Effects of sintering atmospheres on sintering behavior, electrical conductivity and oxygen permeability of mixed-conducting membranes

Effects of sintering atmospheres on properties of SrCo_0.4Fe_0.5Zr_0.1O_3−δ mixed-conducting membranes were in detail studied in terms of sintering behavior, electrical conductivity and oxygen permeability. The sintering atmospheres were 100% N₂, 79% N₂–21% O₂, 60% N₂–40% O₂, 40% N₂–60% O₂, 20% N₂–80% O₂ and 100% O₂ (in vol.%), and the prepared membranes were correspondingly denoted as S-0, S-21, S-40, S-60, S-80 and S-100, respectively. It was found that the properties of membranes were strongly dependent on the sintering atmosphere. As the oxygen partial pressure in the sintering atmosphere (P_O2) increased, sintering ability, electrical conductivity and oxygen permeability decreased at first, which was in the order of S-0 > S-21 > S-40. However, as P_O2 increased further, sintering ability, electrical conductivity and oxygen permeability increased gradually: S-40 < S-60 < S-80 < S-100. And the S-100 membrane had the best sintering ability, electrical conductivity and oxygen permeability in all membranes.     

Thermogravimetric study on perovskite-like oxygen permeation ceramic membranes

The oxygen permeation properties of mixed-conducting ceramics SrFeCo_0.5O_3−δ (SFCO), Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (BSCFO), La_0.2Sr_0.8Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (LSCFO) and Ba_0.95Ca_0.05Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (BCCFO) were studied by thermogravimetric method in the temperature range 600–900 °C. The results show that the oxygen adsorption rate constants k_a of all material are larger than oxygen desorption rate constants k_d and both k_a and k_d are not strongly dependent on temperature in the studied temperature range. The oxygen vacancy contents δ(N₂) and δ(O₂) in nitrogen and oxygen and their difference Δδ = δ(N₂) − δ(O₂) play an important role in determining the temperature behavior of oxygen permeation flux J_O2.     

Synthesis and properties of halogen- or methyl-containing poly(diphenylacetylene) membranes

Novel diphenylacetylenes with both trimethylsilyl groups and other substituents (R₂C₆H₃CCC₆H₄-p-SiMe₃, R = m,p-Cl,Cl, m,m-Cl,Cl, m,p-Br,Br, m,m-Br,Br, m,p-Me,Me, m,m-Me,Me, 1a–f, respectively) were polymerized with TaCl₅–n-Bu₄Sn to produce solvent-soluble polymers (2a–f). Most polymers (2a–e) had high molecular weight over 1 × 10⁶, and gave free-standing membranes by the solution casting method. Desilylation of these Si-containing polymer membranes was carried out with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which afforded solvent-insoluble desilylated polymer membranes (3a–e). According to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), both Si-containing and desilylated polymers showed high thermal stability (T₀ ≥ 420 °C). The fractional free volume (FFV) of both Si-containing and desilylated polymer membranes (2a–d, 3a–d) were fairly large (ca. 0.27–0.32), while the FFVs of membranes (2e, 3e) were rather small (0.28 and 0.24). The oxygen permeability coefficients (P_O2) of 2a was as high as 5400 barrers, which is the largest among all the poly(diphenylacetylene) derivatives. Polymers 2b–d also exhibited high oxygen permeability, and their desilylated ones 3b–d retained similar high oxygen permeability. On the other hand, the P_O2 values of 2e and 3e were 1200 and 530 barrers, respectively, which are smaller than those of the halogen-containing polymers (2a–d and 3a–d).     

Mechanism of dissociative excitation of BrCN in electron cyclotron resonance plasma flow of He

The dissociative excitation reaction of BrCN induced by the products of the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma flow of He was studied based on the electrostatic-probe measurements and on the optical emission spectra of the B²Σ⁺ − X²Σ⁺ transition of CN radicals. The partial pressures of He and BrCN were 3 and 1 mTorr, respectively, and the partial pressure of H₂O, P_H2O, was in the range of 0.0–0.6 mTorr. The electron density, n_e, showed a negative dependence on P_H2O as (2.63 ± 0.13) × 10¹² − (0.23 ± 0.10) × 10¹² m⁻³, and the electron temperature, T_e, a positive dependence, (2.38 ± 0.36) − (4.51 ± 0.15) eV. The CN(B²Σ⁺ − X²Σ⁺) emission intensity showed a negative dependence on P_H2O. Based on a kinetic analysis of these P_H2O dependencies, the decomposition of BrCN does not proceed via electron impact; instead, decomposition proceeds via the processes involving He⁺ and/or He metastable atoms.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/poly(amide imide) polymer blends for proton conducting membrane

Poly(amide imide) (PAI) was synthesized using 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic anhydride (BTBA) and 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MBPI). SPEEK/PAI blend membranes were prepared and investigated by NMR, GPC, FT-IR and AFM. The chemical structures of PAI and SPEEK were characterized by using NMR and FT-IR. The adsorption of the SPEEK/PAI blend membrane of water or methanol solution was also characterized. The significant swelling of the blend membrane in concentrated methanol solution was explained by the solubility parameter. The water diffusion coefficient (D_H2O) was related to the lambda value of the membrane. The SPEEK/PAI blend membrane had a lower proton conductivity and methanol permeability than Nafion. However, the relative selectivity (proton conductivity divided by methanol permeability) of the SPEEK/PAI 70/30 (w/w) blend membrane was 3.46 × 10⁴ S s cm⁻³, which is closed to that of Nafion (3.30 S s cm⁻³).     

A simple method for predicting the frequency of the infrared inactive carbonyl stretching mode in LM(CO)5 molecules with C4V symmetry

The paper presents a new method for predicting the frequency of the b₁ mode, which is infrared-inactive, in complexes of the type LM(CO)₅ belonging to C_4V point group. The method was based on the relation λ₃=λ₄+[(1−δ/δ)](λ₁−λ₂), where δ=(λ₁−λ₂)/(λ₁−λ₂+λ₃−λ₄), λ₁, λ₂, λ₃ and λ₄ are the λ parameters of the , , b₁ and e modes, respectively. For a large numbers of complexes of the type LM(CO)₅ the average value of δ was found to be 0.80, with a standard deviation of 0.02. With the use of average value of δ, the frequencies of b₁ mode were estimated. The result obtained indicated that there exists a rather good fit between observed and calculated frequencies, with a mean error of 2.7 cm⁻¹. In addition, it was shown that the δ parameter can be used as a criterion of the correct band assignment for the complexes understudy.     

Rate constants of the O(D) reactions with N2, O2, N2O, and H2O at 295 K

Using a technique of laser flash photolysis coupled with vacuum ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, the rate coefficients of O(¹D) reactions with N₂, O₂, N₂O, and H₂O at 295 ± 2 K have been determined to be , k_O2=(4.06±0.24)×10^-11, k_N2O=(1.35±0.08)×10^-10 and . The quoted uncertainties include estimated errors and are the 95% confidence level. The k_N2 and k_N2O values obtained are larger than the current NASA/JPL recommendations by 26% and 16%, respectively, although they are still within the error limits associated with the recommendations.     

Phase equilibria and crystal structure of the solid solution LaFe1−xNixO3−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

Phase equilibria in the LaFeO₃–“LaNiO₃” were studied at 1100 °C in air. The samples were synthesized by standard ceramic and/or solution route via nitrate or citrate precursors. According to the results of XRD it was found that the homogeneity ranges of LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ solid solution lay within 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 (sp.gr. Pbnm) and 0.6 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 (sp.gr. ). The structural parameters (bond lengths, atom coordinates) for the single-phase samples were refined using Rietveld analysis. The unit cell parameters versus LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ composition are presented.     

The temperature dependence of the kinetic isotope effect in the reaction of F atoms with CH4 and CD4

The kinetic isotope effect k_F+CH4/k_F+CD4 has been determined by reacting F atoms with mixtures of CH₄ and CD₄, using a discharge-flow-mass spectrometric technique. Experiments were carried out at four temperatures in the temperature range 183–298 K. The Arrhenius expression corresponding to the results is k_F+CH4/k_F+CD4=(0.99±0.02)×exp[(100±5)/T]. The present results are compared with previous published experimental and theoretical results.     

[M(CO)4PPh3] radicals (M = Cr, Mo, W): DFT and single crystal EPR investigations

[M(CO)₄PPh₃]⁻ (M = Mo, W) were trapped at 77 K in X-irradiated single crystals of M(CO)₅PPh₃ and studied by EPR. Structures of [M(CO)₄PPh₃]⁻ (M = Cr, Mo, W) were optimized by DFT; predicted g and ³¹P-hyperfine tensors agree with experiments for M = Mo, W. The anions adopt a slightly distorted pyramidal structure with PPh₃ in basal position and the spin mostly delocalized in a metal-d_z² orbital and carbon-p_z orbitals of carbonyls. The EPR tensors are slightly modified by annealing, they suggest that new constraints in the matrix distort the structure of [M(CO)₄PPh₃]⁻ (M = Cr, Mo, W).     

Infrared intensities of liquids XXV: Dielectric constants, molar polarizabilities and integrated intensities of liquid toluene at 25 °C between 4800 and 400 cm

The main purpose of this paper is to present accurate infrared integrated intensities of liquid toluene, C₆H₅CH₃, at 25 °C. Also presented are the decadic molar absorption coefficients, E_m, the real and imaginary dielectric constants, ε′ and ε″, and the real and imaginary molar polarizabilities, ^′_m and ^″_m. Integrated intensities were determined as C_j, the area under bands in the spectrum, for all bands between 4800 and 440 cm⁻¹. The contributions from the different bands were separated by fitting the spectrum with classical damped harmonic oscillator bands. The uncertainties in the integrated intensities of most bands are estimated to be 5–10%, with the uncertainties in very weak bands and in shoulders possibly up to 100%. The intensity that should be assigned to the fundamentals is more difficult to estimate due to Fermi resonance with overtone and combination bands, and a best estimate is given. The integrated intensities of the fundamental vibrations and the corresponding transition dipole moments are summarized and are compared with literature values for the gas.     

Heat capacity, enthalpy and entropy of strontium bismuth niobate and strontium bismuth tantalate

The heat capacities and enthalpy increments of strontium bismuth niobate SrBi₂Nb₂O₉ (SBN) and strontium bismuth tantalate SrBi₂Ta₂O₉ (SBT) were measured by the relaxation method (2–150 K), Calvet-type heat-conduction calorimetry (305–570 K) and drop calorimetry (773–1373 K). The temperature dependences of non-transition heat capacities in the form C_pm = 324.47 + 0.06371T − 5.0755 × 10⁶/T² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (298–1400 K) and C_pm = 320.22 + 0.06451T − 4.7001 × 10⁶/T² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (298–1400 K) were derived for SBN and SBT, respectively, by the least-squares method from the experimental data. Furthermore, the standard molar entropies at 298.15 K S_m°(SBN)=327.15±0.80 and S_m°(SBT)=339.23±0.72 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ were evaluated from the low-temperature heat capacity measurements.     

UV photodissociation of N-methylpyrrole: The role of πσ states in non-hydride heteroaromatic systems

The photophysics of jet-cooled N-methylpyrrole molecules following excitation to their first excited singlet state (the ¹A₂ state, arising from a 3s/σ^*←π electron promotion) has been investigated by resonance enhanced multiphoton ionisation spectroscopy, by measurements of wavelength resolved ‘action’ spectra for forming CH₃ photoproducts, and by velocity map imaging studies of these CH₃ products (in their v = 0 and v₂ = 1 vibrational levels). CH₃ products are observed at all excitation wavelengths within the NMP absorption band. Direct dissociation on the ¹A₂ potential energy surface (PES) yields ‘fast’ CH₃ fragments, with an average total kinetic energy release (TKER) of 6500 cm⁻¹, but this product channel is only observed in a narrow wavelength range near the absorption band origin. All of the measured CH₃ images also show a broad component, peaking at lower TKER (1700 cm⁻¹); this component extends beneath the ‘fast’ feature in images recorded at wavelengths near the origin, and accounts for all of the CH₃ products observed at shorter photolysis wavelengths. These products are attributed to decay of highly vibrationally excited ground state molecules formed by radiationless transfer from the ¹A₂ state. Similarities and differences with the results of previous studies of the H + pyrrolyl products arising in the UV photodissociation of pyrrole are discussed in terms of the likely nuclear motions on the relevant ground and excited PESs (along R_N–CH3/R_N–H), and the possible couplings between these surfaces. The present study confirms that the proposed model of ¹πσ^* state induced bond fission in heteroaromatic molecules [A.L. Sobolewski, W. Domcke, Chem. Phys. 259 (2000) 181] is also applicable to non-hydride substituted heteroaromatics, but that mass effects can have an important influence on the subsequent nuclear dynamics.     

An accurate expression for radial distribution function of the Lennard-Jones fluid

A simple and accurate expression for radial distribution function (RDF) of the Lennard-Jones fluid is presented. The expression explicitly states the RDF as a continuous function of reduced interparticle distance, temperature, and density. It satisfies the limiting conditions of zero density and infinite distance imposed by statistical thermodynamics. The distance dependence of this expression is expressed by an equation which contains 11 adjustable parameters. These parameters are fitted to 353 RDF data, obtained by molecular dynamics calculations, and then expressed as functions of reduced distance, temperature and density. This expression, having a total of 65 constants, reproduces the RDF data with an average root-mean-squared deviation of 0.0152 for the range of state variables of 0.5  T^*  5.1 and 0.35  ρ^*  1.1 (T^*=kT/ε and ρ^* = ρσ³ are reduced temperature and density, respectively). The expression predicts the pressure and the internal energy of the Lennard-Jones fluid with an uncertainty that is comparable to that obtained directly from the molecular dynamics simulations.     

Structure and redox properties of CexPr1−xO2−δ mixed oxides and their catalytic activities for CO, CH3OH and CH4 combustion

A series of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides were synthesized by a sol–gel method and characterized by Raman, XRD and TPR techniques. The oxidation activity for CO, CH₃OH and CH₄ on these mixed oxides was investigated. When the value x was changed from 1.0 to 0.8, only a cubic phase CeO₂ was observed. The samples were greatly crystallized in the range of the value x from 0.99 to 0.80, which is due to the formation of solid solutions caused by the complete insertion of Pr into the CeO₂ crystal lattices. Raman bands at 465 and 1150 cm⁻¹ in Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ samples are attributed to the Raman active F_2g mode of CeO₂. The broad band at around 570 cm⁻¹ in the region of 0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.99 can be linked to oxygen vacancies. The new band at 195 cm⁻¹ may be ascribed to the asymmetric vibration caused by the formation of oxygen vacancies. The TPR profile of Pr₆O₁₁ shows two reduction peaks and the reduction process is followed: . The reduction temperature of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides is lower than those of Pr₆O₁₁ or CeO₂. TPR results indicate that Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides have higher redox properties because of the formation of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ solid solutions. The presence of the oxygen vacancies favors CO and CH₃OH oxidation, while the activity of CH₄ oxidation is mostly related to reduction temperatures and redox properties.     

Oxygen permeation through a Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ–La0.8Sr0.2CrO3−δ dual-phase composite membrane

A composite of oxygen ion conducting oxide Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_2−δ (60 vol.%) and electron conducting oxide La_0.8Sr_0.2CrO_3−δ was prepared by sintering a powder compact at a temperature of 1550 °C. No significant reaction between the two constituent oxides was observed under preparation and oxygen permeation conditions. Appreciable oxygen permeation fluxes through the composite membrane were measured at elevated temperatures with one side of it exposed to the ambient air and the other side to a flowing helium gas stream. The oxygen flux initially increased with time, and took a long time to reach a steady value. A steady oxygen permeation flux as high as 1.4 × 10⁻⁷ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹ was obtained with a 0.3 mm thick membrane at 950 °C under a relatively small oxygen partial pressure difference of 0.21 bar/0.0092 bar. It was revealed that the overall oxygen permeation process was mainly limited by the transport in the bulk of the membrane in the range of the membrane thickness greater than 1.0 mm, and the limitation by the surface oxygen exchange came into play at reduced thickness of 0.6 mm.     

Refined heat capacity of LaPO4 in the temperature range 0–1600 K

In the present work temperature dependence of heat capacity of cesium tantalum tungsten oxide has been measured first in the range from 7 to 350 K and then between 330 and 630 K, respectively, by precision adiabatic vacuum and dynamic calorimetry. The experimental data were used to calculate standard thermodynamic functions, namely the heat capacity C_p° (T), enthalpy H°(T) − H°(0), entropy S°(T) − S°(0) and Gibbs function G°(T) − H°(0), for the range from T → 0 to 630 K. The structure of CsTaWO₆ is refined by the Rietveld method: space group F d3m, Z = 8, a = 10.3793(2) Å, V = 1118.14(4) Å³. The high-temperature X-ray diffraction was used for the determination of temperature of phase transition and coefficient of thermal expansion.     

Supramolecular architecture of cadmium(II)–terephthalate complexes having a tridentate or tetradentate Schiff base as blocking coligand

Two new cadmium(II)–terephthalate complexes, _∞¹{[Cd₂(μ-terephthalate)₂(L¹)₂]·9H₂O} (1) and [{Cd(H₂O)(L²)}₂(μ-terephthalate)](terephthalate) · 10H₂O (2), where L¹ = (E)-N¹,N¹-diethyl-N²-(1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine; L² = N,N′-bis-(1-pyridin-2-yl-ethylidene)-ethane-1,2-diamine; have been synthesized by a conventional solution method. Characterization by single crystal X-ray crystallography shows that compound 1 is composed of 1-D polymeric zig-zag chains with distorted pentagonal-bipyramidal cadmium centers. Compound 2 consists of centrosymmetric dinuclear complexes with a distorted pentagonal-bipyramidal cadmium center in which one terephthalate ligand bridges the metal centres and another terephthalate anion with water of crystallization forms a H-bonding network.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of Cu(II) compounds bridged by the terephthalate ligand and hydrogen bonds

A 3D network [Cu(tmen)(tp)(H₂O)₂]_n (1) (tmen = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine; tp = terephthalate) and a 2D sheet [Cu(pyrazole)₂(tp)]_n (2), featuring 1D chains interwoven by hydrogen bonds, have been prepared and characterized by means of X-ray analyses and magnetic measurements. For 1, coordinative zigzag chains contain Cu(II) centers capped by the chelate ligand tmen, in which the tetragonal structure is elongated due to Jahn–Teller distortion. Coordinated water molecules are hydrogen-bonded to two free carboxylate oxygens of tp bridges, leading to the observed 3D structure. The use of the non-chelating capping ligand pyrazole produced the covalent-bonded 1D linear compound 2 with hydrogen bonds. A severe octahedral distortion of the Cu(II) center arises from a small bite angle (52.3(1)°) of two carboxylate oxygen atoms of tp, which are in turn hydrogen-bonded to the N–H groups of pyrazole ligands coordinated to Cu(II) atoms in neighboring chains. Magnetic data were fitted with the high-temperature series expansion for the Heisenberg chain spin Hamiltonian H = −J∑_iS_i · S_i + 1 together with consideration of the molecular field approximation (zJ′). Both compounds interestingly exhibit ferromagnetic interactions with g = 2.17, J = 4.08 cm⁻¹, zJ′ = −0.28 cm⁻¹ for 1 and g = 2.09, J = 1.47 cm⁻¹, zJ′ = −0.04 cm⁻¹ for 2. By taking into account structural parameters of distances between Cu atoms, it is reasonably assigned that the ferromagnetic couplings (J > 0) in these systems originate from the hydrogen bonds. The spin density of the d_x²-y² orbital on a Cu(II) atom in a chain is propagated and induced over the d_z² orbital of another Cu(II) atom in an adjacent chain. This orbital orthogonality gives rise to such interactions. The negative zJ′ term suggests that the tp bridges communicate only tiny antiferromagnetic interactions.     

Preparation of MoVTe(Sb)Nb mixed oxide catalysts using a slurry method for selective oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

The preparation of bulk MoVTe(Sb)Nb mixed oxide catalysts using a traditional slurry method, results in highly active catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethene. Several major phases including orthorhombic M1, hexagonal M2 or Mo_xM_1−xO_2.8 (M = V or Nb) have been detected in the catalysts from characterization results such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM and EDX analyses. Ethane conversion and yield to ethene increase with increasing content of the M1 phase in the catalysts. The maximum yield of ethene (ca. 87% selectivity and ca. 90% conversion, STY_C2H4 of 176 g  h⁻¹) has been obtained with a MoV_0.31Te_0.2Nb_0.14 mixed oxide catalyst, calcined at 873 K under nitrogen, containing almost pure orthorhombic M1 phase and small amounts of unidentified impurity phases, operating at a relatively low reaction temperature of 673 K. The orthorhombic M1 phase has been shown to be the most active in ethane activation and the most selective for ethene formation. The hexagonal M2 phase is relatively inactive in ethane activation and less selective for ethene formation. The Te-free phases such as Sb₄Mo₁₀O₃₁ and Mo_xM_1−xO_2.8 (M = V or Nb) show the lowest selectivity to ethene.