A new material for hydrogen storage; ScAl0.8Mg0.2

A novel aluminium rich alloy for hydrogen storage has been discovered, ScAl_0.8Mg_0.2, which has very promising properties regarding hydrogen storage capacity, kinetics and stability towards air oxidation in comparison to hydrogen absorption in state-of-the-art intermetallic compounds. The absorption of hydrogen was found to be very fast, even without adding any catalyst, and reversible. The discovered alloy crystallizes in a CsCl-type structure, but decomposes to ScH₂ and Al(Mg) during hydrogen absorption. Detailed analysis of the hydrogen absorption in ScAl_0.8Mg_0.2 has been performed using in situ synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction, neutron powder diffraction and quantum mechanical calculations. The results from theory and experiments are in good agreement with each other.     

Rare earth hydrogen storage alloy used in borohydride fuel cells

Fuel cell using the borohydride as the fuel has attracted much attentions because of high energy density and working potential. In this work, LaNi_4.5Al_0.5 hydrogen storage alloy used as the anodic material to replace noble metals has been investigated. Experimental results showed that H₂ evolution was unavoidable during discharge process because of the hydrolysis of , but the utilization of the fuel increased with the increasing current densities. At high discharge current, the alloy electrode showed the lowest hydrogen generation rate and higher utilization of the fuel because, the generated hydrogen was absorbed and oxidized to produce electric energy similar to the behavior of hydrogen storage alloy in nickel–metal hydride batteries. The reaction mechanism of borohydride on the surface of electrode made of hydrogen storage alloy also has been discussed. Hydrogen storage alloy would be a promising material as the anodic catalyst in borohydride fuel cell.     

贮氢合金表面分析和金属氢化物电极电催化活性

贮氢合金表面状态和组成是影响金属氢化物(MH)电极电催化活性的重要因素, MH电极的表面改性处理是改善电极性能的有效方法。用XPS, ICP, BET方法分析了处理后贮氢合金表面组成和状态的变化。讨论了化学还原处理对MH电极电催化活性的影响, 结果表明: 化学还原处理大大提高了MH电极反应的交换电流密度和减低了电极反应活化能。     

Preparation and hydrogen storage properties of nanostructured Mg2Cu alloy

We successfully synthesized Mg₂Cu alloys from the metal nanoparticles, which are produced from hydrogen plasma-metal reaction method, in two ways. One is under 0.1 MPa argon at 673 K and the other is under 4.0 MPa hydrogen at 673 K. The structure, morphology and reaction mechanism were studied. The hydrogen absorption and the pressure-composition isotherm properties of the obtained Mg₂Cu alloy under hydrogen were studied. The van’t Hoff equation and the formation enthalpy and entropy of the resulting hydride (MgH₂+MgCu₂) were obtained from the equilibrium plateau pressures of the desorption isotherms. Nanostructured Mg₂Cu shows excellent hydrogen storage properties because nanostructured materials have more surface area and more defects, which means more nucleation sites with hydrogen, and smaller particles, which means shorter diffusion distance for hydrogen in the alloys particles.     

Icosahedral Li clusters in the structures of Li33.3Ba13.1Ca3 and Li18.9Na8.3Ba15.3

The intermetallic phases Li_33.3Ba_13.1Ca₃ and Li_18.9Na_8.3Ba_15.3 have been prepared and their crystal structures have been determined. According to single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, both compounds crystallize in new structure types with trigonal unit cells (Li_33.3Ba_13.1Ca₃: R3¯c, a=19.9127(4) Å, c=90.213(3) Å, Z=18, V=30,978(1) Å³ and Li_18.9Na_8.3Ba_15.3: P3¯, a=20.420(3) Å, c=92.914(19), Z=18, V=33,550(10) Å³). The first compound can be described as a complicated variant of the arsenic structure. The second has similar packing of the Ba atoms but differs from the Ca-containing phase in the packing of the light elements. Both compounds contain icosahedron-based polytetrahedral clusters, typical for Li-rich phases, e.g. Ba₁₉Li₄₄.     

Catalytic Synthesis of Organolithium and Organomagnesium Compounds and of Lithium and Magnesium Hydrides—Applications in Organic Synthesis and Hydrogen Storage

A recent development in homogeneous catalysis is the discovery of catalysts that are active for the lithiation of 1-alkenes to alkenyllithium compounds and lithium hydride as well as for the hydrogenation of lithium and magnesium under mild conditions. The catalytically prepared magnesium hydride is highly reactive and adds to 1-alkenes to give diorganomagnesium compounds and can also be used in the preparation of, for example, silane and “active” magnesium. The use of metal hydrides in hydrogen storage is discussed: hydrogenation/dehydrogenation experiments show that the catalytically prepared magnesium hydride (which can be doped with a second metal) can be used as a high-temperature hydrogen storage material.     

Crystal structures and phase stability in pseudobinary CaAl2−xZnx

Samples in the pseudobinary system CaAl_2−xZn_x (0?x?2) were synthesised from the elements. Three different structure types, the C15 and C36 Laves phase structures and the KHg₂ (CeCu₂) structure, were observed. The structures and homogeneity ranges of the underlying phases were investigated by electron microscopy and thermal analysis as well as X-ray powder diffraction. The stability ranges for the different structure types were found to be 0?x?0.18, 0.28?x?0.68 and 0.93?x?2 for the C15, C36 and KHg₂ structure types, respectively.     

Crystal structure and electrochemical properties of rare earth non-stoichiometric AB5-type alloy as negative electrode material in Ni-MH battery

The La_0.85Mg_xNi_4.5Co_0.35Al_0.15 (0.05?x?0.35) system compounds have been prepared by arc melting method under Ar atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the as-prepared alloys have different lattice parameters and cell volumes. The electrochemical properties of these alloys have been studied through the charge-discharge recycle testing at different temperatures and discharge currents. It is found that the La_0.85Mg_0.25Ni_4.5Co_0.35Al_0.15 alloy electrode is capable of performing high-rate discharge. Moreover, it has very excellent electrochemical properties as negative electrode materials in Ni-MH battery at low temperature, even at −40°C.     

Charge trapping and storage by composite P3HT/PC60BM nanoparticles investigated by fluorescence-voltage/single particle spectroscopy

Fluorescence-voltage/single particle spectroscopy (F-V/SPS) was employed to study exciton-hole polaron interactions and interfacial charge transfer processes for pure poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanoparticles (NPs) and composite P3HT/PC(60)BM NPs in functioning hole-injection devices. F-V/SPS data collected on a particle-by-particle basis reveal an apparent bistability in the fluorescence-voltage modulation curves for composite NPs of P3HT and [6,6]-phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester (PC(60)BM) that is absent for pure P3HT NPs. A pronounced deep trapping of free electrons photogenerated from the composite P3HT/PC(60)BM NPs at the NP/dielectric interface and hole trapping by fullerene anions in composite P3HT/PC(60)BM NPs under photoexcitation lies at the basis of this finding. The deep electron trapping effect reported here for composite conjugated polymer/fullerene NPs presents an opportunity for future application of these NPs in nanoscale memory and imaging devices.     

Crystallographic, electronic and magnetic studies of Ce4Ni6Al23: a new ternary intermetallic compound in the cerium-nickel-aluminum phase diagram

The Al-rich portion of the ternary Ce-Ni-Al has been investigated and a new ternary phase of composition Ce₄Ni₆Al₂₃ has been found. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with the cell parameters a=16.042(8), b=4.140(4), c=18.380(8) Å and β=113.24(5)°. The structure has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The local environment of Ni and Ce is close to what is observed in the CeNi₂Al₅ and CeNiAl₄ structures. Band structure calculations, using the tight-binding-linear muffin-tin orbital-atomic-spheres approximation (TB-LMTO-ASA) method, have been performed to understand the electronic structure of Ce₄Ni₆Al₂₃ and the results are discussed in connection with those two other Ce-Ni-Al intermetallic compounds, which possess heavy-fermion behavior. Magnetic and heat capacity measurements have also been measured to analyze the low-temperature magnetic behavior of this new compound.     

Kinetics of Oxidation Processes in the System Co/Ga studied by in situ X‐Ray Diffraction

Oxidation processes in the system Co/Ga were studied by in situ X‐ray diffraction at temperatures between 800 and 1000 °C. Experiments were performed with metal powders and planar substrates. Oxidation of cobalt‐rich alloys, Co_1‐xGa_x, results in the formation of mixtures of cobalt‐ and gallium‐containing oxides. During oxidation of the intermetallic compounds CoGa and CoGa₃ only gallium is oxidized, and dense tarnishing layers of β‐Ga₂O₃ are formed. In all cases the oxide products are only intermediate products on the way to thermodynamic equilibrium, i.e. total oxidation of both metals. The kinetics during oxidation of the intermetallic compound CoGa was studied in detail by time resolved in situ X‐ray diffraction. After an induction time the kinetics can be described by a parabolic rate law with an activation energy of 312 kJ mol^—1. From the decrease of the parabolic rate constant with decreasing oxygen partial pressure and the observation of pore formation at the metal‐oxide interface it can be concluded that (i) outward diffusion of Ga‐ions through β‐Ga₂O₃ is the rate determining step during this solid state reaction, and (ii) Ga‐ions are mobile by means of gallium vacancies.     

Hydrogen-induced atomic rearrangement in MgPd3

The hydrogenation behavior of MgPd₃ has been studied by in situ X-ray powder diffraction and by neutron powder diffraction. At room temperature and p ≈500 kPa hydrogen pressure its structure is capable of incorporating up to one hydrogen atom per formula unit (α-MgPd₃H_≈1), thereby retaining a tetragonal ZrAl₃-type metal atom arrangement. Upon heating to 750 K in a hydrogen atmosphere of 610 kPa it transforms into a cubic modification with AuCu₃-type metal atom arrangement (β-MgPd₃H_≈0.7). Neutron diffraction on the deuteride reveals an anion deficient anti-perovskite-type structure (β-MgPd₃D_0.67, a=398.200(7) pm) in which octahedral sites surrounded exclusively by palladium atoms are occupied by deuterium. Complete removal of hydrogen (480 K, 1 Pa) stabilizes a new binary modification (β-MgPd₃, a=391.78(2) pm) crystallizing with a primitive cubic AuCu₃-type structure. Mechanical treatment (grinding) transforms both α and β modifications of MgPd₃ into a cubic face-centered solid solution Mg_0.25Pd_0.75 showing a random distribution of magnesium and palladium atoms.     

Investigation of structural and hydrogen absorption properties in the LaNi5−xPtx-H2 system

The substitution of nickel by platinum in the binary LaNi₅ compound (CaCu₅ structure type, a=5.019(1) Å, c=3.981(1) Å, space group P6/mmm) and its effect on the hydrogenation properties was studied. The phase LaNi_5−xPt_x has a homogeneity domain ranging from x=0 to 5. For x<3, platinum substitutes almost exclusively on site 3g and also replaces nickel on site 2c for x>3. Contrary to what is observed in other systems, the hydrogen absorption plateau pressure was found to increase as a function of the cell volume. Powder neutron diffraction experiments were conducted for two deuterated compounds with x=0.25 and 0.75. Deuterium partial ordering occurs in the case of x=0.25 leading to a symmetry decrease to the space group P6mm (LaNi_4.75Pt_0.25D_5.23, a=4.225(1) Å, c=5.357(1) Å, Z=1, R_Bragg=3.3%). For x=0.75, an orthorhombic superstructure based on the CaCu₅-type lattice was found (LaNi_4.25Pt_0.75D_2.61, a_orth=√3a_hex=9.089(1) Å, b_orth=b_hex=5.272(1) Å, c_orth=2c_hex=8.145(1) Å, Z=4, SG Ibam, R_Bragg=6.1%).     

混合稀土储氢合金中氧和氮的测定

研究了混合稀土储氢合金中氧和氮的测定方法。针对稀土金属高温易挥发、分解的特点,选择适宜的加热温度,使用镍浴,选择高温座坩埚进行试验：选择出了合适的助熔剂的预处理方法。方法已用于实际样品。对含氧0．43％、含氮0.018％的试样,分析精密度为氧4．3％,氮5.9％,加标回收率氧为93％～104％,氮为92％～110％。     

在LiCl-KCl-ZnCl2熔盐体系中电化学共还原提取钕

针对镧系元素钕,本文通过循环伏安、开路计时电位、方波伏安等方法研究了773 K时Nd（Ⅲ）在钼电极上在LiCl-KCl-ZnCl₂熔盐体系中的电化学行为及Zn-Nd合金的形成过程. 结果表明：在LiCl-KCl-ZnCl₂熔盐中,Nd（Ⅲ）在预先沉积的Zn 阴极上欠电位沉积形成三种Zn-Nd金属间化合物. 基于电化学行为研究,采用恒电位电解提取Nd并用方波伏安曲线测量来检测Nd（Ⅲ）离子浓度的变化,然后通过电解前后Nd（Ⅲ）离子浓度变化评估了Nd的电解提取效率. 实验结果表明：-1.84 V恒电位电解进行50 h后,Nd（Ⅲ）离子浓度接近于零,提取效率为99.67%. 在973 K时通过恒电流电解提取Nd并获得了Zn-Nd合金,通过X射线衍射（XRD）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）附带能量散射谱（EDS）对合金的相组成和微观形貌进行了分析. XRD分析表明在Zn-Nd合金中存在Nd₂Zn₁₇,LiZn 和Zn相,EDS能谱分析表明Nd在合金中的原子分数高达14.99%.     

贮氢合金材料电化学与表面性能的研究进展

贮氢合金材料电化学与表面性能的研究进展①杨勇李骏林祖赓（厦门大学化学系，固体表面物理化学国家重点实验室，厦门３６１００５）八十年代后期以来，人们对地球的环境保护提出了更高的要求，而便携式电器（如移动电话，摄像机与笔记本电脑等）对电池的需求也大量增加...     

Cu-Ni合金在NaCl溶液中的孔蚀特性

采用慢速电位扫描法和电位台阶计时电流法分别研究铸态铜镍合金以及由机械合金化方法制备的纳米晶铜镍合金于不同浓度NaCl溶液中的孔蚀特性.讨论含Ni量,Cl-浓度等因素对合金孔蚀敏感性的影响,探讨了不同结构合金的孔蚀发展.     

Comparative study of the electrical double layer on liquid electrodes of mercury, gallium, and an In-Ga alloy in hexamethylphosphortriamide

The structure of the electrical double layer (EDL) on sp metals is studied by exploring it on liquid renewable electrodes of mercury, gallium, and an indium-gallium alloy containing 16.4 at % In. The study is performed in a solvent with a high donor number (DN), specifically, in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA, DN = 38.8). A very strong chemisorption interaction between the metal and HMPA is fixed on the Ga and In-Ga electrodes. It is shown that the energy of the metal-HMPA chemisorption interaction increases in the series Hg < In-Ga < Ga. The pattern revealed by the study is exactly the opposite to that previously observed on these very electrodes. The strong chemisorption interaction between the metal and HMPA does not lead to an increase in the capacitance of the inner part of the EDL and is at the same time characterized by a very large chemisorption jump of the solvent potential. The data obtained in HMPA show that, for sp metals in contact with a solvent whose DN is high enough, the effects of the metal-solvent chemisorption interaction may be commensurate with the effects previously observed on catalytically active metals. Such a result is an invincible proof, which requires no additional modeling notions, of the existence of a correlation between energies of the chemisorption interaction between a metal and a solvent and the solvent’s DN. This in turn is a convincing evidence that the specific interaction between a metal and a solvent has a donor-acceptor origin. The data obtained in HMPA make it possible to unite all the available results yielded by research into the EDL structure on the catalytically active and sp metals.     

Corrosion mitigation on orthodontic wire made of SS 18/8 alloy using esomeprazole tablet (Esiloc-40 mg) in artificial saliva

The corrosion inhibition of orthodontic wire made of SS 18/8 alloy in artificial saliva, with and without the presence of tablet esomeprazole − 40 mg has been investigated by electrochemical analysis. Polarisation study indicates that in the presence of the mentioned tablet, polarisation resistance (R_p) value increases and corrosion current (I_corr) decreases. That is, the corrosion resistance of SS 18/8 alloy in artificial saliva increases. AC impedance spectroscopy reveals that charge transfer resistance value (R_ct) value increases and double layer capacitance value (C_dl) decreases. The open circuit potential (OCP) values for the inhibited system are more negative than that of the uninhibited blank system. The vibration peaks obtained from the FTIR spectra indicates the presence of functional group in esomeprazole pill and these characteristic peaks are slightly shifted in the analyzed scratched film from the surface of the orthodontic wire after immersion. AFM micrograph image of the polished specimen sample immersed in artificial saliva (AS) with esomeprazole tablet solution shows lesser degree of surface deterioration than those for SS 18/8 specimen immersed only in artificial saliva. From the present work, it is reported that people clipped with orthodontic wire made of SS 18/8 alloy need not worry about orthodontic corrosion for taking esomeprazole tablet for the treatment of gastro esophageal reflux disease and other medicinal purpose.     

Understanding the Charge Issues in Mono and di-Quaternary Ammonium Compounds for Their Determination by LC/ESI-MS/MS

Chromatographers often develop problems while optimizing a method for the quantification of quaternary ammonium compounds in ESI-MS/MS. Intransigency observed in quaternary ammonium compounds to undergo the classical molecular adduct formation [M+H]⁺ in ESI-MS/MS reduces confidence among chromatographers while working with unit mass resolution. In this study, we provide the evidence for an exceptional rule followed by mono- and di-quaternary ammonium compounds in ESI-MS/MS in the precursor ion formation. Under ESI conditions mono- and di-quaternary ammonium compounds form molecular ions with the formula of m ^q / z ^q rather than ( m + z )/ z . Formation of m ^q / 2 is observed for di-quaternary ammonium compounds in precursor ion scan and m ^q / 1 in product ion scan, if loss of one of the quaternary charge occurs during CID. In di-quaternary ammonium compounds, this process can also result in the formation of fragment ions with higher mass as compared to precursor ion. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic separation has been used to demonstrate the elution of quaternary ammonium compounds in a single run in the ESI-MS/MS. This work concludes that the analyst must realize and consider these charge issues while dealing with positively charged compounds in LC/ESI-MS/MS.