Synthesis and anhydrous proton conductivity of poly(5-vinyltetrazole) prepared by free radical polymerization

5-Vinyltetrazole (VT)-based polymer is mainly produced by ‘click chemistry’ from polyacrylonitrile due to the unavailability of 5-vinyltetrazole monomer, which usually produces copolymers of VT and acrylonitrile rather than pure poly(5-vinyltetrazole) (PVT). In present work, VT was synthesized from 5-(2-chloroethyl)tetrazole via dehydrochlorination. A series of PVT with different molecular weight were synthesized by normal free radical polymerization. The chemical structures of VT and PVT were characterized by ¹H NMR and FTIR. PVT without any doped acid exhibits certain proton conductivity at higher temperature and anhydrous state. The proton conductivity of PVT decreases at least 2 orders of magnitude after methylation of tetrazole. PVT and PVT/H₃PO₄ composite membranes are thermally stable up to 200 °C. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of PVT/xH₃PO₄ composite membranes is shifted from 90 °C for x = 0.5 to 55 °C for x = 1. The temperature dependence of DC conductivity for pure PVT exhibits a simple Arrhenius behavior in the temperature range of 90–160 °C, while PVT/xH₃PO₄ composite membranes with higher H₃PO₄ concentration can be fitted by Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher (VTF) equation. PVT/1.0H₃PO₄ exhibits an anhydrous proton conductivity of 3.05 × 10⁻³ at 110 °C. The transmission of the PVT/xH₃PO₄ composite membrane is above 85% in the wavelength of visible light and changes little with acid contents. Thus, PVT/xH₃PO₄ composite membranes have potential applications not only in intermediate temperature fuel cells but also in solid electrochromic device.     

Application of Protonic Acid-Doped Silica Gels to Electric Double-Layer Capacitors

Silica gels doped with several protonic acids such as HClO₄, H₂SO₄ and H₃PO₄ have been prepared by the sol-gel method and totally solid electric double-layer capacitors have been successfully fabricated using the highly proton-conductive silica gels as an electrolyte and activated carbon powder (ACP) hybridized with the silica gels as a polarizable electrode. It was found that the addition of HClO₄, which had the highest value of acid dissociation constant among these three acids, most effectively increased the proton conductivity of the resultant acid-doped silica gels. Tablets of the HClO₄-doped silica gels exhibited conductivities as high as 10^–5–10^–2 S cm^–1 at room temperature in dry N₂ atmosphere. One of the capacitors fabricated using the protonic acid-doped silica gels had a capacitance of 44 F/(gram of total ACP in the capacitor), which was comparable to those of conventional capacitors using liquid electrolytes.     

Raman Spectroscopic Investigations of the Effects of Ag+ and Ce3 + Doping on the Densification of Nanoporous Silica Xerogels

Doped and undoped 50 Å porous silica xerogels were heat-treated at various annealing temperatures ranging from 800°C to 1150°C. The heating was performed in air for 1 hour at each temperature. Raman spectroscopy was used to follow the structural changes occurring at various stages of the gel-to-glass transformation, as well as to investigate the effects of metal ions on the densification of these nanoporous silica xerogels. Raman data and density measurements showed that while densification is completely achieved at 1050°C for undoped xerogels, it occurs at 950°C for Ag⁺-doped samples. On the other hand, Ce^{3 +} doping was found to slow down the densification process, with complete densification occurring at 1100°C.     

Electrochemical performance of LiVPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>F/C composite cathode prepared through amorphous vanadium phosphorus oxide intermediate

LiVPO₄F/C composites with better electrochemical performance were prepared by calcination of LiF and amorphous vanadium phosphorus oxide (VPO) intermediate synthesized by a sol–gel method using H₃PO₄, V₂O₅ and citric acid as raw materials. The properties of LiVPO₄F/C composites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical tests. The analysis of XRD patterns and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) reveal that VPO intermediate prepared by sol–gel method is amorphous and VPO₄ may exist in VPO intermediate. The compositions of LiVPO₄F/C composites are related to the calcination temperature for preparation of amorphous VPO/C intermediate and LiVPO₄F/C composite prepared by VPO/C synthesized at 700°C consists of a single crystal phase of LiVPO₄F. The electrochemical tests show that LiVPO₄F/C composite prepared by VPO/C synthesized at 700°C exhibits higher discharge capacity and excellent cycle performance. This LiVPO₄F/C composite displays discharge capacity of 133 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 C (78 mA g⁻¹) and remains capacity retention of 96.8% after 30 cycles, even at a high rate of 5 C, the composite exhibits high discharge capacity of 115 mAh g⁻¹ and capacity retention of 97% after 100 cycles.     

致密的5%Al3+掺杂的SnP2O7-SnO2复合陶瓷在中温燃料电池中的应用

首先制备了未掺杂和5%(摩尔分数)Al³⁺掺杂SnO₂的多孔性基片, 然后将基片与85%的H₃PO₄在600℃下反应, 分别得到了致密的未掺杂和5%Al³⁺掺杂的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂复合陶瓷样品. 采用X射线衍射(XRD), 扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线能量色散谱(EDS)测试方法对样品进行了表征, 采用电化学阻抗谱法(EIS)测试了样品在中温(100-250℃)下, 湿润空气和湿润氢气气氛中的电导率. 结果表明, 在湿润空气和湿润氢气中, 5%Al³⁺掺杂的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂复合陶瓷样品的电导率均高于未掺杂的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂复合陶瓷样品的电导率, 且该复合陶瓷样品在湿润空气和湿润氢气中250℃下, 电导率分别达到最大值: 4.30×10^-2和6.25×10^-2 S·cm^-1, 高于至今报道的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂基复合陶瓷及SnP₂O₇基陶瓷在类似条件下的电导率. 以5%Al³⁺掺杂的SnP₂O₇-SnO₂复合陶瓷样品(厚度: 1.45 mm)为电解质, 多孔性铂为电极组装成的氢气/空气燃料电池具有良好的中温电池性能, 175、200、250℃的最大输出功率密度分别为52.0、61.9、82.3 mW·cm^-2. 良好的中温电池性能与该复合陶瓷电解质较高的电导率和致密度及该燃料电池较低的界面极化电阻有关.     

The Purification of PCl3 from Pv by interaction with active silica

It was found, that the addition of silica gel to PCl₃ prevents its oxidation and acts as an adsorbent of P^v impurities. The concentration of P^v impurities is diminished below 0,1% calculated as H₃PO₄. The velocity of purification depends on the kind of silica gel, on its amount and on the volume of the liquid above the adsorbent layer. For the purification of technical grade PCl₃ with an impurity level below 1% H₃PO₄ the small pore or middle pore silica gel in amounts of 10% in relation to PCl₃ may be used. In case of PCl₃, oxidated to a level of 2.6% P^v, as H₃PO₄, the velocity of purification was higher for the middle pore silica gel. An attempt is made to explain the action of silica gel on theoretical backgrounds.     

Dehydration of synthetic and natural vivianite

Thermal analyses of synthetic and natural vivianite (Fe²⁺)₃(PO₄)₂·8H₂O) were determined using a high-resolution thermal analyser coupled to a mass spectrometer.Five dehydration weight loss steps were observed for the natural vivianite at 105, 138, 203, 272 and 437 °C. The first weight loss step involves the reaction (Fe²⁺)₃(PO₄)₂·8H₂O→(Fe²⁺)₃(PO₄)₂·3H₂O+5H₂O. The TGA/MS for the synthetic vivianite gave similar results to that of the natural sample. Mass spectrometry shows that water is lost up to 450 °C and after this temperature oxygen is lost. Changes in the structure of vivianite were followed using infrared emission spectroscopy. A model is proposed for the dehydration of vivianite.     

Carbon-13 kinetic isotope effects in the decarbonylation of formic acid of natural isotopic composition in phosphoric acid media

The¹³C kinetic isotope effect (K.I.E.) in the decarbonylation of formic acid of natural isotopic composition in 85% orthophosphoric acid, in 100% H₃PO₄, and in pyrophosphoric acid has been measured in different temperature intervals ranging from 19 to 133 °C. In 85% H₃PO₄ the carbon-13 K.I.E. is determined by the fractionation of carbon isotopes expected for C–O bond rupture (k ₁₂/k ₁₃=1.0531 at 70°C). In 100% H₃PO₄ the¹³C K.I.E. indicates that C–H bond rupture is the major component of the reaction coordinate motion (thek ₁₂/k ₁₃ lay in the range of 1.026–1.017 over the range 30–70 °C). In pyrophosphoric acid the fractionation factor for¹³C equals 1.010 at 19 °C. Activation parameters for the decarbonylation of H¹²COOH in phosphoric acid media have been determined also and suggestions concerning the intimate mechanisms of decarbonylation of formic acid in dilute and concentrated phosphoric acids are made.     

Formation of titanium phosphate composites during phosphoric acid decomposition of natural sphene

Decomposition of mineral sphene, CaTiOSiO₄, by H₃PO₄ is investigated in detail. During the dissolution process, simultaneous calcium leaching and formation of titanium phosphate (TiP) take place. The main product of decomposition is a solid titanium phosphate-silica composite. The XRD, solid-sate NMR, IR, TGA, SEM and BET data were used to identify and characterize the composite as a mixture of crystalline Ti(HPO₄)₂·H₂O and silica. When 80% phosphoric acid is used the decomposition degree is higher than 98% and calcium is completely transferred into the liquid phase. Formation of Ti(HPO₄)₂·H₂O proceeds via formation of meta-stable titanium phosphate phases, Ti(H₂PO₄)(PO₄)·2H₂O and Ti(H₂PO₄)(PO₄).The sorption affinities of TiP composites were examined in relation to caesium and strontium ions. A decrease of H₃PO₄ concentration leads to formation of composites with greater sorption properties. The maximum sorption capacity of TiP is observed when 60% H₃PO₄ is used in sphene decomposition.The work demonstrates a valuable option within the Ti(HPO₄)₂·H₂O-SiO₂ composite synthesis scheme, to use phosphoric acid flows for isolation of CaHPO₄·2H₂O fertilizer.     

Crystals of New Ferric Acid Phosphate, Fe 3 H 3 (PO 4 ) 4 ·6H 2 O, Performed by Inorganic Sol-Gel Process

Crystals of Fe₃H₃(PO₄)₄·6H₂O are obtained at room temperature and 50 °C from phosphate gel prepared by evaporation of H₃PO₄ and FeX₃ (X = NO₃ ^-, Cl^-). Optimal experimental conditions of crystal formation are defined. X-ray powder diffraction, IR absorption spectroscopy and TGA analysis are undertaken to investigate the effect of starting solution compositions on the nature and the growth of crystals.Formulation of synthesised phosphate is proposed on the basis of the composition comparison with the iron phosphate compounds formerly studied. A relation between OH group, phosphorus (or phosphate) and iron contents of the examined phosphates is found. The unit cell parameters are obtained from powder X-ray diffraction data. It is hexagonal with unit cell dimensions a = 9.114(7) Å, c = 16.715(3) Å and V = 1202.62 ų. The BET surface area of this phosphate is measured and a value of 5.0 m²/g is obtained.     

Carbon-13 kinetic isotope effects in the decarbonylation of lactic acid of natural isotopic composition in phosphoric acid medium

The¹³C kinetic isotope effect fractionation in the decarbonylation of lactic acid (LA) of natural isotopic composition by concentrated phosphpric acids (PA) and by 85% H₃PO₄ has been studied in the temperature interval of 60–150°C. The values of the¹³C₍₁₎ isotope effects in the decarbonylation of lactic acid in 100% H₃PO₄, in pyrophosphoric acid and in more concentrated phosphoric acids are intermediate between the values calculated assuming that the C₍₁₎–OH bond is broken in the rate-controllin gstep of dehydration and those calculated for rupture of the carbon-carbon bond in the transition state. In the temperature interval of 90–130°C the experimental¹³C fractionation factors determined in concentrated PA approach quite closely the¹³C fractionation corresponding to C₍₂₎–C₍₁₎ bond scission. the¹³C₍₁₎ kinetic isotope effects in the decarbonylation of LA in 85% orthophosphoric acid in the temperature range of 110–150°C coincide with the¹³C isotope effects calculated assuming that the frequency corresponding to the C₍₁₎–OH vibration is lost in the transition state of decarbonylation. A change of the mechanism of decarbonylation of LA in going from concentrated PA medium to 85% H₃PO₄ has been suggested. A possible secondary¹⁸O and a primary¹⁸O kinetic isotope effect in decarbonylation of lactic acid in phosphoric acids media have been discussed, too.     

Carbon-13 kinetic isotope effect of the decarbonylation of oxalic acid

Carbon-13 intramolecular kinetic isotope effects in the decarbonylation of oxalic acid dihydrate of natural isotopic composition by SO₃ and by fuming sulphuric acid at room temperature and decarbonylation of oxalic acid dihydrate by 100% H₃PO₄ in the temperature interval 80–150°C have been determined. The obtained isotopic and kinetic results have been compared with the earlier¹³C experimental and theoretical studies in other solvents.     

Studies on Curing Chemistry of Aluminum-Chromium-Phosphates as Low Temperature Curable Binders

The curing behavior of metal phosphate binders, Al(H₂PO₄)₃ and Al₃Cr(H₂PO₄)_9,12, was compared and characterized in order to understand the changes in chemical structure and crystalline phase that occur when they are annealed at temperatures up to 1200°C. Based on IR, NMR and XRD measurements, Al(H₂PO₄)₃ as a starting phase of the aluminum phosphate (AP) binder transformed to AlH₃(PO₄)₂ at 200°C, to a linear Al(PO₃)₃ at 300°C, and finally to a cyclic Al(PO₃)₃ beginning at 500°C. The chemical and crystalline behaviors of the Al₃Cr(H₂PO₄)₉ (ACP-319) binder were developed in an almost identical manner to those of AP but with much a slower rate. In particular, the former was amorphous up to 500°C with slow crystallization kinetics. Furthermore, the presence of a filler or an increase in the Cr mole ratio enhanced the dehydrolytic condensation chemistry. In particular, the ACP-319 binder containing fillers showed the completion of curing reaction when pre-treated at 200°C.     

Preparation of Optical Cores of Silica Optical Fibers by the Sol-Gel Method

Preforms for drawing silica optical fibers have been fabricated by using the MCVD method for the preparation of the optical claddings and the sol-gel method for the preparation of the optical cores consisting of TiO₂−SiO₂ or RE³⁺−Al₂O₃−P₂O₅−SiO₂ (RE=Er, Yb) glasses. A novel method has been developed for depositing thin gel layers on the inner silica tube wall, under rotation of the tube inclined at a small angle to the horizontal. The gel layers have been deposited from sols prepared by mixing Si(OC₂H₅)₄, POCl₃, Ti(n-OC₄H₉)₄, AlCl₃, ErCl₃, YbCl₃ H₂O, C₂H₅OH and HCl. The gel layers deposited using these sols on the inner tube wall were heat-treated in a flow of CCl₄ or POCl₃ with O₂ at temperatures of from 800° to 1400°C. After collapsing the composite tube into a preform, an optical fiber has been drawn. The refractive-index profiles of the preforms and the attenuation spectra of the drawn fibers are shown, as well as some results on the lasing characteristics of Yb³⁺ sensitized, Er³⁺ doped fibers.     

Synthesis,characterization of SiO2 supported-industrial phosphoric acid catalyst for hydrolysis of NaBH4 solution

Abstract

Tunisian industrial phosphoric acid H₃PO₄ was supported on silica gel SiO₂ (SIPA) to catalyze the hydrolysis reaction of aqueous alkaline sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). The SiO₂ was produced from purified quartz sand using alkali fusion-acidification chemical process. The BET surface area results indicate that the prepared silica gel could reach a specific surface area up to 585 m²/g. The addition of PO₃H₂ functional groups resulted in an increase of surface acidity of SiO₂ catalyst as shown by FT-IR and DTA-DTG spectra. The total acidity of SIPA catalyst was determined by titration to be 2.8?mmol H⁺/g. SEM/EDS maps reveal the distribution of heavy metals on the silica surface. The effect of supported PO₃H₂ functional groups and heavy metals on the NaBH₄ hydrolysis reaction was studied for different ratios of SIPA catalyst to NaBH₄. The sample 12SIPA/NaBH₄ leads to a very high hydrogen generation rate (up to 90%). The activation energy of hydrogen generation by NaBH₄ hydrolysis was 25.7?kJ mol^?1.     

Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of LiNO3-Al2O3 composite solid electrolyte

Composite solid electrolytes in the system (1 − x)LiNO₃-xAl₂O₃, with x = 0.0-0.5 were synthesized by sol-gel method. The synthesis carried out at low temperature resulted in voluminous and fluffy products. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and AC impedance spectroscopy. Structural analysis of the samples showed base centred cell type of point lattice of LiNO₃ for the composite samples with x = 0.1-0.2 and body centred cell for the sample with x = 0.3. A trace amount of α-LiAlO₂ crystal phase was also present in these composite samples. The thermal analysis showed that the samples were in a stable phase between 48 °C and 230-260 °C. Morphological analysis indicated the presence of amorphous phase and particles with sizes ranging from micro to nanometre scale for the composite sample with x = 0.1. The conductivities of the composites were in the order of 10⁻³ and 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at room temperature and 150 °C, respectively.     

The enthalpies of dilution of phosphate solutions at 30°C

The enthalpies of dilution of aqueous solutions of HCl, H₃PO₄, NaOH, NaH₂PO₄, Na₂HPO₄ and Na₃PO₄ in the molality range 0.1 to 1.0 mole-kg^–1 have been determined at 30°C. The relative apparent molal enthalpies _L of HCl, NaOH, NaH₂PO₄ and Na₂HPO₄ have been determined with the aid of an extended form of the Debye-Hückel limiting law. The relative apparent molal enthalpies for Na₃PO₄ solutions have been corrected for hydrolysis. A value of H _H ^o =9525±150 cal-mole^–1 was determined for the heat of hydrolysis of PO ₄ ^–3 . This value gives H ₃ ^o =3815±150 cal-mole^–1 for the ionization of H₂PO ₄ ^– , which is in good agreement with the value of H ₃ ^o =3500±500 cal-mole^–1 determined directly by Pitzer at 25°C. The relative apparent molal enthalpies for H₃PO₄ solutions have been corrected for ionization. A value of H ₁ ^o =–1900±150 cal-mole^–1 was obtained for the heat of ionization of H₃PO₄ to H⁺+H₂PO ₄ ^– . This value is in good agreement with the value of H ₁ ^o =–2031 cal-mole^–1 at 30°C determined by Harned and Owen from the temperature coefficient of the equilibrium constant and H ₁ ^o =–1950±80 cal-mole^–1 at 25°C determined from calorimetry by Pitzer.     

Composite of SiO2 and Hydrogel Having Microphase Separated Structure: Physical Properties Dependence on pH

Abstract

Organic-inorganic composite gel was prepared by using PEG-modified urethane acrylate (PMUA) gel and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). PMUA gel was prepared by the phase-inversion emulsion polymerization of PMUA emulsion. The gelation of PMUA emulsion using this method enables PMUA gel to swell with H₂O, TEOS, and ethanol. Hydrolysis and condensation reaction rates of the sol-gel process are strongly influenced by the pH controlled by catalysts such as HCl and NH₄OH. Additionally, the morphology on the cross section of composite and the amount of silica ingredient incorporated into the composite gel were dependent on solvent, the molar ratio of H₂O to TEOS, as well as the pH value.

As the silica content increased, due to hydrogen bonds interacting between PMUA gel and SiO₂, particles, the tensile strength of composites considerably increased, whereas the elongation at break decreased. The incorporation of silica ingredient in PMUA gel/silica composites was verified with FTIR/ATR and SEM. The amount of the silica component in the composite was indirectly investigated by using TGA thermal analysis.     

Solubility and Phase Behavior of Cr(III) Oxides in Alkaline Media at Elevated Temperatures

A platinum-lined, flowing autoclave facility is used to investigate the solubility behavior of Cr₂O₃ and FeCr₂O₄ in alkaline sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, and ammonium hydroxide solutions between 21 and 288°C. Baseline Cr(III) ion solubilities were found to be on the order of 0.1 nmolal, which were enhanced by the formation of anionic hydroxo and phosphato complexes. At temperatures below 51°C, the activity of Cr(III) ions in aqueous solution is controlled by a Cr(OH)₃·3H₂O solid phase rather than Cr₂O₃; above 51°C the saturating solid phase is -CrOOH. Measured chromium solubilities were interpreted via a Cr(III) ion hydrolysis/complexing model and thermodynamic functions for the hydrolysis/complexing reaction equilibria were obtained from least-squares analyses of the data. The existence of four new Cr(III) ion complexes is reported: Cr(OH)₃(H₂PO₄)^–, Cr(OH)₃(HPO₄)^2–, Cr(OH)₃(PO₄)^3–, and Cr(OH)₄(HPO₄)-(H₂PO₄)^4–. The last species is the dominant Cr(III) ion complex in concentrated, alkaline phosphate solutions at elevated temperatures.     

Moderate-temperature protonic conductors based on CsH<Subscript>2</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and modified silicon dioxide

With the aim of creating an inert matrix for composite in the (1 ? x) CsH₂PO₄ ? xSiO₂ system, the surface of finely divided dioxide is modified and matrices with more acid centers are produced. Physicochemical properties of composite systems on the basis of these are studied. The role played by acid centers in the formation of more stable and better conductive composite systems in the temperature interval 150 to 250°C is demonstrated. The conductivity of composites based on silicon dioxide modified with CsHSO₄ or H₃PO₄ at 130–230°C is shown to exceed that of the initial phase CsH₂PO₄ and the composite systems based on uniformly porous silicon dioxide with the surface acidity pH ～7 studied previously. The composites are of interest for further research. Compositions of phases under formation and conditions for their existence are determined.