Phase-pure nanocrystalline Li<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> for a lithium-ion battery

Phase-pure nanocrystalline Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ with BET surface areas between 183 and 196 m²/g was prepared via an improved synthetic protocol from lithium ethoxide and titanium(IV) butoxide. The phase purity was proved by X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Thin-film electrodes were prepared from two nanocrystalline samples of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ and one microcrystalline commercial sample. Li-insertion behavior of these electrodes was related to the particle size.Presented at the 3rd International Meeting on Advanced Batteries and Accumulators, 16–20 June 2002, Brno, Czech Republic     

Comparison of different soft chemical routes synthesis of nanocrystalline LiMn2O4 and their influence on its physicochemical properties

A comparative study of nanocrystalline spinel LiMn₂O₄ powders prepared by two different soft chemical routes such as solution and sol-gel methods using lithium and manganese acetates are the precursors under different calcination temperatures. The dependence of the physicochemical properties of the spinel LiMn₂O₄ powder has been extensively investigated by using thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), FTIR, X-ray diffraction studies, SEM, specific surface area (BET) and electrical conductivity measurements. The results show that pure LiMn₂O₄ can be prepared from acetate precursors as starting materials at a low temperature of 600°C from solution route and 500°C from sol-gel method. The charge-discharge characteristics and the cycling behavior of Li/1M LiBF₄-EC/DEC electrolyte / LiMn₂O₄cells revealed that LiMn₂O₄ calcined at higher temperatures showed a high initial capacity, while the LiMn₂O₄calcined at lower temperatures exhibited a good cycling behavior.     

立方晶型Sb2O3纳米晶的合成及光催化性能

采用沉淀法合成了立方晶型Sb2O3纳米晶,通过X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)和电子自旋共振谱(ESR)等对样品进行了详细的表征。以紫外光光催化降解甲基橙为反应模型评价了样品的光催化性能。结果表明:沉淀法合成的立方晶型Sb2O3纳米晶颗粒小,表现出良好的光催化性能。对立方晶型Sb2O3纳米晶光催化降解甲基橙的原因进行了探讨,并提出了降解甲基橙的反应机理。     

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.     

Preparation of Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>Co<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> by polyacrylamide gel processing and its thermoelectric properties

Ca₃Co₄O₉ powder was prepared by a polyacrylamide gel route in this paper. The effect of the processing on microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics via spark plasma sintering were investigated. Electrical measurement shows that the Seebeck coefficient and conductivity are 170 μV/K and 128 S/cm, respectively, at 700 °C, yielding a power factor value of 3.70 × 10⁻⁴ W m⁻¹ K⁻² at 700 °C, which is larger than that of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics via solid-state reaction processing. The polyacrylamide gel processing is a fast, cheap, reproducible and easily scaled up chemical route to improve the thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics by preparing the homogeneous and pure Ca₃Co₄O₉ phase.     

Subsolidus phase relations in the BaTiO3TiO2 system

Ba₆Ti₁₇O₄₀, Ba₄Ti₁₃O₃₀, BaTi₄O₉, and Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ are the only compounds which were found to have a stability range in the subsolidus of the BaTiO₃TiO₂ system. BaTi₂O₅ and BaTi₅O₁₁, reported in other studies, apparently are not stable. The compound reported as Ba₂Ti₅O₁₂ appears to have been mistaken for Ba₆Ti₁₇O₄₀. X-Ray diffraction powder data are given for this phase which is monoclinic with a = 9.890, b = 17.117, c = 18.933 Å and β=98°42.6′. The phase formulated previously as BaTi₃O₇ is shown to be Ba₄Ti₁₃O₃₀ based on structural and density considerations, phase equilibria, and single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data. This compound is orthorhombic with a = 17.072, b = 9.862, and c = 14.059 Å, probable space group, Cmca. An idealized structure for this phase is proposed. Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ decomposes above 1300°C in the solid state to BaTi₄O₉ plus rutile. Single crystals were grown using BaF₂ as a mineralizer.     

Crystal-chemistry of mullite-type aluminoborates Al18B4O33 and Al5BO9: A stoichiometry puzzle

Orthorhombic Al₂O₃-rich aluminoborate is an important ceramic material for which two slightly different compositions have been assumed: Al₅BO₉ (5Al₂O₃:B₂O₃) and Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ (9Al₂O₃:2B₂O₃). The formula Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ (=Al_4.91B_1.09O₉) was derived from results of chemical analyses when crystal structure data were not yet available. Subsequent structural investigations indicated Al₅BO₉ composition. Nevertheless, Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ was still accepted as the correct stoichiometry assuming that additional B replaces 9% Al.Powder samples of both compositions and ones with excess boron were prepared by solid state reactions between α-Al₂O₃ and B₂O₃/H₃BO₃ at temperatures above 1100 °C and single-crystals were grown from flux at 1100 and 1550 °C. Products were investigated by single-crystal and powder XRD, ¹¹B and ²⁷Al solid-state MAS-NMR, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as well as Laser-ablation ICP-MS. No indication of the predicted 9% B→Al substitution was found. LA ICP-MS indicated 12.36(27) wt% B₂O₃ corresponding to Al_4.97B_1.03O₉. Hence, the suggested Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ stoichiometry can be excluded for all synthesized samples. A very low amount of Al vacancies at a five-fold coordinated site are likely, charge balanced by an additional nearby three-fold coordinated B site. All evidences indicate that the title compound should be reported as Al_5−xB_1+xO₉ with x<0.038(6), which is close to Al₅BO₉.     

Structural and electrical properties of the 2Bi2O3·3ZrO2 system

Powder mixtures of α-Bi₂O₃ (bismite) and monoclinic m-ZrO₂ (baddeleyite) in the molar ratio 2:3 were mechanochemically and thermally treated with the goal to examine the phases, which may appear during such procedures. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), electrical measurements, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanochemical reaction leads to the gradual formation of a nanocrystalline phase, which resembles δ-Bi₂O₃, a high-temperature Bi₂O₃ polymorph. Isothermal sintering in air at a temperature of 820 °C for 24 h followed by quenching to room temperature yielded a mixture of ZrO₂-stabilized β-Bi₂O₃ and m-ZrO₂ phases, whereas in slowly cooled products, the complete separation of the initial α-Bi₂O₃ and m-ZrO₂ constituents was observed. The dielectric permittivity of the sintered samples significantly depended on the temperature. The sintered and quenched samples exhibited a hysteresis dependence of the dielectric shift, showing that the ZrO₂-doped β-Bi₂O₃ phase possess ferroelectric properties, which were detected for the first time. This fact, together with Rietveld refinement of the β-Bi₂O₃/m-ZrO₂ mixture based on neutron powder diffraction data showed that ZrO₂-doped β-Bi₂O₃ has a non-centrosymmetric structure with as the true space group. The ZrO₂ content in the doped β-Bi₂O₃ and the crystal chemical reasons for the stabilization of the β-Bi₂O₃ phase by the addition of m-ZrO₂ are discussed.     

Ammonia gas sensor based on a spinel semiconductor,Co<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanomaterial

Thick film of nanocrystalline Co_0.8Ni_0.2Fe₂O₄ was obtained by sol–gel citrate method for gas sensing application. The synthesized powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy. The XRD pattern shows spinel type structure of Co_0.8Ni_0.2Fe₂O₄. XRD of Co_0.8Ni_0.2Fe₂O₄ revels formation of solid solution with average grain size of about 30 nm. From gas sensing properties it observed that nickel doping improves the sensor response and selectivity towards ammonia gas and very low response to LPG, CO, and H₂S at 280 °C. Furthermore, incorporation of Pd improves the sensor response and stability of ammonia gas and reduced the operating temperature upto 210 °C. The sensor is a promising candidate for practical detector of ammonia.     

ZnFe2O4/Ag/TiO2复合材料的制备及其光催化性能

以硝酸银、钛酸四丁酯、无水氯化锌、六水氯化铁为原料,采用溶胶-凝胶法与溶剂热相结合的方法制备了ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂复合材料,通过扫描电子显微镜、能谱分析仪、X射线粉末衍射仪、X射线光电子能谱仪、振动样品磁强计、紫外可见分光光度计对样品进行表征及测试。结果表明： ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂-10具有最佳的光催化效果,在紫外和可见光下对染料的降解率都能达到90%以上,具有优异的紫外可见光光催化活性。ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂具有独特的磁性,能在外部磁场作用下进行回收利用,这使其在实际应用中成为可能。通过磁分离技术重复回收利用5次后仍然保持优良的光催化性能,说明ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂-10具有优异的磁性及较高的光催化循环稳定性。     

ZnFe2O4/Ag/TiO2复合材料的制备及其光催化性能

以硝酸银、钛酸四丁酯、无水氯化锌、六水氯化铁为原料,采用溶胶-凝胶法与溶剂热相结合的方法制备了ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂复合材料,通过扫描电子显微镜、能谱分析仪、X射线粉末衍射仪、X射线光电子能谱仪、振动样品磁强计、紫外可见分光光度计对样品进行表征及测试。结果表明：ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂-10具有最佳的光催化效果,在紫外和可见光下对染料的降解率都能达到90%以上,具有优异的紫外可见光光催化活性。ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂具有独特的磁性,能在外部磁场作用下进行回收利用,这使其在实际应用中成为可能。通过磁分离技术重复回收利用5次后仍然保持优良的光催化性能,说明ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂-10具有优异的磁性及较高的光催化循环稳定性。     

Synthesis and ac susceptibility of YCa2Cu3O7−δ

The bulk superconducting YCa₂Cu₃O_7−δ compounds are prepared at an ordinary pressure of oxygen by conventional solid-state reaction method. The formation of sample is tested by means of XRD and is studied for their ac susceptibility below room temperature up to 77.5 K. The samples are found single-phase orthorhombic structure and found superconducting at 83.5 K. It is shown that the analysis is consistent with published data on YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ oxide superconductor.     

球形PVC-MnO2离子筛的制备及锂吸附性能

本实验室前期所制备的Li4Mn5O12超细粉末在卤水体系中对Li+具有较大的吸附容量和良好的选择性。但由于超细粉体的流动性和渗透性差,无法直接应用于固定床,需对粉末吸附材料进行成型造粒,以便于实际应用。本论文采用聚氯乙烯为粘结剂,制备出粒径约为2.0~3.5 mm的球形PVC-Li4Mn5O12,经盐酸处理后得到球形PVC-MnO2离子筛。并通过扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、静态和动态连续锂吸附实验研究了球形离子筛形貌和锂离子吸附性能。结果表明,球形离子筛对Li+的吸附容量高达5.28 mmol.g-1,在混合溶液中对Li+具有良好的选择性,这对于在盐湖卤水或海水提锂具有重要的实用意义。     

Effect of Fe-modified α-Al2O3 on the properties of Pd/α-Al2O3 catalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation

The use of nanocrystalline Fe-modified α-Al₂O₃ prepared by sol–gel and solvothermal method as supports for Pd catalysts resulted in an improved catalyst performance in selective acetylene hydrogenation. Moreover, the amount of coke deposits was reduced due to lower acidity of the Fe-modified α-Al₂O₃ supports.     

Synthesis, structures and photocatalytic activities of microcrystalline ABi2Nb2O9 (A=Sr, Ba) powders

Microcrystalline ABi₂Nb₂O₉ (A=Sr, Ba) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a citrate complex method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by the X-ray diffraction technique, BET surface area analysis, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The results indicated that single-phase orthorhombic SrBi₂Nb₂O₉ could be obtained after being calcined above 650 °C, while BaBi₂Nb₂O₉ was tetragonal. Based on the diffuse reflectance spectra, the band gaps of the obtained samples were calculated to be around 3.34-3.54 eV. For the photocatalytic redox reaction of methyl orange under UV-light irradiation, SrBi₂Nb₂O₉ exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than that of BaBi₂Nb₂O₉. The effects of the crystallinities, BET surface areas and crystal structures of the samples on the photocatalytic activities were discussed in detail.     

Low temperature synthesis and characterization of Mn3O4 nanoparticles

Heating hydrous manganese (II) hydroxide gel at 85 °C for 12 hours produces Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles. They were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The particle size estimated from the SEM and X-ray peak broadening is approximately 32 nm, showing them to be nanocrystalline. EPR measurements confirm a typical Mn²⁺signal with a highly resolved hyperfine structure.      

Fabrication, characterization and magnetic behaviour of alumina-doped zinc ferrite nano-particles

Zinc ferrite nano-powders with a nominal composition of ZnFe₂O₄ were prepared by combustion synthesis using mixture of urea and ammonium nitrate as fuel. The influence of alumina-doping on the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of ZnFe₂O₄ nano-particles was investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). XRD and IR analyses confirm the cubic spinel phase of ZnFe₂O₄ nano-particles. The Zn ferrite presented a uniform microstructure with grain size in nano-scale. Alumina-doping brought about a change in the morphology of the as prepared ferrite from sphere-like to regular hexagon. Al₂O₃-treatment led to a decrease in the coercivity (H_c), magnetization (M_s) and magnetic moment (n_B) of the investigated system. The maximum decrease in the values of H_c, M_s and n_B due to the treatment with 1.5 wt% Al₂O₃ attained 13.5, 17.4 and 13.5%, respectively. The observed results can be explained on the basis of particle size and the Fe³⁺ concentration in the octahedral and tetrahedral sites involved in the cubic spinel structure.     

On the solid solution of the spinel phase in the system NiO-Al2O3

The solid solubility of Al₂O₃ in NiAl₂O₄ spinel has been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction of samples prepared by solid state synthesis. The solid solution region found was in agreement with a previous report. The cubic cell parameter of the spinel solid solution was observed to decrease with increasing alumina content. Spinel with high alumina content was shown to be close to an inverse spinel as previously reported for stoichiometric NiAl₂O₄ and the inversion parameter proved to be relatively independent of the overall composition.     

Phase relations, crystal chemistry, and dielectric properties in sections of the La2O3-CaO-MgO-TiO2 system

Subsolidus phase equilibria and crystal chemistry were studied for the La₂O₃-MgO-TiO₂ system and for the ternary sections LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La₂O₃ and LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La_0.833Mg_0.25Ti_0.75O₃ in the quaternary La₂O₃-CaO-MgO-TiO₂ system. Dielectric properties (relative permittivity and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency, τ_f) were measured at 5-10 GHz and mapped onto the phase equilibria relations to reveal the compositions of temperature-stable (τ_f=0) compounds and mixtures. Phase equilibria relations were obtained by X-ray powder diffraction analysis of approximately 80 specimens prepared by solid-state reactions in air at ∼1450°C. Six ternary phases were found to form in the La₂O₃-MgO-TiO₂ system, including the three previously reported compounds LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃, La₅Mg_0.5Ti_3.5O₁₅, and “La₆MgTi₄O₁₈”; and the new phases La₁₀MgTi₉O₃₄, La₉Mg_0.5Ti_8.5O₃₁, and a perovskite-type solid solution (1−x)LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-xLa_2/3TiO₃ (0?x?0.5). The phase previously reported as “La₆MgTi₄O₁₈” was found to form off-composition, apparently as a point compound, at La₆Mg_0.913Ti_4.04O₁₈. Indexed experimental X-ray powder diffraction patterns are given for LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃, La₅Mg_0.5Ti_3.5O₁₅, La₆Mg_0.913Ti_4.04O₁₈, La₁₀MgTi₉O₃₄, and La₉Mg_0.5Ti_8.5O₃₁. LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃ exhibits a slightly distorted perovskite structure with ordered B-cations (P2₁/n; a=5.5608(2) Å, b=5.5749(3) Å, c=7.8610(5) Å, β=90.034(4)°). La₅Mg_0.5Ti_3.5O₁₅ (Pm1; a=5.5639(1), c=10.9928(5) Å) and La₆Mg_0.913Ti_4.04O₁₈ (R3m; a=5.5665(1), c=39.7354(9) Å) are n=5 and n=6 members, respectively, of the (111) perovskite-slab series A_nB_n−1O_3n. The new phases La₁₀MgTi₉O₃₄ (a=5.5411(2), b=31.3039(9), c=3.9167(1) Å) and La₉Mg_0.5Ti_8.5O₃₁ (a=5.5431(2), b=57.055(1), c=3.9123(1) Å) are n=5 and n=4.5 members, respectively, of the (110) perovskite-slab series A_nB_nO_3n+2, which exhibit orthorhombic subcells; electron diffraction revealed monoclinic superlattices with doubled c-parameters for both compounds. Extensive perovskite-type solid solutions form in the ternary sections LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La₂O₃ and LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La_0.833Mg_0.25Ti_0.75O₃. The La₂O₃-MgO-TiO₂ system contains two regions of temperature-stable (τ_f=0) compositions. The quaternary La₂O₃-CaO-MgO-TiO₂ system contains an extensive single-phase perovskite-type volume through which passes a surface of temperature-stable compositions with permittivities projected to be in the 40-50 range. Traces of this surface occur as lines of τ_f=0 perovskite-type phases in the ternary sections LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La₂O₃ and LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La_0.833Mg_0.25Ti_0.75O₃.     

Vibrational spectra of the peroxotantalates (NH4)3[Ta(O2)4], K3[Ta(O2)4], Rb3[Ta(O2)4] and Cs3[Ta(O2)4] and the crystal structure of Rb3[Ta(O2)4]

The compounds (NH₄)₃[Ta(O₂)₄], K₃[Ta(O₂)₄], Rb₃[Ta(O₂)₄] and Cs₃[Ta(O₂)₄] have been prepared and investigated by X-ray powder methods as well as Raman- and IR-spectroscopy. In the case of Rb₃[Ta(O₂)₄] the structure has been solved from single crystal data. It is shown that all these compounds are isotypic and crystallize in the K₃[Cr(O₂)₄] type (SG , No. 121). The infrared- and Raman spectra (recorded on powdered samples) are discussed with respect to the internal vibrations of the peroxo-group and the dodecahedral [Ta(O₂)₄]³⁻ ion. Symmetry coordinates for the [Ta(O₂)₄]³⁻ ion are given from which the vibrational modes of the O-O stretching vibrations of the O₂²⁻ groups, the Ta-O stretching vibrations and the Ta-O bending vibrations are deduced.