Determination of the enthalpy of fusion of K<Subscript>3</Subscript>TaO<Subscript>2</Subscript>F<Subscript>4</Subscript> and KTaF<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Areas of fusion and crystallization peaks of K₃TaO₂F₄ and KTaF₆ were measured using the DSC mode of a high-temperature calorimeter (SETARAM 1800 K). On the basis of these quantities, considering the temperature dependence of the calorimeter sensitivity, values of the fusion enthalpy of K₃TaO₂F₄ at the fusion temperature of 1181 K of (43 ± 4) kJ mol⁻¹ and of KTaF₆ at the fusion temperature of 760 K of (8 ± 1) kJ mol⁻¹ were determined.     

Thermodynamic properties of strontium metaniobate SrNb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The heat capacity and the enthalpy increments of strontium metaniobate SrNb₂O₆ were measured by the relaxation method (2-276 K), micro DSC calorimetry (260-320 K) and drop calorimetry (723-1472 K). Temperature dependence of the molar heat capacity in the form C _pm=(200.47±5.51)+(0.02937±0.0760)T-(3.4728±0.3115)·10⁶/T ² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (298-1500 K) was derived by the least-squares method from the experimental data. Furthermore, the standard molar entropy at 298.15 K S _m⁰ (298.15 K)=173.88±0.39 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ was evaluated from the low temperature heat capacity measurements. The standard enthalpy of formation Δ_f H ⁰ (298.15 K)=-2826.78 kJ mol⁻¹ was derived from total energies obtained by full potential LAPW electronic structure calculations within density functional theory.     

Heat capacity and heat content of BiNb<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>14</Subscript>

The heat capacity and the heat content of bismuth niobate BiNb₅O₁₄ were measured by the relaxation time method, DSC and drop method, respectively. The temperature dependence of heat capacity in the form C _pm=455.84+0.06016T–7.7342·10⁶/T ² (J K^–1 mol^–1) was derived by the least squares method from the experimental data. Furthermore, the standard molar entropy at 298.15 K S _m=397.17 J K^–1 mol^–1 was derived from the low temperature heat capacity measurement.     

Enthalpy of formation of BaCe<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>In<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3−δ</Subscript>(s)

Enthalpy of formation of the perovskite-related oxide BaCe_0.9In_0.1O_2.95 has been determined at 298.15 K by solution calorimetry. Solution enthalpies of barium cerate doped with indium and mixture of BaCl₂, CeCl₃, InCl₃ in ratio 1:0.9:0.1 have been measured in 1 M HCl with 0.1 M KI. The standard formation enthalpy of BaCe_0.9In_0.1O_2.95 has been calculated as −1611.7±2.6 kJ mol⁻¹. Room-temperature stability of this compound has been assessed in terms of parent binary oxides. The formation enthalpy of barium cerate doped by indium from the mixture of binary oxides is Δ_ox H ⁰ (298.15 K)=−36.2±3.4 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Heat capacity and magnetic phase transition of two-dimensional metal-assembled complex (NEt<Subscript>4</Subscript>)[{Mn<Superscript>III</Superscript>(salen)}<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Superscript>III</Superscript>(CN)<Subscript>6</Subscript>]

Summary Heat capacity measurements of the two-dimensional metal-assembled complex, (NEt₄)[{Mn^III(salen)}₂Fe^III(CN)₆] [Et=ethyl, salen= N,N’-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato) dianion], were performed in the temperature range between 0.2 and 300 K by adiabatic calorimetry. A ferrimagnetic phase transition was observed at T_c1=7.51 K. Furthermore, another small magnetic phase transition appeared at T_c2=0.78 K. Above T_c1, a heat capacity tail arising from the short-range ordering of the spins characteristic of two-dimensional magnets was found. The magnetic enthalpy and entropy were evaluated to be ΔH=291 J mol^-1 and ΔS=27.4 J K^-1 mol^-1, respectively. The experimental magnetic entropy agrees roughly with ΔS=Rln(5·5·2) (=32.5 J K^-1 mol^-1; R being the gas constant), which is expected for the metal complex with two Mn(III) ions in high-spin state (spin quantum number S=2) and one Fe(III) ion in low-spin state (S=1/2). The heat capacity tail above T_c1 became small by grinding and pressing the crystal. This mechanochemical effect would be attributed to the increase of lattice defects and imperfections in the crystal lattice, leading not only to formation of the crystal with a different magnetic phase transition temperature but also to decrease of the magnetic heat capacity and thus the magnetic enthalpy and entropy.     

Low-temperature heat capacity and standard enthalpy of formation of neodymium glycine perchlorate complex [Nd2(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O

Rare-earth perchlorate complex coordinated with glycine [Nd₂(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O was synthesized and its structure was characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), chemical analysis and elementary analysis. Its purity was 99.90%. Heat capacity measurement was carried out with a high-precision fully-automatic adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 369 K. A solid-solid phase transformation peak was observed at 256.97 K, with the enthalpy and entropy of the phase transformation process are 4.438 kJ mol⁻¹ and 17.270 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. There is a big dehydrated peak appears at 330 K, its decomposition temperature, decomposition enthalpy and entropy are 320.606 K, 41.364 kJ mol⁻¹ and 129.018 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The polynomial equations of heat capacity of this compound in different temperature ranges have been fitted. The standard enthalpy of formation was determined to be −8023.002 kJ mol⁻¹ with isoperibol reaction calorimeter at 298.15 K.     

Heat capacities and absolute entropies of UTi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> and CeTi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Summary As part of a larger study of the physical properties of potential ceramic hosts for nuclear wastes, we report the molar heat capacity of brannerite (UTi₂O₆) and its cerium analog (CeTi₂O₆) from 10 to 400 K using an adiabatic calorimeter. At 298.15 K the standard molar heat capacities are (179.46±0.18) J K^-1 mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and (172.78±0.17) J K^-1 mol^-1 for CeTi₂O₆. Entropies were calculated from smooth fits of the experimental data and were found to be (175.56±0.35) J K^-1 mol^-1 and (171.63±0.34) J K^-1 mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and CeTi₂O₆, respectively. Using these entropies and enthalpy of formation data reported in the literature, Gibb’s free energies of formation from the elements and constituent oxides were calculated. Standard free energies of formation from the elements are (-2814.7±5.6) kJ mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and (-2786.3±5.6) kJ mol^-1 for CeTi₂O₆. The free energy of formation from the oxides at T=298.15 K are (-5.31±0.01) kJ mol^-1 and (15.88±0.03) kJ mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and CeTi₂O₆, respectively.     

Phase transition and thermal decomposition of [Al(DMSO)<Subscript>6</Subscript>]Cl<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Phase transition and thermal decomposition of hexadimethylsulfoxidealuminium chloride were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and simultaneous differential thermal analysis (SDTA). The gaseous products of the decomposition were on-line identified by a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS). In the temperature range of 95–300 K, [Al(DMSO)₆]Cl₃ indicates one phase transition at T _c^h=244.96 K (on heating) and at T _c^c=220.87 K (on cooling). Large thermal hysteresis of the phase transition (∼24 K) indicates its first order character. Large value of transition entropy (ΔS≈40 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) suggests its configurational character. Thermal decomposition of the title compound proceeds in four main stages. In the first stage, which starts just above ca. 300 K, the compound loses two DMSO molecules per one formula unit and undergoes into [Al(DMSO)₄]Cl₃. In the second stage, the next three DMSO ligands are released and simultaneously decomposed. The third stage, which continues up to ca. 552 K, is connected with a loss of the last DMSO ligand and the formation of AlCl₃. In the fourth stage AlCl₃ reacts with carbon monoxide that originates from the decomposition of DMSO, and first aluminium oxychloride and next solid Al₂O₃ plus carbon are created.     

Synthesis of ammonia from natural gas at atmospheric pressure with doped ceria–Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>–K<Subscript>3</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript> composite electrolyte and its proton conductivity at intermediate temperature

A new type of oxide–salt composite electrolyte, yttrium doped ceria YDC–Ca₃(PO₄)₂–K₃PO₄, was developed and demonstrated for its promising use for ammonia synthesis. Using this composite electrolyte, ammonia was synthesized from nitrogen and natural gas at atmospheric pressure in the solid-state proton conducting cell reactor, and the optimal condition for ammonia production was determined . The evolved rate of ammonia is up to 6.95×10⁻⁹ mol s⁻¹ cm⁻².     

Preparation of Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>Co<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> by polyacrylamide gel processing and its thermoelectric properties

Ca₃Co₄O₉ powder was prepared by a polyacrylamide gel route in this paper. The effect of the processing on microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics via spark plasma sintering were investigated. Electrical measurement shows that the Seebeck coefficient and conductivity are 170 μV/K and 128 S/cm, respectively, at 700 °C, yielding a power factor value of 3.70 × 10⁻⁴ W m⁻¹ K⁻² at 700 °C, which is larger than that of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics via solid-state reaction processing. The polyacrylamide gel processing is a fast, cheap, reproducible and easily scaled up chemical route to improve the thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics by preparing the homogeneous and pure Ca₃Co₄O₉ phase.     

Determination of the enthalpy of fusion of Na<Subscript>3</Subscript>FeF<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The areas of the fusion and crystallization peaks of Na₃FeF₆ and of four calibration substances (KCl, NaCl, Na₂SO₄, and K₂SO₄) were measured using the DSC mode of a high-temperature calorimeter. Using the measured quantities and known values of the enthalpy of fusion of the calibration substances, the enthalpy of fusion of Na₃FeF₆ was determined. Its value at the temperature of fusion 1224 K was 70 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹.     

FTIR-ATR <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> observation on the efflorescence and deliquescence processes of Mg(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> aerosols

The efflorescence and deliquescence processes of Mg(NO₃)₂ aerosol particles deposited on ZnSe substrate have been investigated through in situ Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) technique at the molecular level. At relative humidity (RH) of ∼3%, Mg(NO₃)₂ particles existed as amorphous states. The amorphous Mg(NO₃)₂ particles were transformed into crystalline Mg(NO₃)₂ · nH₂O (n ≤ 5) with slight increasing of RH. Thermodynamically stable Mg(NO₃)₂·6H₂O crystals were gradually formed on the particle surface and started to be dissolved at the saturation point (∼53% RH). At the same time, a continuous phase transition from Mg(NO₃)₂ · nH₂O (n≤5) to Mg(NO₃)₂·6H₂O occurred on the particle surface. This led the solid particles to completely deliquesce at 76% RH, which was much higher than the saturation point of 53% RH. In the efflorescence process, Mg(NO₃)₂ droplets entered into the supersaturated region due to the gradual evaporation of water. Finally, amorphous particles were formed when RH decreased below 5%. In the FTIR-ATR spectra of the supersaturated Mg(NO₃)₂ droplets, the absorbance of the symmetric stretching vibration of NO ₃ ⁻ (v ₁- NO ₃ ⁻ ) clearly became stronger. It resulted from the continuous formation of solvent share ion pairs (SIPs), and even the contact ion pairs (CIPs) between Mg²⁺ and NO ₃ ⁻ . Supported by the Trans-Century Program Foundation for the Talents by the Ministry of Education of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20073004, 20473012, and 20673010), the 111 Project (B07012), and the State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry for Solid Surface of Xiamen University     

Facile preparation and electrochemical properties of large-scale Li<Subscript>1+<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>V<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript> nanobelts

Large-scale Li_1+x V₃O₈ nanobelts were successfully fabricated using filter paper as deposition substrate through a simple surface sol–gel method. The nanobelts were as long as tens of micrometers with widths of 0.4–1.0 μm and thickness of 50–100 nm. The nanobelts were characterized by X-ray diffration (XRD), Fourier infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The formation mechanism of the nanobelts was investigated, showing that the morphology of the nanobelts is mainly determined by the calcination temperature. Electrochemical properties of the Li_1+x V₃O₈ nanobelts were characterized by charge–discharge experiments, and the results demonstrate that the Li_1+x V₃O₈ nanobelts exhibit a high discharge capacity (278 mAh g⁻¹) and excellent cycling stability.     

Low-temperature thermodynamic properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-cysteine

Heat capacity C _p(T) of the orthorhombic polymorph of L-cysteine was measured in the temperature range 6–300 K by adiabatic calorimetry; thermodynamic functions were calculated based on these measurements. At 298.15 K the values of heat capacity, C _p; entropy, S _m⁰(T)-S _m⁰(0); difference in the enthalpy, H _m⁰(T)-H _m⁰(0), are equal, respectively, to 144.6±0.3 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, 169.0±0.4 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and 24960±50 J mol⁻¹. An anomaly of heat capacity near 70 K was registered as a small, 3–5% height, diffuse ‘jump’ accompanied by the substantial increase in the thermal relaxation time. The shape of the anomaly is sensitive to thermal pre-history of the sample.     

Osmotic Coefficients of the Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>B<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>+LiCl + H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O System at <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>=273.15 K

Osmotic coefficients and water activities for the Li₂B₄O₇+LiCl+H₂O system have been measured at T=273.15 K by the isopiestic method, using an improved apparatus. Two types of osmotic coefficients, φ _S and φ _E, were determined. φ _S is based on the stoichiometric molalities of the solute Li₂B₄O₇(aq), and φ _E is based on equilibrium molalities from consideration of the equilibrium speciation into H₃BO₃,B(OH)₄⁻ and B₃O₃(OH)₄⁻. The stoichiometric equilibrium constants K _m for the aqueous speciation reactions were estimated. Two types of representations of the osmotic coefficients for the Li₂B₄O₇+LiCl+H₂O system are presented with ion-interaction models based on Pitzer’s equations with minor modifications: model (I) represents the φ _S data with six parameters based on considering the ion-interactions between three ionic species of Li⁺, Cl⁻, and B₄O₇²⁻, and model (II) for represents the φ _E data based on considering the equilibrium speciation. The parameters of models (I) and (II) are presented. The standard deviations for the two models are 0.0152 and 0.0298, respectively. Model (I) was more satisfactory than model (II) for representing the isopiestic data.     

A kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition of polyaniline/ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite

Synthesis, characterization and thermal analysis of polyaniline (PANI)/ZrO₂ composite and PANI was reported in our early work. In this present, the kinetic analysis of decomposition process for these two materials was performed under non-isothermal conditions. The activation energies were calculated through Friedman and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall methods, and the possible kinetic model functions have been estimated through the multiple linear regression method. The results show that the kinetic models for the decomposition process of PANI/ZrO₂ composite and PANI are all D₃, and the corresponding function is ƒ(α)=1.5(1−α)^2/3[1−(1-α)^1/3]−1. The correlated kinetic parameters are E _a=112.7±9.2 kJ mol⁻¹, lnA=13.9 and E _a=81.8±5.6 kJ mol⁻¹, lnA=8.8 for PANI/ZrO₂ composite and PANI, respectively.     

Thermodynamic Properties of Hydrofullerene C60H36 from 5 to 340 K

The temperature dependence of the molar heat capacity (C⁰ _p) of hydrofullerene C₆₀H₃₆ between 5 and 340 K was determined by adiabatic vacuum calorimetry with an error of about 0.2%. The experimental data were used for the calculation of the thermodynamic functions of the compound in the range 0 to340 K. It was found that at T=298.15 K and p=101.325 kPa C⁰ _p (298.15)=690.0 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹,H^o(298.15)−H^o(0)= 84.94 kJ mol⁻¹,S^o(298.15)=506.8 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, G^o(298.15)−H^o(0)= −66.17 kJ mol⁻¹. The standard entropy of formation of hydrofullerene C₆₀H₃₆ and the entropy of reaction of its formation by hydrogenation of fullerene C₆₀ with hydrogen were estimated and at T=298.15 K they were Δ_fS^o= −2188.4 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and Δ_rS^o= −2270.5 J K⁻¹mol⁻¹, respectively. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermodynamic investigation of room temperature ionic liquid

The molar heat capacities of the room temperature ionic liquid 1-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (BPBF₄) were measured by an adiabatic calorimeter in temperature range from 80 to 390 K. The dependence of the molar heat capacity on temperature is given as a function of the reduced temperature X by polynomial equations, C _p,m [J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹]=181.43+51.297X −4.7816X ²−1.9734X ³+8.1048X ⁴+11.108X ⁵ [X=(T−135)/55] for the solid phase (80–190 K), C _p,m [J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹]= 349.96+25.106X+9.1320X ²+19.368X ³+2.23X ⁴−8.8201X ⁵ [X=(T−225)/27] for the glass state (198–252 K), and C _p,m[J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹]= 402.40+21.982X−3.0304X ²+3.6514X ³+3.4585X ⁴ [X=(T−338)/52] for the liquid phase (286–390 K), respectively. According to the polynomial equations and thermodynamic relationship, the values of thermodynamic function of the BPBF₄ relative to 298.15 K were calculated in temperature range from 80 to 390 K with an interval of 5 K. The glass transition of BPBF₄ was observed at 194.09 K, the enthalpy and entropy of the glass transition were determined to be ΔH _g=2.157 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS _g=11.12 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The result showed that the melting point of the BPBF₄ is 279.79 K, the enthalpy and entropy of phase transition were calculated to be ΔH _m = 8.453 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS _m=30.21 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. Using oxygen-bomb combustion calorimeter, the molar enthalpy of combustion of BPBF₄ was determined to be Δ_c H _m⁰ = −5451±3 kJ mol⁻¹. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of BPBF₄ was evaluated to be Δ_f H _m⁰ = −1356.3±0.8 kJ mol⁻¹ at T=298.150±0.001 K.     

Low-temperature thermodynamic properties of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">dl</Emphasis>-cysteine

Heat capacity C _p(T) of the crystalline dl-cysteine was measured on heating the system from 6 to 309 K by adiabatic calorimetry; thermodynamic functions were calculated based on these data smoothed in the temperature range 6–273.15 K. The values of heat capacity, entropy, and enthalpy at 273.15 K were equal to 142.4, 153.3, and 213.80 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. At about 300 K, a heat capacity peak was observed, which was interpreted as an evidence of a first-order phase transition. The enthalpy and the entropy of the transition are equal, respectively, to 2300 ± 50 and 7.6 ± 0.1 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹.     

Electrochemical study of Meldola's blue,methylene blue and toluidine blue immobilized on a SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O3 binary oxide matrix obtained by the sol-gel processing method

SiO₂/Sb₂O₃ (SiSb), having a specific surface area, S _BET, of 788 m² g⁻¹, an average pore diameter of 1.9 nm and 4.7 wt% of Sb, was prepared by the sol-gel processing method. Meldola's blue (MeB), methylene blue (MB) and toluidine blue (TB) were immobilized on SiSb by an ion exchange reaction. The amounts of the dyes bonded to the substrate surface were 12.49, 14.26 and 22.78 μmol g⁻¹ for MeB, MB and TB, respectively. These materials were used to modify carbon paste electrodes. The midpoint potentials (E _m) of the immobilized dyes were −0.059, −0.17 and −0.18 V vs. SCE for SiSb/MeB, SiSb/MB and SiSb/TB modified carbon paste electrodes, respectively. A solution pH between 3 and 7 practically did not affect the midpoint potential of the immobilized dyes. The electrodes presented reproducible responses and were chemically stable under various oxidation-reduction cycles. Among the immobilized dyes, MeB was the most efficient to mediate the electron transfer for NADH oxidation in aqueous solution at pH 7. In this case, amperometric detection of NADH at an applied potential of 0 mV vs. SCE gives linear responses over the concentration range of 0.1–0.6 mmol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 7 μmol L⁻¹.