• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2007

This review article considered the electrochemical reduction of uranyl ions on a Pt surface. Specifically, we focussed on the improvement in its reduction current efficiency. First, this article briefly explained the fundamentals of the reduction of uranyl ($UO_2^{2+}$) ions on a Pt surface. Namely, they involved the electrochemical behaviour of uranium species, and electrochemical cell configurations for the reduction of $UO_2^{2+}$ ions. In addition, the effects of adsorbed hydrogen atoms were investigated on the reduction of $UO_2^{2+}$ ions. Finally, this article presented the methods for improving current efficiency of the reduction of $UO_2^{2+}$ ions on a Pt surface. Three different kinds of methods are introduced, which include electrochemical surface treatments of Pt electrode involving hydrogenation and anodisation, the use of catalyst poisons, and formation of thin mercury film on a Pt electrode. Moreover, this article provided some clues about how hydrogenation and catalyst poisons work on the reduction of $UO_2^{2+}$ ions.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.392-398
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• 2020

Producing solar grade silicon using an inexpensive method is a key factor in lowering silicon solar cell costs; the direct electrochemical reduction of SiO₂ in molten salt is one of the more promising candidates for manufacturing this silicon. In this study, SiO₂ granules were electrochemically reduced in molten CaCl₂ (850℃) using Ag-Si eutectic droplets that catalyze electrochemical reduction and purify the Si product. When Ag is used as the working electrode, the Ag-Si eutectic mixture is formed naturally during SiO₂ reduction. However, since the Ag-Si eutectic droplets are liquid at 850℃, they are easily lost during the reduction process. To minimize the loss of liquid Ag-Si eutectic droplets, a cylindrical graphite container working electrode was introduced and Ag was added separately to the working electrode along with the SiO₂ granules. The graphite container working electrode successfully prevented the loss of the Ag-Si eutectic droplets during reduction. As a result, the Ag-Si eutectic droplets acted as stable catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of SiO₂, thereby producing one-dimensional Si rods through a mechanism similar to that of vapor-liquid-solid growth.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.379-384
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• 2017

An electrochemical reduction of a mixture of NiO and rare earth oxides has been conducted to increase the reduction degree of rare earth oxides. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement was carried out to determine the electrochemical reduction behavior of the mixed oxide in molten LiCl medium. Constant voltage electrolysis was performed with various supplied charges to understand the mechanism of electrochemical reduction of the mixed oxide as a working electrode. After completion of the electrochemical reduction, crystal structure of the reaction intermediates was characterized by using an X-ray diffraction method. The results clearly demonstrate that the rare earth oxide was converted to RE-Ni intermetallics via co-reduction with NiO.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.154-161
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• 2011

L. lactis sk071115 has been shown to grow more actively and generate lower levels of lactate in glucose-defined medium with nitrate than in medium with Mn(IV). By adding Mn(IV) to a L. lactis culture, lactate production was relatively reduced in combination with Mn(II) production, but cell mass production levels did not increase. Both cell-free extract and intact L. lactis cells reacted electrochemically with Mn(IV) but did not react with Mn(II) upon cyclic voltammetry using neutral red (NR) as an electron mediator. A modified graphite felt cathode with NR (NR-cathode) was employed to induce electrochemical reducing equivalence for bacterial metabolism. Cell-free L. lactis extract catalyzed the reduction of Mn(IV) to Mn(II) under both control and electrochemical reduction conditions; however, the levels of Mn(II) generated under electrochemical reduction conditions were approximately 4 times those generated under control conditions. The levels of Mn(II) generated by the catalysis of L. lactis immobilized in the NR-cathode (L-NR-cathode) under electrochemical reduction conditions were more than 4 times that generated under control conditions. Mn(II) production levels were increased by approximately 2.5 and 4.5 times by the addition of citrate to the reactant under control and electrochemical reduction conditions, respectively. The cumulative Mn(II) produced from manganese ore by catalysis of the L-NR-cathode for 30 days reached levels of approximately 3,800 and 16,000 mg/l under control and electrochemical reduction conditions, respectively. In conclusion, the electrochemical reduction reaction generated by the NR-cathode activated the biochemical reduction of Mn(IV) to Mn(II) by L. lactis.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.138-144
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• 2013

Electrochemical reductions of $UO_2$ at various anode-to-cathode distances (1.3, 2.3, 3.2, 3.7 and 5.8 cm) were carried out to investigate the effect of the anode-to-cathode distance on the electrochemical reduction rate. The geometry of the electrolysis cell in this study, apart from the anode-to-cathode distance, was identical for all of the electrolysis runs. Porous $UO_2$ pellets were electrolyzed by controlling a constant cell voltage in molten $Li_2O-LiCl$ at $650^{\circ}C$. A steel basket containing the porous $UO_2$ pellets and a platinum plate were used as the cathode and anode, respectively. The metallic products were characterized by means of a thermogravimetric analyzer, an X-ray diffractometer and a scanning electron microscope. The electrolysis runs conducted during this study revealed that a short anode-to-cathode distance is advantageous to achieve a high current density and accelerate the electrochemical reduction process.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.781-786
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• 1996

Mass transport behavior of C60 films on electrodes with different thicknesses has been studied by an Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) during electrochemical reduction-oxidation processes in the presence of water. C60 films were found to be reduced in the presence of water and they remains quite stable. In thin films, the mass on electrode decreased after a complete cycle while X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) study does not support the existence or formation of C60-epoxides during electrochemical reduction processes in the presence of water or oxygen.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.655-661
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• 1995

The electrochemical reduction of coumarin derivatives in 0.1M TEAP acetonitrile solution was investigated by the direct current, differential pulse polarography, cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. The electrochemical reduction of 7-acetoxy-4-bromomethyl-coumarin(ABMC) was proceeded as an irreversible three steps(-0.58, -1.63 and -2.25 volts) of electrochemical transfer before chemical reaction. The solution color turned to yellow after the carboxyl group was reduced at 2nd step(-1.63 volts vs. Ag-AgCl) and the change in color was independant to the bromo group. Upon the basis of the results on the products analysis and the interpretaton of polarograms, a possible electrochemical reaction mechanism was suggested.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1867-1870
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• 2014

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.462-471
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• 2022

In this study, the electrochemical impedance characteristics of CO₂/H₂O co-reduction to produce CO/H₂ syngas were investigated in a low-temperature single cell. The effect of the operating conditions on the single-cell performance was evaluated at different feed concentrations and cell voltages, and the corresponding electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data were collected and analyzed. The Nyquist plots exhibited two semicircles with separated characteristic frequencies of approximately 1 kHz and tens of Hz. The high-frequency semicircles, which depend only on the catholyte concentration, could be correlated to the charge transfer processes in competitive CO₂ reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions at the cathodes. The EIS characteristics of the CO₂/H₂O co-reduction single cell could be explained by the equivalent circuit suggested in this study. In this circuit, the cathodic mass transfer and anodic charge transfer processes are collectively represented by a parallel combination of resistance and a constant phase element to show low-frequency semicircles. Through nonlinear fitting using the equivalent circuit, the parameters for each electrochemical element, such as polarization resistances for high- and low-frequency processes, could be quantified as functions of feed concentration and cell voltage.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

The reduction of nitrogen to produce ammonia has been attracting much attention as a renewable energy technology. Ammonia is the basis for many fertilizers and is also considered an energy carrier that can power internal combustion engines, diesel engines, gas turbines, and fuel cells. Traditionally, ammonia has been produced through the Haber-Bosch process, in which atmospheric nitrogen combines with hydrogen at high temperature ($350-550^{\circ}C$) and high pressure (150-300 bar). This process consumes 1-2% of current global energy production and relies on fossil fuels as an energy source. Reducing the energy input required for this process will reduce $CO_2$ emissions and the corresponding environmental impact. For this reason, developing electrochemical ammonia-production methods under ambient temperature and pressure conditions should significantly reduce the energy input required to produce ammonia. In this review, we introduce the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction at ambient condition. Numerical studies on the electrochemical nitrogen reduction mechanism have been carried out through the computation of density function theory. Electrodes such as nanowires and porous electrodes have been also actively studied for further participation in electrochemical reactions.