91. A Mechanistic Study of Magnesium Sulfur BatteriesAna Robba, Alen Vižintin, Jan Bitenc, Gregor Mali, Iztok Arčon, Matjaž Kavčič, Matjaž Žitnik, Klemen Bučar, Giuliana Aquilanti, Charlotte Martineau-Corcos, Anna Randon-Vitanova, Robert Dominko, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Magnesium sulfur batteries are considered as attractive energy storage devices due to the
abundance of electrochemically active materials and high theoretical energy density. Here we
report the mechanism of a Mg-S battery operation, which was studied in the presence of
simple and commercially available salts dissolved in a mixture of glymes. The electrolyte
offers high sulfur conversion into MgS in the first discharge with low polarization. The
electrochemical conversion of sulfur with magnesium proceeds through two well-defined
plateaus, which correspond to the equilibrium between sulfur and polysulfides (high-voltage
plateau) and polysulfides and MgS (low-voltage plateau). As shown by XANES, RIXS and
NMR studies, the end discharge phase involves MgS with Mg atoms in a tetrahedral
environment resembling the wurtzite structure, while chemically synthesized MgS crystalizes
in the rock-salt structure with octahedral coordination of magnesium.
Keywords: magnesium, sulfur, rechargeable batteries, XAS, NMR
Published in RUNG: 19.10.2017; Views: 4385; Downloads: 0
This document has many files! More... |
92. |
93. Role of Surface Cu-O-Zr Sites in the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanoscale ParticlesOlena Pliekhova, Iztok Arčon, Nataša Novak Tušar, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar, 2016, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: Photocatalysis, Titanium dioxide, Copper, Zirconia, co-doping, EXAFS, XANES
Published in RUNG: 23.08.2017; Views: 4645; Downloads: 0
This document has many files! More... |
94. |
95. Biotransformation of copper oxide nanoparticles by the pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinereaEva Kovačec, Marjana Regvar, Johannes Teun van Elteren, Iztok Arčon, Tamás Papp, Darko Makovec, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Two plant pathogenic fungi, Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata, isolated from crop plants, were
exposed to Cu in ionic (Cu2þ), microparticulate (MP, CuO) or nanoparticulate (NP, Cu or CuO) form, in
solid and liquid culturing media in order to test fungal response and toxic effects of the mentioned
compounds for the potential use as fungicides. B. cinerea has shown pronounced growth and lower levels
of lipid peroxidation compared to A. alternata. Its higher resistance/tolerance is attributed mainly to
biotransformation of CuO and Cu NPs and CuO MPs into a blue compound at the fungal/culturing media
interface, recognized by Cu K-edge EXAFS analysis as Cu-oxalate complex. The pronounced activity of
catechol-type siderophores and organic acid secretion in B. cinerea induce leaching and mobilization of
Cu ions from the particles and their further complexation with extracellularly secreted oxalic acid. The
ability of pathogenic fungus to biotransform CuO MPs and NPs hampers their use as fungicides. However
the results show that B. cinerea has a potential to be used in degradation of Cu(O) nanoparticles in
environment, copper extraction and purification techniques.
Keywords: copper, metal oxide nanoparticles, detoxification mechanisms, metal pollution, Cu-oxalate
Published in RUNG: 23.08.2017; Views: 4323; Downloads: 0
This document has many files! More... |
96. Edge profiles in K shell photoabsorption spectra of gaseous hydrides of 3p elements and homologuesRobert Hauko, Jana Padežnik Gomilšek, Alojz Kodre, Iztok Arčon, Giuliana Aquilanti, original scientific article Abstract: Photoabsorption spectra of gaseous hydrides of 3p elements (PH3, H2S, HCl) are measured in the energy region of
photoexcitations pertaining to K edge. The analysis of the edge profile is extended to hydrides of 4p series (GeH4,
AsH3, H2Se, HBr) from an earlier experiment, and to published spectra of 2p hydrides (CH4, NH3, H2O, HF) and
noble gases Ar, Kr and Ne and SiH4. The edge profiles are modelled with a linear combination of lorentzian
components, describing excitations to individual bound states and to continuum. Transition energies and
probabilities are also calculated in the non-relativistic molecular model of the ORCA code, in good agreement
with the experiment. Edge profiles in the heavier homologues are closely similar, the symmetry of the molecule
governs the transitions to the lowest unoccupied orbitals. In 2p series the effect of the strong nuclear potential
prevails. Transitions to higher, atomic-like levels remain very much the same as in free atoms.
Keywords: X-ray absorption spectra, gaseous hydrides, 3p K-edge spectra, DFT
Published in RUNG: 23.08.2017; Views: 3622; Downloads: 0
This document has many files! More... |
97. Electrochemical dissolution of iridium and iridium oxide particles in acidic media : transmission electron microscopy, electrochemical flow cell coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and X-ray absorption spectroscopy studyPrimož Jovanovič, Nejc Hodnik, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Iztok Arčon, Barbara Jozinović, Milena Zorko, Marjan Bele, Martin Šala, Vid Simon Šelih, Samo B. Hočevar, Miran Gaberšček, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Iridium based particles as the most promising proton exchange membrane electrolyser electrocatalysts were investigated
by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and by coupling of electrochemical flow cell (EFC) with online inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Additionally, a thin-film rotating disc electrode (RDE), an identical location transmission
and scanning electron microscopy (IL-TEM and IL-SEM) as well as an X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies have
been performed. Extremely sensitive online time-and potential-resolved electrochemical dissolution profiles revealed that iridium
particles dissolved already well below oxygen evolution reaction (OER) potentials, presumably induced by iridium surface oxidation
and reduction processes, also referred to as transient dissolution. Overall, thermally prepared rutile type IrO2 particles (T-IrO2)
are substantially more stable and less active in comparison to as prepared metallic (A-Ir) and electrochemically pretreated (E-Ir)
analogues. Interestingly, under OER relevant conditions E-Ir particles exhibit superior stability and activity owing to the altered
corrosion mechanism where the formation of unstable Ir(>IV) species is hindered. Due to the enhanced and lasting OER performance,
electrochemically pre-oxidized E-Ir particles may be considered as the electrocatalyst of choice for an improved low temperature
electrochemical hydrogen production device, namely a proton exchange membrane electrolyser.
Keywords: Iridium Oxide Par-ticles, Electrochemical Dissolution of Iridium, Ir L3-edge XANES
Published in RUNG: 23.08.2017; Views: 3833; Downloads: 0
This document has many files! More... |
98. |
99. |
100. An extracellular polymeric substance quickly chelates mercury(II) with N-heterocyclic groupsFranco Baldi, Michele Gallo, Salvatore Daniale, Dario Battistel, Claudia Faleri, Alojz Kodre, Iztok Arčon, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: A strain of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614 is grown on sodium citrate in the presence of 50 mg l−1 of Hg as Hg(NO3)2. During growth, the strain produces an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), constituted by a mixture of proteins and a specific exopolysaccharide. The protein components, derived from the outer membrane of cells, are co-extracted with the extracellular exopolysaccharide using ethanol. The extracted EPS contains 7.5% of Hg (total amount). This indicates that EPS is an excellent material for the biosorption of Hg2+, through chemical complexation with the EPS components. The binding capacity of these species towards Hg2+ is studied by cyclic voltammetry, and Hg L3-edge XANES and EXAFS spectroscopy. The results found indicate that Hg2+ is mainly bound to the nitrogen of the imidazole ring or other N-heterocycle compounds. The hydroxyl moities of sugars and/or the carboxyl groups of two glucuronic acids in the polysaccharide can also play an important role in sequestring Hg2+ ions. However, N-heterocyclic groups of proteins bind Hg2+ faster than hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of the polysaccharide.
Keywords: Klebsiella oxytoca, Biosorption, Proteins, Polysaccharide, Cyclic voltammetry, EXAFS analysis
Published in RUNG: 03.03.2017; Views: 4618; Downloads: 0
This document has many files! More... |
