Quantitative Interpretation of Potentiodynamic Polarization Curves Obtained at High Scan Rates in Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy.

Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy is becoming the tool of choice for the investigation of localized metal corrosion. Typically, potentiodynamic polarization measurements in scanning electrochemical cell microscopy are performed at high potential scan rates. However, Tafel extrapolation applied to high-scan-rate potentiodynamic polarization curves would yield inaccurate corrosion kinetics due to the interference of double-layer charging current or mass transport of species in the metal oxide.

Biosynthesis and properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesized from mixed C and C sugars obtained from hardwood hydrolysis.

Glucose and xylose are fermentable sugars readily available from lignocellulosic biomass, and are a sustainable carbon substrate supporting industrial biotechnology. Three strains were assessed in this work - Paraburkholderia sacchari, Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava, and Bacillus megaterium - for their ability to uptake both C and C sugars contained in a hardwood hydrolysate produced via a thermomechanical pulping-based process with concomitant production of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) biopolymers. In batch conditions, B.

Controlling Surface Contact, Oxygen Transport, and Pitting of Surface Oxide via Single-Channel Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy.

In single-channel scanning electrochemical cell microscopy, the applied potential during the approach of a micropipette to the substrate generates a transient current upon droplet contact with the substrate. Once the transient current exceeds a set threshold, the micropipette is automatically halted. Currently, the effect of the approach potential on the subsequent electrochemical measurements, such as the open-circuit potential and potentiodynamic polarization, is considered to be inconsequential.

Correlating Corrosion to Surface Grain Orientations of Polycrystalline Aluminum Alloy by Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy.

The study of grain-dependent corrosion behaviors of practical polycrystalline metals remains challenging due to the difficulty in eliminating the influences of other microstructural features, such as intermetallic particles and grain boundaries. In this work, we performed thousands of microscopic potentiodynamic polarization measurements on a polycrystalline aluminum alloy AA7075-T73 using the spatially resolved oil-immersed scanning electrochemical cell microscopy measurement. Data were extracted only from grain interior areas excluding intermetallic particles and grain boundaries.

Ag Interference from Ag/AgCl Wire Quasi-Reference Counter Electrode Inducing Corrosion Potential Shift in an Oil-Immersed Scanning Micropipette Contact Method Measurement.

Quantitative scanning micropipette contact method measurements are subject to the deleterious effects of reference electrode interference. The commonly used Ag/AgCl wire quasi-reference counter electrode in the miniaturized electrochemical cell of the scanning micropipette contact method was found to leak Ag into the electrolyte solution. The reduction of these Ag species at the working electrode surface generates a faradaic current, which significantly affects the low magnitude currents inherently measured in the scanning micropipette contact method.

Effects of 1, 2, 4-Triazole Additive on PEM Fuel Cell Conditioning.

Melt processing is one of the essential technologies for the mass production of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) at low cost. Azoles have been widely used in PEM to improve their conductivity at a relatively low humidity and recently as bifunctional additives in a melt blowing processing for PEM mass production. In this work, we attempted to assess the effect of 1, 2, 4-triazole additive in membranes and in catalyst layers on PEM fuel cell conditioning.

Oil-Immersed Scanning Micropipette Contact Method Enabling Long-term Corrosion Mapping.

This work reports the development of an oil-immersed scanning micropipette contact method, a variant of the scanning micropipette contact method, where a thin layer of oil wets the investigated substrate. The oil-immersed scanning micropipette contact method significantly increases the droplet stability, allowing for prolonged mapping and the use of highly evaporative saline solutions regardless of ambient humidity levels. This systematic mapping technique was used to conduct a detailed investigation of localized corrosion taking place at the surface of an AA7075-T73 aluminum alloy in a 3.