Iron corrosion is the most important economic and aesthetic problem facing utilities. In the water distribution system, problems caused by iron corrosion include "red water", scale buildup, and pipe failures. It is necessary to improve our mechanistic understanding of anaerobic iron corrosion in order to better address these concerns. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of soluble constituents (Fe2+, PO43-, and NH4+) on H2 evolution during anaerobic iron corrosion. At pH 7.0 when sulfide was absent, variable Fe2+ did not have much influence on H2 release rates, whereas PO43- and NH4+ promoted H2 evolution. If present, soluble sulfide controlled H2 release rates in the solutions with Fe2+ or PO43-; however, NH4+ and S2- combined to inhibit H2 release. A simplistic empirical model was developed that fit data on corrosion rates from previous researchers studying effects of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) on iron corrosion. As a whole, the experimental data and the model results support the notion that water quality controls iron corrosion rates in the presence of SRB. The practical relevance of previous research is somewhat in doubt given the atypical levels of nutrients used in relation to those actually present in water and wastewater. A second phase of research was aimed at exploring the equilibrium and kinetic aspects of iron corrosion in the presence of phosphate. The hypothesis that anaerobic iron corrosion is influenced by low pressure H2 (<1 atm) buildup was examined. At pH 2.75 and pH 7.0 in the presence of 100 mg/L P-PO43-, variations in H2 release were measured under different circumstances. Addition of PO43- formed a protective film, possibly vivianite Fe3(PO4)2, on the iron surface that eventually stopped H2 release. However, results were consistent with the idea that corrosion is an irreversible process that is relatively insensitive to low level H2 (<1 atm). Possible alternative explanations were provided to reconcile the past research data that purportedly demonstrated that removal of H2 increased corrosion rates. A reaction that caused "decay" of H2 in the presence of high phosphate was discovered that can not be readily explained. / Master of Science

Iron corrosion is an extremely complicated process because numerous factors such as pH, DO, temperature, inhibitor, and other various constituents in water can exert a controlling influence. The economic importance of problems that are caused by corrosion has been recognized. Therefore, the necessity of better understanding corrosion phenomenon is apparent. The effect of phosphorus, especially in oxidation states different than phosphate (+V) (e.g., PO3-3, PO2-3 and PH3 gas), on anaerobic iron corrosion was examined. Tests were conducted at pH 3, 7, and 10- 11 in a solution of 10-3 M NaCl. There was not a significant catalytic effect of phosphorus species on anaerobic iron corrosion. Higher levels of PH3 did markedly increase H2 evolution, consistent with observations of other researchers, but it is possibly due to oxidation of PH3 by iron surfaces with production of H2. Various constituents were also tested for iron corrosion in anaerobic solution [Al3+ (soluble), Al(OH)3, Cu2+, Si(OH)4, Boron, NOM, and sulfide] at pH pH 3, 7, and 10-11. None of these appeared to inhibit corrosion compared to a control. At pH 7, soluble Al3+ and Cu2+ in solution led to much higher production of H2 relative to a control. Phosphorus species had little impact on iron corrosion rates in the presence of sulfides (198 mg/L as S2-). In much of the research, recovery of H2 in the headspace was much lower than was predicated based on classic equations. This implies that some other, and as yet unappreciated, reactions are occurring in this system. However, in other instances the recovery of hydrogen was consistent with classical theory. Future work should examine the circumstances in which agreements and disagreements with classic theory occur. / Master of Science

Magnetic field effects (MFE) on electrochemical systems have been of interest to researchers for the past 60 years. MFEs on mass transport, such as magnetohydrodynamics and magnetic field gradients effects are reported, but MFEs on electron transfer kinetics have been rarely investigated. Magnetic modification of electrodes enhances electron transfer kinetics under conditions of high concentrations and low physical diffusion conditions, as shown by Leddy and coworkers. Magnetic microparticles embedded in an ion exchange polymer (e.g., Nafion) applied to electrode surfaces. Rates of electron transfer reactions to diffusing redox probes and to adsorbates are markedly enhanced. This work reports MFEs on hydrogen evolution on illuminated p-Si; MFEs on hydrogen evolution on noncatalytic electrodes; a model for MFEs on homogeneous self-exchange reactions; and a convolution based voltammetric method for film modified electrodes. First, a MFE on the photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at p-Si semiconductors is demonstrated. The HER is an adsorbate reaction. Magnetic modification reduces the energetic cost of the HER by 400 - 500 mV as compared to Nafion modified electrodes and by 1200 mV as compared to unmodified p-Si. Magnetically modified p-Si achieves 6.2 % energy conversion efficiency. Second, from HER on noncatalytic electrodes, the MFE on photoelectrochemical cells arises from improved heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics. On glassy carbon electrodes, magnetic modification improves heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant, k₀,for HER 80,000 fold. Third, self exchange reaction rates are investigated under magnetic modification for various temperatures, outersphere redox probes, and magnetic particles. Arrhenius analyses of the rate constants collected from the experiments show a 30 - 40 % decrease in activation energy at magnetically modified electrodes. A kinetic model is established based on transition state theory. The model includes pre-polarization and electron nuclear spin polarization steps and characterizes a majority of the experimental results. Lastly, a convolution technique for modified with uniform films electrodes is developed and coded in Matlab (mathematical software) for simple and straightforward analysis of Nafion modified electrodes.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been demonstrated to be a potential catalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Due to its highly active edge site, abundance, and low cost, it rivals Pt. However, the potential activity of the MoS2 basal plane has largely been ignored. The physical characteristics of MoS2 and its corresponding band structure change significantly with decreasing thickness, especially at the monolayer limit. Thus, an investigation on the thickness dependence may provide important insights into the MoS2 basal plane activity. In this thesis, the layer dependent electrocatalytic performance is investigated with mono-, bi- and multilayer MoS2 based individual nanodevices. Three conclusions were reached. (1) Monolayers showed exchange current densities more than one order of magnitude higher than that of the multilayers, 0.12 mA/cm2 and 8.7 mA/cm2, respectively. Furthermore, the onset potential of the monolayer was several hundred millivolts lower than that of the multilayer, about 0.2 V vs RHE for the monolayer versus 0.5 V vs RHE for the multilayer. The Tafel slope of 100-200 mV/dec revealed that the rate limiting step was the adsorption of hydrogen. (2) Interestingly, the bilayer sample exhibited an increase in its exchange current density from 0.3 mA/cm2 to 8 mA/cm2 when cycled extensively. This is suspected to be caused by intercalation of hydrogen between the atomic layers. (3) Additionally, the back-gate voltage is applied to tune the Fermi level of the material and the catalytic performance. It was found that the back-gate voltage induces an irreversible change in all samples, increasing the exchange current density by an order of magnitude. The superior basal plane performance of the monolayers to that of the multilayers reveals a new way to optimize the performance of MoS2 as a HER catalyst. In addition, the results above illuminate the yellow brick road to potential improvements in other layered materials as well.

This thesis studies the development of a new method for photochemical overall water splitting using a small organic shuttle. In Section 2, BiVO4, was studied to determine the CO2 reduction mechanism and how catalytic activity decays. BiVO4 catalysts were capable of producing a maximum of 200 μmol of methanol per gram of catalyst from CO2 in basic media, and later decomposed by BiVO4. The decay of BiVO4¬ was studied by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, demonstrating reversible decomposition of BiVO4. BiVO4 is etched, leeching vanadium into solution, while nanoparticles of bismuth oxide are deposited on the surface of BiVO4. In Section 3, ferrocyanide salts, an aqueous, cheap, and abundant photocatalyst was used for the first time to dehydrogenate aqueous formaldehyde selectively into formate and hydrogen. The catalyst is capable of record turnovers and turnover frequencies for formaldehyde dehydrogenation catalysts. A preliminary mechanism was proposed from experimental and computational data.

abstract: Photocatalytic water splitting over suspended nanoparticles represents a potential solution for achieving CO2-neutral energy generation and storage. To design efficient photocatalysts, a fundamental understanding of the material’s structure, electronic properties, defects, and how these are controlled via synthesis is essential. Both bulk and nanoscale materials characterization, in addition to various performance metrics, can be combined to elucidate functionality at multiple length scales. In this work, two promising visible light harvesting systems are studied in detail: Pt-functionalized graphitic carbon nitrides (g-CNxHys) and TiO2-supported CeO2-x composites. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is used to sense variations in the local concentration of amine moieties (defects believed to facilitate interfacial charge transfer) at the surface of a g-CNxHy flake. Using an aloof-beam configuration, spatial resolution is maximized while minimizing damage thus providing nanoscale vibrational fingerprints similar to infrared absorption spectra. Structural disorder in g-CNxHys is further studied using transmission electron microscopy at low electron fluence rates. In-plane structural fluctuations revealed variations in the local azimuthal orientation of the heptazine building blocks, allowing planar domain sizes to be related to the average polymer chain length. Furthermore, competing factors regulating photocatalytic performance in a series of Pt/g-CNxHys is elucidated. Increased polymer condensation in the g-CNxHy support enhances the rate of charge transfer to reactants owing to higher electronic mobility. However, active site densities are over 3x lower on the most condensed g-CNxHy which ultimately limits its H2 evolution rate (HER). Based on these findings, strategies to improve the cocatalyst configuration on intrinsically active supports are given. In TiO2/CeO2-x photocatalysts, the effect of the support particle size on the bulk/nanoscale properties and photocatalytic performance is investigated. Small anatase supports facilitate highly dispersed CeO2-x species, leading to increased visible light absorption and HERs resulting from a higher density of mixed metal oxide (MMO) interfaces with Ce3+ species. Using monochromated EELS, bandgap states associated with MMO interfaces are detected, revealing electronic transitions from 0.5 eV up to the bulk bandgap onset of anatase. Overall, the electron microscopy/spectroscopy techniques developed and applied herein sheds light onto the relevant defects and limiting processes operating within these photocatalyst systems thus suggesting rational design strategies. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Materials Science and Engineering 2019

No description available.

<div><br></div><div><p>Noble metal nanoparticles have been studied extensively as heterogeneous catalysts for electrocatalytic and thermal reactions. In particular, the support material for the catalytic species is known to play a role in influencing the geometric and electronic properties of the active site as well as its catalytic performance. Polycrystalline gold electrodes have been used as a support to modify the electrocatalytic behavior of adsorbed molecular species. Here, we have studied two electrocatalytic processes- the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), using Au nanoparticle-based catalysts.</p> <p>Transition metal dichalcogenides are well-known HER catalysts that show structure-sensitive catalytic activity. In particular, undercoordinated sulfur sites at the edges of bulk materials as well as amorphous clusters and oligomers tend to show the highest reactivity. The hydrogen adsorption energy of MoS_x nanoclusters can be further tuned through the metallic support. Here, we synthesize colloidal Au@MoS₄^2-, Au@WS₄^2-and Au@MoS₄^2--WS₄^2- using a biphasic ligand-exchange method. The MoS₄^2- and WS₄^2- complexes show higher HER activity when supported on Au nanoparticles than on to a carbon control, illustrating the electronic role played by the support material.</p> <p>In the second project, Au nanoparticle cores are utilized as supports for Pd submonolayer and monolayer surfaces in order to catalyze the two-electron reduction of O₂ to generate hydrogen peroxide. Bulk surfaces of Pt and Pd are excellent catalysts for the four-electron reduction of O₂ to H₂O. In order to achieve high selectivity for H₂O₂, we postulate that the ensemble geometry of the Pd surface must be reduced to small islands or single atoms based on literature studies that have shown that large Pd ensembles are required for O–O bond cleavage. In this study, we synthesize several submonolayers surface coverages of Au@Pd core-shell nanoparticles using a biphasic ligand-exchange method. As the Pd coverage decreases from monolayer to submonolayer, the peroxide selectivity rises but is accompanied by an increase in catalytic overpotential. The highest peroxide selectivity was observed for 0.1 layers of Pd on Au, which likely exhibits the highest fraction of isolated atom and small cluster geometric ensembles of Pd.</p><br></div>

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The widespread use of fossil energy has been most convenient to the world, while they also cause environmental pollution and global warming. Therefore, it is necessary to develop clean and renewable energy sources, among which, hydrogen is considered to be the most ideal choice, which forms the foundation of the hydrogen energy economy, and the research on hydrogen production and fuel cells involved in its production and utilization are naturally a vital research endeavor in the world. Electrocatalysts are one of the key materials for proton exchange member fuel cells (PEMFCs) and water splitting. The use of electrocatalysts can effectively reduce the reaction energy barriers and improve the energy conversion efficiency.

Conversion of renewable energy resources (such as solar and wind) through water splitting to hydrogen and oxygen has attracted increasing attention. The sole product of hydrogen combustion is water, rendering a carbon-neutral energy cycle. Water splitting consists of two redox half reactions: hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Both of these two transformations involve multi- electron/proton movement and thus are kinetically sluggish. In order to accelerate the reaction rates for practical application, efficient catalysts are needed. State-of-the-art catalysts for water splitting are usually composed of noble metals, such as platinum, ruthenium, and iridium, whose scarcity and high cost limit their wide employment. Consequently, it is of critical importance to develop competent and non-precious catalysts via low-cost preparation. Owing to the thermodynamic convenience and potential application in proton exchange membrane and alkaline electrolyzers, traditionally, most HER catalysts were developed under strongly acidic conditions while OER catalysts under strongly alkaline conditions. In order to accomplish overall water splitting, the coupling of HER and OER catalysts in the same electrolyte is mandatory. This thesis will summarize our recent efforts towards developing 1st-row transition metal-based sulfides and phosphides for electrocatalytic water splitting under ambient conditions.