Phase formation in the system Zn(VO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>–HCl–VOCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The phase and chemical compositions of precipitates formed in the system Zn(VO₃)₂–HCl–VOCl₂–H₂O at pH 1?3, molar ratio V⁴⁺: V⁵⁺ = 0.1?9, and 80°C were studied. It was shown that, within the range 0.4 ≤ V⁴⁺: V⁵⁺ ≤ 9, zinc vanadate with vanadium in a mixed oxidation state forms with the general formula Zn_xV⁴⁺ _yV⁵⁺ _2-yO₅ ? nH₂O (0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, 0.05 ≤ y ≤ 0.3, n = 0.5?1.2). Vanadate Zn_xV₂O₅ ? nH₂O with the maximum tetravalent vanadium content (y = 0.30) was produced within the ratio range V⁴⁺: V⁵⁺ = 1.5?9.0. Investigation of the kinetics of the formation of Zn_xV₂O₅ ? nH₂O at pH 3 determined that tetravalent vanadium ions VO2+ activate the formation of zinc vanadate, and its precipitation is described by a second-order reaction. It was demonstrated that, under hydrothermal conditions at pH 3 and 180°C, zinc decavanadate in the presence of VOCl₂ can be used as a precursor for producing V₃O₇ ? H₂O nanorods 50–100 nm in diameter.     

Electrochemistry of praseodymium in LiF–CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The electrochemical behaviour of PrF₃ was studied in the LiF–CaF₂ (79/21 molar ratio) at 1,213 K. Inert (W) and reactive (Ni) electrodes were used. Pr(III) ions are reduced in a single, three electron exchange. The redox potential of the Pr(III)/Pr couple at the inert electrode was observed very close to the decomposition potential of the LiF–CaF₂ melt. Experiments using reactive working electrode were done. The results show the potential shift connected to the alloying reactions of Pr and Ni. Deposition of Pr–Ni layer was confirmed by SEM-EDX analysis. Conclusions for the Pr separation possibilities from spent nuclear fuel were done.     

Mass attenuation coefficients of B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript> glass system at 0.662 and 1.25 MeV gamma energies

The total mass attenuation coefficients, partial interaction and the effective atomic numbers (Z_eff) of glass system (80−x)B₂O₃–10Al₂O₃–10SiO₂–xCaF₂ (where x = 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 mol %) have been calculated at photon energies 0.662 and 1.25 MeV using the WinXCom software on the basis of mixture rule. Results indicated that the total mass attenuation coefficients showed a decrease with increasing the CaF₂ concentration, due to a decrease in Compton scattering probability, which gave a dominant contribution to the total mass attenuation coefficients for the studied glass samples at both energies. However, the photoelectric absorption and coherent scattering showed an increase with increasing the CaF₂, concentrations at same energies. For a comparison, the total mass attenuation coefficients of the glass system had lower values at the energy 1.25 MeV than that at 0.662 MeV. Z_eff was found to increase linearly with the increase of CaF₂ concentrations. It was concluded that low CaF₂ concentrations in glass system, under study, have Z_eff close to that of human tissue and have higher total absorption coefficients at energy of 0.662 MeV than that at 1.25 MeV. These results are very useful in designing gamma radiation detectors using thermoluminescence technique. Therefore, it is recommended to use low CaF₂ concentration of our glass system as good gamma detectors at energy of 1.25 MeV.     

Phase formation in the system Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–MgMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–Sc<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Phase formation in the system Li₂MoO₄–MgMoO₄–Sc₂(MoO₄)₃ was studied by X-ray powder diffraction analysis and differential thermal analysis. Ternary molybdate LiMgSc(MoO₄)₃ was synthesized, which crystallizes in the triclinic system (space group P\(\bar 1\)). In the Li₂Mg₂(MoO₄)₃–Li₃Sc(MoO₄)₃ section, a continuous solid solution in the rhombic system was found to form (space group Pnma).     

Sc<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>S phase diagram

A phase diagram is constructed for the Sc₂S₃–Cu₂S system. The system forms two incongruently melting complex sulfides: hexagonal CuScS₂ (1Cu₂S: 1Sc₂S₃): a = 0.3734 nm, c = 0.6102 nm, space group P3m1, Т_m = 1635 K, ΔH_m = 1670 kJ/mol; and cubic CuSc₃S₅ (1Cu₂S: 3Sc₂S₃), a = 1.0481 nm, space group Fd3m, Т_m = 1835 K. In the 45–62 mol % Cu2S solid solution (ss) range, there is a singular point corresponding to the composition of compound CuScS₂ (50 mol % Cu₂S). The Sc₂S₃-based solubility at 1070 K is 14 mol % Cu₂S. In the γ-Cu₂S-based solid solution range, there is a peritectic point at 7 mol % Sc₂S₃, 1423 K.     

Phase diagram of the NaF–CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript> system and the electrical conductivity of a CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript>-based solid solution

The phase diagram of the NaF–CaF₂ system was studied by thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction analysis with the determination of the chemical composition. The system was found to be of the eutectic type. A narrow range of the existence of solid solution Ca_1–xNa_xF_2–x was established. The NaF solubility reaches a maximal value of x = 0.035 at 1200 ± 50°C (the temperature at which there is a diffuse phase transition in fluorite). At 920 ± 25°C, the NaF solubility reaches a minimum (<0.4 mol %) and increases again to 2.2 ± 0.2 mol % at a eutectic temperature (818°C). The ionic conductivity increases by three orders of magnitude after adding NaF to CaF₂.     

Phase equilibria in the CdAs<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Cd<Subscript>3</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>–MnAs ternary system

We determined, using a set of physicochemical methods, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis, and microstructure studies, that the CdAs₂–Cd₃As₂–MnAs ternary system is bounded by three eutectic-type quasi-binary sections: Cd₃As₂–MnAs, CdAs₂–MnAs, and Cd₃As₂–CdAs₂. For Cd₃As₂–MnAs and CdAs₂–MnAs sections, the eutectic coordinates are, respectively, 75 mol % Cd₃As₂ + 25 mol % MnAs, T _m.eut = 604°C; and 92 mol % CdAs₂ + 8 mol % MnAs, T _m.eut = 608°C. These are rod eutectics. Manganese solubilities in Cd₃As₂ and CdAs₂ phases are insignificant and, according to XRD and SEM, they do not exceed 1 at %. The binary eutectics of the quasi-binary sections form ternary eutectic Cd₃As₂ + CdAs₂ + MnAs, whose average composition as probed by SEM is 34.5 at % Cd, 63 at % Cd and 2.5 at % As and T _m.eut = 600°C. Cadmium and manganese arsenide alloys are ferromagnets with the Curie point at ~320 K. The magnetic and electric properties are due to ferromagnetic MnAs microinclusions.     

Reinvestigation of phase equilibria in TbCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>–LiCl binary system

The phase equilibria in the terbium(III) chloride–lithium chloride pseudobinary system were established by means of differential scanning calorimetry. It was established that the pure terbium(III) chloride undergoes solid–solid phase transition at 790 K and melts at 859 K. The TbCl₃–LiCl pseudobinary system is characterized by the existence of two compounds. First one, namely Li₃TbCl₆, forms at 553 K and melts incongruently at 727 K. Second compound, LiTbCl₄, decomposes in the solid state at 609 K. The composition of Li₃TbCl₆–TbCl₃ eutectic corresponding to terbium(III) chloride mole fraction x = 0.521 (T = 665 K) was found from Tammann plot, which predict, through application of the lever rule, the variation of the enthalpy associated with eutectic melting as a function of composition. The obtained results have been compared with the literature data concerning for the TbCl₃–LiCl pseudobinary system. The phase diagram of the TbCl₃–LiCl pseudobinary system was also optimized by CALPHAD method.     

Phase equilibria in the Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>S–La<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>–EuS system

Phase equilibria in the isothermal (970 K) and polythermal LaCuS₂–EuS, Cu₂S–EuLaCuS₃, LaCuS₂–EuLa₂S₄, and EuLaCuS₃–EuLa₂S₄ sections of the Cu₂S–La₂S₃–EuS system have been studied. EuLaCuS₃ (annealing at 1170 K) is of orthorhombic system, space group Pnma, a = 8.1366(1) Å, b = 4.0586(1) Å, c = 15.9822(2) Å, is isostructural to Ba₂MnS₃, and incongruently melts by the reaction EuLaCuS_3cryst (0.50 EuS; 0.50 LaCuS₂) ? 0.22 EuS SS (0.89 EuS; 0.11 LaCuS₂) + 0.78 liq (0.39 EuS; 0.61 LaCuS₂); ΔН = 52 J/g. The Cu₂S–La₂S3–EuS system has been found to contain five major subordinate triangles. At 970 K, tie-lines lie between EuLaCuS₃ and the Cu₂S, EuS, LaCuS₂, and EuLa₂S₄ phases and between the LaCuS₂ phase and the γ-La₂S₃–EuLa2S4 solid solution. Eutectics are formed between LaCuS₂ and EuLaCuS₃ at 26.0 mol % of EuS and T = 1373 K and between EuLaCuS3 and EuLa₂S₄ at 29.0 mol % of EuLa₂S₄ and T = 1533 K.     

Phase equilibria in the NaCl–NaBO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–KCl quaternary system

The phase diagrams of the ternary systems NaCl–NaBO₂–KCl, NaCl–KCl–Na₂CO₃, and KCl–NaBO₂–Na₂CO₃ and the quaternary system NaCl–NaBO₂–Na₂CO₃–KCl were studied by the calculation–experimental method and differential thermal analysis. Analytical models of phase equilibria were obtained, and the coordinates of ternary eutectics and a quaternary eutectic. It was shown that low-melting eutectic melts can be used as media for synthesizing oxide tungsten bronzes.     

Formation of solid solutions of multiferroics in the Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Nd<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The sequence of phases appearance during the formation of Bi_1–xNd_xFeO₃ solid solutions in powder oxides mixtures of bismuth, neodymium, and iron has been determined. It has been shown that the closeness of the reaction mixture composition to that of the individual compound (BiFeO₃ or NdFeO₃) is essential for the realization of the series of phase transformations yielding solid solutions of multiferroics Bi_1–xNd_xFeO₃ as the final product, due to the prevalence of various interphase contacts in the starting reaction zone.     

Regularities of formation of complex oxides with the fluorite structure in the ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The crystal and local structures of the complex oxides (1–x)ZrO₂ ? xY₂O₃ (YSZ) (x = 0.08–0.40) prepared by precipitation from solutions of metal salts followed by heat treatment in air were comprehensively studied by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Despite the same crystal structure type of the YSZ powders (cubic system, space group \(Fm\overline 3 m\) (225)), there are differences in the local structure of the samples. Comparison of the Raman spectra recorded at different laser excitation wavelengths provided the conclusion that the peaks observed in the Raman spectra of the YSZ samples with high yttrium content (x = 0.18–0.40) are likely to be due to luminescence of the powders.     

Phase equilibria in the BaS–Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

In the BaS–Ga₂S₃ system, the following compounds form: congruently melting compound BaGa₄S₇ (rhombic system, space group Pmn2₁, a = 1.477 nm, b = 0.624 nm, c = 0.593 nm, and T_melt = 1490 K) and incongruently melting compounds BaGa₂S₄ (cubic system, space group Pa3, a = 1.2661 nm, and Tmelt = 1370 K), Ba₂Ga₂S₅ (monoclinic system, space group C2/c, a = 1.529, b = 1.479, c = 0.858 nm, ß = 106.04°, and T_melt = 1150 K), Ba₃Ga₂S₆ (monoclinic system, space group C2/c, a = 0.909 nm, b = 1.448 nm, c = 0.903 nm, ß = 91.81°, and T_melt = 1190 K), Ba₄Ga₂S₇ (monoclinic system, space group P2₁/m, a = 1.177 nm, b = 0.716 nm, c = 0.903 nm, ß = 108.32°, and T_melt = 1230 K), and Ba₅Ga₂S₈ (rhombic system, space group Cmca, a = 2.249 nm, b = 1.215 nm, c = 1.189 nm, and T_melt = 1480 K). The compositions of eutectics are 38 and 72 mol % Ga₂S₃, and their melting points are 1120 and 1160 K, respectively. The BaS solubility in γ-Ga₂S₃ at 1070 K reaches 3 mol %.     

Phase equilibria in the MgS–In<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

Phase equilibria in the MgS–In₂S₃ system were studied. This system is of the dystectic type with a limited region of a solid solution based on β-In₂S₃. In the MgS–In₂S₃ system, a compound of the composition MgIn₂S₄ forms, which forms congruently at 1180 K and crystallizes in the cubic system (space group Fd3m) with the unit cell parameter a = 1.0689 nm. Eutectics have the compositions 47 and 62 mol % In₂S₃ and the melting points 1150 and 1120 K, respectively. The MgS solubility in β-In₂S₃ at 1070 K reaches 9 mol % MgS.     

Glass Formation in the Ternary System La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–As<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Er<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The boundaries of the glass formation region in the ternary system La₂O₃–As₂S₃–Er₂O₃ were found. Transparent glass of composition (La₂O₃)_0.03(As₂S₃)0.90(Er₂O₃)0.07 was studied by X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy. The intensities of the bands characterizing As–S, La–O, and Er–O bonds increased, and these bands were shifted toward higher energies. This was due to an increase in the covalence of these bonds and probably due to the formation of new bonds in the glasses. Samples in the glass formation region are resistant at 300 K to air, water, and organic solvents.     

Simulating equilibrium processes in the Ga(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–NaOH system

Equilibrium processes in the Ga(NO₃)₃–H₂O–NaOH system are simulated with allowance for the formation of precipitates of various compositions using experimental data from potentiometric titration and theoretical studies. The values of the instability constants are calculated along with the stoichiometric compositions of the resulting compounds. It is found that pH ranges of 1.0 to 4.3 and 12.0 to 14.0 are best for the deposition of gallium chalcogenide films.     

Phase equilibria in the Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>S–Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>AsS<Subscript>4</Subscript>–S system

Phase equilibria in the Cu₂S–Cu₃AsS₄–S system were studied by differential thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction. Important plots characterizing this system were constructed, namely, the T–x diagrams of the lateral quasi-binary systems Cu₂S–Cu₃AsS₄ and Cu₃AsS₄–S, some internal sections, the isothermal section of the phase diagram at 300 K, and the projection of the liquidus surface. The fields of primary crystallization of phases and the types and coordinates of in- and monovariant equilibria were found. A wide region of separation of liquid phases was detected in the system.     

Polytherm of the CO(NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>–KNO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O phase diagram

The crystallization polytherm of the ternary CO(NH₂)₂–KNO₃–H₂O system is plotted for the first time via visual polythermal analysis and calculating ternary eutonics characteristics from data on the boundary elements of two-component systems. The ternary eutonics modeling error does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to the crystallization fields of individual components, the field of the redox reaction that occurs in the system between potassium nitrate and carbamide is shown in the CO(NH₂)₂–KNO₃–H₂O diagram by a dashed outline.     

Structure and thermal properties of the fritted glazes in SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–CaO–MgO–Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–K<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–ZnO system

In this work, the structure and thermal properties of aluminosilicate fritted glazes in SiO₂–Al₂O₃–CaO–MgO–Na₂O–K₂O–ZnO system with (4.0 mol%) and without addition of ZnO were examined by GIXRD, FTIR, MAS-NMR and thermal methods (DTA, DIL). It has been found that the all experimental glazes are amorphous material (transparent glazes). On the base of spectroscopic investigations, it was found that zinc ions exist in the network glazes in the octahedral coordination—Zn²⁺ ions play a network modifier role in structure of glazes. An analysis of the data obtained from thermal tests showed that addition of ZnO into chemical composition results in decrease in glass transition temperature value (T _g) for all glazes (DTA, DIL). The coefficient of thermal expansion (α) is decreased as the whole measurement range for one series of fritted glazes.