A comparison of the effect of rare earth vs Si site doping on the conductivities of apatite-type rare earth silicates

Apatite-type lanthanum silicate (La_9.33Si₆O₂₆) has been attracting significant recent interest due to its high oxide ion conductivity. In this paper, synthesis and conductivity data for a range of doped samples (Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, B, Ga and Zn) are reported, in particular, to compare the effect of rare earth vs Si site doping. The results show that Ga, B and Zn favour substitution on the Si site, while Ca, Sr and Ba favour La-site substitution. Mg is shown to be an ambi-site dopant, substituting on either site depending on the starting composition. The samples doped on the Si site show higher conductivities than comparable samples doped on the La site, providing further support for the importance of the silicate network in the conduction process, as initially predicted by atomistic modelling studies. For Ga doping on the Si site, the effect of varying the rare-earth size on the conductivities is also reported.     

Investigation of the stability of Co-doped apatite ionic conductors in NH3

Hydrogen powered solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are of enormous interest as devices for the efficient and clean production of electrical energy. However, a number of problems linked to hydrogen production, storage and transportation are slowing down the larger scale use of SOFCs. Identifying alternative fuel sources to act as intermediate during the transition to the full use of hydrogen is, therefore, of importance. One excellent alternative is ammonia, which is produced on a large scale, is relatively cheap and has the infrastructure for storage and transportation already in place. However, considering that SOFCs operate at temperatures higher than 500 °C, a potential problem is the interaction of gaseous ammonia with the materials in the cathode, anode and solid electrolyte. In this paper, we extend earlier work on high temperature reactions of apatite electrolytes with NH₃ to the transition metal (Co) doped systems, La_9.67Si₅CoO₂₆ and La₁₀(Si/Ge)₅CoO_26.5. A combination of PXRD, TGA and XAFS spectroscopy data showed a better structural stability for the silicate systems. Apatite silicates and germanates not containing transition metals tend to substitute nitride anions for their interstitial oxide anions, when reacted with NH₃ at high temperature and, consequentially, lower the interstitial oxide content. In La_9.67Si₅CoO₂₆ and La₁₀(Si/Ge)₅CoO_26.5 reduction of Co occurs as a competing process, favouring lower levels of nitride-oxide substitution.     

Formation of apatite oxynitrides by the reaction between apatite-type oxide ion conductors, La8+xSr2−x(Si/Ge)6O26+x/2, and ammonia

Following growing interest in the use of ammonia as a fuel in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), we have investigated the possible reaction between the apatite silicate/germanate electrolytes, La_8+xSr_2−x(Si/Ge)₆O_26+x/2, and NH₃ gas. We examine how the composition of the apatite phase affects the reaction with ammonia. For the silicate series, the results showed a small degree of N incorporation at 600 °C, while at higher temperatures (800 °C), substantial N incorporation was observed. For the germanate series, partial decomposition was observed after heating in ammonia at 800 °C, while at the lower temperature (600 °C), significant N incorporation was observed. For both series, the N content in the resulting apatite oxynitride was shown to increase with increasing interstitial oxide ion content (x/2) in the starting oxide. The results suggest that the driving force for the nitridation process is to remove the interstitial anion content, such that for the silicates the total anion (O+N) content in the oxynitrides approximates to 26.0, the value for an anion stoichiometric apatite. For the germanates, lower total anion contents are observed in some cases, consistent with the ability of the germanates to accommodate anion vacancies. The removal of the mobile interstitial oxide ions on nitridation suggests problems with the use of apatite-type electrolytes in SOFCs utilising NH₃ at elevated temperatures.     

Influence of A-site deficiencies in the system La<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Mg<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3−δ</Subscript> on structure and electrical conductivity

In this study, the A-site-deficient ABO₃ perovskites La_0.9–x Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3– with x=0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.2 were prepared by conventional solid state reactions. X-ray investigations were carried out in order to determine the influence of the A-site deficiencies on the structure. The electrical conductivities were measured as a function of both temperature and oxygen partial pressure in ranges 500–1000 °C and 0.2–10^–6 atm, respectively. Only for small x values were single phases obtained. All compositions with A-site deficiencies exhibit a lower conductivity compared to the stoichiometric compound. It is shown by SEM micrographs that the sample morphology is changed by an A-site-deficient preparation as well. For A-site-deficient compositions, a reduction of the grain size is observed, most likely due to impurity inclusions in the grain boundaries.     

Effect of aliovalent doping on the transport properties of lanthanum cuprates

Cuprates with perovskite-related structure and the general formula (A=Ca, Ba, Sr; B=Li; x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3; y=0, 0.1) were prepared by the citrate route. Their structures were studied by X-ray powder diffraction and their electrical conductivities (as a function of temperature) by four-point DC measurements on sintered bars. The highest values of electrical conductivity were observed for the x=0.3 Sr-doped cuprate, which showed a metallike temperature dependence. Ba-doped cuprates showed a transition from semi-conducting to metallic temperature dependence of conductivity. The extent of A-site deficiency is small and had the effect of slightly decreasing the conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient. Li solubility was also found to be small, but it reduced conductivity drastically, due in part to the disruption of the copper–oxygen conductive network. Reactions between cuprates and a typical manganite fuel cell cathode, and Pt and Pd contacts were observed at 1,000 °C.     

On the history of solid electrolyte fuel cells

The path to the discovery of galvanic solid electrolyte gas cells (J.-M. Gaugain 1853) and to the first industrially produced solid electrolyte gas cells (Nernst lamps 1897) is described. The development of the fundamentals of solid electrolyte fuel cells started with the work of Haber 1905, Schottky 1935, Baur 1937 and Wagner 1943. Extensive work in the field of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) was done in the fifties by Peters and Möbius. After 1960, a rapidly growing number of scientists worked on the different problems of SOFCs, and by 1970 the basis was established on which the broad technologically orientated development of SOFCs proceeds today.     

Structural, magnetic and electronic properties of LaNi0.5Fe0.5O3 in the temperature range 5-1000 K

The structure, magnetism, transport and thermal expansion of the perovskite oxide LaNi_0.5Fe_0.5O₃ were studied over a wide range of temperatures. Neutron time-of-flight data have shown that this compound undergoes a first-order phase transition between ∼275 and ∼310 K. The structure transforms from orthorhombic (Pbnm) at low temperatures to rhombohedral (R3¯c) above room temperature. This phase transition is the cause for the previously observed co-existence of phases at room temperature. The main structural modification associated with the phase transition is the change of tilting pattern of the octahedra from a⁺b⁻b⁻ at low temperatures to a⁻a⁻a⁻ at higher. Magnetic data strongly suggests that a spin-glass magnetic state exists in the sample below 83 K consistent with the absence of magnetic ordering peaks in the neutron data collected at 30 K. At high temperatures the sample behaves as a small polaron electronic conductor with two regions of slightly different activation energies of 0.07 and 0.05 eV above and below 553 K, respectively. The dilatometric data show an average thermal expansion coefficient of 14.7×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ which makes this material compatible with frequently used electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells.     

PrGa1-xMgxO3作为燃料电池固体电解质的研究

用固相反应法合成了具有正交钙钛矿结构的PrGa1-xMgxO3（x=0,0.05,0.10,0.15,0.20,0.25)通过掺杂,样品的电导率显著提高,活化能降低,所有样品均以离子导电为主,其中PrGa0.9Mg0.1O3的氧离子电导率最高,在800℃达到0．05S／cm,PrGa0.8Mg0.2O3的导电活化能量低,为24．19kJ/mol。随着温度的升高,样品的离子迁移数增加,PrGa0.9Mg0.1O3作为电解质的燃料电池在940℃短路电流密度为0．45A／cm^2,最大功率密度达0131W／cm^2,镁掺杂的PrGaO3是一种性能优良的固体电解质。     

Solution phase studies towards the synthesis of triarylamine oligomers using a germanium linker on a solid support

In this letter, we describe the iterative solution phase synthesis of a triarylamine trimer as proof of concept towards the synthesis of oligomeric materials by solid-phase synthesis. Our model system utilises the stability of germanium linkers to nucleophilic conditions to develop efficient steps towards oligomer synthesis via (i) selective deprotection of tert-butyl-dimethyl-silyl ether (OTBDMS) functionality, (ii) conversion to reactive trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) functionality and (iii) Suzuki cross-coupling reactions.     

Investigation of the interaction mechanism of the recombinant human antibody MDJ8 and its fragments with chromatographic apatite phases

The chromatographic behaviour of a recombinant human antibody (IgG₁-subtype, κ-light chain, MW: 149.5 kD, pI: 9.3) was investigated as a function of the buffer pH and buffer type (HEPES, phosphate, borate) on fluoroapatite and hydroxyapatite stationary phases. HEPES buffer was used at pH 7.0, phosphate buffer at pH 8.2 and borate buffer between pH 8.5 and 11. Elution was by a double gradient method of first a salt gradient from 0 to 1 M NaCl in the corresponding buffer, followed by a step gradient to 0.4 M sodium phosphate. Regardless of the pH and buffer type, the antibody eluted in the NaCl gradient; capacity factors decreased with increasing pH. At pH 11 the antibody eluted in the flow-through. Retention was thus dominated by electrostatic interaction throughout the investigated pH-range. Investigation of antibody fragments obtained by papain digestion (fc- and fab-fragments) and deglycosylated fc-fragments showed that the sugar structures had no influence on the chromatographic behaviour. Instead the chromatographic behaviour was dominated by that of the fab-fragment. ζ-Potential measurements verified that the apatite surface bore a negative surface charge in the investigated pH range, while the antibody net surface charge switched from positive to negative as the pH increased. The corresponding isoionic point was a function of both the buffer concentration and the buffer species. However, above a pH of 8.3 the ζ-potential of the antibody generally was negative. Simulations of the molecular electrostatic potential of the antibody and the two fragments revealed the presence of a positively charged patch within the fab-fragment, which only disappeared above a pH of 10. Most likely this patch was responsible for the observed behaviour.     

Sintering behavior and ionic conductivity of Ce<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Gd<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>1.9</Subscript> with a small amount of MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> doping

A 20% GdO_1.5 doped ceria solid solution with a small amount of MnO₂ doping (≤5% molar ratio) was prepared via the mixed oxide method from high-purity commercial powders with grain size around 0.2–0.5 μm. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that all the samples exhibited the fluorite structure, and no new phase was found. The data from dilatometeric measurements and scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that 1% Mn doping reduced the sintering temperature by over 150 °C, and enhanced the densification and grain growth. Mn doping has little effect on grain interior conductivity, but a marked deterioration in grain boundary behavior is observed. This leads to a lower total conductivity in comparison with the undoped Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2–δ. Therefore, for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with Mn-containing compounds as electrodes, optimization of electrode fabrication conditions is needed to prevent the formation of a lower conductivity layer at the electrode/electrolyte interface since Mn will diffuse from the electrode side to the electrolyte during fabrication and operation of SOFCs. Electronic Publication     

Role of SrMoO4 in Sr2MgMoO6 synthesis

Here we investigate the elemental and phase compositions during the solid-state synthesis of the promising SOFC-anode material, Sr₂MgMoO₆, and demonstrate that molybdenum does not notably evaporate under the normal synthesis conditions with temperatures up to 1200 °C due to the formation of SrMoO₄ as an intermediate product at low temperatures, below 600 °C. However, partial decomposition of the Sr₂MgMoO₆ phase becomes evident at the higher temperatures (∼1500 °C). The effect of SrMoO₄ on the electrical conductivity of Sr₂MgMoO₆ is evaluated by preparing a series of Sr₂MgMoO₆ samples with different amounts of additional SrMoO₄. Under the reducing operation conditions of an SOFC anode the insulating SrMoO₄ phase is apparently reduced to the highly conductive SrMoO₃ phase. Percolation takes place with 20-30 wt% of SrMoO₄ in a Sr₂MgMoO₆ matrix, with a notable increase in electrical conductivity after reduction. Conductivity values of 14, 60 and 160 S/cm are determined at 800 °C in 5% H₂/Ar for the Sr₂MgMoO₆ samples with 30, 40 and 50 wt% of added SrMoO₄, respectively.     

固体氧化物燃料电池流道结构的研究进展

固体氧化物燃料电池(SOFC)以其燃料使用种类广泛、全固态、可以实现热电联产等特有的优势,广泛应用于家居、商业、工业热电联产和便携式用电设备等领域,是一种极具发展前景的绿色发电装置.连接体是SOFC的重要部件之一,其流道结构直接影响反应气体的利用率以及燃料电池的排水及散热性能,对SOFC的综合性能有很大的影响,是SOF...     

Proton conductive polyimide ionomer membranes: Effect of NH,OH, and COOH groups

A new series of sulfonated polyimide (SPI) copolymers containing NH, OH, or COOH groups were synthesized by the polycondensation of 1,4,5,8‐naphthalnetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3′‐bis(sulfopropoxy)‐4,4′‐diaminobiphenyl, and 3‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐5‐(3‐aminophenyl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (SPI‐8‐m), 3,5‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (SPI‐8‐p), 3,6‐diaminocarbazole (SPI‐9), 3,5‐diamino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (SPI‐10), bis(3‐aminopropyl)‐amine (SPI‐11), 2,6‐diaminopurine (SPI‐12), 2,4‐diamino‐6‐hydroxyprymidine (SPI‐13), or 3,5‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)benzoic acid (SPI‐14). The obtained SPIs were soluble in polar organic solvents and gave tough and flexible membranes by solution casting. The SPI membranes having NH and COOH groups showed high thermal (decomposition temperature ≈200 °C) and mechanical (maximum stress >22 MPa) stability. Introducing NH groups, especially triazole and carbazole groups, was effective in improving proton conductive properties of SPI membranes at low humidity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2846–2854, 2010     

Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of Cobalt-free Cathode Material Ba0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Nb0.1O3-δ for Intermediate-temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Perovskite oxide Ba0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Nb0.1O3-δ（BSFN） as a cobalt-free cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells（IT-SOFCs） on the Ce0.5Sm0.2O1.9（SDC） and La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.23O3-δ（LSGM） electrolytes was prepared and investigated. The single phase BSFN oxide with a cubic perovskite structure and relatively high elec- trical conductivities was obtained after sintering at 1250℃ for 10 h in air. The BSFN cathode exhibited excellent chemical stability on the SDC and LSGM electrolytes at temperatures below 950 ℃. The area specific resistance of the BSFN cathode on the SDC and LSGM electrolytes were 0.024 and 0.021 Ω·cm2 at 800℃, respectively. The maximum power densities of the single cell with BSFN cathode in 300 μm-thick SDC and LSGM electrolytes achieved 414 and 516 mW/cm2 at 800℃, respectively. These results show that the BSFN material is a promising co- bait-free cathode candidate to be used in IT-SOFCs. A combination of the BSFN cathode and LSGM electrolyte is preferred owing to its excellent electrochemical performance.     

Study on the fluoride adsorption of various apatite materials in aqueous solution

The aim of this study was to evaluate the defluoridation efficiencies of various sorbents in aqueous solution. These sorbents include synthetic nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp), biogenic apatite (bone meal), treated biogenic apatite (bone meal prepared by H₂O₂ oxidation) and geogenic apatite (rock phosphate), which were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TEM and SEM. It has been observed that the defluoridation capacities follow the order: n-HAp > BH₂O₂ > B > rock phosphate. The controlling factors, sorbent dose, initial fluoride concentration, pH, contact time and temperature were investigated. The defluoridation capacities increased with the increase in the initial fluoride concentration and contact time, decreased with the increase in the sorbent dose. The optimum pH range for removal of fluoride on various apatite sorbents was considered to be 5.0-6.0. The fluoride adsorption can be explained by Langmuir, Freundlich isotherms, and the adsorption kinetic data follow the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH⁰, ΔS⁰ and ΔG⁰ indicated that the adsorption on various apatite sorbents was spontaneous and endothermic. These results showed that bone meal is a promising material for fluoride adsorption.     

Defect and dopant properties of the Aurivillius phase Bi4Ti3O12

Computer modelling techniques have been used to investigate the defect and oxygen transport properties of the Aurivillius phase Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂. A range of cation dopant substitutions has been considered including the incorporation of trivalent ions (M³⁺=Al, Ga and In). The substitution of In³⁺ onto the Bi site in the [Bi₂O₂] layer is predicted to be the most favourable. The calculations suggest that lanthanide (Ln³⁺) doping at the dilute limit preferentially occurs in the [Bi₂O₂] layer, with probable distribution over both the [Bi₂O₂] and the perovskite A-site at higher dopant levels. It is predicted that the reduction process involving Ti³⁺ and oxygen vacancy formation is energetically favourable. The energetics of oxide vacancy migration between various oxygen sites in the structure have been investigated.     

Complete and limited substitution of rare-earth elements in apatite silicates La(9-x)Lnx(SiO4)6O1.5

The isomorphous substitution of smaller RE elements (Ln = Nd, Eu, Gd, Ho, Tm, and Yb) for lanthanum in the apatite silicate solid solutions La_9−xLn_x(SiO₄)₆O_1.5 was studied by X-ray powder diffraction and the Rietveld structure refinement, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Single-phase samples were prepared by solid-state synthesis at a moderate temperature of 1200 °C using an amorphous SiO₂ nanopowder (10–40 nm) as a reactant. As the atomic number of Ln increases, the complete solubility, 0 ≤ x ≤ 9, found in the systems with Ln = Nd, Eu, Gd, and Ho changes to a limited one for Ln = Tm (0 ≤ x < 1.5) and Yb (0 ≤ x < 1). The distribution of La and smaller Ln over two structurally independent cationic sites is close to statistical. In both cationic polyhedra, Ln(1)O₉ and Ln(2)O₇, the bond lengths Ln – O decrease with x, except the longest bonds Ln(1) – O(3) and Ln(2) – O(1) which increase slightly. The experimental results on the substitution limits agree with the values of the mixing energy, and critical temperature of miscibility calculated in the approximation of a regular solid solution.     

Crystal structure and electrical conductivity of cubic fluorite-based (YO1.5) x (WO3)0.15(BiO1.5)0.85- x (0?≤ ?x ≤?0.4) solid solutions

(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.85 exhibits a tetragonal structure derived from the fluorite subcell. The electrical conductivity of (WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.85 is lower than that of Y₂O₃-doped Bi₂O₃. The structure and electrical conductivity of samples formulated as (YO_1.5) _x (WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_{0.85- x} (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) were investigated. The as-sintered (YO_1.5)_0.1(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.75 exhibited a single cubic structure that is isostructural with δ-Bi₂O₃. For x = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4, the as-sintered samples consisted of a cubic fluorite structure and rhombohedral Y₆WO₁₂. After heat treatment at 600 °C for 200 h, the cubic structures are stable for x = 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4. A transformation from cubic to rhombohedral phase after heat treatment at 600 °C for 200 h was observed in the sample originally formulated as (YO_1.5)_0.2(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.65.