Cellulose-precursor synthesis of nanocrystalline Ce<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Gd<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2−δ</Subscript> for SOFC anodes

Developments of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT SOFCs) require novel anode materials with a high electrochemical activity at 800–1070 K. The polarization of cermet anodes, made of nickel, ceria and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and applied onto a YSZ solid electrolyte, can be significantly reduced by catalytically active ceria additions, the relative role of which increases with decreasing temperature. Further improvement is observed when using Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2– (CGO) having a high oxygen ionic conductivity instead of undoped ceria, owing to enlargement of the electrochemical reaction zone. Nanocrystalline CGO powders with grain sizes of 8–35 nm were thus synthesized via the cellulose-precursor technique and introduced into Ni–CGO–YSZ cermets, and tested in contact with a (La_0.9Sr_0.1)_0.98Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3– (LSGM) electrolyte at 873–1073 K. The results showed that the anode performance can be enhanced by additional surface activation, in particular by impregnation with a Ce-containing solution, and also by incorporation of YSZ, which probably acts as a cermet-stabilizing component. The overpotential of the surface-modified Ni–CGO (25 wt%–75 wt%) anode in a 10% H₂/90% N₂ atmosphere was approximately 110 mV at 1073 K with a current density of 200 mA/cm².Presented at the OSSEP Workshop Ionic and Mixed Conductors: Methods and Processes, Aveiro, Portugal, 10–12 April 2003     

Peculiarities of electrical transfer and isotopic effects H/D in the proton-conducting oxide BaZr<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3 − δ</Subscript>

Electrical conduction of the oxide BaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_{3 − δ} is studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as a function of temperature (300–600°C) and the oxygen partial pressure in gas phase saturated with H₂O or D₂O vapor. The full electrical conduction is separated into components, in particular, the bulk and grain boundary conduction. It is shown that at P _O2> 1 Pa the BaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_{3 − δ} conduction is contributed significantly by electron holes whose transference number in air atmosphere may be as high as 0.5–0.6. In reductive conditions, the electrical transfer involves proton (deuteron) charge carriers. Isotopic effect H/D in the conduction in the bulk and along the grain boundaries is determined. Isotopic effect H/D in the hole conduction is also revealed. It is shown that this effect comes out of different solubility of deuterons and protons in the oxide (the thermodynamic isotopic effect).     

Effect of sintering temperature on microstructure,electric and optical properties of Ce<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Gd<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2−δ</Subscript> + 2 mol % TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The effect of the sintering temperature of the Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2?δ + 2 mol % TiO₂ on its microstructure, electric, and optical properties was studied using the methods of x-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), conductivity and ellipsometry. It is shown that the electrolyte lattice parameter decreases at an increase in the sintering temperature. The pattern of the sample surface obtained using the SEM method points to the dominating role of the sintering temperature in the formation of the electrolyte microstructure. Variation of optical properties as dependent on the synthesis temperature is also determined by the microstructure parameters of ceramics: presence of pores, formation of grain interfaces.     

Synthesis and properties of high-density protonic solid electrolyte BaZr<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3 − α</Subscript>

The described method for synthesis of proton-conducting ceramics BaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_{3 ? α} at the temperature of 1850°C from mixture of barium carbonate and zirconium-yttrium hydroxides enabled to prepare high-density translucent specimens. According to powder diffraction data, the synthesized ceramics consists of single phase and has the cubic perovskite structure with the elementary cell parameter a = 0.42009 ± 0.00004 nm. The electrophysical properties of the synthesized ceramics were measured. The conductivity of such high-density specimens was shown to excel by an order of magnitude the conductivity of porous (80% relative density) material.     

Comparison of the properties of PZTNB-1 + Ni<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>1.9</Subscript>O<Subscript>4 − δ</Subscript> magnetoelectric composites manufactured from components synthesized by Sol-Gel processes

Processes were developed for manufacturing mixed magnetoelectric (ME) composites (100 − x) wt % PZTNB-1 + x wt % Ni_0.9Co_0.1Cu_0.1Fe_1.9O_{4 − δ} using sol-gel processes to synthesize piezoelectric and magnetostrictive components; these processes provide composite ceramics having different connectivity types with the same composition. When PZTNB-1 prepared by the sol-gel process is used for manufacturing the composites, there is a deep one-way doping of the piezoelectric with ferrite constituents, and this doping considerably reduces the degree of tetragonal distortion of the perovskite unit cell to the point of disappearance. In contrast, when coarse-grained PZTNB-1 powder and a ferrite nanopowder prepared by the sol-gel process are used, undesirable doping is completely inhibited. This type of composite has the highest ME transduction efficiency, by two or more times exceeding the ME ceramics of the same composition manufactured by other processes.     

Electrophysical properties of Ce<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Gd<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2 − δ</Subscript> + <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> mol % Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid composite electrolytes

The influence of aluminum and cobalt oxides on the microstructure and the mechanical, electrical, and optical properties of the Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2−δ solid electrolyte was studied. Using nanosized Al₂O₃ in the synthesis allowed it to be uniformly distributed in the composite electrolyte and improved the microhardness of the resulting ceramics. The introduction of cobalt oxide made it possible to lower the synthesis temperature during the preparation of gasproof ceramics and hindered, to a certain extent, the formation of the GdAlO₃ phase during synthesis. Using the standard set of investigation methods allowed us to find solutions to several problems in using this electrolyte for solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).     

Influence of A-site deficiencies in the system La<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Mg<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3−δ</Subscript> on structure and electrical conductivity

In this study, the A-site-deficient ABO₃ perovskites La_0.9–x Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3– with x=0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.2 were prepared by conventional solid state reactions. X-ray investigations were carried out in order to determine the influence of the A-site deficiencies on the structure. The electrical conductivities were measured as a function of both temperature and oxygen partial pressure in ranges 500–1000 °C and 0.2–10^–6 atm, respectively. Only for small x values were single phases obtained. All compositions with A-site deficiencies exhibit a lower conductivity compared to the stoichiometric compound. It is shown by SEM micrographs that the sample morphology is changed by an A-site-deficient preparation as well. For A-site-deficient compositions, a reduction of the grain size is observed, most likely due to impurity inclusions in the grain boundaries.     

Chemical synthesis and granulometric composition of CaZr<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> powders

CaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3–δ powders were synthesized by chemical solution methods: modified Pechini method and from solutions of inorganic salts in water and ethanol. The structure crystallizes into the orthorhombic type upon annealing at 1000°C for powders prepared by the Pechini method and from solution of salts in water. It was shown that CaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3–δ powders synthesized by various methods have different dispersities. The results obtained in a study of the granulometric composition by the sedimentation method and microscopic analysis enable fabrication of dense and mechanically strong electrolyte films and ceramics.     

Impedance Study of the Conductivity of Solid Oxide Electrolyte Films SrZr<Subscript>0.95</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> and CaZr<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript>

Information on the across-plane conductivity of films of solid-oxide electrolytes SrZr_0.95Y_0.05O_3–δ and CaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3–δ deposited on ion-conducting supports is acquired by the impedance method. It is shown that the support/film interface and the intergrain boundaries considerably affect the across-plane charge transfer in the film. The effect of the crystallographic orientation of the YSZ support on the microstructure and conductivity of the CaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3–δ electrolyte film is demonstrated.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide with oxygen on a PdCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>–CuCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>/γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst

A systematic study of the kinetics of the low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide with oxygen on a PdCl₂–CuCl₂/γ-Al₂O₃ supported catalyst was carried out over a wide range of the partial pressures of oxygen, water, and CO in order to test hypotheses on the reaction mechanism. It was shown that, as the temperature was increased from 20 to 38°C, rate of formation of CO₂ decreased and the apparent activation energy was about–40 kJ/mol. The hypotheses of different degrees of complexity concerning the reaction mechanism were formulated based on physicochemical data and a Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. Mechanisms in which carbon dioxide is formed on the interaction of the surface Pd(I) and Pd(II) complexes that include carbon monoxide and water with the surface complex of Cu(I) that coordinates oxygen were recognized as the most probable.     

Crystal structure of Bi<Subscript>36</Subscript>MgP<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>60 − δ</Subscript>

A compound with the general formula Bi₃₆MgP₂O_{60 ? δ} was obtained by a solid-state reaction method. Its composition was confirmed using EDAX. The compound belongs to the cubic crystal system (space group I23, no. 197) and has a sillenite-type structure. The lattice parameter a _o is 10.15704(12) Å. The Rietveld refinement of the crystallographic data revealed mixed tetrahedral sites (2a) occupied by Mg, P, and Bi in a ratio of 32: 63: 5. The resulting lattice strains are compensated by vacancies in the cationic (2a) and anionic sites (24f) and by distortion of the Bi-O framework detected by IR and Raman spectroscopy.     

On the Control of Plasma Parameters and Active Species Kinetics in CF<Subscript>4</Subscript> + O<Subscript>2</Subscript> + Ar Gas Mixture by CF<Subscript>4</Subscript>/O<Subscript>2</Subscript> and O<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Ar Mixing Ratios

The effects of both CF₄/O₂ and Ar/O₂ mixing ratios in three-component CF₄ + O₂ + Ar mixture on plasma parameters, densities and fluxes of active species determining the dry etching kinetics were analyzed. The investigation combined plasma diagnostics by Langmuir probes and zero-dimensional plasma modeling. It was found that the substitution of CF₄ for O₂ at constant fraction of Ar in a feed gas produces the non-monotonic change in F atom density, as it was repeatedly reported for the binary CF₄/O₂ gas mixtures. At the same time, the substitution of Ar for O₂ at constant fraction of CF₄ results in the monotonic increase in F atom density toward more oxygenated plasmas. The natures of these phenomena as well as theirs possible impacts on the etching/polymerization kinetics were discussed in details.     

Conductivity of Lanthanum-Strontium Cuprate LaSrCuO<Subscript>4−δ</Subscript> and Ionic Reversibility of Relevant Electrodes

A single-phase sample of the LaSrCuO_3.58 composition is prepared by solid-state synthesis at 1473 K in air. The conductivity of LaSrCuO_3.58 is measured by a four-probe method at direct current in the temperature range from 298 to 1173 K at oxygen partial pressures from 28 to 2.1 × 10⁴ Pa. Heating samples above ∼670 K is shown to result in a changeover of the conduction type from semiconducting (p-type) to metallic. Exchange currents at the LSCuO/YSZ interface are measured by impedance spectroscopy. The measurements are carried out in high-density symmetrical cells LSCuO|YSZ|LSCuO, fabricated by hot pressing of powders under a pressure of 3.5 × 10⁹ Pa at 773 K. Experimental exchange currents i ₀ (varying from 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁴ A/cm² in the temperature interval from 800 to 1173 K) are comparable with such of materials based of lanthanum-strontium manganite.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 516–522.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Mazo, Savvin, Mychka, Dobrovol’skii, Leonova.     

Phase equilibria in the Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>–CdO system and the thermal stability of Cd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> and CdNb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Phase equilibria were studied in the Nb₂O₅–CdO system in the Nb₂O₅-rich region including CdNb₂O₆ and Cd₂Nb₂O₇. It was determined that CdNb₂O₆ and Cd₂Nb₂O₇ in air are stable to 1150 and 1120°C, respectively, and that, above these temperatures, there is solid-phase decomposition of niobates with CdO release in the gas phase. Along with the cadmium oxide evaporation, the Cd₂Nb₂O₇ decomposition is accompanied by the formation of cadmium metaniobate CdNb₂O₆ and the CdNb₂O₆ decomposition results in the formation of niobium oxide Nb₂O₅. No thermal events were observed in the differential thermal analysis curve for a 1: 1 CdNb₂O₆–Cd₂Nb₂O₇ mixture heated to 1100°C in air, which suggests that there are neither phase transformations in cadmium niobates, nor a eutectic within this temperature and concentration ranges. A study of the morphology of compacted samples of niobates determined specific conditions for producing dense composite ceramics, a mixture of niobates, that is suitable for using as a dielectric material.     

Calorimetric study of the acidic character of V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/SO<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript> catalysts used in methanol oxidation to dimethoxymethane

The surface acidic properties of sulfated vanadia–titania catalysts prepared by various methods were investigated by adsorption microcalorimetry, using ammonia as probe molecule. The acidic characteristics of the samples were shown to be strongly affected by the preparation method, calcination temperature, and sulfur content. The samples prepared by sol–gel and mechanical grinding exhibited higher acidity than co-precipitated samples. Moreover, increasing the calcination temperature of co-precipitated samples resulted in a decrease in surface area from 402 to 57 m² g⁻¹ and sulfur content from around 4 to 0.2 mass%, but up to a certain point generated a stronger acidity. The optimal calcination temperature appeared to be around 673 K.     

Synthesis,characterization and performance of nanosized Bi<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>–WPU organic–inorganic hybrid coatings

A series of organic–inorganic hybrid coatings consisting of organic waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and inorganic nanosized bismuth-doped tin dioxide were successfully synthesized by the in situ polymerization approach. Bi_0.1Sn_0.9O₂ nano-powders were prepared via a new route of sol–gel combustion hybrid method using acetylene black as the fuel. The formed nano-powders were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Bi_0.1Sn_0.9O₂–WPU was then fabricated with isophorone diisocyanate, 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid and nano-Bi_0.1Sn_0.9O₂-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) as the starting materials. Organic–inorganic hybrid coatings are always achieved with adjustable contents of Bi_0.1Sn_0.9O₂. The hybrid coatings with Bi_0.1Sn_0.9O₂ loading on the glass substrate exhibited good heat insulation efficiency. The tensile strength and breaking extensibility of nanocomposite film containing 1.0% of the nano-Bi_0.1Sn_0.9O₂ were measured as 9.35 MPa and 248%, respectively. The transmittance of visible light was above 80%. The heat insulation of glass coated with nano-Bi_0.1Sn_0.9O₂–WPU hybrid was over 60 °C in contrast to the commercial blank glass.     

The synthesis and thermodynamic properties of strontium fluoromanganite Sr<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>6</Subscript>O<Subscript>12.5 − δ</Subscript>F<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The existence of the [SrF_0.8O_0.1]_2.5[Mn₆O₁₂] = Sr_2.5Mn₆O_{12.5 ? δ}F₂ compound was established in the SrO-Mn₂O₃-SrF₂ system at 900°C and p(O₂) = 1 atm. The crystal structure of strontium fluoromanganite was determined from the X-ray powder diffraction data, electron diffraction, and high-resolution electron microscopy. It can be described in the monoclynic system with four Miller hklm indices: hklm: H = h a* + k b* + l c ₁ ^* + m q ₁, q ₁, q ₁ = c ₂ ^* = γc ₁ ^* , γ ≈ 0.632, a ≈ a ≈ 9.72 Å, b ≈ 9.55 Å, c ₁ ≈ 2.84 Å, c ₂ ≈ 4.49 Å, monoclinic angle γ ≈ 95.6°. The electromotive force method with a solid fluorine ion electrolyte was used to refine the composition of fluoromanganite and determine the thermodynamic functions of its formation from phases neighboring in the phase diagram (SrMn₃O₆, Mn₂O₃, SrF₂, and oxygen), ΔG°, kJ/mol = ?(111.7 ± 1.9) + (89.5 ± 1.5) × 10^?3 T.     

Regime of superhigh reactivity of the YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6 + δ</Subscript> superconductor toward the components of air

Physicochemical features of the YBa₂Cu₃O_{6 + δ} superconductor synthesized via ceramic route and subjected to a kind of modification by long-term exposure to an atmosphere with low pH₂O have been studied by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and magnetometry. The resulting material had a high degree of saturation with air components at room temperature and 30% humidity, up to 1.5 wt % in 30 days, which is not inherent in YBa₂Cu₃O_{6 + δ}.     

Synthesis and Conductivity of CaZr<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> Electrolyte Films on Supporting Composite Electrodes

Conditions of the chemical solution deposition of CaZrO₃-based electrolyte films on supporting composite electrodes are studied. The films are formed on the composites of CaZrO3 with metal oxides СuO, Fe₂O₃, and NiO. The morphology and the phase and elemental composition of supports and films are studied as well as the gas permeability and conductivity of films. It is concluded that composites of calcium zirconate with nickel can be recommended as the supporting anodes for the proton-conducting CaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3–δ film electrolyte.     

Reactivity of the oxides in the ternary V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>-CuO-α-Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> system in air

In this work it has been established which compounds finally are formed in air in the two-component CuO-V₂O₅ and CuO-α-Sb₂O₄ systems. Unknown thermal properties of CuV₂O₆, Cu₂V₂O₇ and Cu₁₁V₆O₂₆ have been established. Reactivity of the oxides and phase relations in the ternary V₂O₅-CuO-α-Sb₂O₄ system in air have been studied by using XRD and DTA methods. The results have showed the reaction of V₂O₅, CuO with α-Sb₂O₄ does not produce any compound where all the three oxides would be involved. It has been established that the α-Sb₂O₄ reacts and forms binary phases independently with CuO or V₂O₅. On the base of these results the investigated system was divided into subsidiary subsystem in which CuSb₂O₆ remains at equilibrium in the solid state with other phases formed in corresponding binary systems.