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Electrochem, Volume 4, Issue 1 (March 2023) – 11 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Global efforts are increasingly geared towards the development of clean energy technologies to supplement fossil fuel consumption. One novel approach is to harvest photocurrent from photosynthetic organisms. Under irradiation, they produce NADPH, which applies as an electron donor in a bio-electrochemical cell (BEC). In this study, Carlini, A., Shlosberg, Y., and co-workers show for the first time that cherries may also be integrated into a BEC and produce electrical current which is enhanced under illumination. Among the redox species that play a role in current production are NADH, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid, whose concentrations are known to increase under illumination. We show that fruit maturation enhances this output, suggesting a potential use for agricultural surplus products. View this paper
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22 pages, 7589 KiB  
Article
Separation Process of Biodiesel-Product Mixture from Crude Glycerol and Other Contaminants Using Electrically Driven Separation Technique with AC High Voltage
by Rossarin Ampairojanawong, Ajalaya Boripun, Sayan Ruankon, Thanapong Suwanasri, Kraipat Cheenkachorn and Tawiwan Kangsadan
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 123-144; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010011 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5345
Abstract
Electrically driven separation (EDS) technology with a high voltage (HV) alternating current source (AC) was used to remove glycerol and other contaminants from biodiesel in order to meet the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. Biodiesel was produced from a transesterification of refined [...] Read more.
Electrically driven separation (EDS) technology with a high voltage (HV) alternating current source (AC) was used to remove glycerol and other contaminants from biodiesel in order to meet the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. Biodiesel was produced from a transesterification of refined palm oil and methanol using sodium methylate as a homogeneous catalyst. The effects of an Iron (Fe) electrode, including types of electrode configurations, vertical distance between electrodes, applied voltage, and separation time, were studied. Furthermore, the effects of the remaining catalyst and soap content in biodiesel phase were also investigated to improve the separating performance using the EDS technique. The EDS using HVAC and low amperage with a point-to-point electrode configuration showed the highest separation efficiency of 99.8%. The optimum vertical distance between electrodes was 3 cm, while the optimum applied voltage was 3 kV. The separation time of 240 s yielded the best separating performance, completely eliminating the unreacted catalyst, and the lowest of the normalized remaining soap value content was obtained. Considering all of this, the EDS technique had higher efficiency to remove glycerol and other contaminants than a conventional separation of gravitation settling. The final biodiesel product was produced with the high purity of 98.0 wt% after purification and met all standard specifications. Full article
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20 pages, 3663 KiB  
Review
Bibliographical Synthesis on the Corrosion and Protection of Archaeological Iron by Green Inhibitors
by Meryem Zouarhi
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 103-122; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010010 - 6 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2950
Abstract
Iron is a widely used metal due to its low cost and availability, but it is susceptible to corrosion in many circumstances. This corrosion can result in economic and environmental losses, and negatively affect the physical and chemical properties of the metal. This [...] Read more.
Iron is a widely used metal due to its low cost and availability, but it is susceptible to corrosion in many circumstances. This corrosion can result in economic and environmental losses, and negatively affect the physical and chemical properties of the metal. This chapter provides a background on iron corrosion in archaeology and introduces various inhibitors used for its protection. It starts with a general overview of corrosion and metallurgy of iron, followed by an in-depth explanation of the mechanisms of iron corrosion in water and air. The chapter concludes with a review of different corrosion inhibitors, focusing on those made from natural plant extracts. Full article
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19 pages, 5703 KiB  
Article
Alkaloid Extract of Ageratina adenophora Stem as Green Inhibitor for Mild Steel Corrosion in One Molar Sulfuric Acid Solution
by Jamuna Thapa Magar, Indra Kumari Budhathoki, Anil Rajaure, Hari Bhakta Oli and Deval Prasad Bhattarai
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 84-102; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010009 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2487
Abstract
Green corrosion inhibitors are of great interest due to their exciting and environmentally friendly behavior in mild steel corrosion control during and after the acid cleaning process. Herein, alkaloids were extracted from the stem of Ageratina adenophora and were ensured by qualitative chemical [...] Read more.
Green corrosion inhibitors are of great interest due to their exciting and environmentally friendly behavior in mild steel corrosion control during and after the acid cleaning process. Herein, alkaloids were extracted from the stem of Ageratina adenophora and were ensured by qualitative chemical tests as well as spectroscopic test methods. The corrosion inhibition efficacy of the alkaloids against mild steel corrosion was evaluated by gravimetric, electrochemical and EIS measurement methods. In addition, the adsorption isotherm, free energy of adsorption and thermodynamic parameters of the process were evaluated. The investigations indicated the most promising inhibition efficacy of the alkaloids for mild steel corrosion. The adsorption isotherm study revealed that the adsorption of inhibitor molecules on the MS interface was manifested by dominant physisorption followed by chemisorption. Free energy and thermodynamic parameters are well suited to endothermic processes. Full article
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14 pages, 4240 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of ZnO Nanorods and Its Application in Zinc-Silver Secondary Batteries
by Van Tu Nguyen, Hung Tran Nguyen and Nu Huong Tran
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 70-83; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010008 - 22 Feb 2023
Viewed by 2456
Abstract
In this paper, ZnO nanorods were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and used as anodes for zinc-silver batteries. The Tafel and EIS curve analysis results show that ZnO nanorods have better anti-corrosion and charge transport properties than ZnO powders. At 0.1 C discharge [...] Read more.
In this paper, ZnO nanorods were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and used as anodes for zinc-silver batteries. The Tafel and EIS curve analysis results show that ZnO nanorods have better anti-corrosion and charge transport properties than ZnO powders. At 0.1 C discharge conditions, the ZnO electrode exhibits more stable cycle efficiency than the powder electrode; after 25 cycles, the capacity is higher by 95%. The superior electrochemical performance is due to the ZnO nanorods having the ability to conduct electrons and increase the surface area. Therefore, the possible growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods has been investigated. Full article
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2 pages, 164 KiB  
Editorial
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Electrochem in 2022
by Electrochem Editorial Office
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 68-69; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010007 - 21 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1278
Abstract
High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...] Full article
12 pages, 2825 KiB  
Article
Heterostructure of Metal Oxides Integrated on a GCE for Estimation of H2O2 Capacity in Milk and Fruit Juice Samples
by Bongiwe Silwana and Mangaka Matoetoe
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 56-67; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010006 - 10 Feb 2023
Viewed by 2086
Abstract
High levels of H2O2 in food can lead to oxidative stress. Which has been linked to a number of neurological diseases. Hence, its detection in beverages is essential. However, a complicated structure of the reaction medium of H2O [...] Read more.
High levels of H2O2 in food can lead to oxidative stress. Which has been linked to a number of neurological diseases. Hence, its detection in beverages is essential. However, a complicated structure of the reaction medium of H2O2 makes the detection procedure very difficult. For this reason, sensitive strategic methods are required. In this study, quantification of H2O2 in milk and apple juice has been obtained via the electrochemical sensing platform based on GCE/SiO-CeONPs. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Cyclic voltammetry(CV), and electron impedance spectroscopy(EIS) were employed to characterize the composite. The kinetics investigation of the sensor with H2O2 revealed an a quasi-reversible one -electron adsorption process. Under optimized conditions, the Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) in 0.1 M Phosphate buffer (PB) pH 5.5 of the H2O2 displayed a peak at 0.13 V vs. Ag/AgCl with the detection limits of 0.0004 µM, linearity range of 0.01–0.08 µM. The observed LOD values of this method for real samples were calculated to be 0.006 µM and 0.007 µM with LOQ of 0.02 µM for milk and apple juice, respectively. The recovery of the analyte was from 92 to 99%. Furthermore, due to good selectivity and stability, the benefit of this sensor is its applicability in multiple fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends of Electrochemical Sensors in Food Analysis)
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9 pages, 1766 KiB  
Article
Photocurrent Production from Cherries in a Bio-Electrochemical Cell
by Yaniv Shlosberg, Kimi C. Rubino, Nathan S. Nasseri and Andrea S. Carlini
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 47-55; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010005 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2418
Abstract
In recent years, clean energy technologies that meet ever-increasing energy demands without the risk of environmental contamination has been a major interest. One approach is the utilization of plant leaves, which release redox-active NADPH as a result of photosynthesis, to generate photocurrent. In [...] Read more.
In recent years, clean energy technologies that meet ever-increasing energy demands without the risk of environmental contamination has been a major interest. One approach is the utilization of plant leaves, which release redox-active NADPH as a result of photosynthesis, to generate photocurrent. In this work, we show for the first time that photocurrent can be harvested directly from the fruit of a cherry tree when associated with a bio-electrochemical cell. Furthermore, we apply electrochemical and spectroscopic methods to show that NADH in the fruit plays a major role in electric current production. Full article
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5 pages, 218 KiB  
Editorial
Emerging Trends of Electrochemical Sensors in Food Analysis
by Ítala M. G. Marx
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 42-46; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010004 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2493
Abstract
Food quality and safety pose an increasing threat to human health worldwide [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends of Electrochemical Sensors in Food Analysis)
11 pages, 1969 KiB  
Review
Environment-Friendly Ascorbic Acid Fuel Cell
by Md. Mahmudul Hasan
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 31-41; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010003 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3235
Abstract
Recently, ascorbic acid (AA) has been studied as an environment-friendly fuel for energy conversion devices. This review article has deliberated an overview of ascorbic acid electrooxidation and diverse ion exchange types of AA-based fuel cells for the first time. Metal and carbon-based catalysts [...] Read more.
Recently, ascorbic acid (AA) has been studied as an environment-friendly fuel for energy conversion devices. This review article has deliberated an overview of ascorbic acid electrooxidation and diverse ion exchange types of AA-based fuel cells for the first time. Metal and carbon-based catalysts generated remarkable energy from environment-friendly AA fuel. The possibility of using AA in a direct liquid fuel cell (DLFC) without emitting any hazardous pollutants is discussed. AA fuel cells have been reviewed based on carbon nanomaterials, alloys/bimetallic nanoparticles, and precious and nonprecious metal nanoparticles. Finally, the obstacles and opportunities for using AA-based fuel cells in practical applications have also been incorporated. Full article
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10 pages, 6797 KiB  
Article
Impact of Ni Content on the Electrochemical Performance of the Co-Free, Li and Mn-Rich Layered Cathode Materials
by Gongshin Qi, Jiazhi Hu, Michael Balogh, Lei Wang, Devendrasinh Darbar and Wei Li
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 21-30; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010002 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2815
Abstract
Li and Mn-rich layered cathode (LLC) materials show great potential as the next generation cathode materials because of their high, practical and achievable specific capacity of ~250 mAh/g, thermal stability and lower raw material cost. However, LLC materials suffer from degradation of specific [...] Read more.
Li and Mn-rich layered cathode (LLC) materials show great potential as the next generation cathode materials because of their high, practical and achievable specific capacity of ~250 mAh/g, thermal stability and lower raw material cost. However, LLC materials suffer from degradation of specific capacity, voltage fading due to phase transformation upon cycling and transition-metal dissolution, which presents a significant barrier for commercialization. Here, we report the effects of Ni content on the electrochemical performance, structural and thermal stability of a series of Co-free, LLC materials (Li1.2NixMn0.8-xO2, x = 0.12, 0.18, 0.24, 0.30 and 0.36) synthesized via a sol-gel method. Our study shows that the structure of the material as well as the electrochemical and thermal stability properties of the LLC materials are strongly dependent on the Ni or Mn content. An increase in the Ni to Mn ratio results in an increase in the average discharge voltage and capacity, as well as improved structural stability but decreased thermal stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Electrochemistry)
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20 pages, 5737 KiB  
Article
Morphological Characteristics of Catalyst Layer Defects in Catalyst-Coated Membranes in PEM Fuel Cells
by Muneendra Prasad Arcot, Magnus Cronin, Michael Fowler and Mark Pritzker
Electrochem 2023, 4(1), 1-20; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4010001 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3630
Abstract
Catalyst layer defects and irregularities in catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) electrodes affect the lifetime of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) during their operation. Thus, catalyst layer defects are important concerns for fuel cell manufacturers and prompt the development of quality control systems with [...] Read more.
Catalyst layer defects and irregularities in catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) electrodes affect the lifetime of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) during their operation. Thus, catalyst layer defects are important concerns for fuel cell manufacturers and prompt the development of quality control systems with the aim of fabricating defect-free electrodes. Consequently, the objective of this study is to gain a fundamental understanding of the morphological changes of real catalyst layer defects that have developed during CCM production. In this paper, missing catalyst layer defects (MCLD) formed during the decal transfer process are investigated through a nondestructive method using reflected light microscopy. The geometric features of the defects are quantified, and their growth is measured at regular time intervals from beginning-of-life (BOL) to end-of-life (EOL) until the OCV has dropped by 20% of its initial value as per a DOE-designed protocol. Overall, two types of degradation are observed: surface degradation caused by catalyst erosion and crack degradation caused by membrane mechanical deformation. Furthermore, catalyst layer defects formed during the decal transfer process were found to exhibit a higher growth rate at middle-of-life (MOL-1) and stabilize by EOL. This type of study will provide manufacturers with baseline information to allow them to select and reject CCMs, ultimately increasing the lifetime of fuel cell stacks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fuel Cells: Performance and Durability)
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