Structure and electric properties of Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-NaPO<Subscript>3</Subscript> glasses

The influence of the SO₄²⁻ ion on the temperature and concentration dependences of electric conductivity and the structure of sodium phosphate oxide glasses was studied. The increased electric conductivity of sulfate-phosphate glasses was explained by the formation of mixed sulfate-phosphate fragments with terminal SO₄²⁻ ions in the structure of glasses in the Na₂SO₄-NaPO₃ system. The dissociation energies of the sodium sulfate fragments are lower than those of pure oxide sodium phosphate structural units. As a result, the number of dissociated sodium ions increases, the activation energy of electric conductivity falls, and the conductivity (at 25°C) increases approximately 270-fold relative to the conductivity of NaPO₃. The arrangement of SO₄²⁻ ions in the structure was evaluated from the IR spectra of the glasses.     

Solid electrolytes with cesium-cationic conduction in the Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Cs<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system

New cesium-conducting solid electrolytes based on cesium monoferrite in the Fe₂O₃-TiO₂-Cs₂O system are synthesized and studied. It is found that the introduction of titanium dioxide significantly reduces the electronic component of conductivity, which prevails in pure CsFeO₂, and raises the ionic conductivity. The latter becomes predominant with increasing concentration of TiO₂. The effect of dimensional factor on the characteristics of electrolyte is shown. The optimal compositions studied have very high cesium-cationic conductivity: it is above 10⁻² S cm ⁻¹ at 300°C.     

Electrical conductivity studies in the system Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>1.33</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>1.67</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Electrical conductivity in the monoclinic Li₂TiO₃, cubic Li_1.33Ti_1.67O₄, and in their mixture has been studied by impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range 20–730 °C. Li₂TiO₃ shows low lithium ion conductivity, σ₃₀₀≈10^–6 S/cm at 300 °C, whereas Li_1.33Ti_1.67O₄ has 3×10^–8 at 20 °C and 3×10^–4 S/cm at 300 °C. Structural properties are used to discuss the observed conductivity features. The conductivity dependences on temperature in the coordinates of 1000/T versus log_e(σT) are not linear, as the conductivity mechanism changes. Extrinsic and intrinsic conductivity regions are observed. The change in the conductivity mechanism in Li₂TiO₃ at around 500–600 °C is observed and considered as an effect of the first-order phase transition, not reported before. Formation of solid solutions of Li_{2– x} Ti_{1+ x} O₃ above 900 °C significantly increases the conductivity. Irradiation by high-energy (5 MeV) electrons causes defects and the conductivity in Li₂TiO₃ increases exponentially. A dose of 144 MGy yields an increase in conductivity of about 100 times at room temperature. Electronic Publication     

Network polymer electrolytes based on poly(ester diacrylate), ethylene carbonate,and LiClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Network polymer electrolytes based on poly(ester diacrylate), LiClO₄, and ethylene carbonate are synthesized and investigated via the methods of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, DSC, and thermal analysis. It is found that, for the polymer-LiClO₄ system, the conductivity is 4.2 × 10⁻⁷ S/cm at 20°C. With a gradual increase in the amount of ethylene carbonate, the conductivity first decreases and then increases. It is shown that, when poly(ester diacrylate) is crosslinked in ethylene carbonate, up to 45.5% of the latter compound is retained in the polymer and not lost during heating to 100°C. The conductivity of the electrolyte containing 45.6 wt % poly(ester diacrylate), 45.5 wt % ethylene carbonate, 7.5 wt % LiClO₄, and 1.4 wt % benzoyl peroxide achieves 1.9 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 20°C.     

Preparation of Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>Co<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> by polyacrylamide gel processing and its thermoelectric properties

Ca₃Co₄O₉ powder was prepared by a polyacrylamide gel route in this paper. The effect of the processing on microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics via spark plasma sintering were investigated. Electrical measurement shows that the Seebeck coefficient and conductivity are 170 μV/K and 128 S/cm, respectively, at 700 °C, yielding a power factor value of 3.70 × 10⁻⁴ W m⁻¹ K⁻² at 700 °C, which is larger than that of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics via solid-state reaction processing. The polyacrylamide gel processing is a fast, cheap, reproducible and easily scaled up chemical route to improve the thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics by preparing the homogeneous and pure Ca₃Co₄O₉ phase.     

Synthesis of ammonia from natural gas at atmospheric pressure with doped ceria–Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>–K<Subscript>3</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript> composite electrolyte and its proton conductivity at intermediate temperature

A new type of oxide–salt composite electrolyte, yttrium doped ceria YDC–Ca₃(PO₄)₂–K₃PO₄, was developed and demonstrated for its promising use for ammonia synthesis. Using this composite electrolyte, ammonia was synthesized from nitrogen and natural gas at atmospheric pressure in the solid-state proton conducting cell reactor, and the optimal condition for ammonia production was determined . The evolved rate of ammonia is up to 6.95×10⁻⁹ mol s⁻¹ cm⁻².     

Impedance studies on the 5-V cathode material,LiCoPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Olivine-structured LiCoPO₄ is synthesized by a Pechini-type polymer precursor method. The structure and the morphology of the compounds are studied by the Rietveld-refined X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area technique, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy techniques, respectively. The ionic conductivity (σ ionic), dielectric, and electric modulus properties of LiCoPO₄ are investigated on sintered pellets by impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range, 27–50 °C. The σ (ionic) values at 27 and 50 °C are 8.8 × 10⁻⁸ and 49 × 10⁻⁸ S cm⁻¹, respectively with an energy of activation (E _a) = 0.43 eV. The electric modulus studies suggest the presence of non-Debye type of relaxation. Preliminary charge–discharge cycling data are presented.     

Synthesis,structure, and electric properties of oxygen-deficient perovskites Ba<Subscript>3</Subscript>In<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZrO<Subscript>8</Subscript> and Ba<Subscript>4</Subscript>In<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>11</Subscript>

Perovskite phases Ba₃In₂ZrO₈ and Ba₄In₂Zr₂O₁₁ with the nominal concentration of structural oxygen vacancies 1/9 and 1/12, respectively, were synthesized by solid-phase and solution methods. X-ray diffraction showed cubic symmetry of both phases with the unit cell parameter a = 0.4193(2) and 0.4204(3) nm, respectively. The absence of superstructural lines resulted in the conclusion on statistical arrangement of oxygen vacancies. Thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry proved that both phases can reversibly absorb water from gas phase (pH₂O = 2 × 10⁻² atm) with observed correlation between the concentration of oxygen vacancies and amount of absorbed water. The total water amount was up to 0.9 mol per formula unit or, if recalculated for perovskite unit ABO₃, 0.3 and 0.23 mol H₂O, respectively. The temperature curves of coductivity in the atmosphere with various partial water vapor pressures (pH₂O = 3 × 10⁻⁵ and 2 × 10⁻² atm) showed significantly higher conductivity and lower activation energy (0.52 eV) in humid atmosphere due to proton transfer. The proton conductivity is up to 5 × 10⁻⁴ Ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 300°C for Ba₃In₂ZrO₈ specimen. IR spectrometry showed that protons in the structure exist primarily in OH-groups.     

Synthesis,characterization and thermal stability of complex <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-[Co(bipy)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>] and its interaction with NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> gas

cis-[Co(bipy)₂(CN)₂] complex was successfully prepared from the reaction of [Co(CN)₂] with 2,2′-bipyridine in ethanol 96%. The product of complex synthesized was light brown crystal with percent yield of 75.86%. The IR spectrum of this complex showed strong characteristics vibration band at 1471.9 and 1442.75 cm⁻¹ for C=N stretching, 1664.57 cm⁻¹ for C=C aromatic, 1600.9 cm⁻¹ 1 for HC=CH aromatic, 653.87 cm⁻¹ for pyridine ring on 2,2′-bipyridine ligand, 3109.25 and 3080.32 cm⁻¹ for C-H of aromatic ring. The thermogram of DTA-TG analysis showed 4 endothermic peaks at temperature of 53.4, 323.2, 444.2, and 526.4°C, where the bond breaking of the complex occurred at different temperatures. The result of moment magnet measurement of the complex showed that it was a high spin complex with moment magnet value of 3.68 BM, so it is a paramagnetic complex.     

Synthesis of highly dispersed super-refractory tantalum-zirconium carbide Ta<Subscript>4</Subscript>ZrC<Subscript>5</Subscript> and tantalum-hafnium carbide Ta<Subscript>4</Subscript>HfC<Subscript>5</Subscript> via sol-gel technology

Nanocrystalline powders of super-refractory complex carbides Ta₄HfC₅ and Ta₄ZrC₅ were synthesized using a hybrid method comprising sol-gel technology for preparing highly dispersed metal oxidescarbon starting mixtures and a relatively low-temperature (1300–1500°C) carbothermal synthesis under a dynamic vacuum (P = 1 × 10⁻³ to 1 × 10⁻⁵ MPa). The elemental and phase compositions of the products and average crystallite sizes were determined. TEM was used to study particle morphology and dispersion. Microstructures were observed by SEM. BET specific surface areas were determined for powders prepared at 1400°C.     

Surface and bulk conduction and thermodynamic properties of ionic salt CsH<Subscript>5</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Transport properties of ionic salt CsH₅(PO₄)₂ are studied by the impedance method. The salt’s bulk conductivity ranges from 10^?8 to 10^?4 S cm^?1 in the temperature interval 90 to 145°C. The apparent activation energy is high (1.6–2.0 eV). The conductivity is slightly anisotropic: it is maximum in the [001] direction and minimum in the [100] direction (～5.6 and 1 times × 10^?6 S cm^?1, respectively, at 130°C). The conductivity of polycrystalline samples is higher by 1–2 orders of magnitude, and the activation energy drops to 1.05 eV due to the formation of a pseudoliquid layer with a high proton mobility at the intercrystallite boundary. The salt’s thermodynamic properties are examined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. No phase transitions are discovered in the salt up to the melting point (151.6°C), with the melting enthalpy equal to ～34 kJ mol^?1. The crystallization occurs at lower temperatures (107°C) and the crystallization enthalpy (?18 kJ mol^?1) is lower than the melting enthalpy. The melting is accompanied by slow decomposition of the salt. Factors affecting the proton transport in the salt are analyzed.     

Effect of metal substitution for cobalt on the oxygen adsorption properties of YBaCo<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

YBaCo₄O₇ compound is capable to intake and release a large amount of oxygen in the temperature range of 200–400°C. In the present study, the effect of Zn, Ga and Fe substitution for Co on the oxygen adsorption/desorption properties of YBaCo₄O₇ were investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) method. Due to fixed oxidation state of Zn2+ ions, the substitution of Zn²⁺ for Co²⁺ suppresses the oxygen adsorption of YBaCo_4−xZn_xO₇. The substitution of Ga³⁺ for Co³⁺ also decreases the oxygen absorption capacity of YBaCo_4−xGa_xO₇. This can be explained by the strong affinity of Ga³⁺ ions towards the GaO₄ tetrahedron. Compared with Zn- and Ga-substituted samples, the drop of oxygen adsorption capacity is smallest for Fe-substituted samples because of the similar changeability of oxidation states of Co and Fe ions.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of LiFePO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/C-polypyrrole composite prepared by a simple chemical vapor deposition method

A LiFePO₄/C-polypyrrole (LiFePO₄/C-PPy) composite as a high-performance cathode material is successfully prepared through a simple chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. According to the transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis, the surface of the LiFePO₄/C is surrounded with PPy in the LiFePO₄/C-PPy composite. The as-prepared LiFePO₄/C-PPy material shows outstanding rate capability at 20°C and good cycle performance at 55°C in comparison with those of the bare LiFePO₄/C material against Li anode. After 700 cycles, the discharge capacity of LiFePO₄/C-PPy could still remain 110 mA h g⁻¹ with the retention of 82% at 5 C rate at 55°C. This could be ascribed to the fact that PPy coating on LiFePO₄/C could significantly improve the ionic conductivity of the LiFePO₄/C-PPy composite and could greatly reduce the electrode resistance. Furthermore, the PPy coating on LiFePO₄/C could effectively decrease the dissolution of Fe in the LiPF₆ electrolyte and subsequently suppress the reduction of Fe ions on anode.     

Determination of europium by using the chemical oscillating system of Ce(IV)-KBrO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-acetone-oxalic acid-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

A sensitive and convenient method for the determination of trace europium ions using an oscillating chemical reaction involving Ce(IV) - KBrO₃ - acetone - oxalic acid - H₂SO₄ was proposed. The results indicated that the changes in oscillating period (T) was linearly proportional to the negative logarithmic concentration of Eu³⁺ (-log C) in the range of 1.41 × 10⁻⁸ ˜ 1.41 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ (r = 0.9982) with a detection limit of 1.04 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. The recoveries were limited to the range of 99.5% to 100.8%. Under the same conditions, other rare earth ions did not interfere with the determination of Eu³⁺. In addition, a perturbation mechanism was also discussed briefly.      

Low-temperature performance of Li-ion cells with a LiBF<Subscript>4</Subscript>-based electrolyte

The effect of LiBF₄ on the low-temperature performance of a Li-ion cell was studied by using a 1:1:1 (wt) EC/DMC/DEC mixed solvent. The results show that the LiBF₄-based electrolyte has a 2- to 3-fold lower ionic conductivity and shows rather higher freezing temperature compared with a LiPF₆-based electrolyte. Owing to electrolyte freezing, cycling performance of the Li-ion cell using LiBF₄ was significantly decreased when the temperature fell below –20 °C. However, impedance data show that at –20 °C the LiBF₄ cell has lower charge-transfer resistance than the LiPF₆ cell. In spite of the relatively lower conductivity of the LiBF₄-based electrolyte, the cell based on it shows slightly lower polarization and higher capacity in the liquid temperature range (above –20 °C) of the electrolyte. This fact reveals that ionic conductivity of the electrolytes is not a limitation to the low-temperature performance of the Li-ion cell. Therefore, LiBF₄ may be a good salt for the low-temperature electrolyte of a Li-ion cell if a solvent system that is of low freezing temperature, high solubility to LiBF₄, and good compatibility with a graphite anode can be formulated. Electronic Publication     

Synthesis and characterization of submicron size particles of LiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> by microemulsion route

Among the various positive electrode materials investigated for Li-ion batteries, spinel LiMn₂O₄ is one of the most important materials. Small particles of the active materials facilitate high-rate capability due to large surface to mass ratio and small diffusion path length. The present work involves the synthesis of submicron size particles of LiMn₂O₄ in a quaternary microemulsion medium. The precursor obtained from the reaction is heated at different temperatures in the range from 400 to 900 °C. The samples heated at 800 and 900 °C are found to possess pure spinel phase with particle size <200 nm, as evidenced from XRD, SEM, and TEM studies. The electrochemical characterization studies provide discharge capacity values of about 100 mAh g⁻¹ at C/5 rate, and there is a moderate decrease in capacity by increasing the rate of charge–discharge cycling. Studies also include charge–discharge cycling and ac impedance studies in temperature range from −10 to 40 °C. Impedance data are analyzed with the help of an equivalent circuit and a nonlinear least squares fitting program. From temperature dependence of charge-transfer resistance, a value of 0.62 eV is obtained for the activation energy of Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ redox process, which accompanies the intercalation/deintercalation of the Li⁺ ion in LiMn₂O₄.     

Calculations of chemical equilibria in heparin-arginine-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-NaCl and MCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>-heparin-arginine-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-NaCl systems (M = Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>) in a physiological solution

Chemical equilibria in the high-molecular-weight heparin (Na₄hep)-arginine (HArg)-H₂O-NaCl and MCl₂-Na₄hep-HArg-H₂O-NaCl systems of electrolytes (M = Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) were calculated by the method of mathematical simulation of chemical equilibria from representative planned pH-metric titration experiment at 2.30 ≤ pH ≤ 10.50 in a physiological solution medium in the presence of 0.154 M NaCl as a background electrolyte at 37°C. The initial concentrations of the basic components were n × 10⁻³ M (n ≤ 4).     

Solid electrolytes with cesium cation conductivity in the Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Cs<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system

Solid solutions based on cesium monogallate CsGaO₂ are synthesized in the Ga₂O₃-TiO₂-Cs₂O system. Their crystalline structure and also temperature and concentration conductivity dependences are studied. The cesium cation character of conductivity is confirmed. The most conducting samples contain an excess of cesium oxide and have the structure of high-temperature γ-modification of KAlO₂. Their specific conductivity is (5.0–6.7) × 10^?3 S cm^?1 at 400 °C, (2.5–5.0) × 10^?2 S cm^?1 at 700°C at the activation energy of 33–35 kJ/mol^?1.     

Ionic conductivity of bismuth oxofluoride BiO<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>F<Subscript>2.8</Subscript> with tysonite-type structure (LaF<Subscript>3</Subscript>)

The complex impedance method in the temperature range of 291–660 K was used to study conductivity of oxofluoride BiO_0.1F_2.8 belonging to the tysonite structural type (LaF₃). Bismuth oxofluoride was synthesized using a solid-phase method at 770–870 K for 1–2 h in an argon atmosphere. Heterovalent substitution of fluoride ions F⁻ by oxygen ions O²⁻ in the anionic BiF₃ matrix sublattice results in high ionic conductivity (∼0.1 S/cm at 660 K) of BiO_0.1F_2.8 ceramic samples.     

Physicochemical properties and mixed electronic and ionic conduction of composite ceramics in the system ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Composites ZrO₂-(Bi₂CuO₄+ 20 wt % Bi₂O₃) (50–80 vol % ZrO₂) are synthesized and their physicochemical properties are studied. It is demonstrated that the composites comprise triple-phase mixtures of ZrO₂ of a monoclinic modification, Bi₂CuO₄, and solid solution Bi_2?x Zr _x O_{3 + x/2} and retain their mechanical strength up to 800°C. Impedance spectroscopy is used to examine their electroconductivity at 700–800°C in the interval of partial oxygen pressures extending from 37 to 2.1 × 10⁴ Pa. Contributions made by electronic and ionic constituents to their overall conductivity are evaluated. The best specimens’ conductivity is ～0.01 S cm^?1, with the electronic and ionic transport numbers nearly equal. The composite consisting of 50 vol % ZrO₂ and 50 vol % (Bi₂CuO₄ + 20 wt % Bi₂CuO₄) is tested in the role of an oxygen-separating membrane. The selective flux of oxygen in the temperature interval 750–800°C amounts to (2.2–6.3) × 10^?8 mol cm^?2 s^?1, testifying that these materials may be used as gas-separating membranes.