Ionic Porous Aromatic Framework as a Self-Degraded Template for the Synthesis of a Magnetic γ-Fe2O3/WO3·0.5H2O Hybrid Nanostructure with Enhanced Photocatalytic Property

An ionic porous aromatic framework is developed as a self-degraded template to synthesize the magnetic heterostructure of γ-Fe₂O₃/WO₃·0.5H₂O. The Fe₃O₄ polyhedron was obtained with the two-phase method first and then reacted with sodium tungstate to form the γ-Fe₂O₃/WO₃·0.5H₂O hybrid nanostructure. Under the induction effect of the ionic porous network, the Fe₃O₄ phase transformed to the γ-Fe₂O₃ state and complexed with WO₃·0.5H₂O to form the n-n heterostructure with the n-type WO₃·0.5H₂O on the surface of n-type γ-Fe₂O₃. Based on a UV-Visible analysis, the magnetic photocatalyst was shown to have a suitable band gap for the catalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Under irradiation, the resulting γ-Fe₂O₃/WO₃·0.5H₂O sample exhibited a removal efficiency of 95% for RhB in 100 min. The charge transfer mechanism was also studied. After the degradation process, the dispersed powder can be easily separated from the suspension by applying an external magnetic field. The catalytic activity displayed no significant decrease after five recycles. The results present new insights for preparing a hybrid nanostructure photocatalyst and its potential application in harmful pollutant degradation.     

Preparation,Characterization, and Electrochemical Performance of the Hematite/Oxidized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite

In this research work, a hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticle was prepared and then mixed with oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (O-MWCNT) to form a stable suspension of an α-Fe₂O₃/O-MWCNTs nanocomposite. Different characterization techniques were used to explore the chemical and physical properties of the α-Fe₂O₃/O-MWCNTs nanocomposite, including XRD, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and SEM. The results revealed the successful formation of the α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, and the oxidation of the MWCNT, as well as the formation of stable α-Fe₂O₃/O-MWCNTs nanocomposite. The electrochemical behaviour of the α-Fe₂O₃/O-MWCNTs nanocomposite was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and the results revealed that modification of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles with O-MWCNTs greatly enhanced electrochemical performance and capacitive behaviour, as well as cycling stability.     

Study of energy dissipation in a suspension of particles with magnetic hysteresis in alternating supercritical-frequency field

Results of the experimental study of energy dissipation in a dielectric suspension of magnetohard γ-Fe₂O₃ particles exposed to alternating magnetic field with a frequency exceeding the limiting frequency of mechanical rotations of ferroparticles in a carrier liquid are reported. The rate of energy absorption is investigated as depending on the field amplitude and particle concentration. A drastic increase in the absorption is observed with a rise in the amplitude in the 450–800 Oe range. It is revealed that the energy dissipated in the suspension, as calculated per volume of ferroparticles, is maximal at low particle concentrations. When the concentration increases, the energy dissipation decreases by one-third becoming equal to that in a solid unordered ferrodispersion. The results obtained qualitatively agree with the theory of dissipation in suspensions of single-domain particles characterized by a magnetic hysteresis.     

Electrochemical deposition and properties of PbO2 + Co3O4 composites

Electrolysis of suspensions of Co₃O₄ particles in Pb²⁺-containing electrolytes has been used for depositing PbO₂ + Co₃O₄ composite layers on Ni rotating dise anodes. A sufficiently high angular speed of the electrode is necessary to obtain layers of homogeneous thickness and Co₃O₄ concentration. The volume fraction of Co₃O₄ particles in the deposit α reaches a limiting value of ca. 0.1 when the volume fraction of particles in suspension C exceeds 0.008. The current density j has little effect on α as long as it is in the range 1 to 20 mA cm⁻²; if j increases further, α decreases.PbO₂ + Co₃O₄ composite layers have been studied as electrode materials for the oxygen evolution reaction (mainly in NaOH solution). The overpotential and Tafel slope decrease upon increasing α. At a fixed potential, j is roughly proportional to OH⁻ concentration. The PbO₂ + Co₃O₄ electrode performance is fairly stable at 25°C but declines with time at higher temperature.     

The Structural Characterization of Tin- and Titanium-Dopedα-Fe2O3Prepared by Hydrothermal Synthesis

The structural characteristics of tin- and titanium-dopedα-Fe₂O₃prepared by hydrothermal methods have been investigated by Rietveld structure refinement of the X-ray powder diffraction data. The analysis reveals that the dopant ions adopt two distinct sites: in addition to partially substituting at the octahedral Fe sites, they also occupy the interstitial octahedral sites which are vacant in theα-Fe₂O₃structure. The structural model deduced involves clusters of three substituted cations and is rational in that it represents microstructural regions of the rutile structure within a matrix ofα-Fe₂O₃.     

The Rheology of Bimodal Mixtures of Colloidal Particles with Long-Range, Soft Repulsions

Osmotic pressure and elastic moduli of bimodal suspensions of particles experiencing long-range, soft repulsions were measured. At fixed osmotic pressure, the total suspension volume fraction, φ, varies linearly as the mixing ratio φ_l/φ is increased from 0 to 1. Here φ_lis the volume fraction of large particles based on total suspension volume. This result suggests the suspensions studied here are phase separated into domains containing primarily small and primarily large particles and is not expected for hard sphere suspensions where, at fixed osmotic pressure, φ passes through a maximum as φ_l/φ is increased. Elastic moduli are well described by a model based on a composite microstructure where the domains of pure large and small particles must have the same osmotic pressure which fixes the local particle volume fraction and hence the elastic modulus in each phase. The existence of phase separation is supported by electron micrographs taken on samples prepared by rapidly drying suspensions with volume fractions near 0.6.     

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.     

Effects of doping on the thermal stability of spindle-shaped γ-Fe2O3 particles

Spindle-shaped α-FeOOH particles were synthesized using the chemical coprecipitation method in Fe(CO₃)_x(OH)_2(?x) suspensions system by adding metallic ions. The spindle-shaped γ-Fe₂O₃ particles were obtained by dehydration of α-FeOOH, and subsequent reduction and oxidation. Its thermal stability was investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA). It was found that the transition temperature of γ-Fe₂O₃→α-Fe₂O₃ of samples doped with metallic ions is higher than that of the pure γ-Fe₂O₃ and increasing with increase of the size of the metallic ions, and γ-Fe₂O₃ by doping with two or more different metallic ions together has even higher thermal stability. The origin of the improved thermal stability was discussed. Additionally, the magnetic properties of γ-Fe₂O₃ were measured.     

High-pressure preparation, crystal structure, and properties of the new rare-earth oxoborate β-Dy2B4O9

In this work we report about a new rare-earth oxoborate β-Dy₂B₄O₉ synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions from Dy₂O₃ and boron oxide B₂O₃ in a B₂O₃/Na₂O₂ flux with a walker-type multianvil apparatus at 8 GPa and 1000°C. Single crystal X-ray structure determination of β-Dy₂B₄O₉ revealed: , a=616.2(1) pm, b=642.8(1) pm, c=748.5(1) pm, α=102.54(1)°, β=97.08(1)°, γ=102.45(1)°, Z=2, R1=0.0151, wR₂=0.0475 (all data). The compound exhibits a new structure type which is built up from bands of linked BO₃- (Δ) and tetrahedral BO₄-groups (□). The Dy³⁺-cations are positioned in the voids between the bands. According to the conception of fundamental building blocks β-Dy₂B₄O₉ can be classified with the notation 2Δ6□:Δ3□=4□=3□Δ. Furthermore we report about temperature-resolved in situ powder diffraction measurements and IR-spectroscopic investigations on β-Dy₂B₄O₉.     

Formation of α-Fe2O3/FeOOH nanostructures with various morphologies by a hydrothermal route and their photocatalytic properties

A series of α-Fe₂O₃/FeOOH nanostructures with different morphologies have successfully been synthesized based on K₄[Fe(CN)₆] at 140 °C by a novel hydrothermal method. The morphology and phase of α-Fe₂O₃/FeOOH can be controlled by adjusting the reaction time. UV–vis absorption spectrum, X-ray powder diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy analyses were used to characterize the resulting products. A detailed, rational mechanism is proposed for the formation of α-Fe₂O₃/FeOOH nanostructures. The potential applications of the as-synthesized α-Fe₂O₃/FeOOH nanoparticles with different morphologies on photocatalytic decomposition of salicylic acid were also investigated.     

Polymer adsorption on fine particles; the effects of particle size and its stability

The effects of particle size on polyacrylamide (PAAm,M _w =59×10⁴, 500×10⁴) adsorption were investigated using a series of well-characterized hematite (-Fe₂O₃) dispersions. The -Fe₂O₃ particles with highly monodisperse and nearly spherical shape ranged in radius from 23 nm to 300 nm. the maximum amount of PAAm adsorption (M _m ) in each system, showed a steady increase with decreasing particle radius and was influenced strongly by particle concentrations in the medium. Furthermore, it was realized that the diameter of -Fe₂O₃ particles after treatment with PAAm under different particle concentrations decreased with increasing particle concentration. The relation between particle concentration in the medium and particle size after treatment was also influenced by the medium pH, i.e., at the medium pH close to the isoelectric point of -Fe₂O₃ particles (pH^o=9.2), the particle size after treatment increased with increasing particle concentration. All these results suggest that in the system of ultra-fine particles, the mixing process between particle-particle and polymerparticle will play an important role on the conformation of adsorbed polymer layer.     

Preparation of Nano-Sized γ-Al2O3 Supported Iron Catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis by Solvated Metal Atom Impregnation Methods

Two types of small iron clusters supported onγ-Al2O3-RT(dehydroxylated at room temperature) andγ-Al2O3-800 (dehydroxylated at 800℃) were prepared by solvated metal atom impregnation (SMAI) techniques. The iron atom precursor complex, bis(toluene)iron(0) formed in the metal atom reactor, was impregnated intoγ-Al2O3 having different concentrations of surface hydroxyl groups to study the effect of surface hydroxylation on the crucial stage of iron cluster formation. Catalysts prepared in this way were characterized by TEM, Mossbauer, and chemisorption measurements, and the results show that higher concentration of surface hydroxyl groups ofγ-Al2O3-RT favors the formation of more positively charged supported iron cluster Fen/γ-Al2O3-RT, and the lower concentration of surface hydroxyl groups ofγ-Al2O3-800 favors the formation of basically neutral supported iron cluster Fen/γ-Al2O3-800. The measured results also indicate that the higher concentration of surface hydroxyl groups causes the rapid decomposition of precursor complex, bis(toluene)iron(0), and favors the formation of relatively large iron cluster. Consequently, these two types of catalysts show different catalytic properties in Fischer-Tropsch reaction. The catalytic pattern of Fen/γ-Al2O3-RT in F-T reaction is similar to that of the unreducedα-Fe2O3 and that of Fen/γ-Al2O3-800 is similar to that of the reducedα-Fe2O3.     

Electrochemically regenerative visible light-induced reactivity of α-Fe2O3 films with Ag(core)–AgCl(shell) microcrystal composites

Ag(core)–AgCl(shell) microcrystal composites (Ag@AgCl) have been formed on an α-Fe₂O₃ film-coated SnO₂ electrode by a 2 step method consisting of the electrochemical reduction of Ag⁺ ions and the subsequent electrochemical oxidation. The synergy of α-Fe₂O₃ and Ag@AgCl gave rise to a high visible light-induced reactivity (λ_ex > 420 nm) for the oxidation of 2-naphthol (2-NAP) used as a model water pollutant in the presence and absence of oxygen. These findings were attributable to the function of Ag@AgCl composites as an excellent charge-separation promoter and built-in acceptor.     

Structural Characterization of Divalent Magnesium-Dopedα-Fe2O3

The defect structure of divalent magnesium-dopedα-Fe₂O₃has been examined by Rietveld structure refinement of the X-ray powder diffraction data. The results show that the Mg²⁺ions occupy the vacant interstitial octahedral sites as well as substituting on the two adjacent octahedral Fe³⁺sites in the corundum-relatedα-Fe₂O₃structure. The structure therefore involves a linear cluster of three Mg²⁺ions replacing two Fe³⁺ions. Interatomic potential calculations indicate that this is the most energetically favorable defect cluster for the system.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of iron pyroborate (Fe2B2O5) single crystals

Single crystals of iron(II) pyroborate, Fe₂B₂O₅, were prepared at 1000–1050 °C under an argon atmosphere. The crystals were transparent, yellowish in color and needle-like or columnar. The crystal structure of Fe₂B₂O₅ was analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Refined triclinic unit cell parameters were a=3.2388(2), b=6.1684(5), c=9.3866(8) Å, α=104.613(3)°, β=90.799(2)° and γ=91.731(2)°. The final reliability factors of refinement were R1=0.020 and wR2=0.059 [I > 2σ(I)]. Transmittance over 50% in the visible light region from 500 to 750 nm was observed for a single crystal of Fe₂B₂O₅ with a thickness of about 0.3 mm. The light absorption edge estimated from a diffuse reflectance spectrum was at around 350 nm (3.6 eV). Magnetic susceptibility was measured for single crystals at 4–300 K. Fe₂B₂O₅ showed antiferromagnetic behavior below the Néel temperature, T_N≈70 K, and the Weiss temperature was T_W=36 K. The effective magnetic moment of Fe was 5.3μ_B.     

Oxygen deficient α-Fe2O3 photoelectrodes: a balance between enhanced electrical properties and trap-mediated losses

Intrinsic doping of hematite through the inclusion of oxygen vacancies (V_O) is being increasingly explored as a simple, low temperature route to preparing active water splitting α-Fe₂O_3–x photoelectrodes. Whilst it is widely accepted that the introduction of V_O leads to improved conductivities, little else is verified regarding the actual mechanism of enhancement. Here we employ transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy to build a comprehensive kinetic model for water oxidation on α-Fe₂O_3–x. In contrast to previous suggestions, the primary effect of introducing V_O is to block very slow (ms) surface hole – bulk electron recombination pathways. In light of our mechanistic research we are also able to identify and address a cause of the high photocurrent onset potential, a common issue with this class of electrodes. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al₂O₃ is found to be particularly effective with α-Fe₂O_3–x, leading to the photocurrent onset potential shifting by ca. 200 mV. Significantly TA measurements on these ALD passivated electrodes also provide important insights into the role of passivating layers, that are relevant to the wider development of α-Fe₂O₃ photoelectrodes.     

Effect of capping and particle size on Raman laser-induced degradation of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

Diol capped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are prepared from ferric nitrate by refluxing in 1,4-butanediol (9.5 nm) and 1,5-pentanediol (15 nm) and uncapped particles are prepared by refluxing in 1,2-propanediol followed by sintering the alkoxide formed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that all the samples have the spinel phase. Raman spectroscopy shows that the samples prepared in 1,4-butanediol and 1,5-pentanediol and 1,2-propanediol (sintered at 573 and 673 K) are γ-Fe₂O₃ and the 773 K-sintered sample is Fe₃O₄. Raman laser studies carried out at various laser powers show that all the samples undergo laser-induced degradation to α-Fe₂O₃ at higher laser power. The capped samples are however, found more stable to degradation than the uncapped samples. The stability of γ-Fe₂O₃ sample with large particle size (15.4 nm) is more than the sample with small particle size (10.2 nm). Fe₃O₄ having a particle size of 48 nm is however less stable than the smaller γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles.     

Arene ruthenium oxinato complexes: Synthesis, molecular structure and catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide in aqueous solution

Two families of arene ruthenium oxinato complexes of the types [(η⁶-arene)Ru(η²-N,O-L)Cl] and [(η⁶-arene)Ru(η²-N,O-L)(OH₂)]⁺ have been synthesized from the dinuclear precursors [(η⁶-arene)RuCl₂]₂ (arene = para-cymeme or hexamethylbenzene) and the corresponding oxine LH (LH = 8-hydroxyquinoline, 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxyquinoline, 5-nitro-8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dimethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dichloro-2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline). The molecular structures of the neutral chloro complexes [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(η²-N,O-L)Cl] (LH = 8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dichloro-2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline) and [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)Ru(η²-N,O-L)Cl] (LH = 5,7-dichloro-2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline) as well as those of the cationic aqua derivatives [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)Ru(η²-N,O-L)(OH₂)]⁺ (LH = 8-hydroxyquinoline, 5,7-dimethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline), isolated as the tetrafluoroborate salts, show in all cases a piano-stool arrangement with the arene ligand, the chelating oxinato ligand and the chloro or the aqua ligand surrounding the ruthenium center in a pseudo-tetrahedral fashion. The analogous reaction of [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)RuCl₂]₂ with other N,O-chelating ligands such as 2-pyridinemethanol or tetrahydrofurfurylamine did not give the expected analogs but resulted in the formation of the complexes [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)Ru(η²-NC₅H₄CH₂OH)Cl]⁺ and [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ)Ru(η¹-NHCH₂C₄H₃O)Cl₂]. The neutral and cationic complexes of the types [(η⁶-arene)Ru(η²-N,O-L)Cl] and [(η⁶-arene)Ru(η²-N,O-L)(OH₂)]⁺ have been found to catalyze the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to give formate in alkaline aqueous solution with catalytic turnovers up to 400.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterization of three inorganic–organic composite sandwich-type phosphotungstates

Three inorganic–organic composite sandwich-type phosphotungstates [Ni(tepa)(H₂O)]₄H₂[Ni₄(H₂O)₂(α-B-PW₉O₃₄)₂]·8H₂O (1), (enH₂)₃[Ni₂(H₂O)₁₀][Ni₄(H₂O)₂(α-B-PW₉O₃₄)₂]·en·8H₂O (2) and (enH₂)₁₀[Mn₄(H₂O)₂(α-B-PW₉O₃₄)₂]₂·20H₂O (3) (tepa=tetraethylenepentamine and en=ethylenediamine) have been synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of the trivacant Keggin polyoxoanion [α-A-PW₉O₃₄]⁹⁻ with Ni²⁺ or Mn²⁺ ions in the presence of tepa or en and structurally characterized by IR spectra, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility. X-ray crystallographic analyses indicate that they all contain the classical tetra-M sandwiched polyoxoanions [M₄(H₂O)₂(α-B-PW₉O₃₄)₂]¹⁰⁻ (M=Ni²⁺ or Mn²⁺) and nickel-organoamine cations or organoamine cations work as the charge balance ions. The tetra-M clusters in 1, 2 and 3 exhibit the familiar structural type of a β-junction at the sites of metal incorporation. The study of magnetic property of 1 is indicative of a typical ferromagnetic coupling between Ni²⁺ cations.     

Removal, preconcentration and determination of Mo(VI) from water and wastewater samples using maghemite nanoparticles

Removal and recovery of Mo(VI) from aqueous solutions were investigated using maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles. Combination of nanoparticle adsorption and magnetic separation was used to the removal and recovery of Mo(VI) from water and wastewater solutions. The nanoscale maghemite with mean diameter of 50 nm was synthesized by reduction coprecipitation method followed by aeration oxidation. Various factors influencing the adsorption of Mo(VI), e.g. pH, temperature, initial concentration, and coexisting common ions were studied. Adsorption reached equilibrium within <10 min and was independent of initial concentration of Mo(VI). Studies were performed at different pH values to find out the pH at which maximum adsorption occurred. The maximum adsorption occurred at pHs between 4.0 and 6.0. The Langmuir adsorption capacity (q_max) was found to be 33.4 mg Mo(VI)/g of the adsorbent. The results showed that nanoparticle (γ-Fe₂O₃) is suitable for the removal of Mo(VI), as molybdate, from water and wastewater samples. The adsorbed Mo(VI) was then desorbed and determined spectrophotometrically using bromopyrogallol red as a complexation reagent. This allows the determination of Mo(VI) in the range 1.0–86.0 ng mL⁻¹.