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Screening of catalytic effects on copper–zinc thin film combinatorial libraries for formaldehyde oxidation
Author(s) -
Pötzelberger Isabella,
Mardare Andrei Ionut,
Hassel Achim Walter
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201431598
Subject(s) - formaldehyde , scanning electron microscope , copper , thin film , cyclic voltammetry , zinc , crystallite , formic acid , aqueous solution , materials science , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , electrochemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , electrode , nanotechnology , composite material
A CuZn thin film combinatorial library was fabricated using a thermal co‐evaporator. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) microcstructure, composition and crystallographic properties were investigated. Pure brass alloys were evidenced due to solid solution mixing of Cu and Zn. The crystallite size and lattice parameters were calculated and compared with values of pure Cu and α‐brass. With the aid of scanning in a wide compositional spread (3.4 at.% Zn to 27 at.% Zn). droplet cell microscopy (SDCM) the thermally evaporated CuZn thin film combinatorial library was screened for electrocatalytic effects on the formaldehyde oxidation. The obtained cyclic voltammograms show the occurrence of the formaldehyde oxidation leading to formic acid. CuZn thin film alloys were examined for their electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde in an aqueous 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 solution at different pH values using cyclic voltammetry. The highest catalytic effect was obtained at a pH value of 13.0 for a composition of Cu–8.0 at.% Zn.