0000000000823816
AUTHOR
Ramón Manuel Fernández Domene
Comparison of the effect of non-polluted and underwater-volcano-polluted seawater on the corrosion resistance of different stainless steels
This work compares the effect of non‐polluted and underwater‐volcano‐polluted seawater on the electrochemical behavior of two different alloys, notably an austenitic stainless steel (SS) and a duplex stainless steel. Polarization measurements, potentiostatic passivation tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and capacitance measurements were performed. Results show that the composition of the polluted seawater negatively affects the passivation kinetics of both AISI 316 SS and Alloy 900, decreasing the corrosion resistance of both alloys. Additionally, when both steels are compared, it can be concluded that passive films formed on Alloy 900 presented better protective properties than…
A pH Study for the Degradation of Acetaminophen with Iron Oxide Nanostructures
[EN] Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in the degradation of organic compounds in wastewater, since they are detrimental for the water quality. Different metal oxides have been studied as photocatalysts in the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical products using UV light. Iron oxide nanostructures are a promising option in this field since their band gap (~ 2.1 eV, corresponding to ~590 nm) can absorb visible light, which in turn allows the degradation by using sunlight. Iron oxide nanostructures are known to be stable in alkaline solutions, but some organic compounds can vary their structure with pH. Then, a pH study is needed in order to stablish the optimum value to…
Galvanic Corrosion Following Local Breakdown of a Scale Formed on X-65 in CO2 Saturated Solutions
Under some conditions in sweet environments, the precipitation of corrosion products (primarily FeCO3) on the surface of X-65 pipeline steel can decrease the corrosion rate of the metal, this precipitated film acting like a protective scale. However, when these scales are damaged due to effects such as solidparticle erosion or mechanical stress, a galvanic pair can form between the bare steel (anode) and the surrounding undamaged scale (cathode). The aim of this work is to evaluate the magnitude of galvanic coupling that arises when the protective scale is broken and a corrosion cell is established between the defect and the surrounding scale. This study has been conducted in two stages: fi…
Improvement in photocatalytic activity of stable WO3 nanoplatelet globular clusters arranged in a tree-like fashion: Influence of rotation velocity during anodization
This study investigates the influence of controlled hydrodynamic conditions during anodization of tungsten (W) on the morphological, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of a novel WO3 nanostructure: globular clusters of nanoplatelets associated in a tree-like fashion. For this purpose different techniques such as Field-Emission Scanning Electronic Microscopy (FE-SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, Mott-Schottky (M-S) analysis and photoelectrochemical water splitting tests have been carried out. Photoanodes obtained at 375 rpm showed the best photoresponse, much higher than that of conventional WO3 nanoplatelets, which can be ascribed to a noteworthy in…
Passive and transpassive behaviour of Alloy 31 in a heavy brine LiBr solution
The passive and transpassive behaviour of Alloy 31, a highly alloyed austenitic stainless steel (UNS N08031), has been investigated in a LiBr heavy brine solution (400 g/l) at 25 °C using potentiostatic polarisation combined with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Mott–Schottky analysis. The passive film formed on Alloy 31 has been found to be p-type and/or n-type in electronic character, depending on the film formation potential. The thickness of the film formed at potentials within the passive region increases linearly with applied potential. The film formed at transpassive potentials is thinner and more conductive than the film formed within the passive region. These observations…
Influence of the Heating Rate on the Annealing Treatment of Iron Oxide Nanostructures Obtained by Electrochemical Anodization under Hydrodynamic Conditions
[EN] Iron oxide nanostructures are promising materials for photoelectrochemical applications such as water splitting. In this work, electrochemical anodization of iron is used to form different iron oxide nanostructures, and the influence of different anodization parameters was studied in order to find the most suitable nanostructure for photocatalysis applications. On the one hand, hydrodynamic conditions were evaluated by stirring the electrode at different rotation speeds during the electrochemical anodization to check their influence on the formation of the nanostructures. On the other hand, different heating rates during the annealing treatment were studied for obtaining efficient iron…
Thermogalvanic effects on the corrosion of copper in heavy brine LiBr solutions
Thermogalvanic corrosion of copper in heavy brine LiBr solutions has been investigated using a zero-resistance ammeter (ZRA). The temperature gradients between copper electrodes immersed in the same LiBr solution result in the formation of thermogalvanic cells with hot anodes, leading to high and sustained thermogalvanic currents. Copper loss rates, calculated using Faraday's law, substantially exceed 0.025mmyear -1, a value regarded as the threshold of low corrosion rates. The effects of thermogalvanic coupling on the surface properties of the anode and the cathode have been analysed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results obtained in this analysis have been r…
Effect of Temperature on Thermogalvanic Coupling of Alloy 31 in Libr Solutions Studied by Means of Imposed Potential Measurements
[EN] Corrosion resistance of Alloy 31, a highly alloyed stainless steel (UNS N08031) were studied in heavy brine LiBr solutions (400, 700 and 992 g/l) at different temperatures using electrochemical techniques. The mixed potential theory was used to evaluate thermogalvanic corrosion of Alloy 31 in the studied LiBr solutions. Potentiodynamic curves indicate that high temperatures favoured both cathodic and anodic processes, increasing passive current densities and decreasing the pitting potential. Generally, the cold electrode of the pair was the anode of the thermogalvanic cell.
Should TiO2 nanostructures doped with Li+ be used as photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting applications?
[EN] Different TiO2 nanostructures, nanotubes and nanosponges, were obtained by anodization of Ti under stagnant and hydrodynamic conditions. Samples were doped with Li+ before and after annealing at 450 degrees C during 1 h. The nanostructures were characterized by different microscopy techniques: Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Raman Confocal Laser Microscopy. Additionally, Incident Photon-to-electron Conversion Efficiency (IPCE), photoelectrochemical water splitting and stability measurements were also performed. According to the results, TiO2 nanostructures doped before annealing present the worst photocurrent response, even if compared with undoped samples. On …
Effect of temperature on the passive state of Alloy 31 in a LiBr solution: Passivation and Mott-Schottky analysis
The passive behaviour of Alloy 31, a highly-alloyed austenitic stainless steel (UNS N08031), has been investigated in a LiBr heavy brine (700 g/l) at different temperatures using potentiostatic polarisation and Mott-Schottky analysis. Cation vacancies have been found to be the dominant defect in the passive films formed on Alloy 31. An increase in temperature enhanced the generation of cation vacancies at the film/solution interface and raised the steady-state passive current density. The density of defects within the passive film also increased significantly with temperature, making the film more conductive and less protective against localised attacks.
Iron oxide nanostructures for photoelectrochemical applications: Effect of applied potential during Fe anodization
[EN] In photoelectrochemistry, a suitable photoanode leading to high efficiencies in photocatalytic processes is a research challenge. Iron oxide nanostructures are promising materials to be used as photoanodes. In this work, different potentials during iron anodization were applied to study the properties of the synthesized nanostructures. Results revealed that nanostructures anodized at 50V presented well-defined nanotubular structures with open-tube tops, and they achieved values of photocurrent density of 0.11 mA cm(-2) at 0 rpm and 0.14 mA cm(-2) at 1000 rpm (measured at 0.50 V-Ag/Agcl), corresponding to the oxygen evolution reaction from water, i.e. 2H(2)O+4h(+)-> 4H(+)+O-2, demonstra…
Passive Behavior and Passivity Breakdown of AISI 304 in LiBr Solutions through Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy
The passive behavior and passivity breakdown of AISI 304 stainless steel in LiBr solutions has been investigated by means of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The sample generation - tip collection (SG-TC) mode was used to operate the SECM and the tip potential was biased to detect the electroactive species. The evolution of the current at the ultramicroelectrode tip with the applied potential within the passive range was followed at different LiBr concentrations. Results show that the absolute value of the current at the tip increases with the applied potential. Additionally, SECM was also used to detect stable pits formed on the stainless steel surface in a 0.2 M LiBr solution. …
Formation of Hematite Nanotubes by Two-Step Electrochemical Anodization for Efficient Degradation of Organic Pollutants
[EN] Nowadays, hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) has emerged as a promising photocatalyst for efficient degradation of organic pollutants due to its properties such as suitable band-gap (similar to 2.1 eV), stability against photocorrosion, abundance and low cost. However, some drawbacks such as low carrier mobility and short hole diffusion length limit its efficiency. In order to overcome these issues, self-ordered nanotubes can be synthetized. Anodization is one of the simplest and most economic techniques to produce nanostructures with high control. In the present study, self-ordered hematite nanotubes were synthetized by two-step electrochemical anodization. In two-step anodization, a first-step w…