Browsing by Author "Chou, Shih-Cheng"

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Conformal Deposition of RuO2 on Cu via a Galvanic Cementation Reaction
(2019-06-28)
Lin, Chun
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Chou, Shih-Cheng
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Tso, Kuang-Chih
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Hsieh, Yi-Chieh
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Chan, Ting-Shan
We develop a seedless wet chemical process to deposit uniform RuO2 on a Cu substrate. Our approach entails the synthesis of volatile RuO4 colloids in a pH 9 aqueous solution from the oxidation of RuCl52- by ClO-, followed by a galvanic cementation reaction in which the Cu undergoes a mild oxidation in conjunction with the reduction of RuO4 to produce a dense and conformal RuO2 thin film on the Cu surface. The nature for the chemical reactions and constituents involved are investigated by UV-Vis, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Both as-deposited and annealed RuO2 films are characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The as-deposited RuO2 film, with a thickness of 199 nm, reveals an amorphous structure and after an Ar annealing, becomes crystalline in rutile phase. In between the RuO2 and Cu, there are presence of CuO from the displacement cementation reaction, and Cu2O from the parasitic Cu corrosion as expected from the Pourbaix diagram. These Cu oxides, with a thickness of 330 nm, provide sufficient adhesive bonding between RuO2 and Cu. (c) The Author(s) 2019. Published by ECS.
Core-Shell Pd9Ru@Pt on Functionalized Graphene for Methanol Electrooxidation
(2018-01-01)
Kuo, Chih-Chia
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Chou, Shih-Cheng
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Chang, Yu-Chen
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Hsieh, Yi-Chieh
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Wu, Pu-Wei
A simple but effective electrochemical route to functionalize graphene is demonstrated. Cyclic voltammetric sweeps (CV) are performed in a 0.5 M H2SO4 aqueous solution on electrodes consisting of carbon cloth, graphene, and Nafion ionomer. Upon exposure to ambient oxygen, the formation of hydroxyl radicals from the oxygen reduction reaction during the CV cycles initiates the decomposition of the Nafion ionomer, which produces oxygenated functional groups on the graphene surface. Using contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, various amounts of Nafion ionomer are explored to determine the optimum conditions for graphene functionalization. Afterwards, Pd9Ru nanoparticles with an average size of 3-4 nm are synthesized and impregnated on functionalized graphene (FGN). To prepare core-shell electrocatalysts, Pd9Ru/FGN is subjected to Cu underpotential deposition followed by a galvanic displacement reaction to deposit a Pt monolayer on the Pd9Ru surface (Pd9Ru@Pt). The assynthesized sample (Pd9Ru@Pt/FGN) exhibits enhanced performance in methanol electrooxidation, which includes abetter activity and lower susceptibility to poisoning by intermediates. The electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of Pd9Ru@Pt/FGN shows a value that is 1.5-fold larger than that of Pd9Ru@Pt on untreated graphene (Pd9Ru@Pt/GN). In the durability tests, Pd9Ru@Pt/FGN and Pd9Ru@Pt/GN demonstrate losses in the ECSA of 14.9% and 30.3%, respectively. (C) 2018 The Electrochemical Society.
Facile Synthesis of Co3O4@CoO@Co Gradient Core@Shell Nanoparticles and Their Applications for Oxygen Evolution and Reduction in Alkaline Electrolytes
(2020-06-01)
Chou, Shih-Cheng
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Tso, Kuang-Chih
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Hsieh, Yi-Chieh
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Sun, Bo-Yao
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Lee, Jyh-Fu
We demonstrate a facile fabrication scheme for Co3O4@CoO@Co (gradient core@shell) nanoparticles on graphene and explore their electrocatalytic potentials for an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline electrolytes. The synthetic approach begins with the preparation of Co(3)O(4)nanoparticles via a hydrothermal process, which is followed by a controlled hydrogen reduction treatment to render nanoparticles with radial constituents of Co3O4/CoO/Co (inside/outside). X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of crystalline Co(3)O(4)nanoparticles, and their gradual transformation to cubic CoO and fcc Co on the surface. Images from transmission electron microscope reveal a core@shell microstructure. These Co3O4@CoO@Co nanoparticles show impressive activities and durability for OER. For ORR electrocatalysis, the Co3O4@CoO@Co nanoparticles are subjected to a galvanic displacement reaction in which the surface Co atoms undergo oxidative dissolution for the reduction of Pt ions from the electrolyte to form Co3O4@Pt nanoparticles. With commercial Pt/C as a benchmark, we determine the ORR activities in sequence of Pt/C > Co3O4@Pt > Co3O4. Measurements from a rotation disk electrode at various rotation speeds indicate a 4-electron transfer path for Co3O4@Pt. In addition, the specific activity of Co3O4@Pt is more than two times greater than that of Pt/C.
Polydopamine and Its Composite Film as an Adhesion Layer for Cu Electroless Deposition on SiO2
(2020-03-09)
Chou, Shih-Cheng
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Chung, Wei-An
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Fan, Tzu-Ling
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Dordi, Yezdi
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Koike, Junichi
We explore dopamine (DA) and its mixtures with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyethylenimine (PEI) as an adhesion layer for bonding between Cu and SiO2. The DA is oxidized to form polydopamine (PDA) which deposits as aggregates on SiO2 surface with notable surface roughness. After mixing with PEG or PEI, the morphology of PDA aggregates is altered considerably. Electroless Cu deposition in a mild alkaline bath is employed to deposit Cu atop the adhesion layer. The Cu films reveal an fcc lattice with (111) preferred orientation and their thickness was around 650 nm. From measurements of four-point probe, breaking strength, and tape-peeling tests, the PDA/PEG mixture reveals impressive performance serving as a strong adhesive for robust Cu bonding. We attribute the unique adhesive ability of PDA/PEG to the hydrogen bonds established between the catechol and amine groups of DA with PEG that renders desirable film formation on the SiO2 surface for optimized interaction between Cu and SiO2. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published on behalf of The Electrochemical Society by IOP Publishing Limited.
Synthesis of polystyrene@polypyrrole-COOH@Ag (core@shell@shell) microspheres for potential application in anisotropic conductive paste
(2020-03-15)
Wang, Chuan-Jyun
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Hung, Pei-Sung
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Chou, Shih-Cheng
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Chung, Wei-An
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Wu, Pu-Wei
We demonstrate a fabrication scheme for the synthesis of conductive core-shell (core@shell) nanoparticles consisting of polystyrene (PS) microspheres in size of 613 nm with consecutive coatings of functionalized polypyrrole (PPy-COOH) and Ag. The PPy-COOH precursors undergo polymerization on PS microspheres forming PS@PPy-COOH microspheres, followed by sensitization and Ag electroless deposition to produce PS@PPy-COOH@Ag microspheres in size of 717 nm. The PPy-COOH serves as the adhesive for intimate bonding of PS and Ag. Images from scanning and transmission electron microscopes confirm a Ag coating of 41-50 nm which is consisted of clustered nanoparticles forming a mono-layered film. From X-ray diffraction pattern, the Ag adopts a polycrystalline fcc structure with grain size of 12 nm. Results from thermal gravimetric analysis indicate a Ag loading of 54 wt%. By four-point-probe, the bulk conductivity for PS@PPy-COOH@Ag is 10,170 S m(-1). These microspheres show promising potential for anisotropic conductive paste. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.