Perovskite LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/ZSM-5 composites for H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S reactive adsorption at high temperature

Perovskite LaMnO₃/ZSM-5 was used for reactive adsorption of hydrogen sulfide at 500–700 °C. The sorbents showed good desulphurization performance, the highest sulfur capacity of 1020 µmol S/g over 5La5Mn/ZSM-5 was obtained at 600 °C. The reducing gases (H₂ and CO) can obviously shorten the breakthrough time and reduce the sulfur capacity. Incorporating Mn ions into La₂O₃ lattice improved the sulfidation activity due to the formation of perovskite LaMnO₃ with good reducibility and structure stability.     

Magnetic properties of doped LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics obtained by a polymerizable complex method

Substituted lanthanum manganites with the general formula A_1−x B _x MnO₃ (A = La, B = Ca, Sr…) have attracted a lot of attention due to their exceptional electric and magnetic properties. In this work, pure and Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺-doped LaMnO₃ (LMO) with the concentrations of dopants 30% Ca²⁺ (LCMO), 30% Sr²⁺ (LSMO) and 15% Ca²⁺ + 15% Sr²⁺ (LCSMO) (in mol. %) were synthesized by polymerizable complex method. Bulk samples were prepared by sintering at 1300 °C for 4 h in oxygen atmosphere. It was found that sintering in oxygen atmosphere enables preparation of single phase ceramics with rhombohedral crystal structure. Chemically prepared fine, submicronic precursor powders provided uniform microstructure and grain size distribution in final ceramics. As a result, pure and doped LMO ceramics with excellent microstructural and magnetic properties were obtained. Depending on the composition, magnetic measurements showed high saturation magnetizations (up to 93 emu/g), with values of the Curie temperature in the range 180–390 K and magnetoresistance up to 67%.     

La<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORER) in alkaline electrolyte

Non-precious metal bifunctional catalysts are of great interest for metal–air batteries, electrolysis, and regenerative fuel cell systems due to their performance and cost benefits compared to the Pt group metals (PGM). In this work, metal oxides of La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄₇ catalyst as bifunctional catalysts were used in oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORER). The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N₂ adsorption isotherms. The electrocatalytic activity of the perovskite-type La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and Co₃O₄ catalysts both as single and mixtures of both were assessed in alkaline solutions at room temperature. Electrocatalyst activity, stability, and electrode kinetics were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE). This study shows that the bifunctional performance of the mixed La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄ was superior in comparison to either La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ or nano Co₃O₄ alone for ORER_. The improved activity is due to the synergistic effect between the La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄ structural and surface properties. This work illustrates that hybridization between these two metal oxides results in the excellent bifunctional oxygen redox activity, stability, and cyclability, leading to a cost-effective application in energy conversion and storage, albeit to the cost of higher catalyst loadings.     

La<Subscript>2</Subscript>M<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>II</Superscript></Stack>Mn<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> (M = Mg,Ca, Sr,or Ba) manganites: Synthesis and X-ray diffraction study

La₂M ₃ ^II Mn₄O₁₂ (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba) manganites have been synthesized by ceramic technology from lanthanum oxide, manganese(III) oxide, and magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium carbonate. X-ray powder diffraction shows that these compounds crystallize in cubic perovskite space group Pm3m.     

Synthesis of homogeneous La<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ca<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions by the Pechini method and their activity in methane oxidation

Homogeneous La_{1 − x} Ca _x MnO₃ solid solutions have been synthesized by the Pechini method (using polymer-solid compositions). Their microstructure, stability at high temperatures, and catalytic activity in methane oxidation are reported. A continuous series of solid solutions stable in air up to 1100°C forms in the system, and the particle surface is enriched with calcium. A distinctive microstructural feature of the particles is their microporosity. The catalytic activity of all calcium-containing samples (except for x = 0.7) below 700°C is lower than that of lanthanum manganite and decreases under the action of the reaction medium, which can be due to the decrease in the amount of weakly bound oxygen on the surface because of the enrichment of the surface with calcium and the formation of strongly bound surface carbonates. The higher activity and stability of the La_0.3Ca_0.7MnO₃ sample (calcined at 1100°C) above 500°C can be due to the formation of nanosized areas with an Mn₃O₄ structures on the perovskite particle surface in the reaction medium.     

Magnetic properties related to structure and complete composition analyses of nanocrystalline La1−xMn1−yO3 powders

Structural and magnetic properties were studied on La_1−xMnO_3±δ nanocrystalline powders exhibiting different La/Mn ratios. These compounds were prepared using a gel combustion method based on a cation solution soaking by acrylamide polymerization. Structural properties were studied both by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Complete chemical composition analyses were performed by induced coupled plasma spectroscopy and by iodometric titration. Proportions of parasitic phases in samples, as La₂O₃ or Mn₃O₄, and actual compositions of La_1−xMnO_3±δ phases were then determined from refinements of XRD data and sample chemical compositions. As a result, perovskite structure is not any more stable for La/Mn<0.9 as it decomposes into a mixing of La_0.9MnO₃ and of Mn₃O₄ phases, in agreement with results on thermodynamic equilibrium in the La-Mn-O phase diagram. For La/Mn>0.9, a high oxygen excess is observed and leads to consider the creation of vacancies on both lanthanum and manganese sites, whose concentrations are evaluated. Magnetic properties agree well with the proposed structures and sample compositions since for La/Mn<0.9, for which a La_0.9MnO₃ phase is always found, the Curie temperature remains constant and equal to 295 K (the highest temperature never observed before in such series of compositions), while for La/Mn>0.9, there is a formation of Mn vacancies giving rise to a lowering of Curie temperature resulting of a frustration of ferromagnetic interactions.     

Kinetics of phase formation upon the treatment of La<Subscript>2</Subscript>(SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> and La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript> in a hydrogen flow

The sequence of phases occurring during treatment of lanthanum sulfate, La₂(SO₄)₃ and lanthanum oxysulfate, La₂O₂SO₄ in a hydrogen flow is established. The temperature ranges in which homogeneous La₂O₂S is produced are revealed: when La₂(SO₄)₃ is a precursor, the range is 770–1220 K; in the case of La₂O₂SO₄, the interval is 950–1220 K. The kinetic curves showing the time dependence of the yield of La₂O₂S is constructed and treated using the Avrami-Erofeev and contracting volume equations. The activation energies of the reactions are determined.     

Perovskite-like La1−xKxMnO3 and related compounds: Solid state chemistry and the catalysis of the reduction of NO by CO and H2

The new compounds La_1?xM_xMnO₃ (0.05 ? x ? 0.4 for M = K; x = 0.2 for M = Na, Rb) have been prepared. La_1?xK_xMnO₃ (0.05 ? x ? 0.4), LaMnO_3.01, LaMnO_3.15, La_0.8Na_0.2MnO₃, and La_0.8Rb_0.2MnO₃ have been used as catalysts in the reduction of NO. La_0.8K_0.2MnO₃ has also been used in the catalytic decomposition of NO. The activity of these catalysts is related to the presence of a Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ mixed valence and to the relative ease of forming oxygen vacancies in the solid. The presence of cation vacancies in LaMnO_3.15 and the substitution of La³⁺ by alkali ions in LaMnO₃ increases the catalytic activity. The reduction of NO involves both molecular and dissociative adsorption of NO.     

Liquid-phase MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-modification of clinoptilolite

Formation mechanism of the MnO₂ phase in the reaction of heterogeneous synthesis between Mn²⁺ and MnO ₄ ^- ions on a solid aluminosilicate surface in aqueous solutions was studied. It was shown that, for lowsilica forms, the Mn²⁺ ion is oxidized by the MnO ₄ ^- ion uniformly across the grain depth to give the MnO₂ phase and manganese manganites. For high-silica materials, the MnO₂ phase is formed on the outer surface of grains, with the decomposition of the MnO ₄ ^- ion and formation of the MnO₂ phase and molecular oxygen. It was found that, for the clinoptilolite rock used as a solid support, the yield of the MnO₂ phase and its distribution over the particle volume depend on the penetration capacity of the MnO ₄ ^- ion into the porous structure of this rock, determined by its composition. It is shown that the amount of the MnO₂ phase grows with increasing concentration of the MnO ₄ ^- ion and treatment duration, with the phase thickness being 15–20 and 350–1050 μm for, respectively, high- and low-silica samples.     

Study of the structure and stability of aqua ions La(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Stack><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript><Superscript>3+</Superscript></Stack> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 8, 9) by ab initio methods

The structural and energetic characteristics of aqua ions La(H₂O) ₈ ³⁺ and La(H₂O) ₉ ³⁺ . have been calculated by the ab initio RHF and MP2 methods with the use of different quasi-relativistic effective core potentials for the lanthanum atom.     

Synthesis and characterization of Mn-, La-Mn- and La-Ca-Mn-citrates as precursors for LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and La<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Mn-, LaMn- and LaCaMn-citrates were synthesized at 60–120°C in ethylene glycol medium using chlorides or nitrates as metal sources. Their composition, IR spectra and thermal decomposition were studied. Equimolar La/Mn ratio has been established in the complex, prepared from chloride solution with the same initial composition of the metals. In the isolated three-metallic complex the molar ratio of the metals deviates from the composition in the initial solution. The final products of the heating of Mn- and mixed-metal LaMn-citrates at 1000°C are phase-homogeneous Mn₃O₄ (hausmannite) and LaMnO₃ respectively. Parasitic phase(s) are observed in La_xCa_1−xMn_yO₃, produced from LaCaMn-citrate.     

Conduction and Ion Transport in LaYO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Doped with CaO

Values of partial conductions (ionic: protonic, oxygen, hole) and their activation energies in LaYO₃ are determined at 700–1050°C, pO₂ ranging from air to 10⁻¹⁵ Pa, and pH₂O = 0.04–13.5 kPa for different versions of doping with calcium (when introduced into the lanthanum or yttrium sublattices, or into both sublattices simultaneously). The conductivity increases in the series La_0.97Ca_0.03YO_{3 − α} < LaY_0.97Ca_0.03O_{3 − α} < La_0.985Y_0.985Ca_0.03O_{3 − α}, which means that the stoichiometric composition with a 1 : 1 ratio between Y and La has the highest conductivity.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 610–615.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Balakireva, Stroeva, Gorelov.     

Thermal and chemical expansion of LnBaCuFeO<Subscript>5 + δ</Subscript> (Ln = La,Pr, Gd) ferrocuprates and LaBa<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>CuFeO<Subscript>5 + δ</Subscript> solid solution

With the use of in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry, the processes that occur during the heating of LnBaCuFeO_{5 + δ} (Ln = La, Pr, Gd) and LaBa_0.75Sr_0.25CuFeO_{5 + δ} ferrocuprates in air in the range 293–1273 K have been studied. For lanthanum and praseodymium ferrocuprates, expansion anomaly was discovered due to the disorder of their oxygen sublattice and oxygen elimination to the gas phase. The thermal and chemical expansions of the phases have been separated.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of a new layered oxide La<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1.25</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>O<Subscript>6.67</Subscript>

A new oxide phase La_1.5Sr_1.5 Mn_1.25Ni_0.75O_{6.67 ± 0.05}, a member of the A_{n + 1} BnO_3n+1(n=2) Rad-dlesden—Popper homologue series, was synthesized, and its structure and magnetic properties characterized. Magnetic anomalies associated with the competition between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic orders are observed in the range of the temperatures studied (2-400 K). The ESR spectra of the compound feature the constriction of a magnetic signal and a shift toward g(Mn⁴⁺).     

Al-doped La<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> as oxide anode for solid oxide fuel cells using dry C<Subscript>3</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript> fuel

Direct hydrocarbon type solid oxide fuel cells are attractive from simple gas feed process and also high energy conversion efficiency. In this study, La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ (LSM55) perovskite oxide was studied as oxide anode for direct hydrocarbon type solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Although reasonable power density like 1 W/cm² and open circuit voltage (OCV) (1.1 V) at 1273 K was exhibited when H₂ was used as fuel, the power density as well as OCV of the cell using LSM55 for anode was significantly decreased when dry C₃H₈ was used for fuel. After power generation measurement, LSM55 phase was decomposed to MnO and La₂MnO₄. Effects of various dopants to Mn site in LSM55 were studied and it was found that partial substitution of Mn in LSM55 with other cation, especially transition metal, is effective for increasing maximum power density. In particular, reasonable high power density can be achieved on the cell using Ni-doped LSM55 for anode. On the other hand, Al substitution is effective for increasing stability against reduction and so, dopant effects of Al were studied in more details for dry C₃H₈ fuel. The power density as well as OCV increased with increasing Al content and the highest power density was achieved at x = 0.4 in La_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_1 ? x Al _x O₃. Among the examined composition, it was found that the cell using La_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.6Al_0.4O₃ anode shows the largest power density (0.2 W/cm²) at 1173 K and high OCV (1.01 V) against dry C₃H₈ fuel.     

Gas phase structure of micro-hydrated [Mn(ClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)]<Superscript>+</Superscript> and [Mn<Subscript>2</Subscript>(ClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions probed by infrared spectroscopy

Gas-phase infrared photodissociation spectroscopy is reported for the microsolvated [Mn(ClO₄)(H₂O) _n ]⁺ and [Mn₂(ClO₄)₃(H₂O) _n ]⁺ complexes from n = 2 to 5. Electrosprayed ions are isolated in an ion-trap where they are photodissociated. The 2600–3800 cm⁻¹ spectral region associated with the OH stretching mode is scanned with a relatively low-power infrared table-top laser, which is used in combination with a CO₂ laser to enhance the photofragmentation yield of these strongly bound ions. Hydrogen bonding is evidenced by a relatively broad band red-shifted from the free OH region. Band assignment based on quantum chemical calculations suggest that there is formation of water—perchlorate hydrogen bond within the first coordination shell of high-spin Mn(II). Although the observed spectral features are also compatible with the formation of structures with double-acceptor water in the second shell, these structures are found relatively high in energy compared with structures with all water directly bound to manganese. Using the highly intense IR beam of the free electron laser CLIO in the 800–1700 cm⁻¹, we were also able to characterize the coordination mode (η²) of perchlorate for two clusters. The comparison of experimental and calculated spectra suggests that the perchlorate Cl—O stretches are unexpectedly underestimated at the B3LYP level, while they are correctly described at the MP2 level allowing for spectral assignment.     

Phase equilibria in the system LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SrMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SrCrO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-LaCrO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

A continuous solid solution LaMn_1?y Cr _y O₃ with an orthorhombic structure is found to exist in the range of 0.0 ≤ y ≤ 1.0. An orthorhombic solid solution La_1?x Sr _x CrO₃ exists in the range of 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1. The stability boundaries are determined for the perovskite phase La_1?x Sr _x Mn_1?y Cr _y O₃. An isobaric-isothermal section LaMnO₃-SrMnO₃-SrCrO₄-LaCrO₃ of the system La₂O₃-SrO-Mn₃O₄-Cr₂O₃ in air at 1100°C is designed.     

Microstructure and electrical properties of lead zirconate titanate thin films deposited by sol-gel method on La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Si substrate

(La_0.7Sr_0.3)MnO₃ thin films were deposited on SiO₂/Si substrates by a metal-organic decomposition (MOD) method, and then Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ (PZT) thin films were grown on (La_0.7Sr_0.3)MnO₃-coated SiO₂/Si substrates by a sol-gel method. The effects of annealing temperature on the crystalline phases, microstructures and electrical properties of the PZT films were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis results indicated that the PZT films with a perovskite single phase could be obtained by annealing at 650°C. The dielectric constant and the remnant polarization of the PZT films increased with increasing annealing temperature. The remnant polarization and the coercive field of the films annealed at 650°C were 18.3 μC/cm² and 35.5 kV/cm, respectively, whereas the dielectric constant and loss value measured at 1 kHz were approximately 1100 and 0.81, respectively.     

Impurity and radiation defects in LiB<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> crystals. The nature of centers in LiB<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> crystals,which are responsible for coloration during the long-term operation of optical elements

An attempt is made to explain the causes of coloration of LiB₃O₅ crystals after their long-term operation as laser elements. By EPR and optical spectroscopy the impurity and radiation centers are studied in as-grown LiB₃O₅ crystals and in the crystals whose color appeared after the long-term operation as laser elements. In a number of as-grown crystals a copper impurity is detected. EPR spectral parameters and the structural positions of Cu²⁺ ions are found. Defect formation features in electron irradiated as-grown LiB₃O₅ crystals and in the most colored regions of crystals of spent laser elements are analyzed. It is shown that in both growth crystals and crystals after long-term operation as laser elements the same set of radiation defects is observed: oxygen O^– in the interstitial position, an O^– hole center in the crystal structure, and the B²⁺ electron center due to the removal of an oxygen atom near the lithium vacancy. The only distinction is that the concentration of these radiation defects in crystals long used as laser elements is higher than that in growth ones by an order of magnitude. The results obtained enable the conclusion that the cause of coloration of LiB₃O₅ crystals is photo-induced diffusion of lithium atoms and their capture by cation vacancies in the dark part of the crystal, which provides the formation and accumulation of lithium vacancies in the region where the laser beam passes.     

Superionic fluoride ceramics RF<Subscript>3</Subscript> and R<Subscript>0.95</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>F<Subscript>2.95</Subscript> (R = La,Ce, Pr,Nd) prepared by hot pressing

RF₃ and R_0.95Sr_0.05F_2.95 (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) ceramic specimens were prepared by hot pressing at 1173 K under pressure of 3 × 10⁸ Pa for 20 min. The ionic conductivity value was determined by means of impedance spectroscopy in vacuum from 293 to 823 K. For LaF₃ at 350 K, the single crystal / ceramics conductivity ratio is about 5. The difference decreases at higher temperature and disappears about 500 K. The ionic conductivity activation energy is 0.30 ± 0.05 eV. For La_0.95Sr_0.05F_2.95, the conductivity of ceramics below 500 K is slightly lower that of single crystals. At T > 500 K, the conductivity values of ceramic and single crystal specimens practically coincide. The ionic conductivity of hot pressed ceramics is about 10^?2 S/cm at 500 K and activation energy is 0.25 ± 0.02 eV.