High-temperature properties of new perovskite-like oxides

New complex oxides of composition Pr_1–y Ca _y Fe_{0.5 + x} (Mg_0.25Mo_0.25)_0.5–x O₃, 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, 0.42 ≤ y ≤ 0.8 having an orthorhombically distorted perovskite structure have been prepared. The thermal expansion and electric conductivity of the new phases have been studied in the temperature range between 100–900°C. The results of our study imply that thin films of the oxides studied can be treated as electrode materials for symmetric solid-oxide fuel cells.     

Structure and properties of solid solutions based on bismuth niobate Bi<Subscript>3</Subscript>NbO<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Solid solutions Bi₃Nb_1–yW_yO_{7 ± δ}, Bi₃Nb_1–yV_yO_{7 ± δ}, Bi₃Nb_1–yFe_yO_{7 ± δ} (y = 0.1–0.5; Δy = 0.1), and Bi_3–xY_xNb_1–yW_yO_{7 ± δ} (x = 0.05, 0.1; y = 0–0.3; Δy = 0.1) have been studied. The homogeneity ranges of the solid solutions and crystal-chemical parameters have been determined by means of X-ray powder diffraction. The electrical conductivity of sintered samples has been studied by impedance spectroscopy. The joint introduction of yttrium and tungsten into the niobium sublattice does not lead to an increase in the conductivity of solid solutions, and the change of the dopant type has no noticeable effect on this conductivity.     

Iridium–nickel composite oxide catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction in acidic water electrolysis

A series of Ir_1–xNi_xO_2–y (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) composite oxides have been prepared by a simple pyrolysis method in ethanol system and used as the electrocatalysts for OER in acidic medium. The materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical performances of these Ir_1–xNi_xO_2–y composite catalysts are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and steady-state measurements. The resulting oxides with the Ni content (x) less than 0.3 have a complex nature of metal Ir and rutile structure IrO₂ which is similar to the Ir oxide prepared by the same approach and possess the contracted lattice resulted from the Ni-doping. Although the addition of Ni reduces the electroactive surface areas due to the coalescence of particles, the catalytic activity of the Ir_1–xNi_xO_2–y (0 < x ≤ 0.3) catalysts is slightly higher than that of the pyrolyzed Ir oxide. Regardless of the surface area difference, the intrinsic activity first increases and then decreases with the Ni content in Ir_1–xNi_xO_2–y catalysts, and the intrinsic activity of Ir_0.7Ni_0.3O_2–y catalyst is about 1.4 times of the Ni-free Ir oxide mainly attributed to the enhancement of conductivity and a change of the binding energy as increasing amount of the incorporated Ni with respect to the pure IrO₂. The Ir_0.7Ni_0.3O_2–y catalyst shows a prospect of iridium-nickel oxide materials in reducing the demand of the expensive Ir oxide catalyst for OER in acidic water electrolysis.     

Specific features of phase equilibriums in Ln–Ba–Fe–O systems

Formation of five-layered Ln_2–εBa_3+εFe₅O_15–δ phases [exhibiting nanoscale ordering with layer-by-layer location of the cations in the Ln–Ba–(Ln,Ba)–(Ln,Ba)–Ba–Ln perovskite-type structure] has occurred in the Ln–Ba–Fe–O (Ln = Y, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd) systems at 1100°С in air. Partial substitution of iron with cobalt (Ln_2–εBa_3+εFe_5–yCo_yO_15–δ, Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu) has stabilized formation of the ordered structure. The oxygen content in the complex oxides has been determined in air over a wide temperature range by means of high-temperature thermogravimetry and iodometric titration. The change in oxygen content with temperature for the phases with five-layered ordering was significantly smaller than for the disordered phases.     

Specific features of La<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid state synthesis

Investigations of solid state preparation of La_1?xMnO₃ compounds (_x = 0, 0.1, 0.14, 0.17, 0.23) has revealed a number of intermediate structural states connected with progressive ordering of crystal structures. Freshly prepared non-stoichiometric compounds (x ≠ 0) are characterized by Mn⁴⁺ inclusion (0.09 ≤ y(Mn⁴⁺) 0.24) and rhombohedral space group \(R\bar 3c\).     

Random packing of monoatomic structures

The dependence of the first coordination number k _n on the packing factor k _y is obtained for four cubic structures: fcc, bcc, simple cubic, and diamond. The k _n (k _y ) dependence is described by a third-degree polynomial k _n = ?71.76782 + 467.78914 k _y ? 925.48451 k _y ² + 603.01146 k _y ³ with the confidence factor R _d = 1. The k _n (k _y ) function has an N loop with a maximum at k _n = 6.32; k _y = 0.454 and a minimum at k _n = 5.84; k _y = 0.573. The tangents intersect the k _n (k _y ) curve at extrema at k _y = 0.4 and k _y = 0.625. Around the N loop, i.e., at 5.84 ≤ k _n ≤ 6.32 and 0.4 ≤ k _y ≤ 0.625, two or three packing factors correspond to a certain value of the coordination number. Therefore, this range of the k _n and k _y values can be defined as a “random packing” region. Estimations presented here agree well with the results of calculations, both geometric and numerical. For monoatomic solids with the random packing parameters, the difference between the specific volumes of the solid and liquid phases is insignificant. The dilatancy effect is possible in the region where ?k _n / ?k _y ≤ 0.     

High-temperature proton conductors with structure-disordered oxygen sublattice

Data on the thermogravimetry, spectroscopy, and electrical charge transfer as functions of T, aH₂O, and aO₂ for niobates and tantalates of alkali-earth metals with structure disordering of the oxygen sublattice, which can show high-temperature proton conduction, are summarized. It is shown that in the solid solution series with decreasing x (that is, with the increasing of the oxygen vacancies concentration) the proton conductivity increase, which is caused by the increasing of both the concentration of proton defects formed in the structure (in compliance with the formula Sr_{6 ? 2x} M _{2 + 2x} ⁺⁵ O₁₀(OH)_2?6x and their mobility. The proton transfer dominates for the compositions with x < 0.15 at temperatures below 550°C. In the solid solutions (Ba_1?y Ca _y )₆Nb₂O₁₁ (0.23 ≤ y ≤ 0.47) characterized by equal concentration of oxygen vacancies, with the increasing of barium content (correspondingly, with the increasing of the lattice parameter) the oxygen-ion conductivity (at aH₂O = 3 × 10^?5) grows monotonically, which is caused by the decreasing of the oxygen atom migration energy and increasing of their mobility. In this series, the proton conductivity (at aH₂O = 2 × 10^?2) increased. It was shown, by using IR-spectroscopy and the ¹H NMR method, that the protons exist in the complex oxide structure mainly as energy-wise nonequivalent OH^? groups: isolated, closely set, and paired, whose quantitative ratios are determined by the coordination preference of the B-sublattice elements.     

Preparation,structure, and charge transport characteristics of BIFEVOX ultrafine powders

Existence boundaries, structure, and transport parameters of ultrafine powders were studied in Bi₄V_{2 ? x} Fe _x O_{11 ? x} (BIFEVOX) solid solutions. The details of synthesis of the solid solutions via liquid precursors are analyzed comparatively. In general, BIFEVOX formation via liquid precursors is similar to phase formation in solid-phase synthesis. With low iron levels (x = 0.05–0.1), solid solutions are formed in the monoclinic α phase (space group C2/m) The compositions with x = 0.125 and 0.15 are mixtures of α- and β phases. In the range 0.2 < x < 0.7, the Bi₄V_{2 ? x} Fe _x O_{11 ? x} solid solution has the structure of the γ phase of Bi₄V₂O₁₁ (space group I4/mmm). The β phase in the system in question has a very narrow existence range in the vicinity of x = 0.175. The average particle sizes of the powders prepared by various methods are within 0.5–3 μm. In the powders prepared via liquid precursors, however, the distribution peak shifts toward smaller sizes, to 0.3–1 μm. Mechanical activation conserves the structure of the γ phase of BIFEVOX, and unit cell parameters change only insignificantly; however, the crystal lattice is slightly distorted. The electrical conductivity of BIFEVOX was studied as a function of temperature, preparation technology, and composition using impedance spectroscopy. Equivalent circuits of cells were analyzed. The conductivity of samples prepared by solution technology is always higher than for samples prepared by the solid-phase process. Features of electrical conductivity versus temperature for various phases are noted. All transitions on the conductivity curves match the features of linear thermal expansion curves. Compositions with doping levels x= 0.1–0.3 have the highest total conductivities.     

On hydrolysis of Ba–Bi–O and K–Ba–Bi–O oxide systems

Fundamentally different behavior of Ba–Bi–O (Ba : Bi = 11 : 4, 1 : 1, 2: 3, and 1 : 5 mol/mol) and K_nBa_mBi_m+nO_y (m = n = 1, 2,...; exhibiting superconducting properties with T_c = 28–32 K) oxides and BaO₂ in hydrolysis reactions has been revealed by means of potentiometry and chemical analysis. Products of the oxides treatment with water do not contain H₂O₂, evidencing the absence of peroxide ions in their structure. The perovskite-type barium-bismuth(III) oxides are completely hydrolyzed into Ba(OH)₂ and Bi₂O₃ at room temperature.     

Extraction-pyrolytic synthesis and luminescent properties of europium and terbium polytantalates

The promise of synthesis of europium and terbium polytantalates MTa _x O _y , where М = Eu, Tb; x = 7, y = 19; x = 5, y = 14; x = 3, y = 9 by low-temperature extraction-pyrolytic method has been shown. Luminescent properties of the prepared polytantalates have been assessed from excitation and luminescence spectra at 300 K. The dependence of luminescent characteristics of the studied rare earth metal polytantalates on the temperature and time of precursor pyrolysis has been established.     

Molecular orientation ordering in surface layers of polymer films

The spontaneous ordering of fragments of chain molecules near the surface in polymer films is described in terms of the multichain model that allows for local intra-and interchain orientational interactions of chain segments and for transverse fluctuation of their orientation in the approximation of strong planar-orientation order in the layers. Chain packing in the plane-ordered state is impossible unless the interchain interaction parameter has a value of b = 2K ₂/k _B T > b _c. The value of b _c decreases with a growth in chain rigidity (parameter a = 2K ₁/k _B T). The calculated dependence of the limiting values of the quadrupole orientation order parameter S ₀ on the length of the Kuhn statistical segment A = 2a reasonably well describes the experimental data obtained in a study of polymer-homolog (polysaccharide) films by means of the tilted polarized-beam technique at an interchain interaction parameter of b = 1.75. The monolayer thickness (d ? 10 mn) is films of some polysaccharides was calculated from the fit of the theoretical to the experimental dependences of the orientational order parameter and the birefringence on the number of layers.     

X-ray diffraction and thermodynamic characteristics for tellurite of the composition Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>CeTeO<Subscript>5</Subscript>

Tellurite of the composition Li₂CeTeO₅ is synthesized by solid-phase method from cerium(IV) and tellurium(IV) oxides and lithium carbonate. The type of syngony, the unit cell parameters, and the compound’s X-ray and pycnometry densities are determined via X-ray diffraction analysis. The isobaric heat capacity of lithium–cerium tellurite is studied by means of dynamic calorimetry in the temperature range of 298.15–673 K; the results serve as the basis for deriving C _p ^° ~ f(T) dependency equations and determining the compound’s thermodynamic functions. λ-shaped anomalous effects, due probably to Type II phase transitions, are found on the C _p ^° ~ f(T) dependence.     

The solid solutions based on lanthanum manganite as the cathod materials for bismuth-containing solid electrolytes

Substituted lanthanum manganites with the general composition La_1–x Bi _x Mn_1–y Fe(Ni,Cu)yO_{3 + δ} and unit cells in rhombohedral (space group (sp. gr.) R-3c) and/or orthorhombic (sp. gr. Pnma) symmetry are synthesized and attested. They are characterized by permanent excessive oxygen nonstoichiometry within a single structure type at room temperature, independent of the dopant concentration. These materials are adequately mechanically compatible with bismuth niobates. The interval of their chemical compatibility with bismuth-containing compounds is limited by 700–800°C. In this region, the conductivity of composites of substituted lanthanum manganites and bismuth-containing electrolytes is higher as compared with individual compounds. The use of individual manganites or their composites as the electrodes in cells with bismuthcontaining electrolytes increases the total conductivity of the cells.     

Rapidly Convergent Series for the Computation of the Interaction Energy between Dissimilar Plane Parallel Double Layers

Several rapidly convergent series for the computation of the interaction energy between dissimilar plane double layers (y₀ > y_d > 0) are derived by expanding the interaction energy in the power series of ω ₀ < tanh(y₀/64), the series terms required to obtain the interaction energy with six significant digits do not exceed 1 except C = 2 when the dimensionless surface potential y₀ ≤ 20. The results of Devereux and de Bruyn are discovered to be incorrect when y₀ and y_d are larger, and ξ _d is very large or close to ?2.00000.     

Synthesis and redox characteristics of iron complexes with triphenylsubstituted corrols in the presence of argon and oxygen

para-Substituted iron meso-triphenylcorrole derivatives [Fe(ms-p-R-Ph)₃Cor] containing electron- donating (R = OMе) and electron-drawing (R = NO₂) groups in phenyl rings are synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The effect of the nature of functional groups within iron complexes on the redox processes involving these complexes in water–alkaline solutions is analyzed. Electronic transitions in the ligand (E_red/ox = 0.820–0.850 V) and the metal (E_red/ox =–0.005 to–0.190 and–0.790 to–0.870 V for the Fe⁴⁺ ? Fe³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ? Fe²⁺ transitions, respectively) were found in the cyclic voltammograms. Iron in the synthesized complexes I–IV under the conditions under study exists in the +4 oxidation state. The activity of iron complexes in electroreduction of molecular oxygen significantly depends on the nature of a substituent, increases in the series: Fe(ms-p-NO₂Ph)₃Cor (II) < Fe(ms-p-MeOPh)₃Cor (I) < Fe(β-Br)₈(ms-Ph)₃Cor (IV) < Fe(ms-Ph)₃Cor (II) and is caused by the fact that low-energy redox electron transitions occur in the molecules. The electrocatalytic activity of iron corroles is much higher than that of metal porphyrins with a similar structure.     

Effect of Active Fillers on Properties of Heat-Resistant Composites

The effect of active fillers such as titanium nitrides TiN _x , carbides TiC _x , and carbonitrides TiC _x N _y (0.5 < x or x + y ≤ 1.0) on properties of polymeric composites based on thermostable binders PAIS-104, SFP-012 AK-30, and ED-20 is studied.     

Structure and charge-transport properties of LnBaCuCoO<Subscript>5 + δ</Subscript> (Ln = Y,Dy) cuprocobaltites

LnBaCuCoO_{5 + δ} (Ln = Y, Dy) cuprocobaltites were prepared. Their unit cell parameters were determined and their thermal expansion, electrical conductivity (σ), and Seebeck coefficient (S) were studied in air in the range 300–1100 K. The compounds have tetragonal structures (space group P4/mmm). Their unit cell parameters are a = 0.3867(2) nm, c = 0.7550(7) nm, V = 112.9(2) × 10^?3 nm³ for YBaCuCoO_4.98; and a = 0.3872(2) nm, c = 0.7562(7) nm, V = 113.4(2) × 10^?3 nm³ for DyBaCuCoO_5.01. They are p-type semiconductors. The electrical conductivity of DyBaCuCoO_{5 + δ} is slightly lower and its Seebeck coefficient is 1.5–2 times higher than the respective values for YBaCuCoO_{5 + δ} apparently because of different electronic configurations of the rare-earth cations in LnBaCuCoO_{5 + δ} (4d ⁰ for Y³⁺ and 4f ⁹ for Dy³⁺). Dilatometric measurements show that the LnBaCuCoO_{5 + δ} phases in the range 300–1100 K do not experience structural phase transitions, and their linear thermal expansion coefficients (LTEC) are 14.3 × 10^?6 K^?1 for Ln = Y and 14.7 × 10^?6 K^?1 for Ln = Dy.     

Electron transport properties of thermoelectrics based on layered substituted transition metal dichalcogenides

Temperature dependences of the electrical conductivity are studied in the range 4.2’300 K and Seebeck coefficient at room temperature of bulk samples of tungsten dichalcogenide polycrystals with niobium substitutions for tungsten and selenium substitutions for sulfur – W_1–x Nb _x (S_1–y Se _y )₂. The two-dimensionalization of electron transport properties is detected at niobium concentrations x ≥ 0.1 in W_1–x Nb _x S₂ and x ≥ 0.05 in W_1–x Nb _x Se₂. In samples with additional partial selenium substitution for sulfur the electron transport remains three-dimensional. At room temperature the Seebeck coefficient (at equal electrical conductivities) is several times higher in the samples with quasi-two-dimensional transport than in the samples with three-dimensional transport. The calculation of the power factor at room temperature shows its nine times increase.     

Magnetic properties of iron atoms in the perovskite-like oxides

Magnetic and structural characteristics of magnetically diluted complex oxides La_2?x A _x MO₄ (M is Fe; A is Sr, Ba) were studied. An essential dependence of magnetic susceptibility on the composition of dia- and paramagnetic components of the structure and also the tendency of heterovalent iron atoms to form clusters were found.