Al (110) surface oxide thermal stability in ultrahigh vacuum

This research characterizes the stability of the Al₂O₃ surface oxide on Al (110) as a function of temperature and within an ultrahigh vacuum environment (p < 5 × 10^?12 Torr). Auger electron spectroscopy and temperature desorption spectroscopy were used to correlate the change in oxygen and carbon surface concentration. The surface oxide was observed to remain stable up to 350–400 °C. Above this temperature, the oxide began to dissociate resulting in a CO desorption peak at 425 °C followed by extensive dissolution of the C and O into the Al bulk. A second and much smaller CO desorption peak was observed at 590 °C in concert with complete oxide breakdown and the virtual disappearance of surface carbon and oxygen. Extrapolation of the Auger electron spectral ratios of C_KLL and O_KLL peaks to the sum of the Al⁰_LVV and Al³⁺_LVV peak suggests that the surface concentration of each approaches zero at ~640 °C. The predominant mechanism for reduction of the surface oxide occurs by dissolution into the bulk instead of desorption. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-bridged architecture of ternary Bi2O3/MWCNTs/Cu microstructure composite with high catalytic performance via two-step self-assembly

Binary and ternary microstructure composites based on CNTs have potential applications in many technological fields. In our works, we realized MWCNTs-bridged architecture of ternary Bi₂O₃/MWCNTs/Cu microstructure composite by two-step self-assembly. In order to verify its workability, we investigated catalytic performances of a series of additives for ammonium perchlorate (AP) thermal decomposition. The results showed that catalytic performance of Bi₂O₃/MWCNTs/Cu composite was better than those of the other additives, and the peak temperature for high-temperature AP decomposition reduced 151.6 °C; while no low-temperature AP decomposition was observed. MWCNTs have two crucial roles in catalytic enhancement on AP thermal decomposition: firstly, being to act as a supporter which can effectively disperse copper and Bi₂O₃ particles; secondly, being to act as a bridge, excited electrons from semiconductor can conduct and store on the surfaces of MWCNTs, which is beneficial for AP thermal decomposition. Therefore, MWCNTs-bridged architecture can synergistically enhance catalytic effect of copper and Bi₂O₃.     

Preparation, characterization, and catalytic activity of rare earth metal oxide nanoparticles

In present study, a series of rare earth metal oxide (CeO₂, Pr₂O₃, and Nd₂O₃) nanoparticles have been prepared by sol–gel route using Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, Pr(NO₃)₃·6H₂O and Nd(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, and citric acid as precursor materials. Powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy are employed to characterize the size and morphology of the nano oxide particles. The particles are spherical in shape and the average particle size is of the order of 11–30 nm. Their catalytic activity was measured on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate and composite solid propellants (CSPs) by thermogravimetry (TG), TG coupled with differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), and ignition delay measurements. The ignition delays and activation energies are found to decrease when rare earth metal oxide nanoparticles were incorporated in the system. Addition of metal oxide nanoparticles to AP led to shifting of the high temperature decomposition peak toward lower temperature and the burning rate of CSPs was also found to enhance. However, E _a activation energy for decomposition was also found to decrease with each catalyst.     

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/zinc ferrite nanohybrids and its catalytic activity on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Reduced graphene oxide/Zinc ferrite (rGO/ZnFe₂O₄) nanohybrids are successfully decorated on the surface of the rGO sheets through a simple, one-step hydrothermal method. ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) are homogeneously anchored on the rGO sheets. The rGO/ZnFe₂O₄ hybrids are characterized by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, TEM, Raman, BET. The rGO/ZnFe₂O₄ hybrids demonstrate amazing catalytic activity on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP), which is better than that of bare ZnFe₂O₄ NPs. TG-DTA results indicate that the ZnFe₂O₄ NPs in the hybrids with increasing ratio (1%, 3%, 5%) could decrease the second decomposition temperature of AP by 42.7?°C, 55.0?°C, 68.1?°C, respectively, and reduce the apparent activation energy of AP from 160.2?kJ?mol^?1 to 103.8?kJ?mol^?1. This enhanced catalytic performance is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of ZnFe₂O₄ NPs and rGO.     

Preparation of NdCrO3 nanoparticles and their catalytic activity in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate by DSC/TG-MS

Orthorhombic structural perovskite NdCrO₃ nanocrystals with size of 60 nm were prepared by microemulsion method, and characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, SEM, EDS and BET. The catalytic effect of the NdCrO₃ for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was investigated by DSC and TG-MS. The results revealed that the NdCrO₃ nanoparticles had effective catalysis on the thermal decomposition of AP. Adding 2% of NdCrO₃ nanoparticles to AP decreased the temperature of thermal decomposition by 87° and increased the heat of decomposition from 590 to 1073 J g⁻¹. Gaseous products of thermal decomposition of AP were NH₃, H₂O, O₂, HCl, N₂O, NO, NO₂ and Cl₂. The mechanism of catalytic action was based on the presence of superoxide ion O₂ ⁻ on the surface of NdCrO₃, and the difference of thermal decomposition of AP with 2% of NdCrO₃ and pure AP was mainly caused by the different extent of oxidation of ammonium.     

An investigation into synergistic effects of rare earth oxides on intumescent flame retardancy of polypropylene/poly (octylene‐co‐ethylene) blends

Synergistic effects of two kinds of rare earth oxides (REOs), neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃) or lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) on the intumescent flame retardancy of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) made by polypropylene/poly (octylene‐co‐ethylene) blends were investigated systemically by various methods. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) of flame retardant TPO (FRTPO) filled by 30 wt% intumescent flame retardants (IFR) composed of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and pentaerythritol (PER) has been increased from 30 to 32.5 and 33.5 when 0.5 wt% of IFR was substituted by La₂O₃ and Nd₂O₃, respectively. Cone calorimetry tests also reveal the existence of synergistic effects. Thermalgravimetric analyses (TGA) demonstrate that the presence of REOs promotes the esterification and carbonization process in low‐temperature range while enhances the thermal stability of IFR and FRTPO in high‐temperature range. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) reveals that the interaction of Nd₂O₃ with IFR results in the formation of neodymium phosphate (NdP₅O₁₄) with high‐thermal stability. Thermal scanning rheological tests show that the presence of REOs increases complex viscosity of FRTPO in the temperature range of 190～300°C so as to suppress melt dripping but decreases the complex viscosity and increases the loss factors tan δ in temperature range of 300～400°C to make the carbonaceous strucuture more flexible and viscous to resist stress, expand better and keep intact. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MnCo<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles with excellent catalytic activity in thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

MnCo₂O₄ spinel nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared using Aloe vera gel solution. The characterization of prepared spinel was performed applying Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron spectroscope, scanning electron microscope and dynamic light scattering. The results manifested that the prepared nanoparticles were mainly spherical plus minor agglomeration with average size distribution between 35 and 60 nm. The catalytic activity of the prepared nanoparticles upon thermal degradation of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was evaluated applying differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry instruments. MnCo₂O₄ nanoparticles increased the released heat of AP from 450 to 1480 J g^?1 and decreased the decomposition temperature from 420 to 293 °C. The kinetic parameters obtained from Kissinger methods showed that the activation energy of AP thermal decomposition in the presence of MnCo₂O₄ NPs considerably decreased. Also, a mechanism has been proposed in the presence of catalyst for the process of thermal decomposition of AP.     

Thermal decomposition of ammonium metavanadate supported on Al2O3

The thermal decomposition of ammonium metavanadate supported on aluminium oxide was investigated using DTA, TG and X-ray diffraction techniques.The results obtained revealed that ammonium vanadate decomposed at 225–250°C giving an intermediate compound ((NH₄)₂V₆O₁₆) which decomposed readily at 335–360°C producing V₂O₅. Alumina was found to chance the formation of the intermediate compound and retard its decomposition. Some of the V⁵⁺ ions of V₂O₅ lattice seemed to be reduced into V⁴⁺ and V³⁺ ions by heating in air at 450°C in the presence of Al₂O₃. Such a reaction was attributed to dissolution of some Al³⁺ ions in the V₂O₅ lattice via location in interstitial positions and/or in cationic vacancies. Al₂O₃ was found to interact with V₂O₅ at 650° C giving well-crystalline A1VO₄ which decomposed at about 750°C forming well-crystalline δ-Al₂O₃ and V₂O₅,. Pure Al₂O₃, heated in air at 1000°C, existed in the form of the κ-phase which, on mixing with V₂O₅ (0.5 V₂O₅:1 Al₂O₃) and heating in air at 1000°C, was converted entirely to the well-crystalline α-Al₂O₃ phase.     

Ion formation of N-Methyl carbamate pesticides in thermospray mass spectrometry: The effects of additives to the liquid chromatographic eluent and of the vaporizer temperature

The effects of three additives—ammonium acetate, ammonium formate, and nicotinic acid—to the liquid chromatographic (LC) eluent and of the vaporizer temperature on the ion formation of N-methyl carbamate pesticides in thermospray (TSP) mass spectrometry was investigated by using filament- or discharge-assisted ionization. Nineteen carbamates and 12 of their known environmental degradation products were used as model compounds. The additives cause a strong reduction in the abundance of the characteristic fragment ions [M + H ? CH₃NCO]⁺ and [M ? H ? CH₃NCO]^? for some of the carbamates. The addition of nicotinic acid reduces the quasimolecular ion intensity and, in most cases, produces nicotinic acid adduct ions. The addition of ammonium acetate or ammonium formate increases the intensity of the quasimolecular ion and in most cases produces a base peak for the ammonium adduct ion. The combination of a suppression of fragmentation and an enhancement of quasimolecular ion formation produces an overall gain in sensitivity. As to more specific effects, the addition of the ammonium salts reduces the intensity of M^?? with the chlorinated carbamate barban and suppresses the formation of “odd” adduct ions in the TSP mass spectra of most other carbamates. Monitoring the intensity of the fragment and the quasimolecular ion signal as a function of the probe stem temperature, and the related probe tip temperature, proved to be an easy method to study the thermal degradation of the carbamates. This monitoring procedure showed that methiocarb and its sulfone already suffer from thermal degradation at a stem temperature of 90°C and that these compounds will therefore present problems in quantitation with LC/TSP mass spectrometry.     

Preparation of rare earth oxyfluorides and their properties as a material for fuel cell

The formation of rare earth oxyfluorides and their properties as an electrocatalyst and/or a solid electrolyte using for fuel cell were studied by means of x-ray and electrochemical methods.By a high temperature solid reaction between rare earth fluorides and rare earth or zirconium oxides not only the simple oxyfluoride such as NdOF, SmOF, CeOF and YOF but also the binary one written by Nd_1?xLn_xOF, (NdOF)_1?x(MO)_x and (ZrO₂)_1?x(LnF₃)_x were obtained, where Ln; Y, La, Nd, Sm and Yb, MO; alkaline earth oxide and Nb₂O₅. On the solid reaction process, it was found that the exchange reaction of anion, that is F? and O^2?, took place at first between the rare earth fluoride and the oxide. LnF₃ could form the solid solution with ZrO₂ at above 1200°C taking the fluorite structure in the composition range of below 30 mol%-LnF₃, so-called the stabilized zirconia.The crystal type of these oxyfluorides was any one of the rhombohedral, the cubic and the tetragonal. The cubic phase oxyfluorides contained Nd showed high electrocatalytic activity for both the hydrogen oxidation and the oxygen reduction. Then (NdOF.)_0.9(Nb₂O₅)_0.1 and (ZrO₂)_1?x(LnF₃)_x were found to act as the oxide ion conducting solid electrolyte.     

The effect of different substrate temperatures on the structure and luminescence properties of Y2O3:Bi3+ thin films

Y₂O₃:Bi³⁺ phosphor thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition in the presence of oxygen (O₂) gas. The microstructure and photoluminescence (PL) of these films were found to be highly dependent on the substrate temperature. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the Y₂O₃:Bi³⁺ films transformed from amorphous to cubic and monoclinic phases when the substrate temperature was increased up to 600 °C. At the higher substrate temperature of 600 °C, the cubic phase became dominant. The crystallinity of the thin films, therefore, increased with increasing substrate temperatures. Surface morphology results obtained by atomic force microscopy showed a decrease in the surface roughness with an increase in substrate temperature. The increase in the PL intensities was attributed to the crystallinity improvement and surface roughness decrease. The main PL emission peak position of the thin films prepared at substrate temperatures of 450 °C and 600 °C showed a shift to shorter wavelengths of 460 and 480 nm respectively, if compared to the main PL peak position of the powder at 495 nm. The shift was attributed to a different Bi³⁺ ion environment in the monoclinic and cubic phases.     

Mechanistic studies of methane partial oxidation to syngas over LiNiLaOx/Al2O3 catalyst

Reduction of vanadium-titanium oxide catalysts with hydrogen in the temperature range of 150–450°C results in the increase of the content of V⁴⁺ ions in substitution positions of TiO₂ with the anatase structure. The temperature increase up to 250°C results in the growth of the spectral intensity of V⁴⁺ associates in substitution positions of anatase. At higher treatment temperatures their intensity decreases due to the formation of VO₂ fragments in anatase. At 400°C and higher temperatures a solid solution of V⁴⁺ ions in rutile is formed.     

Studies on a New Material for Hydrogen Storage and Supply by Modified Fe and Fe2O3 Powder

Modified iron oxide, a new material for hydrogen storage and supply to polymer electrolyte fuel cell （PEFC）, was prepared by impregnating Fe or Fe2O3 powder with an aqueous solution containing metal cation additives （Al, Cr, Ni, Co, Zr and Mo）. Hydrogen storage properties of the samples were investigated. The results show that both Fe and Fe2O3 powder with additive Mo presented excellent catalytic activity and cyclic stability, and their hydrogen producing temperature could be surprisingly decreased. The temperature of forming hydrogen for the Fe2O3-Mo at the rate of 250 μmol·min^-1·Fe-g^-1 could be dramatically decreased from 527 ℃ before addition of Mo to 283 ℃ after addition of Mo in the fourth cycle. The cause for it was probably related to preventing the sinter of the sample particles. In addition, hydrogen storage capacity of the Fe2O3-Mo can reach w=4.5% （72 kg H2/m^3）, close to International Energy Agency （IEA） criterion. These show the value of practical application of the Fe2O3-Mo as the promising hydrogen storage material.     

A kinetic investigation on the thermal decomposition of propellants catalyzed by rGO/MFe2O4 (M = Cu,Co, Ni,Zn) nanohybrids

Reduced graphene oxide/metal ferrite (rGO/MFe₂O₄, M = Cu, Co, Ni) nanohybrids are successfully prepared through a simple, one-step hydrothermal method. The rGO/MFe₂O₄ hybrids are characterized by XRD, TEM. The rGO/MFe₂O₄ nanohybrids demonstrate amazing catalytic activity on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) based propellants. DSC results indicate that the high-temperature decomposition (HTD) temperature of propellants added with rGO/MFe₂O₄ nanohybrids (3 wt%), could decrease from 325.9 °C to 259.9 °C, 268.8 °C, 271.9 °C, 306.9 °C, respectively. The HTD activation energy on a conversion degree (α) range from 0.05 to 0.95 of propellant samples were investigated by two model-free methods Flynne–Walle–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS). The results showed that both methods had similar values of Ea, and they match well with each other. A strong dependence of Ea on α revealed a complex decomposition process. The model-fitting analysis suggested the HTD process of propellant samples with or without catalysts both followed Mampel (First order) reaction model.     

Preparation and characterization of the AP/Al/Fe2O3 ternary nano-thermites

A novel ammonium perchlorate (AP)/aluminum (Al)/iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nano-thermites was prepared by orderly using sol–gel, wet impregnation, and solvent-anti-solvent processes. Samples prepared in this work were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), nitrogen adsorption–desorption tests, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements. The results showed that AP and nano-aluminum were dispersed in the pores of the iron oxide gel, resulting in a large specific surface area (84.7 m² g^?1). The XRD results showed that AP dispersed homogeneously in the energetic composites at nano-scale. DSC analyses indicate that the Al/Fe₂O₃ nano-thermites played a catalytic role in the thermal decomposition of AP, thus the interaction of thermite reaction was greatly enhanced by accelerated decomposition of AP. The experimental results showed that the as-prepared AP/Al/Fe₂O₃ nano-thermites were of high energy, making it a competitive candidate material in the field of micro-propellants.     

A Cesium Rare‐Earth Silicate Cs3RESi6O15 (RE=Dy–Lu,Y, In): The Parent of an Unusual Structural Class Featuring a Remarkable 57 Å Unit Cell Axis

The structure of Cs₃RESi₆O₁₅, where RE=Dy–Lu, Y, In, is unusual in that it contains octahedrally coordinated rare‐earth ions; their relative orientation dictates the structure, as they rotate about the c‐axis supported by the cyclic Si₆O₁₅ framework. The repeat unit of the rotation is eight units generating a very long (ca. 57 Å) unit cell axis. This unusual repeat unit is created by the structural flexibility of the hexasilicate ring, which is in turn affected by the size of the rare earth ion as well as the size of alkali ion residing within the silicate layers. Previous work showed for the smaller Sc³⁺ ion, the rotation of the octahedra is not sufficient to achieve closure at an integral repeat unit and an incommensurate structure results. The products are prepared as large, high quality single crystals using a high‐temperature (650 °C) hydrothermal method with CsOH and F^? mineralizers. The presence of fluoride is essential to the formation of the product.     

A Cesium Rare‐Earth Silicate Cs3RESi6O15 (RE=Dy–Lu,Y, In): The Parent of an Unusual Structural Class Featuring a Remarkable 57 Å Unit Cell Axis

The structure of Cs₃RESi₆O₁₅, where RE=Dy–Lu, Y, In, is unusual in that it contains octahedrally coordinated rare‐earth ions; their relative orientation dictates the structure, as they rotate about the c‐axis supported by the cyclic Si₆O₁₅ framework. The repeat unit of the rotation is eight units generating a very long (ca. 57 Å) unit cell axis. This unusual repeat unit is created by the structural flexibility of the hexasilicate ring, which is in turn affected by the size of the rare earth ion as well as the size of alkali ion residing within the silicate layers. Previous work showed for the smaller Sc³⁺ ion, the rotation of the octahedra is not sufficient to achieve closure at an integral repeat unit and an incommensurate structure results. The products are prepared as large, high quality single crystals using a high‐temperature (650 °C) hydrothermal method with CsOH and F⁻ mineralizers. The presence of fluoride is essential to the formation of the product.     

Phase stability study of the pseudobinary system Gd2O2CO3–Nd2O2CO3 (420 °C ≤ T ≤ 850 °C, P = 1 atm. CO2)

Hexagonal as well as tetragonal rare earth oxycarbonates can act as hosts for optically active ions; hence, the knowledge of the structural modifications occurring when foreign hosts are inserted into the parent compound is of fundamental importance for the design of new phosphors. In this article, a phase stability study of the pseudobinary system Gd₂O₂CO₃–Nd₂O₂CO₃ at P = 1 atm. CO₂ between 420 and 850 °C is presented, to study the amplitude of the existence fields of the different structures typical of rare earth oxycarbonates. The samples were prepared by thermal decomposition of the corresponding oxalates in CO₂ atmosphere. According to composition and temperature, all the three structural forms reported for oxycarbonates (hexagonal, tetragonal, and monoclinic) have been observed. Above a certain temperature, that depends on composition and increases with Nd amount, all the samples decompose into the corresponding Gd–Nd-mixed oxides and crystallize into one of the three possible structural forms typical of rare earth sesquioxides. Structural refinements performed on the hexagonal oxycarbonates demonstrate that the insertion of Nd³⁺ in Gd₂O₂CO₃ results in a linear increase of the lattice parameters (Vegard’s law) and in a reorganization of the distances between and in the CO ₃ ^2? groups and the (Nd/Gd₂O₂)²⁺ layers.     

Aluminum oxide and systems based on it: Properties and applications

The metastable forms of aluminum oxide that exist in the range of 300–800°C are characterized; differences in the microstructures of homogeneous γ-, η-, and χ-Al₂O₃ are demonstrated; and the acid-base properties of the above modifications are compared. The catalytic properties of aluminum oxide in ethanol dehydration and propionitrile ammonolysis were studied. It was found that an increased surface concentration of Lewis acid sites, including strong acid sites (ν(CO) = 2237 cm^?1), is required for preparing an effective catalyst for the dehydration of ethanol, whereas the rate of propionitrile conversion increased proportionally to the surface concentration of Brønsted acid sites. γ-Aluminum oxide was used to prepare catalysts for carbon monoxide oxidation. It was found that the supporting of Pd on γ-Al₂O₃ did not change the support structure. Palladium on the surface of γ-Al₂O₃-550 (T _calcin = 550°C, S _BET = 300 m²/g) occurred as single particles (2–3 nm) and aggregates (～100 nm). The single particles were almost completely covered with a layer of aluminum oxide to form core-shell structures. According to XPS data, they were in atypical states (BE(Pd 3d _5/2) = 336.0 and 338.0 eV), which were not reduced by hydrogen in the range of 15–450°C and were resistant to the action of the reaction mixture. Palladium on the surface of γ-Al₂O₃-800 (S _BET = 160 m²/g) was in the states Pd⁰ and PdO, which are typical of Pd/Al₂O₃, and the proportions of these states can change under the action of the reaction mixture. An increase in the T _calcin of the Pd/Al₂O₃(800)-450 catalyst from 450 to 800 → 1000 → 1200°C led to the agglomeration of palladium particles and to an increase in the temperature of 50% CO conversion from 145 to 152 → 169 → 189°C, respectively. α-Aluminum oxide was used in the preparation of an effective Mn-Bi-O/α-Al₂O₃ supported catalyst for the synthesis of nitrous oxide by the oxidation of ammonia with oxygen: the NH₃ conversion was 95–97% at 84.4% N₂O selectivity.     

Synthesis and characterization of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> doped Lu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanophosphor using a solution-combustion method

Fine Eu³⁺-doped lutetium oxide (Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺) nanophosphor were synthesized using a low-temperature solution-combustion method in a methyl-alcohol solution. The characteristics of the nanophosphors synthesized at various sintering temperatures with different Eu³⁺ concentrations were analyzed to determine the optimum synthesis conditions. Thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis showed that Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ crystallizes completely when the dry powder is sintered at 500 °C. The Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ crystals had a cubic structure and monoclinic phase. The peak position of the luminescence spectrum did not differ with the concentration of Eu or the sintering temperature or atmosphere, whereas the luminescence intensity was strongly dependent on the concentration and sintering conditions.