Physicochemical properties of non-stoichiometric oxides

One of the most important challenges with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) is to find cathode materials with high enough catalytic activity for the dissociation of the molecular oxygen. Oxide mixed conductors with the perovskite structure (ABO₃) and high Co content in the B site have been extensively studied to be used as cathode in SOFC. This is the second part of a review of high temperature properties of two mixed conductors systems. The first part was focused on the n = 2 Sr₃FeMO_6+δ (M = Fe, Co, Ni) Rudlesdden Popper phases, while in this paper we discuss the thermodynamic and transport properties of the perovskite solid solution Sr_1−x La _x Fe_0.2Co_0.8O_3−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) in the temperature range 773 ≤ T ≤ 1173 K. In particular, the interest has been focused on the x = 0 sample, which exhibits large ionic conductivity values (σ_i ~1 S cm⁻¹), but suffers a structural transformation from cubic to orthorhombic symmetry because the ordering of the oxygen vacancies when the oxygen partial pressure decreases. Measurements of the oxygen chemical potential ( m_\textO2 \mu_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} ) as function of oxygen content and temperature, coupled with high temperature X-ray diffraction data, permitted us to broaden the knowledge of the T–δ–p(O₂) phase diagram for the x = 0 sample. In addition, we have investigated the effects of the La incorporation on the stability range of the cubic phases of the Sr_1−x La _x Fe_0.2Co_0.8O_3−δ solid solution.     

The conditions of formation and physicochemical properties of Nd1 ? xBaxMn1 ? yFeyO3 phases

The homogeneity regions of Nd_{1 − x} Ba _x MnO₃ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) and NdMn_{1 − y} Fe _y O₃ (0.0 ≤ y ≤ 1.0) orthorhombic solid solutions in air at 1373 K were determined. The region of the existence of Nd_{1 − x} Ba _x Mn_{1 − y} Fe _y O₃ orthorhombic solid solutions in air at 1373 K was studied. A fragment of the phase diagram of the NdMnO₃-BaMnO₃-BaFeO_2.5-NdFeO₃ quasi-quaternary complex oxide system in air at 1373 K was suggested. The mechanothermal properties of Nd_0.75Ba_0.25MnO₃, Nd_0.8Ba_0.2Mn_0.9Fe_0.1O₃, Nd_0.8Ba_0.2Mn_0.7Fe_0.3O₃, and Nd_0.8Ba_0.2Mn_0.5Fe_0.5O₃ doped neodymium manganates were studied.     

Redistribution of cations and enhancement in magnetic properties of sol–gel synthesized Cu0.7?xCoxZn0.3Fe2O4 (0?≤?x?≤?0.5)

Cu_{0.7− x} Co _x Zn_0.3Fe₂O₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) nanoparticles are prepared by sol–gel auto combustion method, using copper nitrate, zinc nitrate, ferric nitrate, cobalt nitrate, and citric acid as the starting materials. The process takes only a few minutes to obtain as-received Co-substituted Cu–Zn ferrite powders. X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrational sample magnetometer and thermo gravimetric analysis are utilized in order to study the effect of variation in the Co substitution and its impact on particle size, lattice constant, density, cation distribution and magnetic properties like magnetization, coercivity, remanent magnetization, ferritization temperature and associated water content. Lattice parameter found to increase with increasing Co content, whereas X-ray density, bulk density, particle size showed decreasing trend with the Co content. Cation distribution indicates that the Co and Cu ion show preference towards octahedral [B] site, Zn occupy tetrahedral (A) site whereas Fe occupy both tetrahedral (A) and octahedral [B] site. Redistribution of cations takes place for x > 0.3. Saturation magnetization (Ms) increases from 52.99 to 79.62 emu/g (x ≤ 0.3), for x > 0.3 Ms decreases with increase in Co content x. However, coercivity, magnetocrystalline anisotropy and remanent magnetization increases with the Co²⁺ substitution.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of nanocomposite Ni1?xCoxFe2O4–BaTiO3 fibers by organic gel-thermal decomposition process

Nanocomposites of ferrite and ferroelectric phases are attractive functional ceramic materials. In this work, the nanocomposite Ni_1−x Co _x Fe₂O₄–BaTiO₃(x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) fibers with fine diameters of 3 ~ 7 μm and high aspect ratios were synthesized by the organic gel-thermal decomposition process from the raw materials of citric acid and metal salts. The structure, thermal decomposition process and morphologies of the gel precursors and the resultant fibers derived from thermal decomposition of the gel precursors were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The magnetic properties of the nanocomposite fibers were measured by vibrating sample magnetometer. The nanocomposite fibers of ferrite Ni_1−x Co _x Fe₂O₄ and perovskite BaTiO₃ are formed at the calcination temperature of 900 °C for 2 h. The average grain sizes of Ni_1−x Co _x Fe₂O₄ and BaTiO₃ in the nanocomposite fibers increase from about 15 nm to approximately 67 nm with the increasing calcination temperatures from 900 to 1,180 °C. The saturation magnetization of the nanocomposite Ni_1−x Co _x Fe₂O₄–BaTiO₃(x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) fibers increases with the increase of grain sizes of Ni_1−x Co _x Fe₂O₄ and Co content, while the coercivity reaches a maximum value at the single-domain size of about 65 nm of Ni_0.5Co_0.5Fe₂O₄ obtained at the calcination temperature of 1,100 °C.     

The effect of phase composition on the transport properties of composites La0.8Sr0.2Fe0.7Ni0.3O3 ? δ-Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95

Full conductivity, diffusion and oxygen exchange processes in composites (100 − x)La_0.8Sr_0.2Fe_0.7Ni_0.3O_{3 − δ}−xCe_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 (x is the volume fraction, 0 ≤ x ≤ 71.1%) at 700°C over the oxygen partial pressure range from 0.2 to 3 × 10⁻³ atm are studied by the electrical conductivity relaxation method. The composites’ conductivity was shown to decrease monotonically with the increasing of Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 fraction, while the oxygen chemical diffusion coefficient increased. The oxygen exchange constant is higher for the composites than for the individual phases of La_0.8Sr_0.2Fe_0.7Ni_0.3O_{3 − δ} and Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95. Possible reason of the dependence of the parameters D _chem and k _chem on the temperature, oxygen pressure, and the composite composition is the effect of the interface on the oxygen transfer processes. Most effective oxygen transfer occurs in the composites whose composition approaches La_0.8Sr_0.2Fe_0.7Ni_0.3O_{3 − δ}-Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 (x = 71%).     

Synthesis and thermal decomposition of SrTi1?xFexO3 (0.0?≤?x?≤?0.1) powders obtained by the polymeric precursor method

This work reports on the synthesis of a SrTi_1−x Fe _x O₃ nanostructured compound (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) using a modified polymeric precursor method. The effect of the addition of iron on the thermal, structural and morphological properties of the nanoparticles was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). A thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the crystallization process preceded by three decomposition steps. Differential thermal analysis experiments showed that decomposition occurred in a broad range of temperatures from 400 to 600 °C. It was observed that iron ions acted as catalysts, promoting rapid organic decomposition and phase formation at a lower temperature than in SrTiO₃. Moreover, the addition of iron decreased the crystallite size and increased the lattice parameter of the SrTi_1−x Fe _x O₃ structure.     

Structural and low temperature Raman scattering studies in SrTi<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Co<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles synthesized by sol–gel method

We investigate effects of Co dopant concentration on the structure and low temperature Raman scattering properties in SrTi_1−x Co _x O₃ (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30) nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel method. The dopant induced changes are studied by XRD, and Raman scattering measurements. The results show an average particle size of about 20 nm depending on the Co content and the lattice parameters decrease as increasing the Co content. In the Raman spectra, a broad structure in the region 100–500 cm⁻¹ is almost absent and the peaks in the region 600–800 cm⁻¹ show different weights with respect to SrTiO₃, relating to structural changes. The anomalous change in the area ratio of Raman peaks as function of temperature suggests a phase transition in our samples in the range of 110–130 K. These results indicate that the Co ion has replaced the site of Ti in unit cell. This novel route also demonstrates the advantage of synthesizing the compound with low annealing temperature.     

Thermal properties of Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–PbO–P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> glass system

Thermal behavior of xGa₂O₃–(50 − x)PbO–50P₂O₅ (x = 0, 10, 20, and 30 mol.% Ga₂O₃) and xGa₂O₃–(70 − x)PbO–30P₂O₅ (x = 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mol.% Ga₂O₃) glassy materials were studied by thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Replacement of PbO for Ga₂O₃ is accompanied by increasing glass-transition temperature (263 ≤ T _g/°C ≤ 535), deformation temperature (363 ≤ T _d/°C ≤ 672), crystallization temperature (396 ≤ T _c/°C ≤ 640) and decreasing of coefficient of thermal expansion (5.1 ≤ CTE/ppm K⁻¹ ≤ 16.7). Values of Hruby parameter were determined (0.1 ≤ K _H ≤ 1.3). The thermal stability of prepared glasses increases with increasing of concentration of Ga₂O₃.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of spinel Li4Ti5O12−x Cl x anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Li₄Ti₅O_12−x Cl _x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) compounds were synthesized successfully via high temperature solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize their structure and morphology. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and charge/discharge cycling performance tests were used to characterize their electrochemical properties. The results showed that the Li₄Ti₅O_12−x Cl _x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) compounds were well-crystallized pure spinel phase and that the grain sizes of the samples were about 3–8 μm. The Li₄Ti₅O_11.8Cl_0.2 sample presented the best discharge capacity among all the samples and showed better reversibility and higher cyclic stability compared with pristine Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. When the discharge rate was 0.5 C, the Li₄Ti₅O_11.8Cl_0.2 sample presented the superior discharge capacity of 148.7 mAh g⁻¹, while that of the pristine Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was 129.8 mAh g⁻¹; when the discharge rate was 2 C, the Li₄Ti₅O_11.8Cl_0.2 sample presented the discharge capacity of 120.7 mAh g⁻¹, while that of the pristine Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was only 89.8 mAh g⁻¹.     

Synthesis, characterization, and electrical conductivity of new Aurivillius-type oxide-ion conductor

A new oxide-ion conductor of Aurivillius family with a general formula Bi₂Al _x V_{1 − x} O_{5.5 − x − δ}; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20 (BIALVOX) was synthesized by the sol-gel citrate route. Powder X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses confirmed that the calcination of BIALVOX xerogels is fully completed at around 500°C after three hours of thermal treatment. It has been found that the β-orthorhombic phase is stabilized with compositions x ≤ 0.07, whereas the stabilization of the γ′-phase takes place for x ≥ 0.10. AC impedance spectroscopic investigation suggested that the charge accumulation at grain boundaries is thermally activated process. However, the maximum electrical conductivity (7.73 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹) noticed for BIALVOX.13 at 300°C was attributed to the maximum vacancy concentration in the equatorial planes, responsible for the ion diffusion through the structure. This has been further evidenced by the temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity.     

Magnetooptical Property of Sodium Borosilicate Gel-Glass Containing Bi-YIG Fine Particles

Composite materials which consist of ferro- or ferrimagnetic fine particles in a glass matrix are expected to have a large residual magnetization and coercive force because of their fine magnetic domain structure, and has potential for superior magneto-optical properties compared with single or polycrystalline materials. In this study, the sodium borosilicate (NBS) glass containing Bi-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi _x Y_3–x Fe₅O₁₂: BiYIG) fine particles, which show a superior magneto-optical effect, was prepared by the sol-gel method. BiYIG fine particles were stable in NBS gel-glass matrix during densification because the sintering temperature (580°C) of NBS gel was low enough to avoid pyrolysis of BiYIG and the reaction between BiYIG fine particles and the matrix. The Faraday rotation angle spectrum of the composite after deducting the contribution of the NBS glass matrix was intermediate between the reported ones of YIG and Bi_0.25YIG polycrystalline thin films. The change of the Faraday rotation angles of the composite with imposing magnetic field showed a hysteresis loop. It was in good agreement with that of the magnetization curve of the composite.     

Sintering, microstructures and dielectric properties of Ba1−xPbx(Ti1−xLix)O3−3xF3x ferroelectric ceramics

Various compositions (1−x)BaTiO₃ + xPbF2 + xLiF were prepared, shaped to pellets then sintered at 900°C for 2 h in gold sealed tubes. The purity and the symmetry of the obtained samples were checked by X-ray diffraction. A new solid solution with Ba_1−x Pb _x (Ti_1−x Li _x ) O_3−3x F_3x formula occurs in the composition range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20. SEM observations were performed on polished and fractured ceramics. The complex permittivity was measured as a function of temperature (−120°C ≤ T ≤ 250°C) and frequency (50 Hz ≤ f ≤ 4 × 10⁷ Hz). The dielectric performances are the best for ceramic Ba_0.97Pb_0.03(Ti_0.97Li_0.03)O_2.91F_0.09. The real component ε′, exhibits a maximum of approximately 7500 at the ferroelectric Curie temperature T _C ≈ -18°C, the dielectric losses tan δ value being 0.012. At room temperature, the relaxation frequency f _r is around 40 MHz for this ceramic. This novel ferroelectric oxifluoride is a promising material for applications, in particular in the field of Z5U multilayer capacitors.      

Catalytic activity of Mn-substituted barium hexaaluminates for methane combustion

The catalysts of hexaaluminate (BaMnxAl12-xO19-δ , x = 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0) to be used in methane combustion have been successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method and supercritical drying. The crystalline structure and surface area of catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption analysis of BET method. BET analysis revealed that the preparing and drying method proposed here provides stable materials with higher surface area of 51.4 m2/g in comparison to materials prepared using conventional ambient drying method for BaMnxAl12?xO19-δ calcined at 1200℃ under oxygen. XRD analysis indicated that formation of a pure single phase BaMnxAl12-xO19-δ occurred up to x = 3 in the case of Mn-substituted barium hexaaluminates. Incorporation of Mn in excess leads to BaAl2O4 phase formation. As far as the valence state of Manganese ions was concerned, the introduced Mn ions were either divalent or trivalent. The first Mn ions were introduced in the matrix essentially as Mn2 and only for BaMn3Al9O19-δ does manganese exist exclusively as Mn3 ; the higher the Mn concen- tration, the higher the proportion of Mn3 . Catalytic activity for methane combustion has been measured for Mn-substituted barium hexaaluminates, light-off temperature was observed in the 512-624℃ range. The highest activity was obtained for catalysts containing 3 Mn ions per unit cell, which reveals that the BaMnxAl12-xO19-δ catalyst was a promising methane combustion catalyst with high activity and good thermal stability. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) under hydrogen has been used to correlate the catalytic activity with the amount of easily reducible species.     

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of Ti[1 ? x]VxO[2 ? y]Cy whiskers in hydroquinone oxidation in aqueous solutions

Ti_1−x V _x O_2−y C _y (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10 and x = 0.50) whiskers having the anatase structure were synthesized via thermolysis of vanadium-doped titanium glycolate of composition Ti_1−x V _x (OCH₂CH₂O)₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10 and x = 0.50). The starting reagents used to prepare Ti_1−x V _x (OCH₂CH₂O)₂ were mixtures of coprecipitated titanium and vanadyl hydroxides, which were heated in ethylene glycol at T ≤ 200°C: (1 − x)TiO(OH)₂ + xVO(OH)₂ + 2HOCH₂CH₂OH = Ti_1−x V _x (OCH₂CH₂O)₂ + 3H₂O↑. Thermolysis of vanadium-doped titanium glycolate in various gas media over a wide range of temperatures is useful to prepare titania samples doped with both vanadium and carbon to form a phase of the general composition Ti_{1 − x} V _x O_{2 − y} C _y whiskers prepared by thermolyzing Ti_{1 − x} V _x (OCH₂CH₂O)₂ in air at 450°C were found to have a high photocatalytic activity in hydroquinone oxidation in aqueous solutions irradiated in the UV spectral range; the photocatalyst’s activity increases with increasing vanadium concentration. When hydroquinone was irradiated in the blue, the maximal catalytic activity was discovered in a sample of composition Ti_0.50V_0.50O_2−y C _y . Quantum-chemical calculations support experimental data that the double doping of titania (Ti_1−x V _x O_2−y C _y ) enhances its photocatalytic activity compared to undoped anatase or anatase doped in one sublattice: Ti_1−x V _x O₂ and TiO_2−y C _y .     

Phase equilibria of the Dy–Al–Si system at 500 °C

The isothermal section at 500 °C of the Dy–Al–Si system was studied in the whole concentration range. The alloys were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electron micro-probe analysis. A few samples were analysed by differential thermal analysis. The following intermetallic compounds, some of them showing variable composition, were found: DyAl₂Si₂ (τ₁), hP5-CaAl₂O₂ structure type, Dy₂Al₃Si₂ (τ₂) mS14-Y₂Al₃Si₂ structure type, Dy₂Al_1+x Si_2−x (τ₃), 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25, oI10-W₂CoB₂ structure type and Dy₆Al₃Si (τ₄), tI80-Tb₆Al₃Si structure type. A number of binary phases dissolve the third element forming ternary solid solutions: Dy(Al_1−x Si _x )₃, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5, hP16-Ni₃Ti structure type, Dy(Al _x Si_1−x )₂, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, oI12-GdSi₂ structure type, Dy(Al _x Si_1−x )_1.67, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2, oI12-GdSi₂ structure type, DyAl _x Si_1−x , 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2, oC8-CrB, and Dy₅(Al _x Si_1−x )₃, 0 ≤ x ≤0.3, hP16-Mn₅Si₃ structure type. The melting point of Dy₆Al₃Si was determined.     

Dopant effects on the structural, low temperature Raman scattering and electrical transport properties in SrTi1?xFexO3 nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel method

We investigate effects of Fe dopant concentration on the structure, as well as low temperature Raman scattering and electrical transport properties in SrTi_1−x Fe _x O₃ (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40) nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method. The results show an average particle size of powder is about 30 nm, and the lattice parameters decrease as increasing the Fe content. In the Raman spectra, a broad structure in the region 200–500 cm⁻¹ is almost absent and the peaks in the region 600–800 cm⁻¹ show different weights with respect to SrTiO₃, relating to structural changes with increasing dopant concentration in conjunction with increasing grain boundary contribution to the impedance. The abrupt change in Raman peak position as function of temperature suggests a phase transition in our samples in the range of 110–150 K. These results indicate that the Fe ion has replaced the site of Ti in unit cell. These results also demonstrate the feasibility of synthesizing the compound with low annealing temperature.     

Heat capacity of GdBaSr(Cu<Subscript>3−x</Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>x</Subscript>)O<Subscript>7−δ</Subscript> superconductor (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>=Zn and Ni)

In this study, GdBaSr(Cu_3−x M _x)O_7−δ bulk samples (M=Zn and Ni; 0≤x≤0.1) were prepared via solid-state reaction. Specific heat measurement (measured with thermal relaxation technique using PPMS) shows an obvious specific heat jump around the T _c for GdBaSrCu₃O_7−δ sample as observed in most of the high temperature superconductors. It shifts towards lower temperature with increasing of both Zn and Ni doping contents, whose tendency is similar to the decreasing of T _c. Debye temperature, Θ_D (derived from specific heat measurements) calculated at around 10 K is found to be directly proportional to the T _c.     

Thermoelectric power and electrochemical studies on CdI<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>–B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

A quaternary super-ion-conducting system, 20CdI₂ − 80[xAg₂O − y(0.7V₂O₅ − 0.3B₂O₃)] where 1 ≤ x/y ≤ 3, has been prepared by melt quenching technique. The electrical conductivity measured was the order of 10⁻⁴  S/cm at room temperature. The values of silver-ion transport number obtained by electromotive force technique are nearly unity. The thermoelectric power and electrochemical studies were done on the CdI₂–Ag₂O–V₂O₅–B₂O₃ system. The discharge and polarization characteristics were examined for different cathodes to evaluate the utility of these cells as power sources for low energy applications.     

Electrochemical studies of LiCr x Fe x Mn2?2x O4 in an aqueous electrolyte

In this paper, LiCr _x Fe _x Mn_2−2x O₄ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) electrode materials were prepared by sol–gel technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy or high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. XRD results reveal that the Cr–Fe-co-doped LiCr _x Fe _x Mn_2−2x O₄ materials are phase-pure spinels. The electrochemical properties of the LiMn₂O₄, LiCr_0.05Fe_0.05Mn_1.9O₄, and LiCr_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_1.8O₄ electrodes in 5 M LiNO₃ aqueous electrolyte were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, AC impedance, and galvanostatic charge/discharge methods. In the current range of 0.5–2 A g⁻¹, the specific capacity of the LiCr_0.05Fe_0.05Mn_1.9O₄ electrode is close to that of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode, but the specific capacity of the LiCr_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_1.8O₄ electrode is obviously lower than that of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode. When the electrodes are charge/discharge-cycled at the high current rate of 2 A g⁻¹, the LiCr_0.05Fe_0.05Mn_1.9O₄ electrode exhibits an initial specific capacity close to that of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode, but its cycling stability is obviously prior to that of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode.