Nanocrystalline structures electrode potential

As shown by the studies on rare-earth permanent magnets, the non-equilibrium structures developed by mechanical alloying, with or without subsequent heat treatment, exhibit unique properties. There is thus much potential for the development of new mechanically alloyed materials for applications such as catalysts, electrodes, hydrogen-storage containers and other applications, where property improvements are associated with the amorphous and nanocrystalline structures developed by mechanical alloying. 

Cation Cationic structure and size will affect the viscosity and conductivity of the liquid and hence will control mass transport of metal ions to the electrode surface. They will also be adsorbed at the electrode surface at the deposition potential and hence the structure of the double layer is dominated by cations. Some studies have shown that changing the cationic component of the ionic liquid changes the structure of deposits from microcrystalline to nanocrystalline [27]. While these changes are undeniable more studies need to be carried out to confirm that it is a double layer effect. If this is in fact the case then the potential exists to use the cationic component in the liquid as a built-in brightener. 

Impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical dye desorption experiments have been employed [339] to study the electrical characteristics of Ti02 nanocrystalline films in the dark. This study and the others cited above demonstrate how the conductivity changes (as a result of electron injection from the support electrode) can cause the porous/nanocrystalline layer to manifest itself electrically, such that the active region moves away (i.e., outward) from the support as the forward bias voltage is increased. The potential distribution has also been analyzed depending on whether the depletion layer width exceeds or is smaller than the typical dimension of the structural units in the nanocrystalline network [338]. 

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