Fundamentals and Implication of Point of Zero Charge (PZC) Determination for Activated Carbons in Aqueous Electrolytes

Abstract The point of zero charge (PZC) is a crucial parameter for investigating the charge storage mechanisms in energy storage systems at the molecular level. This paper presents findings from three different electrochemical techniques, compared for the first time: cyclic voltammetry (CV), stairca...

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Main Authors: Sylwia Slesinska, Przemysław Galek, Jakub Menzel, Scott W. Donne, Krzysztof Fic, Anetta Płatek‐Mielczarek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202409162
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author Sylwia Slesinska
Przemysław Galek
Jakub Menzel
Scott W. Donne
Krzysztof Fic
Anetta Płatek‐Mielczarek
author_facet Sylwia Slesinska
Przemysław Galek
Jakub Menzel
Scott W. Donne
Krzysztof Fic
Anetta Płatek‐Mielczarek
author_sort Sylwia Slesinska
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The point of zero charge (PZC) is a crucial parameter for investigating the charge storage mechanisms in energy storage systems at the molecular level. This paper presents findings from three different electrochemical techniques, compared for the first time: cyclic voltammetry (CV), staircase potentio electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (SPEIS), and step potential electrochemical spectroscopy (SPECS), for two activated carbons (ACs) with 0.1 mol L−1 aqueous solution of LiNO3, Li2SO4, and KI. The charging process of AC operating in aqueous electrolytes appears as a complex phenomenon – all ionic species take an active part in electric double‐layer formation and the ion‐mixing zone covers a wide potential region. Therefore, the so‐called PZC should not be considered as an absolute one‐point potential value, but rather as a range of zero charge (RZC). SPECS technique is found to be a universal and fast method for determining RZC, as applied here together with the EQCM. In most cases, the RZC covers a potential range from ≈100 to ≈200 mV and the correlation of the range with the carbon microtexture is clear, highlighting the role of the ion‐sieving effect. It is postulated that PZC for porous materials in aqueous electrolytic solutions should be considered instead as RZC.
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spelling doaj-art-5acfb4a0a1624e7d8ab38fad496a56a42024-12-27T13:00:47ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442024-12-011148n/an/a10.1002/advs.202409162Fundamentals and Implication of Point of Zero Charge (PZC) Determination for Activated Carbons in Aqueous ElectrolytesSylwia Slesinska0Przemysław Galek1Jakub Menzel2Scott W. Donne3Krzysztof Fic4Anetta Płatek‐Mielczarek5Poznan University of Technology Institute of Chemistry and Technical Electrochemistry Berdychowo 4 Poznan 60965 PolandPoznan University of Technology Institute of Chemistry and Technical Electrochemistry Berdychowo 4 Poznan 60965 PolandPoznan University of Technology Institute of Chemistry and Technical Electrochemistry Berdychowo 4 Poznan 60965 PolandDiscipline of Chemistry University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales 2308 AustraliaPoznan University of Technology Institute of Chemistry and Technical Electrochemistry Berdychowo 4 Poznan 60965 PolandPoznan University of Technology Institute of Chemistry and Technical Electrochemistry Berdychowo 4 Poznan 60965 PolandAbstract The point of zero charge (PZC) is a crucial parameter for investigating the charge storage mechanisms in energy storage systems at the molecular level. This paper presents findings from three different electrochemical techniques, compared for the first time: cyclic voltammetry (CV), staircase potentio electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (SPEIS), and step potential electrochemical spectroscopy (SPECS), for two activated carbons (ACs) with 0.1 mol L−1 aqueous solution of LiNO3, Li2SO4, and KI. The charging process of AC operating in aqueous electrolytes appears as a complex phenomenon – all ionic species take an active part in electric double‐layer formation and the ion‐mixing zone covers a wide potential region. Therefore, the so‐called PZC should not be considered as an absolute one‐point potential value, but rather as a range of zero charge (RZC). SPECS technique is found to be a universal and fast method for determining RZC, as applied here together with the EQCM. In most cases, the RZC covers a potential range from ≈100 to ≈200 mV and the correlation of the range with the carbon microtexture is clear, highlighting the role of the ion‐sieving effect. It is postulated that PZC for porous materials in aqueous electrolytic solutions should be considered instead as RZC.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202409162activated carbon (AC)aqueous electrolyteelectrochemical capacitor (EC)electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM)point of zero charge (PZC)
spellingShingle Sylwia Slesinska
Przemysław Galek
Jakub Menzel
Scott W. Donne
Krzysztof Fic
Anetta Płatek‐Mielczarek
Fundamentals and Implication of Point of Zero Charge (PZC) Determination for Activated Carbons in Aqueous Electrolytes
Advanced Science
activated carbon (AC)
aqueous electrolyte
electrochemical capacitor (EC)
electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM)
point of zero charge (PZC)
title Fundamentals and Implication of Point of Zero Charge (PZC) Determination for Activated Carbons in Aqueous Electrolytes
title_full Fundamentals and Implication of Point of Zero Charge (PZC) Determination for Activated Carbons in Aqueous Electrolytes
title_fullStr Fundamentals and Implication of Point of Zero Charge (PZC) Determination for Activated Carbons in Aqueous Electrolytes
title_full_unstemmed Fundamentals and Implication of Point of Zero Charge (PZC) Determination for Activated Carbons in Aqueous Electrolytes
title_short Fundamentals and Implication of Point of Zero Charge (PZC) Determination for Activated Carbons in Aqueous Electrolytes
title_sort fundamentals and implication of point of zero charge pzc determination for activated carbons in aqueous electrolytes
topic activated carbon (AC)
aqueous electrolyte
electrochemical capacitor (EC)
electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM)
point of zero charge (PZC)
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202409162
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