AgNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics synthesized by aqueous solution-gel method

AgNbO₃ powders and ceramics were prepared by aqueous solution-gel method. The phase evolution of the powders was investigated by TG/DSC and XRD. The results showed that the pure AgNbO₃ phase was obtained at 600 °C without special treatment. The sintering behavior and dielectric properties of the AgNbO₃ ceramics were also investigated. It showed the dense ceramics were obtained as lower as 925 °C, which had the excellent dielectric properties with the permittivity of 291 and dielectric loss of about 1.7% at 1 MHz. The coarse grains were observed for the sample sintered over 975 °C, and then they decreased with the sintering temperature further increasing to 1,050 °C.     

A facile synthesis of NaNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> powders by decomposition of ammonium niobium oxalate with sodium salt at low temperature

A facile synthesis of NaNbO₃ powders was performed by solid-state reaction at low temperature. Stoichiometric ammonium niobium oxalate and Na₂CO₃ were mixed in water and then calcined at different temperatures for various times after drying. A combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis was used to characterize the product and precursor compound. The XRD patterns show that single-phase NaNbO₃ powders with high crystallinity can be synthesized at 425 °C for 15 min. The particle size from XRD data is found to be about 40 nm for NaNbO₃ powders calcined at 500 °C for 3 h, which is in good agreement with SEM data. The SEM photograph shows that NaNbO₃ powders are cuboid-like and well crystallized when calcination at 800 °C for 3 h. The product compositions prepared using other sodium reactants, such as HCOONa and NaNO₃, are also discussed.     

Glycine-nitrate combustion synthesis of CeFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-based nanocrystalline powders

Glycine-nitrate combustion method was used to obtain powders based on CeFeO₃ nanocrystals with average crystallite size in the range from 33 ± 3 to 51 ± 5 nm. The influence exerted by parameters of the glycine-nitrate combustion process and, in particular, by the glycine-nitrate ratio (G/N) on the composition and crystallite size of the synthesis products was determined. The optimal G/N ratio at which nanocrystalline cerium orthoferrite is formed with the minimum amount of impurity phases Fe₂O₃ and CeO₂ was found to be 0.8. It was demonstrated that the composition of the starting solution affects the nature of the phase heterogeneity in the resulting product, crystallite size, and porosity of the nanocrystalline powders being formed. The patterns determined in the study make it possible to optimize the technology of nanocrystalline powders based on CeFeO₃ in order to obtain powders with prescribed phase composition and crystallite sizes to enable their use as a basis for photocatalytic materials.     

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.     

Microwave assisted low temperature synthesis of sodium zirconium phosphate (NaZr<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>)

Sodium zirconium phosphate [NaZr₂P₃O₁₂], a potential ceramic matrix for fixation of high level nuclear waste, was synthesized by heating the mixture of sodium carbonate [Na₂CO₃], zirconyl nitrate hydrate [ZrO(NO₃)₂·5H₂O] and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate [NH₄H₂PO₄] in air, in a resistance heated furnace and a microwave heating system respectively in the temperature range 450 to 650°C. The mixture heated for 1 h in a resistance furnace at 450°C yielded a poorly crystalline NaZr₂P₃O₁₂ [NZP]. Increasing the temperature to 650°C produced a highly crystalline product. The same mixture heated in a microwave oven at 450°C for 1 h however, yielded the most crystalline NZP.In an alternate method, the mixture of sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH₂PO₄), zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) and diammonium hydrogen phosphate [(NH₄)₂HPO₄] heated in resistance furnace at 650°C for the same period did not react in air. It also did not yield the pure product at 450°C when heated in microwave assembly for 1 h.The authors thank the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for the financial support for this work under the project No. 2000/37/19/BRNS/1959 dtd09-02-02.     

Rapid dissolution of spruce cellulose in H<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript> aqueous solution at low temperature

Dissolution of cellulose is the key challenge in its applications. It has been discovered that spruce cellulose with high molecular weight (4.10 × 10⁵ g mol^?1) can be dissolved in 64 wt% H₂SO₄ aqueous solution at low temperature within 2 min, and the cellulose concentration in solution can reach as high as 5 % (w/v). FT-IR spectra and XRD spectra proved that it is a direct solvent for cellulose rather than a derivative aqueous solution system. The cold H₂SO₄ aqueous solution broke the hydrogen bonds among cellulose molecules and the low temperature dramatically slowed down the hydrolysis, which led to the dissolution of cellulose. The resultant cellulose solution was relatively stable, and the molecular weight of cellulose only slightly decreased after storage at ?20 °C for 1 h. Due to the high molecular weight of cellulose, cellulose solution could form regenerated films with good mechanical properties and transparency at low concentration (2 % w/v). This work has not only provided the new evidence of cellulose dissolution which facilitated the development of cellulose solvent, but also suggested a convenient way to directly transfer cellulose with high molecular weight into materials without structure modifications.     

A concise synthesis of furo[3,2-c]coumarins catalyzed by nanocrystalline ZnZr<Subscript>4</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript> ceramics under microwave irradiation

A simple and concise method catalyzed by nanocrystalline ZnZr₄(PO₄)₆ ceramics has been reported for the synthesis of a series of trans-2-benzoyl-3-(aryl)-2H-furo[3,2-c]chromen-4(3H)-ones using a multicomponent reaction of 2,4′-dibromoacetophenone, benzaldehydes and 4-hydroxycoumarin under microwave irradiation. This method provides several advantages including easy workup, excellent yields, short reaction times, using of microwave as clean method, recoverability of the catalyst and little catalyst loading.     

Formation and thermal properties of nanocrystalline Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>

Mechanism by which nanocrystalline Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ is formed in thermal treatment of coprecipitated hydroxides was studied. It was shown that the onset of the active formation is correlated with the melting point of the surface phase based on bismuth oxide. The technological synthesis parameters of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂, at which crystallite sizes in the range 35–60 nm are provided, were determined.     

Conductivity of SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-In<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanocrystalline composite films

The conductivity of films consisting of a mixture of SnO₂ and In₂O₃ nanocrystals at 200–500°C was studied. Based on the experimental data, it was assumed that in films containing less than 20 wt % In₂O₃, the current flows along SnO₂ nanocrystals. A model of conductivity in these films is presented; it includes an electron transfer from In₂O₃ to SnO₂, which forms positively charged In₂O₃ nanocrystals that contact the negatively charged SnO₂ nanocrystals. In the presence of In₂O₃ nanocrystals, the activation energy of the electron transfer between SnO₂ nanocrystals decreased substantially because of a decrease in the barrier of electron transfer between SnO₂ crystals under the action of the negative charge. As a result, a percolation cluster of charged SnO₂ crystals formed. At high contents of In₂O₃ (over 20 wt %), the conductivity increased dramatically. The curve of the temperature dependence of conductivity changed because of the appearance of a percolation cluster of In₂O₃ nanocrystals, in which the current passed. The conductivity of a mixed film of this kind differed from that of the nanocrystalline film of pure In₂O₃.     

Supramolecular microrods can be prepared by mixing aqueous Ru(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>3</Subscript> and K<Subscript>3</Subscript>Fe(CN)<Subscript>6</Subscript> solutions at room temperature

This paper describes the ionic self-assembly method to fabricate supramolecular one-dimensional microrods in solution. Such microrods were formed in a one-step process through the mixing aqueous Ru(NH₃)₆Cl₃ and K₃Fe(CN)₃ solutions at room temperature. Chemical composition of the resulting structures, which are composed of from Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ and Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺, was determined by energy-dispersed spectroscopy. The data show that the formation of microrods depends on the molar ratio and concentration of the reactants.     

Colloidal properties of aqueous dispersions of ultradispersed Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> prepared by explosion synthesis

The electrosurface properties of aluminum oxide particles prepared by shock—wave loading of aluminum powder in an oxygen-containing atmosphere and the aggregation stability of its aqueous dispersions are studied by the macroelectrophoresis method, potentiometric titration, and photometry. The enhanced stability of the dispersions in acid media and in the vicinity of the isoelectric point compared to that in alkaline media is explained by the effect of the structural component of the disjoining pressure, which appears due to the predominant hydration of the cationic forms of aluminum that are present on the surface of dispersed phase particles.Translated from Kolloidnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 67, No. 1, 2005, pp. 128–131. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Chiganova, Nafikova.     

Microwave-assisted combustion synthesis of nanocrystalline La<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mo<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> oxide-ion conductor and its characterization

Nanocrystalline La₂Mo₂O₉ oxide-ion conductor has been successfully synthesized by microwave-assisted combustion method within a very short time duration using aspartic acid as the newer fuel in a domestic microwave oven. The synthesized nanocrystalline powder showed good sinterability and reached more than 97% of theoretical density even at low temperature of 800 °C for 5 h. The sintered La₂Mo₂O₉ sample exhibited a conductivity of 0.159 S/cm in air at 750 °C.     

Effect of CuO–Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> on low temperature sintered MnZn-ferrite by sol–gel auto-combustion method

A sol–gel auto-combustion method was investigated to incorporate small amounts of additives of Cu and Bi uniformly into soft magnetic MnZn-ferrite nanoparticles, which were prepared by Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O, Mn(NO₃)₂ and Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O dissolved in water and citric acid. The powder was characterized by the X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscope method. The effects of nano-particle sized powders in microstructure development and adding CuO–Bi₂O₃ into MnZn-ferrite on phase formation, densification process as well as magnetic properties were studied by scanning electron microscope and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques. The sample without additive can be sintered well at 930 °C, while the samples with a small amount of the additive can be sintered at less than 900 °C. Obviously, the micron-sized powders exhibited high sintering activity. It was also found that CuO–Bi₂O₃ additive promoted the growth of grains and improved magnetic properties. The permeability and the saturation magnetization were improved substantially by adding CuO–Bi₂O₃ into MnZn-ferrite and the sintering temperature was lowered to 875 °C, which may be associated with the redistribution of cations on the tetrahedral (A) sites and octahedral (B) sites within the spinel lattice.     

Prenucleation formations in control over synthesis of CoFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanocrystalline powders

Nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite powders were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of co-precipitated hydroxides in the conditions of an external heating of the autoclave and under microwave heating of the reaction medium. In the microwave-heating mode, the prenucleation clusters formed under ultrasonic treatment of a suspended mixture of cobalt and iron hydroxides is transformed into CoFe₂O₄ nanocrystals during the first minute of synthesis at a temperature satisfying the equilibrium-existence conditions of cobalt ferrite. In the case of a slow external heating of the autoclave, there is no effect of this kind, which is attributed to the disintegration of the prenucleation clusters before the dehydration of the hydroxides to give crystalline cobalt ferrite becomes thermodynamically favorable. The main factor determining the increase in the formation rate of crystallites of CoFe₂O₄ nanopowders and the decrease in their size is the generation of prenucleation centers in the starting mixture of cobalt and iron hydroxides.     

Electrochemical synthesis of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles in alkaline aqueous solutions containing complexing agents

Ultrafine magnetite particles are prepared through an electrochemical process, at room temperature, from an iron-based electrode immersed in an alkaline aqueous medium containing complexing compounds. XRD and chemical analysis indicate that the product is pure magnetite, Fe₃O₄. The size and morphology of the particles are studied by SEM. The magnetite nanoparticles present a magnetoresistance of almost 3%, at 300 K, under a magnetic field of 1 T. A reactive mechanism for the electrochemical process is proposed.     

Thermal oxide synthesis and characterization of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanorods and Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanowires

Fe₃O₄ nanorods and Fe₂O₃ nanowires have been synthesized through a simple thermal oxide reaction of Fe with C₂H₂O₄ solution at 200–600°C for 1 h in the air. The morphology and structure of Fe₃O₄ nanorods and Fe₂O₃ nanowires were detected with powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The influence of temperature on the morphology development was experimentally investigated. The results show that the polycrystals Fe₃O₄ nanorods with cubic structure and the average diameter of 0.5–0.8 μm grow after reaction at 200–500°C for 1 h in the air. When the temperature was 600°C, the samples completely became Fe₂O₃ nanowires with hexagonal structure. It was found that C₂H₂O₄ molecules had a significant effect on the formation of Fe₃O₄ nanorods. A possible mechanism was also proposed to account for the growth of these Fe₃O₄ nanorods. Supported by the Fund of Weinan Teacher’s University (Grant No. 08YKZ008), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20573072) and the Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 20060718010)     

Formation of nanocrystalline BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> under hydrothermal conditions

The formation of bismuth orthoferrite under hydrothermal conditions at temperature 160, 180, or 200°С and pressure 100 MPa in aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide has been studied. The determined composition and structure of polycrystalline phase with sillenite structure have evidenced its formation at the interface of the crystallites of amorphous iron oxide. It has been shown that the formation of polycrystalline round-shaped BiFeO₃ particles with size about 20 μm occurs via aggregation of perovskite-type phase crystallites (38–70 nm). Pycnometric density of BiFeO₃ and the amorphous phase has been determined, and Mossbauer spectra reflecting the state of iron in the phases coexisting during the formation of BiFeO₃ have been analyzed.     

Low temperature synthesis of nanosized ZnNb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> photocatalysts by a citrate complex method

Nanosized ZnNb₂O₆ photocatalysts (band gaps ~4.0 eV) were successfully synthesized via a citrate complex method. Their particle sizes ranged from 50 to 150 nm. The result of Mott–Schottky measurement revealed that the flat-band potential of ZnNb₂O₆ was ca. −1.3 V versus Ag/AgCl at pH 6.6. The photocatalytic activities of the samples for the degradation of methyl orange were evaluated under UV-light (λ = 254 nm). It was found that the sample obtained at 850 °C showed the highest photocatalytic activity due to its opportune crystallinity and surface area. Furthermore, ·OH radicals were detected as the major oxidation agents responsible for the decomposition of methyl orange.     

Preparation and magnetic properties of RFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanocrystalline powders

The rare-earth orthoferrites RFeO₃ (R, rare-earth element) crystallize in an orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure. RFeO₃ compounds exhibit interesting physical and chemical properties because of their ionic and electronic defects. Polycrystalline nano-sized RFeO₃ powders were synthesized by the sol–gel combustion method. X-ray powder diffraction indicated that nanocrystalline powders were single ReFeO3 phase, which are agglomerated with average crystallite size of 60–90 nm estimated with the Scherrer’s equation. Magnetic measurements were carried out using a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. The influence on hysteresis curve of electronic structure of rare-earth element was investigated for R = Y, La and Nd. Varied magnetic behaviors were observed in these compounds, which are believed to be associated with the different interactions of Fe and rare earths.     

Special features of formation of nanocrystalline BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> via the glycine-nitrate combustion method

Nanocrystalline bismuth orthoferrite has been synthesized under conditions of glycine-nitrate combustion. Temperatures of activation of formation and growth of BiFeO₃ nanocrystals have been shown to correlate with melting temperature of surface (non-autonomous) phases. Optimal temperature of synthesis of nanocrystalline bismuth orthoferrite has been determined.