A Dual‐Phase Ceramic Membrane with Extremely High H2 Permeation Flux Prepared by Autoseparation of a Ceramic Precursor

A novel concept for the preparation of multiphase composite ceramics based on demixing of a single ceramic precursor has been developed and used for the synthesis of a dual‐phase H₂‐permeable ceramic membrane. The precursor BaCe_0.5Fe_0.5O_3?δ decomposes on calcination at 1370 °C for 10 h into two thermodynamically stable oxides with perovskite structures: the cerium‐rich oxide BaCe_0.85Fe_0.15O_3?δ (BCF8515) and the iron‐rich oxide BaCe_0.15Fe_0.85O_3?δ (BCF1585), 50 mol % each. In the resulting dual‐phase material, the orthorhombic perovskite BCF8515 acts as the main proton conductor and the cubic perovskite BCF1585 as the main electron conductor. The dual‐phase membrane shows an extremely high H₂ permeation flux of 0.76 mL min^?1 cm^?2 at 950 °C with 1.0 mm thickness. This auto‐demixing concept should be applicable to the synthesis of other ionic‐electronic conducting ceramics.     

Membrane permeation continuous‐flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry for on‐line carbon isotope ratio determination

Gaseous membrane permeation (MP) technologies have been combined with continuous‐flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry for on‐line δ¹³C measurements. The experimental setup of membrane permeation‐gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (MP‐GC/C/IRMS) quantitatively traps gas streams in membrane permeation experiments under steady‐state conditions and performs on‐line gas transfer into a GC/C/IRMS system. A commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane sheet was used for the experiments. Laboratory tests using CO₂ demonstrate that the whole process does not fractionate the C isotopes of CO₂. Moreover, the δ¹³C values of CO₂ permeated on‐line give the same isotopic results as off‐line static dual‐inlet IRMS δ¹³C measurements. Formaldehyde generated from aqueous formaldehyde solutions has also been used as the feed gas for permeation experiments and on‐line δ¹³C determination. The feed‐formaldehyde δ¹³C value was pre‐determined by sampling the headspace of the thermostated aqueous formaldehyde solution. Comparison of the results obtained by headspace with those from direct aqueous formaldehyde injection confirms that the headspace sampling does not generate isotopic fractionation, but the permeated formaldehyde analyzed on‐line yields a ¹³C enrichment relative to the feed δ¹³C value, the isotopic fractionation being 1.0026 ± 0.0003. The δ¹³C values have been normalized using an adapted two‐point isotopic calibration for δ¹³C values ranging from ?42 to ?10‰. The MP‐GC/C/IRMS system allows the δ¹³C determination of formaldehyde without chemical derivatization or additional analytical imprecision. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Back Cover: Multilayered Ceramic Membrane with Ion Conducting Thin Layer Induced by Interface Reaction for Stable Hydrogen Production (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 6/2023)

Conventional methods for fabricating multilayered ceramic membranes with ion conducting dense thin layers are often cumbersome, costly, and limited by poor adhesion between layers. Inspired by the architectural structure of the rooted grasses in soil, here, we report an interface-reaction-induced reassembly approach for the direct fabrication of Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2−δ (CGO) thin layers rooted in the parent multilayered ceramic membranes by only one firing step. The CGO dense layers are very thin, and adhered strongly to the parent support layer, ensuring low ionic transport resistance and structural integrity of the multilayered membranes. When using as an oxygen permeable membrane for upgrading fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen, it shows very long durability in harsh conditions containing H₂O, CH₄, H₂, CO₂ and H₂S. Furthermore, our approach is highly scalable and applicable to a wide variety of ion conducting thin layers, including Y_0.08Zr_0.92O_2−δ, Ce_0.9Sm_0.1O_2−δ and Ce_0.9Pr_0.1O_2−δ.     

Sn and Y co-doped BaCo0.6Fe0.4O3-δ cathodes with enhanced oxygen reduction activity and CO2 tolerance for solid oxide fuel cells

Applying mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conducting（MIEC） oxides as the cathode offers a promising solution to enhance the performance of solid oxide fuel cells（SOFCs）. However, the phase instability in CO₂-containing air and sluggish oxygen reduction activity of MIEC cathodes remain a long-term challenge for optimizing the electrochemical performance of SOFCs. Herein, a heterovalent co-doping strategy is proposed to enhance the oxygen reduction activity and CO₂ tolerance...     

On the sol–gel synthesis and catalytic activity of Ce1−xAxO2−δ (A = Pr, Sm, Gd) SOFCs anode materials for reforming of methane

A sol–gel route to synthesize nanocrystalline praseodymium-, samarium- and gadolinium-doped ceria powders for solid oxides fuel Cells SOFCs is presented. The method involves metal nitrates with propionic acid (both as chelating ligand and solvent), gel formation, liquid nitrogen quenching, drying at 150 °C/24 h, and finally decomposition at 450 °C in nitrogen followed by calcination at 650 °C in air. TG–DTA, BET, XRD, FTIR, UV–vis and catalytic tests were used to characterize the samples. Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O_2?δ sample exhibited the best catalytic performance in methane steam reforming under water deficient conditions, closely followed by Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2?δ, Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_2?δ and Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2?δ catalysts. The superior catalytic performance of Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O_2?δ sample was attributed to the existence of praseodymium species (Pr⁴⁺/Pr³⁺) strongly interacting with ceria. The two systems act synergistically in the catalytic steam reforming of methane.     

Ba1.03Ce0.8 Ho0.2O3-α固体电解质的制备和电性能

采用高温固相反应法制备了非化学计量组成的Ba1.03Ce0.8 Ho0.2O3-α 固体电解质,用XRD和SEM对其相组成和表面及断面形貌进行了表征。用气体浓差电池方法测定了材料在600～1000 ℃温度范围内,干燥空气、湿润空气和湿润氢气气氛中的离子迁移数;用交流阻抗谱技术测定了它们在各实验气氛中的电导率。研究了材料的离子导电特性,并与BaCe0.8Ho0.2O3-α 和Ba0.97Ce0.8Ho0.2O3-α 的性能进行了比较。结果表明：该材料为单相钙钛矿型斜方晶结构。在600～1000 ℃温度范围内、干燥空气中,是氧离子与电子空穴的混合导体,氧离子迁移数为0.10～0.36;在湿润空气中,是质子、氧离子与电子空穴的混合导体,质子迁移数为0.11～0.01,氧离子迁移数为0.34～0.30;在湿润氢气气氛中,是纯质子导体,质子迁移数为1。在600～1000 ℃温度范围内,干燥空气、湿润空气和湿润氢气气氛中,非化学计量组成材料(x = 1.03,0.97)的电导率高于化学计量组成材料(x = 1)的电导率,其中,Ba1.03Ce0.8 Ho0.2O3-α的电导率最高 (1000 ℃时、在干燥空气气氛中：3.92×10-2 S·cm-1;在湿润空气气氛中：3.46×10-2 S·cm-1;在湿润氢气气氛中：2.10×10-2 S·cm-1)。Ba1.03Ce0.8 Ho0.2O3-α材料的离子导电性优于BaCe0.8Ho0.2O3-α 和Ba0.97Ce0.8Ho0.2O3-α。     

Ce1－xNdxO2－δ固溶体的电子顺磁共振谱和阻抗谱的研究

利用溶胶-凝胶方法在800 ℃焙烧10 h后, 合成了固溶体Ce_1－xNd_xO_2－δ (x＝0.05～0.55), X射线衍射(XRD)测试表明固溶体已经形成立方萤石结构; 电子顺磁共振谱(EPR)研究表明在固溶体Ce_1－xNd_xO_2－δ中随着掺杂量x的增大, Ce^3＋离子含量减少, 说明掺杂Nd^3＋离子可以抑制Ce^4＋的还原; 交流阻抗谱的测量表明固溶体Ce_0.9Nd_0.1O_2－d 具有离子导电特性, 600和700 ℃时的电导率分别为4.25×10^－3和1.12×10^－2 S•cm^－1, 活化能为0.68 eV.     

Calcite‐CO2 mixed into CO2‐free air: a new CO2‐in‐air stable isotope reference material for the VPDB scale

In order to generate a reliable and long‐lasting stable isotope ratio standard for CO₂ in samples of clean air, CO₂ is liberated from well‐characterized carbonate material and mixed with CO₂‐free air. For this purpose a dedicated acid reaction and air mixing system (ARAMIS) was designed. In the system, CO₂ is generated by a conventional acid digestion of powdered carbonate. Evolved CO₂ gas is mixed and equilibrated with a prefabricated gas comprised of N₂, O₂, Ar, and N₂O at close to ambient air concentrations. Distribution into glass flasks is made stepwise in a highly controlled fashion. The isotopic composition, established on automated extraction/measurement systems, varied within very small margins of error appropriate for high‐precision air‐CO₂ work (about ±0.015‰ for δ¹³C and ±0.025‰ for δ¹⁸O). To establish a valid δ¹⁸O relation to the VPDB scale, the temperature dependence of the reaction between 25 and 47°C has been determined with a high level of precision. Using identical procedures, CO₂‐in‐air mixtures were generated from a selection of reference materials; (1) the material defining the VPDB isotope scale (NBS 19, δ¹³C = +1.95‰ and δ¹⁸O = ?2.2‰ exactly); (2) a local calcite similar in isotopic composition to NBS 19 (‘MAR‐J1’, δ¹³C = +1.97‰ and δ¹⁸O = ?2.02‰), and (3) a natural calcite with isotopic compositions closer to atmospheric values (‘OMC‐J1’, δ¹³C = ?4.24‰ and δ¹⁸O = ?8.71‰). To quantitatively control the extent of isotope‐scale contraction in the system during mass spectrometric measurement other available international and local carbonate reference materials (L‐SVEC, IAEA‐CO‐1, IAEA‐CO‐8, CAL‐1 and CAL‐2) were also processed. As a further control pure CO₂ reference gases (Narcis I and II, NIST‐RM 8563, GS19 and GS20) were mixed with CO₂‐free synthetic air. Independently, the pure CO₂ gases were measured on the dual inlet systems of the same mass spectrometers. The isotopic record of a large number of independent batches prepared over the course of several months is presented. In addition, the relationship with other implementations of the VPDB‐scale for CO₂‐in‐air (e.g. CG‐99, based on calibration of pure CO₂ gas) has been carefully established. The systematic high‐precision comparison of secondary carbonate and CO₂ reference materials covering a wide range in isotopic composition revealed that assigned δ‐values may be (slightly) in error. Measurements in this work deviate systematically from assigned values, roughly scaling with isotopic distance from NBS 19. This finding indicates that a scale contraction effect could have biased the consensus results. The observation also underlines the importance of cross‐contamination errors for high‐precision isotope ratio measurements. As a result of the experiments, a new standard reference material (SRM), which consists of two 5‐L glass flasks containing air at 1.6 bar and the CO₂ evolved from two different carbonate materials, is available for distribution. These ‘J‐RAS’ SRM flasks (‘Jena‐Reference Air Set’) are designed to serve as a high‐precision link to VPDB for improving inter‐laboratory comparability. a Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effective and Reversible Carbon Dioxide Insertion into Cerium Pyrazolates

The homoleptic pyrazolate complexes [Ce^III₄(Me₂pz)₁₂] and [Ce^IV(Me₂pz)₄]₂ quantitatively insert CO₂ to give [Ce^III₄(Me₂pz?CO₂)₁₂] and [Ce^IV(Me₂pz?CO₂)₄], respectively (Me₂pz=3,5‐dimethylpyrazolato). This process is reversible for both complexes, as observed by in situ IR and NMR spectroscopy in solution and by TGA in the solid state. By adjusting the molar ratio, one molecule of CO₂ per [Ce^IV(Me₂pz)₄] complex could be inserted to give trimetallic [Ce₃(Me₂pz)₉(Me₂pz?CO₂)₃(thf)]. Both the cerous and ceric insertion products catalyze the formation of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO₂ under mild conditions. In the absence of epoxide, the ceric catalyst is prone to reduction by the co‐catalyst tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide (TBAB).     

CO2 Reduction by Hydrogen Pre-Reduced Acceptor-Doped Ceria

The reactivity of H₂ pre-reduced acceptor-doped ceria materials Gd_0.10Ce_0.90O_2-δ (GDC10) and Sm_0.15Ce_0.85O_2-δ (SDC15) was tested with respect to the reduction of CO₂ to CO in the context of the reverse water-gas shift reaction. It was demonstrated that not only oxygen vacancies, but also dissolved hydrogen is a reactive species for the reduction of CO₂. Dissolved hydrogen must be considered upon discussion of the mechanism of the reverse water-gas shift reaction on ceria-derived materials apart from oxygen vacancies and formates. The reduction of CO₂ is preceded by the formation of carbonate species of different thermal stability and reactivity. The stability of these carbonates was directly demonstrated by in situ infrared spectroscopy and revealed the largely reversible nature of CO₂ ad- and desorption. In comparison to pre-reduced samples, decreased carbonate coverage is obtained after oxidative treatments of GDC10 and SDC15. No significant effect of the sample treatment (O₂ oxidation or H₂ reduction) on the surface carbonate stability was noticed. Mono-dentate carbonates and carboxylates appear to be more easily formed on pre-reduced (i. e. defective) samples. Ce⁴⁺ reduction to Ce³⁺ (by H₂) and re-oxidation to Ce⁴⁺ (by CO₂) on GDC10/SDC15 were directly monitored by infrared spectroscopic analysis of a distinct, IR-active electronic transition of Ce³⁺. These results show the complex interplay of oxygen vacancy/dissolved hydrogen reactivity and surface chemical aspects in acceptor-doped ceria materials.     

A Carbon–Air Battery for High Power Generation

We report a carbon–air battery for power generation based on a solid‐oxide fuel cell (SOFC) integrated with a ceramic CO₂‐permeable membrane. An anode‐supported tubular SOFC functioned as a carbon fuel container as well as an electrochemical device for power generation, while a high‐temperature CO₂‐permeable membrane composed of a CO₃^2? mixture and an O^2? conducting phase (Sm_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9) was integrated for in situ separation of CO₂ (electrochemical product) from the anode chamber, delivering high fuel‐utilization efficiency. After modifying the carbon fuel with a reverse Boudouard reaction catalyst to promote the in situ gasification of carbon to CO, an attractive peak power density of 279.3 mW cm^?2 was achieved for the battery at 850 °C, and a small stack composed of two batteries can be operated continuously for 200 min. This work provides a novel type of electrochemical energy device that has a wide range of application potentials.     

Tuning Magnetic Properties of CeO2 by Fe Doping via an Electrochemical Deposition Route

Herein Ce_1?xFe_xO_2?δ nanocomposites were investigated for dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS) properties. Ce_1?xFe_xO_2?δ nanospheres and porous nanostructures with high surface areas have been successfully prepared by electrochemical deposition at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The structures and morphologies of Ce_1?xFe_xO_2?δ deposits were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N₂ adsorption–desorption techniques. The magnetic properties of the prepared Ce_1?xFe_xO_2?δ nanospheres and porous nanostructures were studied, and they showed room‐temperature ferromagnetism and giant magnetic moments. In addition, the effects of morphologies and compositions on the magnetic properties of Ce_1?xFe_xO_2?δ deposits were studied.     

High Ionic Conductivity in a LiFeO2–LiAlO2 Composite Under H2/Air Fuel Cell Conditions

New ionic conducting materials for electrolytes for electrochemical devices have been attracting the interest of researchers in energy materials. Here, for the first time, we report a conductive composite with high ionic conductivity derived from an electronic conductor α‐LiFeO₂ and an insulator γ‐LiAlO₂. High conductivity was observed in the α‐LiFeO₂–γ‐LiAlO₂ composite when prepared by a solid state reaction method. However, the conductivity enhancement in α‐LiFeO₂–γ‐LiAlO₂ composite was not observed when the two oxides were mechanically mixed. The α‐LiFeO₂–γ‐LiAlO₂ composite also exhibits O^2? or/and H⁺ ionic conduction which was confirmed through H₂/air fuel cell measurements. An exceptionally high conductivity of 0.50 S cm^?1 at 650 °C was observed under H₂/air fuel cell conditions. This provides a new approach to discover novel ionic conductors from composite materials derived from electronic conductors.     

Chemical Stability,Ionic Conductivity of BaCe0.9−xZrxSm0.10O3−α and Its Application to Ammonia Synthesis at Atmospheric Pressure

Dense ceramic samples BaCe_0.9?xZr_xSm_0.10O_3?α (x=0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.30) were obtained by heat‐treating the precursors prepared from a coprecipitation route. The phase structure, chemical stability and conduction behaviors of the ceramic samples have been investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction and alternating current impedance spectroscopy methods. All the ceramic samples displayed a single phase of orthorhombic perovskite. The samples with x≧0.20 were relatively stable after exposed to the flowing mixed gases: CO₂ +H₂O+N₂ at 873 K for 12 h. Among the samples tested, the sample with x=0.20 exhibited both adequate conductivity and better chemical stability. The contribution of different charged species for x=0.20 sample to the conduction in wet hydrogen atmosphere was investigated by means of gas concentration cells. It was found that the sample of x=0.20 was almost a pure ionic conductor, and the ionic conduction was contributed mainly by proton and partially by oxide ion in wet hydrogen atmosphere at 773–1073 K. The ammonia synthesis at atmospheric pressure in an electrolytic cell based on the sample of x=0.20 was successfully conducted and the peak ammonia formation rate achieved 2.67×10^?9 mol·s^?1·cm^?2 with direct current of 0.80 mA at 773 K.     

Preparation and characterization of ceria-Based electrolytes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC)

Solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can be used for clean, efficient and environment-friendly energy conversion with a variety of fuels at high temperature (1273 K). The high temperature operation accelerates unwanted reactions and creates materials challenges; so, intermediate-temperature SOFCs (IT-SOFCs) have been developed. Reduction of the operating temperature (between 873–1073 K) requires solid electrolyte materials with higher conductivities. In this study, partially substituted ceria as solid electrolyte is experimented systematically for use in solid oxide fuel cells operating below 1073 K (intermediate temperature range). Nine compositions namely, CeO₂, Ce_0.95Gd_0.05O_2-δ (CGO9505), Ce_0.90Gd_0.10O_2-δ (CGO9010), Ce_0.85Gd_0.15O_2-δ (CGO8515), Ce_0.80Gd_0.20O_2-δ (CGO8020), Ce_0.95Sm_0.05O_2-δ (SDC9505), Ce_0.90Sm_0.10O_2-δ (SDC9010), Ce_0.85Sm_0.15O_2-δ (SDC8515) and Ce_0.80Sm_0.20O_2-δ (SDC8020) were synthesized by Glycine Nitrate (GN) combustion technique and investigated. The physical properties and the other relevant features of the data obtained are analyzed with a view to use these alternate electrolyte materials in IT-SOFC.     

A dynamic soil chamber system coupled with a tunable diode laser for online measurements of δ13C, δ18O,and efflux rate of soil‐respired CO2

High frequency observations of the stable isotopic composition of CO₂ effluxes from soil have been sparse due in part to measurement challenges. We have developed an open‐system method that utilizes a flow‐through chamber coupled to a tunable diode laser (TDL) to quantify the rate of soil CO₂ efflux and its δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values (δ¹³C_R and δ¹⁸O_R, respectively). We tested the method first in the laboratory using an artificial soil test column and then in a semi‐arid woodland. We found that the CO₂ efflux rates of 1.2 to 7.3 µmol m^?2 s^?1 measured by the chamber‐TDL system were similar to measurements made using the chamber and an infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) (R² = 0.99) and compared well with efflux rates generated from the soil test column (R² = 0.94). Measured δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of CO₂ efflux using the chamber‐TDL system at 2 min intervals were not significantly different from source air values across all efflux rates after accounting for diffusive enrichment. Field measurements during drought demonstrated a strong dependency of CO₂ efflux and isotopic composition on soil water content. Addition of water to the soil beneath the chamber resulted in average changes of +6.9 µmol m^?2 s^?1, ?5.0‰, and ?55.0‰ for soil CO₂ efflux, δ¹³C_R and δ¹⁸O_R, respectively. All three variables initiated responses within 2 min of water addition, with peak responses observed within 10 min for isotopes and 20 min for efflux. The observed δ¹⁸O_R was more enriched than predicted from temperature‐dependent H₂O‐CO₂ equilibration theory, similar to other recent observations of δ¹⁸O_R from dry soils (Wingate L, Seibt U, Maseyk K, Ogee J, Almeida P, Yakir D, Pereira JS, Mencuccini M. Global Change Biol. 2008; 14: 2178). The soil chamber coupled with the TDL was found to be an effective method for capturing soil CO₂ efflux and its stable isotope composition at high temporal frequency. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of Dopant Atom Distribution and Quantification of Oxygen Vacancies on Individual Gd‐Doped CeO2 Nanocrystals

This work reports the analysis of the distribution of Gd atoms and the quantification of O vacancies applied to individual CeO₂ and Gd‐doped CeO₂ nanocrystals by electron energy‐loss spectroscopy. The concentration of O vacancies measured on the undoped system (6.3±2.6 %) matches the expected value given the typical Ce³⁺ content previously reported for CeO₂ nanoparticles. The doped nanoparticles have an uneven distribution of dopant atoms and an atypical amount of O vacant sites (37.7±4.1 %). The measured decrease of the O content induced by Gd doping cannot be explained solely by the charge balance including Ce³⁺ and Gd³⁺ ions.     

A system for high‐quality CO2 isotope analyses of air samples collected by the CARIBIC Airbus A340‐600

In 2007, JRC‐IRMM began a series of atmospheric CO₂ isotope measurements, with the focus on understanding instrumental effects, corrections as well as metrological aspects. The calibration approach at JRC‐IRMM is based on use of a plain CO₂ sample (working reference CO₂) as a calibration carrier and CO₂‐air mixtures (in high‐pressure cylinders) to determine the method‐related correction under actual analytical conditions (another calibration carrier, in the same form as the samples). Although this approach differs from that in other laboratories, it does give a direct link to the primary reference NBS‐19‐CO₂. It also helps to investigate the magnitude and nature for each of the instrumental corrections and allows for the quantification of the uncertainty introduced. Critical tests were focused on the instrumental corrections. It was confirmed that the use of non‐symmetrical capillary crimping (an approach used here to deal with small samples) systematically modifies δ¹³C(CO₂) and δ¹⁸O(CO₂), with a clear dependence on the amount of extracted CO₂. However, the calibration of CO₂‐air mixtures required the use of the symmetrical dual‐inlet mode. As a proof of our approach, we found that δ¹³C(CO₂) on extracts from mixtures agreed (within 0.010‰) with values obtained from the ‘mother’ CO₂ used for the mixtures. It was further found that very low levels of hydrocarbons in the pumping systems and the isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) instrument itself were critical. The m/z 46 values (consequently the calculated δ¹⁸O(CO₂) values) are affected by several other effects with traces of air co‐trapped with frozen CO₂ being the most critical. A careful cryo‐distillation of the extracted CO₂ is recommended. After extensive testing, optimisation, and routine automated use, the system was found to give precise data on air samples that can be traced with confidence to the primary standards. The typical total combined uncertainty in δ¹³C(CO₂) and δ¹⁸O(CO₂) on the VPDB‐CO₂ scale, estimated on runs of CO₂‐air mixtures, is ±0.040‰ and 0.060‰ (2‐σ values). Inter‐comparison with MPI‐BGC resulted in a scale discrepancy of a similar magnitude. Although the reason(s) for this discrepancy still need to be understood, this basically confirms the approach of using specifically prepared CO₂‐air mixtures as a calibration carrier, in order to achieve scale unification among laboratories. As important practical application and as a critical test, JRC‐IRMM took part in the passenger aircraft‐based global monitoring project CARIBIC ( http://www.caribic‐atmospheric.com ). In this way, reliable CO₂ isotope data for the tropopause region and the free troposphere were obtained. From June 2007 to January 2009, approximately 500 CARIBIC air samples have been analysed. Some flights demonstrated a compact correlation of both δ¹³C(CO₂) and δ¹⁸O(CO₂) with respect to CO₂ concentration, demonstrating mixing of tropospheric and stratospheric air masses. These excellent correlations provide an independent, realistic data quality check. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new langbeinite‐type phosphate K2GdHf(PO4)3: synthesis,crystal structure,band structure and luminescence properties

Langbeinite‐type compounds are a large family that include phosphates, sulfates and arsenates, and which are accompanied by interesting physical properties. This work reports a new disordered langbeinite‐type compound, K₂GdHf(PO₄)₃ [dipotassium gadolinium hafnium tris(phosphate)], and its structure as determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Theoretical studies reveal that K₂GdHf(PO₄)₃ is an insulator with a direct band gap of 4.600 eV and that the optical transition originates from the O‐2p→Hf‐5d transition. A Ce³⁺‐doped phosphor, K₂Gd_0.99Ce_0.01Hf(PO₄)₃, was prepared and its luminescence properties studied. With 324 nm light excitation, a blue emission band was observed due to the 5d¹→4f¹ transition of Ce³⁺. The average luminescence lifetime was calculated to be 5.437 µs and the CIE chromaticity coordinates were (0.162, 0.035). One may expect that K₂Gd_0.99Ce_0.01Hf(PO₄)₃ can be used as a good blue phosphor for three‐colour white‐light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs).     

Preparation of aqueous sols of Ce1 − x Gd x O2-δ, Y0.9Eu0.1VO4 and nanocomposites Ce1 − x Gd x O2-δ/Y0.9Eu0.1VO4 stabilized by polyacrylic acid

A method for the synthesis of stable aqueous sols of nanocrystalline solid solutions Ce_1?x Gd _x O_2-δ (x = 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) and Y_0.9Eu_0.1VO₄ and nanocomposites Ce_{1 ? x} Gd _x O_2-δ/Y_0.9Eu_0.1VO₄ stabilized by biocompatible low-molecular-weight polyacrylic acid was proposed. Polyacrylic acid was shown to be a promising matrix for the preparation of polyfunctional composite materials.