Extracellular electron transfer mechanism in Shewanella loihica PV- 4 biofilms formed at indium tin oxide and graphite electrodes

Electroactive biofilms are capable of extracellular electron transfer to insoluble metal oxides and electrodes; such biofilms are relevant to biogeochemistry, bioremediation, and bioelectricity production. We investigated the extracellular electron transfer mechanisms in Shewanella loihica PV-4 viable biofilms grown at indium tin oxide (ITO) and graphite electrodes in potentiostat-controlled electrochemical cells poised at 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Chronoamperometry and confocal microscopy showed higher biofilm growth at graphite compared to the ITO electrode. Cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, along with fluorescence spectroscopy showed that direct electron transfer through outer membrane c type cytochromes (Omcs) prevailed at the biofilm/ITO interface, while biofilms formed at graphite electrode reduced the electrode also via secreted redox mediators, such as flavins and quinones. The biofilm age does not affect the prevalent transfer mechanism at ITO electrodes. On the other hand, secreted redox mediators accumulated at biofilm/graphite interface, thus increasing mediated electron transfer as the biofilm grows over five days. Our results showed that the electrode material determined the prevalent electron transfer mechanism and the dynamic of secreted redox mediators in S. loihica PV-4 biofilms. These observations have implications for the optimization of biofilm-based electrochemical systems, such as biosensors and microbial fuel cells

Effects of cycling on lithium-ion battery hysteresis and overvoltage

Currently, lithium-ion batteries are widely used as energy storage systems for mobile applications. However, a better understanding of their nature is still required to improve battery management systems (BMS). Overvoltages and open-circuit voltage (OCV) hysteresis provide valuable information regarding battery performance, but estimations of these parameters are generally inaccurate, leading to errors in BMS. Studies on hysteresis are commonly avoided because the hysteresis depends on the state of charge and degradation level and requires time-consuming measurements. We have investigated hysteresis and overvoltages in Li(NiMnCo)O2/graphite and LiFePO4/graphite commercial cells. Here we report a direct relationship between an increase in OCV hysteresis and an increase in charge overvoltage when the cells are degraded by cycling. We fnd that the hysteresis is related to difusion and increases with the formation of pure phases, being primarily related to the graphite electrode. These fndings indicate that the graphite electrode is a determining factor for cell efciency.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Differential Conductance Fluctuation of Curved Nanographite Sheets in the Mesoscopic Regime

Excess conductance fluctuations with peculiar temperature-dependence from 1.4 to 250 K were observed in curved nano-graphite sheets with an electrode gap length of 300 and 450 nm, whereas the conductance fluctuation is greatly suppressed above 4.2 K when the electrode gap length increases to 800 and 1000 nm. The former is discussed in the context of the presence of a small energy bandgap in the nano-graphite sheets, while the latter is attributed to the crossover from coherent transport to diffusive transport regime.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Classic and local analysis of corrosion behaviour of graphite and stainless steels in polluted phosphoric acid

In phosphoric acid solution (40% H3PO4), the corrosion behaviour of graphite and stainless steels was studied by the use of different electrochemical methods, namely polarization curve analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET). The combined effect of chemical impurities and the increase of medium temperature was studied to approach the real conditions in the process of phosphoric acid manufacturing. It was found that the current density measured by polarization curves increased with the presence of chloride and sulphate ions in the acid solution whatever the tested material. Compared to stainless steels, graphite had the best corrosion resistance in polluted phosphoric acid. However, for graphite the increase of temperature from 20 to 80 ◦C induced an increase of the corrosion rate and potential and a decrease of the resistance confirmed by EIS results. Subsequently, local currents were detected at the surface of the sample by using the scanning vibrating electrode technique. From the data obtained, graphite surface manifested a distinctive behaviour from that of stainless steels. A generalized corrosion was occurred on graphite whereas a localized corrosion was observed for stainless steels. These results show a clear interest of graphite as component material in some of the equipments of the phosphoric acid industry

Ion sputter textured graphite electrode plates

A specially textured surface of pyrolytic graphite exhibits extremely low yields of secondary electrons and reduced numbers of reflected primary electrons after impingement of high energy primary electrons. Electrode plates of this material are used in multistage depressed collectors. An ion flux having an energy between 500 iV and 1000 iV and a current density between 1.0 mA/sq cm and 6.0 mA/sq cm produces surface roughening or texturing which is in the form of needles or spires. Such textured surfaces are especially useful as anode collector plates in high tube devices

Arc electrode of graphite with ball tip Patent

Arc electrode of graphite with tantalum ball ti

Determination of Gold by Stripping Voltammetry in Platinum Gold Ore Mineral Raw Materials on Grafite Electrode Modified by Bismuth

The paper considers the possibility of determining the gold (III) by stripping voltammetry on graphite electrode modified by bismuth. It is shown the modification of the graphite electrode by bismuth increases the sensitivity of detection of gold in 2 times. The comparison of the results of gold determination by stripping voltammetry and by atomic absorption is presented. The advantages of stripping voltammetry on a graphite electrode modified with bismuth for gold determination are given

Tin-graphene tubes as anodes for lithium-ion batteries with high volumetric and gravimetric energy densities.

Limited by the size of microelectronics, as well as the space of electrical vehicles, there are tremendous demands for lithium-ion batteries with high volumetric energy densities. Current lithium-ion batteries, however, adopt graphite-based anodes with low tap density and gravimetric capacity, resulting in poor volumetric performance metric. Here, by encapsulating nanoparticles of metallic tin in mechanically robust graphene tubes, we show tin anodes with high volumetric and gravimetric capacities, high rate performance, and long cycling life. Pairing with a commercial cathode material LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2, full cells exhibit a gravimetric and volumetric energy density of 590 W h Kg-1 and 1,252 W h L-1, respectively, the latter of which doubles that of the cell based on graphite anodes. This work provides an effective route towards lithium-ion batteries with high energy density for a broad range of applications