Preparation of compact Al2O3 film on metal for oxidation resistance by polyvinylpyrrolidone

Oxidation resistance of metal at high temperature can be improved by an environmentally friendly solution deposition approach. Stable precursor solution with high oxide concentration, favorable viscosity and low surface tension was prepared using aluminum sec-butoxide (ASB) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as starting raw materials. Alumina sol-gel films were deposited onto metal by spin-coating followed by heat treatment. When PVP was added according to an amount of 50 mg/mL into a sol with an ASB/H₂O molar ratio of 1:35, the as-obtained sol exhibited favorable gelation time and viscosity. The surface tension of the alumina sol with PVP was examined to be lower by 32% than the sol (ASB:H₂O = 1:100) without PVP. TG-DTA analyses show the densification of the alumina gel film with PVP was progressed within a wide temperature range from 200 to 650 °C. Crack-free Al₂O₃ film with a thickness up to 1.5 μm was successfully produced on metallic substrate by three spin-coating cycles. SEM and XRD analyses revealed the gel film transformed into compact α-Al₂O₃ material after calcined at 1,000 °C for 0.5 h. The weight gained by the samples during firing at 1,000 °C indicated that the Al₂O₃ coating film could reduce the rate of oxidation by ∼81%. The hardness of the Al₂O₃ film coated metal was higher by 260% than the uncoated metal that was calcined at 1,000 °C for 0.5 h. It was confirmed by adhesion test that both the alumina/PVP hybrid film and the as-produced α-Al₂O₃ coating film had strong adhesion.     

Preparation and characterization of highly photoactive nanocrystalline TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> powders by solvent evaporationinduced crystallization method

Highly photoactive bi-phase nanocrystalline TiO₂ photocatalyst was prepared by a solvent evaporation-induced crystallization (SEIC) method, and calcined at different temperatures. The obtained TiO₂ photocatalyst was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET surface areas. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic oxidation of acetone in air. The results show that solvent evaporation can promote the crystallization and phase transformation of TiO₂ at 100°C. When calcination temperatures are below 600°C, the prepared TiO₂ powders show bimodal pore size distributions in the mesoporous region. At 700°C, the pore size distributions exhibit monomodal distribution of the inter-aggregated pores due to the collapse of the intra-aggregated pores. At 100°C, the obtained TiO₂ photocatalyst by this method shows good photocatalytic activity, and at 400°C, its photocatalytic activity exceeds that of Degussa P25. This may be attributed to the fact that the prepared TiO₂ photocatalyst has higher specific surface areas, smaller crystallite size and bimodal pore size distribution.     

Sol–gel process of ZnO and ZnAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> coated aluminum borate whiskers

Zinc nitrate and citric acid were used to prepare ZnO sol. ZnO and ZnAl₂O₄ coated aluminum borate whiskers were separately prepared by a sol–gel process. The results show that ZnO forms when ZnO xerogel is calcined at 500 °C and it does not undergo any phase transformation in the range of 500 and 1000 °C during calcinations. In ZnO xerogel coated aluminum borate whiskers system, a large amount of heat, gas and pores are produced during the heating process. When ZnO xerogel coated aluminum borate whiskers are calcined at 500 °C, ZnO can be uniformly coated on the surface of the whikers and the coated whiskers can be easily dispersed in distilled water through an ultrasonic vibration apparatus. During the calcination of ZnO coated whiskers at 1000 °C, ZnO reacts with the whiskers and ZnAl₂O₄ forms on the surface of aluminum borate whiskers.     

Influence of O2 Plasma on Surface Properties of PC-TiO2 Nanocomposite Film

In this work, polycarbonate-TiO₂ nanocomposite films were prepared with different percentages. The aim was to consider the effect of O₂ LF plasma (50 Hz) on the hydrophilicity, surface energy, and surface morphology of polycarbonate and polycarbonate-TiO₂ nanocomposite. Structure of samples was determined by using X-ray diffraction analysis. In comparison with the reference sample, the samples’ structure did not change after plasma treatment. Surface properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate-TiO₂ nanocomposite films were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurement, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Vickers microhardness tester. XPS analysis showed that the surface of samples became more oxidized due to plasma treatment. The water contact angle significantly decreased from 88° to 15° after plasma treatment. It was observed that the hardness of the nanocomposite films was not modified after plasma treatment.     

Synthesis of high surface area nanometer magnesia by solid-state chemical reaction

Nanometer MgO samples with high surface area, small crystal size and mesoporous texture were synthesized by thermal decomposition of MgC₂O₄ · 2H₂O prepared from solid-state chemical reaction between H₂C₂O₄ · 2H₂O and Mg (CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O. Steam produced during the decomposition process accelerated the sintering of MgO, and MgO with surface area as high as 412 m² · g⁻¹ was obtained through calcining its precursor in flowing dry nitrogen at 520°C for 4 h. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis. The as-prepared MgO was composed of nanocrystals with a size of about 4–5 nm and formed a wormhole-like porous structure. The MgO also had good thermal stability, and its surface areas remained at 357 and 153 m²·g⁻¹ after calcination at 600 and 800°C for 2 h, respectively. Compared with the MgO sample prepared by the precipitation method, MgO prepared by solid-state chemical reaction has uniform pore size distribution, surface area, and crystal size. The solid-state chemical method has the advantages of low cost, low pollution, and high yield, therefore it appears to be a promising method in the industrial manufacture of nanometer MgO. Translated from Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2006, 27(9): 793–798 (in Chinese)     

Apparent low surface areas in microporous SiO2-xerogels

Nitrogen adsorption at −195°C serves as routine method for the measurement of surface area of porous materials derived by sol-gel procedures. In a systematic study of the simultaneous effect of the pH and water-silane ratio of the starting solutions of preparation of SiO₂ xerogels on their surface areas, it was found that conditions of high acidity and low water/silane ratio result in microporous materials, the surface of which cannot be accessed by N₂ at −195°C, within a realistic time scale, but only by CO₂ at 0°C. In a typical result for TMOS/water/methanol = 1/2/3 at pH=1.0, the apparent N₂-area was zero, while the CO₂-area was 414 m²/gr. It is recommended to recheck apparent N₂-low surface areas of sol-gel materials by CO₂ adsorption. The behavior of pyrene-doped xerogels of this type is in agreement with the structural characterization by adsorption.     

Synthesis of high surface area nanocrystalline anatase-TiO2 powders derived from particulate sol-gel route by tailoring processing parameters

Stabilised titania sols were prepared using an additive free particulate sol-gel route, via electrostatic stabilisation mechanism, with various processing parameters. Peptisation temperature, 50°C and 70°C, and TiO₂ concentration, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 molar, were chosen as processing parameters during sol preparation. Results from TiO₂ particle size and zeta potential of sols revealed that the smallest titania hydrodynamic diameter (13 nm) and the highest zeta potential (47.7 mV) were obtained for the sol produced at the lower peptisation temperature of 50°C and lower TiO₂ concentration of 0.1 M. On the other hand, between the sols prepared at 70°C, smaller titania particles (20 nm) and higher zeta potential (46.3 mV) were achieved with increasing TiO₂ concentration up to 0.4 M. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) results of produced powders annealed at different temperatures showed that the 300°C annealed powder made from 0.1 M sol prepared at 50°C was a mixture of anatase and brookite, corresponding to a major phase of anatase (∼95% estimated), with the smallest average crystallite size of 1.3 nm and the highest specific surface area (SSA) of 193 m²/g. Furthermore, increasing TiO₂ concentration up to 0.4 molar for the sols prepared at 70°C resulted in decreasing the average crystallite size (1.9 nm at 300°C) and increasing SSA (116 m²/g at 300°C) of the powders annealed at different temperatures. Anatase-to-rutile phase transformation temperature was increased with decreasing peptisation temperature down to 50°C, whereas TiO₂ concentration had no effect on this transition. Anatase percentage increased with decreasing both peptisation temperature and TiO₂ concentration. Such prepared powders can be used in many applications in areas from photo catalysts to gas sensors.     

A method for increasing the surface area of perovskite-type oxides

A method based on hydrothermal treatments is described for increasing the surface area of sintered ABO₃-type perovskite oxides. Influence of hydrothermal treatments, such as water treatment at 125–300°C under autogeneous pressure and steam treatment at 350–800°C, to low surface area (or sintered) LaCoO₃ and LaMnO₃ perovskite oxides on their surface properties (viz. surface area, crystal size and morphology and surface La/(Co or Mn) ratio) and also catalytic activity in complete combustion of methane at different temperatures (450–600°C) has been thoroughly investigated. The hydrothermal treatments result in the activation of the perovskite oxides by increasing their surface area very markedly.     

The effect of the degree of ionicity of ceramic materials on their wettability by melted sodium chloride

The sessile drop method has been used to study the wettability of hexagonal boron nitride, sapphire, quartz, and polycrystalline silicon carbide by melted sodium chloride in a reducing He–H₂ atmosphere. Melted NaCl completely spreads over sapphire and quartz surfaces and form finite contact angles equal to 51° ± 10° and 77° ± 5° on silicon carbide and hexagonal boron nitride, respectively. The calculated works of salt adhesion to the ceramic substrates increase with the magnitude of the ionic component of ceramic material surface energy.     

Simple sol–gel route to synthesis of mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Mesoporous TiO₂ with a high specific surface area was prepared from titanium sulfate solution in a simple sol–gel route, where formamide was used as pH adjusting agent. TiO₂ had a high resistance to phase transformation, and maintained monophasic anatase after calcinating at 600 °C. The highest specific surface area achieved on the prepared samples is 231.90 m² g⁻¹ after calcinating at 450 °C.     

Preparation of acrylic resin/modified nano-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> via sol-gel method for leather finishing agent

Acrylic resin/nano-SiO₂ (AR/nano-SiO₂) composite was prepared by physical blends of acrylic resin (AR) and nano-SiO₂, which was synthesized via the sol-gel method of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) catalyzed with alkali. The synthetic conditions, such as surfactant type, the content of nano-SiO₂ sol, stirring speed, mixed temperature and ultrasonic treatment, on nanocomposites’ property were studied in detail. DSC indicated the glass transition temperature of AR/nano-SiO₂ (Tg = −26.7°C) was a little higher than that of the acrylic resin (Tg= −29.6°C). Water uptake confirmed that the water resistance of AR/nano-SiO₂ was improved by 55.94% and the solvent resistance by 54.79% when compared with AR. The improved properties of leather finished by AR/nano-SiO₂ were shown, in contrast to AR treatment; water vapor permeability was increased by 9.15% and the finish adhesion by 10.35%.     

Influence of NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>-treating temperature on visible light photocatalytic activity of N-doped P<Subscript>25</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The influence of NH₃-treating temperature on the visible light photocatalytic activity of N-doped P₂₅-TiO₂ as well as the relationship between the surface composition structure of TiO₂ and its visible light photocatalytic activity were investigated. The results showed that N-doped P₂₅-TiO₂ treated at 600°C had the highest activity. The structure of P₂₅-TiO₂ was converted from anatase to rutile at 700°C. Moreover, no N-doping was detected at the surface of P₂₅-TiO₂. There was no simply linear relationship between the visible light photocatalytic activity and the concentration of doped nitrogen, and visible light absorption. The visible light photocatalytic activity of N-doped P₂₅-TiO₂ was mainly influenced by the synergistic action of the following factors: (i) the formation of the single-electron-trapped oxygen vacancies (denoted as V_o^·); (ii) the doped nitrogen on the surface of TiO₂; (iii) the anatase TiO₂ structure.     

Investigation of RuO2-IrO2-SnO2 thin film evolution

The thermal evolution process of RuO₂–IrO₂–SnO₂ mixed oxide thin films of varying noble metal contents has been investigated under in situ conditions by thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS), infrared emission spectroscopy (IR) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The gel-like films prepared from aqueous solutions of the precursor compounds RuOHCl₃, H₂IrCl₆ and Sn(OH)₂(CH₃COO)_2–xCl_x on titanium metal support were heated in an atmosphere containing 20% O₂ and 80% Ar up to 600°C. Chlorine evolution takes place in a single step between 320 and 500°C accompanied with the decomposition of the acetate ligand. The decomposition of surface species formed like carbonyls, carboxylates and carbonates occurs in two stages between 200 and 500°C. The temperature of chlorine evolution and that of the final film formation increases with the increase of the iridium content in the films. The anodic peak charge shows a maximum value at 18% iridium content.     

Thermoanalytical and spectroscopic studies of the synthesis of suppokted palladium catalyst in A H2/PdCl2/SiO2 parent system

A 5 wt% Pd/SiO₂ catalyst was synthesized by heating PdCl₂-impregnated SiO₂ in H₂ at 300°C for 2 h. It was found that the metal particle dispersion is improved when the reduction step is preceded by calcination at 300°C for 2h. Thermogravimetry of the impregnated support in air, N₂ and H₂ atmospheres was used to monitor the interactions occurring during the various preparative steps (i.e. drying, calcination and reduction) of the catalyst. The solid prduct of each preparative step was characterized by X-ray diffractometry and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results indicate that following the drying step (at 110°C in air) the palladium occurs in two detectable forms: PdCl₂ particles and Si?O?Pdⁿ⁺ surface species. The calcination appears to transform the PdCl₂ particles into the latter surface species. The H₂-reduction eventually converts the surface species into finely-dispersed Pd° metal particles (average size=8–14 nm). No other reduction products, such as Pd_ySi_x, were detected.     

The effect of nanolayer AlF<Subscript>3</Subscript> coating on LiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> cycle life in high temperature for lithium secondary batteries

The surface of the spinel LiMn₂O₄ was coated with AlF₃ by a chemical process to improve its electrochemical performance at high temperatures. The morphology and structure of the original and AlF₃-coated LiMn₂O₄ samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM). All the samples exhibited a pure cubic spinel structure without any impurities in the XRD patterns. It was found that the surfaces of the original LiMn₂O₄ samples were covered with a nanolayer AlF₃ after the treatment. The charge/discharge of the materials were carried at 220 mA/g in the range of 3.0 and 4.4 V at 55°C. While the original LiMn₂O₄ showed 17.8% capacity loss in 50 cycles at 55°C, the AlF₃-coated LiMn₂O₄ (118.1 mA h/g) showed only 3.4% loss of the initial capacity (122.3 mA h/g) at 55°C. It is obvious that the improvement in cycling performance of the coated-LiMn₂O₄ electrode at 55°C is attributed to the presence of AlF₃ on the surface of LiMn₂O₄. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 45, No. 7, pp. 817–819. The article is published in the original     

A thermal analysis evaluation of the low temperature synthesis of BaBiO3

Thermal decomposition of metal-organic precursors for the mixed oxide BaBiO₃ was studied using TG and EGA. Precursors produced by polyesterification of bifunctional acids with ethylene glycol (Pechini process) decomposed about 100°C higher than those without the diol. BaCO₃ was identified by IR and XRD as a reaction intermediate. EGA proved that the amount of BaCO₃ was below 10% of the total barium, and that the barium exists mainly as a nitro-compound up to 650°C. Phase-pure BaBiO₃ with a moderately high surface area (1.4 m²/g) could be synthesised from a citrate precursor by the Pechini process at around 850°C.     

Phase equilibria in the Ag4SSe–As2Se3 system

The phase diagram of the system Ag₄SSe–As₂Se₃ is studied by means of X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analyses and measurements of the microhardness and the density of the materials. The unit-cell parameters of the intermediate phases 3Ag₄SSe·As₂Se₃ (phase A) and Ag₄SSe·2As₂Se₃ (phase B) are determined as follows for phase A: a=4.495 Å, b=3.990 Å, c=4.042 Å, α=89.05°, β=108.98°, γ=92.93°; for phase B: a=4.463 Å, b=4.136 Å, c=3.752 Å, α=118.60°, β=104.46°, γ=83.14°. The phase 3Ag₄SSe·As₂Se₃ and Ag₄SSe·2As₂Se₃ have a polymorphic transition α?β consequently at 105 and 120°C. The phase A melts incongruently at 390°C and phase B congruently at the same temperature.     

RuO2 electrode surface effects in electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose

We have studied the electrocatalytic activity of RuO₂-PVC film electrodes, fabricated using RuO₂ powders prepared at five different temperatures, viz., 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700°C, for the oxidation of glucose in high alkaline media, 1 to 3 M NaOH. The RuO₂-PVC film electrodes have been first characterized in 1 to 3 M NaOH solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disc electrode (RDE) techniques in a wide potential range −1,100 to 450 mV (SCE), and three redox pairs representing Ru(IV)/Ru(III), Ru(VI)/Ru(IV) and Ru(VII)/Ru(VI) transitions have been identified. The voltammetric peaks at low sweep rates have been analyzed using surface activity theory formulated for interacting electroactive adsorption sites, and interaction terms have been evaluated. The total voltammetric surface charges have been analyzed as per Trassatti’s formalism with respect to their dependence on potential sweep rate, and charges associated with less accessible and more accessible surface sites have been calculated. For glucose oxidation, the results have indicated that RuO₂ (700°C)-PVC electrode shows two oxidation peaks in contrast to RuO₂ (300°C)-PVC electrode. Also, RuO₂ (700°C)-PVC electrode exhibits higher intrinsic electrocatalytic activity than the 300°C electrode, although the former possesses lower electrochemically active surface area. Additionally, kinetic analyses made from RDE results with reference to Michealis–Menten (MM) enzyme catalysis has shown that RuO₂ (700°C) electrode possesses extended glucose-sensing range in terms of MM kinetic constant, K _M , compared to other electrodes. Possible reasons for such differences in the behavior of the electrodes of different temperatures towards glucose oxidation are identified from studies on oxidation of glucose in solutions of different pH, oxidation of different glucose derivatives, and also from physicochemical results from BET, XRD, SEM, DTGA, XPS analysis of RuO₂ powder samples.     

Thermo-Raman Studies on Dehydration of Na4P2O7⋅10H2O and Phase Transformations of Na4P2O7

In this work, dehydration of sodium diphosphate decahydrate Na₄P₂O₇⋅10H₂O and phase transformations of Na₄P₂O₇ in open air have been studied in detail by thermo-Raman spectroscopy. The spectra were measured continuously in a temperature range from room temperature up to 600°C for the bands of P₂O₇ ^4- and H₂O. The spectral variation showed one step of dehydration and four-phase transformations. The thermo-Raman intensity(TRI) and differential thermo-Raman intensity (DTRI) curves calculated from the characteristic bands of H₂O also showed one step of dehydration with the loss of all hydrated water in the temperature interval from 45 to 69°C. Thermogravimetric measurements supported this result. The thermo-Raman investigation indicated the transformation of Na₄P₂O₇ from low temperature phase to high temperature phase proceed through pre-transitional region from 75 to 410°C before the major orientational disorder at 418°C and minor structural modifications at 511,540 and 560°C. The results from differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermal analysis on Na₄P₂O₇ showed endotherms at 407,517, 523, 548, 557°C and 426, 528, 534, 555, 565°C, respectively. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of thermal treatment on the photocatalytic degradation of ethylene,trichloroethylene, and chloroform

The thermal treatment of TiO₂ pellets prepared by the sol–gel method decreased the photocatalytic activity. The activity divided by the specific surface area of the pellets for the complete mineralization of ethylene or chloroform was maximized at the firing temperature of 400°C. For the photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE), most of them were converted to chlorinated by-products, such as dichloroacetic acid, chloroform, and phosgene, and the stoichiometric ratio of [CO₂]_formed/[TCE]_degraded showed a maximal value at 400°C. The electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) in the flow injection system indicated that firing at 400°C gave the highest signal intensity of DMPO–OH adducts. These findings indicated that the OH radical was produced most effectively on the TiO₂ fired at 400°C, which would be related to the content of anatase and rutile. Concerning the formation of chlorinated by-products from TCE, more dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) were detected and less CHCl₃ and COCl₂ were formed at lower firing temperatures, suggesting that the branching ratio of chloroethoxy radicals to the formation of DCAA or CHCl₃ and COCl₂ by C–C bond scission depended on the firing temperature.