Nanoscale Electron Transfer Variations at Electrocatalyst-Electrolyte Interfaces Resolved by Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy.

Rational innovation of electrocatalysts requires detailed knowledge of spatial property variations across the solid-electrolyte interface. We introduce correlative atomic force microscopy (AFM) to simultaneously probe, and at the nanoscale, electrical conductivity, chemical-frictional, and morphological properties of a bimetallic copper-gold system for CO electroreduction. In air, water, and bicarbonate electrolyte, current-voltage curves reveal resistive CuO islands in line with local current contrasts, while frictional imaging indicates qualitative variations in the hydration layer molecular ordering upon change from water to electrolyte.

Iodide-mediated Cu catalyst restructuring during CO electroreduction.

Catalyst restructuring during electrochemical reactions is a critical but poorly understood process that determines the underlying structure-property relationships during catalysis. In the electrocatalytic reduction of CO (CORR), it is known that Cu, the most favorable catalyst for hydrocarbon generation, is highly susceptible to restructuring in the presence of halides. Iodide ions, in particular, greatly improved the catalyst performance of Cu foils, although a detailed understanding of the morphological evolution induced by iodide remains lacking.

Releasing the Bubbles: Nanotopographical Electrocatalyst Design for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production in Microgravity Environment.

Photoelectrochemical devices integrate the processes of light absorption, charge separation, and catalysis for chemical synthesis. The monolithic design is interesting for space applications, where weight and volume constraints predominate. Hindered gas bubble desorption and the lack of macroconvection processes in reduced gravitation, however, limit its application in space.

Quality and Accuracy of Information Available on Websites for Distracted Driving: Qualitative Analysis.

Background: Distracted driving has become alarmingly widespread, and its prevalence continues to increase despite efforts by government and nongovernment organizations to educate the public about this pervasive problem. Every year, 1.35 million people die, and nearly 80 million people get injured in road traffic incidents.

Characterizing Surfaces of Garnet and Steel, and Adsorption of Organic Additives.

This work reports that abrasive blasting of a structural steel results in significant retention of garnet abrasive residues. A comparative study of the adsorption behavior of a number of organic species, relevant to paint components and additives, onto the surfaces of garnet and S355 steel from nonaqueous solutions is also presented. Areas per adsorbed molecule, estimated from the isotherm data, suggest a range of molecular orientations on the surfaces.

An X-ray and Neutron Reflectometry Study of Iron Corrosion in Seawater.

The corrosive breakdown of thin iron films supported on silicon substrates under a number of conditions is presented-in particular to understand better how iron, and hence ferritic steel, behaves in a salty water environment. A combination of X-ray and neutron reflectometry was used to monitor the structures of both metal and oxide surface layers and also organic corrosion inhibitors adsorbed at the iron/aqueous interface. A range of behavior in seawater was observed, including complete dissolution and void formation under the metal surface.

Single graphene nanoplatelets: capacitance, potential of zero charge and diffusion coefficient.

Nano-impact chronoamperometric experiments are a powerful technique for simultaneously probing both the potential of zero charge (PZC) and the diffusion coefficient () of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The method provides an efficient general approach to material characterisation. Using nano-impact experiments, capacitative impacts can be seen for graphene nanoplatelets of 15 μm width and 6-8 nm thickness.

Bifunctional redox tagging of carbon nanoparticles.

Despite extensive work on the controlled surface modification of carbon with redox moieties, to date almost all available methodologies involve complex chemistry and are prone to the formation of polymerized multi-layer surface structures. Herein, the facile bifunctional redox tagging of carbon nanoparticles (diameter 27 nm) and its characterization is undertaken using the industrial dye Reactive Blue 2. The modification route is demonstrated to be via exceptionally strong physisorption.

Aliphatic polycarbonates based on carbon dioxide, furfuryl glycidyl ether, and glycidyl methyl ether: reversible functionalization and cross-linking.

Well-defined poly((furfuryl glycidyl ether)-co-(glycidyl methyl ether) carbonate) (P((FGE-co-GME)C)) copolymers with varying furfuryl glycidyl ether (FGE) content in the range of 26% to 100% are prepared directly from CO2 and the respective epoxides in a solvent-free synthesis. All materials are characterized by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The furfuryl-functional samples exhibit monomodal molecular weight distributions with Mw/Mn in the range of 1.

Open reduction and internal fixation compared with ORIF and primary subtalar arthrodesis for treatment of Sanders type IV calcaneal fractures: a randomized multicenter trial.

Objectives: To compare long-term health outcome of Sanders type IV calcaneal fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) versus ORIF plus primary subtalar arthrodesis (PSTA).

Design: Randomized prospective multicenter trial.

Setting: Four Level 1 trauma hospitals in Canada.