New Electrode Materials

Nidola A., Water electrolysis in alkaline solutions. New electrode materials, Int. ]. Hydrogen Energ., 9(5), 367-375,1984. 

Because of its physical location in the electrochemical devices, that is, being sandwiched between positive and negative electrodes, the electrolyte is in close interaction with both electrodes therefore, when new electrode materials come into use, the need for... 

The size, shape, and material of the electrode can be tailored to the application. Problems of response time, for example, often can be solved by using a smaller electrode. The use of new electrode materials, including possibilities for modification of the electrode surfaces, could lead to new measurement caDa ilities. Thi. mol i sizes tl itid r ce f the de el d-... 

Electrochemical detectors for liquid chromatography have reached a level of maturity in that thousands of these devices are used routinely for a variety of mundane purposes. Nevertheless, the technology is advancing rapidly in several respects. Multiple electrode and voltammetric detectors have been developed for more specialized applications. Small-volume transducers based on carbon fiber electrodes are being explored for capillary and micropacked columns. Recently, electrochemical detection has also been coupled to capillary electrophoresis [47]. Finally, new electrode materials with unique properties are likely to afford improved sensitivity and selectivity for important applications. 

The search for new electrode materials is expected to be guided by the fundamental understanding of the factors governing the activity. In electrochemistry, this branch of the discipline is known by the name of electrocatalysis . Strictly speaking, electrocatalysis is the science devoted to the relationship between the properties of materials and the electrode reaction rate. The scope of electrocatalysis as a science is to establish a predictive basis for the design and the optimization of electrocatalysts. 

Of primary importance in evaluating new electrode materials to be used in electrolysis, electroanalysis, electrochemical sensors, etc., are their corrosion stability, reproducibility of characteristics, value of background current, and the potential window in which the background current remains low and thus does not interfere with the electrode characteristics. Diamond meets all these criteria perfectly. 

As evidenced by the foregoing account, the recent decade of intensive studies in the electrochemistry of diamond resulted in the formation of a self-consistent, if incomplete, view of electrochemical behavior of this new electrode material. At the same time, scatter of data and discrepancies that still exist between the data of different research groups call for better film quality and their reliable evaluation. 

In the third part of the book areas in which there are important applications of electrochemistry are described. Chapters 13 and 14 look at potentiometric and amperometric/voltammetric sensors respectively, focusing particularly on recent developments such as new electrode materials and miniaturization. Electrochemistry in industry, which produces many materials used directly or indirectly in everyday life, as well as batteries, is described in Chapter 15. The electrochemical phenomenon... 

At the present time, with the development of new electrochemical methods and new electrode materials, a large amount of research has been carried out in the electrochemistry of proteins, enzymes, and cellular components. Nevertheless, much remains to be done. Electrochemical experiments, in conjunction with other techniques, such as spectroscopy, may give a better answer to these questions. 

Galizzioli, D., Tantardini, F. and Trasatti, S. (1974), Ruthenium dioxide A new electrode material. I. Behaviour in acid solutions of inert electrolytes. J. Appl. Electrochem., 4(1) 57-67. 

Available analysis methods are important for evaluation of the electrocatalytic abilities of electrodes. It is complicated to have a whole estimation system. New evaluation, new technologies, and methods are always needed and also very important for developing new electrode materials. 

It is well known that catalyst support plays an important role in the performance of the catalyst and the catalyst layer. The use of high surface area carbon materials, such as activated carbon, carbon nanofibres, and carbon nanotubes, as new electrode materials has received significant attention from fuel cell researchers. In particular, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have unique electrical and electronic properties, wide electrochemical stability windows, and high surface areas. Using SWCNTs as support materials is expected to improve catalyst layer conductivity and charge transfer at the electrode surface for fuel cell oxidation and reduction reactions. Furthermore, these carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could also enhance electrocatalytic properties and reduce the necessary amount of precious metal catalysts, such as platinum. 

Researchers turned their attention to applications of silica gel as a new electrode material. Silica gel, which has a three-dimensional structure with high specific surface area and is electroinactive in an aqueous medimn can be used as a support for electroactive species during their formation and/or enzymes by adsorption or entrapment [92,93]. Patel et al. recently reported application of poljwinyl ferrocene immobilized on silica gel particles to construct glucose sensors. Efficiency of carbon paste electrodes prepared with these polymeric electron mediators and GOx was comparable to electrodes constructed with other ferrocene based polymeric electron transfer systems. The fact that 70% of initial anodic current was retained after a month when electrodes were kept in the buffer at room temperature shows that polymerization of monomer vinylferrocene in the pores of silica gel and entrapping GOx in the matrix of poljwinyl ferrocene appears to have added stability to the sensors [94]. 

A number of approaches are being pursued to modify the electrodes in organic solar cells in order to improve conductivity, selectivity, stability or cost. These include new electrode materials, changes in device processing and additional electrode sub-layers. Most studies have been carried out using the leading material combination, P3HT PCBM, as the active layer. 

Natural-gas fueled fuel cells are more efficient than the conventional hydro-gen-oxygen (air) fuel cells since they reduce capital costs and simplify the process by eliminating the external source of hydrogen supply. Acceptable efficiencies also have been found for these processes. With the developing technology, new electrode materials and catalytic materials could be used to further improve this technique of alternate electricity generation from natural gas [28]. 

Develop new electrode materials and the modification of electrode surfaces by investigation of conductive polymers, organometallic conductors and semiconductors, and the phenomena of absorption and covalent attachment... 

The electrochemical method for the treatment of wastewater containing organic pollutants has attracted a great deal of attention recently (1). Mainly because of the ease of control and the increased efficiencies provided by the use of new electrode material (2,3,4,5) and compact bipolar electrochemical reactor (6). 

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