The effect of B2O3 addition on the crystallization of amorphous TiO2-ZrO2 mixed oxide

The effect of B₂O₃ addition on the crystallization of amorphous TiO₂-ZrO₂ mixed oxide was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). TiO₂-ZrO₂ mixed oxide was prepared by co-precipitation method with aqueous ammonia as the precipitation reagent. Boric acid was used as a source of boria, and boria contents varied from 2 to 20 wt%. The results indicate that the addition of small amount of boria (<8 wt%) hinders the crystallization of amorphous TiO₂-ZrO₂ into a crystalline ZrTiO₄ compound, while a larger amount of boria (?8 wt%) promotes the crystallization process. FT-IR spectroscopy and ¹¹B MAS NMR results show that tetrahedral borate species predominate at low boria loading, and trigonal borate species increase with increasing boria loading. Thus it is concluded that highly dispersed tetrahedral BO₄ units delay, while a build-up of trigonal BO₃ promote, the crystallization of amorphous TiO₂-ZrO₂ to form ZrTiO₄ crystals.     

Thermally effected structural and surface transformations of sulfated TiO2, ZrO2 and TiO2-ZrO2 catalysts

Preparations were characterized by specific surface area, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffractometry. Thermal effects observed were (a) sulfur loss, (b) sintering, (c) crystallization and transformation of the crystalline phase(s). Thermoanalytical curves indicate that decomposition of the sulfate occurs in two distinct steps. Decrease of surface area due to (b) and (c) is concomitant to decomposition of sulfate. Sulfate was found to hinder sintering, crystallization and phase transformations of ZrO₂ and TiO₂. In low-titania and -zirconia sulfated TiO₂-ZrO₂ the minor component enhances the effect of sulfate. In equimolar TiO₂-ZrO₂ sulfate decomposition is accompanied by rapid formation of crystalline TiZrO₄.This work was supported by the MOL Rt., Hungary, which is gratefully acknowledged.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Sol-Gel Cu-ZrO2 and Fe-ZrO2 Catalysts

Fe-ZrO₂ and Cu-ZrO₂ xerogels were prepared by a sol-gel method. The effect of the hydrolysis catalyst during the gelation step, namely H₂SO₄ or NH₄OH, on the properties of the resulting materials was investigated by XRD, BET, TGA/DTA, TPD of ammonia, FTIR, and TPR. Fe-ZrO₂ and Cu-ZrO₂ xerogels, with sulfuric acid introduced as the hydrolysis catalyst, mainly crystallyzed in the tetragonal phase and exhibited larger surface area and acid amount than those obtained with NH₄OH. Ammonia TPD shows that copper promoted sulfated zirconia is the most acidic material. TGA and FTIR reveal that under oxidizing conditions sulfated zirconia promoted with iron and copper retains more sulfate species than unpromoted sulfated zirconia. Regardless of the hydrolysis catalyst employed, copper promoted catalysts calcined at 600°C, contain a large fraction of copper oxide specieseasily reduced at low temperatures. These copper oxide species are believed to have different environment and interactions with the surface oxygen vacancies of the zirconia support. A FeO-like phase appears to be the most probable one after reduction of Fe-ZrO₂ catalysts prepared with NH₄OH as the hydrolysis catalyst. The formation of Fe° species may be hindered by the high dispersion and interaction of Fe²⁺ ions with the zirconia support. On the other hand, the reduction peaks of iron oxide and sulfate species exhibit a considerable overlap in the TPR profiles of sulfated Fe-ZrO₂ samples. Hence, the nature of the supported phase in the latter samples is rather uncertain.     

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.     

Kinetic study of surface nucleated MgO-CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glasses

The paper investigated, by means of thermal analysis measurements, the validity of three different methods for the evaluation of the activation energy of crystallization for surface nucleated glasses belonging to the MgO-CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ system, separating anorthite and diopside crystals. The values obtained from Kissinger equation of the activation energy for crystallization are comparable with those obtained by other authors for similar glassy systems, 90 to 150 kcal/mol. The results of the kinetic analysis using single-crystallization-peak method should be corrected taking into account the dimensionality of crystal growth.The authors thank the M.U.R.S.T. for financial support.     

掺杂Fe2O3对吸附相反应技术制备TiO2的形貌和光催化性能的影响

利用吸附相反应技术制备得到了掺杂不同浓度的Fe₂O₃的TiO₂复合光催化剂。通过透射电子显微镜(TEM)、紫外可见光谱和X射线衍射(XRD)研究不同掺杂浓度对TiO₂形貌和结晶过程的影响,并利用3种波长光源下的甲基橙光降解实验考评了各个复合光催化剂的催化活性。结果表明,掺杂后复合光催化剂中Fe₂O₃分散性较好较均匀。在TiO₂紫外可见吸收光谱中由于Fe₂O₃的掺杂而出现了红移,而且随着掺杂浓度增加红移越来越明显,复合光催化剂的禁带宽度也越来越小。在焙烧过程中无定形Fe₂O₃或Fe³⁺进入了TiO₂的晶格结构,从而抑制了TiO₂的结晶过程。半导体禁带宽度的减少以及TiO₂结晶过程的抑制作用,都导致紫外光下复合光催化剂催化活性的降低。但Fe₂O₃的掺杂也使得复合光催化剂在可见光区出现了一定的光催化活性。     

Study of the crystallization pathway of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 thin films obtained by chemical solution deposition

Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ (NBT) thin films were fabricated by a chemical solution deposition (CSD) method. A route involving the reaction between sodium and bismuth acetates and titanium n-butoxide was used to synthesise the different precursor solutions. The thermal decomposition and crystallization pathways of different modified precursors have been studied by thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction techniques. As a consequence of the modification of the precursor solutions and their different thermal behaviour, the nucleation of the stable perovskite phase happens at different temperatures depending on each case but is found to be at temperatures as low as 500 °C. For the thin film processing, the drying and pyrolysis temperatures were chosen according to the thermogravimetric data to minimize the strain resulting from the shrinkage of the film during the elimination of solvents and organic ligands. The crystallization process was studied and the experimental results are discussed in terms of structural, microstructural and electrical features investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy in tapping and piezo-force modes and X-ray diffraction.     

Na5P3O10-Ca(OH)2-CO2-H2O体系纳米CaCO3的成核与生长

通过化学分析、SEM显微分析技术,结合Rosin-Ramiler概率统计理论,从介观层次研究Na5P3O10-Ca(OH)2-CO2-H2O体系纳米CaCO3的合成反应及其成核和生长过程。结果表明,Na5P3O10对Ca(OH)2的碳化反应具有抑制作用。随着[Na5P3O10]的增加,体系中CaCO3的成核速率B^0逐渐增大。在[Na5P3O10]＝0ppm时,CaCO3结晶的生长由长程扩散和凝聚生长控制;[Na5P3O10]=380.4,760.9ppm时,前期受短程扩散和界面反应控制、后期受长程扩散控制。Na5P3O10的存在,抑制了纳米CaCO3的晶体生长。     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and thermal characterization of Co(II) tetrahydrogen hexaoxoiodate tetrahydrate

A new cobalt(II) tetrahydrogen hexaoxoiodate tetrahydrate Co(H₄IO₆)₂·4H₂O is prepared by crystallization from an acidic aqueous solution. This compound is identified by quantitative analysis, TG, DTA, DSC and IR spectra. A thermal decomposition scheme is proposed. Some phase transitions are identified and the corresponding enthalpy changes are determined.     

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.     

Low-temperature synthesis of photocatalytic TiO2 thin film from aqueous anatase precursor sols

Anatase TiO₂ sols (RS) were synthesized by peptizing the hydrolysis of titanyl sulfate in abundant hydrogen peroxide solution and subsequent reflux to enhance crystallization. The influences of various reflux time on crystallinity, morphology, and size of the obtained TiO₂ sol and dried TiO₂ film particles were investigated. At room temperature, crystalline TiO₂ thin film was deposited on glass silde from the as prepared TiO₂ sol by dip-coating method. No further thermal posttreatment was required to eliminate organics from the film or to induce titania crystallization. TiO₂ thin film on substrates could be thickened by means of consecutive dip-coating process. Titania film thus obtained was transparent and showed proper adherence. The photocatalytic activities of the TiO₂ thin film was assessed by the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution. The preparation process of photocatalytic TiO₂ thin film was quite simple and a low-temperature route.     

Photo-Induced Hydrophilicity of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Films Deposited on Stainless Steel via Sol-Gel Technique

The photo-induced hydrophilicity of TiO₂ films deposited on stainless steel substrates and silicon wafers using two different sol-gel routes has been investigated. The results indicate that crystalline titanium oxide films with excellent hydrophilic properties can be obtained on silicon wafer with both routes. XPS and XRD data reveal that films deposited on stainless steel exhibit crystallization features similar to those of films deposited on silicon wafers, and only differ by their oxidation degree owing to a TiO₂ reduction process associated to a diffusion of iron ions during deposition of the acidic sol and/or high temperature post-treatment. Consequently, hydrophilic properties of films deposited on stainless steel are inhibited. The deposition of a SiO_x barrier layer at the film/substrate interface allows preventing such a detrimental substrate influence. A low temperature deposition route of the TiO₂ film associated to the presence of a barrier layer yields best results in preventing iron contamination of the films.     

Thermally Induced Phase Transformation on 12-Tungstophosphoric Acid/ZrO2 Sol-Gel

Zirconium (IV)-n-butoxide and tungstophosphoric acid (WP) were co-gelled at pH 3, 5 and 7 with HCl acid, C₂H₄O₂ acid and NH₄OH, respectively. Pyridine adsorption bands at 1610 and 1442 cm^–1 corresponding to Lewis acidic sites were observed by FTIR spectroscopy. Acidity determined by ammonia thermodesorption shows values around 1100 mol of NH₃/g, which correspond to solids showing super acidity. It was found that the incorporation of WP to gelling zirconia delay the formation of tetragonal zirconia. Raman spectroscopy shows the stabilization of the Keggin structure on zirconia thermally treated at 400°C.     

Phase relationships in the pseudo-binary 2(ZnTe)-CuInTe2 system

Subsolidus phase relationships in the 2(ZnTe)_x(CuInTe₂)_1−x system were investigated by TEM experiments combined with EDX analysis. The samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction of the elements during long annealing times, followed by either quenching in ice-cold water, or by controlled cooling at different rates. Using the chemical compositions of single and coexisting phases at various temperatures, the boundaries of the two-phase region have been determined. At room temperature, the two-phase region extends from x=0.10 to 0.31. For x<0.10 only mixed crystals with tetragonal structure exist. Between x=0.31 and 1 alloys with the cubic structure are stable.The morphology of the tetragonal domains and their orientation relationship to the cubic matrix were determined by SAD, TEM and HRTEM experiments. The tetragonal phase embedded within the cubic matrix has a flat ellipsoidal shape, whose short axis coincides with the tetragonal c-axis. The three topotaxial orientation relationships between the tetragonal domains and the surrounding cubic matrix were found to be: [001]_tetr.∥[100]_cub., [001]_tetr.∥[010]_cub. and [001]_tetr.∥[001]_cub.. There is an indication that the nucleation starts from small regions displaying cation ordering according to the CuPt-type structure. Reaching the two-phase equilibrium, the tetragonal domains as well as the surrounding cubic phase are free of this cation ordering.     

Response Surface Methodology: Photocatalytic Degradation Kinetics of Basic Blue 41 Dye Using Activated Carbon with TiO2

Water decontamination still remains a major challenge to some developing countries not having centralized wastewater systems. Therefore, this study presents the optimization of photocatalytic degradation of Basic Blue 41 dye in an aqueous medium by an activated carbon (AC)-TiO₂ photocatalyst under UV irradiation. The mesoporous AC-TiO₂ synthesized by a sonication method was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for crystal phase identification and molecular bond structures, respectively. The efficiency of the AC-TiO₂ was evaluated as a function of three input variables viz. catalyst load (2–4 g), reaction time (15–45 min) and pH (6–9) by using Box-Behnken design (BBD) adapted from response surface methodology. Using color and turbidity removal as responses, a 17 run experiment matrix was generated by the BBD to investigate the interaction effects of the three aforementioned input factors. From the results, a reduced quadratic model was generated, which showed good predictability of results agreeable to the experimental data. The analysis of variance (ANOVA), signposted the selected models for color and turbidity, was highly significant (p < 0.05) with coefficients of determination (R²) values of 0.972 and 0.988, respectively. The catalyst load was found as the most significant factor with a high antagonistic impact on the process, whereas the interactive effect of reaction time and pH affected the process positively. At optimal conditions of catalyst load (2.6 g), reaction time (45 min), and pH (6); the desirability of 96% was obtained by a numerical optimization approach representing turbidity removal of 93% and color of 96%.     

Polymorphism in yttrium molybdate Y2Mo3O12

Yttrium molybdate (Y₂Mo₃O₁₂) has been prepared by non-hydrolytic sol–gel chemistry. The phase evolution upon heating was investigated using in situ and ex situ heat treatments combined with powder X-ray diffraction. This method has led to the isolation of two orthorhombic phases with different atomic connectivity. Yttrium adopts 6- and 7-coordinate sites in the Pbcn and Pba2 structures, respectively. Cocrystallization of both phases was observed in a narrow temperature range, suggesting that crystallization kinetics play a major role in phase formation. It was found that the Pba2 phase is the stable polymorph below 550 °C, and converts to Pbcn at higher temperatures.     

Kinetics of the transformation process of PbSO4 to PbO2 in a lead anodic film

The kinetics of the nucleation and growth of PbO₂ during the potentiostatic oxidation of PbSO₄ in a lead anodic film was studied using linear sweep voltammetry, potential-step and ac impedance tracing methods. The film investigated is the partially reduced anodic PbO₂ film formed by polarizing a lead electrode in 4.5 M H₂SO₄ solution first at 1.3 V vs. Hg|HgSO₄ for 20 min and then at 0.9 V for 5 min. The nucleation and growth process begins some time after the potential step and is completed within 60 s. The pre- and post-nucleation and growth processes correspond to the growth of the anodic film formed by the oxidation of the lead substrate. The mathematical equations representing the current-time and capacitance-time transients are derived taking the background oxidation current into account. The experimental results are well fitted by these equations. The process obeys the laws of two-dimensional instantaneous nucleation and growth.     

Preparation of Al2TiO5-ZrO2 mixed powders via sol-gel process

Sol-gel routes in the ternary system Al₂O₃-TiO₅-ZrO₂ were investigated to prepare Al₂TiO₅-ZrO₂ mixed powders. The preparation of ZrTiO₄ and Al₂TiO₅ was studied before going on with the ternary system. Zirconium titanate precursor gels were prepared from Ti(OPrⁱ)₄ and Zr(OPrⁿ)₄ mixtures. The crystallization of ZrTiO₄ develops at T<700°C. Al₂TiO₅ was prepared by different ways, using mixtures of Al(OBu^s)₂(C₆H₉O₃) with Ti(OPr ⁱ )₄ (i), or with acetic acid addition (ii). Route (i) leads to a separate crystallization of TiO₂ and -Al₂O₃, with subsequent formation of -Al₂TiO₅ at T1360°C. Although the pseudobrookite -Al₂TiO₅ is thermodynamically unstable below 1280°C, route (ii) leads to the crystallization of metastable -Al₂TiO₅ at T800°C. At increasing temperature, -Al₂TiO₅ decomposes into TiO₂ and -Al₂O₃, then the two compounds react to form stable -Al₂TiO₅. For the ternary system, all the preparation routes which were studied lead to ZrTiO₄ and -Al₂O₃ with subsequent reaction (at T1500°C) to give -Al₂TiO₅ and ZrO₂.     

一种多季胺阳离子诱导Bi2WO6片状团簇微球的合成及光致发光特性

以一种实验室自合成的双子季铵盐为表面活性剂,采用水热法,通过调节pH值,制备出由Bi2WO6纳米片自组装而成的不同片状团簇微球。研究了不同Bi2WO6片状团簇微球的物相结构、成分、晶体形貌和光致发光特性,探讨了其可能的生长机理。结果表明,在这种多季胺阳离子作用下,pH值对Bi2WO6片状团簇微球的物相、形貌和光致发光性能有明显的影响,随着pH值的增大,Bi2WO6片状团簇微球在(131)晶面处呈现明显的择优取向生长,在pH=5时,Bi2WO6微球可达到最大的发光强度。     

On the mechanism of the P2-Na0.70CoO2→O2-LiCoO2 exchange reaction—Part II: an in situ X-ray diffraction study

A model was proposed to describe the exchange reaction of sodium by lithium in P2 crystals, it was based first on the formation of nucleation centers and then on the growth of O2 domains in P2 crystals from these nucleation centers. This study has shown that depending on the ratio between the growing and nucleation speeds, O2, O6 or faulted structures are obtained and that this model allows a good analysis of the exchange process. XRD patterns simulation and their comparison with that of experimental O2-LiCoO₂ have shown that there was almost no defects in the O2-LiCoO₂ structure obtained by ion exchange in water. Therefore, this study has shown that the growth of the O2 domains in the P2-Na_0.7CoO₂ crystals is faster than the formation of nucleation centers.This P2-Na_0.7CoO₂→O2-LiCoO₂ exchange reaction was also studied in situ by X-ray diffraction; simulations of key XRD patterns by P2-O2 intergrowths were also achieved. It was shown, in good agreement with the simulations, that the growth of O2 domains was faster than the formation of the nucleation centers and kinetically activated by a P2-Na_0.70CoO₂→P2^*-Na_∼0.50CoO₂ phase transition. For those reasons, the P2-Na_0.70CoO₂→O2-LiCoO₂ exchange reaction in water leads to an O2 phase, with an almost ideal packing.