Influence of the Structure of Precursors on the Crystallization of PbTiO3 Thin Films

PbTiO₃ (PT) thin films and their respective sols derived from three lead sources have been studied in order to elucidate the role of the starting materials in the crystallization of the products. EXAFS analysis of sols revealed similar oligomeric Ti-units in PT precursors derived from lead oxide or lead 2-methoxyethoxide acetate and a significantly different local Ti neighborhood in those derived from lead acetate. Structural details of the perovskite phase in the thin films follow the same pattern of similarity.     

Sol-Gel Processing of PbZrO3 Thin Films

PbZrO₃ (PZ) thin films have been prepared by 2-methoxyethanol route from lead oxide or lead acetate and zirconium n-butoxide. The use of lead oxide as lead source and the seeding layer of TiO₂ on Pt/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si substrate facilitate the formation of the perovskite phase.     

EXAFS Study of Amorphous Precursors for Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 Ceramics

In as-hydrolyzed amorphous precursors of Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ (PZT) ceramics with various Zr/Ti ratios prepared from lead acetate and transition metal n-butoxides in parent alcohol medium the local environment of constituent metal atoms has been determined by EXAFS. The local zirconium atom environment in high-Zr precursors consists of distorted octahedra of oxygen atoms with all the bonds made up of Zr–O–Zr links. For low-Zr precursors a smaller distortion of the oxygen octahedra is observed, and two Ti atoms are found in the second shell. The titanium local environment is almost independent of the Zr/Ti ratio, with five oxygen atoms in the first and two titanium atoms in the second shell of neighbors. Lead atoms contain two oxygen atoms in the first coordination shell. Pb–O–M (M = Zr, Ti) links are identified in all precursors: the former at Zr/Ti 75/25 and the latter at lower Zr/Ti ratios. Although a pronounced tendency for the homocondensation of zirconium species is found down to a Zr/Ti 50/50 ratio, heterometallic links (Pb–O–M) are determined in PZT precursors.     

Electron microscope study of alkoxide-derived compositions within the PbZrO3-PbTiO3 phase diagram

Pb(Zr_0.50Ti_0.50)O₃ solid solution was prepared using lead acetate and transition metal n-propoxides in n-propanol or n-butoxides in n-butanol. The complex solutions were hydrolysed with an excess of H₂O. The resultant powders were calcined up to 700°C for 30 minutes in a flowing oxygen atmosphere. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed different morphologies of the resultant powders. The n-propoxide derived powder consisted of gel fragments, while the n-butoxide derived one had agglomerated submicrometre particles. EDS analysis of the powders revealed no chemical heterogeneities in the examined samples upon calcining up to 600°C, notwithstanding the type of precursor used. Both samples, calcined at 700°C, exhibited a slight deficiency of lead in the pyrochlore type phase as compared to the perovskite phase.     

Synthesis of Solid Solutions in the (1-x)PbZrO3-xK0.5Bi0.5TiO3 System

DTA, TG, XRD and IR methods were used to study the formation of solid solutions in the selected subsolidus range of the PbZrO₃-K_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ system by heating mixtures prepared using oxide substrates, i.e. PbO, Bi₂O₃, ZrO₂, TiO₂ and K₂CO₃. It was found that solid solutions are formed in the reaction of PbO and ZrO₂ with intermediate compound, i.e. K_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃. PbZrO₃ was not found to be formed as an intermediate phase. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Heat capacity at constant pressure and thermodynamic properties of phase transitions in PbMO<Subscript>3</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>=Ti,Zr and Hf)

The heat capacity of PbMO₃ (M=Ti, Zr and Hf) at constant pressure was measured using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) from room temperature up to 870 K. Large anomalies were found in the heat capacity curves, corresponding to the ferroelectricparaelectric phase transition in PbTiO₃ (PT), the antiferroelectric-paraelectric phase transitions in PbZrO₃ (PZ) and PbHfO₃ (PH). The transition entropies were estimated as 7.3 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (PT), 9.9 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (PZ) and 9.3 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (PH). These values of transition entropies are much larger than that of a typical displacive-type phase transition.     

Emanation Thermal Analysis of Precursors for Ruthenia-based Materials

Emanation Thermal Analysis (ETA) was used to characterize microstructure changes of hydrous ruthenia and hydrous ruthenia-titania as precursors for preparation of RuO₂ and (RuO₂)_0.9-(TiO₂)_0.l by heating in the temperature range of 20–600°C in argon. A good agreement was found between ETA, TG and DTA results, X-ray diffraction patterns and surface area measurements of intermediate products of the thermal treatment. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A thermal analysis evaluation of the low temperature synthesis of BaBiO3

Thermal decomposition of metal-organic precursors for the mixed oxide BaBiO₃ was studied using TG and EGA. Precursors produced by polyesterification of bifunctional acids with ethylene glycol (Pechini process) decomposed about 100°C higher than those without the diol. BaCO₃ was identified by IR and XRD as a reaction intermediate. EGA proved that the amount of BaCO₃ was below 10% of the total barium, and that the barium exists mainly as a nitro-compound up to 650°C. Phase-pure BaBiO₃ with a moderately high surface area (1.4 m²/g) could be synthesised from a citrate precursor by the Pechini process at around 850°C.     

Thermal Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition of Si-Based Ceramic Coatings from Liquid Precursors

In this paper a process based on the use of rf inductively coupled plasma is applied for the synthesis and deposition of Si-base ceramic materials (i.e., SiC, Si₃N₄, SiO₂). The starting materials are low-cost liquid disilanes. The atomization process is first investigated and the structure of the resulting coatings is characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy as well as with transmission electron microscopy. Results of the influence of some processing parameters (i.e., chamber pressure, spray distance, substrate cooling, plasma gas nature and composition, precursor composition and atomization parameters) on the phase and microstructure of the coating is reported. Control of the microstructure (or nanostructure) as well as the phase content, namely the / ratio of the phases for SiC and Si3N4, can be achieved with such a synthesis and deposition technique.     

Structural evolution from the sol to the PbZrO<Subscript>3</Subscript> precursor powders prepared by an alkoxide-based sol–gel route

PbZrO₃ powders have been prepared by an alkoxide-based sol–gel route, starting from lead acetate, zirconium n-butoxide, and n-butanol as a solvent, and hydrolysed with different amounts of water in neutral and alkaline medium. The local environment of Zr and Pb atoms was pursued from the sol to the dried (150 °C) and heated (400 °C) powders, by extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The analysis of the sol revealed links between Pb and Zr, and even more links between Zr and Zr. The metal neighbourhoods in the dried powders are not influenced by the hydrolysis conditions. Pb-Zr correlations are gradually lost from the sol to the dried and heated powders, while the loss of Zr–Zr correlations is considerably lower.     

Study of the Lead Environment in Liquid and As-Dried Precursors of PZ, PT and PZT Thin Films

The environment of lead and zirconium atoms in liquid and as-dried precursors for PbZrO3 (PZ), PbTiO3 (PT) and Pb1.1Zr0.53Ti0.47O3 (PZT) thin film deposition were analyzed by EXAFS. The sols were prepared by 2-methoxyethanol route with lead acetate and lead oxide as lead sources. Pb—O—M (M = Zr and/or Ti, depending on the sol composition) linkages were determined in all sols. The choice of lead source weakly influences the lead environment, and strongly influences that of zirconium in both PZ and PZT sols. By drying lead oxide based sols the Pb–M correlation is moderately reduced in PZ, PT and is strongly reduced in PZT.     

Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr (VI) over g-C3N4 Photocatalysts Synthesized by Different Precursors

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) photocatalysts were synthesized via a one-step pyrolysis process using melamine, dicyandiamide, thiourea, and urea as precursors. The obtained g-C₃N₄ materials exhibited a significantly different performance for the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) under white light irradiation, which is attributed to the altered structure and occupancies surface groups. The urea-derived g-C₃N₄ with nanosheet morphology, large specific surface area, and high occupancies of surface amine groups exhibited superior photocatalytic activity. The nanosheet morphology and large surface area facilitated the separation and transmission of charge, while the high occupancies of surface amine groups promoted the formation of hydrogen adsorption atomic centers which were beneficial to Cr(VI) reduction. Moreover, the possible reduction pathway of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) over the urea-derived g-C₃N₄ was proposed and the reduction process was mainly initiated by a direct reduction of photogenerated electrons.     

BaPbO3的生成及EXAFS研究

采用低Pb/Ba摩尔比及低的反应温度，以BaCO₃和PbO为原料，固相反应合成了BaPbO₃无机微粉。通过XRD分析，确定了不同Pb、Ba比例下生成的Ba-Pb-O化合物均为立方钙钛矿结构。首次采用EXAFS对BaPbO₃微粉中Pb原子的近邻结构进行了分析，分析了在立方钙钛矿BaPbO₃结构中，氧空位的存在是导致BaPbO₃具有类似金属导电性的主要原因。     

Fabrication of PbTiO3 Ceramic Fibers by Sol-Gel Processing

The sol-gel processing was applied to the fabrication of PbTiO₃ fibers. Pb(CH₃COO)₂·3H₂O and Ti(OC₃H ₇ ⁱ )₄ were refluxed with stirring in 2-methoxyethanol to form Pb-methoxyethoxide and Ti-methoxyethoxide, respectively, followed by mixing with stirring in 2-methoxyethanol to form Pb−Ti double alkoxide. The hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction of this double alkoxide gave polymerized products, and as a result the viscosity of the solution increased, suggesting that linear polymers were produced through the hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction. Homogeneous PbTiO₃ gel fibers were drawn from the spinnable viscous solutions, which were wellcrystallized into perovskite type PbTiO₃ at 650°C. The heat-treated fibers were a few centimeters long and from 10 to 100 μm in diameter. The fiber was made up of extremely uniform grains. Electron diffraction revealed a preferred growth of (101) planes along the fiber axis, which might be due to the linear molecular characteristics of the alkoxide.     

Short Range Order Evolution in the Preparation of SnO2 Based Materials

The evolution of Eu³⁺ doped SnO₂ xerogels to the cassiterite structure observed during sintering was studied by means of Eu³⁺ spectroscopy, XRD and EXAFS at the Sn K-edge. Eu³⁺ ions adsorbed at the surface of colloidal particles present a broad distribution of sites, typical of oxide glasses. With sintering at 300°C, this distribution is still broadened. Crystallization is clearly observed by the three techniques with increasing sintering temperature. It is found that the addition of Eu³⁺ limits the crystallite growth.     

Crystallization of textured PbTiO3 films deposited from gels

Sol-gel processed PbTiO₃ thin films have been deposited by spin coating onto different subtrates; Si[111], Si/Al, Si/SiO₂/Cr/Pt, MgO[100], SrTiO₃[100] and sapphire. Interactions between the substrate and PbTiO₃ films after heat treatment have been studied by X-ray diffraction and Rutherford Back Scattering. When deposited onto sapphire and Si[111], PbTiO₃ films exhibit a preferred orientation with (101) perpendicular to the substrate. These films become oriented along (100) onto MgO and (001) onto SrTiO₃[100] substrates. A strong channelling effect is observed by the RBS technique when the film is oriented along the c axis on SrTiO₃[100] suggesting that these films are epitaxially grown. The diffusion of metal atoms during the thermal treatment gives rise to the formation of lead silicate on Si[111] substrates. As a result a pyrochlore phase is formed. Lead titanate films on Si/SiO₂/Cr/Pt and Si/Al substrates are polycrystalline and do not exhibit any texture.     

Thiolated Janus Silsesquioxane Tetrapod: New Precursors for Functional Materials

Herein, we report synthetic strategies for the development of a bifunctional Janus T₄ tetrapod (Janus ring), in which the orthogonal silsesquioxane and organic faces are independently functionalized. An all-cis T₄ tetrasilanolate was functionalized to introduce thiol moieties on the silsesquioxane face and naphthyl groups on the organic face to introduce luminescent and self-organization properties. The stepwise synthesis conditions required to prepare such perfectly defined oligomers via a suite of well-defined intermediates and to avoid polymerization or reactions over all eight positions of the tetrapod are explored via ²⁹Si, ¹³C and ¹H NMR, FTIR and TOF-ESI mass spectroscopy. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the few reports of Janus T₄ tetrapods, with different functional groups located on both faces of the molecule, thus expanding the potential range of applications for these versatile precursors.     

不同原料对Li-Ni-Mn-O 5 V正极材料的结构和性能的影响

LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ was synthesized by solid-state reaction with different Ni containing precursors. The effect of precursor on electrochemical performance was studied. It was demonstrated that LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ synthesized with Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O as precursor had good charge-discharge performances. At the potential range of 3.0～5.0 V, the reversible capacity of the above LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ could reach to 145 mAh·g^-1 and remained 143 mAh·g^-1 after 10 cycles, while at 3.0～4.9 V, there was still 133 mAh·g^-1 reversible capacity, and was 125 mAh·g^-1 after 40 cycles. XRD results indicated that the synthesized compound was with spinel structure. The precursors and dispersion method had remarkable effect on the structures of the resulting compounds. Pure spinel phase could be obtained with mechanical ball-milled method and Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O as precursor, and trace amount of NiO phase could be detected in LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ with simple mixture method and using Ni(CH₃COO)₂·6H₂O, NiO and Ni₂O₃ as precurs-ors.     

EXAFS characterization of Ti/Al2O3 supports and Co/Ti/Al2O3 catalysts

The structure of Ti/Al₂O₃ supports (0–14 wt% Ti) and Co/Ti/Al₂O₃ catalysts (3 wt% Co) was examined by EXAFS. The results indicated that the Ti was present primarily as a highly dispersed surface phase. The Ti EXAFS results indicated that the Ti species were octahedrally coordinated. Evidence of Ti—Ti interactions was found for all loadings (2–14 wt% Ti) suggesting that the Ti surface species are present as small clusters of TiO₂.The Co EXAFS results showed evidence for several structurally different Co surface phases as a function of Ti loading. Evidence of a Co species interacting with the Ti surface phase was observed for the 3% Co/2% Ti-3%Co/6%Ti catalysts. At the highest loadings studied, 3%Co/8%Ti and 3%Co/14%Ti, evidence was found for a CoTiO₃-like phase.     

Formation of perovskite phase mixed metal oxides via thermal decomposition of metal-organic complexes with bifunctional ligands

Single-source metal precursors designed to form crystalline perovskite phase mixed metal oxides at low temperatures have been synthesized using -hydroxycarboxylates and alkoxides as ligands. Divalent salts of Ba, Sr, Ca and Pb, [A(O₂CCR₂OH)₂], R = H, Me, were formed from the reaction between ACO₃ and HO₂CCR₂OH in which the hydroxyl group is free to react with metal alkoxide compounds B(OR)₄ where B=Ti, Zr, Sn. These compounds react to eliminate two equivalents of alcohol producing precursors with fixed stoichiometry as shown by the equation: A(O₂CCR₂OH)₂+B(OR)₄ A(O₂CCR₂O)₂B(OR)₂+2HOR. The reaction product is only slightly soluble in pyridine, however upon hydrolysis these compounds form clear solutions from which yellow powders can be isolated by removal of the solvent. Thermolysis of these powders in the temperature range 300–350°C yields perovskite ABO₃. Aqueous solutions of these powders can also be used to form sub-micron sized particles of ABO₃ materials via aerosol processing techniques. In control experiments it was shown that Pb(O₂CCH₂OPh)₂ does not react with metal alkoxide compounds. As a result perovskite PbTiO₃ is not formed below 550°C. Solutions for spin coating thin films can be formed by dissolution of the powder in ethanol, but the crystallization behavior is quite different compared to the bulk powders.