Carbon materials coating with polymers

Asymmetric ECH with [Rh(L)2(Cl)2]+ complexes containing chiral polypyridyl ligands has been attempted, in homogeneous media (L = (7)-(12)) and at carbon electrodes coated with polymer films prepared by electropolymerization of [Rh(13)2(Cl)2]+ -61 62 The latter catalytic system gave the best results in terms of turnover number (up to 4,750) and enantiomeric excess, (ee) when applied to the hydrogenation of acetophenone (ee 18%) and 2-butanone (ee 10%).62 Polymeric materials derived from the complexes [RhI(bpy)(COD)]+ 36 and [Pd(bpy)2]2+33have also been applied to the ECH reaction. 

This portion of the study was focused on examining the surfaces of the polymer films. Pictures were taken on a JEOL JSM-35C SEM at 15 kV. In order to increase the conductivity and improve the contrast of the materials, the samples were mounted on double-sided carbon tape, coated with osmium tetra oxide (OSO4) vapor, sputter coated with gold palladium (AuPd), and grounded with silver colloidal paste. 

Potential areas of apphcation for carboranes include adhesives, gaskets, and O-rings (27). Research has been reported on improving the oxidation resistance and strength of carbon materials by coating with a carborane siloxane polymer (36). 

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation has the advantage of milder reaction conditions compared to catalytic hydrogenation. The development of various electrode materials (e.g., massive electrodes, powder cathodes, polymer film electrodes) and the optimization of reaction conditions have led to highly selective electrocatalytic hydrogenations. These are very suitable for the conversion of aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds to amines and a, fi-unsaturated ketones to saturated ketones. The field is reviewed with 173 references in [158]. While the reduction of conjugated enones does not always proceed chemoselectively at a Hg cathode, the use of a carbon felt electrode coated with polyviologen/Pd particles provided saturated ketones exclusively (Fig. 34) [159]. 

In the past, mica has been the material of choice for the interacting surfaces because of the ease of handling and since molecularly smooth surfaces can be fabricated mica surface coated with a thin film of other materials (e.g., lipid monolayers or bilayers, metal films, polymer films, or other macromolecules such as proteins) can also be used. The use of alternative materials such as molecularly smooth sapphire and silica sheets and carbon and metal oxide surfaces is also being explored. 

However, carbon materials have a serious shortcoming. They are easily oxidized above 530°C in air. It is possible to protect graphite plates or carbon fibers with SiC coating by CVD or pyrolysis of polymer containing Si and C.16-18 SiC is known as an effective material to prevent oxidation and corrosion due to the strong covalent bond and the passive oxidation by forming a protective Si02 layer on SiC.19-24... 

The GDL is located on the back of the CL in order to improve gas distribution and water management in the cell. This layer has to be porous to the reacting gases, must have good electronic conductivity, and has to be hydrophobic so that the liquid produced water does not saturate the electrode structure and reduce the permeability of gases. The GDL needs to be resilient and the material of choice for the PEMFC is usually carbon fiber, paper or cloth, with a typical thickness of 0.2-0.5mm [74,75], This macroporous support layer is coated with a thin layer of carbon black mixed with a dispersed hydrophobic polymer, such as P I LL, in order to make it hydrophobic. This latter compound can, however, reduce the electronic conductivity of the GDL, and limit the three-phase boundary access. 

Vinylene carbonate is one of the few 1,2-disubstituted ethylenes that is known to undergo facile radical initiated homopolymerization. Initiation may be by oxygen, peroxides or cobalt-60 y-radiation. Such polymers are reportedly useful as coatings and films. Vinylene carbonate also copolymerizes with ethylene under high pressure to yield a material with about 10% vinylene carbonate content. This polymer, when blended with polyvinyl chloride, is suitable for injection molding. 

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