LaNi1 − x Cu x O3 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.30) coated electrodes for oxygen evolution in alkaline medium

LaNi_1???x Cu _x O₃ (x?=?0.05, 0.10, 0.30) coated electrodes were prepared by brush painting using Ni foam substrates in order to increase its active surface area. For comparison, coatings with x?=?0.05 were also prepared using vitreous carbon substrates. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the coating roughness (R _f). Values between 5,145?±?148 and 6,334?±?277 were obtained, depending on the x value, for the coatings on Ni foam. These results show that the electrodes prepared with LaNi_1???x Cu _x O₃ powder, obtained at 600 °C, lead to a big increase on the oxide electrode roughness when compared with LaNiO₃ electrodes prepared by a similar method. Much lower values were obtained for the coatings on vitreous carbon indicating that the substrate nature is also a key factor for the preparation of high surface area electrodes. The calculated kinetic parameters for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) show that the partial replacement of Ni by Cu has no beneficial effect on the intrinsic catalytic activity of the coatings. On the other hand, a big increase on the active area is observed even for small amounts of Cu (x?=?0.05), leading to a better overall OER performance for the LaNi_0.95Cu_0.05O₃ coating on Ni foam. For this composition, the activity is dominated by geometric effects.     

Electroconductivity of Solid Solutions Cs3–2x M x PO4 (M = Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg)

Solid solutions Cs_{3 – 2x} M _x PO₄ (M = Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg) are synthesized and their thermal behavior and electroconductivity are examined. Adding elements of Subgroup IIA of the periodic table into cesium orthophosphate shifts the phase transition, which occurs in pure Cs₃PO₄ at 450–620°, towards lower temperatures and raises the cesium cation conductivity at low temperatures. The electroconductivity of a high-temperature modification of Cs₃PO₄ is weakly dependent on the presence and concentration of such additives, which points to structural disordering of the cesium sublattice.     

Phase equilibriums, oxygen exchange kinetics and diffusion in oxides CaZr1 ? x Sc x O3 ? x/2 ? δ

Oxides CaZr_{1 ? x} Sc _x O_{3 ? x/2 - ??} (x = 0.00?C0.20) were synthesized according to the ceramic technology. The solubility boundary of scandium with formation of solid solutions on the basis of calcium zirconate CaZrO_{3 ? ??} corresponds to x = 0.07?C0.08. The second phase of CaSc₂O₄ is present in the samples with scandium content of x = 0.10, 0.15, 0.20. Its fraction grows at an increase in x. The method of full-profile Rietveld analysis was used to calculate the structure parameters for oxides CaZr_0.99Sc_0.01O_{2.995 ? ??} and CaZr_0.95Sc_0.05O_{2.975 ? ??}. The method of isotopic exchange with gas phase analysis was used to study the kinetics of gas-phase oxygen interaction with the CaZr_0.95Sc_0.05O_{2.975 ? ??} oxide in the temperature range of 700?C850°C and at oxygen pressures of 0.13?C6.67 kPa. The values of effective activation energies of the oxygen exchange and diffusion processes were 1.36 ± 0.32 and 1.92 ± 0.21 eV, accordingly. The dependence of the interphase exchange rate on the pressure of oxygen corresponds to the power law with the exponent of 0.31 ± 0.04 at the temperature of 750°C.     

Chlorination of charged buckyballs: reactions of C60x+ cations (x = 1–3) with Cl2, CCl4, CDCl3, CH2Cl2, and CH3Cl

The chlorination of singly and multiply charged C₆₀ cations has been investigated with the selected-ion flow tube technique. Observations are reported for the reactions of C₆₀^·+, C₆₀²⁺ and C₆₀^·3+ with Cl₂, CCl₄, CDCl₃, CH₂Cl₂ and CH₃Cl at room temperature (295 ± 2 K) in helium at a total pressure of 0.35 ± 0.02 Torr. C₆₀^·+ and C₆₀²⁺ were observed not to chlorinate, or react in any other way, with these five molecules. Chlorine also did not react with C₆₀^·3+, but bimolecular chloride transfer and electron transfer reactions, reactions that result in charge reduction/charge separation, were observed to occur with CCl₄, CDCl₃, CH₂Cl₂ and CH₃Cl. Chloride transfer was the predominant channel seen with CCl₄, CDCl₃ and CH₂Cl₂ while electron transfer dominates the reaction with CH₃Cl. These results are consistent with trends in chloride affinity and ionization energy. The reluctant chlorination of the first two charge states of C₆₀ is attributed to the energy required to distort the carbon cage upon bond formation, while the observed chloride transfer to C₆₀^·3+ is attributed to the greater electrostatic interactions with this ion.     

Phosphates M 0.5(1 + x) 2+ Cr x Ti2 − x (PO4)3: Synthesis, structure, and catalytic properties

Complex phosphates of titanium, chromium, and metals(2+) of the general formula M_{0.5(1 + x} )Cr _x Ti_{2 ? x} (PO₄)₃ (M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Ni, Sr, Ba, and Pb) were synthesized. Their phase formation was studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, differential thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Individual phases and solid solutions crystallizing in kosnarite and langbeinite structure types were identified; their crystallographic parameters were calculated. The catalytic properties of phosphates Ca_{0.5(1 + x} )Cr _x Ti_{2 ? x} (PO₄)₃ in methanol conversion were studied.     

Electroconduction of Solid Solutions Na3 – 2x M x PO4(M = Cd, Pb)

In the sodium-orthophosphate-based solid solutions in Na_{3 – 2x} M _x PO₄ systems (M = Cd, Pb), the electroconduction is maximum near the upper concentration boundaries of the single-phase regions: x 0.4 for M = Cd and x 0.25 for M = Pb. The conductivity values at 300°C are 6.25 × 10^–3 and 2.5 × 10^–3 S/cm, respectively. The conduction of synthesized solid electrolytes has a co-cation nature. Their electric characteristics, inferior to those of the Na₃PO₄-based solid solutions obtained via heterovalent substitutions of another type, may be a manifestation of an effect similar to the polyalkali effect.     

Electroconductance of single-crystal Li2 + x Fe 2 − 2x 2+ Fe x 3+ (MoO4)3 (x = 0.22)

Electrophysical properties of single-crystal Li_{2 + x} Fe _{2 ? 2x} ²⁺ Fe _x ³⁺ (MoO₄)₃ (x = 0.22) are studied at 25–400°C. It is found that the conduction is of electronic nature and the conductivity equals 5 × 10^-2 S/cm at 300°C. The activation energy for the electron transport is 0.23 eV. The conductance in molybdate Li_2.22Fe _1.56 ²⁺ Fe _0.22 ³⁺ (MoO₄)₃ is markedly anisotropic.     

Nanostructured lithium-free oxyanion cathode, Li x Co2(MoO4)3 [0≤ x <3] for 3 V class lithium batteries

A new nanostructured framework-type polyanion material, Li _x Co₂(MoO₄)₃ [0≤?x?<3], was studied as a positive electrode for use in 3-Volt class lithium-ion cells for the first time. The new material was synthesized in a lithium-free composition and examined its structure, morphology, and electrochemical characteristics. Co₂(MoO₄)₃ was found to crystallize in a monoclinic structure with lattice parameters: a?=?14.280(9) ?, b?=?3.382(8) ?, c?=?10.557(1) ?, and β?=?117.9728° (space group P2/m). The redox behavior of this new material was demonstrated in lithium-containing test cells. The material offered a discharge capacity of approximately 110 mAh g^?1 between 3.5 and 1.5 V during the first cycle and retained 50% capacity at the end of the 20th cycle. The poor capacity retention is obviously attributed to the poor electronic conductivity of Co₂(MoO₄)₃ owing to its open framework structure. To overcome the intrinsic low electronic conductivity of polyanion materials, we have adapted a nanocomposite approach by way of adding nanoporous carbon matrix (particle size approximately 10 nm) together with the conventional conductive additive (acetylene black) and demonstrated that the overall electronic conductivity could be improved significantly, yielding an initial discharge capacity of 121 mAh g^?1 using nanocomposite electrode in the potential range 3.5 V down to 2.0 V.     

Synthesis and electrical properties of variable-composition phases Rb1 − x A1 − x R1 + x (MoO4)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2; A = Mg, Mn, Co, Ni; R = Sc, Yb, Lu)

Subsolidus region of the ternary systems Rb₂MoO₄-AMoO₄-R₂(MoO₄)₃, in which variable-composition phases Rb_{1 ? x} A_{1 ? x} R_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃ crystallizing in the monoclinic system (space group C2) are formed, was studied. Their crystallographic parameters were calculated; temperature dependences of the electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss tangent were analized.     

Electroconductivity of Solid Electrolytes in the Systems K3–2x M x PO4 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba)

Solid electrolytes K_{3 – 2x} M _x PO₄ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) are synthesized and the temperature and concentration dependences of their electroconductivity are studied. Adding calcium and strontium stabilizes the high-temperature -form of K₃PO₄ at room temperature, while barium-containing solid electrolytes undergo an eutectoid decomposition below 430°C. Maximum electroconductivity is exhibited by K_{3 – 2x} Sr _x PO₄ (7.1 × 10^–3 and 1.25 × 10^–1 S cm^–1 at 300 and 700°C).     

Theoretical Exploration of Stereochemical Nonrigidity for RfCo（PF3）x（CO）4-x（Rf=CF3, C2F5, C3F7, x=0-4）

The stereochemical nonrigidity of RfCo（PF3）x（CO）4-x（Rf=CF3,C2F5,C3F7,x=0-4） was studied at the theoretical level of B3LYP/6-31 1＋G^＊ via Gaussian 09.The intramolecular rearrangements in these penta-coordinated compounds are mainly caused by the vibrations of perfluoroalkyl groups.All the barriers along the reaction coordinate are less than 66.9 kJ/mol,which indicates that the rearrangements are kinetically favorable and hard to elucidate by experiment.Besides,ligand PF3 is a ligand similar to CO,the energy difference between the reactant and product is small.     

New polymolecular bismuth monohalides. Synthesis and crystal structures of Bi4BrxI4–x (x = 1, 2, or 3)

New mixed bismuth monohalides Bi₄Br_xI_4–x (x = 1, 2, or 3) were prepared for the first time by the reactions of bismuth metal with bismuth trihalides taken in stoichiometric amounts. Their crystal structures were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Bi₄Br₃I and Bi₄BrI₃ compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the orthorhombic system, and Bi₄Br₂I₂ crystallizes in the monoclinic system. The crystal structures of all three phases contain one-dimensionally infinite molecular chains consisting of the [Bi₄X₄] fragments whose structures are identical with those of the individual Bi₄I₄ and Bi₄Br₄ molecules. The molecules are packed in layers. Different packing modes of the layers were found for different bismuth monohalides. The Bi₄ClI₃ compound, which is apparently structurally similar to Bi₄Br₃I and Bi₄BrI₃, was also prepared.     

Supramolecular compounds of chloroaquacomplexes [Mo3Q4(H2O)9−x Clx](4−x )+ (Q = S, Se; x = 2, 3, 5) with cucurbit[n]urils

The following adducts of cucurbit[6]uril and cucurbit[8]uril with triangular cluster chloroaquacomplexes have been prepared and characterized: {[Mo₃S₄(H₂O)₇Cl₂]₂(CB[₆])}Cl₄·13H₂O (I), (H₃O)₂{[Mo₃Se₄×(H₂O)₆Cl₃](CB[6])}Cl₃·3.5H₂O (II) and (H₃O)₂{[Mo₃S₄(H₂O)₄Cl₅](CB[8])}Cl·14H₂O (III). It is shown that the formation of complementary hydrogen bonds in the systems cucurbit[6]uril/[M₃Q₄(H₂O)_9?x Cl_x]^(4?x)+ (x = 1–3) results in a selective isolation of isomers containing chlorine atom in the trans-position to the capping μ₃-ligand. For large x, a selective inclusion of one or another form into the supramolecular compound is also affected by other factors (a system of hydrogen bonds, S?S and S…Cl interactions between cluster complexes, packing effects etc.).     

Effect of hydration on conductivity of Ba4La x Ca2 − x Nb2O11 + 0.5x (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) phases

Substitution of Ca by La in initial cubic double perovskite Ba₄(Ca₂Nb₂)O₁₁[VO]₁ allowed obtaining phases with a similar structure with a lower content of structural oxygen vacancies, Ba₄(La _x Ca_{2 ? x} Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} [VO]_{1 ? 0.5x} (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2). The impedance technique was used to measure the temperature dependences of conductivity in the atmosphere of dry and humid air. Transport numbers determined using the EMF method in an oxygen-air and water steam concentration cells point to the predominantly hole nature of conductivity in the high-temperature region (T > 600°C) and to predominance of proton conductivity in the low-temperature region. Activation energies of hole and proton conductivity were calculated. Thermogravimetric measurements were carried out under heating from 25 to 1000°C with simultaneous mass-spectrometric determination of evolved H₂O and CO₂. The properties of the studied Ba₄(La _x Ca_{2 ? x} Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) phases were compared with the earlier studied Ba_{4 ? x} La _x (Ca₂Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} phases with similar lanthanum content.     

Preparation and characterization of Ca1 − x Ce x MnO3 perovskite electrodes

The electrochemical properties of Ca_1 − x Ce _x MnO₃ perovskite-type oxide electrode have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in Na₂SO₄ aqueous solutions with pH 14. The structural and morphological characterizations have also been investigated and the information used to interpret the electrochemical behavior. An estimation of the electrode’s capacitance and roughness factor has been obtained by means of cyclic voltammetry. The specific capacitance and consequently the roughness factor values are affected by the presence of Ce ions in the oxide. These findings are in agreement with the increase of the oxide-specific surface area by the introduction of Ce ion. The open-circuit potential and the voltammetric patterns are dependent on the presence of Ce ion in the electrodes and support that the surface electrochemistry of the perovskite oxide electrodes is governed by the Mn⁴⁺–Mn³⁺ redox couple.     

Hydrogen content in proton-conducting perovskites CaZr1 − x Sc x O3 − x /2 (x = 0.0–0.2)

The hydrogen content in CaZr_{1 ? x} Sc _x O_{3 ? x/2} (x = 0.00–0.20) and BaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3-α (for comparison) was studied by powder nuclear microanalysis. The samples were saturated with heavy water (D₂O) vapors at 350 and 400°C in air. The chemical expansion of the CaZr_0.95Sc_0.05O_3-α and BaZr_0.95Y_0.05O_3-α samples at 700°C was measured at different water vapor pressures. A model was suggested to explain the lowered hydrogen content in oxides based on CaZrO₃.     

Gas-sensing properties of Ta-doped MoO3−x

During a search for alternative materials to replace tin(IV) oxide in semiconducting oxide gas sensors it has been found that sensors comprising sub-stoichiometric molybdenum trioxide exhibit promising characteristics.     

Atoms state and interatomic interactions in perovskite-like oxides: XXXII. Formation of paramagnetic clusters in the La1−0.33x Ca0.33x Fe x Al1−x O3 and La1−0.33x Sr0.33x Fe x Al1−x O3 solid solutions

Calcium- and strontium-containing lanthanum orthoferrites have been studied using magnetic dilution method. It has been shown that the iron-atom clusters with competing ferro- and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions can exist. By using Mossbauer spectroscopy, Fe(IV) atoms have been found in the La_1?0.33x Ca_0.33x Fe_xAl_1?x O₃ solid solutions and Fe(III) atoms in two different surroundings have been found in the La_1?0.33x Sr_0.33x Fe _x Al_1?x O₃ solid solutions. The compositions of paramagnetic clusters stable at the infinite dilution have been proposed basing of the magnetic susceptibility and Mossbauer spectroscopy data.     

Kinetics of phase transition and thermal stability in Se80?x Te20Zn x (x?=?2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) glasses

Se_80?x Te₂₀Zn _x (x?=?2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) glasses have been prepared using conventional melt quenching technique. The kinetics of phase transformations (glass transition and crystallization) have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under non-isothermal condition at five different heating rates in these glasses. The activation energy of glass transition (E _t), activation energy of crystallization (E _c), Avrami exponent (n), dimensionality of growth (m), and frequency factor (K _o) have been investigated for the better understanding of growth mechanism using different theoretical models. The activation energy is found to be highly dependent on Zn concentration. The rate of crystallization is found to be lowest for Se₇₀Te₂₀Zn₁₀ glassy alloy. The thermal stability of these glasses has been investigated using various stability parameters. The values of these parameters were obtained using characteristic temperatures, such as glass transition temperature T _g, onset crystallization temperature T _c, and peak crystallization temperature T _p. In addition to this, enthalpy-released during crystallization has also been determined. The values of stability parameters show that the thermal stability increases with the increase in Zn concentration in the investigated glassy samples.     

Atom Exchange Versus Reconstruction: (GexAs4−x)x− (x=2, 3) as Building Blocks for the Supertetrahedral Zintl Cluster [Au6(Ge3As)(Ge2As2)3]3−

The Zintl anion (Ge₂As₂)²⁻ represents an isostructural and isoelectronic binary counterpart of yellow arsenic, yet without being studied with the same intensity so far. Upon introducing [(PPh₃)AuMe] into the 1,2-diaminoethane (en) solution of (Ge₂As₂)²⁻, the heterometallic cluster anion [Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]³⁻ is obtained as its salt [K(crypt-222)]₃[Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]⋅en⋅2 tol ( 1 ). The anion represents a rare example of a superpolyhedral Zintl cluster, and it comprises the largest number of Au atoms relative to main group (semi)metal atoms in such clusters. The overall supertetrahedral structure is based on a (non-bonding) octahedron of six Au atoms that is face-capped by four (Ge_xAs_4−x)^x− (x=2, 3) units. The Au atoms bind to four main group atoms in a rectangular manner, and this way hold the four units together to form this unprecedented architecture. The presence of one (Ge₃As)³⁻ unit besides three (Ge₂As₂)²⁻ units as a consequence of an exchange reaction in solution was verified by detailed quantum chemical (DFT) calculations, which ruled out all other compositions besides [Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]³⁻. Reactions of the heavier homologues (Tt₂Pn₂)²⁻ (Tt=Sn, Pb; Pn=Sb, Bi) did not yield clusters corresponding to that in 1 , but dimers of ternary nine-vertex clusters, {[AuTt₅Pn₃]₂}⁴⁻ (in 2 – 4 ; Tt/Pn=Sn/Sb, Sn/Bi, Pb/Sb), since the underlying pseudo-tetrahedral units comprising heavier atoms do not tend to undergo the said exchange reactions as readily as (Ge₂As₂)²⁻, according to the DFT calculations.