Lattice-dynamics-based characterization of La1-xAxCoO3-δ (A = Sr,Ba) nanoparticles for an inert anode in molten salts

La_1-xA_xCoO_3-δ (A = Sr, Ba) nanoparticles used as an inert anode in molten salts were characterized using phonon vibrations, and their compositions and morphologies were investigated. These nanoparticles were used for nanostructure fabrication of an inert anode to reduce oxide ion transportation. The singularity structure changes with increasing Sr ion content in La_1-xSr_xCoO_3-δ nanoparticles showed a transient of spin state change from a low-spin state to intermediate- and/or high-spin states. The valencies of Co ion in La_1-xSr_xCoO_3-δ were 3.2 and 3.3 for La_0.8Sr_0.2CoO_3-δ and La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-δ, respectively, suggesting that oxygen defects were introduced by Sr ion doping in La_1-xSr_xCoO_3-δ nanoparticles. In contrast, the valencies of Co ion in La_1-xBa_xCoO_3-δ were 3.1 and 3.0 for La_0.5Ba_0.5CoO_3-δ and La_0.4Ba_0.6CoO_3-δ, respectively, suggesting that oxygen defects were introduced slightly by Ba ion doping in La_1-xBa_xCoO_3-δ nanoparticles. The isotropic phonon vibrations of La_1-xA_xCoO_3-δ nanoparticles were estimated using high-temperature synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction measurements. Crystal anisotropy measurements of phonon vibrations indicated that the oxide ions diffused preferentially along the (a, b) plane in the La_1-xSr_xCoO_3-δ crystal lattice and toward the c-axis direction in the La_1-xBa_xCoO_3-δ crystal lattice. These results suggest that the oxide ion transportation was curtailed using layered nanoparticles to fabricate an inert anode.

     

Synthesis and Eu luminescence in new oxysilicates, ALa3Bi(SiO4)3O and ALa2Bi2(SiO4)3O [ACa, Sr and Ba] with apatite-related structure

New oxysilicates with the general formula ALa₃Bi(SiO₄)₃O and ALa₂Bi₂(SiO₄)₃O [ACa, Sr and Ba] are synthesized and characterized. Powder X-ray diffraction of these silicates show that they are isostructural with BiCa₄(VO₄)₃O which has an apatite-related structure. Eu³⁺ luminescence in the newly synthesized oxysilicates show broad emission lines due to disorder of cations. The relatively high intense magnetic dipole transition ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ points to a more symmetric environment. The photoluminescence results confirm that the compounds have apatite-related crystal structure.     

A comparison of the effect of rare earth vs Si site doping on the conductivities of apatite-type rare earth silicates

Apatite-type lanthanum silicate (La_9.33Si₆O₂₆) has been attracting significant recent interest due to its high oxide ion conductivity. In this paper, synthesis and conductivity data for a range of doped samples (Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, B, Ga and Zn) are reported, in particular, to compare the effect of rare earth vs Si site doping. The results show that Ga, B and Zn favour substitution on the Si site, while Ca, Sr and Ba favour La-site substitution. Mg is shown to be an ambi-site dopant, substituting on either site depending on the starting composition. The samples doped on the Si site show higher conductivities than comparable samples doped on the La site, providing further support for the importance of the silicate network in the conduction process, as initially predicted by atomistic modelling studies. For Ga doping on the Si site, the effect of varying the rare-earth size on the conductivities is also reported.     

Low temperature heat capacities of mechanically alloyed La-doped PbWO4 system

Heat capacity measurements were carried out on Pb_1-xLa_xWO_4+x/2 (x=0.2) and Pb_1-xLa_2x/3WO₄ (x=0.2, 0.5) solid solutions prepared by sintering and mechanical alloying (MA) methods. For all the solid solutions, sintered samples showed slightly larger heat capacity around 100 K in comparison with MA samples, which was presumably caused by the excitation of mobile oxide ion motion. For sintered scheelite-type structured PbWO₄s, high-temperature synthesis introduced oxide ion interstitials even for the Pb_1-xLa_2x/3WO₄ system, which resulted in the excess heat capacity at low temperature for excitation. On the other hand, for the samples prepared by room-temperature MA technique, oxide ion seemed to occupy the regular sites rather than interstitial ones and excess heat capacities were not observed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Role of Annealing Atmosphere on Structure,Dielectric and Magnetic Properties of La2CoMnO6 and La2MgMnO6

Polycrystalline samples of La₂MMnO₆ (M = Co and Mg) were prepared by a combined gel‐combustion and high temperature reaction method. The samples were annealed in different oxygen partial pressure (p_O2) and characterized by powder XRD, SQUID magnetometry, ac impedance spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. Monoclinic (P2₁/n) and rhombohedral (R$\bar{3}$ ) lattices were observed for La₂CoMnO₆ and La₂MgMnO₆, respectively. On annealing in inert atmosphere, La₂MgMnO₆ partially converted to monoclinic La₂CoMnO₆ type structure, whereas no structural change was observed in La₂CoMnO₆. Dielectric studies of La₂CoMnO₆ indicated relaxor like behavior with polaronic conduction, which systematically decreased with the increase in p_O2 of the annealing atmosphere. Magnetic studies indicated multiple ferromagnetic phase transitions in La₂CoMnO₆ and a spin‐glass like phase transition in La₂MgMnO₆. The fraction of ferromagnetic phases of La₂CoMnO₆ was significantly dependent on the annealing environments. The variations of magnetic and dielectric properties of samples were related to the fluctuation of oxidation state of transition metal ions and oxygen vacancies in the samples.     

Crown ether salt catalysis of ester aminolysis in an aprotic solvent

The RCO ₂ ^– catalyzed n-butylaminolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate in chlorobenzene has been studied. Logarithms of the catalytic rate constants can be linearly correlated with Taft polar substituent constants for the R groups. Product analysis as well as the lack of steric hindrance by bulky R substituents indicate that the carboxylates act as general base catalysts.

---

- 4- . R. , R , .

     

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Realstruktur von La2CeTaO6Cl3 und dessen thermischem Abbauprodukt La2CeCe TaO6Cl3−x

High Resolution Electron Microscopy Investigations of La₂CeTaO₆Cl₃ and its Thermal Decomposition Product La₂Ce Ce TaO₆Cl_3?x The thermal decomposition of the hexagonal La₂CeTaO₆Cl₃ led to a mixed-valent product La₂CeCe TaO₆Cl_3?x with a complicated monoclinic structure. The detailed inspection shows two subunits A and B, which form the monoclinic unit cell by a ABAB sequence. The subunit A is almost identical to the hexagonal cell of the starting material while subunit B has additional Ln- and Cl-positions. For this reason, the main structure features of the monoclinic compound and the starting material are related, which is clearly seen in the electron microscopy investigations. As might be expected from the relationship between the subunits A and B one can observe defects in the monoclinic compound arising from the various possibilities of combining these building elements. We also found structure defects in the hexagonal starting material, which are caused by the presence of the subunit B.     

Electroreduction of anions on chemically etched and electrochemically polished Bi(1 1 1) electrode

Electroreduction kinetics of to anions at chemically etched (CHE) and electrochemically polished (EP) Bi(1 1 1) electrodes has been studied using rotating disc electrode method. The surface nanostructure of CHE Bi(1 1 1) and EP Bi(1 1 1) electrodes has been studied by in situ STM and the very different values of root mean squared roughness (Rms) have been obtained (1000 times higher for CHE Bi(1 1 1) (Rms  143 nm) than for EP Bi(1 1 1) (Rms  0.145 nm)). The influence of the nanoroughness of CHE Bi(1 1 1) on the current density, heterogeneous reaction rate constant and corrected Tafel plots (cTp) has been demonstrated. For CHE Bi(1 1 1) the more pronounced inhibition of electroreduction reaction at moderate negative surface charge density has been observed in comparison with EP Bi(1 1 1), caused by the differences in surface charge density and also in diffuse layer ψ₀ potential drop values at crystallographically different homogeneous regions (planes) exposed at the surface of the macroheterogeneous polycrystalline CHE Bi(1 1 1) surface. The very low apparent transfer coefficient α_app obtained indicates the nearly activationless charge transfer mechanism for electroreduction at the CHE Bi(1 1 1) electrode similarly to EP Bi(1 1 1). However, α_app only very weakly depends on Rms for the Bi electrodes at high negative surface charge densities where the values of ψ₀ potential are nearly equal for different planes at fixed electrode potential. At very high negative surface charge densities the cationic catalysis through the adsorbed ion pairs is possible.     

Anion Transport in BaR2F8 Crystals at Elevated Temperatures

Electroconduction of BaR₂F₈ crystals (R = Y_0.9Er_0.1, Y_0.5Yb_0.5, Er_0.945Tm_0.05Ho_0.005) with the structure -BaTm₂F₈ (monoclinic syngony, spatial group C2/m) is studied at 323–1073 K. Effect of partial pyrohydrolysis on the conduction of Ba(Y, Er)₂F₈ single crystals is investigated. Anion conductivity of crystals of Ba(Y, Yb)₂F₈ and Ba(Er, Tm, Ho)₂F₈ is measured at high temperatures. To a first approximation, there is no change in the ion transport mechanism in these crystals at elevated temperatures. Charge carriers in BaR₂F₈ crystals are, most probably, fluorine vacancies, and the anion conductivity reaches 1–2 mS cm^–1 at 1073 K.     

Lanthanhaltige Silicate und Germanate als Halogen- und Oxyapatite

Lanthanum Containing Silicates and Germanates as Halogen Apatites and Oxyapatites Halogen apatites M₄La₆(XO₄)₆Z₂ and oxyapatites M₂La₈(XO₄)₆O₂ have been prepared: M = Sr, Pb, Ba; X = Si, Ge, and Z = F, Cl. The lattice parameters are discussed. The i.r. active internal vibrations of the silicate ion are assigned. A translational vibration of the “free” oxide ions in the oxyapatites causes an intense absorption at about 400 cm^?1 (silicates) and 350 cm^?1 (germanates), resp. The products “M₃La₆(XO₄)₆” and “M₄La₆(XO₄)₆O” are mixtures of various phases. Their respective apatite phase is a solid solution between M₂La₈(XO₄)₆O₂ and the defect apatite M₄La₆(XO₄)₆O□. Its composition mostly approximates to M₂La8(XO₄)₆O₂, however.     

Reactivity of oxalates of La(III), Ba(II) and Cu(II) in ternary mixtures

Composites of cuprates of La(III) and Ba(II) were obtained by decomposing mixtures of oxalates of La(III), Ba(II) and Cu(II) prepared in 111 and 123 mol proportions respectively and sintering the oxide products at 1173 K. Reactions studied by TG, DTA and XRD techniques revealed the following features: (i) Decomposition of oxalates of La(III) and Ba(II) is drastically affected in mixtures. Decomposition temperature of organic part in the former (111) is shifted by 100 K while that of BaCO₃ in the case of latter (123) is shifted by 400 K towards lower temperature side. (ii) All exothermic peaks on DTA traces of both the mixtures are allotted to the decomposition of oxalates to Cu₂O, La₂O₂CO₃ and BaCO₃ phases while endothermic peaks around 863 and 1083 K are assigned for BaCuO₂ and La₂CuO₄ phases respectively in the case of former (111) and endothermic peaks at about 1068, 1136 and 1213 K are correlated with BaCuO₂, a composite of La₂O₃, La₂CuO₄ and La_0.5Ba_0.5CuO_3– (0.5) phases and LaBa₂Cu₃O_7– (0) phase respectively in the case of latter (123) and (iii) Lines of all cuprate compounds appear in XRD patterns of those samples preheated at temperatures 873 K. The following reaction is proposed in the case of 123 mixture: Authors are deeply thankful to the Authorities of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Goverment of India, for providing the funds for research project and to Professor A. V. Phadke, Department of Geology, University of Poona, for the valuable discussion.     

La<Subscript>2</Subscript>M<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>II</Superscript></Stack>Mn<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> (M = Mg,Ca, Sr,or Ba) manganites: Synthesis and X-ray diffraction study

La₂M ₃ ^II Mn₄O₁₂ (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba) manganites have been synthesized by ceramic technology from lanthanum oxide, manganese(III) oxide, and magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium carbonate. X-ray powder diffraction shows that these compounds crystallize in cubic perovskite space group Pm3m.     

Investigation of the stability of Co-doped apatite ionic conductors in NH3

Hydrogen powered solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are of enormous interest as devices for the efficient and clean production of electrical energy. However, a number of problems linked to hydrogen production, storage and transportation are slowing down the larger scale use of SOFCs. Identifying alternative fuel sources to act as intermediate during the transition to the full use of hydrogen is, therefore, of importance. One excellent alternative is ammonia, which is produced on a large scale, is relatively cheap and has the infrastructure for storage and transportation already in place. However, considering that SOFCs operate at temperatures higher than 500 °C, a potential problem is the interaction of gaseous ammonia with the materials in the cathode, anode and solid electrolyte. In this paper, we extend earlier work on high temperature reactions of apatite electrolytes with NH₃ to the transition metal (Co) doped systems, La_9.67Si₅CoO₂₆ and La₁₀(Si/Ge)₅CoO_26.5. A combination of PXRD, TGA and XAFS spectroscopy data showed a better structural stability for the silicate systems. Apatite silicates and germanates not containing transition metals tend to substitute nitride anions for their interstitial oxide anions, when reacted with NH₃ at high temperature and, consequentially, lower the interstitial oxide content. In La_9.67Si₅CoO₂₆ and La₁₀(Si/Ge)₅CoO_26.5 reduction of Co occurs as a competing process, favouring lower levels of nitride-oxide substitution.     

Elektrochemische Synthese von Perowskiten im System K/Ba/Pr/Bi/O

Electrochemical Synthesis of Perovskites in the System K/Ba/Pr/Bi/O An easy procedure for the synthesis of well crystalline samples of (K,Ba)(Pr,Bi)O₃ is provided by anodic oxidation of melts consisting of Ba(OH)₂ / KOH / Pr(NO₃)₃ / Bi(NO₃)₃, at comparatively low temperatures of about 220 °C. We have explored the influence of different parameters like temperature, potential of the working electrode, and composition of the electrolyte. Chemical and thermal analyses were performed. Products obtained at different experimental conditions revealed different Ba/K and Pr/Bi ratios with a large homogeneity range. X‐Ray powder diffraction and single crystal structure analyses of K_xBa_1?xPr_yBi_1?yO₃ proved these compounds to be cubic perovskites. Barium and potassium ions are disordered occupying the A‐sites while praseodym and bismuth ions share the B‐sites or are ordered, as indicated by a doubling of the lattice parameter. The composition x and y can independently be altered. XPS analysis and physical properties are reported and discussed.     

Crystal,electronic structure and hydrogenation properties of the Mg5.57Ni16Ge7.43 cluster phase with a new type of polyhedron

The ternary germanide Mg_5.57Ni₁₆Ge_7.43 (cubic, space group Fmm, cF116) belongs to the structural family based on the Th₆Mn₂₃-type. The Ge1 and Ge2 atoms fully occupy the 4a (mm symmetry) and 24d (m.mm) sites, respectively. The Ni1 and Ni2 atoms both fully occupy two 32f sites (.3m symmetry). The Mg/Ge statistical mixture occupies the 24e site with 4m.m symmetry. The structure of the title compound contains a three-core-shell cluster. At (0,0,0), there is a Ge1 atom which is surrounded by eight Ni atoms at the vertices of a cube and consequently six Mg atoms at the vertices of an octahedron. These surrounded eight Ni and six Mg atoms form a [Ge1Ni₈(Mg/Ge)₆] rhombic dodecahedron with a coordination number of 14. The [GeNi₈(Mg/Ge)₆] rhombic dodecahedron is encapsulated within the [Ni₂₄] rhombicuboctahedron, which is again encapsulated within an [Ni₃₂(Mg/Ge)₂₄] pentacontatetrahedron; thus, the three-core-shell cluster [GeNi₈(Mg/Ge)₆@Ni₂₄@Ni₃₂(Mg/Ge)₂₄] results. The pentacontatetrahedron is a new representative of Pavlyuk's polyhedra group based on pentagonal, tetragonal and trigonal faces. The dominance of the metallic type of bonding between atoms in the Mg_5.57Ni₁₆Ge_7.43 structure is confirmed by the results of the electronic structure calculations. The hydrogen sorption capacity of this intermetallic at 570 K reaches 0.70 wt% H₂.     

Extraction-pyrolytic synthesis and magnetic properties of lanthanum manganites

The synthesis of nanosized manganites LaMnO₃ and La_1–xK_xMnO₃, where x = 0.1, 0.15, 0.185, by low-temperature extraction-pyrolytic method was shown to be promising. Temperature and field dependences for the specific magnetization of the obtained specimens were studied. The dependence of magnetic characteristics on the concentration of doping potassium ion in the studied lanthanum manganites was revealed.     

Crystal structure and electron density in the apatite-type ionic conductor La9.71(Si5.81Mg0.18)O26.37

Crystal structure and electron density in the apatite-type ionic conductor La_9.71(Si_5.81Mg_0.18)O_26.37 have been investigated at 302, 674 and 1010 K by Rietveld refinement and a whole-pattern fitting approach based on the maximum-entropy method (MEM) using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data. Second harmonic generation measurements indicated that the space group of this material is centrosymmetric. Among the possible hexagonal groups P6₃/m, P6₃ and the former is correct for La_9.71(Si_5.81Mg_0.18)O_26.37. Rietveld refinements suggested an oxygen interstitial site (0.03,0.15,0.85) near the hexagonal axis. MEM analyses revealed that the Si_0.97Mg_0.03 atom has covalent bonds with four adjacent oxygen atoms to form a tetrahedron. The oxygen O4 atom located at the 2a site (0.0,0.0,1/4) exhibited large atomic displacement parameters along the c axis and electron density mapping also indicated the wide distribution consistent with migration of oxygen ions in this direction.     

Transport and electrocatalytic properties of La0.3Sr0.7Co0.8Ga0.2O3−δ membranes

Incorporation of gallium into the perovskite lattice of La_0.3Sr_0.7CoO_3– leads to increasing unit cell volume and to decreasing thermal expansion, total conductivity and oxygen permeability. At 973–1223 K, the oxygen permeation fluxes through La_0.3Sr_0.7Co_0.8Ga_0.2O_3– ceramics with 96.5% density are determined by the bulk ionic conduction and surface exchange rates. The total conductivity of La_0.3Sr_0.7Co_0.8Ga_0.2O_3–, predominantly p-type electronic, exhibits an apparent pseudometallic behavior due to oxygen losses on heating, whereas the p(O₂) dependencies of the conductivity and Seebeck coefficient suggest a small-polaron mechanism of hole transport. The average thermal expansion coefficients in air are 15.9×10^–6 K^–1 at 360–710 K and 27.9×10^–6 K^–1 at 710–1030 K. On decreasing oxygen pressure down to 4–30 Pa at 973–1223 K, perovskite-type La_0.3Sr_0.7Co_0.8Ga_0.2O_3– transforms into a brownmillerite-like modification, whose electrical properties are essentially p(O₂) independent. Further reduction results in the decomposition of the brownmillerite into a multiphase oxide mixture at p(O₂)=8×10^–10–3×10^–4 Pa, and then in the segregation of metallic cobalt. Due to surface-limited oxygen transport, La_0.3Sr_0.7Co_0.8Ga_0.2O_3– membranes are, however, kinetically stable under an air/CH₄ gradient up to 1223 K. The conversion of dry methane in model membrane reactors increases with oxygen permeation flux and temperature, but yields high CO₂ concentrations (>90%), indicating a dominant role of complete CH₄ oxidation on the membrane surface.     

Electronic structures of YBa2Cu3OY doped by La

Based on the EHMO approach, the band structures for the Y? Ba? Cu? O superconductors doped by La were calculated. The influence of the partial substitutions of La for Y and Ba in YBa₂CU₃O_y on its electronic structures was investigated. The results demonstrate that the La doping at the Ba site has a great effect on the electronic structures of the Y? Ba? Cu? O superconductors, whereas the change in the band structures caused by the La doping at the Y site is very small. The increase in the oxygen content caused by the La doping results in an increase in the densities of states at E_f, N(E_f), for La_1+x Ba_2?xCu₃O_y, but the increase in N(E_f) cannot compensate the decrease caused by the La doping at the Ba site. In addition, the 2D Cu? O planes are much more sensitive to the change in N(E_f) than are the 1D Cu? O ribbons, which implies an important role of the 2D Cu? 0 planes in the Y? Ba? Cu? O superconducting system, regardless of whether La substitutes for Y or for Ba. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.