Thermodynamic properties of two zinc borates: 3ZnO·3B2O3·3.5H2O and 6ZnO·5B2O3·3H2O

Two pure zinc borates with microporous structure 3ZnO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O and 6ZnO·5B₂O₃·3H₂O have been synthesized and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TG techniques and chemical analysis. The molar enthalpies of solution of 3ZnO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O(s) and 6ZnO·5B₂O₃·3H₂O(s) in 1 mol · dm⁻³ HCl(aq) were measured by microcalorimeter at T = 298.15 K, respectively. The molar enthalpies of solution of ZnO(s) in the mixture solvent of 2.00 cm³ of 1 mol · dm⁻³ HCl(aq) in which 5.30 mg of H₃BO₃ were added were also measured. With the incorporation of the previously determined enthalpy of solution of H₃BO₃(s) in 1 mol · dm⁻³ HCl(aq), together with the use of the standard molar enthalpies of formation for ZnO(s), H₃BO₃(s), and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpies of formation of −(6115.3 ± 5.0) kJ · mol⁻¹ for 3ZnO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O and −(9606.6 ± 8.5) kJ · mol⁻¹ for 6ZnO·5B₂O₃·3H₂O at T = 298.15 K were obtained on the basis of the appropriate thermochemical cycles.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and thermodynamic properties of 2ZnO · 3B2O3 · 3H2O

The important zinc borate of 2ZnO · 3B₂O₃ · 3H₂O has been synthesized and characterized by means of chemical analysis, XRD, FT-IR, and DTA–TG techniques. The molar enthalpies of solution of H₃BO₃(s) in HCl · 54.561H₂O, of ZnO(s) in the mixture of HCl · 54.561H₂O and calculated amount of H₃BO₃, and of 2ZnO · 3B₂O₃ · 3H₂O(s) in HCl · 54.604H₂O were measured, respectively. With the use of the standard molar enthalpies of formation for ZnO(s), H₃BO₃(s), and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of ?(5561.7 ± 4.9) kJ · mol^?1 for 2ZnO · 3B₂O₃ · 3H₂O(s) was obtained. Thermodynamic properties of this compound were also calculated by a group contribution method.     

(Liquid + solid) metastable equilibria in quinary system Li2CO3 + Na2CO3 + K2CO3 + Li2B4O7 + Na2B4O7 + K2B4O7 + H2O at T=288 K for Zhabuye salt lake

An experimental study on metastable equilibria at T=288 K in the quinary system Li₂CO₃ + Na₂CO₃ + K₂CO₃ + Li₂B₄O₇ + Na₂B₄O₇ + K₂B₄O₇ + H₂O was done by isothermal evaporation method. Metastable equilibrium solubilities and densities of the solution were determined experimentally. According to the experimental data, the metastable equilibrium phase diagram under the condition saturated with Li₂CO₃ was plotted, in which there are four invariant points; nine univariant curves; six fields of crystallization: K₂CO₃ · 3/2H₂O, K₂B₄O₇ · 5H₂O, Li₂B₂O₄ · 16H₂O, Na₂B₂O₄ · 8H₂O, Na₂CO₃ · 10H₂O, NaKCO₃ · 6H₂O. Some differences were found between the stable phase diagram at T=298 K and the metastable one at T=288 K.     

Chimie douce preparation of CuxZn3−xV2O7(OH)2·yH2O isostructural to trigonal zinc pyrovanadate

New Cu_xZn_3−xV₂O₇(OH)₂·yH₂O (0 < x ≤ 1.5) isostructural to zinc pyrovanadate Zn₃V₂O₇(OH)₂·2H₂O, were successfully prepared by using a chimie douce technique. The method consists in mixing zinc nitrate and copper nitrate with a boiling solution of vanadium oxide (obtained by reacting V₂O₅ with few millilitres of 30 vol.% H₂O₂ followed by addition of distilled water). When ammonium hydroxide NH₄OH 10% was added (pH ≈ 6), a precipitate was obtained. Using powder X-ray diffraction data, the crystal structures of as-prepared samples were determined by Rietveld refinement. Copper substitutes zinc in the zinc pyrovanadate lattice and is found to introduce distortion in the structure, which is mainly due to the Jahn–Teller effect. Distortion becomes more pronounced when the amount of copper is increased. This restricts the amount of copper which can be incorporated in the hexagonal zinc pyrovanadate lattice.     

Thermodynamic properties of chloropinnoite

The molar enthalpies of solution of 2MgO · 2B₂O₃ · MgCl₂ · 14H₂O in approximately 1 mol · dm⁻³ aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCl) and of MgCl₂ · 6H₂O(s) in aqueous (approximately 1 mol · dm⁻³ HCl + MgCl₂ + H₃BO₃) at T=298.15 K were determined. From a combination of these results with measured enthalpies of solution of boric acid (H₃BO₃) in HCl(aq) and of magnesium oxide (MgO) in aqueous (HCl + H₃BO₃) solution, together with the standard molar enthalpies of formation of MgO(s), H₃BO₃(s), MgCl₂ · 6H₂O(s) and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(8812 ± 3) kJ · mol⁻¹ of 2MgO · 2B₂O₃ · MgCl₂ · 14H₂O was obtained. Thermodynamic properties of this compound were also calculated by group contribution method.     

The new high-pressure borate Co7B24O42(OH)2·2 H2O—Formation of edge-sharing BO4 tetrahedra in a hydrated borate

The new borate hydrate Co₇B₂₄O₄₂(OH)₂·2 H₂O was synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions of 6 GPa and 880 °C in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbam (Z=2) with the lattice parameters a=819.0(2), b=2016.9(4), c=769.9(2) pm, V=1.2717(4) nm³, R₁=0.0758, wR₂=0.0836 (all data). The new structure type of Co₇B₂₄O₄₂(OH)₂·2 H₂O is built up from corner-sharing BO₄ tetrahedra forming corrugated layers, that are interconnected among each other by two edge-sharing BO₄ tetrahedra (B₂O₆ units) forming Z-shaped channels. Interestingly, the here presented structure of Co₇B₂₄O₄₂(OH)₂·2 H₂O is closely related to the structures of M₆B₂₂O₃₉·H₂O (M=Fe, Co), which exhibit BO₄ tetrahedra in an intermediate state on the way to edge-sharing BO₄ tetrahedra.     

Synthesis and structural determination of new multidimensional coordination polymers with 4,4′-oxybis(benzoate) building ligands: Construction of coordination polymers with heteroorganic bridges

We report on the synthesis and crystal structures of two new zinc coordination polymers with 4,4′-oxybis(benzoate) (oba) ligands. Single crystals of [Zn₂(oba)₂(azpy)(dmf)₂] · 6DMF(azpy = 4,4′-azopyridine) and [Zn₂(oba)₂(bpe)] · 2DMF · 4H₂O (bpe = trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene) were prepared by treatment of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O with the H₂oba and bis-pyridine type ligands, azpy and bpe, respectively, in DMF. Compound [Zn₂(oba)₂(azpy)(dmf)₂] · 6DMF has a unique ladder structure comprising of heteroorganic bridges, in which the Zn–oba chains construct the side rails, while the Zn–azpy–Zn parts construct the rungs of the ladder framework. Despite the large size of the cavities, these ladder chains stack without interpenetration, and the cavities in the ladder framework are partially connected to create one-dimensional channel-like cavities. Compound [Zn₂(oba)₂(bpe)] · 2DMF · 4H₂O exhibits a three-dimensional coordination framework that is comprised of heteroorganic bridges. The framework is interwoven by two-dimensional layers of [Zn₂(oba)₂] and the Zn₂–bpe chains. The three-dimensional framework, which contains large cavities, about 13 × 11 Å² in area, has a high porosity and a density of only 0.53 g cm⁻³.     

Synthesis of Co3O4 nanostructures using a solvothermal approach

The controlled synthesis of Co₃O₄ nanostructures with morphologies of micro-spheres, nanobelts, and nanoplates was successfully achieved by a simple solvothermal method. Various comparison experiments showed that several experimental parameters, such as the reaction temperature and the concentration of NH₃·H₂O, play important roles in the morphological control of Co₃O₄ nanostructures. A lower temperature and a lower concentration of NH₃·H₂O favor spherical products with a diameter of 1–1.5 μm, whereas a higher temperature and a higher concentration of NH₃·H₂O generally lead to the formation of nanobelts with a width of 20–150 nm. In addition, Co₃O₄ hexagonal nanoplates with an edge length of about 200–300 nm are also obtained by adding surfactant CTAB. A rational mechanism is proposed for the selective formation of various morphologies. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) were used to characterize the products.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and thermochemistry of metalloborophosphate of Na2[CuB3P2O11(OH)]·0.67H2O

The pure hydrated metalloborophosphate sample, Na₂[CuB₃P₂O₁₁(OH)]·0.67H₂O, has been synthesized and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, DTA-TG techniques, and chemical analysis. The molar enthalpies of solution of Na₂[CuB₃P₂O₁₁(OH)]·0.67H₂O(s) in 1 mol · dm^?3 HCl (aq), of Cu(OH)₂ (s) in (HCl + H₃BO₃) (aq), and of NaH₂PO₄·2H₂O (s) in (HCl + H₃BO₃ + Cu(OH)₂) (aq) were measured, respectively. With the incorporation of the previously determined enthalpy of solution of H₃BO₃ (s) in 1 mol · dm^?3 HCl (aq), together with the use of the standard molar enthalpies of formation for NaH₂PO₄·2H₂O (s), Cu(OH)₂ (s), H₃BO₃ (s), and H₂O (l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of ?(4988.4 ± 2.5) kJ · mol^?1 for Na₂[CuB₃P₂O₁₁(OH)]·0.67H₂O at T = 298.15 K was obtained on the basis of the appropriate thermochemical cycle.     

Thermodynamic properties of hydrated cesium pentaborate

The enthalpies of solution of β-CsB₅O₈ · 4H₂O in HCl (aq), and of CsCl in (HCl + H₃BO₃) (aq) were determined. With the incorporation of the previously determined enthalpy of solution of H₃BO₃ in HCl (aq) and the standard molar enthalpies of formation of CsCl (s), H₃BO₃ (s), HCl (aq), and H₂O (l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of β-CsB₅O₈ · 4H₂O of −(4846.29 ± 0.58) kJ · mol⁻¹ was obtained. Thermodynamic properties of this compound were also calculated by a group contribution method.     

(Solid + liquid) metastable equilibria in quaternary system (Li2SO4 + K2SO4 + Li2B4O7 + K2B4O7 + H2O) at T = 288 K

Metastable equilibrium solubilities and properties such as densities, conductivity, pH, refractive index, and viscosity of the solution were determined experimentally. According to the experimental data, the metastable equilibrium phase diagram was plotted. In the phase diagram, there are three invariant points, seven univariant curves, five fields of crystallization: Li₂SO₄ · H₂O, K₂SO₄, Li₂B₄O₇ · 3H₂O, K₂B₄O₇ · 4H₂O, and K₂SO₄ · Li₂SO₄. The double salt K₂SO₄ · Li₂SO₄ was found in the quaternary system metastable equilibria. Lithium sulfate (Li₂SO₄) has the highest concentration and strong salting-out effects on other salts.Also, the relationship diagram between the properties and the ion concentration of solution was constructed. It can be seen from the relationship diagram that the equilibrium solution density values, viscosity values, and refractive index values are increased apparently with the rise of sulfate ion concentration, reaching the maximum values at eutonic point F3. Electrical conductivity values and pH values, however, fall down with the rise of ion concentration on the whole.     

Electrospun nano-vanadium pentoxide cathode

Nanocrystallites of vanadium pentoxide were synthesized by the hydrothermal treatment of electrospun composite nanofibers. Each crystallite of dimension ?100 nm was found to be a single crystal of δ-phase H_xV₄O₁₀ · nH₂O. The crystallinity and morphology was maintained on heating to 500 °C when V₂O₅ was formed. The electrochemical capacity of the nano-V₂O₅ in a lithium cell was found to be above 350 mAh/g. The columbic efficiency is close to 100% when small amounts of lithium bis(oxalato)borate is added to the LiPF₆ electrolyte.     

A simple synthesis and room temperature magnetic properties of new binary Mn0.5Fe0.5(H2PO4)2·xH2O obtained from a rapid co-precipitation at ambient temperature

A new binary Mn_0.5Fe_0.5(H₂PO₄)₂·xH₂O powder was synthesized by simple and cost-effective method using phosphoric acid, manganese and iron metals as starting chemicals. The synthesized solid shows the complex thermal transformations and the final decomposition product is a new binary manganese iron cyclo-tetraphosphate, MnFeP₄O₁₂. The X-ray diffraction and FTIR results indicate that the synthesized new binary Mn_0.5Fe_0.5(H₂PO₄)₂·xH₂O and the decomposition MnFeP₄O₁₂ powders are a pure monoclinic phase with space group P2₁/n (Z = 2) and C2/c (Z = 4), respectively. The particle morphologies of Mn_0.5Fe_0.5(H₂PO₄)₂·xH₂O and MnFeP₄O₁₂ powders appear as the rod-like tetragonal shape and show a high agglomeration of small particles, which are similar to the case of Mn(H₂PO₄)₂·2H₂O and Fe₂P₄O₁₂, respectively. Room temperature magnetization results show a ferromagnetic behavior of the Mn_0.5Fe_0.5(H₂PO₄)₂·xH₂O and MnFeP₄O₁₂ powders, having the hysteresis loops in the range of ?10,000 Oe < H < +10,000 Oe with the specific magnetization values of 25.63 and 13.14 emu/g at 10 kOe, respectively. The lower magnetizations of Mn_0.5Fe_0.5(H₂PO₄)₂·xH₂O and MnFeP₄O₁₂ than those of Fe(H₂PO₄)₂·2H₂O and Fe₂P₄O₁₂ powders indicate the presence of Mn ions in substitution position of Fe ions.     

(Solid + liquid) equilibria for the ternary system (CsBr + LnBr3 + H2O) (Ln = Pr,Nd, Sm) at T = 298.2 K and atmospheric pressure,thermal and fluorescent properties of Cs2LnBr5·10H2O

The (solid + liquid) phase equilibria of the ternary systems (CsBr + LnBr₃ + H₂O) (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm) at T = 298.2 K were studied by the isothermal solubility method. The solid phases formed in the systems were determined by the Schreinemakers wet residues technique, and the corresponding phase diagrams were constructed based on the measured data. Each of the phase diagrams, with two invariant points, three univariant curves, and three crystallization regions corresponding to CsBr, Cs₂LnBr₅·10H₂O and LnBr₃·nH₂O (n = 6, 7), respectively, belongs to the same category. The new solid phase compounds Cs₂LnBr₅·10H₂O are incongruently soluble in water, and they were characterized by chemical analysis, XRD and TG-DTG techniques. The standard molar enthalpies of solution of Cs₂PrBr₅·10H₂O, Cs₂NdBr₅·10H₂O and Cs₂SmBr₅·10H₂O in water were measured to be (52.49 ± 0.48) kJ · mol⁻¹, (49.64 ± 0.49) kJ · mol⁻¹ and (50.17 ± 0.48) kJ · mol⁻¹ by microcalorimetry under the condition of infinite dilution, respectively, and their standard molar enthalpies of formation were determined as being −(4739.7 ± 1.4) kJ · mol⁻¹, −(4728.4 ± 1.4) kJ · mol⁻¹ and −(4724.4 ± 1.4) kJ · mol⁻¹, respectively. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of Cs₂PrBr₅·10H₂O, Cs₂NdBr₅·10H₂O and Cs₂SmBr₅·10H₂O were measured. The results show that the upconversion spectra of the three new solid phase compounds all exhibit a peak at 524 nm when excited at 785 nm.     

Thermochemistry of two lead borates; Pb(BO2)2·H2O and PbB4O7·4H2O

Two pure hydrated lead borates, Pb(BO₂)₂·H₂O and PbB₄O₇·4H₂O, have been characterized by XRD, FT-IR, DTA-TG techniques and chemical analysis. The molar enthalpies of solution of Pb(BO₂)₂·H₂O and PbB₄O₇·4H₂O in 1 mol dm^?3 HNO₃(aq) were measured to be (?35.00 ± 0.18) kJ mol^?1 and (35.37 ± 0.14) kJ mol^?1, respectively. The molar enthalpy of solution of H₃BO₃(s) in 1 mol dm^?3 HNO₃(aq) was measured to be (21.19 ± 0.18) kJ mol^?1. The molar enthalpy of solution of PbO(s) in (HNO₃ + H₃BO₃)(aq) was measured to be ?(61.84 ± 0.10) kJ mol^?1. From these data and with incorporation of the enthalpies of formation of PbO(s), H₃BO₃(s) and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpies of formation of ?(1820.5 ± 1.8) kJ mol^?1 for Pb(BO₂)₂·H₂O and ?(4038.1 ± 3.4) kJ mol^?1 for PbB₄O₇·4H₂O were obtained on the basis of the appropriate thermochemical cycles.     

Self-assembly of two zinc complexes with flexible building block of 4-pyridylthioethylphosphonate

A new organophosphonate ligand containing sulfide group, 4-pyridylthioethylphosphonic acid hydrobromide (H₂pytep·HBr), is synthesized through a facile route. Two zinc complexes of Zn₂(pytepH₂)₂Br₄ (1) and [Zn(pytep)]·H₂O (2) are obtained by reacting H₂pytep·HBr with zinc nitrate in solution and under hydrothermal condition, respectively. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal that 1 has a dinuclear structure in which the equivalent Zn atoms are doubly bridged by phosphonate groups. Compound 2 has a layer structure where ladder-like chains made up of corner-sharing {ZnNO₃} and {CPO₃} tetrahedra are linked by the organic groups of pytep. Photoluminescent properties are investigated. Different from complex 1 which shows no photoluminescence, complex 2 exhibits photoluminescence at 468 nm (λ_ex = 353 nm) in the solid state at room temperature.     

Copper azine compounds: Synthesis,structure and magnetic analyses of Cu(phenazine)Cl2, (phenazinium)2CuCl4 · H2O,and [Cu(phenazine)Cl2 · H2O]2

Three compounds composed of phenazine and copper chloride have been prepared and studied by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and variable temperature magnetization. The compounds synthesized and studied are: Cu(phenazine)Cl₂ (1), (phenazinium)₂CuCl₄ · H₂O (2), and [Cu(phenazine)Cl₂ · H₂O]₂ (3). Compounds 1 and 2 are described as antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chains with exchange constants ∣J∣/k_B = 33.8 K and 8.6 K, respectively.     

Thermodynamic study of the system (LiCl + CaCl2 + H2O)

Solubility isotherms of the ternary system (LiCl + CaCl₂ + H₂O) were elaborately determined at T = (283.15 and 323.15) K. Several thermodynamic models were applied to represent the thermodynamic properties of this system. By comparing the predicted and experimental water activities in the ternary system, an empirical modified BET model was selected to represent the thermodynamic properties of this system. The solubility data determined in this work at T = (283.15 and 323.15) K, as well as those from the literature at other temperatures, were used for the model parameterization. A complete phase diagram of the ternary system was predicted over the temperature range from (273.15 to 323.15) K. Subsequently, the Gibbs free energy of formation of the solid phases CaCl₂ · 4 H₂O_(s), CaCl₂ · 2 H₂O_(s), LiCl · 2H₂O_(s), and LiCl · CaCl₂ · 5H₂O_(s) was estimated and compared with the literature data.     

Fabrication and properties of Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanofibers

Zn-doped α-FeOOH nanofiber was synthesized by coprecipitation method. Then the α-FeOOH was enwraped by the complex of the Mn²⁺ and citric acid. The morphology of α-FeOOH did not transform after the calcination process and Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanofiber was successfully prepared. The phase, morphology, particle diameter and the magnetic properties of samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results indicated that Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanofibers with an aspect ratio over 40 and a diameter of 20 nm were prepared. Compared with the amorphous Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄, the anisotropy of the Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanofiber increased, resulting in the higher coercivity and magnetization of the obtained sample. With an increase in the calcination temperature, the diameter and the saturation magnetization of the sample increased, while the aspect ratio and coercivity decreased. The coercivity of the sample obtained at 700 °C was maximal (up to 185.4 Oe). The saturation magnetization of the sample obtained at 900 °C was maximal (up to 65.3 emu/g). The use of citric acid method prevented the presence of Mn(OH)₂, resulting in the decrease of the calcination temperature.     

Synthesis of new substituted benzaldazine derivatives,hydrogen bonding-induced supramolecular structures and luminescent properties

Syntheses of three benzaldazine compounds 1–3 with the general formula Ar₁(CH = N–N = HC)Ar₂ (Ar₁ = Ar₂ = 2-OH-3,5-^tBu₂C₆H₂ (1), Ar₁ = Ar₂ = 2-BrC₆H₄ (2), Ar₁ = ortho-C₆H₄(NHC₆H₃-Me₂-2,6), Ar₂ = C₆H₄F-2 (3)) are described. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The different supramolecular structures were obtained through different weak interactions (C ? H···O, O ? H···N and π···π interactions for 1; C ? H···Br and Br···Br interactions for 2; C ? H···F and C ? H···N interactions for 3). Compound 1 shows solvent-dependent fluorescent properties with blue to green emission on the increasing of the solvent polarity. Compounds 2, 3 show blue photoluminescence in different solvents.