Mössbauer study of the thermal decomposition of alkali tris(oxalato)ferrates(III)

The thermal decomposition of alkali (Li,Na,K,Cs,NH₄) tris(oxalato)ferrates(III) has been studied at different temperatures up to 700°C using Mössbauer, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric techniques. The formation of different intermediates has been observed during thermal decomposition. The decomposition in these complexes starts at different temperatures, i.e., at 200°C in the case of lithium, cesium, and ammonium ferrate(III), 250°C in the case of sodium, and 270°C in the case of potassium tris(oxalato)ferrate(III). The intermediates, i.e., Fe¹¹C₂O₄, K₆Fe¹¹₂(ox)₅. and Cs₂Fe¹¹ (ox)₂(H₂O)₂, are formed during thermal decomposition of lithium, potassium, and cesium tris(oxalato)ferrates(III), respectively. In the case of sodium and ammonium tris(oxalato)ferrates(III), the decomposition occurs without reduction to the iron(II) state and leads directly to α-Fe₂O₃.     

Preparation of sodium ferrite from the thermolysis of sodium tris(maleato/fumarato)ferrates(III)

Thermal decomposition of sodium tris(maleato)ferrate(III) hexahydrate, Na₃[Fe(C₄H₂O₄)₃]·6H₂O and sodium tris(fumarato)ferrate(III) heptahydrate, Na₃[Fe(C₄H₂O₄)₃]·7H₂O has been studied upto 973 K in static air atmosphere employing TG, DTG, DSC, XRD, Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopic techniques. Dehydration of the maleate complex is complete at 455 K and the anhydrous complex immediately undergoes decomposition till α-Fe₂O₃ and sodium carbonate are formed at 618 K. In the final stage of remixing of cations, a solid state reaction between α-Fe₂O₃ and sodium carbonate leads to the formation of α-NaFeO₂ at a temperature (773 K) much lower than for ceramic method. Almost similar mode of decomposition has been observed for the fumarate complex. A comparison of the thermal stability shows that the fumarate precursor decomposes at a higher temperature than the maleate complex due to the trans geometry of the former.     

Mössbauer study on solid state photolysis of alkali tris(malonato)ferrates(III)

Solid state photolysis of alkali tris(malonato)ferrates(III), i.e., M₃[Fe(CH₂C₂O₄)₃]xH₂O (M=Li, Na, K, NH₄) has been studied employing Mössbauer, infrared and reflectance spectroscopic techniques. The complexes were irradiated for 300 hours using a medium pressure mercury vapour lamp of 250 W, Photodecomposition led to the formation of an iron(II) intermediate, M₂[Fe^II(CH₂C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂] (M=Li, Na, K) which on prolonged standing in air oxidized to M[Fe^III(CH₂C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]. However, in case of ammonium complex, Fe^IICH₂C₂O₄·2H₂O once formed remained stable. The extent of photoreduction showed the sequence: NH₄, K>Li>Na. The results have been compared with those of alkali tris (oxalato) ferrates(III).     

Thermal Analysis of Magnesium Tris(maleato) Ferrate(III) Dodecahydrate. Physico-chemical studies

Thermal analysis of magnesium tris(maleato) ferrate(III) dodecahydrate has been studied from ambient to 700°C in static air atmosphere employing TG, DTG, DTA, XRD, Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopic techniques. The precursor decomposes to iron(II) intermediate species along with magnesium maleate at 248°C. The iron(II) species then undergo oxidative decomposition to give α-Fe₂O₃ at 400°C. At higher temperatures magnesium maleate decomposes directly to magnesium oxide, MgO, which undergoes a solid state reaction with α-Fe₂O₃ to yield magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄) at 600°C, a temperature much lower than for ceramic method. The results have been compared with those of the oxalate precursor.     

Physico-chemical studies on the thermolysis of strontium and barium ferrimaleates

The thermolysis of strontium and barium tris(maleato)ferrates(III), M₃ [Fe(C₂ H₂ C₂ O₄ )₃ ]₂ ·x H₂ O has been investigated from ambient temperature to 800 °C using simultaneous TG-DTG-DTA, XRD, Mössbauer and IR spectroscopic techniques. After dehydration the anhydrous complexes undergo decomposition to yield an iron(II)maleate/oxalate intermediate in the temperature range of 240-280 °C. An oxidative decomposition of iron(II) species leads to the formation of -Fe₂ O₃ and respective alkaline earth metal carbonate in the successive stages. Finally at 540-590 °C, a solid state reaction occurs between -Fe₂ O₃ and strontium/barium carbonate resulting in the formation of SrFeO_2.5 and BaFe₂ O₄ , respectively.     

Mössbauer studies on thermal decomposition of some alkali tris (malonato) ferrate (III) tetrahydrates

Thermal decomposition of some alkali tris (malonato) ferrate (III) tetrahydrates, i. e. M₃ [Fe(CH₂C₂O₄)₃]·4H₂O (M=Na, K) has been studied in the temperature range of 433–973 K in static air atmosphere using Mössbauer, IR and TG-DTG-DTA techniques. Mössbauer spectra are reported at different stages to study the mechanism of decomposition. The anhydrous complex decomposed into -Fe₂O₃ of varying particle sizes and alkali metal malonate/carbonate in successive stages. In the final stage of remixing of cations, a solid state reaction between -Fe₂O₃ and alkali metal carbonate/oxide gives fine particles of the respective ferrites at temperatures lower than for oxalate precursor or even for ceramic method. Thermal stability obeys the order: sodium > potassium > lithium tris(malonato) ferrate (III).     

Preparation of magnesium and calcium ferrites from the thermolysis of M3[Fe(cit)2]2·xH2O precursors

Magnesium and calcium ferrites have been prepared from the thermolysis of M₃[Fe(C₆H₅O₇)₂]₂·xH₂0 (M=Mg, Ca) precursors. Thermal decomposition of the precursors has been studied employing various physico-chemical techniques, i.e., TG-DSC, XRD, IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. After dehydration the anhydrous precursors undergo an abrupt oxidative pyrolysis to yield α-Fe₂O₃ and a metastable acetone-dicarboxylate intermediate. A subsequent exothermic decomposition leads to the formation of MgO and CaCO₃ from the respective intermediates. Finally ferrite is formed as a result of solid state reaction between MO/MCO₃ and α-Fe₂O₃. Nanosized ferrites of the stoichiometry MgFe₂O₄ and Ca₂Fe₂O₅ have been obtained from magnesium and calcium bis(citrato) ferrates(III). The temperature of ferrite formation is much lower than possible in conventional ceramic method. The results have been compared with the respective oxalate and maleate precursors.     

Mössbauer study of the thermal decomposition of alkali dihydroxo tetrapropionato ferrates(III)

Thermal decomposition of alkali dihydroxo tetrapropionato ferrates(III), M₃[Fe(C₂H₅COO)₄(OH)₂]xH₂O (M=Li, Na, K) has been studied upto 973 K. The complexes were calcined isothermally at various temperatures i. e., 473, 573, 773 and 973 K. The intermediates/products have been characterized by Mössbauer, infrared spectroscopies and XRD powder diffraction. The anhydrous complexes directly decompose to give -Fe₂O₃ and alkali metal carbonate without undergoing reduction to iron(II) moiety. An increase in the particle size and internal magnetic field of -Fe₂O₃ has been observed with increasing decomposition temperature. At higher temperature (973 K) MFeO₂ is formed as the final thermolysis product due to a solid state reaction between -Fe₂O₃ and alkali metal carbonate.     

Mössbauer effect studies on alkali tris(maleato) ferrates(III)

Mössbauer spectra of alkali tris(maleato) ferrates(III), i.e., M₃[Fe(C₂H₂C₂O₄)₃]·nH₂O [M=Li, Na, K, Cs] at 300 K display a doublet. The Mössbauer parameters indicate these complexes to be high spin with octahedral symmetry. The isomer shift shows a decreasing trend with the increase in electronegativity/polarizing power of the substituent cation (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺). A linear correlation between isomer shift values and the (Fe?O) stretching frequencies has also been observed.     

Solid state photodecomposition of alkaline earth tris/malonato/ferrates/III/

Solid state photolysis of alkaline earth tris/malonato/ferrates/III/, i.e., M₃[Fe(CH₂C₂O₄)₃]₂.xH₂O /M=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba/ has been investigated employing Mössbauer, infrared and reflectance spectroscopic techniques. The complexes were irradiated for 400 h using a medium pressure mercury vapour lamp of 250 Watts. Photoreduction led to the formation of M[Fe^II(CH₂C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]. The extent of photoreduction showed the following order: Ca>Sr>Mg>Ba. The results have been compared with those of analogous alkaline earth tris/oxalato/ferrates/III/.     

Thermal analysis of lithium tris (malonato) ferrate(III) tetrahydrate

Thermal decomposition of lithium tris (malonato) ferrate (III) tetrahydrate i.e. Li₃[Fe(CH₂C₂O₄)₃].4H₂O has been studied in the temperature range of 353–873 K in static air atmosphere using Mössbauer, infrared spectroscopy and nonisothermal techniques (TG-DTG-DTA). The anhydrous complex decomposed into ferric oxide of varying particle sizes and alkali metal malonates/carbonates in succesive stages. Fimally a solid state reaction between -Fe₂O₃ and alkali metal carbonate gives fine particles of lithium ferrite (LiFeO₂) at a temperature lower than for oxalate precursor and for ceramic method.     

Physico-chemical Studies on Zinc Hexa(formato)ferrate(III) Decahydrate

Thermal analysis of zinc hexa(formato)ferrate(III) decahydrate, Zn₃ [Fe(HCOO)₆]₂ 10H₂O has been investigated up to 800°C in static air atmosphere employing TG, DSC, XRD, IR, ESR and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques. After dehydration at 160°C, the anhydrous complex decomposes into α-Fe₂ O₃ and zinc carbonate in successive stages. Subsequently the cations remix to yield fine particles of zinc ferrite, ZnFe₂ O₄ , as a result of solid state reaction between α-Fe₂ O₃ and zinc carbonate at a temperature (600°C) much lower than for ceramic method.     

Synthesis of nanosized ferrites from the thermolysis of strontium and barium hexa(formato)ferrates(III)

Summary The thermal analysis of strontium and barium hexa(formato)ferrates(III), M₃[Fe(HCOO)₆]₂^. xH₂O, has been carried out from ambient temperature to 800 °C. Various physico-chemical techniques, i.e., TG, DTG, DSC, XRD, IR, M?ssbauer spectroscopy, etc., have been employed to characterize the intermediates/end products. After dehydration, the anhydrous complexes undergo decomposition to yielda-Fe₂O₃and metal oxalate in the temperature range of 275-290 °C. A subsequent oxidative decomposition of metal oxalate leads to the formation of respective alkaline earth metal carbonate in successive stages. Finally, nanosized ferrites of Sr₂Fe₂O₅and BaFe₂O₄stoichiometry have been obtained as a result of a solid-state reaction betweena-Fe₂O₃and a fraction of MCO₃. The temperature of ferrite formation is much lower than possible in the conventional ceramic method.     

Kinetics of thermal decomposition of iron(III) dicarboxylate complexes

Summary Tris(dicarboxylate) complexes of iron(III) with oxalate, maleate, malonate and phthalate viz. K₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃]×3H₂O (1), K₃[Fe(OOCCH₂COO)₃]×3H₂O (2), K₃[Fe(OOCCH=CHCOO)₃]×3H₂O (3), K₃[Fe(OOC-1,2-(C₆H₄)-COO)₃]×3H₂O (4) have been synthesized and characterized using a combination of physicochemical techniques. The thermal decomposition behaviour of these complexes have been investigated under dynamic air atmosphere upto 800 K. All these complexes undergo a three-step dehydration/decomposition process for which the kinetic parameters have been calculated using Freeman-Carrol model as well as using different mechanistic models of the solid-state reactions. The trisoxalato and trismalonato ferrate(III) complexes undergo rapid dehydration at lower temperature below 470 K. At moderately higher temperatures (i.e. >600 and 500 K, respectively) they formed bis chelate iron(III) complexes. The trismalonato and trismaleato complexes dehydrate with almost equal ease but the latter is much less stable to decomposition and yields FeCO₃ below 760 K. The cis-dicarboxylate complexes particularly with maleate(2-) and phthalate(2-) ligands are highly prone to the loss of cyclic anhydrides at moderately raised temperatures. The thermal decomposition of the tris(dicarboxylato)iron(II) to iron oxide was not observed in the investigated temperature range up to 800 K. The dehydration processes generally followed the first or second order mechanism while the third decomposition steps followed either three-dimensional diffusion or contracting volume mechanism.     

Mössbauer study of photolysis and γ-radiolysis of alkali bis(citrato) ferrates(III)

The photolysis of alkali bis(citrato) ferrates(III) M₃Fe(cit)₂·xH₂O (M = Li, Na, K, Cs, NH₄) in solid and solution phases and γ-radiolysis in solid state has been investigated using Mössbauer and IR spectroscopic techniques. The formation of iron(II) species as the ultimate product in all these complexes has been observed except the solid state photolysis of potassium bis(citrato) ferrate(III) in which the intermediate iron(II) moiety is oxidized to an octahedral iron(III) species.     

Two tris(oxalato)ferrate(III) hybrid salts with pyridinium derivative isomers as counter cations: synthesis,crystal structures,thermal analyses,and magnetic properties

Two organic–inorganic hybrid salts, tris(2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyridinium) tris(oxalato)ferrate(III), (C₇H₁₁N₂)₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃] (1), and tris(4-dimethylaminopyridinium) tris(oxalato)ferrate(III) tetrahydrate, (C₇H₁₁N₂)₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃]·4H₂O (2), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental and thermal analyses, IR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and SQUID magnetometry. Compounds 1 and 2 crystallize in triclinic P-1 and monoclinic C2/c space groups, respectively. Each compound contains the anionic complex [Fe(C₂O₄)₃]^3- in which the central metal is six-coordinate in a slightly distorted octahedron defined by three chelating oxalate(2-) ligands. The two substituted pyridinium cations are isomers. However, due to the great steric hindrance provided by the bulky cation, 2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyridinium, only the 4-dimethylaminopyridinium cation, the smallest of this series, led to formation of 2 with enough vacant spaces to be occupied by four solvent water molecules. In the crystals, cations and anions are connected via hydrogen-bonds of the types N–H?O in 1 and N–H?O and O–H?O in 2, with π–π stacking interactions between the pyridine rings stabilizing the 3-D framework. The thermal studies confirmed the anhydrous character of salt 1 and the presence of water molecules in salt 2. The magnetic susceptibility measurements in the 2–300 K temperature range revealed weak antiferromagnetic coupling in the two salts.     

Preparation of single-phase α-Fe(III) oxide nanoparticles by thermal decomposition. Influence of the precursor on properties

In this research, we present an experimental procedure to prepare single-phase α-Fe(III) oxide nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of five different precursors including: iron(III) citrate; Fe(C₆H₅O₇), iron(III) acetylacetonate; Fe(C₅H₇O₂)₃, and iron(III) oxalate; Fe(C₂O₄)₃, iron(III) acetate; Fe(C₂H₃O₂)₃, and the thermal curves obtained were analyzed. The influence of the thermal decomposition of precursors on the formation α-Fe₂O₃ was studied by differential thermal gravimetry and thermogravimetry. The synthesized powders were characterized by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. High quality iron oxide nanoparticles with narrow size distribution and average particle size between ca. 2 and 30 nm have been obtained. It was found that the iron precursors affect the temperatures of the pure α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle formation with different diameters; iron(III) citrate (29 nm), iron(III) acetylacetonate (37 nm), and iron(III) oxalate (24 nm).     

Thermal Investigations of M[La(C2O4)3]⋅xH2O (M=Cr(III) and Co(III))

The complexes M[La(C₂O₄)₃]⋅xH₂O (x=10 for M=Cr(III) and x=7 forM=Co(III)) have been synthesized and their thermal stability was investigated. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, reflectance and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Thermal investigations using TG, DTG and DTA techniques in air of chromium(III)tris(oxalato)lanthanum(III)decahydrate, Cr[La(C₂O₄)₃]⋅10H₂O showed the complex decomposition pattern in air. The compound released all the ten molecules of water within ∼170°C, followed by decomposition to a mixture of oxides and carbides of chromium and lanthanum, i.e. CrO₂, Cr₂O₃, Cr₃O₄, Cr₃C₂, La₂O₃, La₂C₃, LaCO, LaCrO_x (2<x<3) and C at ∼1000°C through the intermediate formation of several compounds of chromium and lanthanum at ∼374, ∼430 and ∼550°C. Thecobalt(III)tris(oxalato)lanthanum(III)heptahydrate, Co[La(C₂O₄)₃]⋅7H₂O becomes anhydrous around 225°C, followed by decomposition to Co₃O₄, La₂(CO₃)₃ and C at ∼340°C and several other mixture species of cobalt and lanthanum at∼485°C. The end products were identified to be LaCoO₃, Co₃O₄, La₂O₃, La₂C₃, Co₃C, LaCO and C at ∼ 2>1000°C. DSC studies in nitrogen of both the compounds showed several distinct steps of decomposition along with ΔH and ΔSvalues. IR and powder XRD studies have identified some of the intermediate species. The tentative mechanisms for the decomposition in air are proposed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mössbauer study of the thermal decomposition of iron(III) benzoate and iron(III) fumarate

The thermal decomposition of iron(III) benzoate, Fe(C₇H₅O₂)₃, and iron(III) fumarate pentahydrate, Fe₂(C₄H₂O₄)₃ 5 H₂O, containing uni- and bidentate ligands, respectively, has been investigated at various temperatures for different intervals of time in a static air atmosphere. Thermolysis of these compounds leads directly to the formation of α-Fe₂O₃ in the case of iron(III) benzoate and Fe₃O₄ in the case of iron(III) fumarate as the ultimate products, thus without undergoing reduction to the iron(II) state.     

Physico-chemical studies on thermal analysis of cobalt hexa(formato)ferrate(III) decahydrate

Thermal decomposition of cobalt hexa(formato)ferrate(III) decahydrate, Co₃[Fe(HCOO)₆]₂. 10H₂O, has been studied up to 973 K in static air atmosphere, employing TG, DTG, DSC, XRD, ESR, Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopic techniques. Dehydration occurs in two stages in the temperature range of 340–430 K. Immediately after the removal of the last water molecule the anhydrous complex undergoes decomposition till α-Fe₂O₃ and cobalt carbonate are formed at 588 K. In the final stage of remixing of cations, a solid state reaction between α-Fe₂O₃ and cobalt carbonate leads to the formation of CoFe₂O₄ at a temperature (953 K) much lower than for the ceramic method. A saturation magnetization value of 2310 Gauss of ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) shows its potential to function at high frequencies.