Electroanalytical techniques are used to investigate mass transport through density gradient films; lanthanide triflate reduction and oxidation in a Nafion/acetonitrile matrix; and magnetic field effects on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and lanthanide electrochemistry.
Graded density films are more dense at the electrode surface and become less dense out into solution due to a brush polymer structure. Fick's second law expands to account for a diffusion coefficient that varies with distance x normal to the electrode surface. Confocal microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and computer simulations are used to investigate density graded Ficoll® films. Mass transport approaches steady state (scan rate independence) at slow scan rates where the diffusion length samples the entire film. The use of Ficoll to template an ion exchange polymer is explored by casting Nafion® Ficoll composites.
Lanthanide electrochemistry is enabled in acetonitrile at a Nafion modified platinum electrode in the presence of triflate ligands. Formal potentials are shifted into the voltage window of acetonitrile accessible due to triflate complexation. The Nafion further solubilizes the compounds. The mechanism (ECEC) is studied with cyclic voltammetry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Magnetic field effects on electrochemical systems have been of interest to researchers for the past 65 years. Mass transport effects, such as magnetohydrodynamics and magnetic field gradient effects have been reported, but the Leddy group focuses on electron transfer effects. Electrode surfaces are modified with composite films of magnetic microparticles suspended in ion exchange polymer Nafion. Effects are verified to be electron transfer related and due to the magnetization of chemically inert microparticles. The magnets catalyze the rates of important electron transfer reactions such as hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction.
Magnetic field effects on HER at various noncatalytic metal electrodes are explored with linear scan voltammetry. There is a correlation between the magnetic susceptibility of the electrode metals and the HER exchange currents (reaction rates). Exchange currents are 103× larger for a paramagnetic metal electrode than a diamagnetic one with the same work function. The overpotential at diamagnetic electrodes is decreased by modification with a Nafion + magnetic microparticle composite film. A decrease in overpotential of ∼70 % for all electrodes except platinum is observed. The overpotential decrease correlates with the magnetic susceptibility of the particles.
Magnets can enhance differences between lanthanide cyclic voltammograms by shifting current densities at a given potential and enhancing current based on the number of 4f electrons and magnetic moment of each lanthanide ion.
Magnetic field effects on ORR in acetonitrile are investigated with cyclic voltammetry. In aprotic solvents, ORR proceeds by a one electron transfer reaction to paramagnetic O2.–. Enhanced reversibility and electron transfer kinetics are observed as well as a decrease in overpotential of ∼100 mV. Magnetic field effects on ORR in a lanthanide triflate solution are also examined. Electron transfer kinetics and reversibility are further enhanced in the presence of lanthanide triflate.