Multiple Regression Analysis in the Development of NiFe Cells as Energy Storage Solutions for Intermittent Power Sources Such as Wind or Solar

Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of bismuth sulphide and iron sulphide as anode additives for NiFe cells. With this in mind, in-house made Fe/FeS/Bi2S3 based electrodes were cycled against commercially available nickel electrodes. A simplex centroid design was used to investigate the combined effects of any of the aforementioned additives on cell performance. The manuscript ends with an initial look at electrolyte systems as a means to further improve the performance of our cells. Finally, our findings support the idea that HS- ions improve the overall performance of NiFe cells

Fabrication of magnetic and photocatalytic polyamide fabric coated with Fe2O3 particles

Hematite (alpha-Fe₂O₃) particles are prepared and synchronously deposited on the surface of polyamide (PA) fabric using ferric sulfate as the precursor, sodium hydroxide as the precipitant, and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate as the dispersant in a low temperature hydrothermal process. The Fe₂O₃ coated PA fabric is then modified with silane coupling agent Z-6040. The Fe₂O₃ coated PA fabric and remaining particles are systematically characterized by different techniques, such as small-spot micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The properties of tensile, durable washing and photocatalytic activity are investigated. The experimental results show that Fe₂O₃ particles composed of nanoparticles having the average crystallite size of 37.8 nm are grafted onto PA fabric and enhanced by coupling agent via the C-Fe, O-Fe and Si-O-Fe bonds. It is found that, after treatments, the thermal stability of PA fabric hardly changes; the visible light absorption capability and magnetism are gained; and the tensile property decreases slightly. It is also confirmed that the Fe₂O₃ coated PA fabric can withstand the repeated washings up to 20 times and photodegrade the adsorbed methyl orange (MO) exposed to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Therefore, the present method provides a new strategy for the production of durable magnetic fabric

Corrosion behaviour of sediment electro-codeposited Ni-Al2O3 composite coatings

NieAl 2O3 composite coatings were produced by the sediment electro-codeposition (SECD) technique at various particle loadings and current densities. The submicron Al 2O3 particles were found to distribute uniformly in the coating, and 12e18 vol.% particles can be incorporated in the coating depending on deposition current density and particle loading in the plating bath. Electrochemical corrosion testing was conducted in 0.9 wt.% NaCl solution. The results show that the incorporation of Al 2O3 particles in the coating did not affect the general corrosion behaviour of the Ni coating. However, at higher anodic potentials approaching the breakdown potential and with prolonged polarization, the composite coatings showed deteriorated corrosion resistance in terms of increased anodic current density, reduced pitting potential and quicker breakdown of the passivefilm. The detrimental effects of Al 2O3 particle incorporation could be explained by the existence of numerous boundaries between the particles and the matrix, which would serve as active sites for anodic dissolution and micro-pit formation

Hydrogen evolution on plasma carburised nickel and effect of iron deposition from electrolyte in alkaline water electrolysis

Presence of carbon in electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni-Fe-C cathodes renders a high electroactivity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in hot alkaline solutions. In the present work carbon was introduced into nickel cathodes by plasma treatment in CH4 + H2 gas mixture at 47 0 C. Electrochemical measurements were carried out in the solution of 25 wt.% KO H (reagent p.a.) at 80 C. In some measurements the solution wa s pre-electrolysed to remove heavy metals. Carburisation resulted in a significant enhancement of catalytic activity of nickel for HER during short cathodic polarisation. Later, differences between the materials almost disappeared, evidently due to deposition of iron and of other heavy metals from the solution. Cathodes with iron deposits underwent an activation following anodic polarisation. It wa s proposed that the activating effect of iron can be associated with the formation of highly reactive iron during cathodic reduction of oxide species (probably Fe(OH)4 2 ). The activating effect of prior anodic polarisation can be due to the formation of large amounts of oxide species which can undergo the reduction to reactive iron

Plasma carburizing for improvement of Ni-Fe cathodes for alkaline water electrolysis

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Electrodeposited Ni-Fe-C alloys have high electroactivity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline water electrolysis. In the present work carbon was introduced into Ni and Ni–Fe alloys by plasma treatment in CH4+H2 gas mixture at 470 oC. Despite of a very low solubility of carbon in nickel, carbon entered into nickel to the depth of about 0.5 µm, formed about 2-µm thick carbide layer in high-Fe alloys, and increased hardness. Electrochemical measurements in 25 wt.% KOH at 80 oC showed that carburization resulted in an improvement of catalytic activity toward HER, especially of Ni and 1Ni-Fe. Carburization also increased the resistance to corrosion during cathodic polarisation and under open-circuit conditions. XPS surface analysis showed that after corrosion the oxide content was on carburized materials significantly lower than that on untreated materials. It is suggested that the enhanced electroactivity of plasma carburized cathodes is due mainly to the enlargement of the surface area of disintegrated material. A catalytic affect might also be exerted by carbon-metal particles