Catalytic conversions of chloroolefines over iron oxide nanoparticles 3. Electronic and magnetic properties of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles immobilized on different silicas

Catalytic properties of superparamagnetic γ-ferric oxide nanoclusters, which are uniform in terms of size and magnetic properties were studied. The catalysts were supported on the activated silica gel matrix (AGM) prepared from the KSK-2 silica gel of globular structure and on the activated silica matrix (ASM) prepared from layered natural vermiculite. The clusters are active in some reactions of chloroolefin conversions: isomerization of dichlorobutenes and alkylation of benzene with allyl chloride. Their activity in these reactions is many times higher that of usual supported catalysts based on α-ferric oxide. Analysis of the Mössbauer spectra of the 2.5 wt.% Fe/AGM and 2.5 wt.%Fe/ASM samples before and after the reaction at T = 3–300 K shows that during the reaction some Fe^III ions arranged in ～2–3-nm γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoclusters magnetically ordered at 6 K are reduced to form a high-spin Fe^II complex in the paramagnetic state. According to the macroscopic magnetization data (SQUID) of the initial clusters, curves with hysteresis are observed at 2 K in the plots of forward and backward magnetization, while the 2.5 wt.%Fe/ASM catalyst after the reaction at T = 2 K demonstrates a linear field dependence of the magnetization passing through the coordinate origin. Analysis of the Mössbauer spectra and magnetic properties suggests that during the catalytic reaction the Fe^III ions in the γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoclusters interact with chloroolefin with the allylic structure to be partially reduced to the Fe^II ions that are bound in a complex containing chloride ions and O^II ion(s) of the silicate matrix as ligands. This is a reason, probably, for the high catalytic activity of γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of tris(2-hydroxymethyl-4-oxo-4H-pyran- 5-olato-κ2O5,O4)iron(III)

Tris(2-hydroxymethyl-4-oxo-4H-pyran-5-olato-κ²O⁵,O⁴)iron(III) [Fe(ka)₃], has been characterised by magnetic susceptibility measurements Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of [Fe(ka)₃] has been determined by powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Magnetic susceptibility and EPR measurements indicated a paramagnetic high-spin iron centre. Mössbauer spectra revealed the presence of magnetic hyperfine interactions that are temperature-independent down to 4.2?K. The interionic Fe³⁺ distance of 7.31?Å suggests spin-spin relaxation as the origin of these interactions.     

Mössbauer Spectroscopic Studies of Supported α-Fe2O3 and Fe Catalysts II: The Effect of the Second Metal Addition

The effect of the addition of a second metals such as Zn and Ni on the calcinaton and reduction of alumina, magnesia and silicasupported iron catalysis with total iron loading of 5wt% is investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is shown that the reducibility of supported α-Fe₂O₃ is gradually increased by adding the second metal. The values of the magnetic hyperfine field obtained from Mössbauer spectra for the Zn or Ni-added α-Fe₂O₃ or Fe catalysts decreased with increasing second metal loading.     

Structural studies of magnetic nanoparticles doped with rare-earth elements

Magnetic nanoparticles and those doped with rare-earth metal ions having spinel structure were synthesized, possessing the average particles size of 11.3-13.4 nm. According to Mössbauer spectroscopy data it can be concluded that prepared iron oxide nanoparticles are γ-Fe₂O₃. For materials containing rare-earth elements the decrease of octahedral component surface was observed in comparison to non-doped material, what can be explained by Eu³⁺, Sm³⁺ и Gd³⁺ ions occupying the octahedral position.     

Radiation durability of aluminophosphate glass prepared for the stable storage of high-level nuclear wastes

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of 30CaO·15Al₂O₃·5Fe₂O₃·25PbO·25P₂O₅ glass consist of two quadrupole doublets due to distorted Fe(III)O₆ and Fe(II)O₆ octahedra. Mössbauer spectra of the aluminophosphate glass irradiated with⁶⁰Co γ-rays (≈5·10⁴Gy) were essentially the same as those of non-irradiated glass. Mössbauer spectra of γ-ray irradiated aluminophosphate glass, containing 10 stable isotopes (Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) as the simulated nuclear waste, were also the same as those of non-irradiated glass. These results indicate that the aluminophosphate glass containing iron and lead has high radiation-durability, in addition to high heat resistivity and high water resistivity.     

Mössbauer Spectroscopic Studies of Supported α-Fe2O3 and Fe Catalysts I: Particle Size Determination and Support Effect

The chemical state of particles of 5wt% Fe in α-Fe₂O₃ and the subsequently reduced iron particles supported on different particle size (50–200 mesh) of silica (SiO₂), alumina (Al₂O₃), magnesium oxide (MgO) and carbon (C) was examined by Mössbauer spectroscopy at various stages of calcination and reduction. The particle size of the α-Fe₂O₃ supported on different mesh sizes (50, 100, 140, 200 mesh) of SiO₂ has been determined. The strength of metal-support interaction with respect to the kind of support was found to be MgO>SiO₂>Al₂O₃>C.     

Effect of the structural change of an iron–iron oxide mixture on the decomposition of trichloroethylene

The effect of the structure of a mixture of industrially produced iron and iron oxide on the decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE) was investigated by gas chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffractometry, and ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy. The concentration of 10 mg L^?1 TCE aqueous solution decreased to 0.41, 0.52, 0.26, and 0.09 mg L^?1 when stirred for 7 days with iron–iron oxide mixtures having mass ratios of 2:8, 3:7, 4:6, and 5:5, respectively. The Mössbauer spectra of the mixtures after leaching were composed of two sextets with respective isomer shifts (δ) and internal magnetic fields (H) of 0.29_±0.01 mm s^?1 and 48.8_±0.1 T, and 0.64_±0.01 mm s^?1 and 45.5_±0.1 T, attributed to the Fe³⁺ species in tetrahedral (T _d) and the Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ mixed species (Fe^2.5+) in octahedral (O _h) sites, respectively. Mössbauer spectra of a 3:7 mass ratio iron–iron oxide mixture showed a gradual decrease in the absorption area (A) of zero valent iron (Fe⁰) from 40.6. to 12.6, 13.2, 3.8 2.8, and 1.0_±0.5 % and an increase in A of Fe₃O₄ from 31.8 to 59.4, 71.4, 93.2, 95.6, and 98.0_±0.5 % after leaching with 10 mg L^?1 TCE aqueous solution for 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10 days, respectively. Consistent values of the first-order rate constant were calculated as 0.32 day^?1 for Fe⁰ oxidation, 0.34 day^?1 for Fe₃O₄ production, and 0.30 day^?1 for TCE decomposition, which indicates that the oxidation of Fe⁰ was the rate-controlling factor for Fe₃O₄ production and TCE decomposition. It is concluded from the experimental results that an iron–iron oxide mixture is very effective for the decomposition of TCE.     

Crystal structure and the magnetic properties of tris(2-chloromethyl-4-oxo-4H-pyran-5-olato-κ2O5,O4)iron(III)

The tris(2-chloromethyl-4-oxo-4H-pyran-5-olato-κ²O⁵,O⁴)iron(III), [Fe(kaCl)₃], has been synthesized and characterized by the crystal structure analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements, Mössbauer, and EPR spectroscopic methods. The X-ray single crystal analysis of [Fe(kaCl)₃] revealed a mer isomer. The magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated the paramagnetic character in the temperature range of 2 K–298 K. The EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the presence of an iron center in a high-spin state. Additionally, the temperature-independent Mössbauer magnetic hyperfine interactions were observed down to 77 K. These interactions may result from spin–spin relaxation due to the interionic Fe³⁺ distances of 7.386 Å.     

Substitution of Fe(III) for Ga(III) in calcium gallate glass confirmed from the Debye temperature

A Debye temperature θ_D of 378 (±5K) has been obtained by applying a simplified Debye model to the⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of 60CaO·39Ga₂O₃·⁵⁷Fe₂O₃ glass. The θ_D value is comparable to those (280–580 K) obtained so far in several oxide glasses, glass-ceramics, and ceramics in which Mössbauer atoms are covalently bonded to oxygen atoms and play a role of network former. It proves that Fe(III) atoms occupy the substitutional sites of Ga(III) constituting distorted GaO₄ tetrahedra.     

Preparation of magnetic polystyrene latex via the miniemulsion polymerization technique

Magnetic iron oxide (magnetite, Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were encapsulated with polystyrene to give a stable water‐based magnetic polymer latex, using the miniemulsion polymerization technique. The resulting magnetic latexes were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), vibrating sample magnetometer measurements (VSM), and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. TEM revealed that all magnetite nanoparticles were embedded in the polymer spheres, leaving no empty polystyrene particles. The distribution of magnetite particles within the polystyrene spheres was inhomogeneous, showing an uneven polar appearance. The DLS measurements indicated a bimodal size distribution for the particles in the latexes. According to our magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy data, the encapsulated magnetite particles conserve their superparamagnetic feature when they are separated in the polymer matrix. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4802–4808, 2004     

Effect of calcination temperature on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of FeSO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in hydrogen sulfide oxidation

The effect of calcination temperature on the state of the active component of iron-containing catalysts prepared by the impregnation of silica gel with a solution of FeSO₄ and on their catalytic properties in selective H₂S oxidation to sulfur was studied. With the use of thermal analysis, XPS, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, it was found that an X-ray amorphous iron-containing compound of complex composition was formed on the catalyst surface after thermal treatment in the temperature range of 400–500°C. This compound contained Fe³⁺ cations in three nonequivalent positions characteristic of various oxy and hydroxy sulfates and oxide and sulfate groups as anions. Calcination at 600°C led to the almost complete removal of sulfate groups; as a result, the formation of an oxide structure came into play, and it was completed by the production of finely dispersed iron oxide in the ?-Fe₂O₃ modification (the average particle size of 3.2 nm) after treatment at 900°C. As the calcination temperature was increased from 500 to 700°C, an increase in the catalyst activity in hydrogen sulfide selective oxidation was observed because of a change in the state of the active component. A comparative study of the samples by temperature-programmed sulfidation made it possible to establish that an increase in the calcination temperature leads to an increase in the stability of the iron-containing catalysts to the action of a reaction atmosphere.     

A Mössbauer spectroscopy investigation of the Intergrowth Phases LaSr3Fe3−xMx010−δ (M = Al,Cu)

Iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopy confirms a high sensitivity of the three-dimensional magnetic ordering temperature (T_Néel) for a series of new intergrowth phases to both oxygen stoichiometry and the partial substitution of iron by copper and aluminium in the Ruddlesden-Popper phase LaSr₃Fe₃0_10?δ. The chemical isomer shifts suggest that significant covalent electron delocalization exists in these phases. Spectra for the paramagnetic phases indicate two distinct iron coordination environments consistent with x-ray and neutron diffraction structure determinations. The Mössbauer spectra at 4.8 K exhibit the overlap of two magnetic hyperfine patterns corresponding to cooperative magnetic order at the iron sites with internal fields of 45 and 27 Tesla for nominal Fe³⁺ and Fe⁴⁺ sites respectively.     

Nanocomposites Fe2O3/SiO2-Preparation by Sol-Gel Method and Physical Properties

Magnetic nanocomposites γ-Fe₂O₃/silica were prepared by a one-step sol-gel method. The sol was prepared by TEOS (tetraethyl orthosilicate) acid hydrolysis in the presence of an iron salt soluble in methanol. After gelation and drying, the transparent samples were characterized after treatment at different temperatures. The particle size, observed by HR TEM, was in the range of 2–10 nm and depended on Fe-concentration and heating temperature. Magnetic measurements showed either a ferromagnetic or a superparamagnetic behaviour and could be explained by the particle size. The dependence of the magnetic behaviour on the particle size was also studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The samples in which the Fe₂O₃ particle size was approximately 10 nm showed magnetic splitting (sextet) at room temperature, while smaller particles (2–3 nm) showed this splitting only at the temperature of liquid helium. The optomagnetic properties of the samples were also measured (Kerr effect).     

Mössbauer study of the thermal decomposition of some iron(III) dicarboxylates

The thermal decomposition of iron(III) succinate, Fe₂(C₄H₄O₄)₂(OH)₂ and iron(III) adipate pentahydrate, Fe₂(C₆H₈O₄)₃·5 H₂O, has been investigated at different temperatures for different time intervals in static air atmosphere using Mössbauer spectroscopy and nonisothermal techniques (DTG-DTA-TG). The reduction of iron(III) to iron(II) species has been observed at 533 K and 563 K in the case of iron(III) succinate and iron(III) adipate, respectively. At higher temperatures, α-Fe₂O₃ is formed as the final thermolysis product.     

The composition of iron-containing microphases in the structure of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The phase composition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with encapsulated iron atoms was studied by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The synthesis of CNTs was shown to stabilize iron atoms as both thermodynamically stable iron carbide and oxide phases and phases not characteristic under synthesis conditions (γ-Fe and γ-Fe₂O₃). In addition, an analysis of the data obtained led us to suggest the existence of Fe-CNT atomic complexes in interlayer positions. CNTs and iron-containing phases were shown to be stable when subjected to prolonged annealing in air at temperatures up to 670 K.     

A simple solution route to control synthesis of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanomaterials at low temperature and their magnetic properties

A series of nanostructured iron compounds including cubic Fe₃O₄ and orthorhombic FeOOH were synthesized via a facile low temperature (in the range of 60?100°C) solution method. In the whole process, the interaction between FeCl₂·4H₂O and methenamine (C₆H₁₂N₄) was carried out through a reflux device under different reaction conditions such as temperature, solvent, and duration. The samples were detected by XRD, TEM, SAED, physical property measurement system, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, separately. The experiments showed that magnetic mixture nanoparticles had flake and rod morphologies, and cubic Fe₃O₄ took on grain nanostructure. Magnetism measurements indicated that the saturated magnetization of the as-obtained magnetic mixture was lower than that of the cubic magnetite. Mössbauer spectroscopy testified the sample consisting of cubic magnetite rather than γ-Fe₂O₃. In addition, a possible growth mechanism of cubic magnetic nanoparticles under different conditions was discussed.     

Mössbauer and photocatalytic studies of CaFe2O4 nanoparticle-containing aluminosilicate prepared from domestic waste simulated slag

The relationship between local structure and visible-light activated photocatalytic effect of simulated domestic waste slag glass–ceramics (R-NaWSFe) was investigated. The largest pseudo-first-order rate constant of 9.75?×?10^?3 min^?1 was estimated for methylene blue decomposition test under the visible-light irradiation using R-NaWSFe with additional 30 mass% of Fe₂O₃ heat-treated at 900 °C for 100 min. The reason for the high photoactivity of this sample was mainly due to nanoparticles of CaFe₂O₄ and α-Fe₂O₃ confirmed by the Mössbauer spectrum measured at 77 K. It is concluded that the nanoparticles of magnetic components in silica are essential for exhibiting visible-light activated catalytic effect.

     

Hyperfine splitting of 57Fe3+ Mössbauer spectra in diamagnetic host lattices

The Mössbauer spectra of ⁵⁷Fe³⁺ substituted in 0.2 to 0.4 atom % of the octahedral sites in the host lattices Na_0.9Mg_0.45Ti_1.55O₄, TiO₂, Sc₂O₃, LiScO₂ and MgAl₂O₄ have been examined. Hyperfine splittings of the spectra were observed for all cases except Sc₂O₃. In all cases the electron spin resonance spectrum was found, or has been shown to be highly anisotropic as a result of the presence of strong axial or rhombic fields and consequent splitting of the 3d⁵ ground state energy levels. In several cases resolution of the $\text{±}\text{5}\text{2}$ and $\text{±}\text{3}\text{2}$ Mössbauer spectra was observed. Mössbauer spectra of the solid solutions Na_0.9Mg_0.45Ti_1.55O₄Na_0.9Fe_0.9Ti_1.1O₄, LiScO₂LiFeO₂ and TiO₂FeNbO₄ have also been examined.     

Local structure analysis of Bi2(Ga1-xFex)4O9 mullite-type solid solutions synthesized via combination of ball milling and thermal treatment

Mullite-type Bi₂(Ga_1-xFe_x)₄O₉ solid solutions, with 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.9, have been synthesized by a combination of mechanical and thermal treatments of a Bi₂O₃/Ga₂O₃/α-Fe₂O₃ stoichiometric mixture. The microstructure of the as-prepared materials on the long-range and local atomic scales was investigated by X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, respectively. The XRD data analysis revealed in all cases linear dependence of the lattice parameters related on x. Due to the ability of the applied Mössbauer spectroscopy to probe the local environment of Fe cations, the local structural disorder in investigated solid solutions is provided. It was shown that the presence of Fe³⁺ cations in octahedral sites of the orthorhombic structure causes a local distortion of polyhedra in the material. The preferential occupation of Fe in octahedral site was revealed. Detailed quantitative information on both the cation distribution and the bond lengths provided is discussed in relation to the derived hyperfine parameters.     

Visible light activated catalytic effect of iron containing soda-lime silicate glass characterized by 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy

A relationship between local structure and visible light activated catalytic effect of iron containing soda lime silicate glass with the composition of 15Na₂O·15CaO·xFe₂O₃·(70-x)SiO₂, x = 5–50 mass %, abbreviated as NCFSx was investigated by means of ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS) and ultraviolet–visible light absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis). Mössbauer spectra of NCFSx glass with ‘x’ being equal to or larger than 30 after isothermal annealing at 1,000 °C for 100 min consisted of a paramagnetic doublet and a magnetic sextet. The former had isomer shift (δ) of 0.24 mm s^?1 and quadrupole splitting (Δ) of 0.99 mm s^?1 due to distorted Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra, and the latter had δ of 0.36 mm s^?1 and internal magnetic field (H _int) of 51.8 T due to hematite (α-Fe₂O₃). The absorption area (A) of α-Fe₂O₃ varied from 47.2 to 75.9, 93.1, 64.8 and 47.9 % with ‘x’ from 30 to 35, 40, 45 and 50, indicating that the amount of precipitated α-Fe₂O₃ varied with the Fe₂O₃ content of NCFSx glass. The precipitation of α-Fe₂O₃ was also confirmed by XRD study of annealed NCFS glass with ‘x’ larger than 30. A relaxed sexted with δ, H _int and Γ of 0.34 mm s^?1 and 37.9 T and 1.32 mm s^?1 was observed from the Mössbauer spectra of annealed NCFSx glass with ‘x’ of 45 and 50, implying that the precipitation of non-stoichiometric iron hydroxide oxide with the composition of Fe_1.833(OH)_0.5O_2.5 having the similar structure of α-Fe₂O₃ and α-FeOOH. A remarkable decrease in the concentration of methylene blue (MB) from 10 to 0.0 μmol L^?1 with the first-order rate constant (k) of 2.87 × 10^?2 h^?1 was observed for 10-day leaching test using annealed NCFS50 glass under visible light irradiation. ESI–MS study indicated that existence of fragments with m/z value of 129, 117 and 207 etc. originating from MB having m/z of 284. This result evidently showed that the MB concentration decreased due to visible light induced decomposition caused by the visible light activated catalytic effect of α-Fe₂O₃ and/or Fe_1.833(OH)_0.5O_2.5 precipitated in soda-lime silicate glass matrix.