Electrodeposition Of Films Research Articles

Real-time Neurochemical Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Brain Tissue using Advanced Nanostructured Au Microelectrodes Functionalized with Ruthenium Purple Film

Real-time monitoring of H2O2 is essential for understanding its role in neurological physio(path)ology. In this study, we developed an advanced electrochemical sensor utilizing nanostructured gold wire microelectrodes functionalized with a Ruthenium Purple (RP) film, a polynuclear transition metal hexacyanoferrate analog of the prototypical Prussian blue (PB). The RP film exhibits enhanced stability in neutral buffer solutions and reduced interference from biologically relevant cations such as Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+. By integrating gold nanoparticles onto a nanoporous gold surface, we significantly increased the electroactive surface area of the microwire (ρ=26.1 ± 10.2). The electrodeposition of a thin RP film (4.23 ± 1.2 nm) resulted in a highly selective H2O2 sensor, operating at an optimal potential of -0.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl, with a linear detection range of 0.5-500 µM, sensitivity of 1.18 ± 0.37 µA µM-1 cm-2, and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 66.6 ± 34.9 nM. Adding a Nafion® layer enhanced the sensor's operational stability, maintaining optimal performance over three hours under physiological conditions of pH and ion concentration. We validated the sensor's capability to monitor transient changes in H2O2 concentration in brain tissue by assessing its response to exogenously applied H2O2. Furthermore, we demonstrated that glutamate receptor activation in hippocampal slices induces a rapid and transient increase in extracellular H2O2 levels, underscoring the sensor's potential for studying oxidative stress in neurobiological contexts.

Electrodeposition of Ag-doped diamond-like carbon films on stainless steel for supercapacitor applications

Electrodeposition of Ag-doped diamond-like carbon films on stainless steel for supercapacitor applications

Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of Electrodeposited Ni-W Films in Acidic Medium and Performance Optimization Using Machine Learning.

Ni-W alloy films were electrodeposited from a gluconate aqueous bath at pH=5.0, at varying current densities and temperatures. While there is little to no difference in composition, i. e., all films possess ~12 at.% W, their activity at hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic medium is greatly influenced by differences in surface morphology. The kinetics of HER in 0.5 M H2SO4 indicates that the best performing film was obtained at a current density of -4.8 mA/cm2 and 50 °C. The Tafel slopes (b) and the overpotentials at a geometric current density of -10 mA/cm2 (η10) obtained for 200 cycles of linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) from a set of films deposited using different parameters were fed into a machine learning algorithm to predict optimum deposition conditions to minimize b, η10, and the degradation of samples over time. The optimum deposition conditions predicted by the machine learning model led to the electrodeposition of Ni-W films with superior performance, exhibiting b of 33-45 mV/dec and an η10 of 0.09-0.10 V after 200 LSVs.

Predicting the surface roughness of an electrodeposited copper film using a machine learning technique

Predicting the surface roughness of an electrodeposited copper film using a machine learning technique

Kinetic Analysis of Oxygen Reduction Reaction for Electrodeposition of ZnO Thin Films

Kinetic Analysis of Oxygen Reduction Reaction for Electrodeposition of ZnO Thin Films

Electrodeposition of ZnO thin films at low temperature: effects of deposition potential on properties for ZnO/CuO heterojunction solar cells

Electrodeposition of ZnO thin films at low temperature: effects of deposition potential on properties for ZnO/CuO heterojunction solar cells

Electrodeposition of Aluminum-Silicon Films in Chloroaluminate Ionic Liquids

Electrodeposition of aluminum-silicon films in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride: aluminum chloride (1:1.5 molar ratio) was studied in the presence of different silicon halides. The silicon content in the deposited films was investigated as a function of the type and the concentration of various Si precursors. Using pulse plating technique, Al-Si films with Si content between 2 - 12.9 at. % could be obtained on copper substrates at room temperature.

Micelle-assisted electrodeposition of mesoporous PtCo nodular films and their electrocatalytic activity towards the hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic media

Hydrogen has received extensive attention in the energy field due to its high energy density and environmental friendliness. However, the large overpotential and slow kinetics limit the development of green water electrolysis technology. Rational design and construction of efficient and economical electrocatalysts are essential for sustainable hydrogen production. In this work, mesoporous PtCo films are successfully prepared by micelle-assisted electrodeposition using Pluronic F127 as a soft template. The optimal electrodeposition conditions of the film such as temperature and potential are determined. The composition of the films can be adjusted with the deposition potential to a Co content up to 45 at.%. The mesoporosity is clearly present at T=45 °C and E= − 0.6 V with a pore diameter of around 5–10 nm. The mechanism for the mesoporous PtCo films is proposed and the electrocatalytic activity in H2SO4 is evaluated. Mesoporous PtCo film with 45 at.% Co exhibits excellent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance over commercial Pt/C, with an overpotential of − 22 mV at a current density of − 10 mA cm−2, and exhibits remarkable durability in the 24 h long-term aging stability test.

Effect of electrodeposition of AuPt nanostructure thin films on the electrocatalytic activity of counter electrodes: DSSCs application

Effect of electrodeposition of AuPt nanostructure thin films on the electrocatalytic activity of counter electrodes: DSSCs application

V2CTx MXene interspersed PVDF electrospun nanofibers based piezoelectric nanogenerator for self-powered electronic devices and mechano-electrodeposition

Rapid advancement of 2D materials has spurred extensive research into MXenes, given their remarkable properties applicable in fields like energy storage, catalysis, and energy harvesting. MXenes, notably Ti3C2, hold promise for self-powered sensors such as piezoelectric nanogenerators, yet exploration of other variants is limited. This study presents a Piezoelectric Nanogenerator (PENG) composed of electrospun nanofibers fabricated from a composite of PVDF/ V2CTx MXene. V2CTx MXene synthesis involves hydrothermal synthesis followed by an acid etching process. These composite electrospun nanofibers, deposited onto a copper sheet, serve as the PENG, generating 124 V (open-circuit) and 2.2 µAmps (short-circuit) with manual single-finger tapping. Additionally, the PENG's versatility is demonstrated through its ability to facilitate the electrodeposition of ZnO thin films and power various small-scale electronic gadgets. Mechanical stability analysis over 3000 cycles underscores the device's robustness, indicating potential for enhanced self-powered sensing technology in nanogenerator applications and prompting further exploration of MXene variants.

Fabrication of FeCoNi alloy film via friction-assisted selective area electrodeposition

Nowadays, carbon neutrality target has been receiving a growing attention in academia and industry. In many industry applications, the wear and fatigue damages of bearing components are the frequent failures affecting machine operation. The maintenance and replacement of damaged bearings cause enormous cost in the aspects of consumptions of energy and materials. In this study, a novel technique of friction-assisted electrodeposition (FAED) is firstly demonstrated for surface remanufacturing of worn bearing races. By using the FAED technique, FeCoNi alloys with nanocrystalline were successfully deposited on the selective surface zone. The surface morphology, microstructure feature as well as mechanical properties of the deposited FeCoNi film were quantitatively characterized. The results have indicated that friction load and electrodeposition time have a remarkable effect on the microstructure of the film and its surface finish. The cross-section exhibited a uniform distribution of Fe, Co and Ni. Meanwhile, typical amorphous and polycrystalline features were observed within the deposited film. Additionally, the as-deposited layer shows desired mechanical properties, including hardness, complex modulus and friction coefficient, matching with those of the GCr15 substrate. Scratch test results showed that a good bonding strength between the coating and the bearing steel was achieved. Moreover, the role of friction in the electrodeposition process has been analyzed. This work provides a new route to achieve selective area electrodeposition of alloy films on bearing steel, which can be further developed for metal surface repairing.

Electrodeposition of Cu2FeSnS4 thin films for solar cell applications: mechanism of deposition and influence of Fe2+ concentration

Electrodeposition of Cu2FeSnS4 thin films for solar cell applications: mechanism of deposition and influence of Fe2+ concentration

Is the Interfacial Electrochemical Behavior of Quercetin the Same as That of Catechol Plus Resorcinol?

Background: Electrodeposition of functional films from polyphenol-containing solutions has emerged as a new field of surface functionalization from bio-sourced molecules. There is, however, almost no knowledge about the chemical structure of such complex films. It is the aim of this research to use the known electrodeposition of films made from catechol and resorcinol, two isomers of dihydroxybenzene, to understand the electrodeposition of a more complex polyphenol, quercetin, which is constituted from a fused catechol and resorcinol moiety. The aim of this article is hence to introduce some methodology in the interpretation of the electrochemical behavior of complex polyphenols starting from their building blocks. Methods: Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is used to deposit films from quercetin and from equimolar blends of catechol and resorcinol on amorphous carbon and gold working electrodes. The main experimental parameter was the potential sweep rate used during the CVs. Results: The CV of quercetin is not the exact sum of the CV of the catechol + resorcinol blends, but the major features are conserved, namely the presence of two main oxidation peaks affiliated to those of catechol and resorcinol but shifted to less anodic potentials. In addition, the anodic electron transfer coefficients of the two oxidation waves of quercetin are higher than those measured in the catechol resorcinol blend. However, film deposition ability is reduced with quercetin compared to catechol + resorcinol blend in probable relationship to steric hindrance occurring during the non-electrochemical crosslinking of the deposit. The quercetin-based films deposited at 10 mV·s−1 on gold electrodes are conformal and display some antioxidant activity.

A versatile electrochemical cell for in-situ GI-XRD measurements on lab-scale XRD devices

In-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) cells for electrochemical experiments suffer from strong attenuation of primary and diffracted beams within the electrolyte solution. To reduce the intensity loss of the X-rays, the use of a thin layer of electrolyte solution is an essential element of the conventional cell design. On the other hand, the thin layer electrolyte geometry is a considerable limitation for electrochemical measurements. To overcome these drawbacks a versatile electrochemical cell for in-situ GI-XRD measurements was constructed and used for the electrodeposition of Cu2O thin films on a copper substrate.In this design, a thin copper metal film working electrode is applied on a polyimide foil and then backside-illuminated in GI-XRD geometry. In this way, the XRD pattern is measured from the electrolyte/electrode interface of the working electrode. The X-rays only have to penetrate the polymer foil and the sputtered metal layer, resulting in high-intensity signals.In this work, we demonstrate the abilities of the in-situ cell with quantitative measurements of cathodic deposition of Cu2O thin layers. The results show a good agreement between the diffracted X-ray peak intensities and the calculated and measured thicknesses of the oxide layers. The cell design allows the structural characterization of electrode surfaces during electrochemical measurements without the disadvantages of thin layer cells and therefore does not require high intensity synchrotron radiation to perform X-ray diffraction during electrochemical investigations.

Understanding the Growth of Electrodeposited PtNi Nanoparticle Films Using Correlated In Situ Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy and Synchrotron Radiation.

Electrodeposition is a versatile method for synthesizing nanostructured films, but controlling the morphology of films containing two or more elements requires a detailed understanding of the deposition process. We used liquid cell transmission electron microscopy to follow the electrodeposition of PtNi nanoparticle films on a carbon electrode during cyclic voltammetry. These in situ observations show that the film thickness increases with each cycle, and by the fourth cycle, branched and porous structures could be deposited. Synchrotron studies using in situ transmission X-ray microscopy further revealed that Ni was deposited in the oxide phase. Ex situ studies of bulk electrodeposited PtNi nanoparticle films indicated the number of cycles and the scanning rate were the most influential parameters, resulting in a different thickness, a different homogeneity, a different nanoparticle size, and a different surface structure, while the precursor concentration did not have a significant influence. By varying the potential range, we were able to obtain films with different elemental compositions.

Highly-efficient low-voltage electrodeposition of superhydrophobic diamond-like carbon films from N-methyl pyrrolidone

N-methyl pyrrolidone was proposed as a new carbon source for efficiently preparing the diamond-like carbon (DLC) films by a one-step electrodeposition technique at a low voltage. The responses of surface morphology, microstructure and surface wettability of the DLC films on the variation of the area ratio of anode to cathode were investigated in terms of current density in the process of electrodeposition. Especially, the dynamic behaviors of water droplets impacting on one of the superhydrophobic DLC films were studied in detail as a function of Weber number and inclined angle. Results revealed that either a larger or a smaller area ratio than 1.56 could facilitate the formation of hierarchical structure with more hydrocarbon features, which is in favor of creating superhydrophobicity with low surface adhesion. Further, it was found that a competitive strategy between deformation and movement depending on Weber number and inclined angle, where the movement is balanced by sliding with rolling, dominates the impact dynamics of water droplets. This work provides new insight and explanation for the efficient electrodeposition of DLC films at low voltage and the dynamic evolution of impacting droplets on the inclined superhydrophobic surface.

Role of Dopant in Enabling Electrodeposition of Polymer Thin Films with High Solar Transmittance Modulation

Buildings consume approximately one-third of the energy used in developed countries, with much of this energy tied to building heating and cooling. Electrochromic “smart” windows have the potential to mitigate some of this energy use through on-demand modulation of solar energy transmission. Therefore, electrochromic window devices based on low cost and facile solution-based processing routes are sought. In this work, we describe the electropolymerization and deposition of electrochromic poly(arylamine) thin films with exceptional broadband solar transmittance modulation, reaching ΔT sol values of over 60% (Figure 1). Through high-resolution, near-field spectroscopic imaging we show that the structure of the acid dopant present in the electrodeposition solution plays a key templating role that determines the electrochromic performance of these films. Our findings indicate that polyanionic dopants are especially adept at directing polymer chain conformational order, which in turn improves charge delocalization and transport. These factors lead to films with high smoothness and optical clarity through the visible (T lum > 80%) and near-infrared ranges. Further details regarding the cycling stability of these films and their integration into full electrochromic devices will be discussed. In summary, this work demonstrates the value of polyanionic dopants for templating high quality electrochromic polymer thin films capable of energy-relevant solar transmittance modulation for smart window applications. Figure 1

Gallium Nitride Electrodeposition at Indium Tin Oxide and Fluorine Tin Oxide Electrodes in Ammonium Nitrate and Gallium Nitrate Aqueous Solution

The potential of gallium nitride thin films in semiconductor technology and devices has garnered interest. This study aims to develop an effective GaN electrodeposition technique that will function on both Earth and microgravity situations and may be applied to any kind of needed application, such as in photovoltaic devices. To determine the optimal electrodeposition conditions, e.g. applied potential, cyclic voltammetry (CV) was done on a boron-doped diamond electrode at 0.01 mV/s potential scan rate and at 0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl (Saturated KCl) constant applied potential. In the CV study, a well-defined peak formed at -1.75 V vs. Ag/AgCl (Saturated KCl). To start examining all the features of the electrodeposition of a thin film on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and Fluorine Tin Oxide (FTO) Electrodes, chronoamperometry (CA) measurements were done at different time scales, ranging from 3600s to 14400s and at a constant applied potential of -1.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl (Saturated KCl). The characterization methods used to examine the materials' topography, elemental contrast, crystal structure, and electrodeposition weight percentages included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Longer electrodeposition times produced the best grain formation, promoting dendritic structure at the electrode surface. Furthermore, the optimal weight electrodeposition percentage of Ga and N was 10% and 35 % at 3600s, respectively, although the electrodeposited electrode surface was heterogeneous. The surface topographies at 3600s showed less grains definition and dendritic structures. At higher electrodeposition times, e.g. 14400s, more grain definitions and dendritic structures were found. For the 3600s electrodeposition time, XRD peaks were found at 33o, 37o and 46o, which are characteristics of GaN wurtzite structure according to literature.

(Invited) The Influence of the Magnetic Field on Ni Thin Film Electrodeposition as an Electrocatalytically Active Material for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Ni thin film were synthesized through the electrodeposition method from three different electrolytes. Furthermore, they were assessed as electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 1 M NaOH. Herein, various electrodeposition parameters such as pH of the electrolytes, deposition potential, temperature, and the influence of the magnetic field were measured. We made a comparison between the different morphologies and different characteristics depending on the thin film electrodeposition process parameters. Moreover, we have studied the wettability changes of material in dependence from to the composition of the electrolyte and the applied external magnetic field. The deposition process was accomplished by using chronoamperometry technique. The measuring scanning electron microscope, and X-Ray diffraction were used to characterize the surface morphology and the crystalline structures of the fabricated films.

Electrosynthesis-Induced Pt Skin Effect in Mesoporous Ni-Rich Ni-Pt Thin Films for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

A Pt skin effect, i.e., an enrichment of Pt within the first 1-2 nm from the surface, is observed in as-prepared electrodeposited Ni-rich Ni-Pt thin films. This effect, revealed by Rutherford backscattering (RBS), is present for both dense thin films and mesoporous thin films synthesized by micelle-assisted electrodeposition from a chloride-based electrolyte. Due to the Pt skin effect, the Ni-rich thin films show excellent stability at the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media, during which a gradient in the Pt/Ni ratio is established along the thickness of the thin films, while the activity at the HER remains unaffected by this structural change. Further characterization by elastic recoil detection with He ions analysis shows that hydrogen profiles are similar to those of Pt: a surface hydrogen peak coincides with the Pt skin, and a gradient in hydrogen concentration is established during HER in acidic media, together with a considerable uptake in hydrogen. A comparative study shows that in alkaline media, hydrogen evolution has little to no effect on the structural properties of the thin films, even for much longer times of exposure. The mesoporous thin films, in addition to their higher efficiency at HER compared to dense thin films, also show lower internal stress, as determined by Rietveld refinement of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction patterns. The latter also reveal a fully single-phase and nanocrystalline structure for all thin films with varying Ni contents.