield and selectivity reached 7420 μmol/g/h and above 99 %, respectively. This study provides valuable references for the preparation, optimization, and utilization in CO2 photothermal catalytic conversion of MnOx catalysts derived from MOFs.

Three-dimensional nanocomposites derived from combined metal organic frameworks doped with Ce, La, and Cu as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for supercapacitors and oxygen reduction reaction

Fabrication of a nanocomposite with a low-cost and efficient synthesis method instead of using electrocatalysts based on platinum metal has become one of the main challenges in energy storage devices and fuel cells. In this regard, a bifunctional electrocatalyst for supercapacitors and oxygen reduction reaction is fabricated and tested. The novelty of this study is the synthesis method and enhancement of the electrochemical characteristics of synthesized electrocatalysts. The core-shell method is used for the electrocatalyst's synthesis which uses Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF)-8, ZIF-67, and Material Institute Lavoisiers (MIL)-101 for the fabrication of three types of electrocatalysts. In the following, to increase the characteristics such as conductivity and stability, doping of Copper (Cu), Cerium (Ce), and Lanthanum (La) are added to the nanocomposites. The Co@NC, CoZn@NC, and CoZn@FeNC prepared electrocatalysts are obtained from the pyrolyze process of La/ZIF-67, CeCu/ZIF-8@ La/ZIF-67, MIL-101@CeCu/ZIF-8/La/ZIF-67. The results indicated that the CoZn@NC electrocatalyst has the best performance in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with an onset potential of 0.062 (V vs Ag/AgCl) and current density of −12.97 (mA/cm2) at a constant voltage of −1 V. Furthermore, the electron transfer number of CoZn@NC electrocatalyst for ORR was 3.64. The conducted Galvanostatic Charge-Discharge (GCD) tests demonstrated that the CoZn@NC electrode has the highest capacitance of 271.14 F/g. The outcomes showed that by the core-shell method, various properties of nanocomposites can be utilized to solve the weaknesses of catalysts by using proper metals. Moreover, the presence of Cu2+,Ce3+,La3+ improve the structural defects in the carbon matrix, the stability based on the chronoamperometry results, and the mass transfer. The study provides a perspective for future researches to fill the research gaps to obtain the new supercapacitors utilize on a large scale in the electronics industry.

A comparative analysis of different surface tribological and electrochemical properties of TiAlN, TiAlSiN, and CrAlN thin film coatings in seawater

Abstract To reveal the wear mechanisms of TiAlN, TiAlSiN, and CrAlN coatings in a seawater environment, the changes in frictional surfaces and the electrochemical characteristics of these coatings were compared and analyzed in this paper. The coatings were deposited on 316L stainless steel surfaces. Tribological tests were investigated using a ball-on-disk tribometer with Si3N4 ceramic balls as the counter material. Although the friction coefficient of 316L stainless steel was the lowest at 0.34, the order of wear rates was 316L stainless steel (7.38×10-5)>TiAlN(5.31×10-6)>TiAlSiN(4.23×10-6)>CrAlN(1.10×10-6) and the electrochemical protective efficiencies of TiAlSiN and CrAlN were both greater than 97%. Seawater penetrated through the grain boundaries of the TiAlN coating, which led to corrosion and delamination failure. Conversely, the grain refinement in TiAlSiN and CrAlN coatings can significantly slow down the penetration of seawater into the coating under frictional pressure, and the oxide lubricating layer formed during the friction process can become an effective barrier to isolate seawater. Therefore, mechanical wear was the main wear form of these two coatings. Additionally, among the oxides formed in the friction, Cr2O3 showed the strongest corrosion resistance, making the CrAlN coating exhibit superior wear resistance and the lowest wear rate in seawater.

Exploring the Structural, Spectroscopic, Antibacterial, and Electrochemical Characteristics of Silver-Doped Cadmium Oxide Nanoparticles

Exploring the Structural, Spectroscopic, Antibacterial, and Electrochemical Characteristics of Silver-Doped Cadmium Oxide Nanoparticles