Iron substitution enabled lattice oxygen oxidation and cation leaching for promoting surface reconstruction in electrocatalytic oxygen evolution

The low-cost transition metal oxides have drawn widespread interest as alternatives to noble metal-based electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Transition metal oxides usually undergo surface reconstruction during electrochemical reaction to form the actual active species. However, in-depth understanding and regulating of the surface reconstruction of active phases for oxides in OER remains an onerous challenge. Herein, we report a simple Fe element substitution strategy to facilitate the surface reconstruction of spinel oxide NiCr2O4 to generate active (oxy)hydroxides. The activated Fe-doped NiCr2O4 (Act-Fe-NCO) exhibits a lower OER overpotential of 259 mV at 10 mA cm-2 than activated NiCr2O4 (Act-NCO, 428 mV), and shows excellent stability for 120 h. The electrochemically activated CV measurement and nanostructure characterizations reveal that Fe substitution could promote the consumption of lattice oxygen during electrochemical activation to induce the leaching of soluble Cr cations, thereby facilitating the reconstruction of remaining Ni cations on the surface into (oxy)hydroxide active species. Moreover, theoretical calculations further demonstrate that the O 2p band center of NiCr2O4 moves towards the Fermi level due to Fe substitution, thus promoting lattice oxygen oxidation and providing greater structural flexibility for surface reconstruction. This work shows a promising way to regulate the surface reconstruction kinetics and OER electrocatalytic activity of transition metal oxides.

Effect of Cr Content on Corrosion Resistance of Low-Cr Alloy Steels Studied by Surface and Electrochemical Techniques

The electrochemical behavior of low alloyed Fe-Cr steels with 3 and 5% wt. of Cr in neutral Na2SO4 electrolyte combined with a detailed chemical and morphological characterization of these alloys performed by Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy are presented here. The corrosion of low alloyed Fe-Cr steels proceeds in the prepassive range, with the formation of corrosion surface films having a duplex structure with outer iron oxide/hydroxide layer and inner Cr oxide-rich layer. The thickness, composition, and the morphology of the surface films vary as a function of chromium content in the alloy as well as conditions of electrochemical tests (temperature). Even a low chromium content shows a beneficial effect on the corrosion performances of the Fe-Cr steels. The chromium as a more active component than iron of ferrite increases the anodic activity of this phase, which results in a rapid saturation of the surface with the anodic reaction products forming a fine crystalline-like and compact layer of corrosion products. In this way, the chromium acts as a modifier of formation/crystallization of the iron-rich surface film (mainly magnetite) in the prepassive range.

Core level shifts as indicators of Cr chemistry on hydroxylated α-Al2O3(0001): a combined photoemission and first-principles study

The Cr/α-Al₂O₃(0001) interface has been explored by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and ab initio first-principles calculations of core level shifts including final state effects. After an initial oxidation via a reaction with residual surface OH but no reduction of the alumina substrate, Cr grows in a metallic form without any chemical effect on the initially oxidized Cr. However, Cr metal lacks crystallinity. Long-range (reflection high energy electron diffraction) and short-range (XAS) order are hardly observed. Thus photoemission combined with atomistic simulations becomes a unique tool to explore the chemistry and environment at the Cr/alumina interface. Cr 2p, O 1s and Al 2s shifted components are all explained by the formation of moieties involving Cr³⁺ and/or Cr⁴⁺ and of metallic Cr⁰, which supports the previously found Cr buffer mechanism for poorly adhesive metals. Beyond the situation under study, the present data demonstrate the ability of a combined experimental and theoretical approach of core-level shifts to exhaustively describe the general case of disordered metal/oxide interfaces.

Improving electrochemical performances of Lithium-rich oxide by cooperatively doping Cr and coating Li3PO4 as cathode material for Lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-rich layered oxides exhibit one of the highest reversible discharge capacities among cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. However, their voltage decay and poor cycle stability severely restrict their use as a commercial cathode material. In this work, a novel approach of that combines Cr doping and a Li₃PO₄ coating was designed to address the problems associated with lithium-rich Li_1.2Mn_0.54Ni_0.13Co_0.13O₂ materials. The synergistic method not only increases the discharge capacity and cycle stability but also decreases the voltage decay. The 1.0 wt% Li₃PO₄ coating and 0.08 Cr doping on Li_1.2Mn_0.54Ni_0.13Co_0.13O₂ cathode shows a capacity retention of 76.5% compared to the 59.0% capacity retention for the pristine electrode after 200 cycles. The initial discharge capacity is also increased from 255.8 mAh·g^-1 to 265.2 mAh·g^-1. In addition, the discharge voltage decay decreases from 0.84 V to 0.39 V after 200 cycles as a result of the Cr doping and Li₃PO₄ coating. These enhanced electrochemical properties are attributed to the fact that the Cr doping stabilized the layered structure and inhibited its phase transformation to the spinel phase, and the Li₃PO₄ coating confined the interfacial side reactions between the electrode and electrolyte. This work may provide a new method to solve the subsistent problems of lithium-rich cathode materials.

Femtosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition of Chromium Diboride-Rich Thin Films

Chromium borides are promising candidates for several structural applications including protective coatings for materials exposed to corrosive and abrasive environments. In this paper the pulsed laser deposition of chromium diboride-rich thin films has been carried out in vacuum by using a frequency doubled Nd:glass laser with a pulse duration of 250 fs. The films have been deposited at different substrate temperatures and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Lastly, the film’s hardness has been studied by Vickers indentation technique. The results indicate that only the films deposited at a substrate temperature of 500 °C are crystalline and formed by chromium diboride, together with a certain amount of boron and chromium, which suggests that, as main mechanism, a process taking place on the surface from atoms and ions from the gas phase. This hypothesis has been confirmed by the study of the plasma produced by the ablation process.

Ultralong Layered NaCrO2 Nanowires: A Competitive Wide-Temperature-Operating Cathode for Extraordinary High-Rate Sodium-Ion Batteries

The development of high-rate cathodes particularly with remarkable wide-temperature-tolerance sodium-storage capability plays a significant role in commercial applications of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, we devise a scaled-up electrospinning avenue to fabricate nanocrystal-constructed ultralong layered NaCrO₂ nanowires (NWs) toward SIBs as a wide-temperature-operating cathode. The resultant one-dimensional (1D) NaCrO₂ nanoarchitecture is endowed with orientated and shortened electronic/ionic transport and remarkable structural tolerance to stress change over sodiation-desodiation processes. Benefiting from these structural superiorities, the NaCrO₂ NWs are featured with prominent Na⁺-storage behaviors in the wide-operating-temperature range from -15 to 55 °C. Promisingly, the NaCrO₂ NWs exhibit extraordinary high-rate capacities of ∼108.8 and ∼87.2 mAh g^-1 at 10 and 50 C rates at 25 °C, and even 94.6 (55 °C) and ∼60.1 (-15 °C) mAh g^-1 at 10 C, along with outstanding cyclic stabilities with capacity retentions of ∼80.6% (-15 °C), 88.4% (25 °C), and ∼86.9% (55 °C). The overall performance of our NaCrO₂ is superior to other reported NaCrO₂-based cathodes, even with conductive nanocarbon coating. Encouragingly, a competitive energy density of ∼161 Wh kg^-1 can be obtained by the NaCrO₂ NWs-based full cell. Therefore, our NaCrO₂ NWs can be highly anticipated as advanced cathode for commercial wide-temperature-tolerance SIBs.

Low-Temperature Oxygen Storage of CrIV-CrV Mixed-Valence YCr1-xPxO4-δ Driven by Local Condensation around Oxygen-Deficient Orthochromite

The oxygen storage capability and related defect structure of tetrahedral orthochromite(V) compound YCr_1-xP_xO₄ (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7) were investigated by employing thermal gravimetry and in situ X-ray spectroscopy for reversible oxygen store/release driven by heating-cooling cycles in the temperature range from 50 to 600 °C. YCr_1-xP_xO₄ started releasing oxygen as heated from 50 °C under ambient atmosphere, with reduction of Cr^V to Cr^IV, while the reduced YCr_1-xP_xO_4-δ phase was significantly reoxidized via absorbing oxygen by cooling to 50 °C under ambient atmosphere, recovering the original stoichiometric phase. Operando X-ray adsorption spectroscopy and first-principles calculations demonstrate that nonstoichiometric YCr_1-xP_xO_4-δ phases were stabilized by forming linking polyhedral Cr^IV₂O₇^6- via corner sharing between oxygen-deficient Cr^IVO₃^2- and adjacent Cr^IVO₄^4-. YCr_1-xP_xO₄ was found to have an extremely low reduction enthalpy of about 20 kJ mol^-1 probably due to the relatively high reduction potential of high-valence-state Cr(V)/Cr(IV) redox pairs, thereby resulting in reversible oxygen storage in such a low-temperature region.

Significance of the electron-density of molecular fragments on the properties of manganese(iii) β-diketonato complexes: an XPS and DFT study

The group electronegativity of the R-groups of the ligand influences the XPS binding energies and the amount of charge transferred in the Mn 2p_3/2 photoelectron lines. DFT studies illustrated different Jahn–Teller elongation bond stretch isomers.

Properties of Manganese(III) Ferrocenyl-β-Diketonato Complexes Revealed by Charge Transfer and Multiplet Splitting in the Mn 2p and Fe 2p X-Ray Photoelectron Envelopes

A series of ferrocenyl-functionalized β-diketonato manganese(III) complexes, [Mn(FcCOCHCOR)₃] with R = CF₃, CH₃, Ph (phenyl) and Fc (ferrocenyl) was subjected to a systematic XPS study of the Mn 2p_3/2 and Fe 2p_3/2 core-level photoelectron lines and their satellite structures. A charge-transfer process from the β-diketonato ligand to the Mn(III) metal center is responsible for the prominent shake-up satellite peaks of the Mn 2p photoelectron lines and the shake-down satellite peaks of the Fe 2p photoelectron lines. Multiplet splitting simulations of the photoelectron lines of the Mn(III) center of [Mn(FcCOCHCOR)₃] resemble the calculated Mn 2p_3/2 envelope of Mn³⁺ ions well, indicating the Mn(III) centers are in the high spin state. XPS spectra of complexes with unsymmetrical β-diketonato ligands (i.e., R not Fc) were described with two sets of multiplet splitting peaks representing fac and the more stable mer isomers respectively. Stronger electron-donating ligands stabilize fac more than mer isomers. The sum of group electronegativities, Σχ_R, of the β-diketonato pendant side groups influences the binding energies of the multiplet splitting and charge transfer peaks in both Mn and Fe 2p_3/2 photoelectron lines, the ratio of satellite to main peak intensities, and the degree of covalence of the Mn–O bond.

Band alignment at the interface between Ni-doped Cr2O3 and Al-doped ZnO: implications for transparent p-n junctions

The realization of transparent electronic and optoelectronic devices requires the use of transparent p-n junctions. In this context, understanding the band alignment at the interface between the p- and n-components represents a fundamental step towards the realization of high performance devices. In this work, the band alignment at the interface between Al-doped ZnO (AZO) and Ni-doped Cr2O3 has been analysed. The formation and evolution of the core levels as the interface progressively forms have been followed by means of x-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and x-ray reflectivity. A type two (staggered) band alignment was identified, with the valence band offset and conduction band offset found to be 2.6 eV and 2.5 eV, respectively. The electrical behaviour will be discussed in terms of the position of the bands, the presence of band bending and the expected built-in potential and how these can be engineered in order to achieve the maximum performance for this hetero-structure.

Assessing the potential of Mg-doped Cr₂O₃ as a novel p-type transparent conducting oxide

One of the current challenges faced by material scientists is the development of a p-type transparent conducting oxide with levels of optical transparency and electronic conductivity to equal those of the universally n-type industry leaders such as Sn-doped In2O3. The discovery of a p-type analogue would allow for the combination of both polarities into a heterojunction, accessing the potential for transparent electronics. In this study, an insulating material, Cr2O3, is investigated both experimentally and computationally to determine if it is a viable p-type host matrix as has been recently proposed in the literature. The geometric and electronic structure are examined by high resolution x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and periodic density functional theory (specifically, PBE  +  U). By incorporating Mg and performing a comprehensive defect analysis, the dominant intrinsic and extrinsic carriers in the material are determined, and it is shown that Cr2O3 has the potential to display p-type conductivity when appropriately doped.

Bonding and bio-properties of hybrid laser/magnetron Cr-enriched DLC layers

Chromium-enriched diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers were prepared by a hybrid technology using a combination of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and magnetron sputtering. XRD revealed no chromium peaks, indicating that the layers are mostly amorphous. Carbon (sp(2) and sp(3) bonds) and chromium bonds were determined by XPS from C 1s, O 1s, and Cr 2p photoelectron peaks. Depending on the deposition conditions, the concentration of Cr in DLC layers moved from zero to 10 at.% for as-received sample surfaces, and to about 31 at.% after mild sputter-cleaning by argon ion cluster beam. It should be noted that the most stable Cr(3+) bonding state is in Cr2O3 and Cr(OH)3, and that there is the toxic Cr(6+) state in CrO3. The surface content of hexavalent chromium in the Cr 2p3/2 spectra is rather low, but discernible. The population density of Saos-2 cells was the highest in samples containing higher concentrations of chromium 7.7 and 10 at.%. This means that higher concentrations of chromium supported the cell adhesion and proliferation. In addition, as revealed by a LIVE/DEAD viability/cytotoxicity kit, the cells on all Cr-containing samples maintained high viability (96 to 99%) on days 1 and 3 after seeding. However, this seemingly positive cell behavior could be associated with the risk of dedifferentiation and oncogenic transformation of cells.

Surface Characterization of Chromia for Chlorine/Fluorine Exchange Reactions

The dismutation of CCl(2)F(2) was used to probe the effect of halogenation of chromia by Cl/F exchange reactions to find out the difference between the halogenated inactive and active catalysts. The heterogeneous reactions were performed in a continuous flow Ni reactor and also under simulated reaction conditions in a reactor where after the reaction X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy (XAES) analyses are possible without air exposure of the catalyst, i.e., under so-called "in situ" conditions. The Cr(III) 2p XP spectra, which revealed multiplet splitting features and satellite emission, were used for chemical analysis by using a simple evaluation procedure which neglects this inherent complexity. Chemical analysis was also applied by using chemical state plots for Cr 3s in order to cross-check Cr 2p related results. Both ex and in situ XPS show that as soon as Cr(2)O(3) is exposed to CCl(2)F(2) at 390 degrees C fluorination as well as chlorination takes place at the catalyst surface. When the XPS surface composition reaches approximately 4 at. % fluorination and 6 at. % chlorination, maximum catalytic activity was obtained. Application of longer reaction times did not change significantly the obtained surface composition of the activated chromia. The fluorination and chlorination of chromia was further investigated by various HF and HCl treatments. The activated chromia samples and the Cr(2)O(3), Cr(OH)(3), CrF(2)OH, CrF(3) x H(2)O, alpha-CrF(3), beta-CrF(3), and CrCl(3) reference samples with well-known chemical structures were also characterized by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS), pyridine-FTIR, wet chemical (F and Cl) analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and surface area (BET) analysis. The results suggest that the formation of chromium oxide chloride fluoride species, e.g., chromium oxide halides, at the surface is sufficient to provide catalytic activity. The presence of any CrF(3) and/or CrCl(3) phases on the activated chromia samples was not found.