Rubidium-cationic conductivity of Rb2−2x Ga2−x A x O4 (A = P, V, Nb, Ta) solid electrolytes

Solid solutions based on rubidium monogallate RbGaO₂ with a general formula Rb_2?2x Ga_2?x A _x O₄ (A = P, V, Nb, and Ta) are synthesized. Their crystal structure and temperature and concentration dependences of conductivity are studied. The highest rubidium-cationic conductivity is (1.8–3.9) × 10^?3 S cm^?1 at 400°C and (1.4–2.1) × 10^?2 S cm^?1 at 700°C. These results are compared with the data for rubidium monogallate doped with four-charged cations and solid solutions based on RbAlO₂.     

Synthesis and properties of fuel cell anodes based on (La0.5 + x Sr0.5 − x )1 − y Mn0.5Ti0.5O3 − δ (x = 0–0.25, y = 0–0.03)

Results are presented of studying electrochemical properties of perovskite-like solid solutions (La_{0.5 + x} Sr_{0.5 ? x} )_{1 ? y} Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} (x = 0–0.25, y = 0–0.03) synthesized using the citrate technique and studied as oxide anodic materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis is used to establish that the materials are stable in a wide range of oxygen chemical potential, stable in the presence of 5 ppm H₂S in the range of intermediate temperatures, and also chemically compatible with the solid electrolyte of La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.15Co_0.05O_{3 ? δ} (LSGMC). It is shown that transition to a reducing atmosphere results in a decrease in electron conductivity that produced a significant effect on the electrochemical activity of porous electrodes. Model cells of planar SOFC on a supporting solid-electrolyte membrane (LSGMC) with anodes based on (La_0.6Sr_0.4)_0.97Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} and (La_0.75Sr_0.25)_0.97Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} and a cathode of Sm_0.5Sr_0.5CoO_{3 ? δ} are manufactured and tested using the voltammetry technique.     

Hopping conductivity of distorted K2NiF4-type (Ca1+xNd1−x)CrO4

Orthorhombic distorted K₂NiF₄-type (Ca_1+xNd_1?x)CrO₄ (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) was synthesized using a standard ceramic technique. The cell parameters (a and c) decreased, whereas the cell parameter (b) increased with the increase in x. The variation in the global instability index (GII) indicated that the crystal stability of (Ca_1+xNd_1?x)CrO₄ was not influenced by the Cr⁴⁺ ion content. At all temperatures, the electrical conductivity (σ) of (Ca_1+xNd_1?x)CrO₄ increased with the increase in x. (Ca_1+xNd_1?x)CrO₄ was a p-type semiconductor and exhibited hopping conductivity in a small-polaron model in the temperature range of 290 K ≤ T ≤ 713 K. The Cr⁴⁺ ion acts as an acceptor, and the electron transfer through the Cr³⁺–O–Cr⁴⁺ path becomes active as a result of the Cr⁴⁺ ion content and the Cr–O(1) distance.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Mo6−x Nb x I11 (x = 1–1.5)

A solid solution Mo_{6 ? x} Nb _x I₁₁ (x = 1.1–1.5) containing cluster cores {Mo₅NbI₈} is obtained by the high-temperature reaction of molybdenum, niobium, and iodine (550°C, 70 h, quartz ampule). According to the X-ray diffraction data, heating at 800°C in a molybdenum container results in the decomposition of the solution to Mo₆I₁₂ and Nb₆I₁₁. According to the X-ray structure analysis data, the compounds are isostructural to the high-spin modification Nb₆I₁₁ (space group Pccn). The presence of Nb atoms in the structure changes the structural type from the layered (Mo₆I₁₂) to framework structure, noticeably increases the metalmetal distances (2.661–2.716 Å, 2.695 Å) Mo₆ octahedron with the retention of the distance from the metal (M) to the μ₃-“capped” I atoms, and strongly elongates the M₆-I-M₆ bridges almost to the value observed in Nb₆I₁₁.     

New Ion Conductor of (Ba1−xLax)2In2O5+x

The structural characterization, thermogravimetric analysis and electrical properties for solid solution system, (Ba_1–xLa_x)₂In₂O_5+x with perovskite-type structure were investigated. X-ray diffraction showed that the orthorhombic phase was in the range of 0.0<x0.3, the tetragonal phase 0.3<x0.5, and the cubic phase 0.5<x. The sharp transition of electrical conductivity shifted to a lower temperature with increasing x and disappeared at the phase boundary between the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases. This perovskite-related oxide exhibited a pure oxide-ion conduction over the oxygen partial pressure range of 1 atm to 10^–3.5 atm, and the electrical conductivity reached the value of 1.610^–1 (S cm^–1) at 1073 K, which was nearly equal to that of the yttria stabilized zirconia. These properties were successfully explained in terms of disordered oxygen ions.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of Ca2+ substitution on thermal,structural, and conductivity behavior of Bi1−xCaxFeO3−y (0.40 ≤ x ≤ 0.55)

Bi_1?xCa_xFeO_3?y (0.40 ≤ x ≤ 0.55) perovskite oxides have been synthesized by solid-state reaction method to study their properties as a cathode material for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. The as prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analyzer/thermogravimetry, dilatometer, and impedance spectroscopy to study their structural, thermal, and electrical properties. The Rietveld refinement results confirmed that all the samples exhibit tetragonal structure with P4mm space group. In addition to this, sample x = 0.55 exhibits Ca₂Fe₂O₅ as a secondary phase. It has been observed that lattice parameters decrease with increase in calcium content. The thermal expansion coefficient and ionic conductivity increases with increase in calcium content up to x = 0.50. The highest ionic conductivity is observed for Bi_0.5Ca_0.5FeO_3?y i.e. 1.71 × 10^?2 S cm^?1.     

Preparation and crystal structure of members of the solid solution phase Ba5Ru2−xAl1+x−yCuyO11 with x=0.378, y=0.085 and x=0.5, y=0

Single crystals of the new phase Ba₅Ru_2−xAl_1+x−yCu_yO₁₁ (x=0.378, y=0.085) have been grown from a powder mixture of BaCO₃, RuO₂ and CuO in an alumina crucible. The new compound crystallizes isostructurally to Ba₅Ir₂AlO₁₁. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction technique and refined to a composition of Ba₅Ru_1.622(8)Al_1.29(1)Cu_0.085(6)O₁₁ (orthorhombic, Pnma (No. 62), a=18.615(4) Å, b=5.771(1) Å, c=11.098(2) Å, Z=4, R₁=0.048, wR₂=0.075). The composition of the new compound obtained from crystal structure refinement is in good agreement with the result of electron probe microanalysis using wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Octahedra [RuO₆] are connected via faces forming pairs. The central positions of the octahedra pairs are statistically occupied by Ru and Al atoms. These octahedra pairs are interconnected to one-dimensional chains extending along [010] via tetrahedra [Al_1−yCu_yO₄]. Isotypic Ba₅Ru_1.5Al_1.5O₁₁ is a further member of the solid solution with the lattice parameters a=18.6654(5) Å, b=5.7736(1) Å, c=11.0693(3) Å according to Rietveld refinement on a microcrystalline sample.     

Mechanical properties of mixed conducting La0.5Sr0.5Fe1−x Co x O3−δ (0≤x≤1) materials

Young’s modulus, strain–stress behavior, fracture strength, and fracture toughness of (0≤×≤1) materials have been investigated in the temperature range 20–1,000°C. Young’s moduli of and , measured by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, were 130±1 and 133±3 GPa, respectively. The nonlinear stress–strain relationship observed by four-point bending at room temperature was inferred as a signature of ferroelastic behavior of the materials. Above the ferroelastic to paraelastic transition temperature, the materials showed elastic behavior, but due to high-temperature creep, a nonelastic respond reappeared above ∼800°C. The room temperature fracture strength measured by four-point bending was in the range 107–128 MPa. The corresponding fracture toughness of , measured by single edge V-notch beam method, was 1.16±0.12 MPa·m^1/2. The measured fracture strength and fracture toughness were observed to increase with increasing temperature. The fracture mode changed from intragranular at low temperature to intergranular at high temperature. Tensile stress gradient at the surface of the materials caused by a frozen-in gradient in the oxygen content during cooling was proposed to explain the low ambient temperature fracture strength and toughness.     

Electrical properties of Ba2(In1 − x Al x )2O5 solid solutions

The electric conductivity of perovskite-like Ba₂(In_{1 ? x} Al _x )₂O₅ solid solutions (0 < x ≤ 0.20) characterized by structural disordering in the oxygen sublattice was studied as a function of temperature and partial pressure of oxygen in an atmosphere with a low content of water vapors ( $p_{H_2 O}$ = 3 × 10^?5 atm). When In³⁺ was partially replaced by Al³⁺, the oxygen ion conductivity increased because of the disordering of oxygen structural vacancies, leading to a significant increase in the total electric conductivity of the samples.     

Solid electrolytes with potassium cation conductivity in K1−2x M x AlO2 (M = Ba, Pb) systems

New solid electrolytes with high potassium cationic conductivity based on potassium monoaluminate were synthesized and studied in the K_1?2x Ba _x AlO₂ and K_1?2x Pb _x AlO₂ systems. A partial substitution of potassium cations with double charged positive cations results in a considerable increase in the conductivity of KAlO₂ in the whole studied range of temperatures. The electric characteristics are somewhat higher in the bariumcontaining system, which is in all probability connected with the effect of the size factor: the size of the Ba²⁺ ion is higher than that of Pb²⁺, which must correlate with the increase of the effective dimensions of the migration channels in the electrolyte structure. The main cause of the conductivity increase at the introduction of the studied additives is the formation of potassium vacancies at the substitution of 2K⁺ → Ba²⁺(Pb²⁺) + V′_K.     

Longitudinal conductivity of thin films of La1 − x Sr x F3 − x solid solutions on glass ceramics

The longitudinal conductivity of La_{1 ? x} Sr _x F_{3 ? x} solid solution films (x = 0–0.24) with thicknesses of 40–260 nm grown on glass ceramics at temperatures from room temperature to 300°C and frequencies of 10^?1–10⁶ Hz was studied by impedance spectroscopy. The concentration dependence of film conductivity on the SrF₂ content had a maximum near x = 0.05. An equivalent circuit was constructed on the basis of the impedance plots to describe migration processes. The DC conductivity was evaluated for all samples under study. The activation energies were estimated from the temperature dependences of the DC conductivities of the films. The resulting dependences of electrophysical parameters were compared with those for bulk materials in terms of the relaxation conductivity model.     

Crystal structure of Ba2La4Ti5O18, member n = 6 of the homologous series (Ba,La)nTin−1O3n of cation deficient perovskite-related compounds

Ba₂La₄Ti₅O₁₈ crystallizes in the trigonal system (space group R3) with the unit-cell parameters: a = 5.584 (1) Å; c = 41.176 (8) Å; Z= 3.The structure has been solved from single crystal X-ray diffraction data to a final R₁ = 0.0285. Ba and La atoms are twelve-fold coordinated and Ti atoms six-fold coordinated. The structure can be described as consisting of identical perovskite-like blocks, five corner-sharing TiO₆ octahedra thick, separated by layers of vacant octahedra. The distortion of the cation and anion sublattices has been analysed and a Ba/La order has been evidenced.     

Phosphates M 0.5(1 + x) 2+ Cr x Ti2 − x (PO4)3: Synthesis, structure, and catalytic properties

Complex phosphates of titanium, chromium, and metals(2+) of the general formula M_{0.5(1 + x} )Cr _x Ti_{2 ? x} (PO₄)₃ (M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Ni, Sr, Ba, and Pb) were synthesized. Their phase formation was studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, differential thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Individual phases and solid solutions crystallizing in kosnarite and langbeinite structure types were identified; their crystallographic parameters were calculated. The catalytic properties of phosphates Ca_{0.5(1 + x} )Cr _x Ti_{2 ? x} (PO₄)₃ in methanol conversion were studied.     

Electroconductance of single-crystal Li2 + x Fe 2 − 2x 2+ Fe x 3+ (MoO4)3 (x = 0.22)

Electrophysical properties of single-crystal Li_{2 + x} Fe _{2 ? 2x} ²⁺ Fe _x ³⁺ (MoO₄)₃ (x = 0.22) are studied at 25–400°C. It is found that the conduction is of electronic nature and the conductivity equals 5 × 10^-2 S/cm at 300°C. The activation energy for the electron transport is 0.23 eV. The conductance in molybdate Li_2.22Fe _1.56 ²⁺ Fe _0.22 ³⁺ (MoO₄)₃ is markedly anisotropic.     

Van der Waals Gaps in Sm1+x Ba2−x Cu3O y and Their Effect on Superconductivity

We have used electron–positron annihilation to study superconducting cuprates Sm_1+x Ba_2–x Cu₃O _y . We have determined the average radii for oxygen ions in Sm_1+x Ba_2–x Cu₃O _y . Taking into account the ion coordinates and their radii, we have constructed a geometric model for the arrangement of copper and oxygen ions in CuO₂ layers in the [b, c] plane, responsible for the superconductivity. From these data, we have determined the length of the ionic/covalent bonds and the width of the interionic gaps. We have established the effect of the features of the atomic structure of Sm_1+x Ba_2–x Cu₃O _y on the superconducting transition temperature T _c and we have shown that T _c increases as X inceases.     

Normal pressure synthesis of (Tl1−yCy)Ba2Ca3Cu4O12−δ superconductor

Single phase (Tl_1−yC_y)Ba₂Ca₃Cu₄O_12−δ (Tl_1−yC_y-1234) (y = 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75) superconductor samples have been prepared by solid state reaction method. The FTIR absorption measurements have confirmed the substitution of carbon at thallium site in the charge reservoir layer, (Tl_1−yC_y)Ba₂O_4−δ. The electron micrographs of these samples have shown that the carbon substitution has improved the grain morphology of Tl_0.75C_0.25-1234 sample. The y = 0.25 was found to be the optimum carbon concentration to achieve higher superconducting transition temperature T_c[0] and improved grain morphology. The superconducting transition temperature of Tl_0.75C_0.25-1234 sample has been increased to 100 K whereas a decrease in the superconducting transition temperature of Tl_1−yC_y-1234 (y = 0.5 and 0.75) samples was observed. However, the magnitude of diamagnetism has been decreased in all the carbon substituted samples.     

Electrochemical reduction of NO and O2 on La2−x Sr x CuO4-based electrodes

A series of La_2 − x Sr _x CuO₄ (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.25 and 0.35) compounds was investigated for the use of direct electrochemical reduction of NO in an all-solid-state electrochemical cell. The materials were investigated using cyclic voltammetry in 1% NO in Ar and 10% O₂ in Ar. The most selective electrode material was La₂CuO₄, which had an activity of NO reduction that was 6.8 times higher than that of O₂ at 400 °C. With increasing temperature, activity increased while selectivity decreased. Additionally, conductivity measurements were carried out, and the materials show metallic conductivity behavior which follows an adiabatic small polaron hopping mechanism.     

Ca3(P x V1 − x O4)2: Eu3+ nanophosphor synthesis, controlled microstructure, and photoluminescence

In this paper, Eu³⁺-doped Ca₃(P _x V_{1 ? x} O₄)₂ (x = 0.1, 0.4, 0.7) nanophosphors were synthesized in the presence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). The products present interesting and regular morphologies under the mild conditions. For Ca₃(P _x V_{1 ? x} O₄)₂: Eu³⁺, they have the similar phase and their morphologies vary with the content ratio of P to V. Furthermore, the luminescence behavior of Eu³⁺ has been investigated in this one kinds of matrices. In Ca₃(P _x V_{1 ? x} O₄)₂: Eu³⁺, the ⁵ D ₀-⁷ F ₂ emissions of Eu³⁺ were the strongest, indicating that the Eu³⁺ site is without inversion symmetry, the host compositions with different molar ratio of P to V have; great influence on the luminescent performance. Among those products, The value of I ₆₁₅/I ₅₉₃ for Eu³⁺ in Ca₃(P_0.7V_0.3O₄)₂ host lattice is the biggest. The substitution of PO ₄ ^3? for VO ₄ ^3? increase the ratio of surface Eu cations as well as the value of I ₆₁₅/I ₅₉₃ of Eu³⁺.