Vol 54, No 8 (2018)

In this research, a modified electrode has been produced during the electropolymerization of 4-Aminobenzoic acid in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and then Ni(II) ions were incorporated to the polymer by immersion of the modified electrode in a 0.1 M Ni(II) ions solution. The electrochemical behavior of Ni/poly(4-aminobenzoic acid)/sodium dodecylsulfate/carbon paste electrode (Ni/poly(4-AB)/SDS/CPE) was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry. The experimental results exhibited the stable redox behavior of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple immobilized at the polymeric electrode. This polymeric modified electrode has a very good activity toward the sulfite electrooxidation in a phosphate buffer solution (pH 11). By comparison of the different responses to sulfite oxidation using electrodes Ni/poly(4-AB)/SDS/CPE, poly(4-AB)/SDS/CPE and CPE, we observed that the former electrode is a more effective catalyst for the electrooxidation of sulfite. Under optimal experimental conditions, the peak current response increased linearly with sulfite concentration over the range of 0.1–1 and 1–10 mM. The detection limit of the method was 0.063 mM. Finally, the method was applied to the determination of sulfite in weak liquor sample.

For the first time, the positive carbon rod of zinc-carbon battery (battery carbon rod electrode, BCRE) was used as a new working electrode and its electrochemical behavior was compared with carbon paste and glassy carbon electrodes in KCl solution containing Fe(CN₆)^3–/4– ions as probe agent. Then, the sponge/raspberry-like Au nanoclusters (AuNCs) were synthesized on BCRE by one-step electrodeposition of HAuCl₄ in phosphate and nitrate buffer solution and the electrochemical properties of surfaces was investigated in probe media and sulfuric acid. This fabrication method was simple, facile and controllable, without any seed, template or surfactant.

The anodic and cathodic polarization dependences for the oxygen electrode based on lanthanum-strontium manganite and the fuel Ni-cermet electrode are studied in the temperature range of 700–900°С in gas media that correspond to working conditions of a reversible fuel cell. The temporal behavior of these electrodes is studied in the course of periodic polarity changes of current with the density of 0.5 A/cm². The electrode overvoltage is shown to be about 0.1 V in modes of power generation and water electrolysis at 900°С and the current density of 0.5 A/cm². A single electrolyte supported tubular solid-oxide fuel cell was fabricated and tested in the fuel-cell and hydrogen-generation modes. It is found that at 900°С and overvoltage of 0.7 V, the cell generates the specific electric power of 0.4 W/cm² when the 50% H2 + 50% H₂O gas mixture is used as the fuel and air is used as the oxidizer. At the water electrolysis with the current density of 0.5 A/cm², which under normal conditions corresponds to generation of about 0.2 and 0.1 L/h of hydrogen and oxygen, respectively, the consumed power is about 0.55 W/cm². The efficiency of the conversion cycle electric power–hydrogen–electric power is 70–75%.