Structural and spectroscopic characterization of Al2−x Cr x O3 powders obtained by polymeric precursor method

Al₂O₃ and Al_2−x Cr _x O₃ (x = 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04) powders have been synthesized by the polymeric precursors method. A study of the structural evolution of crystalline phases corresponding to the obtained powders was accomplished through X-Ray Diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy (reflectance spectra and CIEL^*a^*b^* color data). The obtained results allow to identify the γ-Al₂O₃ to α-Al₂O₃ phase transition. The single-phase α-Al₂O₃ powder was obtained after heat treatment at 1050 °C for 2 h. The results show that the green to red color transition and ruby luminescence lines observed for the powders of Al_2−x Cr _x O₃ are related to the γ to α-Al₂O₃ phase transition and the temperature and time range for such transition depends on the chromium content.     

Infrared absorption spectra of Er3+-doped Al2O3 nanopowders by the sol-gel method

The Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders have been prepared by the sol-gel method, using the aluminium isopropoxide [Al(OC₃H₇)₃]-derived γ-AlOOH sols with addition of the erbium nitrate [Er(NO₃)₃·5H₂O]. The five phases of γ-(Al,Er)₂O₃, θ-(Al,Er)₂O₃, α-(Al,Er)₂O₃, ErAlO₃, and Al₁₀Er₆O₂₄ were detected with the 0–20 mol% Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders at the different sintering temperature of 600–1200°C. The average grain size was increased from about 5 to 62 nm for phase transformation of undoped γ-Al₂O₃→α-Al₂O₃ at the sintering temperature from 600 to 1200°C. At the same sintering temperature, average grain size was decreased with increase of the Er³⁺ doping concentration. Infrared absorption spectra of γ-Al₂O₃ and θ-Al₂O₃ nanopowders showed the two broad bands of 830–870 and 550–600 cm⁻¹, the three broad bands of 830–870, 750–760, and 550–600 cm⁻¹, respectively. The infrared absorption spectra for the α-Al₂O₃ nanopowder showed three characteristic bands, 640, 602, and 453 cm⁻¹. The two characteristic bands of 669 and 418 cm⁻¹ for Er₂O₃ clusters were observed for the Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders when Er³⁺ doping concentration was increased up to 2 mol%. The 796, 788, 725, 692, 688, 669, 586, 509, 459, and 418 cm⁻¹ are the characteristic bands of Al₁₀Er₆O₂₄ phase.     

Sorption behavior of γ-irradiated α-Al2O3

Irradiation of α-Al₂O₃ (Corundum) was carried out in contact with acidic media and with different doses (100-to-2500 kGy) and dose-rates (0.9, 2.6 and 6.1 kGy·h⁻¹) of γ-rays. Simultaneously parallel experiments were carried out using the same procedure, but preheated at 150°C for two days and then irradiated without acidic media. The solid thus obtained was used to determine the effect of γ-irradiation on the sorption capacities of microamounts of fission products from strongly alkaline aqueous solutions of uranium. The results revealed that the effect of γ-irradiation of α-Al₂O₃ and the acidic media in which it is immersed, is associated with a stable matrix resistant to significant changes in the composition of the surface layer; whilst it seems that the effect of γ-irradiation of preheated α-Al₂O₃, is connected with changes of surface-OH groups strongly affected by heat treatment and irradiation dose.     

Formation of partially inverse Mg−Al spinel by grinding MgO with γ-Al2O3

Spinel (MgAl₂O₄) was synthesized mechanochemically (MC) by grinding MgO with γ-Al₂O₃ up to 10 hours. Examination of the MC product by neutron diffraction and infrared spectroscopy showed that it has a higher degree of inversion than its thermally produced counterpart—47% as against 10% respectively. X-ray studies showed that MgAl₂O₄ crystallites grow equidimensionally at a much higher rate than in the case of α-Al₂O₃. The higher degree of inversion and higher formation rate when γ-Al₂O₃ is used, is attributed to similarities in oxygen framework of MgO, Al₂O₃ and spinel and to the higher retention of the cations coordination number. The equidimensional growth is attributed to the presence of multiple soft modes, the {111} planes. Deceased.     

Thermal Characterization and Physico-Chemical Properties of Fe2O3−Mn2O3/Al2O3 Systems

The effect of ferric and manganese oxides dopants on thermal and physicochemical properties of Mn-oxide/Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ systems has been studied separately. The pure and doped mixed solids were thermally treated at 400–1000°C. Pyrolysis of pure and doped mixed solids was investigated via thermal analysis (TG-DTG) techniques. The thermal products were characterized using XRD-analysis. The results revealed that pure ferric nitrate decomposes into Fe₂O₃ at 350°C and shows thermal stability up to1000°C. Crystalline Fe₃O₄ and Mn₃O₄phases were detected for some doped solids precalcined at 1000°C. Crystalline γ-Al₂O₃ phase was detected for all solids preheated up to 800°C. Ferric and manganese oxides enhanced the formation of α-Al₂O₃ phase at1000°C. Crystalline MnAl₂O₄ and MnFe₂O₄ phases were formed at 1000°C as a result of solid–solid interaction processes. The catalytic behavior of the thermal products was tested using the decomposition of H₂O₂ reaction. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mixed amphoteric oxide ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> as catalyst for the conversion of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol

The TPR spectra of the conversion of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol (MBOH) on mixed ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ oxides with different ZrO₂ contents were obtained by desorption mass spectrometry. It was shown that MBOH is dehydrated to 3-methyl-3-buten-1-yne on the acid centers (H₀ ≥ –3.3) and is decomposed to acetylene and acetone at the basic centers (H_– ≤ +6.8) of this oxide. The formation of acid centers in the amorphous structure of ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ at 1.5 < Al/Zr < 3is explained by the Tanabe rule.     

Laser-induced luminescence of model Fe/Al2O3 and Cr/Al2O3 catalysts

The laser-induced luminescence of Cr³⁺ impurity ions in model Fe/Al₂O₃ and Cr/Al₂O₃ catalysts with different calcination temperatures was studied. It was found that an additional luminescence band at 770 nm appeared in the luminescence spectra of low-temperature samples as a result of the interaction of octahedrally coordinated Cr³⁺ ions with Fe³⁺ impurity ions. In the θ-Al₂O₃ phase with a concentration of Cr³⁺ ions higher than 0.1 wt %, the interaction of the Cr³⁺-Cr³⁺ ion pairs in the immediate surroundings resulted in the appearance of N _θ lines due to the splitting of R _θ lines. The differences of these lines from the N _α lines of α-Al₂O₃ were related to the individuality of the crystal lattice of the θ phase and the coordination of Cr³⁺ impurity ions in the immediate surroundings, which is different from that in the α phase. Based on the laser-induced luminescence spectroscopic data, it was found that regions with a local Cr³⁺ concentration higher than the average Cr³⁺ concentration in the bulk of a catalyst by one order of magnitude were formed in the α-Al₂O₃-Fe₂O₃ system with the bulk Fe and Cr concentrations of 2.5 and 0.04 wt %, respectively, which was calcined at 1220°C, as a result of the diffusion of chromium and iron ions.     

Kinetics of the Formation of the Blue Complex CrO(O2)2 Formed by Dichromate and H2O2 in Acid Solutions. A Stopped-Flow Investigation Using Rapid-Scan UV-VIS Detection

Summary.  The kinetics of the CrO(O₂)₂ formation by H₂O₂ and Cr₂O₇ ²⁻ in aqueous acidic media was measured at 293 ± 2 K in a pH range between 2.5 and 3.3. Using the stopped-flow method with rapid scan UV-VIS detection, the rate law of the formation of CrO(O₂)₂ was determined. For the media HClO₄, HNO₃ and CH₃COOH, the reaction order in the Cr₂O₇ ²⁻ concentration was found to be 0.5. For [H₂O₂] as well as for [H⁺], the reaction was first order in all acids used. In HCl and H₂SO₄ media the reaction was first order in Cr₂O₇ ²⁻. At T = 293 ± 2 K the rate constant for the formation of Cr(O)(O₂)₂ was found to be (7.3 ± 1.9) · 10² M^−3/2 s⁻¹ in HClO₄. Corresponding author. E-mail: grampp@ptc.tu-graz.ac.at Received January 30, 2002; accepted (revised) June 5, 2002     

Surface and interface analysis of PVD Al-O-N and γ-Al2O3 diffusion barriers

The suitability of PVD films of γ-Al₂O₃ and of ternary Al-O-N as diffusion barriers between a nickel based superalloy CMSX-4 and NiCoCrAlY for a possible application in gas turbines was investigated. Therefore, an Al₂O₃ film and, alternatively, an Al-O-N film were deposited on CMSX-4 at 100 °C substrate temperature by means of reactive magnetron sputtering ion plating (MSIP). After characterization of composition and structure of the films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (XRD), a NiCoCrAlY coating was deposited onto the diffusion barriers and, for comparison, directly onto CMSX-4 by MSIP as well. The composites were annealed for 4 h at 1100 °C under inert atmosphere. Wavelength dispersive X-ray (WDX) element mappings and line-scans of the cross-sectional cut served to evaluate the suitability of the films as diffusion barriers. After detachment of the coatings from the substrate, the phase stabilities of the two metastable phases γ-Al₂O₃ and Al-O-N were determined by means of grazing incidence XRD. Without a diffusion barrier, enhanced interdiffusion was observed. Analyses of the composite with the γ-Al₂O₃ interlayer revealed diffusion of Ti and Ta from the substrate into the NiCoCrAlY coating. No interdiffusion of Ni, Ti, Ta, and Cr could be detected in case of the ternary Al-O-N film. Whereas the ternary Al-O-N film remained in the as-deposited X-ray amorphous structure after annealing, a phase change from the γ to the α modification could be observed in case of the Al₂O₃ film, presumably responsible for its lower efficiency as a diffusion barrier. Received: 19 September 1998 / Revised: 14 April 1999 / Accepted: 18 April 1999     

Improvement of high-voltage cycling behavior of Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 cathodes by Mg, Cr, and Al substitution

To improve the electrochemical properties of Li[Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3]O₂ at high charge end voltage (4.6 V), a series of the mixed transition metal compounds, Li(Ni_1/3Co_{1/3 − x} Mn_1/3M _x )O₂ (M = Mg, Cr, Al; x = 0.05), were synthesized via hydroxide coprecipitation method. The effects of doping Mg, Cr, and Al on the structure and the electrochemical performances of Li[Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3]O₂ were compared by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), galvanostatic charge–discharge tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The XRD results show that all the samples keep layered structures with R3m space group as the Li[Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3]O₂. SEM images show that all the compounds have spherical shapes and the Cr-doped sample has the largest particle size. Furthermore, galvanostatic charge–discharge tests confirm that the Cr-doped electrode shows improved cycling performance than the undoped material. The capacity retention of Li(Ni_1/3Co_{1/3 − 0.05}Mn_1/3Cr_0.05)O₂ is 97% during 50 cycles at 2.8∼4.6 V. The improved cycling performance at high voltage can be attributed to the larger particle size and the prevention of charge transfer resistance (R _ct) increase during cycling.     

Electrochemical reactions of La(Ni,Cr)O3 and La(Ni,Fe)O3 in acidic aqueous solutions

Voltammetry of immobilised microcrystalline perovskites La(Ni,Cr)O₃ and La(Ni,Fe)O₃ revealed that these oxides yield three types of reactions in acidic aqueous solutions (0.1 M HClO₄): irreversible oxidative dissolution of Cr-rich oxides, irreversible reductive dissolution of Fe-rich oxides, and a quasi-reversible reaction most likely related to alteration of the valencies of Cr, Fe and/or Ni in the solid state. The samples of La(Cr_{1− x} Ni _x )O₃ with x = 0.3 and 0.5 especially showed limited cycling stability that is particularly surprising in the very strongly acidic solution. Received: 4 January 1999 / Accepted: 16 February 1999     

Catalytic synthesis of indole from tetrahydroindole on Pd-and Cr-containing catalysts

In the presence of Pd-and Cr-containing catalysts applied to γ-Al₂O₃ or sibunite 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole is converted into indole. Indole was obtained in quantitative yield on sulfided 0.15–0.5% Pd/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst at 360°C and on catalysts containing 5% Cr₂O₃, 5% La₂O₃ (or 5% polirit), 1% K₂O/89% γ-Al₂O₃ at 475–480°C. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1176–1178, August, 2006.     

Preparation of polycrystalline Ti-Al-O films by magnetron sputtering ion plating: constitution, structure and morphology

Ti-Al-O layers were deposited on Si-<100> wafers at 500 °C by means of reactive magnetron sputtering ion plating (R-MSIP). An Al-target was sputtered in rf-mode and a Ti-target in dc-mode simultaneously by an oxygen/argon plasma. The influence of the Al- and Ti-sputter powers on composition, structure, and morphology of the Ti-Al-O layers and the binding states of the components were investigated. The analysis with EPMA, XPS, AES and TEM yielded the following results: Ti-Al-O coatings with different Ti, Al, and O contents in the range of TiO₂ to Al₂O₃ were grown. TEM structure analysis revealed: the pure TiO₂ film consisted of the tetragonal phases rutile and anatase; the two structures were found in the titanium-rich Ti-Al-O film, too, but with significant smaller lattice constants. The aluminium-rich Ti-Al-O film displayed the same cubic structure of γ-Al₂O₃ as determined for the pure Al₂O₃ film, but the lattice constant is significant lower. Evaluation of the TEM pattern of the film with a Ti/Al ratio of 0.8 indicates a hexagonal structure with lattice constants similar to those of κ′-Al₂O₃. All films are nanocrystalline and not textured. Received: 24 June 1996 / Revised: 27 December 1996 / Accepted: 4 January 1997     

Non Aqueous Titration and Catalytic Conversion of Cyclohexanol as a Test of Surface Acidity

Summary. The textural characteristics, including surface area, mean pore diameters, and total pore volume of Cr₂O₃–CuO/Al₂O₃ solid catalysts were determined from the low temperature adsorption of N₂ at 77 K. The structural properties were investigated using XRD. The surface acidity of calcined samples was determined using two comparable methods, including the non-aqueous titration of acidic groups with n-butylamine and dehydration/dehydrogenation activity of cyclohexanol. XRD patterns assigned a crystalline CuO and γ-Al₂O₃ for 723 K calcinations products of lower Cr₂O₃ content. The gradual increase of calcinations temperature promoted the crystallinity of Cr₂O₃ and resulted in solid–solid interaction of CuO and Cr₂O₃ forming CuCr₂O₄. The textural parameters varied with both calcinations temperature and catalyst composition. The surface acid density (DAS) increased with the increase of chromia content up to 0.132 mole% Cr₂O₃, while the rise of calcinations temperature led to a decrease of surface acidity. The dehydration/dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol as well as n-butylamine titration succeeded in characterizing of surface acidity. Present address: Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia     

Studies of the roles of Sn or Fe on γ-Al2O3-supported Pt catalysts by CO adsorption microcalorimetry and dehydrogenation reaction of C4 alkanes

CO adsorption microcalorimetry was employed in the study of γ-Al₂O₃-supported Pt, Pt-Sn and Pt-Fe catalysts. The results indicated that the initial differential heat of CO adsorption of the Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst was 125 kJ/mol. As CO coverage increased, the differential heat of adsorption decreased. At higher coverages, the differential heat of adsorption decreased significantly. 60% of the differential heat of CO adsorption on the Pt/γ-N₂O₃ catalyst was higher than 100 kJ/mol. No significant effect on the initial differential heat was found after adding Sn and Fe to the Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst. The amount of strong CO adsorption sites decreased, while the portion of CO adsorption sites with differential heat of 60–110 kJ/mol increased after increasing the Sn or Fe content. This indicates that the surface adsorption energy was changed by adding Sn or Fe to Pt/γ-N₂O₃. The distribution of differential heat of CO adsorption on the Pt-Sn(C)/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst was broad and homogeneous. Comparison of the dehydrogenation performance of C₄ alkanes with the number of CO adsorption sites with differential heat of 60–110 kJ/mol showed a good correlation. These results indicate that the surface Pt centers with differential heats of 60–110 kJ/mol for CO adsorption possess superior activity for the dehydrogenation of alkanes. Project supported by FORD and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 09412302) and the Transcentury Training Program Foundation for the Talents by The State Education Commission of China.     

Sorption behavior of Co(II) on γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> in the presence of humic acid

The fate and transport of toxic metal ions and radionuclides in the environment is generally controlled by sorption reactions. The extent of sorption of divalent metal cations is controlled by a number of factors including cosorbing or complexing. In this work, the effects of pH, humic acid HA/Co(II) addition orders, ionic strength, concentration of HA, and foreign cations on the Co(II) sorption on γ-Al₂O₃ in the presence of HA were investigated. The sorption isotherms of Co(II) on γ-Al₂O₃ in the absence and presence HA were also studied and described by using S-type sorption model. The experimental results showed that the Co(II) sorption is strongly dependent on the pH values, concentration of HA, but independent of HA/Co(II) addition orders, ionic strength, and foreign cations in the presence of HA under our experimental conditions. The results also indicated that HA enhanced the Co(II) sorption at low pH, but reduced the Co(II) sorption at high pH. It was hypothesized that the significantly positive influence of HA at low pH on the Co(II) sorption on γ-Al₂O₃ was attributed to strong surface binding of HA on γ-Al₂O₃ and subsequently the formation of ternary surface complexes such as ≡S-OOC-R-(COO⁻) _x Co^2−x . Chemi-complexation may be the main mechanism of the Co(II) sorption on γ-Al₂O₃ in the presence of HA.     

Crystallization of Anodic Alumina Membranes Studied by Simultaneous TG-DTA/FTIR

The thermal change of anodic alumina (AA), particularly the exothermic peak followed by the endothermic peak at ca 950°C was studied in detail by mainly using simultaneous TG-DTA/FTIR. The gradual loss of mass up to ca 910°C is attributed to dehydration. When heated at a constant rate by using TG-DTA, an exothermic peak with subsequent endothermic peak is observed at ca 950°C, but the exothermic peak becomes less distinct with decreasing heating rate. It has been found that gaseous SO₂ accompanying a small amount of CO₂ is mainly discharged at this stage. The reaction in this stage can be considered roughly in two schemes. The first scheme can be said collectively as crystallization, in which the migration of S or C trapped inside the crystal lattice of the polycrystalline phase (γ-, δ-, and θ-Al₂O₃, which presumably accompanies a large amount of amorphous or disordered phase) occurs. In the second scheme, the initial polycrystalline (+amorphous) phase crystallizes into a quasi-crystallineγ-Al₂O₃-like metastable phase after amorphization. Conclusively,after the distinct exo- and endothermic reactions, the amorphous phase crystallizes intoγ-Al₂O₃, presumably accompanying small amount of δ-Al₂O₃. It is also found that, when maintained isothermally, the metastable phases undergo transformation into the stable α-Al₂O₃ at 912°C. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pt LIII-edge XANES and EXAFS studies on γ-Al2O3 supported Pt catalysts

Pt L_III-edge XANES and EXAFS were employed to investigate the nature of Pt/γ-Al₂O₃, Pt−Sn/γ-Al₂O₃ and Pt−Fe/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts. The results indicated that Pt species on these catalysts were all in the oxidized states before reduction, and in the metallic states after reduction. The dispersity of the Pt species on the catalysts was very high after reduction. The electronic properties of the highly dispersed Pt species were different from that of the bulk Pt in large crystallites. An interaction between Pt and the metal-oxide modified γ-Al₂O₃ support is proposed. The interaction improved the dispersity of the Pt species on the catalysts and is thought to be the reason for the enhanced activity and selectivity for dehydrogenation reactions over these catalysts.     

The state of metals in the Pt/Al2O3 and (Pt-Cu)/Al2O3 catalysts as indicated by IR spectroscopy with isotope dilution of 12C16O with 13C18O molecules

Adsorption of ¹³C¹⁸O+¹²C¹⁶O mixtures on the Pt(2.9%)/γ-Al₂O₃, (Pt(2.6%)+Cu(2.7%))/γ-Al₂O₃, and (Pt(2.6%)+Cu(5.1%))/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts was studied by FTIR spectroscopy. On the metallic Pt surface at coverages close to saturation, CO is adsorbed both strongly and weakly to form linear species for which the vibrational frequencies of the isolated ¹³C¹⁸O molecules adsorbed on Pt are ∼1940 and ∼1970 cm⁻¹, respectively. The redistribution of intensities of the high-and low-frequency absorption bands in the spectra of adsorbed ¹³C¹⁸O indicates that these linear forms are present on the adjacent metal sites. The weak adsorption is responsible for the fast isotope exchange between the gaseous CO and CO molecules adsorbed on metal. The Pt-Cu alloys, in which the electronic state of the surface Pt atoms characteristic of monometallic Pt remains unchanged, are formed on the surface of the reduced Pt-Cu bimetallic catalysts. The decrease in the vibrational frequencies of the isolated C=O bonds in the isolated Pt-CO complexes suggests that the CO molecules adsorbed on the Cu atoms affect the electronic properties of Pt. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 831–836, May, 2007.     

Kinetics of the Formation of the Blue Complex CrO(O2)2 Formed by Dichromate and H2O2 in Acid Solutions. A Stopped-Flow Investigation Using Rapid-Scan UV-VIS Detection

 The kinetics of the CrO(O₂)₂ formation by H₂O₂ and Cr₂O₇ ²⁻ in aqueous acidic media was measured at 293 ± 2 K in a pH range between 2.5 and 3.3. Using the stopped-flow method with rapid scan UV-VIS detection, the rate law of the formation of CrO(O₂)₂ was determined. For the media HClO₄, HNO₃ and CH₃COOH, the reaction order in the Cr₂O₇ ²⁻ concentration was found to be 0.5. For [H₂O₂] as well as for [H⁺], the reaction was first order in all acids used. In HCl and H₂SO₄ media the reaction was first order in Cr₂O₇ ²⁻. At T = 293 ± 2 K the rate constant for the formation of Cr(O)(O₂)₂ was found to be (7.3 ± 1.9) · 10² M^−3/2 s⁻¹ in HClO₄.