Improving magnetic properties of barium hexaferrites by La or Pr substitution

La or Pr substituted barium hexaferrites, Ba_1−x(La or Pr)_xFe₁₂O₁₉, x=0.00-0.20, were successfully prepared by a citrate combustion process. The sintered bodies were structurally and magnetically studied by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). All XRD patterns show the single phase of the magnetoplumbite barium ferrite without other intermediate phases. Magnetization (M_S) and coercive field (H_C) could be improved by substitutions of La or Pr ions on Ba ion basis sites. The M_S reveal magnetic behavior with respect to La or Pr ions content, showing an increase at first and then a decrease. The H_C increases remarkably with increasing La or Pr ions content.     

Successive electrodeposition of polydopamine and PtPd metal on a graphene oxide support for use as anode fuel cell catalysts

Successive electropolymerization of dopamine and electrodeposition of Pd and/or Pt on a graphene oxide (GO) support were used to prepare anode catalysts for low-temperature fuel cells. Transmission electron microscopy images were used to investigate the morphologies and distribution of the prepared catalysts, which showed the metal formed as nanoparticles on the catalysts. The GO surface was favorable for the modification with electropolymerized polydopamine (PDA) and the electrodeposition of metal catalyst nanoparticles using a simple preparation process. The PDA-loaded GO composite was used as a matrix for the dispersion of Pt and Pd nanoparticles. GO could be simultaneously modified by PDA and reduced without using reducing agents. The electrocatalytic performance of the catalysts for the oxidation of selected small molecule fuels (e.g., methanol, ethanol and formic acid) was examined. An outstanding catalytic activity and stability was found for the prepared Pt/Pd/PDA/GO composite, which was attributed to the high active surface area.     

Catalytic investigation of PtPd and titanium oxide-loaded reduced graphene oxide for enhanced formic acid electrooxidation

Preparation, characterization, and electrocatalytic study of the electrodeposited Pt and Pd (e.g., Pt and PtPd) catalysts on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) modified reduced graphene oxide (rGO) support for formic acid oxidation were performed. The catalyst composites are labeled as xPt/rGO-TiO₂, xPtyPd/rGO-TiO₂, and yPd/rGO-TiO₂ where x and y are cycle numbers of metal electrodeposition (x and y?=?2–6). The characterizations of the catalysts were performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Small and dispersed metal nanoparticles are obtained on rGO-TiO₂. The catalytic performances for formic acid oxidation were measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). The electrocatalytic results reveal that the bimetallic 4Pt2Pd/rGO-TiO₂ catalyst facilitates formic acid oxidations at the lowest potentials and generates the highest oxidation currents and also improves the highest CO oxidation compared to the monometallic 6Pt/rGO-TiO₂ catalyst. According to the experimental data, the Pd and TiO₂ enhance the electrocatalytic activity of the catalysts towards the formic acid oxidation; the improved catalytic performance of the prepared catalysts strongly relates to the high electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) investigated.

Open image in new window

Graphical abstract TEM image of xPtyPd/rGO-TiO₂ and its CV towards oxidation

     

Properties of Cr-substituted M-type barium ferrites prepared by nitrate–citrate gel-autocombustion process

The Cr-substituted M-type barium hexaferrites, BaFe_12−xCr_xO₁₉, with x=0.0–0.8$x=0.0–0.8$ have been successfully prepared by nitrate–citrate auto-combustion process using citric acid as a fuel/reductant and nitrates as oxidants. The resulting precursors were calcined at 1100 °C for 1 h and followed by sintering at 1200 °C for 12 h in oxygen atmosphere. The ferrites were systematically investigated by using powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), magnetic hysteresis recorder, Mössbauer spectrometer, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The XRD data show the formation of pure magnetoplumbite phase without any other impurity phases. Both a and c lattice parameters calculated by the Rietveld method systematically decrease with increasing Cr content. The effects of Cr³⁺ ions on the barium ferrites were reported and discussed in detail. The site preference of Cr³⁺ and magnetic properties of the ferrites have been studied using Mössbauer spectra and hystereses. The results show that the magnetic properties are closely related to the distributions of Cr³⁺ ions on the five crystallographic sites. The saturation magnetization systematically decreases, however, the coercivity increases with Cr concentration. The magnetization and Mössbauer results indicate that the Cr³⁺ ions preferentially occupy the 2a, 12k, and 4f_VI sites. The average size of hexagonal platelets obtained by SEM photographs tends to decrease with respect to Cr content.