Synthesis and Properties of Solid Solutions in The FeVMoO7–CrVMoO7 System

X-ray phase analysis (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and IR spectroscopy have shown that continuous substitution solid solutionsin are formed in the FeVMoO₇–CrVMoO₇ system. With increasing the degree of Cr³⁺ ion incorporation into the FeVMoO₇ structure, a crystal lattice contraction of the Fe_1–xCrxVMoO₇ solid solution arise. Elevation of temperature of its incongruent melting and gradual shifting of the corresponding IR absorption bands towards higher wavenumbers have been noticed, as well. The solid product of incongruent melting for x≤0.5 is the Fe_4–yCr_yV₂ Mo₃ O₂₀ solid solutions phase, whereas for x>0.5 Fe_2–zCr_z(MoO₄)₃ and Fe_2–u Cr_u O₃ solid solutions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis and phase relations in the system with garnet-type composition: [Ca1.5GdCe0.5]VIII[ZrFe]VI[Fe x Al3? x ]IVO12

This study was aimed at the synthesis, study of phase relations and characterization of the garnet ([Ca_1.5GdCe_0.5]^VIII[ZrFe]^VI[Fe _x Al_3−x ]^IVO₁₂, x = 0−2) intended as promising matrix for actinides (Pu) immobilization. The optimum temperatures of the fabrication of the garnets ceramics are 1400 °C at x = 2 and 1500 °C at x = 0−1. The garnets lattice parameters and the content of Ce, as an imitator of Pu, increased with the content of iron. It was suggested that the ability of the garnet for incorporation of Pu was closely related to the ionic radii of the elements occupied the four-and six-coordinated sites of the structure.     

Solid Potassium-Conducting Electrolytes in the System K2 ? 2xAl2 ? xPxO4

New high-conductance potassium-cation solid electrolytes based on potassium aluminate are synthesized by means of partial substitution of five-charged phosphorus cations for three-charged aluminum cations and investigated. The maximum conductivity in the system K_{2 − 2x} Al_{2 − x} P _x O₄ is found to equal 5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 200°C and ∼1 S cm⁻¹ at 700°C, which is one of the best values for potassium solid electrolytes. The principal factors responsible for the high conductance are the stabilization of a high-temperature form of potassium aluminate and the formation of additional vacancies in the potassium sublattice, which occurs during the substitution process Al³⁺ → P⁵⁺ + 2V _K ^′ . __________ Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 12, 2005, pp. 1501–1504. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2005 by Burmakin, Shekhtman.     

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of Al2−x Cr x O3 powders obtained by polymeric precursor method

Al₂O₃ and Al_2−x Cr _x O₃ (x = 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04) powders have been synthesized by the polymeric precursors method. A study of the structural evolution of crystalline phases corresponding to the obtained powders was accomplished through X-Ray Diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy (reflectance spectra and CIEL^*a^*b^* color data). The obtained results allow to identify the γ-Al₂O₃ to α-Al₂O₃ phase transition. The single-phase α-Al₂O₃ powder was obtained after heat treatment at 1050 °C for 2 h. The results show that the green to red color transition and ruby luminescence lines observed for the powders of Al_2−x Cr _x O₃ are related to the γ to α-Al₂O₃ phase transition and the temperature and time range for such transition depends on the chromium content.     

Catalytic activity of Mn-substituted barium hexaaluminates for methane combustion

The catalysts of hexaaluminate (BaMnxAl12-xO19-δ , x = 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0) to be used in methane combustion have been successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method and supercritical drying. The crystalline structure and surface area of catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption analysis of BET method. BET analysis revealed that the preparing and drying method proposed here provides stable materials with higher surface area of 51.4 m2/g in comparison to materials prepared using conventional ambient drying method for BaMnxAl12?xO19-δ calcined at 1200℃ under oxygen. XRD analysis indicated that formation of a pure single phase BaMnxAl12-xO19-δ occurred up to x = 3 in the case of Mn-substituted barium hexaaluminates. Incorporation of Mn in excess leads to BaAl2O4 phase formation. As far as the valence state of Manganese ions was concerned, the introduced Mn ions were either divalent or trivalent. The first Mn ions were introduced in the matrix essentially as Mn2 and only for BaMn3Al9O19-δ does manganese exist exclusively as Mn3 ; the higher the Mn concen- tration, the higher the proportion of Mn3 . Catalytic activity for methane combustion has been measured for Mn-substituted barium hexaaluminates, light-off temperature was observed in the 512-624℃ range. The highest activity was obtained for catalysts containing 3 Mn ions per unit cell, which reveals that the BaMnxAl12-xO19-δ catalyst was a promising methane combustion catalyst with high activity and good thermal stability. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) under hydrogen has been used to correlate the catalytic activity with the amount of easily reducible species.     

Semi-quantitative chemical analysis of hard coatings by Raman micro-spectroscopy: the aluminium chromium nitride system as an example

A new method for chemical analyses of nitride-based hard coatings is presented. Raman band shifts in the spectra of Al _x Cr_1−x N coatings, deposited by physical vapour deposition from Al _x Cr_1−x targets with x _T,Al = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.70 and 0.85, are calibrated using compositional data of the coatings derived by elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) and electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA). Inserting the composition-dependent Raman shift of a combinatorial acoustic-optic lattice mode into an empirically derived equation allows the determination of Al/Cr ratios of the coating with an accuracy of about ±2%. Spot, line and area analyses of coated cemented carbide and cold work steel samples by using a computer-controlled, motorized x,y-stage are demonstrated and the most important errors influencing precision and accuracy are discussed. Figure Raman map of a coated cold-work steel sample     

Rubidium-cationic conductance in the systems Rb2 ? 2xAl2 ? xAxO4 (A = P, V)

RbAlO₂-based solid solutions are synthesized in the systems Rb_{2 − x} Al_{2 − x} A _x O₄ (A = P, V). Temperature and concentration dependences of their conductance are studied; the rubidium-cationic character of the conductance is corroborated. The high ionic conductivity of the synthesized phases (∼5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 300°C, ∼2 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 700°C) is caused by (a) formation of rubidium vacancies as a result of the replacing of Al³⁺ ions by fivefold-charged cations of phosphorus or vanadium and (b) disordered crystal structure of γ-KAlO₂ type. The obtained data are compared with the results of the studying of similar systems. Original Russian Text ? G.Sh. Shekhtman, E.I. Volegova, E.I. Burmakin, 2009, published in Elektrokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 495–499.     

Oxygen species and their reactivity in the mechanochemically prepared substituted perovskites La1 ? xSrxCoO3 ? y (x = 0–1)

The oxygen species and their reactivity in the mechanochemically prepared substituted perovskites La_{1 − x} Sr _x CoO_{3 − y} were studied using temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) of the samples with hydrogen. The experimental data were compared with data on the catalytic activity of the series of La_{1 − x} Sr _x CoO_{3 − y} catalysts in the oxidation of CO, as well as with the real structures and surface compositions of the samples, which were studied in detail previously. As the strontium content was increased, the degree of reduction of the samples increased in the course of TPR and the TPR peaks shifted to the region of lower temperatures, except for the last sample containing no lanthanum (x = 1). An increase in the calcination temperature and time resulted in a decrease in TPR peak intensities and in a shift of the peaks to the region of higher temperatures. A reaction scheme was proposed for the reduction. In accordance with this reaction scheme, Co⁴⁺ in substituted cobaltites was reduced to Co⁰ at temperatures lower than 400°C. In the temperature region of 400–500°C, the Co³⁺ → Co²⁺ bulk reduction, as well as the deep reduction processes Co³⁺ → Co⁰ and Co⁴⁺ → Co⁰, occurred; substitution facilitated the above processes. At temperatures higher than 500°C, Co²⁺ → Co⁰ bulk reduction occurred. The observed reduction of the mechanochemically prepared samples depended on their microstructure, which was described previously. It was found that the activity of the samples in the oxidation of CO depends on the amount of the most weakly bound reactive surface oxygen species, which were removed in TPR with hydrogen to 150°C. No correlation between the amount of strongly bound (lattice) oxygen removed upon TPR and the activity of La_{1 − x} Sr _x CoO_{3 − y} samples in the oxidation of CO was found. Original Russian Text ? I.S. Yakovleva, L.A. Isupova, V.A. Rogov, 2009, published in Kinetika i Kataliz, 2009, Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 290–299.     

Synthesis and structure analysis of aluminum doped zinc oxide powders

Hexagonal Al-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) powders with a nominal composition of Zn1-xAlxO (0≤x≤0.028) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The contents of the Al element in the samples were measured by the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) technique. The structures of the Zn1-xAlxO (0≤x≤0.028) compounds calcined at 1000 and 1200℃ have been deter- mined using the Rietveld full-profile analysis method. Rietveld refinements of the diffraction data indi- cated that the addition of Al initially has a considerably positive effect on the decreasing of the lattice parameters a and c of Zn1-xAlxO, but the effect becomes very slight and even negative with the further increase of the Al content. The solid solubility limit of Al in ZnO (mole fraction y) is 2.2l%, resulting in Zn0.978Al0.22O. It seems that when the Al content is excessive, Al prefers to form a ZnAl2O4 compound with ZnO, but not to incorporate into the ZnO lattice to occupy the Zn2 cites. Two phases, [ZnO] (or Al-doped ZnO) and [ZnAl2O4], are obviously segregated in Zn1-xAlxO while the value of x is larger than 0.024. The UV-Vis absorption spectra show that the Al-doped ZnO exhibits a red-shift in the absorption edge without reduced transmission compared with pure ZnO, which also confirms that Al ions enter the ZnO lattice and form a Zn1-xAlxO solid solution.     

The thermodynamic properties of natural margarite

Thermal, IR spectroscopic, and thermochemical studies of natural brittle mica, margarite Ca_1.00Na_0.10Mg_0.02Al_3.89Fe_0.01³⁺Si_2.03Ti_0.01O₁₀(OH)_1.74F_0.26, were performed. The enthalpy of formation of natural margarite from the elements (−6269 ± 12 kJ/mol) was determined by melt solution calorimetry on a high-temperature heat-conducting Calvet microcalorimeter (Setaram, France). Enthalpy growth over the temperature range 298.15–973 K was determined by the drop method. Equations for the temperature dependences of the enthalpy and heat capacity were obtained, H°(T)−H°(298.15 K), J/mol = 435.21T + 36.46 × 10⁻³ T ² + 109.91 × 10⁵/T − 169863 and C° _p , J/(mol K) = 435.21 + 72.92 × 10⁻³ T − 109.91 × 10⁵/T ². The experimental data were used to estimate the thermodynamic properties of margarite of the theoretical composition, CaAl₂[Al₂Si₂O₁₀](OH)₂.     

Sintering, microstructures and dielectric properties of Ba1−xPbx(Ti1−xLix)O3−3xF3x ferroelectric ceramics

Various compositions (1−x)BaTiO₃ + xPbF2 + xLiF were prepared, shaped to pellets then sintered at 900°C for 2 h in gold sealed tubes. The purity and the symmetry of the obtained samples were checked by X-ray diffraction. A new solid solution with Ba_1−x Pb _x (Ti_1−x Li _x ) O_3−3x F_3x formula occurs in the composition range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20. SEM observations were performed on polished and fractured ceramics. The complex permittivity was measured as a function of temperature (−120°C ≤ T ≤ 250°C) and frequency (50 Hz ≤ f ≤ 4 × 10⁷ Hz). The dielectric performances are the best for ceramic Ba_0.97Pb_0.03(Ti_0.97Li_0.03)O_2.91F_0.09. The real component ε′, exhibits a maximum of approximately 7500 at the ferroelectric Curie temperature T _C ≈ -18°C, the dielectric losses tan δ value being 0.012. At room temperature, the relaxation frequency f _r is around 40 MHz for this ceramic. This novel ferroelectric oxifluoride is a promising material for applications, in particular in the field of Z5U multilayer capacitors.      

Effect of metal substitution for cobalt on the oxygen adsorption properties of YBaCo<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

YBaCo₄O₇ compound is capable to intake and release a large amount of oxygen in the temperature range of 200–400°C. In the present study, the effect of Zn, Ga and Fe substitution for Co on the oxygen adsorption/desorption properties of YBaCo₄O₇ were investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) method. Due to fixed oxidation state of Zn2+ ions, the substitution of Zn²⁺ for Co²⁺ suppresses the oxygen adsorption of YBaCo_4−xZn_xO₇. The substitution of Ga³⁺ for Co³⁺ also decreases the oxygen absorption capacity of YBaCo_4−xGa_xO₇. This can be explained by the strong affinity of Ga³⁺ ions towards the GaO₄ tetrahedron. Compared with Zn- and Ga-substituted samples, the drop of oxygen adsorption capacity is smallest for Fe-substituted samples because of the similar changeability of oxidation states of Co and Fe ions.     

Spinel-Mullite Composites with Optical Properties

The aim of this paper was to study the synthesis and characterization of spinel-containing mullite based materials, using sol-gel techniques. Several gels were prepared, with nominal compositions 3(Al_2−2xM_x Ti_xO₃)·2SiO₂ and 3(Al_2−xM_xO₃)·2SiO₂, with M=Ni⁺² or Co⁺² and 0.0≤x≤0.2, by hydrolysis and condensation of mixtures of aluminum, silicon and titanium alkoxides and nickel chloride. Dried gels were homogeneous and displayed a glass transition at around 750°C, which indicated that the system could be described as an amorphous silicoaluminate network. Crystallization pathway of gels were followed using differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction patterns of samples thermal treated at temperatures in the range between 800 and 1400°C. A two-phase aluminate spinel-mullite arrangement was detected at temperatures around 1200°C. The microstructure of the final product was interesting, because the minor secondary phase was homogeneously dispersed in the mullite matrix. Chemical and thermal resistance of diphasic materials were tested and the results indicate that these materials can be used as high temperature ceramic pigments.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of titanium(iv) polynuclear hydroxo complexes stabilized in solution by the [PW11O39]7− heteropolyanion

Unsaturated heteropolyanions (HPA) [PW₁₁O₃₉]⁷⁻ stabilize Ti^IV hydroxo complexes in aqueous solutions (Ti: PW₁₁ [PW₁₁O₃₉]⁷⁻⪯12, pH 1–3). Spectral studies (optical,¹⁷O and³¹P NMR, and IR spectra) and studies by the differential dissolution method demonstrated that Ti^IV hydroxo complexes are stabilized through interactions of polynuclear Ti^IV hydroxo cations with heteropolyanions [PW₁₁TiO₄₀ ⁵⁻ formed. Depending on the reaction conditions, hydroxo cations Ti _n−1O _x H _y ^m+ either add to oxygen atoms of the W−O−Ti bridges of the heteropolyanions to form the complex [PW₁₁TiO₄₀·Ti _n−1O _x H _y ] ^k− (at [HPA]=0.01 mol L⁻¹) or interact with Ti^IV of the heteropolyanions through the terminal o atom to give the polynuclear complexes [PW₁₁O₃₉Ti−O−Ti _n−1O _x H _y ]^q− (at [HPA]=0.2 mol L⁻¹). When the complexes of the first type were treated with H₂O₂, Ti^IV ions added peroxo groups. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 914–920, May, 1997.     

Determination of diffusion coefficient of lithium in LiMyMn2 ? yO4 spinels using galvanostatic intermittent titration technique

The galvanostatic intermittent titration technique is used to study lithium transport in the LiM _y Mn_{2 − y} O₄ compounds with a spinel structure intended for application as cathodic materials in lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries. Equilibrium intercalation isotherms of the Li _x Mn₂O₄ and Li _x Mn_1.95Cr_0.05O₄ compounds and also their diffusion characteristics are determined at 25°C as dependent on lithium content x, 0 < x < 1. The diffusion coefficient of lithium varies in a complex way in the range of 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻¹² cm²/s under variation of the electrode composition.     

Isomorphous substitution of samarium and gadolinium for calcium in hydroxyapatite structure

Isomorphous substitution of samarium and gadolinium for calcium in synthetic hydroxyapatite by the scheme Ca²⁺ + OH⁻ → Ln³⁺ + O²⁻ was studied by X-ray powder diffraction and IR spectroscopy. The homogeneity region of Ca_{10 − x} Ln _x (PO₄)₆(OH)_{2 − x} O _x phases of variable compositions synthesized at 1100°C was found to exist up to x of 1.8 for Sm and 1.4 for Gd. In the heterogeneous region of solid solutions, phases with Ln₃PO₇ and LnPO₄ structures were formed. The structures of some solid solutions were refined by the Rietveld method, which allowed us to establish that the substitution of Ln³⁺ ions for Ca(2) positions is preferred. Changes in the intensities of the absorption bands of stretching and libration vibrations of OH groups are indicative of a partial dehydration of oxyhydroxyapatite. The substitution was shown to decrease Ca(2)-O(OH) and P-O distances and increase Ca(2)-O(1,2,3) distances.     

Experimental investigation of the Nd–Al–Si system

The isothermal section of the Nd–Al–Si ternary system at 500 °C has been investigated using differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and electron micro-probe analysis. Four ternary intermetallic compounds were confirmed: NdAl₂Si₂ (τ₁), hP5-CaLa₂O₂ structure type, Nd₂Al₃Si (τ₂), hP3-AlB₂ structure type, NdAl_1−x Si_1+x , 0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.3 (τ₃), tI12-αThSi₂ structure type and Nd₂Al_1−x Si_1+x , 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2, (τ₅), oS8-CrB structure type. A new ternary intermetallic phase (τ₄) was found: Nd₄Al₃Si₃, orthorhombic oS20, isotypic with Pr₄Al₃Ge₃.     

Physicochemical properties and catalytic performance of Pr2 − x SrxCoO4 ± y mixed oxides for NO reduction by CO

Using the polyglycol gel method, a series of Pr_{2 − x} Sr_xCoO_{4 ± y} (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) mixed oxides were prepared, and their catalytic activities were studied in the test reaction of NO reduction by CO. The solid-state physicochemical properties, including crystal structure, defect structure, IR spectrum, valence state of B-site ions, nonstoichiometry oxygen (y), oxygen species, and redox properties, were characterized by means of XRD, IR, TPD, TPR, XPS, and chemical analysis. The results show that all mixed oxides display a K₂NiF₄ structure. When x = 0.2 and 1.0, the obtained samples still have little uncertain mixed oxides; however, the mixed oxides (x = 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) all represent a single A₂BO₄ phase. With the increase of x, lattice parameters, unit-cell volume, and average crystalline size decrease gradually, whereas microstrain density, the concentration of Co³⁺, the amounts of lattice oxygen released and the concentration of oxygen vacancy increase. The catalytic activities of Pr_{2 − x} Sr_xCoO_{4 ± y} catalysts for NO reduction by CO are closely correlated with oxygen vacancy and the concentration of Co³⁺. Published in Russian in Kinetika i Kataliz, 2006, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 431–437. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Formation and properties of the new Al8V10W16O85 and Fe8?xAlxV10W16O85 phases with the M–Nb2O5 structure

A new, previously unknown phase Al₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ has been obtained from reaction taking place in the solid state. It forms continuous solid solution with Fe₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ of the Fe_8−x Al _x V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ general formula. All these phases are isostructural with M–Nb₂O₅ and (W_0.35V_0.65)₂O₅ and belong to a block structure phases with ReO₃ type blocks of 4 × 4×∞ dimensions. Al₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ is tetragonal and has the lattice constants a = b = 1.9487(1) nm and c = 0.36706(4) nm. It melts incongruently at 1,183 K depositing Al₂(WO₄)₃ and WO₃. The increase of the Al³⁺ ions content in the crystal lattice of Fe₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ causes the melting point increasing, and decreasing of a = b unit cell parameters with c being almost constant. IR spectra of Al₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ and Fe_8−x Al _x V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ phases have been recorded.     

Rubidium-conducting solid electrolytes in Rb2 ? 2xFe2 ? xVxO4 system

New solid rubidium-conducting electrolytes based on rubidium monoferrite in the system of Rb_{2 − 2x} Fe_2−x V _x O₄ are synthesized and studied. It is found that introduction of V⁵⁺ ions causes a drastic decrease in the electronic conductivity component prevalent in pure RbFeO₂ with a simultaneous increase in the ionic conductivity. The latter becomes predominant at an increase in the concentration of vanadium. The optimum compositions of the studied electrolytes feature a very high cationic rubidium conductivity (∼1.8 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 200°C, more than 10⁻¹ S cm⁻¹ at 700°C). The results are compared with the data obtained earlier for similar systems based on RbGaO₂ and RbAlO₂.