One-step Electrodeposition Method Research Articles

Facile electrochemical synthesis of Ni-Co-B film on Cu sheet for dual-electrocatalysis of hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions

Fabricating efficient and affordable electrocatalysts is essential to make electrochemical water splitting more feasible. However, to minimize the electrocatalysts' fabrication costs, developing bifunctional electrocatalysts has been proposed as a profitable strategy. Herein, the Ni-Co-B film was fabricated on a Cu sheet surface by a one-step and facile electrodeposition method. The optimized sample showed noticeable electrocatalytic activity for total water splitting. The required overpotential for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at -10 mA cm−2 current density was recorded to be -145 mV, and in the case of oxygen evolution reaction (OER), this value was 276 mV at 10 mA cm−2. The unique morphology of the optimized Ni-Co-B sample with a high number of spherical micro-nodules was proposed to be responsible for this high HER and OER catalytic activity. Moreover, the optimized value of the B, Ni, and Co in the coating was highly important in facilitating the electrochemical reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the better electrocatalytic activity of the Ni-Co-B electrode is due to the regulate the electronic structure and new active catalytic sites which are created by Co incorporation. Finally, the binder-free approach of fabricating the coating resulted in the long-time high stability of the fabricated Ni-Co-B/Cu electrode at high current densities.

One-step fabrication of heterostructured CoNi-LDH@NiCo alloy for effective alkaline hydrogen evolution

Construction of heterostructured electrocatalyst with interface effect is an effective strategy for enhancing the alkaline hydrogen evolution efficiency, whereas this process often requires complex treatments. Herein, we proposed a one-step electrodeposition method to obtain heterostructured CoNi-LDH@NiCo alloy on Ni foam (NF) through a competition reduction between NO3− group and metal cations in the electrolyte. The HER performance for the CoNi-LDH@NiCo alloy achieved the current density of 10 mA cm−2 at overpotential of 69 mV in 1 M KOH solution, improved 60% for η10 by comparing with the pristine NiCo alloy. Utilizing the specialized adsorption of CoNi-LDH for H2O and the featured attractiveness of NiCo alloy for H atom, the interface effect of the heterostructure electrocatalyst accelerated the dissociation of water molecules and elevated the catalytic kinetics dramatically. This work points out a potential approach towards the easy construction of inexpensive heterostructured electrocatalysts for HER activity in alkaline medium.

Implantable platinum nanotree microelectrode with a battery-free electrochemical patch for peritoneal carcinomatosis monitoring

As a severe stage of cancers, peritoneal carcinomatosis should be frequently monitored by means of ascites analysis. Nevertheless, the analysis process is traumatic and time-consuming in clinical practice. In this study, an implantable platinum nanotree microelectrode with a wireless, battery-free and flexible electrochemical patch was developed for in vivo and real-time peritoneal glucose detection to monitor peritoneal carcinomatosis. As the core of implantable microelectrode, platinum trees were synthesized by one-step electrodeposition method and highly sensitive to glucose detection. The platinum nanotree microelectrode was implantable in peritoneal cavity in minimally invasive way. A flexible circuit patch could execute electrochemical test and realize wireless power harvesting and data interaction with a near field communication (NFC)-enabled smartphone. The whole system could detect glucose dynamics in vivo in rat peritoneal cavity. Furthermore, the accuracy of this system was validated in ascites of patients. In this way, the system could offer hassle-free, rapid and minimally invasive opportunities toward peritoneal carcinomatosis monitoring.

Uncertainty analysis of factors affecting coating thickness distribution during nickel electrodeposition

• The coating thickness uniformity of irregular surface deposition is studied. • Appling SOBOL random sequence to design electrodeposition experiment. • A surrogate coupling model of electroplating was established based on simulation. • Sample-based stochastic modeling were used to estimate the uncertainty. The distribution uniformity of electrodeposition thickness is one of the important standards for testing the quality of electrodeposited coatings, which is affected by electrodeposition process parameters, including cathode current density, electrolyte conductivity, the distance between cathode and anode, the area of anode plate and cell. The nickel electrodeposition scheme with five parameters were established by SOBOL random sequence. The secondary current distribution, following the complete Butler-Volmer dynamics formula and turbulent flow, were used to simulate the electrode process dynamics at both anode and cathode. In order to validate accuracy of numerical simulation prediction, nickel coating have been fabricated on the brass sample by using one-step electrodeposition method. According to the numerical simulation results, the surrogate model was constructed by response surface method. Subsequently, a sampling-based stochastic model was applied to elucidate the effects of uncertainty in several electrodeposition parameters on the variability of nickel coating distribution. The result shows that the nickel coating thickness obtained by numerical simulation are fairly similar to the experiment. The electrodeposition process parameters were optimized by uncertainty analysis of the established electroplating surrogate model. The method of uncertainty analysis can be applied to study the uncertain influence factors in electrochemistry field.

Iron Coordination Polymer, Fe(oxalate)(H2O)2 Nanorods Grown on Nickel Foam via One-Step Electrodeposition as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Iron coordination polymer, Fe(ox)(H2O)2 (H2ox = oxalic acid) nanorods were grown on a nickel foam (NF) collector via a one-step electrodeposition method, which can be directly used as a freestanding and binder-free electrode for efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysis. The optimum sample, Fe(ox)(H2O)2/NF-(-1.4)-15, was obtained at an electrodeposition potential of -1.4 V vs Ag/AgCl for 15 min, which can deliver OER current densities of 40 and 100 mA cm-2 at overpotentials of 270 and 340 mV, respectively. The sample also exhibits good long-term OER activity during 80 h electrolysis at 20 mA cm-2, which is superior to those of previously reported metal-organic framework (MOF) catalysts. Furthermore, the formation mechanism of the Fe(ox)(H2O)2 nanorods is primarily investigated and the effect of the species of metal ions in MOF on the morphology and OER behavior is also explored. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the rate-limiting steps on Fe(ox)(H2O)2 and Ni(ox)(H2O)2 are the formation of Fe*-OOH and Ni*-OH intermediates with maximum ΔG values of 1.628 and 1.710 eV, respectively, which is attributed to the different electronic configurations of Ni and Fe, thus giving rise to different d-band centers and different affinities for adsorbates.

Electrodeposition, formation mechanism, and electrocatalytic performance of Co-Ni-P ternary catalysts coated on carbon fiber paper

Transition metal–based catalysts are considered to be promising materials to replace noble metal catalysts for electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, a flexible electrode composed of Co-Ni-P ternary catalysts and carbon fiber paper substrate (Co-Ni-P/CFP) was successfully fabricated and applied in water electrolysis. The Co-Ni-P coatings were deposited on CFP by a one-step cyclic voltammetric electrodeposition method and the surface of the composite material exhibits nano-reticular structure. The formation mechanism was also discussed according to the results of material characterization. Notably, the Co-Ni-P/CFP flexible electrode exhibited superior catalytic performance for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in alkaline media, which could achieve 10 mA/cm2 current density with overpotential of 89 mV for HER and 320 mV for OER. Moreover, the Co-Ni-P/CFP electrode could also be used as both anode and cathode electrode to drive overall water splitting and required only 1.64 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm2, which was very close to that of the commercial combination of Pt/C and IrO2. This affordable and easily obtained electrode offers a new avenue to develop earth-abundant resource catalysts for water electrolysis system.

Highly Efficient Low-Concentration Phosphate Removal from Effluents by Recoverable La(OH)3/Foamed Nickel Adsorbent.

Lanthanum-based materials have attained increasing attention because of their high adsorption property of phosphate ions and their environmental harmlessness. However, challenges still remain to improve the phosphate adsorption capacity and find suitable materials for the lanthanum attachment substrate. Nickel foam with characteristics such as excellent uniformity, large specific surface area, high porosity, and low conductivity is considered to be the alternative for the preparation of lanthanum-based adsorption materials. An efficient adsorbent foamed nickel-based La (OH)3 nanowire was first prepared with a facile one-step electrodeposition method. The batch static adsorption tests of simulative wastewater (e.g., coexisting ions and solution pH values) were employed to investigate the phosphate adsorption kinetics and solution matrix effects of the materials. The results indicate that the composite exhibits fast adsorption kinetics within 30 min and high selectivity to phosphate under interference from competing ions. The pH value of wastewater has great influence on the absorption of phosphate, and optimal adsorption capacity can be achieved over a pH 4–6 range. Various findings revealed that the adsorption behavior of lanthanum hydroxide/foamed nickel [La(OH)3/Ni] followed inner-sphere adsorption through the ligand-exchange mechanism. The prepared material is expected to be an enormous potential candidate for the removal of low-concentration phosphorus from effluents.

Ultrafast fabrication of porous transition metal foams for efficient electrocatalytic water splitting

Developing a facile strategy for universal synthesis of transition metal catalysts is significant to catalytic reactions but remains challenging. Herein, we report an ultrafast one-step electrodeposition method to prepare a series of transition metal foams within one minute for electrocatalytic water splitting. The porous metal foams not only possess unique 3D channels for rapid electrolyte diffusion and gas releasing, but also have robust integrated structures with enhanced conductivity for efficient charge transport. Consequently, the NiCo and NiFe foams only require 86 and 206 mV to output 10 mA cm−2 for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) in 1 M KOH, respectively. Combining the two electrocatalysts, we have assembled an outstanding alkaline electrolyzer, requiring only 1.52 and 1.64 V to deliver 10 and 100 mA cm−2 respectively, outperforming the RuO2(+)//Pt/C(-) electrolyzer. Our study offers an ultrafast and general approach to fabricate 3D porous electrocatalysts for high-performance water splitting.

One-Step Electrodeposition Synthesis of Bimetal Fe- and Co-Doped NiPi/P for Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting

To improve the electrolysis efficiency of overall water splitting, designing an efficient and stable catalyst becomes very essential. Herein, a one-step cyclic voltammetric electrodeposition method...

Efficient electrocatalytic overall water splitting and structural evolution of cobalt iron selenide by one-step electrodeposition

Fe-incorporated dual-metal selenide on nickel foam (Co 0.9 Fe 0.1 -Se/NF) with superior and stable electrocatalytic overall water splitting performance in alkaline media is synthesized by a facile one-step electrodeposition method. Developing bifunctional electrocatalysts with both high catalytic activity and high stability is crucial for efficient water splitting in alkaline media. Herein, a Fe-incorporated dual-metal selenide on nickel foam (Co 0.9 Fe 0.1 -Se/NF) is synthesized via a facile one-step electrodeposition method. As-synthesized materials could serve as self-supported bifunctional electrocatalysts with excellent catalytic activity towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. Experimental results show that delivering a 10 mA cm −2 water splitting current density only requires a cell voltage of 1.55 V. In addition, a very stable performance could be kept for about 36 hours, indicating their excellent working stability. Moreover, by means of phase analysis, we have identified that the evolution of the synthesized Co 0.9 Fe 0.1 -Se/NF experiences two entirely different processes in HER and OER, which hydroxide and oxyhydroxide are regarded as the real active sites, respectively. This work may pave the way to further understanding the relationships between the reactivity and stability of chalcogenide-based electrocatalysts and facilitating the rational design of efficient electrocatalysts for future renewable energy system applications.

Electrodeposition of Ni–Fe micro/nano urchin-like structure as an efficient electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

The usage of active electrocatalysts is a useful approach to accelerate the kinetics of electrochemical reactions and to enhance the efficiency of water splitting. To fabricate active electrocatalysts, the creation of new structures that can be easily constructed has always been a research interest. Ni–Fe based alloys are generally known as active OER catalyst. However, in this study, a novel Ni–Fe micro/nano urchin-like structure is reported to be active for both HER and OER. This is the first report of the fabrication of this morphology by a fast, one-step, and affordable electrodeposition method as an efficient HER/OER electrocatalyst. The optimized Ni–Fe coating on Cu substrate demonstrated promising HER activity with low overpotentials of −124 and −243 mV at the current densities of −10 and −100 mA cm−2, respectively. Moreover, the fabricated Ni–Fe urchin-like catalyst is highly active toward OER, requiring overpotentials of only 292 and 374 mV to deliver 10 and 100 mA cm−2. The unique structure of the synthesized coating with an abundant number of micro/nano-scale cones is suggested to play a vital role in the superior HER/OER activity of the catalyst. This article introduces a cost-effective method for the fabrication of a novel urchin-like Ni–Fe alloy as a highly active bifunctional water splitting electrocatalyst.

Fluorine-doping-assisted vacancy engineering for efficient electrocatalyst toward hydrogen production

A novel F-doped Co2P nanomaterial was successfully prepared by a simple one-step electrodeposition method, showing excellent HER performance.

Nano-, helical conducting poly(3-methylthiophene) prepared by one-step electro-deposition using cholesteric liquid crystal and anodic aluminum oxide as dual templates

Due to the importance of nano-, helical conducting polymers in both fundamental studies and applied research, poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MT) with a nanosized helical structure was synthesized herein by using cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) and an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film as dual templates. The monomer 3-methylthiophene was polymerised and filled into the nanopores of AAO in the CLC medium by a one-step electro-deposition method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and circular dichroism (CD) analyses proved that the nano-, helical structure of P3MT was successfully obtained by this method. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) revealed that P3MT had the same texture as the CLC, which originated from the template effect of CLC. The electrochemical dual template-assisted approach is easily controlled, highly efficient, and inexpensive for fabricating nano-, helical conducting polymers.

Superhydrophobic Copper Foam Modified with n-Dodecyl Mercaptan-CeO2 Nanosheets for Efficient Oil/Water Separation and Oil Spill Cleanup

Efficient separation of oil/water with a simple and low-cost method is of great importance for the treatment of oily wastewater. In the current study, a facile one-step electrodeposition method was used to fabricate highly dense CeO₂ nanostructures on copper foam at a constant current density of 1.5 mA·cm–² for 20 min, which exhibited excellent superhydrophobicity and superlipophilicity after surface modification with n-dodecyl mercaptan (NDM). The electrodeposition current density and time were systematically investigated to uncover influencing factors of the growth process of CeO₂ nanostructures on the copper foam. The as-fabricated superhydrophobic foams could not only be used to efficiently separate oil/water mixtures with a separation efficiency greater than 97.4% but also presented robustness and high stability against 3.5 wt % NaCl solution and 600-grit sandpaper abrasion. Furthermore, the as-prepared sample still maintains a high separation efficiency at circa 97.5% after more than 25 times of recovery for kerosene/water mixture separation. In addition, the as-prepared three-dimensional cassette structure made of superhydrophobic copper foam could float freely on the water surface for fast in situ collection of oil from the water surface, indicating application potential in offshore oil spill treatment and cleanup.

One-step electrodeposition synthesis of bisphosphonate loaded magnesium implant: A strategy to modulate drug release for osteoporotic fracture healing

Osteoporotic fracture with increase of aging population became an urgent orthopedic problem. Bisphosphonates were widely recommended as effective clinical treatment drugs. Combination of biodegradable Mg-based implants and merits of bisphosphonates was suggested for osteoporotic fracture healing. Considering the mild and sustained drug release, a novel one-step electrodeposition synthesis of drug loaded coating was proposed in this study. In comparison to conventional soaking method, encapsulated zoledronate coating by one-step electrodeposition method could modulate drug release in first diffusion-controlled and later degradation-controlled manner. The in vitro cell response to zoledronate loaded coating showed enhanced proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts and no significant inhibition on osteoclasts, which could improve bone-forming and decrease bone resorption due to osteoporosis.

Electroreduction of CO2 to formate with excellent selectivity and stability on nano-dendrite Bi film electrode

Electroreduction of CO2 into value-added fuels has been considered as a promising technology to mitigate the CO2-invoked greenhouse effect. However, the poorer selectivity and lower stability of electrocatalysts still impede its development. In this work, we prepared a nano-dendrite Bi film electrode by simple one-step electrodeposition method. The Bi (1200) (deposition time of 1200s) exhibited a superior catalytic activity in a wide potential towards CO2-to-formate conversion and acquired the maximum faradaic efficiency (FEformate) of 97.5 % at –1.5 V vs Ag/AgCl. More encouragingly, it showed an excellent stability as the FEformate maintained ∼ 90 % over 108 h of electrolysis which outperformed most of the reported Bi-based electrodes. The notable performance was mainly attributed to the thorn-like structure which afforded massive active sites. Meantime, Bi-O structure on oxide-derived Bi was beneficial for CO2 adsorption and activation with accelerated interfacial charge transfer process. Moreover, the well-preserved electrode morphology and Bi-O component enabled its longer stable service life. This result implied Bi film electrode would be a promising candidate for efficient CO2 electroreduction.

Growth and Characterization of CZTS Thin Films Synthetized by Electrodeposition Method for Photovoltaic Applications

In the present work we deposited CZTS absorber material using a one-step electrodeposition method on ITO glass substrates. We studied the effect of sulfurization temperature on structural, morphological and optical properties of CZTS thin films sulfurized in N2+H2S atmosphere at 350, 375, 400 and 425°C for 10 min respectively for 10 min. The films have been charaterized by different techniques including X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-visible-NIR spectrophotometer. XRD patterns indicated kesterite CZTS with preferential orientation along (112) plane, the intensity of peaks increased with increase of sulfurization temperature signified the amelioration of the crystallinity with sulfurization temperature increased, the estimated crystallite size are in the range of 14.27-37.32 nm. Raman scattering experiments confirmed the presence of CZTS thin films by the characteristic peak at 336 cm−1. SEM images showed the morphology of CZTS thin films improved with increasing of sulfurization temperature. UV-Visible-NIR spectrophotometer showed that the values of optical absorption coefficient are larger than 104 cm−1 and optical band gap energy of CZTS thin films decreased with increasing of sulfurization temperature ranging 1.56 and 1.66 eV. These results make the electrodeposited CZTS films a suitable material as absorber material in solar cells applications based thin films.

Preparation of Flexible Carbon Fiber Fabrics with Adjustable Surface Wettability for High-Efficiency Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

In the 5G era, for portable electronics to operate at high performance and low power levels, the incorporation of superior electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials within the packages is of critical importance. A desirable wearable EMI shielding material is one that is lightweight, structurally flexible, air-permeable, and able to self-clean. To this end, a bioinspired electroless silver plating strategy and a one-step electrodeposition method are utilized to prepare an EMI shielding fabric (CEF-NF/PDA/Ag/50-30) that possesses these desirable properties. Porous CEF-NF mats with a spatially distributed silver coating create efficient pathways for electron movement and enable a remarkable conductivity of 370 S mm-1. When tested within a frequency range of 8.2-12.4 GHz, this highly conductive fabric not only achieves an EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE of 101.27 dB at 5028 dB cm2 g-1) comparable to a very thin and light metal but also retains the unique properties of fabrics-being light, structurally flexible, and breathable. In addition, it exhibits a high contact angle (CA) of 156.4° with reversible surface wettability. After having been subjected to 1000 cycles of bending, the performance of the fabric only decreases minimally. This strategy potentially provides a novel way to design and manufacture an easily integrated EMI shielding fabric for flexible wearable devices.

One-step electrodeposition preparation of polyaniline/f-MWCNTs as electrochemical sensors for detection of 10-hydroxycamptothecine.

In our work, one-step electro-deposition method was adopted to produce polyaniline (PANI) and functional multiwalled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) films on glass carbon electrodes, and the modified electrodes were applied as an electrochemical sensor for determination of 10-hydroxycamptothecine (10-HCPT). The f-MWCNTs were handled by ultrasound processing in concentrated oxidizing acid solution, which can obtain a wonderful dissolution in water and attach new functional groups, such as -COOH and -OH. Then, aniline monomer could polymerize on the surface easily. The surface characterization was investigated using various techniques including scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, and electro-catalytic properties were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Under optimal conditions, the resulting of PANI/f-MWCNTs sensor showed a wide linear range (3 × 10-9 to 7 × 10-7 mol L-1 ) and a low detection limit (1 10-9 mol L-1 ), which is attributing to its large special surface area and good conductivity. Moreover, the modified electrodes are convenient to fabricate, which can be used to detect 10-HCPT in urine samples successfully.

Direct electrodeposition of Ni‐Co‐S on carbon paper as an efficient cathode for anion exchange membrane water electrolysers

The development of an efficient water electrolyser is essential for sustainable hydrogen production; however, its application remains limited by the insufficient performance of the electrode. Herein, we report a rapid, simple, and cost-effective fabrication of an Ni-Co-S cathode for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which is directly usable for an anion exchange membrane water electrolyser (AEMWE). The Ni-Co-S electrocatalysts are prepared on a carbon paper (CP) substrate by a one-step electrodeposition method by controlling deposition parameters such as the deposition potential, time, and electrolyte composition. The optimized Ni-Co-S/CP electrode demonstrates a high HER activity with an overpotential of 91 mV at −10 mA/cm2 in 1.0 M KOH. An AEMWE single cell employing the Ni-Co-S/CP cathode coupled with a commercial IrO2/CP anode exhibits a current density of 1.7 A/cm2 at 2.4 Vcell, which is higher than that of an AEMWE single cell with a commercial Pt/C/CP cathode; this is attributable to the enhancement of the electron and reactant/product transfer via appropriate cathode design.