Approaches to the formation of a dense and stable surface layer at the polarized liquid/liquid interface affecting the selectivity of the interfacial ion transfer are considered. Three examples of the preparation of such surface layers, including the silicate membrane, the ion-pair stabilized phospholipid film, and a polymer surface layer, are discussed. Relevance of studies in this area to modeling of the biological and technological membrane processes is highlighted.
Transfer reactions at the interface of aqueous/organic solutions and redox reactions of actinide ions, such as U, Np and Pu, were investigated electrochemically as fundamental studies for the development of separation and speciation of such ions. A method to investigate ion transfer at a liquid/liquid interface based on controlled potential electrolysis and radioactivity measurement was developed and applied to determine standard ion transfer potential and complex formation constant of facilitated actinide ions transfer with an ionophore in the organic phase. A separation method was developed on the basis of the fundamental ion transfer data. Electrode redox reactions of actinide ions were also investigated. A mediator reaction and electrocatalysis were found to be involved in the reduction processes of actinide ions. In addition, a method to control the valence of actinide ions was successfully developed.
Fundamental aspects of potential-pH diagrams for systems containing ligand and/or additional metal components to form stable complexes and/or intermetallic compounds are described by several practical examples. The diagrams provide deeper thermodynamic insights into a variety of aqueous electrochemical processes, such as electrodeposition and electrometallurgy.
Only letting water drop can generate electricity according to the idea of Load Kelvin, which has been known as Kelvin’s water droplet electric generator. Then what is the real carrier of electric charge in water droplets? We started this study from a curiosity on electrochemical understanding of aqueous solution. The study has led us the fact that this phenomenon is contradicting the well-known condition of analytical chemistry that an aqueous solution can be treated with the condition of electric neutrality anytime, although it is the problem of how much precisely we treat the condition of electric neutrality of aqueous solutions.