ECS Advances - IOPscience

ECS Advances - IOPscience
ECS Advances
The Electrochemical Society (ECS)
was founded in 1902 to advance the theory and practice at the forefront of electrochemical and solid state science and technology, and allied subjects.
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ECS Advances
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ECS Advances
ECS Advances
carries the broadest dissemination of electrochemical and solid-state science &
technology content among all journals in the field, coupled with a rigorous peer review.
Open access: Enabling open access to scientific research is imperative to ECS in our mission to disseminate the best research in our technical fields as widely as possible.
In the spirit of maintaining the ECS standard of excellence and quality scholarly publications, all papers submitted to
ECS Advances
will be rigorously peer-reviewed before acceptance.
The editorial board of ECS Advances is a combination of the cumulative editorial teams of
The Journal of the Electrochemical Society
(JES) and the
ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology
(JSS), charged with continuing the standard of excellence for ECS publications. Editorial board members are leaders in the field, vetted by the Editors-in-Chief, and leading committees of the ECS, an organization with a 120+ year legacy of excellence.
The following article is
Open access
Python for Electrochemistry: A Free and All-In-One Toolset
Weiran Zheng 2023
ECS Adv.
040502
View article
, Python for Electrochemistry: A Free and All-In-One Toolset
PDF
, Python for Electrochemistry: A Free and All-In-One Toolset
Python, an open-source, interpreted programming language, has emerged as a transformative force within the scientific community, captivating researchers with its rich ecosystem of packages and syntax that prioritizes readability and simplicity. In the rapidly evolving field of electrochemistry, where the analysis of complex data sets, custom analysis routines, and theoretical simulations are indispensable, Python’s capabilities have garnered significant attention. This review serves as a general introduction to the utilization of Python in electrochemistry, focusing on beginners who are new to programming concepts.
The following article is
Open access
Editors’ Choice—Can Hydrocarbon-Based MEAs Close the Performance Gap to State-of-the-Art Perfluorosulfonic Acid-Based MEAs for PEM Fuel Cells?
Konstantin A. Weber
et al
2025
ECS Adv.
034501
View article
, Editors’ Choice—Can Hydrocarbon-Based MEAs Close the Performance Gap to State-of-the-Art Perfluorosulfonic Acid-Based MEAs for PEM Fuel Cells?
PDF
, Editors’ Choice—Can Hydrocarbon-Based MEAs Close the Performance Gap to State-of-the-Art Perfluorosulfonic Acid-Based MEAs for PEM Fuel Cells?
Numerous hydrocarbon (HC)-based ionomers have been investigated as fluorine-free alternatives to the well-established perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)-based ionomers for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. While PFSA-based MEAs can be prepared by hot-pressing, this is generally not possible for HC-based MEAs, due to their different physico-chemical properties. However, in this work, we introduce a wet hot-pressing method that yields high-performance HC-based MEAs, demonstrated by a systematic comparison of various MEA configurations with electrodes and/or the membrane based on either PFSA or HC ionomers. These MEAs exhibit oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities that are essentially identical for cathodes prepared with either HC or PFSA ionomers, contrary to the frequently observed inferior ORR activity for the former, ascribed to catalyst poisoning. Furthermore, the differential-flow H
/air performance at 80 °C, 170 kPa
abs
, and 2.5 A cm
−2
of optimized all-HC-based MEAs coincides within ∼15 mV with that of all-PFSA-based MEAs, both at 70 and 90% relative humidity (
RH
). At these conditions, the current density of the all-HC-based MEAs at 0.6 V is ∼2.4 A cm
−2
(90%
RH
) and ∼2.1 A cm
−2
(70%
RH
), at anode/cathode loadings of ∼0.1/0.4 mg
Pt
cm
−2
figure placeholder
The following article is
Open access
Review on Advancements in Catalyst Development for Hydrogen Generation and Fuel Cells: Strategies, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Rabinarayan Swain and Seethiraju D. Ramarao 2026
ECS Adv.
014501
View article
, Review on Advancements in Catalyst Development for Hydrogen Generation and Fuel Cells: Strategies, Challenges, and Future Prospects
PDF
, Review on Advancements in Catalyst Development for Hydrogen Generation and Fuel Cells: Strategies, Challenges, and Future Prospects
In 2024, global energy consumption reached 592 exajoules (EJ), with a 2% increase from previous year. Along with energy demand, fossil fuels remained dominant at 86.6%, which is concerning due to their energy-related emissions of over 40 Gt CO
. These trends, along with rising demand and geopolitical concerns, essential for development of sustainable alternatives. In contrast, Hydrogen shows promising option due to its high energy density (∼120 MJ kg
−1
) and its use in fuel cell vehicles, emit water vapor as byproduct. We reviewed current developments in electrocatalysis for water splitting and fuel cells, and examined their prospects to support development of large-scale “green hydrogen”. We gathered performance of over 100 catalysts, including precious-metals, transition-metal chalcogenides, nitrides, carbides, phosphides, intermetallics, 2D materials such as MXenes, and heteroatom-doped carbons. We examined key electrocatalytic metrics, including overpotential, Tafel slope, exchange current density, hydrogen adsorption free energy,
-band center, density of states, work function, Faradaic efficiency, and stability. Survey indicates that precious-metal catalysts continue to excel in terms of overpotentials and durability. However, non-precious alternatives are approaching state-of-the-art catalysts through compositional tuning and nanostructuring. Our review provides rich-data and mechanistic foundation for next-generation catalysts, also identifying research gaps for hydrogen-powered energy technologies.
figure placeholder
The following article is
Open access
Drastically Improving Aluminum-Air Battery Power Output via Aluminum Film Tuning
Colt R. Griffith
et al
2026
ECS Adv.
010504
View article
, Drastically Improving Aluminum-Air Battery Power Output via Aluminum Film Tuning
PDF
, Drastically Improving Aluminum-Air Battery Power Output via Aluminum Film Tuning
Major improvements in the performance of aluminum-air batteries, based on improvement of the aluminum electrode polarization and limiting side reactions, are demonstrated. At high rates of discharge, cell performance is largely dictated by ohmic losses at the anode associated with the aluminum product layer. Turnover of this secondary passivation layer entails conversion of insoluble aluminum hydroxide to soluble aluminate ions. In cells employing the same air electrode and a polymer-based electrolyte, aluminum electrode behavior is systematically investigated as a function of hydroxide concentration, temperature, and electrolyte flow rate to identify optimum conditions and start-up protocols for battery discharge. Stannate addition and plating was explored as a path to inhibit Al corrosion and limit hydrogen evolution as a side reaction. The transient behavior of cells containing stannate in the electrolyte was studied to identify start-up conditions. Overall, this optimization enables a peak power density of 710 mW cm
−2
in polarization experiments. Long-term constant current holds of the battery are also shown.
figure placeholder
The following article is
Open access
Screening Process for Assessing the Stability of Advanced Redox-Flow-Battery Membranes
Mike L. Perry and N. Harsha Attanayake 2026
ECS Adv.
010502
View article
, Screening Process for Assessing the Stability of Advanced Redox-Flow-Battery Membranes
PDF
, Screening Process for Assessing the Stability of Advanced Redox-Flow-Battery Membranes
Membranes are a key component in redox flow battery (RFB) cells since they have a critical impact on the performance of these cells, including both the voltaic efficiency and coulombic efficiency. Currently, most RFB cells use materials that are “borrowed” from other electrochemical cells, such as perfluorinated-sulfonic-acid membranes. Therefore, the development of bespoke RFB membranes is a promising pathway to enabling RFB cells with improved performance, cost, and sustainability. Since most RFB systems are intended for long-lifetime applications (e.g., > 10–20 years), it is important to select materials that are not prone to degradation. We herein recommend a series of tests to screen candidate RFB membranes for a variety of possible degradation mechanisms. To date, durability screening of RFB membranes has been typically limited to chemical stability in the oxidizing environment of the positive electrolyte. While this is an important issue, there are other membrane-degradation mechanisms that should also be considered, some of which are less well known. To expedite this screening process, we propose a set of tests that are either accelerated or use highly sensitive techniques to detect evidence of degradation that is likely to continue over much longer time periods.
figure placeholder
The following article is
Open access
Evaluating Platinum, Gold, Glassy Carbon, and Graphite Anodes for Chlorine Evolution in Molten Calcium Chloride Salt
Cameron Vann
et al
2025
ECS Adv.
040501
View article
, Evaluating Platinum, Gold, Glassy Carbon, and Graphite Anodes for Chlorine Evolution in Molten Calcium Chloride Salt
PDF
, Evaluating Platinum, Gold, Glassy Carbon, and Graphite Anodes for Chlorine Evolution in Molten Calcium Chloride Salt
The chlorine evolution reaction (CER) in molten CaCl
plays a critical role in high-temperature electrochemical processes, including chlorination, metal refining, and used nuclear fuel treatment. This study evaluates the performance of gold (Au), platinum (Pt), glassy carbon (GC), and graphite anodes for the CER under consistent electrochemical conditions. Anode performance was assessed based on chlorine (Cl
) gas evolution, material robustness, and kinetic parameters. Cl
generation was directly confirmed using quadrupole mass spectrometry for Pt, GC, and graphite anodes. GC and graphite demonstrated stable and sustained CER activity. Pt and Au were shown to have significant mass loss and contaminate the salt bath using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Kinetic parameters for the CER on GC were extracted from Tafel analysis of voltammetry data. These findings establish GC and graphite as promising anode materials for the CER in molten CaCl
and support their application in chlorination and chloride volatility separation processes for the purification of used nuclear fuel and rare earth elements.
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The following article is
Open access
Perspective—A New Viewpoint on the Mechanism of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Various Transition Metal Electrodes
Youyi Sun 2024
ECS Adv.
010503
View article
, Perspective—A New Viewpoint on the Mechanism of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Various Transition Metal Electrodes
PDF
, Perspective—A New Viewpoint on the Mechanism of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Various Transition Metal Electrodes
In the research for the catalytic activity of metals, the electronegativity (EN) and valence electronic configuration (VEC) of the atoms of metals have been considered as important factors. By comparing the catalytic activity of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from various metals, we find that metals with high EN and containing two or more accessible partially filled orbitals (PFOs) can support high exchange current density
0,H
(A cm
−2
) for HER, however, metals with low EN and/or with just one or no PFOs are unable to support high
0,H
values. It is, therefore, concluded that the EN and the PFOs of the atoms of metals plays a decisive role in its catalytic behavior. Here, the EN and the VEC of the atoms of transition metals in relation to the catalytic activation for HER is discussed and a new type of reaction mechanism of HER on various metal electrodes is also suggested.
The following article is
Open access
Investigating the Physical State of Polymer Electrolyte: Influence of Temperature and LiTFSI Concentration on the Phase of the Different States of the Polymer Electrolyte PEO-LiTFSI
Sanatou Toe
et al
2023
ECS Adv.
040509
View article
, Investigating the Physical State of Polymer Electrolyte: Influence of Temperature and LiTFSI Concentration on the Phase of the Different States of the Polymer Electrolyte PEO-LiTFSI
PDF
, Investigating the Physical State of Polymer Electrolyte: Influence of Temperature and LiTFSI Concentration on the Phase of the Different States of the Polymer Electrolyte PEO-LiTFSI
A critical analysis of the physical state {solid or liquid state} of the PEO-LiTFSI system was investigated in this study. The findings show one crystallite type in PEO and four in LiTFSI. The physical state of the binary mixture PEO-LiTFSI is predominate by the semi-crystalline properties of pure PEO when w
is lower than 33 wt%, and the crystallization of the mixture is only induced by PEO. Nevertheless, LiTFSI reduces the degree of crystallinity of PEO due to its solvation by a part of PEO crystallites. Besides, as the solubility limit of LiTFSI in PEO is achieved, salt crystallites appear within the resulting electrolyte. These crystallites in the high w
domain were identified as LiTFSI crystallites complexed with PEO. However, rising temperature promotes their dissolution. The functional groups implicated in the crystallization of PEO-LiTFSI have been highlighted using the IR technique. Besides, the experimental result shows that the glass transition temperature (T
) and the melting point (T
) of the binary mixture exhibit a non-linear trend with w
and M
. A simple mathematical treatment is proposed to predict glass transition temperature as a function of w
and M
. Our model considers the additive effect of lithium salt on the T
variation.
Highlights
Solvation of LiTFSI by PEO chains
Physical state of solid polymer electrolyte
Influence of salt weight fraction of glass transition temperature
Method for determining the degree of crystallinity
The following article is
Open access
Challenges to the Adoption of Deep Eutectic Solvents in the Electrodeposition Industries
T. A. Green and S. Roy 2025
ECS Adv.
023001
View article
, Challenges to the Adoption of Deep Eutectic Solvents in the Electrodeposition Industries
PDF
, Challenges to the Adoption of Deep Eutectic Solvents in the Electrodeposition Industries
In the past 20 years there has been a considerable interest in the application of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for metal finishing applications and a large number of academic studies have been performed related to electrodeposition, electroless deposition and electropolishing. These DES materials possess a number of unique characteristics and it was predicted that they would replace hazardous and toxic materials associated with many aqueous-based processes and make them inherently greener and more sustainable. They would also facilitate the deposition of metals and alloys that are difficult or impossible to deposit from aqueous solutions. However, until now there have only been limited demonstrations of scaled-up processes, and their commercialisation and deployment in the metal finishing industries has not eventuated. In this paper we reflect on some of the reasons why and identify some key limitations of DES-based surface finishing processes. Unless these barriers can be overcome, it will be difficult for DESs to be adopted in these industries.
The following article is
Open access
FEA and Analytic Validation of Incremental Cell Constant for Four-Electrode Electrical Conductivity Measurement Suitable for Liquid Electrolyte
Catherine M. Bishop
et al
2026
ECS Adv.
010503
View article
, FEA and Analytic Validation of Incremental Cell Constant for Four-Electrode Electrical Conductivity Measurement Suitable for Liquid Electrolyte
PDF
, FEA and Analytic Validation of Incremental Cell Constant for Four-Electrode Electrical Conductivity Measurement Suitable for Liquid Electrolyte
Determining the cell factor, which is required for measuring the electrical conductivity of a solution, is challenging, especially at elevated temperatures or under chemically aggressive conditions. Here we validate a practical, calibration-free method for measuring the electrical conductivity of aggressive solutions using a four-electrode probe and incremental immersion technique. The incremental cell factor (geometric factor) is determined from the change of conductance with respect to electrode immersion depth. An analytical expression for the geometric factor was developed and its range of validity determined through experiments with KCl(
aq
) solutions and finite element analysis (FEA) using COMSOL. The experimental geometric factor was independent of solution conductivity across three orders of magnitude (varying by ±2 %), and the mean experimental value differed only 0.04 % from the FEA predictions. A parametric study of system dimensions was used to compare the analytic and simulated geometric factors. Further, we identify conditions where our analytic predictions give geometric factors within 2 % of the FEA. The technique is robust against solution wetting effects and total immersion uncertainties, making it suitable for high-temperature or corrosive environments, and does not require calibration with reference solutions.
figure placeholder
Highlights
Solution conductivity can be measured with four-electrode, incremental immersion technique
Incremental cell factor using KCl(
aq
) solutions across 3 orders of magnitude varies ±2 %
Finite element predictions agree with experiments, differing by 0.04 %
Analytic incremental cell factor is derived using bi-polar coordinates and two electrodes
Optimum cell geometry is predicted with finite element analysis
The following article is
Open access
Review on Advancements in Catalyst Development for Hydrogen Generation and Fuel Cells: Strategies, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Rabinarayan Swain and Seethiraju D. Ramarao 2026
ECS Adv.
014501
View article
, Review on Advancements in Catalyst Development for Hydrogen Generation and Fuel Cells: Strategies, Challenges, and Future Prospects
PDF
, Review on Advancements in Catalyst Development for Hydrogen Generation and Fuel Cells: Strategies, Challenges, and Future Prospects
In 2024, global energy consumption reached 592 exajoules (EJ), with a 2% increase from previous year. Along with energy demand, fossil fuels remained dominant at 86.6%, which is concerning due to their energy-related emissions of over 40 Gt CO
. These trends, along with rising demand and geopolitical concerns, essential for development of sustainable alternatives. In contrast, Hydrogen shows promising option due to its high energy density (∼120 MJ kg
−1
) and its use in fuel cell vehicles, emit water vapor as byproduct. We reviewed current developments in electrocatalysis for water splitting and fuel cells, and examined their prospects to support development of large-scale “green hydrogen”. We gathered performance of over 100 catalysts, including precious-metals, transition-metal chalcogenides, nitrides, carbides, phosphides, intermetallics, 2D materials such as MXenes, and heteroatom-doped carbons. We examined key electrocatalytic metrics, including overpotential, Tafel slope, exchange current density, hydrogen adsorption free energy,
-band center, density of states, work function, Faradaic efficiency, and stability. Survey indicates that precious-metal catalysts continue to excel in terms of overpotentials and durability. However, non-precious alternatives are approaching state-of-the-art catalysts through compositional tuning and nanostructuring. Our review provides rich-data and mechanistic foundation for next-generation catalysts, also identifying research gaps for hydrogen-powered energy technologies.
figure placeholder
The following article is
Open access
Challenges to the Adoption of Deep Eutectic Solvents in the Electrodeposition Industries
T. A. Green and S. Roy 2025
ECS Adv.
023001
View article
, Challenges to the Adoption of Deep Eutectic Solvents in the Electrodeposition Industries
PDF
, Challenges to the Adoption of Deep Eutectic Solvents in the Electrodeposition Industries
In the past 20 years there has been a considerable interest in the application of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for metal finishing applications and a large number of academic studies have been performed related to electrodeposition, electroless deposition and electropolishing. These DES materials possess a number of unique characteristics and it was predicted that they would replace hazardous and toxic materials associated with many aqueous-based processes and make them inherently greener and more sustainable. They would also facilitate the deposition of metals and alloys that are difficult or impossible to deposit from aqueous solutions. However, until now there have only been limited demonstrations of scaled-up processes, and their commercialisation and deployment in the metal finishing industries has not eventuated. In this paper we reflect on some of the reasons why and identify some key limitations of DES-based surface finishing processes. Unless these barriers can be overcome, it will be difficult for DESs to be adopted in these industries.
The following article is
Open access
Electrospinning of Heterogeneous Nanofibers: A Review
Dinkar Regmi
et al
2024
ECS Adv.
041001
View article
, Electrospinning of Heterogeneous Nanofibers: A Review
PDF
, Electrospinning of Heterogeneous Nanofibers: A Review
Electrospinning is a straightforward approach for efficiently creating continuous fibers within the submicron to nanometer size range. Electrospun fibers possess excellent properties like high porosity, large specific surface area, tunable morphology, small diameter, etc., making them desirable in various applications. Because of its various properties, polymer is one of the most used materials as the spinning solution in electrospinning. Electrospun polymeric fibers, by themselves, may serve limited applications. Therefore, they are usually mixed with other materials to serve many applications. There are many ways in which these other materials are mixed with polymers in electrospinning, like doping, surface treatment, functionalization, etc. There are several studies published that report on the various composite fibers produced using electrospinning. However, a review focused solely on the production of heterogeneous fibers, where the electrospun fibers are intrinsically made of more than one material, is lacking. Herein, we review different heterogeneous fibers synthesized using electrospinning and their fabrication methods.
The following article is
Open access
Python for Electrochemistry: A Free and All-In-One Toolset
Weiran Zheng 2023
ECS Adv.
040502
View article
, Python for Electrochemistry: A Free and All-In-One Toolset
PDF
, Python for Electrochemistry: A Free and All-In-One Toolset
Python, an open-source, interpreted programming language, has emerged as a transformative force within the scientific community, captivating researchers with its rich ecosystem of packages and syntax that prioritizes readability and simplicity. In the rapidly evolving field of electrochemistry, where the analysis of complex data sets, custom analysis routines, and theoretical simulations are indispensable, Python’s capabilities have garnered significant attention. This review serves as a general introduction to the utilization of Python in electrochemistry, focusing on beginners who are new to programming concepts.
The following article is
Open access
A Comparative Study and Analysis of Various Interconnects for Very Large-Scale Integration
M. Susaritha 2023
ECS Adv.
031003
View article
, A Comparative Study and Analysis of Various Interconnects for Very Large-Scale Integration
PDF
, A Comparative Study and Analysis of Various Interconnects for Very Large-Scale Integration
Various interconnects utilised in very large-scale integration in this work. The expanding use of portable devices has increased the demand for low-power circuit design. Sub-threshold circuits are the greatest option to address the demand for even more-low power. However, decreased performance and increased variability are the main problems with sub-threshold circuits. Furthermore, global interconnects have a significant impact on the performance and power dissipation of sub-threshold circuits. For future VLSI circuit applications, interconnect is a brand-new and very promising alternative that has to have its propagation latency and stability analysed in order to substantiate its claim that it can replace existing interconnect designs.
The following article is
Open access
Experimental Benchmarking for High-Reproducibility, Cross-Institutional Evaluation of Iron Redox Electrochemistry
Ketter et al
View accepted manuscript
, Experimental Benchmarking for High-Reproducibility, Cross-Institutional Evaluation of Iron Redox Electrochemistry
PDF
, Experimental Benchmarking for High-Reproducibility, Cross-Institutional Evaluation of Iron Redox Electrochemistry
We present a practical case study standardizing experimental protocols between collaborators with the goal of understanding ferrous iron (Fe2+) chemistry and improving the iron deposition reaction for energy-efficient, electrochemical iron production. The study of iron reactions can be difficult, as aqueous iron electrolytes exhibit complex behaviors that can lead to differing interpretation of ostensibly similar experiments. The question we want to answer: are we studying the same chemistry? Our protocols address inherent challenges such as the tendency for Fe2+ to spontaneously oxidize to ferric iron (Fe3+) and the production of hydrogen at the potentials of interest. Our standardized protocol, executed by four collaborators in different labs and institutions, yields high-reproducibility results, and identified glassy carbon electrode surface quality and Fe3+ impurities in the salt as key factors with outsized effects on cyclic voltammetry measurements. The process of developing the protocols helped to troubleshoot underlying issues that created poorer reversibility and reproducibility. This study highlights the fact that even nominally straightforward electrochemical systems can yield vastly different outcomes due to small differences in experimental preparation and serves as a useful example for creating transparent and achievable standards for the generation of reliable datasets that can be widely used and shared.
The following article is
Open access
Electrodeposited Silver Alloys: Screening of Alloying Elements and Related Properties and Applications
ORECCHIONI et al
View accepted manuscript
, Electrodeposited Silver Alloys: Screening of Alloying Elements and Related Properties and Applications
PDF
, Electrodeposited Silver Alloys: Screening of Alloying Elements and Related Properties and Applications
Electrodeposited silver alloys are gaining prominence as high-performance alternatives to pure silver coatings, driven by the demand for durable connectors and cost-effective catalysts, as well as by environmental and regulatory pressures to replace cyanide-based processes. This review examines recent advancements in the electrodeposition of silver alloys, focusing on the role of alloying elements in tailoring structural, mechanical, and functional properties. Alloy systems such as Ag-Cu, Ag-Ni, Ag-Pd, and Ag-W exhibit unique phase formations - ranging from solid solutions to intermetallic compounds - , significantly enhancing electroactive surface area and wear resistance. The use of alternative complexing agents (e.g., citrates, hydantoin derivatives, etc.) is highlighted as a sustainable approach to replace cyanide. In catalysis, silver alloys demonstrate improved selectivity and activity for reactions including CO₂ reduction and ethanol oxidation, while in connector applications, alloys such as Ag-W offer superior hardness and electrical contact resistance. For tungsten, induced codeposition mechanisms are discussed, emphasizing the influence of bath composition and pH. This overview underscores the potential of electrodeposited silver alloys to meet industrial challenges, balancing performance, cost, and environmental compliance.
The following article is
Open access
Gold Screen-Printed Electrodes Fabricated from Compact Disc Recordables
Inkaew et al
View accepted manuscript
, Gold Screen-Printed Electrodes Fabricated from Compact Disc Recordables
PDF
, Gold Screen-Printed Electrodes Fabricated from Compact Disc Recordables
This study presents a cost-effective method for fabricating gold screen-printed electrodes using gold compact disc recordables. A standard three-electrode configuration was produced by precision laser cutting and engraving, consisting of a central working electrode flanked by reference and counter electrodes. The electrochemical performance, evaluated using the ferricyanide redox probe, was comparable to that of commercial gold disk electrodes. Furthermore, successful detection of copper ions (2–14 ppm) and dopamine (5–100 µM) by square-wave voltammetry demonstrates the suitability of the fabricated electrodes for diverse sensing applications in environmental and clinical monitoring.
The following article is
Open access
Editors’ Choice—How the Infinitesimally Small K
-Crossover Enables Sufficient Ionic Coupling in Ionomer-Free Thin-Form Factor Nanoelectrodes for Catholyte-Free Water Electrolysis
Rishikesan et al
View accepted manuscript
, Editors’ Choice—How the Infinitesimally Small K+-Crossover Enables Sufficient Ionic Coupling in Ionomer-Free Thin-Form Factor Nanoelectrodes for Catholyte-Free Water Electrolysis
PDF
, Editors’ Choice—How the Infinitesimally Small K+-Crossover Enables Sufficient Ionic Coupling in Ionomer-Free Thin-Form Factor Nanoelectrodes for Catholyte-Free Water Electrolysis
Conventional anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzers are largely dependent on ionomeric binders. While ionomers provide ionic coupling and maintain the structural integrity of electrodes, they are also known to block catalytic active sites and chemically degrade with time. In this work, we present a way to operate our Ni nanomesh integrated AEM water electrolyzer with no added ionomers and without an electrolyte supply to the cathode, i.e., catholyte-free. A nanomesh is an integrated electrode comprising of billions of nanowires, horizontally and vertically crosslinked, mechanically stabilized on an open support structure. Moreover, the catholyte-free operation relies on the thin form factor of the nanomesh electrodes (4 µm) and the cross-over of potassium ions to the nanomesh cathode and supplied from the anolyte through the membrane. The thinness of the nanomesh electrodes combined with the intrinsic property of a membrane to allow tiny amounts of water to pass through it enabled the catholyte-free operation. Moreover, for the first time, the unintended cross-over of potassium ions (K
) across an AEM is taken advantage of, to build an operando KOH environment on demand, facilitating ionic coupling in the absence on ionomers hence providing valuable insights for the optimization of AEM water electrolyzer systems.
The following article is
Open access
Impact of Current Collector Design and Cooling Topology on Fast Charging of Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Batteries
Alexander Frank
et al
2022
ECS Adv.
040502
View article
, Impact of Current Collector Design and Cooling Topology on Fast Charging of Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Batteries
PDF
, Impact of Current Collector Design and Cooling Topology on Fast Charging of Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Batteries
The 18 650 and 21 700 cell format are state of the art for high-energy cylindrical lithium-ion batteries, while Tesla proposed the new 4680 format with a continuous ”tabless” design as the choice for electric vehicle applications. Using an experimentally validated multidimensional multiphysics model describing a high energy NMC811/Si-C cylindrical lithium-ion battery, the effects of tabless design and cooling topologies are evaluated for 18 650, 21 700, and 4680 cell formats under varying charging protocols. Mantle cooling is found to be the most efficient cooling topology for a segmented tab design, whereas tab cooling performs equally well for tabless cells and achieves better performance for the 4680 format. By massively reducing polarization drops (approx. 250 mV at 3C) and heat generation inside the current collectors (up to 99%), the tabless design increases cell homogeneity and enables format-independent scalability of fast-charging performance with a tab-cooling topology. In addition, the 0 to 0.8 SoC charge time can be reduced by 4 to 10 min compared to cells with a segmented tab design, resulting in 16.2 min for the 18 650 and 21 700, and 16.5 min for the larger 4680 cell format.
The following article is
Open access
Investigating the Physical State of Polymer Electrolyte: Influence of Temperature and LiTFSI Concentration on the Phase of the Different States of the Polymer Electrolyte PEO-LiTFSI
Sanatou Toe
et al
2023
ECS Adv.
040509
View article
, Investigating the Physical State of Polymer Electrolyte: Influence of Temperature and LiTFSI Concentration on the Phase of the Different States of the Polymer Electrolyte PEO-LiTFSI
PDF
, Investigating the Physical State of Polymer Electrolyte: Influence of Temperature and LiTFSI Concentration on the Phase of the Different States of the Polymer Electrolyte PEO-LiTFSI
A critical analysis of the physical state {solid or liquid state} of the PEO-LiTFSI system was investigated in this study. The findings show one crystallite type in PEO and four in LiTFSI. The physical state of the binary mixture PEO-LiTFSI is predominate by the semi-crystalline properties of pure PEO when w
is lower than 33 wt%, and the crystallization of the mixture is only induced by PEO. Nevertheless, LiTFSI reduces the degree of crystallinity of PEO due to its solvation by a part of PEO crystallites. Besides, as the solubility limit of LiTFSI in PEO is achieved, salt crystallites appear within the resulting electrolyte. These crystallites in the high w
domain were identified as LiTFSI crystallites complexed with PEO. However, rising temperature promotes their dissolution. The functional groups implicated in the crystallization of PEO-LiTFSI have been highlighted using the IR technique. Besides, the experimental result shows that the glass transition temperature (T
) and the melting point (T
) of the binary mixture exhibit a non-linear trend with w
and M
. A simple mathematical treatment is proposed to predict glass transition temperature as a function of w
and M
. Our model considers the additive effect of lithium salt on the T
variation.
Highlights
Solvation of LiTFSI by PEO chains
Physical state of solid polymer electrolyte
Influence of salt weight fraction of glass transition temperature
Method for determining the degree of crystallinity
The following article is
Open access
Editors’ Choice—Can Hydrocarbon-Based MEAs Close the Performance Gap to State-of-the-Art Perfluorosulfonic Acid-Based MEAs for PEM Fuel Cells?
Konstantin A. Weber
et al
2025
ECS Adv.
034501
View article
, Editors’ Choice—Can Hydrocarbon-Based MEAs Close the Performance Gap to State-of-the-Art Perfluorosulfonic Acid-Based MEAs for PEM Fuel Cells?
PDF
, Editors’ Choice—Can Hydrocarbon-Based MEAs Close the Performance Gap to State-of-the-Art Perfluorosulfonic Acid-Based MEAs for PEM Fuel Cells?
Numerous hydrocarbon (HC)-based ionomers have been investigated as fluorine-free alternatives to the well-established perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)-based ionomers for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. While PFSA-based MEAs can be prepared by hot-pressing, this is generally not possible for HC-based MEAs, due to their different physico-chemical properties. However, in this work, we introduce a wet hot-pressing method that yields high-performance HC-based MEAs, demonstrated by a systematic comparison of various MEA configurations with electrodes and/or the membrane based on either PFSA or HC ionomers. These MEAs exhibit oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities that are essentially identical for cathodes prepared with either HC or PFSA ionomers, contrary to the frequently observed inferior ORR activity for the former, ascribed to catalyst poisoning. Furthermore, the differential-flow H
/air performance at 80 °C, 170 kPa
abs
, and 2.5 A cm
−2
of optimized all-HC-based MEAs coincides within ∼15 mV with that of all-PFSA-based MEAs, both at 70 and 90% relative humidity (
RH
). At these conditions, the current density of the all-HC-based MEAs at 0.6 V is ∼2.4 A cm
−2
(90%
RH
) and ∼2.1 A cm
−2
(70%
RH
), at anode/cathode loadings of ∼0.1/0.4 mg
Pt
cm
−2
figure placeholder
The following article is
Open access
Hydrothermally Synthesized ZnSnO
Nanoflakes Based Low-Cost Sensing Device for High Performance CO
Monitoring
Ajeet Singh
et al
2023
ECS Adv.
016501
View article
, Hydrothermally Synthesized ZnSnO3 Nanoflakes Based Low-Cost Sensing Device for High Performance CO2 Monitoring
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, Hydrothermally Synthesized ZnSnO3 Nanoflakes Based Low-Cost Sensing Device for High Performance CO2 Monitoring
This work reports a room temperature operative ZnSnO
nanoflakes-based CO
gas sensor. The perovskite ZnSnO
nanoflakes are synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal technique. The prepared material was characterized via XRD, SEM, UV-visible spectroscopy, and DLS measurement for confirming the crystal structure, surface morphology, optical properties, and size distribution. The X-ray diffraction pattern revealed that ZnSnO
was in the orthorhombic phase and average crystallite size examined by the Scherrer formula was 8.05 nm. Optical studies were done by the UV–vis spectroscopy and a direct optical band gap was found to be 3.27 eV. The surface morphology of ZnSnO
was found to nanoflakes are almost uniform dimensions. The fabricated sensor device of ZnSnO
detected the CO
gas at room temperature (RT) for different concentrations. The best sensor response was found to be 4.93 for 1000 ppm of CO
whereas at 200 ppm the response and recovery times were found to be 5.92 s and 7.23 s respectively. HOMO-LUMO gap energy of ZnSnO
without and with interaction from CO
molecule was found 1.165 eV and 1.577 eV, respectively. DFT studies are used for a better understanding of sensing mechanisms.
The following article is
Open access
A Novel Pentachlorophenol Electrochemical Sensor Based on Nickel-Cobalt Layered Double Hydroxide Doped with Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite
Hicham Meskher
et al
2023
ECS Adv.
016503
View article
, A Novel Pentachlorophenol Electrochemical Sensor Based on Nickel-Cobalt Layered Double Hydroxide Doped with Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite
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, A Novel Pentachlorophenol Electrochemical Sensor Based on Nickel-Cobalt Layered Double Hydroxide Doped with Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite
A highly sensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical pentachlorophenol (5-CP) sensor was successfully fabricated employing a multi-component sensing platform made of nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) supported on green organic-inorganic nanohybrid (rGO-CuO) drop-casted on a gold electrode (AuE). The chemical and morphological properties of the as-synthesized nanostructures were investigated and confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (ATR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical measurements demonstrated that both the good conductivity of and the large active surface area of the hierarchical structure of NiCo-LDH/rGO-CuO favor the electrochemical redox reaction of 5-CP. In the optimized procedure, we have evaluated the analytical performance of the NiCo-LDH/rGO-CuO/AuE using cyclic voltammetry based on the current intensities of the redox peaks. Our findings indicate that the developed NiCo-LDH/rGO-CuO/AuE sensor exhibits a wide linear range from 1 to 50
M while the limit of detection was estimated to be 12.64 nM for 5-CP. Moreover, the suggested 5-CP sensor displayed an excellent stability that might provide a robust sensing platform for the practical and reliable detection of 5-CP in various real samples.
The following article is
Open access
The Effect of Reducing Agent for Synthesizing Palladium Nanoparticle on Carbon Nanotube Support and Its Superior Catalytic Activity towards Methanol Oxidation Reaction
Sabina Yasmin
et al
2023
ECS Adv.
024504
View article
, The Effect of Reducing Agent for Synthesizing Palladium Nanoparticle on Carbon Nanotube Support and Its Superior Catalytic Activity towards Methanol Oxidation Reaction
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, The Effect of Reducing Agent for Synthesizing Palladium Nanoparticle on Carbon Nanotube Support and Its Superior Catalytic Activity towards Methanol Oxidation Reaction
In this report, we have synthesized carbon nanotube supported palladium nanoparticles (CNT-Pd) by using different reducing agents such as sodium borohydride (SBH), hydrazine monohydrate (HY) and ascorbic acid (AA) for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in alkaline media. The elemental and morphological properties of all catalysts are verified by HRTEM, XPS, and XRD. From the HRTEM images, it is found that CNT-Pd reduced by sodium borohydride CNT-Pd (SBH) exhibited a narrow size distribution of Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) with an average size of 3.15 nm. The role of the reducing agents (SBH, HY, and AA) is investigated by applying them as anode catalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and it is found that the reducing agent remarkably affected the electrochemical activities. CNT-Pd (SBH) catalysts show the superior catalytic activity and durability towards MOR among all catalysts, which may be due to the Pd NPs in CNT-Pd (SBH) having a perfect crystal structure with a narrow size distribution.
Highlights
Synthesis of Pd NPs on CNT surface by using different reducing agents.
CNT-Pd reduced by sodium borohydride CNT-Pd (SBH) shows more small size PdNPs.
CNT-Pd (SBH) exhibits higher catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation reaction
CNT-Pd (SBH) shows the highest durability among all catalysts.
The following article is
Open access
Enhancing Dye Degradation Property of MoO
Nanoplates by Vanadium Doping
Vishva Jain
et al
2023
ECS Adv.
042003
View article
, Enhancing Dye Degradation Property of MoO3 Nanoplates by Vanadium Doping
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, Enhancing Dye Degradation Property of MoO3 Nanoplates by Vanadium Doping
Nanomaterial based water degradation is becoming as a promising option in comparison to conventional water degradation methods. MoO
nanoparticles have been used as a nano adsorbent for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solution. Here, effect of vanadium (V) element doping in MoO
on adsorption activity against MB was studied. 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% of V element doped MoO
nanoparticles were synthesized using surfactant free chemical method. All the synthesized nanoparticles were well characterized through different analysis tools to study their structural, morphological, and optical properties. Stability of particles in water with respect to time was also studied by zeta potential. Adsorption activity of all the samples were carried out and 8% doped MoO
nanoparticle was found to be most efficient. Moreover, the regeneration and reusability test of 8% doped MoO
nanoparticle was also successfully carried out.
The following article is
Open access
Electrochemical Energy Storage Properties of Sm
FeCuO
Double Perovskite Synthesized via Sol-Gel Route
Manju Devi
et al
2023
ECS Adv.
034001
View article
, Electrochemical Energy Storage Properties of Sm2FeCuO6 Double Perovskite Synthesized via Sol-Gel Route
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, Electrochemical Energy Storage Properties of Sm2FeCuO6 Double Perovskite Synthesized via Sol-Gel Route
The rare Earth-based double perovskites have been widely studied due to their exceptional physical properties and wide range of technological applications. Despite the extensive investigation of copper-based rare Earth double perovskites and a limited study of samarium-based double perovskites, no reports on the synthesis and characterization of Sm
FeCuO
have been found in the literature. This work presents the experimental investigation on the synthesis of Sm
FeCuO
via a wet chemical sol-gel route and the characterization of its structural and electrochemical properties using various techniques. The results showed that Sm
FeCuO
have good electrochemical properties, making it a promising candidate for use in electrochemical energy storage applications.
The following article is
Open access
Evaluation of Fire Spread and Suppression Techniques in Micro-Mobility Battery Packs
Daniel A. Torelli
et al
2024
ECS Adv.
010501
View article
, Evaluation of Fire Spread and Suppression Techniques in Micro-Mobility Battery Packs
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, Evaluation of Fire Spread and Suppression Techniques in Micro-Mobility Battery Packs
Lithium-ion battery packs used in micro-mobility devices, such as e-bikes and e-scooters can lead to substantial safety hazards should a single cell go into thermal runaway. In this paper we explore the extent and severity of e-mobility battery fires resulting from a single cell thermal runaway failure and evaluate various suppression techniques a user may attempt to implement if they experience a battery fire at home. We tested a household water hose as well as different fire blankets deployed both before the forced thermal runaway event and after initiation. The water hose was unable to supply a sufficient amount of water to extinguish the thermal event, however, the average pack temperature was decreased and the cell-to-cell propagation rate was slowed. Neither fire blanket tested was able to contain the flames or debris ejected from the battery packs and both acted to hold in the heat from the event, increasing the temperature, rather than allowing it to dissipate. In addition, we also demonstrated how various design approaches, such as added thermal insulation between cells, can help prevent cell-to-cell propagation and reduce the severity of a battery pack failure.
The following article is
Open access
Electrospinning of Heterogeneous Nanofibers: A Review
Dinkar Regmi
et al
2024
ECS Adv.
041001
View article
, Electrospinning of Heterogeneous Nanofibers: A Review
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, Electrospinning of Heterogeneous Nanofibers: A Review
Electrospinning is a straightforward approach for efficiently creating continuous fibers within the submicron to nanometer size range. Electrospun fibers possess excellent properties like high porosity, large specific surface area, tunable morphology, small diameter, etc., making them desirable in various applications. Because of its various properties, polymer is one of the most used materials as the spinning solution in electrospinning. Electrospun polymeric fibers, by themselves, may serve limited applications. Therefore, they are usually mixed with other materials to serve many applications. There are many ways in which these other materials are mixed with polymers in electrospinning, like doping, surface treatment, functionalization, etc. There are several studies published that report on the various composite fibers produced using electrospinning. However, a review focused solely on the production of heterogeneous fibers, where the electrospun fibers are intrinsically made of more than one material, is lacking. Herein, we review different heterogeneous fibers synthesized using electrospinning and their fabrication methods.
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Journal information
2022-present
ECS Advances
doi: 10.1149/issn.2754-2734
Online ISSN: 2754-2734