Impedance Spectroscopy Studies Research Articles

Improving the Performance of LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 via Atomic Layer Deposition of ZnxOy Coating

AbstractNickel‐rich cathode materials such as LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 (NMC90) have gained attention due to their ability to deliver high energy densities while being cost‐effective for Lithium‐ion battery manufacturing. However, NMC90 cathodes suffer irreversible parasitic reactions such as electrolyte decomposition, severe capacity fading and impedance build‐up upon prolonged cycling. Herein, we synthesize a conformal ultrathin, surface protection layer on NMC90 powder using ZnxOy via atomic layer deposition technique (ZnxOy@NMC90). Prolonged electrochemical investigation of full cells at high discharge rates of 2 C shows that ZnxOy@NMC90 cells yielded ~31 % improvement in discharge capacity compared to pristine NMC90. Furthermore, operando electrochemical mass spectroscopy studies show that the ZnxOy@NMC90 cells have significantly suppressed electrolyte decomposition as compared to pristine NMC90 cells. Post‐cycling electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies show that the ZnxOy@NMC90 full cells have significantly reduced impedance compared with pristine NMC90 cells. Additionally, post cycling manganese dissolution studies show that ZnxOy@NMC90 cells have greatly enhanced chemo‐mechanical integrity thereby contributing to improved electrochemical performances. Our results underscore the potential of tailored ZnxOy surface coatings on nickel‐rich cathode materials to address critical challenges in advanced energy storage systems, offering promising prospects for the development of high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries.

Ferrocene Appended D−π−A chromophores for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Synthesis, Photophysical, Effect of Co-adsorbent on Photovoltaic Efficiencies and DFT studies

A new ferrocene conjugated donor–π–acceptor type of dyes 1 and 2 were synthesized and characterized using different spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, NMR, and ESI-mass). The intramolecular charge transfer process of both the dyes were analysed using the solvatochromic method, which reveals positive solvatochromism due to its well stabilization in the excited states than in the ground states. The electrochemical behavior of the dyes 1 and 2 were carried out by the cyclic voltammetric technique, which shows quasi-reversible in nature, and the potentials were further utilized for the band gap calculation with UV-visible data [2.99 eV (1) and 2.88 eV (2)]. The photovoltaic attainments of the dyes 1 and 2 were studied through the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) in the presence and absence of co-adsorbent like chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), which act as an anti-dye aggregation material. The photovoltaic parameters like short circuit current density (Jsc) = 0.067 mA cm2, open circuit voltage (Voc) = 0.444 V, fill factor (FF) = 0.447, and the cell displayed an overall conversion efficiency of 0.013 % for dye 2. In contrast, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) was found to be enhanced to 0.177 % (Jsc = 0.389 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.577 V, FF =0.790), in the presence of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) co-adsorbent. This enhancement in efficiency is due to reduced dye aggregation and increased electron injection in the presence of CDCA. In addition, chromophore 2 has 1.4 times higher efficiencies than 1, attributing to the presence of an additional phenyl group making an efficient intramolecular process of 2. Furthermore, the incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies reveal the dye efficiencies were directly proportional to that of the power conversion efficiency (PCE), respectively. Moreover, the electronic structure and electron density distribution analysis were analysed for both dyes 1 and 2 to confirm the intramolecular charge transfer properties using density-functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations using the B3LYP/ 6-31+G** level of theory.

Dielectric and Electrical Behavior of Apraseodymium Based Tungsten Bronze Ceramics

AbstractThe ceramic oxide Na2Ba2Pr2W2Ti4Nb4O30 (NBPWTN) is prepared by a mechanical mixed oxide route. The compound formation and the phase are concluded from the x‐ray diffraction pattern taken at room temperature (XRD). The uniform distribution of grains of various sizes with negligible voids is studied from scanning electron micrograph of the sample pellet. The presence of dielectric dispersion and ferroelectric phase in the material is observed from the temperature‐dependent dielectric parameters at selected frequencies. The existence of ferroelectricity in the material is further confirmed by the room temperature hysteresis loop. Impedance spectroscopic studies informed about the correlation between the microstructure and electrical behavior. The frequency variation of AC conductivity refers to Jonscher's law. The temperature variation of frequency exponent term n indicates OLPT (overlapping large polaron‐tunneling) model of the conduction mechanism in the sample. NBPWTN is a strong candidate for applications involving thermistor‐related devices because of the temperature dependency of resistance. The value of temperature sensitivity coefficient β in our investigation is achieved between 2000 and 11 000 K, confirming that the material has a high‐temperature stability property and is ideal for high‐temperature electronics applications. The high room temperature dielectric constant value of the ceramic (around 500) is useful for dielectric capacitor applications.

The electrochemical performances of porous niobium pentoxide with multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite incorporated with glassy carbon electrode for the sensing of chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol (CPL), a developing emergence of detection, was selected after sorting out many harmful hazards associated with the nominal dose of medications. Therefore, the detection of CPL is needed to defend the ecosystem. Consequently, this work provides exceptional scrutinization of the CPL reduction process utilizing the electrochemical method by the constructed nanomaterial which is hydrothermally prepared metal oxide such as Niobium Pentoxide (Nb2O5) with the Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT), which are prepared as a nanocomposite of MWCNT/Nb2O5. Thus, MWCNT/Nb2O5 nanocomposite was drop cast on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode to construct MWCNT/Nb2O5/GCE electrode utilized for the detection of CPL. The MWCNT/Nb2O5/GCE composite was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Brunauer-Emmette-Teller studies (BET), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of the prepared electrode was identified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies, respectively. The electrochemical investigations of the MWCNT/Nb2O5/GCE were conducted at −1.0 V to −0.2 V. The limit of detection (LOD) of the CPL was obtained with very low concentrations of 0.1 μM with a high sensitivity of 0.364 μA μM−1 cm−2 and a wide linear range (0.01–240 μM). Finally, the MWCNT/Nb2O5/GCE electrode performed acceptable repeatability, reproducibility, and stability performance. The prepared MWCNT/Nb2O5/GCE electrodes were utilized for the detection of CPL in milk samples and honey samples with acceptable recoveries.

Mixed metal oxide-based binder-free electrode and redox additive electrolyte combination for enhanced supercapacitor performance

In this study, a novel Co3O4/CeO2 nanocomposite for supercapacitors was fabricated through a one-step hydrothermal method, to achieve distinct crystalline phases and a unique flower-like structure. Integrated into a binder-free electrode (BFE) on Ni foam, the Co3O4/CeO2@NF electrode outperformed individual Co3O4 and CeO2-based electrodes. The synergistic effect between Co3O4 and CeO2, enhances the overall surface area, porosity and conductivity of the composites, which improved the supercapacitor characteristics. Detailed analyses confirmed the Co3O4/CeO2@NF electrode's superior cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, rate capability, and stability under potassium hydroxide (KOH) and redox additive electrolytes (RAE). The incorporation of RAE further boosted the performance, showcasing the potential for advanced energy storage applications. The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device exhibited outstanding energy and power densities, making it promising for practical applications. Comprehensive electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies offered insights into charge transfer dynamics, highlighted the positive impact of redox additives. This work contributed to understand the synergistic effects in metal oxide composites on advancing the high-performance supercapacitor development.

Binary NiCu oxide nanoparticles onto graphite as promoting nanocatalysts for ethanol electro‐oxidation process

A facile and reduced cost fabrication protocol was followed to have a series of nickel oxide nanospecies onto graphite support with introducing varied copper oxide wt.% values (NiCuO/T). The co‐precipitation of metallic hydroxide particles onto carbonaceous surfaces and their subsequent burning at 400°C were sufficient to prepare mixed transition metal oxides. Suitable analysis tools were exploited to fully characterize the obtained nanopowders using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. Outstanding performances of the formed nanocatalysts for catalyzing ethanol electro‐oxidation reaction were measured especially in presence of 15 wt.% copper oxide content. The onset potential (Eonset) value of alcohol oxidation process was negatively shifted at dispersed NiO nanoparticles onto graphite after doping with copper oxide nanospecies. This promoted activity of prepared nanomaterials could be explained by their increased active sites when binary metallic oxides were incorporated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies demonstrated much lowered resistances in alkaline solution containing ethanol molecules to ascertain the enhanced behavior of NiCuO/T nanocatalysts. Moreover, their good stability attitude encouraged the application of doped nanomaterials with copper oxide for fuel cells application.

Visible light-induced H2 production and pollutant degradation by copper oxide nanosphere embedded zinc-cadmium-sulfide composite

AbstractGreen hydrogen production using solar water splitting and solving water pollution issues are intricately intertwined global goals which are hindered by the scarcity of highly active photocatalytic materials. Herein, we have presented a simple strategy to couple two semiconductors (Cu2O and ZnCdS) to form a type-I heterojunction with high visible light response. The as-synthesized heterojunction was well characterized by the battery techniques, such as TEM, HAADF-STEM elemental mapping, XRD and XPS. The visible light response was higher for composite than individual components, as was also supported by UV–vis DRS. The Cu2O-ZnCdS composite showed a higher visible light-driven photocatalytic H2 production rate (78.5 µmol g–1 h–1). The catalyst was also active for photocatalytic degradation of a model dye-methylene blue (MB)-with a degradation rate constant of 0.079 min−1. The enhanced performance of the Cu2O-loaded ZnCdS catalysts can be ascribed to both factors, such as enhancement of the visible light absorption and the growth of Cu2O-ZnCdS heterojunction. The heterojunction formation facilitates efficient charge separation with smaller charge resistance, as evidenced by transient photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. This study strongly indicates that the photocatalytic reactions with this catalyst material are kinetically favoured by coupling the two semiconductors. Graphical abstract

Design of sonochemical assisted synthesis of Zr-MOF/g-C3N4-modified electrode for ultrasensitive detection of antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine from biological samples.

Therapid fabrication is describedof binary electrocatalyst based on a highly porous metal-organic framework with zirconium metal core (Zr-MOF) decorated over the graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets via facile ultrasonication method. It is used for the robust determination of antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine (CLP) from environmental samples. The electrochemical behaviour of 2D Zr-MOF@g-C3N4 was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. The crystalline and porous nature of the composite was characterized by XRD and SEM analysis. The functional groups and surface characteristics were investigated by FT-IR, Raman and XPS. The major electrochemical properties of the Zr-MOF@g-C3N4 composite towards CLP detection were analyzed by CV, chronocoulometric (CC), chronoamperometric (CA) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques. The composite exhibits a low detection limit (LOD) of 2.45nM with a linear range of 0.02 to 2.99µM and attractive sensitivity for CLP. The sensor system shows higher selectivity towards the possible interferences of CLP drug and exhibits betterrepeatability and stability. Finally, the fabricated sensor system shows a high recovery range varying from 96.2 to 98.9% towards the real samples. The proposed electrochemical probe might be a promising alternative to the prevailing diagnostic tools for the detection of CLP.

Hydrothermally Synthesized Z-Scheme Nanocomposite of ZIF-9 Modified MXene for Photocatalytic Degradation of 4-Chlorophenol.

4-Chlorophenol (4CP) is a well-known environmental contaminant often detected in wastewater, generally arising from industrial processes such as chemical manufacture, pharmaceutical production, and pesticide formulation. 4CP is a matter of great concern since it is persistent and has the potential to have harmful impacts on both aquatic ecosystems and human health, owing to its hazardous and mutagenic properties. Hence, degradation of 4CP is of utmost significance. This research investigates the photocatalytic degradation of 4CP using a novel Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite composed of MXene and ZIF-9. The nanocomposite is synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal method and thoroughly characterized by using XRD, SEM, UV-visible spectroscopy, zeta potential, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies, confirming successful fabrication with improved surface properties. The comparative photocatalytic degradation studies between pristine materials and the nanocomposite were performed, and significant enhancement in performance was observed. The effect of pH on the degradation efficiency is also explored and correlated with the surface charge. The Z-scheme photocatalysis mechanism is proposed, which is supported by time-resolved photoluminescence studies and scavenger experiments. The reusability of the nanocomposite is also evaluated. The study contributes to the development of efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.

Tetranuclear CoII4O4 Cubane Complex: Effective Catalyst Toward Electrochemical Water Oxidation.

The reaction of Co(OAc)2·6H2O with 2,2'-[{(1E,1'E)-pyridine-2,6-diyl-bis(methaneylylidene)bis(azaneylylidene)}diphenol](LH2) a multisite coordination ligand and Et3N in a 1:2:3 stoichiometric ratio forms a tetranuclear complex Co4(L)2(μ-η1:η1-OAc)2(η2-OAc)2]· 1.5 CH3OH· 1.5 CHCl3 (1). Based on X-ray diffraction investigations, complex 1 comprises a distorted Co4O4 cubane core consisting of two completely deprotonated ligands [L]2- and four acetate ligands. Two distinct types of CoII centers exist in the complex, where the Co(2) center has a distorted octahedral geometry; alternatively, Co(1) has a distorted pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry. Analysis of magnetic data in 1 shows predominant antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -2.1 cm-1), while the magnetic anisotropy is the easy-plane type (D1 = 8.8, D2 = 0.76 cm-1). Furthermore, complex 1 demonstrates an electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with an overpotential of 325 mV and Tafel slope of 85 mV dec-1, required to attain a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and moderate stability under alkaline conditions (pH = 14). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies reveal that compound 1 has a charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 2.927 Ω, which is comparatively lower than standard Co3O4 (5.242 Ω), indicating rapid charge transfer kinetics between electrode and electrolyte solution that enhances higher catalytic activity toward OER kinetics.

Evaluation of Corrosive Properties of Hafnium Nitride Coating Over Titanium Screws: An In Vitro Study.

Background Varied surface coatings have been studied time and again in medical sciences. Whether general or dental, studying the performance of coatings aims to assess their potential to improve the durability and longevity of titanium implants, thereby advancing implant technology for enhanced patient outcomes. Various analytical techniques are utilized to assess the performance of the coating, providing insights into its effectiveness in preventing corrosion. The findings of this evaluation will contribute to our understanding of corrosion mitigation strategies for titanium implants and pave the way for the development of more durable implant materials. This article aims to evaluate the corrosion resistance of an innovative metal compound coating applied over titanium implants. Materials and methods In this study, a total of 20 medical-grade, commercially pure titanium screws were collected. The dimensions of the titanium screws were 2mm x 7mm. Around 10 of these commercially pure titanium screw samples were used as the control group. Hafnium nitride (HfN) (0.1 M) was mixed with 100% ethanol and stirred using a glass rod for about 48 hours. Then 10 of the implant screw samples were immersed in the prepared sol and sintered at 400o C for two hours. The HfN-coated samples were then used as the test group. The corrosion resistance of both groups was tested using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization studies. The Nyquist, Bode impedance, and Bode phase angle plots were obtained and studied. Results Using the Stern-Geary equation, the corrosion current density was calculated. On analysis, these values indicated that the higher impedance in HfN-coated titanium screws showed higher mean corrosion potential (Ecorr = -0.452 V) andcorrosion current density ( icorr = 0.0354 μA/cm2) than the uncoated titanium screws. Conclusion It was concluded that the corrosion properties of HfN-coated titanium screws had higher impedance and consequently the highest corrosion resistance. This thereby provides a promising scope for further research of this novel metal coating for use in the biomedical sectors, specifically for dental implants.

Effect of V Content on Corrosion Behavior of Al-V Alloys Produced by Mechanical Alloying and Subsequent Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract Al-V alloys produced via high-energy ball milling have been reported to show simultaneous improvement of corrosion resistance and mechanical properties compared to traditional Al alloys. In these alloys, V content plays a crucial role in increasing or decreasing corrosion resistance. Therefore, the effect of V and microstructure on corrosion of high-energy ball milled and subsequently spark plasma sintered Al-xV alloys (x = 2, 5, 10 at.%) has been studied. Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis revealed that increments of V content up to 5 at. % enhanced the corrosion resistance of the alloy. However, highly heterogeneous microstructure in Al-10 at.%V resulted in significant localized corrosion over the immersion time. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies over 14 days of immersion revealed underlying corrosion mechanisms.

Development of organic co-sensitizers based on piperonal for over 10% efficient ruthenium complex dye-sensitized solar cells

In this study, two new piperonal-based organic dyes, designated D-1–2, were synthesized for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The dyes studied have a D-π-A configuration and have undergone molecular engineering to fine-tune their spectral properties and energy levels. A comprehensive analysis involving both experimental and theoretical approaches was performed to investigate their optical, electrochemical, photovoltaic, geometrical, and electronic features. These newly developed dyes exhibit notably strong UV–vis absorption, with high molar extinction coefficients, making them an attractive option as co-sensitizers for ruthenium-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Co-sensitization at a concentration of 0.2 mM resulted in a significant increase in the PCEs of DSSCs, ranging from 7.90 % to 10.43 %, compared to the PCE of 7.31 % for DSSCs sensitized solely with N719. The improvement in PCEs can be attributed to the enhanced JCSS and Voc achieved through co-sensitization, highlighting the potential benefits of utilizing co-sensitizers to develop more efficient DSSCs. The highest PCE achieved was 10.43 %, with a Jsc of 19.05 mA.cm−2 and a VOC of 750 mV for the mixed co-sensitizers (D-1 + D-2 + N719). These findings indicate that cocktail co-sensitization is a promising strategy for constructing efficient D-π-A-type sensitizers and for evaluating the performance of DSSCs. Additionally, incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies provide insights into the mechanisms responsible for these improvements. Based on the IPCE study, the increase in Jsc during co-sensitization is due to less photocurrent loss from the electrolyte. EIS experiments showed that making a monolayer of sensitizers that was denser and more organized probably led to less electron recombination between the injected electrons and the electrolyte. This could be because the dyes were absorbed more. The findings of this study suggest that D-1–2 co-sensitizers might be game-changers in the development of more effective DSSCs. In addition, this investigation provides crucial information regarding the underlying systems.

A theoretical and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study of the adsorption and sensing of selected metal ions by 4-morpholino-7-nitrobenzofuran

The selectivity of a novel chemosensor, based on a modified nitrobenzofurazan referred to as NBD-Morph, has been investigated for the detection of heavy metal cations (Co2+, Pb2+, Mg2+, Ag+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+). The ligand, 4-morpholino-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Morph), was characterized using spectroscopic techniques including FT-IR and 1H NMR. Vibrational frequencies obtained from FT-IR and proton NMR (1H) chemical shifts were accurately predicted employing the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP level of theory. Furthermore, an examination of the structural, electronic, and quantum chemical properties was conducted and discussed. DFT calculations were employed to explore the complex formation ability of the NBD-Morph ligand with Co2+, Pb2+, Mg2+, Ag+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ metal cations. The comparison of adsorption energies for all possible conformations reveals that NBD-Morph exhibits sensitivity and selectivity towards metal ions, including Pb2+, Cu2+, Ag+, and Ni2+. However, an assessment of their reactivity using QTAIM topological parameters demonstrated the ligand's greater complexation ability toward Cu2+ or Ni2+ than those formed by Pb2+ or Ag+. Additionally, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), Hirshfeld surfaces, and their associated 2D-fingerprint plots were applied to a detailed study of the inter-molecular interactions in NBD-Morph-X (X = Pb2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Ni2+) complexes. The electron localization function (ELF) and the localized-orbital locator (LOL) were generated to investigate the charge transfer and donor-acceptor interactions within the complexes. Electrochemical analysis further corroborates the theoretical findings, supporting the prediction of NBD-Morph's sensory ability towards Ni2+ metal cations. In conclusion, NBD-Morph stands out as a promising sensor for Ni2+.

Development of surfactant integrated polyaniline based electrode material towards supercapacitor application

Tailoring electrode material is always important for fabricating high-performance energy storage devices. Polyaniline (PANI) is one of the most-explored electrode materials due to its electroactivity, redox property, easy and cost-effective synthesis and reasonable capacitance. Herein, PANI has been integrated with surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulphate, Tween-80) via chemical oxidative polymerization pathway and utilized as the electrode material for supercapacitor. Chemical nature, crystallinity and morphology of surfactant integrated PANI samples were evaluated by FTIR, UV–Visible, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques while electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies. Among the different PANI samples, PANI integrated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (PMC) afforded 2.3 times higher capacitance (528 F/g) than PANI synthesized without surfactants (PM) (229 F/g). Due to the influence of CTAB, PMC displayed higher pore volume and lesser particle size as investigated by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and dynamic light scattering analyses. Furthermore, PMC displayed two times higher electroactive surface area as compared to PM as investigated by cyclic voltammetry studies. It has been observed that the surfactant not only improved the processability of the polymer but also assisted in enhancing the capacitance of the electrode material significantly.

Impedance spectroscopy and conductivity studies of Sr(Bi3.9-xNdxLa0.1)(Ti3.975Zr0.025)O15 (x = 0.00, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1) ceramics

Sr(Bi3.9-xNdxLa0.1)(Ti3.975Zr0.025)O15 (x = 0.00, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1) ceramics were prepared by solid-state reaction technique. It was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectra (EDS). The impedance spectroscopy and conductivity studies were investigated. XRD analysis indicated, the formation of a single-phase orthorhombic structure and particle size was found by SEM. The compositions were confirmed from their EDS spectra. Impedance plots were used as tools to analyze the sample behavior as a function of frequency and temperature. Cole-Cole plots were showed that a non-Debye relaxation. Conductivity measurements were performed on it.

Effect of process parameters on the corrosion kinetics and mechanism of nanosecond laser surface structured titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V)

In this study, laser surface structuring (LSS) of Ti6Al4V was carried out using an Nd:YLF laser with a second harmonic wavelength of 527 nm and a pulse duration of 100 ns at varied laser fluence, scan speed, and line spacing. A detailed study of the effect of process parameters on surface topography, microstructure, composition, phase, contact angle, electrochemical behavior, and bioactivity was undertaken. Nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation with overlapping resulted in the formation of linear continuous grooves on the surface due to ablation/evaporation of materials. There is the formation of oxides of titanium (TiO2 and Ti2O3) whose mass fractions varied with process parameters. The average microhardness of the laser-structured region was improved (393 VHN - 535 VHN) as compared to the as-received Ti6Al4V (303 VHN). The contact angle of simulated body fluid (SBF) against the structured surface (58°- 123°) showed increased contact angle as compared to as-received samples (50°). The laser surface structuring exhibited a superior corrosion resistance property (in SBF) as compared to as-received Ti6Al4V. The mechanism of corrosion behavior was established by electrochemical impedance spectroscopic study (in SBF). The optimum process parameter for the LSS of Ti6Al4V with enhanced hardness and corrosion resistance was derived. The LSS surface processed under the optimum parameters measured by immersing in SBF revealed a higher deposition of calcium phosphate as compared to the as-received Ti6Al4V.

Synthesis and investigation of two new compounds (2-(methoxymethyl)−1- phenyl-2-propen-1-one and 2-(methoxymethyl)−1-(4-methoxyphenyl) - 2-Propen-1-one) as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in acidic solutions at elevated temperature.

This study evaluated the performance of two newly synthesized organic corrosion inhibitors using the gravimetric weight loss method in hydrochloric acid (HCl), methanesulphonic acid (MSA), and a combination of HCl and MSA in the presence of different corrosion inhibitor (CI) concentrations at temperatures of 30 °C to 90 °C. Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies were carried out for an in-depth study of corrosion mechanisms. Following the weight loss study, the percentage inhibition efficacies of C1 and C2 at 300 ppm concentrations were found to be ≈ 100% at 30 °C, 40 °C and 60 °C in 15 wt% HCl, 10 wt% MSA, and a combination of both acids (15 wt% HCl and 10 wt% MSA). The performances of C1 and C2 deteriorated slightly when tested in 10 wt% MSA at 90 °C. The synthesized CIs still showed a very high inhibition efficiency in the presence of 15 wt% HCl and a mixture of acids (HCl and MSA) at 90 °C. PDP studies indicated that both C1 and C2 act as anodic inhibitors. The inhibition efficiencies obtained from the PDP and EIS studies agreed with the weight loss study. The high value of Kads and the negative ∆Gads value suggests that C1 and C2 corrosion inhibitors have a strong and spontaneous tendency to chemisorb onto the mild steel surface. SEM-EDX studies proved the formation of a uniform, protective corrosion inhibitor film on the metal surface. Both C1 and C2 have been proven suitable for high-temperature corrosion applications.

Electrocatalytic behavior of Ni–Mo alloy electrodeposited from deep eutectic solvents-assisted plating baths: electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study

The electrocatalytic behavior of electrodeposited Ni and Ni–Mo alloy coatings in the hydrogen evolution reaction in a 1 M NaOH aqueous solution was investigated by means of the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method. The electrochemical deposition of electrocatalytic coatings was carried out using electrolytes based on deep eutectic solvents (eutectic mixtures of choline chloride with ethylene glycol or urea). To simulate the recorded Nyquist plots reflecting the electrocatalytic performance of deposited coatings, a modified Armstrong-Henderson equivalent circuit was employed, which accounts for the involvement of adsorbed intermediates in the reaction. The equivalent circuit included three polarization resistances and three constant phase elements, allowing for the consideration of the localization of the electrochemical process on different surface microdomains. It was found that the electrocatalytic activity of nickel coatings deposited from deep eutectic solvents exceeded the activity of nickel fabricated in an aqueous electrolyte. The increase in molybdenum content in the coating was shown to enhance electrocatalytic activity. It was established that the main reasons for improving the electrocatalytic properties of the Ni–Mo alloy coatings are structural-morphological factors (increase in the degree of microheterogeneity of the surface and the development of the surface area available for electrochemical reaction) and the formation of a favorable electronic structure of the metal, leading to the acceleration of the rate-determining Volmer step.

Effect of calcination temperature on structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of Mg0.75Zn0.25Al0.2Fe1.8O4 ferrites

Based on the desire to improve material properties, the effects of temperature have begun to be investigated. It was found that for nano-sized powder materials, such as ferrites, the structural properties like crystal structure and grain size, as well as many magnetic and electrical properties depending on them, change with the calcination temperature. Considering these changes, the effect of calcination temperature on the structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of MZA ferrites (Mg0.75Zn0.25Al0.2Fe1.8O4) prepared by co-precipitation was investigated in this study. The produced MZA ferrites were calcined at three different temperatures (600, 700, and 800 °C). The X-ray diffraction results showed that the samples exhibited a cubic spinel structure. It was found that the crystal sizes (D_sch) calculated using the Debye-Scherrer equation increased with increasing calcination temperature (22.47, 33.53, and 42.53 nm). From the Williamson–Hall (W–H) plots, crystal sizes were calculated almost same as Debye–Scherrer crystal sizes. The nano-sized particles were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Elemental analysis was performed using EDX. ν1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ u }_{1}$$\\end{document} and ν2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ u }_{2}$$\\end{document} absorption bands and O–H and C–H vibrations were detected in the FTIR spectra. Magnetic measurements were carried out at room temperature and in the range of ± 60 kOe under the applied field. Magnetic results are explained by superparamagnetism. Dielectric measurements were performed at room temperature and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 10 MHz. The dielectric properties can be explained by Maxwell–Wagner theory. Impedance spectroscopy study revealed that the relaxation mechanism is consistent with the Cole–Cole model. In AC conductivity studies at room temperature, it was found that the sample calcined at 600 °C would be suitable for energy storage devices.