High-pressure transitions in MgAl2O4 and a new high-pressure phase of Mg2Al2O5

Phase transitions in MgAl₂O₄ were examined at 21-27 GPa and 1400-2500 °C using a multianvil apparatus. A mixture of MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum that are high-pressure dissociation products of MgAl₂O₄ spinel combines into calcium-ferrite type MgAl₂O₄ at 26-27 GPa and 1400-2000 °C. At temperature above 2000 °C at pressure below 25.5 GPa, a mixture of Al₂O₃ corundum and a new phase with Mg₂Al₂O₅ composition is stable. The transition boundary between the two fields has a strongly negative pressure-temperature slope. Structure analysis and Rietveld refinement on the basis of the powder X-ray diffraction profile of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase indicated that the phase represented a new structure type with orthorhombic symmetry (Pbam), and the lattice parameters were determined as a=9.3710(6) Å, b=12.1952(6) Å, c=2.7916(2) Å, V=319.03(3) Å³, Z=4. The structure consists of edge-sharing and corner-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra, and contains chains of edge-sharing octahedra running along the c-axis. A part of Mg atoms are accommodated in six-coordinated trigonal prism sites in tunnels surrounded by the chains of edge-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra. The structure is related with that of ludwigite (Mg, Fe²⁺)₂(Fe³⁺, Al)(BO₃)O₂. The molar volume of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase is smaller by 0.18% than sum of molar volumes of 2MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum. High-pressure dissociation to the mixture of corundum-type phase and the phase with ludwigite-related structure has been found only in MgAl₂O₄ among various A²⁺B³⁺₂O₄ compounds.     

Non-centrosymmetric Ba3Ti3O6(BO3)2

The compound previously reported as Ba₂Ti₂B₂O₉ has been reformulated as Ba₃Ti₃B₂O₁₂, or Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂, a new barium titanium oxoborate. Small single crystals have been recovered from a melt with a composition of BaTiO₃:BaTiB₂O₆ (molar ratio) cooled between 1100°C and 850°C. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction: hexagonal system, non-centrosymmetric space group, a=8.7377(11) Å, c=3.9147(8) Å, Z=1, wR(F²)=0.039 for 504 unique reflections. Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is isostructural with K₃Ta₃O₆(BO₃)₂. Preliminary measurements of nonlinear optical properties on microcrystalline samples show that the second harmonic generation efficiency of Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is equal to 95% of that of LiNbO₃.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and optical properties of a new cesium aluminum borate, Cs2Al2B2O7

A new borate, Cs₂Al₂B₂O₇, was synthesized by solid-state reaction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a=6.719(1) Å, b=7.121(1) Å, c=9.626(3) Å, β=115.3(1)°, and Z=2. In the structure, two AlO₄ tetrahedra and two BO₃ planar triangles are connected alternately by corner-sharing to from nearly planar [Al₂B₂O₁₀] rings, which are further linked via common O1 atom to generate layers in the bc plane. These layers then share the O3 atoms lying on a center of inversion to form a three-dimensional framework with Cs atoms residing in the channels. The IR spectrum confirms the presence of both BO₃ and AlO₄ groups and the UV-vis-IR diffuse reflectance spectrum indicates a band gap of about 4.13(2) eV.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of a new aluminum oxycarbonitride, Al5(O, C, N)4

A new aluminum oxycarbonitride, Al₅(O_xC_yN_4−x−y) (x∼1.4 and y∼2.1), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The title compound was found to be hexagonal with space group P6₃/mmc, Z=2, and unit-cell dimensions a=0.328455(6) nm, c=2.15998(3) nm and V=0.201805(6) nm³. The atom ratios O:C:N were determined by EELS. The final structural model, which is isomorphous with that of (Al_4.4Si_0.6)(O_1.0C_3.0), showed the positional disordering of one of the three types of Al sites. The maximum-entropy method-based pattern fitting (MPF) method was used to confirm the validity of the split-atom model, in which conventional structure bias caused by assuming intensity partitioning was minimized. The reliability indices calculated from the MPF were R_wp=6.94% (S=1.22), R_p=5.34%, R_B=1.35% and R_F=0.76%. The crystal was an inversion twin. Each twin-related individual was isostructural with Al₅C₃N (space group P6₃mc, Z=2).     

MAS-NMR investigations of the crystallization behaviour of lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glasses containing P2O5 and TiO2 nucleants

Lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glass of composition (mol%) 20.4Li₂O-4.0Al₂O₃-68.6SiO₂-3.0K₂O-2.6B₂O₃-0.5P₂O₅-0.9TiO₂ was prepared by melt quenching. The glass was then nucleated and crystallized based on differential thermal analysis (DTA) data and was characterized by ²⁹Si, ³¹P, ¹¹B and ²⁷Al MAS-NMR. XRD and ²⁹Si NMR showed that lithium metasilicate (Li₂SiO₃) is the first phase to c form followed by cristobalite (SiO₂) and lithium disilicate (Li₂Si₂O₅). ²⁹Si MAS-NMR revealed a change in the network structure already for the glasses nucleated at 550 °C. Since crystalline Li₃PO₄, as observed by ³¹P MAS-NMR, forms concurrently with the silicate phases, we conclude that crystalline Li₃PO₄ does not act as a nucleating agent for lithium silicate phases. Moreover, ³¹P NMR indicates the formation of M-PO₄ (M=B, Al or Ti) complexes. The presence of BO₃ and BO₄ structural units in all the glass/glass-ceramic samples is revealed through ¹¹B MAS-NMR. B remains in the residual glass and the crystallization of silicate phases causes a reduction in the number of alkali ions available for charge compensation. As a result, the number of trigonally coordinated B (BO₃) increases at the expense of tetrahedrally coordinated B (BO₄). The ²⁷Al MAS-NMR spectra indicate the presence of tetrahedrally coordinated Al species, which are only slightly perturbed by the crystallization.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of Al4SiC4-homeotypic aluminum silicon oxycarbide, [Al4.4Si0.6][O1.0C2.0]C

A new quaternary layered oxycarbide, [Al_4.39(5)Si_0.61(5)]_Σ5[O_1.00(2)C_2.00(2)]_Σ3C, has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The title compound was found to be hexagonal with space group P6₃/mmc, Z=2, and unit-cell dimensions a=0.32783(1) nm, c=2.16674(7) nm and V=0.20167(1) nm³. The atom ratios Al:Si were determined by EDX, and the initial structural model was derived by the direct methods. The final structural model showed the positional disordering of one of the three types of Al/Si sites. The maximum-entropy methods-based pattern fitting (MPF) method was used to confirm the validity of the split-atom model, in which conventional structure bias caused by assuming intensity partitioning was minimized. The reliability indices calculated from the MPF were R_wp=3.73% (S=1.20), R_p=2.94%, R_B=1.04% and R_F=0.81%. The crystal was an inversion twin. Each twin-related individual was isostructural with Al₄SiC₄ (space group P6₃mc, Z=2).     

The study of Bi3B5O12: synthesis, crystal structure and thermal expansion of oxoborate Bi3B5O12

The paper presents a new data on the crystal structure, thermal expansion and IR spectra of Bi₃B₅O₁₂. The Bi₃B₅O₁₂ single crystals were grown from the melt of the same stoichiometry by Czochralski technique. The crystal structure of Bi₃B₅O₁₂ was refined in anisotropic approximation using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. It is orthorhombic, Pnma, a=6.530(4), b=7.726(5), c=18.578(5) Å, V=937.2(5) Å³, Z=4, R=3.45%. Bi³⁺ atoms have irregular coordination polyhedra, Bi(1)O₆ (d(B-O)=2.09-2.75 Å) and Bi(2)O₇ (d(B-O)=2.108-2.804 Å). Taking into account the shortest bonds only, these polyhedra are considered here as trigonal Bi(1)O₃ (2.09-2.20 Å) and tetragonal Bi(2)O₄ (2.108-2.331 Å) irregular pyramids with Bi atoms in the tops of both pyramids. The BiO₄ polyhedra form zigzag chains along b-axis. These chains alternate with isolated anions [B₂^IVB₃^IIIO₁₁]⁷⁻ through the common oxygen atoms to form thick layers extended in ab plane. A perfect cleavage of the compound corresponds to these layers and an imperfect one is parallel to the Bi-O chains. The Bi₃B₅O₁₂ thermal expansion is sharply anisotropic (α₁₁≈α₂₂=12, α₃₃=3×10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹) likely due to a straightening of the flexible zigzag chains along b-axis and decreasing of their zigzag along c-axis. Thus the properties like cleavage and thermal expansion correlate to these chains.     

Sol-gel synthesis of K3InF6 and structural characterization of K2InC10O10H6F9, K3InC12O14H4F18 and K3InC12O12F18

K₃InF₆ is synthesized by a sol-gel route starting from indium and potassium acetates dissolved in isopropanol in the stoichiometry 1:3, with trifluoroacetic acid as fluorinating agent. The crystal structures of the organic precursors were solved by X-ray diffraction methods on single crystals. Three organic compounds were isolated and identified: K₂InC₁₀O₁₀H₆F₉, K₃InC₁₂O₁₄H₄F₁₈ and K₃InC₁₂O₁₂F₁₈. The first one, deficient in potassium in comparison with the initial stoichiometry, is unstable. In its crystal structure, acetate as well as trifluoroacetate anions are coordinated to the indium atom. The two other precursors are obtained, respectively, by quick and slow evaporation of the solution. They correspond to the final organic compounds, which give K₃InF₆ by decomposition at high temperature. The crystal structure of K₃InC₁₂O₁₄H₄F₁₈ is characterized by complex anions [In(CF₃COO)₄(OH_x)₂]^(5−2x)− and isolated [CF₃COOH_2−x]^(x−1)− molecules with x=2 or 1, surrounded by K⁺ cations. The crystal structure of K₃InC₁₂O₁₂F₁₈ is only constituted by complex anions [In(CF₃COO)₆]³⁻ and K⁺ cations. For all these compounds, potassium cations ensure only the electroneutrality of the structure. IR spectra of K₂InC₁₀O₁₀H₆F₉ and K₃InC₁₂O₁₂F₁₈ were also performed at room temperature on pulverized crystals.     

Photoluminescence properties of a novel phosphor, Na3La9O3(BO3)8:RE(RE=Eu,Tb)

The new oxyborate phosphors, Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈:Eu³⁺ (NLBO:Eu) and Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈:Tb³⁺ (NLBO:Tb) were prepared by solid-state reactions. The photoluminescence characteristics under UV excitation were investigated. The dominated emission of Eu³⁺ corresponding to the electric dipole transition ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ is located at 613 nm and bright green luminescence of NLBO:Tb attributed to the transition ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ is centered at 544 nm. The concentration dependence of the emission intensity showed that the optimum doping concentration of Eu and Tb is 30% and 10%, respectively.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of Al4Si2C5-homeotypic aluminum silicon oxycarbide, (Al6−xSix)(OyC5−y) (x∼0.8 and y∼1.6)

We have prepared a new layered oxycarbide, [Al_5.25(5)Si_0.75(5)][O_1.60(7)C_3.40(7)], by isothermal heating of (Al_4.4Si_0.6)(O_1.0C_3.0) at 2273 K near the carbon-carbon monoxide buffer. The crystal structure was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The title compound is trigonal with space group R3?m (centrosymmetric), Z=3, and hexagonal cell dimensions a=0.32464(2) nm, c=4.00527(14) nm and V=0.36556(3) nm³. The atom ratios Al:Si were determined by EDX, and the initial structural model was derived by the direct methods. The final structural model showed the positional disordering of one of the three types of Al/Si sites. The reliability indices were R_wp=4.45% (S=1.30), R_p=3.48%, R_B=2.27% and R_F=1.25%. The crystal is composed of three types of domains with nearly the same fraction, one of which has the crystal structure of space group R3¯m. The crystal structure of the remaining two domains, which are related by pseudo-symmetry inversion, is noncentrosymmetric with space group R3m.     

Series of compositions Bi2(M′xM1−x)4O9 (M′, M=Al, Ga, Fe; 0≤x≤1) with mullite-type crystal structure: Synthesis, characterization and O/O exchange experiment

Series of compositions Bi₂(M′_xM_1−x)₄O₉ with x=0.0, 0.1,…, 1.0 and M′/M=Ga/Al, Fe/Al and Fe/Ga were synthesized by dissolving appropriate amounts of corresponding metal nitrate hydrates in glycerine, followed by gelation, calcination and final heating at 800 °C for 24 h. The new compositions with M′/M=Ga/Al form solid-solution series, which are isotypes to the two other series M′/M=Fe/Al and Fe/Ga. The XRD data analysis yielded in all cases a linear dependence of the lattice parameters related on x. Rietveld structure refinements of the XRD patterns of the new compounds, Bi₂(Ga_xAl_1−x)₄O₉ reveal a preferential occupation of Ga in tetrahedral site (4 h). The IR absorption spectra measured between 50 and 4000 cm⁻¹ of all systems show systematic shifts in peak positions related to the degree of substitution. Samples treated in ¹⁸O₂ atmosphere (16 h at 800 °C, 200 mbar, 95% ¹⁸O₂) for ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotope exchange experiments show a well-separated IR absorption peak related to the M-¹⁸O_c-M vibration, where O_c denotes the common oxygen of two tetrahedral type MO₄ units. The intensity ratio of M-¹⁸O_c/M-¹⁶O_c IR absorption peaks and the average crystal sizes were used to estimate the tracer diffusion coefficients of polycrystalline Bi₂Al₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²² m²s⁻¹), Bi₂Fe₄O₉ (D=5×10⁻²¹ m²s⁻¹), Bi₂(Ga/Al)₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²¹ m²s⁻¹) and Bi₂Ga₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²⁰ m²s⁻¹).     

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.     

Preparation and photoluminescence property of a loose powder, Ca3Al2O6:Eu by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor

A novel red light-emitting material, Ca₃Al₂O₆:Eu³⁺, which is the first example found in the Ca₃Al₂O₆ host, was prepared by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor at 1350 °C. The precursor, [Ca_2.9−xAl₂Eu_x(OH)_9.8](NO₃)_2+x·2.5H₂O, was prepared by coprecipitation of metal nitrates with sodium hydroxide. The material is a loose powder composed of irregular particles formed from aggregation of particles of a few nanometers, as shown in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. It was found that the photoluminescence intensity reached the maximum when the calcination temperature was 1350 °C and the concentration of Eu³⁺ was 1.0%. The material emits bright red emission at 614 nm under a radiation of λ=250 nm.     

Thermochemistry of NaRb[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O

The enthalpies of solution of NaRb[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·4H₂O in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ aqueous hydrochloric acid and of RbCl in aqueous (hydrochloric acid + boric acid + sodium chloride) were determined. From these results and the enthalpy of solution of H₃BO₃ in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl(aq) and of sodium chloride in aqueous (hydrochloric acid + boric acid), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(5128.02 ± 1.94) kJ mol⁻¹ for NaRb[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·4H₂O was obtained from the standard molar enthalpies of formation of NaCl(s), RbCl(s), H₃BO₃(s) and H₂O(l). The standard molar entropy of formation of NaRb[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·4H₂O was calculated from the Gibbs free energy of formation of NaRb[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·4H₂O computed from a group contribution method.     

Structural models for intergrowth structures in the phase system Al2O3-TiO2

The phase system Al₂O₃-TiO₂ was investigated in the compositional range from 48:52 to 62:38 mol% Al₂O₃:TiO₂. The samples were prepared by melting the binary oxides in an arc-imaging furnace and the obtained samples were examined by powder X-ray diffraction. The recorded powder patterns could be interpreted in terms of intergrowth structures consisting of two basic building blocks, which were deduced from the known crystal structures of β-Al₂TiO₅ and Al₆Ti₂O₁₃. The structure of a new ordered compound with the formula Al₁₆Ti₅O₃₄ is proposed. The thermal stability was estimated from DTA and tempering experiments and showed that all prepared samples decompose at temperatures around 800 °C into the binary oxides corundum and titania.     

The non-centrosymmetric borate oxides, MBi2B2O7 (M=Ca, Sr)

Two novel noncentrosymmetric borates oxides, MBi₂B₂O₇ or MBi₂O(BO₃)₂ (MCa, Sr), have been synthesized by solid-state reactions in air at temperatures in the 600-700 °C range. Their crystal structures have been determined ab initio and refined using powder neutron diffraction data. CaBi₂B₂O₇ crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pna2₁ space group with a=8.9371(5) Å, b=5.4771(3) Å, c=12.5912(7) Å, Z=4, R_wp=0.118, χ²=2.30. SrBi₂B₂O₇ crystallizes in the hexagonal P6₃ space group with a=9.1404(4) Å, c=13.0808(6) Å, Z=6, R_wp=0.115, χ²=4.15. Large displacement parameters suggest the presence of disorder in SrBi₂B₂O₇ as also revealed by diffuse 2×a superstructure reflections in electron diffraction patterns. Both structures are built of identical (001) neutral layers of corner-sharing BO₃ triangles and MO₆ trigonal prisms forming six-membered rings in which Bi₂O groups are located. Adjacent layers are stacked in a staggered configuration and connected through weak Bi-O bonds. A moderate efficiency for second harmonic generation (SHG) has been measured for a powder sample of CaBi₂B₂O₇ (d_eff=2d_eff(KDP)).     

Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of BaTi(BO3)2 and Ba3Ti3O6(BO3)2 crystals in glasses with high TiO2 contents

The ternary BaO-TiO₂-B₂O₃ glasses containing a large amount of TiO₂ (20-40 mol%) are prepared, and their optical basicities (Λ), the formation, structural features and second-order optical nonlinearities of BaTi(BO₃)₂ and Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ crystals are examined to develop new nonlinear optical materials. It is found that the glasses with high TiO₂ contents of 30-40 mol% show large optical basicities of Λ=0.81-0.87, suggesting the high polarizabity of TiO_n polyhedra (n=4-6) in the glasses. BaTi(BO₃)₂ and Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ crystals are found to be formed as main crystalline phases in the glasses. It is found that BaTi(BO₃)₂ crystals tend to orient at the surface of crystallized glasses. The new XRD pattern for the Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ phase is proposed through Rietvelt analysis. The second harmonic intensities of crystallized glasses were found to be 0.8 times as large as α-quartz powders, i.e., I^2ω(sample)/I^2ω(α-quartz)=0.8, for the sample with BaTi(BO₃)₂ crystals and to be I^2ω(sample)/I^2ω(α-quartz)=68 for the sample with Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ crystals. The Raman scattering spectra for these two crystalline phases are measured for the first time and their structural features are discussed.     

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.     

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.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of Ca2[B2O4(OH)2]·0.5H2O

A pure calcium borate Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O has been synthesized under hydrothermal condition and characterized by XRD, FT-IR and TG as well as by chemical analysis. The molar enthalpy of solution of Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O in HC1·54.582H₂O was determined. From a combination of this result with measured enthalpies of solution of H₃BO₃ in HC1·54.561H₂O and of CaO in (HCl + H₃BO₃) solution, together with the standard molar enthalpies of formation of CaO(s), H₃BO₃(s) and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(3172.5 ± 2.5) kJ mol⁻¹ of Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O was obtained.