Surface acidity of the La2O3/Al2O3 system

Surface acidity of aluminium oxide containing 5 wt. % lanthanum oxide has been determined by IR spectroscopy. Strength of Lewis sites of the La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ system was lower than that of pure aluminium oxide. However, the presence of La₂O₃ in aluminium oxide increased the thermostability of these sites in the mixed system.     

透明Al2O3陶瓷中发光性能的研究

采用传统陶瓷工艺制备了不同MgO添加量的Al2O3透明多晶陶瓷;研究了Al2O3透明陶瓷的光谱性能,发现在410和294 nm处有明显的发射峰.通过对其激发和吸收光谱的研究,表明它们分别是由F+和F色心造成的.进一步的分析显示,这些色心是由于陶瓷中加入的添加剂MgO产生的氧空位所致.     

Preparation, morphology and properties of nano-sized Al2O3/polyimide hybrid films

Nano-sized Al₂O₃/polyimide (PI) hybrid films based on 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) were prepared by incorporation with different content of nano-sized Al₂O₃ via in situ polymerization. The TEM and SEM micrographs indicated that the Al₂O₃ particles were homogenously dispersed in the polyimide matrix by means of the ultrasonic treatment and the addition of coupling agent. The mechanical properties and thermal stability of the pure PI film can be improved by adequate addition of Al₂O₃. The PI hybrid film was strengthened and toughened simultaneously by the introduction of the well-dispersed Al₂O₃ particles. The PI hybrid films showed improved electrical aging performance as compared with pure PI film. Especially, the PI hybrid films with 10 wt.% of Al₂O₃ content exhibited obviously enhanced electrical aging performance with the time to failure of 3.4 times longer than that of pure PI film. The improved electrical aging performance of the hybrid film was attributed to the nano-sized Al₂O₃ particles highly dispersed in the hybrid film, which confirmed by the investigation of the morphology and the surface composition of PI hybrid film before and after electrical aging.     

Determination of diffusion induced concentration profiles in Cr2O3 films on ceramic Al2O3 by Auger sputter depth profiling

Annealing induced interface and bulk effects in thin Cr₂O₃ films on aluminum oxide have been studied. The investigated samples have been prepared by reactive r.f. magnetron sputter deposition of Cr₂O₃ on ceramic Al₂O₃ substrates. Annealing at temperatures up to 1250° C have been carried out in situ under ultra high vacuum. Temperature induced compositional changes have been subsequently determined by AES sputter depth profiling without breaking the vacuum. The non-conducting substrates and the overlap of the Cr-(LMM)- and O-(KLL)-Auger peaks required special analysis parameters and spectra interpretation to obtain the concentration depth profiles of the different elements (Al, O, Cr).     

Improved adhesion of copper on Al2O3

Summary Improved methods for Al₂O₃ metallization by Cu are described. Good adhesion between Cu and Al₂O₃ substrate depends on the formation of chemical bonds between the substrate and the metallic layer. The temperature needed for the formation of a CuAl₂O₄ spinel interface is reduced from 1050°C to 900°C by the addition of various oxides. The adhesion between the CuAl₂O₄ interface and deposited Cu is stronger then the tensile strength of pure Cu. Plasma techniques for the formation of a Cu containing interface are also described. Bombardment of a Cu film with Xe⁺ ions in a rf-glow discharge implants Cu atoms into the substrate to a depth of 5 nm, as determined by SIMS depth profiling. Methods for reduction of the CuAl₂O₄ surface for subsequent metallization are also presented.     

The formation and physicochemical characterization of Al2O3-doped manganese ferrites

Mn/Fe mixed oxide solids doped with Al₂O₃ (0.32-1.27 wt.%) were prepared by impregnation of manganese nitrate with finely powdered ferric oxide, then treated with different amounts of aluminum nitrate. The obtained samples were calcined in air at 700-1000 °C for 6 h. The specific surface area (S_BET) and the catalytic activity of pure and doped precalcined at 700-1000 °C have been measured by using N₂ adsorption isotherms and CO oxidation by O₂. The structure and the phase changes were characterized by DTA and XRD techniques. The obtained results revealed that Mn₂O₃ interacted readily with Fe₂O₃ to produce well-crystallized manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) at temperatures of 800 °C and above. The degree of propagation of this reaction increased by Al₂O₃-doping and also by increasing the heating temperature. The treatment with 1.27 wt.% Al₂O₃ followed by heating at 1000 °C resulted in complete conversion of Mn/Fe oxides into the corresponding ferrite phase. The catalytic activity and S_BET of pure and doped solids were found to decrease, by increasing both the calcination temperature and the amount of Al₂O₃ added, due to the enhanced formation of MnFe₂O₄ phase which is less reactive than the free oxides (Mn₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃). The activation energy of formation (ΔE) of MnFe₂O₄ was determined for pure and doped solids. The promotion effect of aluminum in formation of MnFe₂O₄ was attributed to an effective increase in the mobility of reacting cations.     

TPR studies on steam reforming of 2-propanol on Rh/Al2O3, Ru/Al2O3 and Pd/Al2O3

Reaction pathways for steam reforming of 2-propanol (isopropyl alcohol, IPA) on Rh/Al₂O₃, Ru/Al₂O₃ and Pd/Al₂O₃ have been studied by temperature-programmed reactions (TPRs) of IPA and acetone in the presence of steam. The results of TPRs suggest that that of IPA on Rh/Al₂O₃ and Ru/Al₂O₃ proceeds via acetone, while the steam reforming of IPA on Pd/Al₂O₃ takes place via propene from acetone. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetics of catalytic combustion in air over Pt/Al2O3/Al catalyst

Summary Catalytic combustion of toluene, propylene and CO over Pt/Al₂O₃ /Al catalyst was investigated. Strong inhibition effects are observed when the mixture of toluene, propylene and CO is oxidized. A reaction mechanism of catalytic combustion over Pt/Al₂O/Al is proposed. The results from kinetic models are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Effect of inert components (Y2O3, Al2O3, and Ga2O3) on the chemistimulating effect of the Sb2O3 activator of GaAs thermal oxidation

Chemistimilated thermal oxidation of gallium arsenide was studied using Sb₂O₃ activator oxide in compositions with Ga₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and Y₂O₃ inert components. For Sb₂O₃-Y₂O₃ compositions, the thickness of the resulting oxide layer on GaAs was found to be a linear function of composition over the enter range of the compositions. For antimony oxide compositions with Ga₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ inert components, nonadditivities were observed near the component ordinates. For the Sb₂O₃-Ga₂O₃ system, the chemistimulating efficiency noticeably weakened at low concentrations of the inert component. The linear trend observed for this system within 0–60 mol % Sb₂O₃ is additively determined by the oxide layer thickness on GaAs in the presence of Sb₂O₃ and in the absence of activator. In the presence of inert Al₂O₃, the chemistimulating effect was enhanced near the Al₂O₃ ordinate and the resulting function was nonadditive with respect to the thicknesses reached in the presence of the individual components.     

Structural changes resulting from doping Ti2O3 with Sc2O3 or Al2O3

The crystal structures of (Ti_1?xSc_x)₂O₃, x = 0.0038, 0.0109, and 0.0413, and of (Ti_0.99Al_0.01)₂O₃, have been determined from X-ray diffraction data collected from single crystals using an automated diffractometer, and have been refined to weighted residuals of 25–34. Cell constants have also been determined for x = 0.0005, 0.0019, and 0.0232. The compounds are rhombohedral, space group $\text{R}\text{3}\text{c}$, and are isomorphous with α-Al₂O₃. The hexagonal cell dimensions range from a = 5.1573(2)Å, c = 13.613(1)Å for (Ti_0.9995Sc_0.0005)₂O₃ to a = 5.1659(4)Å, c = 13.644(1)Å for (Ti_0.9587Sc_0.0413)₂O₃, and a = 5.1526(2)Å, c = 13.609(1)Å for (Ti_0.99Al_0.01)₂O₃. Sc and Al substitution cause similar increases in the short near-neighbor metal-metal distance across the shared octahedral face; for Sc doping the increase is from 2.578(1) Å in pure Ti₂O₃ to 2.597(1) Å in (Ti_0.9587Sc_0.0413)₂O₃. By contrast, changes in the metal-metal distance across the shared octahedral edge appear to be governed by ionic size effects. The distance increases from 2.994(1) Å in Ti₂O₃ to 3.000(1) Å in (Ti_0.9587Sc_0.0413)₂O₃ and decreases to 2.991(1) Å in (Ti_0.99Al_0.01)₂O₃.     

Effect of sol-gel derived Al2O3-ZrO2 and Al2O3-TiO2 oxides on the selectivity of NO reduction by CO under oxidizing conditions

The role of Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃-TiO₂ sol-gel prepared supports in the activity of platinum for the NO reduction by CO under oxidizing conditions has been studied. ²⁷Al MAS-NMR spectra have shown the formation of pentacoordinate Al^V in alumina-zirconia support. ZrO₂ or TiO₂ crystalline phases cannot be identified by XRD diffraction, suggesting the formation of nanosized structures supported on alumina. When the reaction was carried out in presence of oxygen, large amounts of NO₂ were observed on Pt/Al₂O₃-ZrO₂catalyst, while the formation of N₂O is more prononced on Pt/Al₂O₃-TiO₂ catalyst. The effect of water during NO reduction is discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The support and characterization of C60 and MoO3 on Al2O3

A new type of catalyst from supporting C₆₀ on MoO₃ and Al₂O₃ has been prepared. The effect of different order of impregnation and calcination atmosphere on catalyst are investigated by the solution test in toluene, UV-VIS spectroscopy and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The results show that when the catalyst was prepared by supporting MoO₃ on C₆₀/Al₂O₃ and calcined in N₂, there is a stronger interaction between C₆₀, MoO₃ and Al₂O₃, but when supporting C₆₀ on MoO₃/Al₂O₃, the interaction is relatively weak. We consider that in the former method a new complex, Mo–C₆₀–O–Al, is formed.     

Heterogeneous and homogeneous electrochemiluminoimmunoassays of hTSH at disposable oxide-covered aluminum electrodes

Heterogeneous and homogeneous immunoassays of human thyroid stimulating hormone (hTSH) were developed on immunometric basis using aromatic Tb(III) chelates as electrochemiluminescent labels and varied types of disposable oxide-covered aluminum electrodes as the solid phase of the immunoassays. The long luminescence lifetime of the present labels allows the use of time-resolved electrochemiluminescence detection and provide the low detection limits of these labels and, thus, sensitive immunoassays. The primary antibody of immunometric immunoassays was coated upon aluminum oxide surface by physical absorption. In homogeneous immunoassays using 66 μl cell and 15 min incubation time, a linear calibration range of 0.25-324 μU/ml was obtained by applying only a single cathodic excitation pulse in the detection step of the assay.     

Photodegradation of 2,4-D over PdO/Al2O3-Nd2O3 photocatalysts prepared by the sol-gel method

The photocatalytic activity of 1.0 wt% PdO supported on Al₂O₃-Nd₂O₃ binary oxides prepared by the sol-gel method was studied in the photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The photocatalysts were characterized by N₂ physisorption, XRD and UV-vis spectroscopy. PdO supported on γ-Al₂O₃ photo-degrades the 2,4-D, however the addition of Nd₂O₃ to γ-Al₂O₃ notably improves the photocatalytic activity. As the concentration of Nd₂O₃ in the binary oxide increases from 2 to 10 wt%, the photodegradation of 2,4-D is highly enhanced. The catalytic test for PdO supported on pure Nd₂O₃ showed scarce photocatalytic activity. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis showed that the 2,4-D has been completely destroyed on the PdO/Al₂O₃-Nd₂O₃ photocatalysts after 6 h under irradiation.     

Characterization and evaluation of Fe2O3/Al2O3 oxygen carrier prepared by sol–gel combustion synthesis

The sol-gel combustion synthesis (SGCS) for oxygen carrier (OC) to be used in chemical looping combustion (CLC) was first designed and experimented in this work, which is a new method of OC synthesis by combining sol-gel technique and solution combustion synthesis. Cheap hydrated metal nitrates and urea were adopted as precursors to prepare Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ OC at the molar ratio to unity (Fe1Al1), which was characterized through various means, including Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffractor (XRD), and N₂ isothermal adsorption/desorption method. FTIR analysis on the chemical structure of the dried gel of Fe1Al1 indicated that urea was partly hydrolyzed and the hydrated basic carbonate was formed by the combination of groups such as (Fe(_1−yAl_y)_1−xO_1−3x, CO₃²⁻ and -OH-. By analyzing the staged products during SGCS, calcination was found as a necessary step to produce Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ OC with separate phases of α-Fe₂O₃ and α-Al₂O₃. Through TGA-DTA, the decomposition of the dried gel was found to undergo five stages. The analysis of the evolved gases from the gel decomposition using FTIR partially confirmed the staged decomposition and assisted a better understanding of the mechanism of SGCS. XRD identification further substantiated the necessity of calcination to synthesize Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ OC with separate phases of α-Fe₂O₃ and α-Al₂O₃, though it was not necessary for the synthesis of single phase α-Fe₂O₃ and α-Al₂O₃. Structural characterization performed on N₂ adsorption analyzer displayed that the pore shape of Fe1Al1 particles was heterogeneous. Finally, H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) of Fe1Al1 products in TGA indicated that the reduction reaction of Fe1Al1 OC after calcination was a single step reaction from α-Fe₂O₃ to Fe, and calcination benefited to improve the transfer rate of the lattice oxygen from the OC to fuel H₂. Furthermore, four times of reduction and oxidization (redox) reaction by alternating with H₂ and air demonstrated the synthesized OC had good reactivity and sintering-resistance, much suitable to be used in the realistic CLC. Overall, the SGCS method was found superior to other existent methods to prepare Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ OC for CLC application.     

系列硅铝比纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛的合成和表征

以自制不对称双子季铵盐表面活性剂为模板, 在水热合成体系中控制合成系列硅铝比纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛.采用X射线衍射(XRD)、N₂吸附-脱附、X射线荧光光谱(XRF)、扫描电镜(SEM)和²⁷Al魔角旋转核磁共振(²⁷Al MAS-NMR)对合成的样品进行了表征. 详细研究了晶化温度、晶化时间、结构导向剂(SDA)用量、碱度等对合成的影响和纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛的形成过程. 结果表明: 分子筛硅铝比越高, 结构导向剂用量越大, 所需的晶化时间越短; 晶化温度越高, 晶化时间越短; 且不同硅铝比纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛的形貌规整度、比表面积和介孔/微孔孔容比例随着硅铝比而变化.     

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over Ru/Al2O3 catalysts

Fischer-Tropsch syntheses (FTS) were carried out in a slurry phase over Ru/Al₂O₃ catalysts using hexadecane as a solvent. The outcome of the FTS was dependent on the oxide support, calcination temperature, synthesis gas composition and sulfur content. The addition of Mn/Na to Ru/Al₂O₃ was effective in raising the initial activity and C5+ selectivity, but after 20 hours, the performance of the modified catalyst was similar to that of the unmodified catalyst. An additional investigation involving the use of fresh vs used catalysts demonstrated that an agglomeration of the metallic Ru, at least in part, does occur during the reaction.     

Alkylation of phenol with dimethyl carbonate over AlPO4, Al2O3 and AlPO4-Al2O3 catalysts

The vapor-phase catalytic alkylation of phenol with dimethyl carbonate over different AlPO₄ (Al/P=1), Al₂O₃ and AlPO₄-Al₂O₃ (5–25 wt.% Al₂O₃) catalysts produces anisole (O-alkylation) as the major reaction product althougho-cresol (C-alkylation) and methylanisoles were also found. The reaction is first order in phenol while O-and C-alkylation follow parallel processes. As compared with methanol, DMC is far more effective as a methylating agent, and the methylation proceeds at a lower temperature and with higher O-alkylation selectivity.     

AES investigation of thermally sprayed Al2O3 coatings on steel

Summary The investigation of plasma sprayed steel/Al₂O₃ composites by means of Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) combined with depth profile analysis is described. Incomplete sprayed Al₂O₃ layers permit analysis of single sprayed particles and of surrounding uncovered steel substrate regions. More complete coatings are separated from the substrates, so that contact surfaces of substrates and Al₂O₃ layers can be analyzed. In order to determine the influence of preheating the substrates on the interface widths between steel substrate and Al₂O₃ coating and therefore on the adherence mechanism, both procedures are carried out for two preheating temperatures. It is shown that preheating hardly effects the interface widths beneath single sprayed particles but it causes laterally constant widths for complete layer fragments. Additionally, a comprehensive view about oxide layer thicknesses on the steel substrates before and after plasma spraying is offered.     

Crystal-chemistry of mullite-type aluminoborates Al18B4O33 and Al5BO9: A stoichiometry puzzle

Orthorhombic Al₂O₃-rich aluminoborate is an important ceramic material for which two slightly different compositions have been assumed: Al₅BO₉ (5Al₂O₃:B₂O₃) and Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ (9Al₂O₃:2B₂O₃). The formula Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ (=Al_4.91B_1.09O₉) was derived from results of chemical analyses when crystal structure data were not yet available. Subsequent structural investigations indicated Al₅BO₉ composition. Nevertheless, Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ was still accepted as the correct stoichiometry assuming that additional B replaces 9% Al.Powder samples of both compositions and ones with excess boron were prepared by solid state reactions between α-Al₂O₃ and B₂O₃/H₃BO₃ at temperatures above 1100 °C and single-crystals were grown from flux at 1100 and 1550 °C. Products were investigated by single-crystal and powder XRD, ¹¹B and ²⁷Al solid-state MAS-NMR, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as well as Laser-ablation ICP-MS. No indication of the predicted 9% B→Al substitution was found. LA ICP-MS indicated 12.36(27) wt% B₂O₃ corresponding to Al_4.97B_1.03O₉. Hence, the suggested Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ stoichiometry can be excluded for all synthesized samples. A very low amount of Al vacancies at a five-fold coordinated site are likely, charge balanced by an additional nearby three-fold coordinated B site. All evidences indicate that the title compound should be reported as Al_5−xB_1+xO₉ with x<0.038(6), which is close to Al₅BO₉.