abstract: Palladium metal in its various forms has been heavily studied for many catalytic, hydrogen storage and sensing applications and as an electrocatalyst in fuel cells. A short review on various applications of palladium and the mechanism of Pd nanoparticles synthesis will be discussed in chapter 1. Size dependent properties of various metal nanoparticles and a thermodynamic theory proposed by Plieth to predict size dependent redox properties of metal nanoparticles will also be discussed in chapter 1. To evaluate size dependent stability of metal nanoparticles using electrochemical techniques in aqueous media, a synthetic route was designed to produce water soluble Pd nanoparticles. Also, a purification technique was developed to obtain monodisperse metal nanoparticles to study size dependent stability using electrochemical methods. Chapter 2 will describe in detail the synthesis, characterization and size dependent anodic dissolution studies of water soluble palladium nanoparticles. The cost associated with using expensive metal catalysts can further decreased by using the underpotential deposition (UPD) technique, in which one metal is electrodeposited in monolayer or submonolayer form on a different metal substrate. Electrochemically, this process can be detected by the presence of a deposition peak positive to the bulk deposition potential in a cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiment. The difference between the bulk deposition potential and underpotential deposition peak (i.e. the UPD shift), which is a measure of the energetics of the monolayer deposition step, depends on the work function difference between the metal pairs. Chapter 3 will explore how metal nanoparticles of different sizes will change the energetics of the UPD phenomenon, using the UPD of Cu on palladium nanoparticles as an example. It will be shown that the UPD shift depends on the size of the nanoparticle substrate in a way that is understandable based on the Plieth model. High electrocatalytic activity of palladium towards ethanol oxidation in an alkaline medium makes it an ideal candidate for the anode electrocatalyst in direct ethanol based fuel cells (DEFCs). Chapter 4 will explore the poisoning of the catalytic activity of palladium in the presence of halide impurities, often used in synthesis of palladium nanoparticles as precursors or shape directing agents. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemistry 2016

The increasing energy demand requires a transition from fossil fuels to renewable resources. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) offer a promising solution as efficient energy storage devices. However, the aluminum current collector (CC) in LIBs is susceptible to anodic dissolution above 3 V vs. Li+/Li in commercial carbonate liquid electrolytes, compromising the battery performance. In this study, various approaches were explored to mitigate anodic dissolution in LiFSI EC:DEC at high voltages of the aluminum CC in LIBs, employing cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that boiling the Al foil in water in an air atmosphere to increase the thickness of the surface Al2O3 layer improved the anodic stability and offered enhanced protection against proton attack (due to the oxidation of the carbonate solvent at high voltage). However, increasing the LiFSI electrolyte concentration to 2 M did not increase the anodic stability due to the absence of a passivating AlF3 layer. Notably, in 4 M LiFSI, impurity-induced high F- concentration facilitated the formation of a passivating AlF3 layer, resulting in improved anodic stability. Moreover, specific volume ratios of LiFSI EC:DEC and 1 M LiPF6 EC:DEC (1:1) (LP40) yielded the F- concentration necessary for forming a passivating AlF3 layer and significantly enhanced the anodic stability. On the other hand, carbon-coating the Al foil did not show significant improvements regarding the anodic stability. It was found that the corrosion was time-dependent at a low scan rate, a drastic anodic dissolution of the aluminum was seen at higher temperatures, and the corrosion also became more pronounced. At room temperature, carbon-coated Al foils exhibited increased stability.

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In this study, the impact of galvanic coupling of magnesium to steel on the corrosion rate, surface morphology, and surface film formation was investigated. In particular, the role of self-corrosion was quantified as previous studies showed discrepancies between model predictions and experimental results that were likely due to significant self-corrosion. This experimental study examined the corrosion of Mg coupled to steel in 5 wt% NaCl at cathode-to-anode area ratios that ranged from 5 to 27. Results showed that self-corrosion was significant and accounted for, on average, one-third of total corrosion. Moreover, self-corrosion varied with time and cathode size, and was accelerated by the high dissolution rate. Film formation was observed on the magnesium surface that inhibited the corrosion rates. This film contained approximately 30% of the Mg lost to corrosion. The morphology of the coupled Mg showed the rapid formation of pits with considerable depth, and was quite distinct from previously studied filiform and disk corrosion for uncoupled Mg. This study demonstrates the important role of self-corrosion during galvanic corrosion of Mg and the need to account for such corrosion when predicting corrosion rates. This study also provides important insight into the processes that control Mg corrosion under several conditions.

Les alliages Mg-Ca sont des alliages biocompatibles et biodégradables largement utilisés pour des applications biomédicales comme prothèses bio-résorbables. Ils sont très utilisés car leurs taux de corrosion et de dégradation dans l'organisme peuvent être contrôlés par le taux de calcium et par l'influence du milieu d'implantation. Ces solutions ont inspirées le Groupe SEB qui cherche à mettre au point un procédé fiable de minéralisation d'une eau par dissolution d'alliages Mg-Ca. L'objectif de ce travail de thèse est double, à savoir, la conception des alliages Mg-Ca pour ce procédé, en choisissant les techniques de production adaptées et les paramètres d'élaborations optimisés, puis, la mise en œuvre d'un processus de dissolution assisté par un courant et la maîtrise des paramètres de dissolution. Le magnésium et le calcium étant des métaux très réactifs au contact de l'atmosphère, l'élaboration d'alliages Mg-Ca se fait sous atmosphère neutre. Il est possible d'obtenir une microstructure stable avec des teneurs en calcium comprises entre 0% et 33% atomique, lorsque le calcium et le magnésium forment l'intermétallique Mg2Ca. Lors du refroidissement du mélange métallique à fusion, il se forme une microstructure d'équilibre constituée de dendrites (de Mg si 0 at.% < Ca < 10 at.% et de Mg2Ca si 10 at.% < Ca < 33 at.%) et d'un agrégat eutectique lamellaire composé de Mg et de Mg2Ca. La dissolution anodique d'alliages Mg-Ca s'effectue par l'application d'une différence de potentiel entre une électrode constituée de l'alliage à dissoudre et une contre électrode constituée d'un métal plus noble. Il a été mis en évidence que les relargages d'ions Mg2+ et Ca2+ en solution peuvent être augmentés en diminuant la chute ohmique entre les électrodes (distance minimale, tension appliquée maximale) et en augmentant la réactivité du processus (alliages riches en calcium, conductivité et minéralité de la solution, durée de dissolution et surfaces exposées importantes). Cependant, les forts relargages d'ions Mg2+ et Ca2+, qui alcalinisent fortement la solution, favorisent la formation de précipités limitant la dissolution tels que le tartre, les oxydes et hydroxydes de magnésium et de calcium. Plusieurs solutions pour réguler le pH de la solution et optimiser les relargages de cations Mg2+ et Ca2+ ont été envisagées. / The Mg-Ca alloys are biocompatible and biodegradable alloys widely used for biomedical applications such as bioresorbable implants because of their corrosion rate and degradation behaviour into human body. These solutions have inspired the SEB Group to develop a new process for the mineralization of water by dissolving Mg-Ca alloys. The objective of this thesis is to design new Mg-Ca alloys choosing the appropriate production techniques and optimizing elaborations settings and then, to work on the dissolution process assisted by a current controling of dissolution parameters. Magnesium and calcium being very reactive metal in contact with the atmosphere, the development Mg-Ca alloys was done in a neutral atmosphere. It is possible to obtain a stable microstructure with calcium contents between 0% and 33 atomic% through the intermetallic form Mg2Ca. It's possible to obtain equilibrium microstructures consisting of dendrites (Mg if 0 at.% <Ca <10 at.% And Mg2Ca if 10 at.% <Ca <33 at.%) and a lamellar eutectic aggregate made from Mg and Mg2Ca. Anodic dissolution of Mg-Ca alloys is made by applying a potential between one electrode made from the Mg-Ca alloy and a counter electrode made from a more noble metal. It has been demonstrated that the releases of Mg2+ and Ca2+ in solution may be controlled throught the decrease of the resistance drop between the electrodes (minimum distance, maximum applied voltage) and the increase of the process reactivity (rich alloys calcium, mineral and conductivity of the solution, dissolving time and significant exposed surfaces). However, strong releases of Mg2+ and Ca2+, which strongly alkalize the solution, promote the formation of precipitates limiting dissolution rate such as scale, oxides and hydroxides formation. Several solutions to regulate the pH of the solution and optimize the releases of cation Mg2+ and Ca2+ were considered.