Sulfonated Styrene-Grafted Polyvinylidene Fluoride Copolymers for Proton Exchange Membranes for AQDS/Bromine Redox Flow Batteries.

This study presents the preparation and electrochemical testing of sulfonated styrene-grafted poly(vinylidene fluoride) (pVDF) copolymers as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for semi-organic redox flow batteries (RFBs) based on 9,10-anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid (AQDS)/bromine. The copolymers are synthesized via a two-step procedure, involving i) atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene (Sty) for the grafting to the pVDF backbone and ii) the sulfonation of the polystyrene grafted side chains. Copolymers with different amounts of sulfonated styrene (SSty) in the side chains (i.

XANES study of vanadium and nitrogen dopants in photocatalytic TiO thin films.

We report an X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) study of vanadium (V) and nitrogen (N) dopants in anatase TiO thin films deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. Measurements at the Ti K and V K edges were combined with soft X-ray experiments at the Ti L, O K and N K edges. Full potential ab initio spectral simulations of the V, O and N K-edges were carried out for different possible configurations of substitutional and interstitial dopant-related point defects in the anatase structure.

Pulsed-laser deposition of nanostructured iron oxide catalysts for efficient water oxidation.

Amorphous iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) for functionalization of indium-tin oxide surfaces, resulting in electrodes capable of efficient catalysis in water oxidation. These electrodes, based on earth-abundant and nonhazardous iron metal, are able to sustain high current densities (up to 20 mA/cm2) at reasonably low applied potential (1.64 V at pH 11.