Thermal Decomposition and Crystallization of Aqueous Sol-Gel Derived Zirconium Acetate Gels: Effects of the Additive Anions

Zirconia powders were prepared by forming gels by desiccation of aqueous precursor solutions of zirconium acetate containing nitric or sulfuric acid at pH 2.4 and 1.4 and pyrolyzing the gels to temperatures up to 825°C. The structure development in the gels and solid pyrolysis products was investigated. The crystalline zirconia structures produced monoclinic (m), metastable cubic (c) and tetragonal (t) polymorphs. The structure transition temperatures were strongly dependent on the pH, the anions and the stoichiometry of the zirconium complex in the precursor solution. The monoclinic polymorph fraction in the zirconia formed by pyrolyzing the gel formed from the precursor solution containing sulfuric acid at pH 2.4 to 750°C approaches zero while this ratio in the zirconia formed by pyrolyzing the gel formed from the precursor solution containing nitric acid at pH 1.4 to 825°C is 0.7.     

Effect of Oxygen Environment on the Decomposition and Crystallization of an Aqueous Sol-Gel Derived Zirconium Acetate Gel

A precursor gel was prepared by desiccation of an aqueous solution of zirconium acetate and pyrolyzed to form crystalline powders in selected gas environments. Thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate the decomposition of the gel and the transformations occurring during pyrolysis to 800°C in nitrogen, air and oxygen. Three transition temperatures were detected: the amorphous-to-cubic crystal transformation, cubic-to-tetragonal transformation, and the initiation of tetragonal-to-monoclinic transition. The presence of molecular oxygen decreased the crystallization temperature, increased the grain size of the tetragonal crystals formed and decreased the temperature at which the tetragonal-to-monoclinic transformation was initiated. The decrease in the crystallization temperature in the presence of oxygen occurred despite an increase in the temperature corresponding to the loss of the major portion of the organic component of the gel.     

Thermal Stability of Sol-Gel Derived 6 Mole%CaO-ZrO2 Ceramics

The thermal behavior of the hyperfine interaction at Zr sites on two sol-gel derived 6 mole% CaO-ZrO₂ powders, obtained from the particulate and non-particulate regimes, has been studied by Perturbed Angular Correlations and complementary techniques. The aim was to get experimental support on the thermal stability of the obtained material in order to see the advantages of the different preparation regimes. The results could be interpreted in terms of the different microstructures and nanoscopic configurations exhibited by the resulting powders. After crystallization both powders showed the hyperfine nanoconfigurations of metastable tetragonal zirconia. In the sample obtained following the hydrolysis and the condensation processes via a particulate regime, the undesirable phase transformation towards the monoclinic form of zirconia is inhibited up to higher temperatures.     

The Effect of Precursor Chemistry on the Crystallisation and Densification of Sol-Gel Derived Mullite Gels and Powders

Stoichiometric and silica-rich mullite gels and powders were prepared using four different sol-gel methods. Thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and dilatometry techniques were used to investigate the thermal decomposition, crystallisation and sintering of these mullite precursor gels. The method of preparation, by controlled hydrolysis of various mixtures of tetraethylorthosilicate, aluminium sec-butoxide and aluminium nitrate, affected the texture of the gels, producing single-phase or diphasic samples.The crystallisation sequence of the gels depended on the composition and method of preparation. Single phase mullite crystallised from homogeneous gels at 980°C, while diphasic gels initially formed of a mixture of -Al₂O₃ spinel and mullite, or simple -Al₂O₃ spinel, which subsequently transformed to mullite at 1260°C.Dilatometry and density measurement were used to investigate the sintering of compacts formed by pressing powders prepared from gels precalcined at 500°C. Varying the heating rates from 2 to 10°C min^-1 had little effect on the densification to 1500°C. However, the densification rate was sensitive to the degree of crystallinity and the amount and type of phases present at the sintering temperature. The presence of -Al₂O₃ spinel in the structure initially promoted densification, but the sintering rate was reduced considerably after mullite crystallised. Diphasic materials, especially those with an excess amount of silica in the original gel, sintered to higher densities due to the presence of excess silica promoting densification by viscous phase sintering.     

温度对水的离子积与溶液酸碱性的pH判据的影响

讨论了温度对水的离子积Kw和溶液酸碱性的pH判据的影响,分析了容易产生的模糊认识.Kw随温度升高显著增大,使溶液呈中性的pH(中性pH = pKw/2)在高温(>25 ℃)和低温区(<25 ℃)分别出现小于和大于7.0的情况.     

Thermal Treatment of Sol-Gel Derived Nickel Oxide Xerogels

Very fine nickel hydroxide and oxide xerogel powders were prepared using a new sol-gel synthesis procedure in which nickel ethoxide was produced through the reaction of nickel chloride, as a precursor, with sodium ethoxide in dehydrated ethanol, followed by the hydrolysis of nickel ethoxide with ammonia and drying the resulting hydrogel under subcritical pressures to form the xerogel. The effects of thermal treatment on the surface area, pore volume, crystallinity and particle structure of the resulting xerogels were investigated and found to have significant effects on all of these properties. Overall, the xerogel remained amorphous as Ni(OH)₂ space up to 200°C, with little change in the surface area and pore volume. At 250°C, the Ni(OH)₂ began to decompose and form crystalline NiO with the uniformity of the crystals increasing with an increase in temperature. The surface area and pore volume decreased sharply when increasingthe temperature beyond 250°C; this was the temperature where maximums of about 270 m²/g and 0.33 cm³/g were exhibited by this composite amorphous Ni(OH)₂ and crystalline NiO xerogel powders. At the higher calcination temperatures, very uniform NiO crystals with average crystallite sizes of 1.7 nm and 14.5 nm were obtained at 400 and 600°C, respectively.     

Stress and Moisture-Sorption in Ozone-Annealed Films of Zirconium Oxide Obtained from Sol-Gel

The stress development in zirconium oxide films prepared by sol-gel and annealed under ozone-enriched oxygen has been investigated. The organic compounds are mostly oxidized at 200°C with ozone and the stress rises up to higher values than the stress in films annealed with pure oxygen between 200 to 400°C. During exposure to humid air of films annealed at 150°C under pure or ozone-enriched oxygen chemical transformations of organic compounds have been observed. The moisture-induced stress change during film exposure to the ambient air also has been investigated. The competition between hydration of ZrO₂, H-bound formation, surface ionization and capillary condensation mechanisms is discussed.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis and Pyrolysis Study of Oxyfluoride Silica Gels

Silicon oxyfluoride materials are synthesized by the sol-gel method using triethoxyfluorosilane as precursor, bearing the Si—F bond. SiO_(2–0.5x) F _x gel preparation requires peculiar experimental control of hydrolysis and condensation reactions. Maintenance of the Si—F bond during gelling, heating and aging was studied in the case of processes carried out under an argon atmosphere or in air. Fluorine contents in resulting samples were quantified by FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); specific surface area and porosity of powdered samples were determined by N₂ adsorption. The thermal stability of oxyfluoride gels was studied by thermogravimetric-mass spectrometric (TG-MS) coupled analyses during heat treatment, under He flow. Mass spectra recorded during principal weight losses indicate the release of variously fluorinated silicon species resulting from Si—F/Si—O exchange reactions. The evolution of these species was observed at different temperatures, depending on gelling conditions. In particular, degradation of Si—F moieties was prominent for gels aged in air, whereas samples processed under an argon atmosphere preserve the Si—F bond up to 300°C.     

等浓度碳酸氢钠和醋酸钠2种溶液的pH大小比较

利用Excel对相同浓度的NaHCO3溶液、CH3COONa溶液中离子浓度的精确计算,得出相同浓度的2溶液中,水解程度一定是HCO3->CH3COO-,但不能仅通过水解程度大小来得出pH(NaHCO3溶液)>pH(CH3COONa溶液)的结论,2溶液的pH大小还与溶液浓度有关。     

Chemical Behaviour of Zirconium Oxychloride Octahydrate and Acetic Acid in Precursor Solution for Zirconia Film Formation on Glass

Precursor solutions for zirconia films on soda lime silica glass substrate were prepared from zirconium oxychloride octahydrate (ZOO) and acetic acid (HOAC) maintaining the mol ratios, [HOAC]/[ZOO] = 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. A characteristic UV absorption band at ～280 nm in the ～120 h aged precursor solutions was identified for acetate group of the zirconium acetato complexed species. The presence of acetate ligand coordinated with either ZrOOH+ or [Zr4(OH)8]8+ or with both was predicted by the studies of UV spectra of aged solutions and FTIR spectra of unbaked films on silicon wafer. Dipping technique was followed for film formation. Thicknesses and refractive indices of the baked (450° ± 5°C) films were in the ranges 1818 ± 20 Å and 1.702–1.762 respectively. The positive SIMS experiment on two typical films baked at 450° ± 5°C derived from the precursors with [HOAC]/[ZOO] = 2 and 6, detected the ionic species, Zr+, ZrO+, ZrO2+, Na+, Ca+, Fe+, H+ while the negative SIMS detected O- and Cl-. The relative contents of the ionic species with respect to Zr+ were dependent on the acid content of the precursors. Reflection (%) of the baked films in the UV region was also dependent on the acid content of the precursors. Electron diffraction pattern of the typical baked film derived from the precursor with [HOAC]/[ZOO] = 2 exhibited meta-stable cubic phase of zirconia and the grains were found to be elongated (aspect ratio, 2.00–2.33).     

Thermal Evolution of Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Gels Derived from Reaction of 1,4 Butanediol with Tetraethoxysilane

Transparent monolithic discs of organic-inorganic hybrid gels have been prepared by hydrolysis-condensation reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate with 1,4 butanediol. The gels and glasses have been characterized by infrared spectroscopy and ²⁹Si MAS NMR. The characterization of the gels by infrared spectroscopy showed the incorporation of carbonaceous groups in the polymeric structure and Si–C bonding in the glasses. Pyrolysis of the gels has been studied using thermal analysis. It showed that the pyrolysis of the gels occurs in two temperature domains. The first is below 400°C due to condensation reactions and second is in the temperature range 450–550°C due to decomposition of carbonaceous groups and crosslinking. Pyrolysis of the gels at 1000°C resulted in X-ray amorphous, hard black glasses similar to oxycarbide glasses obtained by pyrolysis of siloxanes. On further heat treatment to 1400–1600°C, development of cristobalite structure and crystalline silicon carbide is observed in the otherwise amorphous black mass. The pyrolysed materials have been found to exhibit good resistance towards oxidation at 1000°C.     

Sol-Gel Transition and Structural Evolution on Multicomponent Gels Derived from the Alumina-Silica System

The capacity of the sol-gel process of producing highly pure, homogeneous alumina-silica based materials had been demonstrated in the last few years. However, a full understanding on the mechanisms associated to sol formation and sol to gel transition has not yet been achieved and is required for the development of a new generation of nano-structurally tailored materials that will significantly enhance the technological importance of the sol-gel process. In this work, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and aluminum isopropoxide were used to prepare materials within the entire silica-alumina system. Process parameters, such as gelation time, were correlated to variables of the initial stage of the process, such as pH, temperature of hydrolysis and water/alkoxide ratio. The obtained gels were dried at 105°C and subsequently heat treated at 500 and 1100°C for 3 hours. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the materials and phase transformations. Structural information obtained from phase characterization and phase transformations was correlated to the effects of the process variables on sol formation and gelation, providing insights related to the mechanisms involved. The influence of temperature of aluminum isopropoxide hydrolysis on peptization and gelation of the mixtures was noted. The different behavior of mixtures hydrolyzed at low and high temperatures was suggested to be caused by different mechanisms of surface charge formation on the structurally different aluminum hydroxides. Monophasic and diphasic mullite xerogels were produced by changing temperature of aluminum isopropoxide hydrolysis, and led to formation of mullite and Al−Si spinel phases respectively, when treated at 1100°C.     

高温水溶液pH值原位测量系统与机理

研制了以氧化钇稳定氧化锆(YSZ)陶瓷薄膜电极为pH电极、外置压力平衡式Ag/AgCl电极为参比电极的高温高压水溶液pH值原位测量系统,测量了H₃BO₃\LiOH水溶液在473.15~573.15 K范围内的pH值,并与热力学计算得到的pH值比较。 结果表明,当温度高于548.15 K时,测量系统可以实现pH值的准确测量;而低于此温度时,由于YSZ陶瓷膜内阻过大,测得的pH值与理论计算值存在偏差,且随温度的降低,测量偏差增大。 讨论了该系统的pH值测量机理。     

Thermodynamic Characteristics of Zirconium and Hafnium Hydroxides in Aqueous Solution

The enthalpies of dissolution of ZrCl₄, ZrBr₄, HfCl₄ and HfBr₄ in water in weakly acidic and alkaline solutions were measured at 25°C in a calorimeter provided with an isothermal cover. The standard enthalpies of formation of Zr(OH)₄ and Hf(OH)₄ in solution were measured. The thermodynamic characteristics of the reactions which resulted in the formation of tetrahydroxy complexes of Zr and Hf in aqueous solution were also determined. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Thermal Decomposition of Hydroxylammonium Uranyl Acetate

The synthesis of hydroxylammonium uranyl acetate is described. The identity of the synthesized compound was confirmed by chemical and infrared analysis. The intermediates and final products of the thermal decomposition were identified by means of thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. The thermal decomposition of hydroxylammonium uranyl acetate involves several steps. Two of them are due to decomposition of this compound to UO₂ via UO₂(CH₃COO)₂, and the third to the partial oxidation of UO₂ to UO₃ and the formation of U₂O₈ in the solid state at higher temperature.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Seeding and the Non-Hydrolytic Sol-Gel Synthesis of ZrW2O8 and ZrMo2O8

The unseeded non-hydrolytic sol-gel synthesis of ZrW₂O₈ and ZrMo₂O₈ produces trigonal ZrM₂O₈ (M = W, Mo) at 740 and 300–400°C, respectively. Cubic ZrW₂O₈ can be prepared using non-hydrolytic sol-gel methods by seeding with small amounts of preprepared cubic material, and the formation of the trigonal polymorph can be suppressed completely. Seeds with a small particle size are necessary for the preparation of cubic ZrW₂O₈. In contrast, seeding of ZrMo₂O₈ gels with either cubic ZrMo₂O₈ or cubic ZrW₂O₈ only lowers the temperature at which the trigonal phase crystallizes.     

烷基羧甲砜基氢氧化铁热脱羧和热分解法制备纳米氧化铁

十六烷基羧甲砜基氢氧化铁和丁基羧甲砜基氢氧化铁通过热脱羧方法,合成了纳米氧化铁颗粒。采用X射线衍射、红外光谱及透射电镜等手段对纳米氧化铁的合成过程和结构特征进行了表征。制备的纳米氧化铁具有8~18 nm的晶粒尺寸。羧甲砜基的热脱羧过程使得表面活性剂从纳米颗粒表面去除相对容易,特别是丁基羧甲砜基化合物。十六烷基羧甲砜基氢氧化铁制备纳米氧化铁颗粒存在脱羧有机分子还原Fe³⁺过程,而丁基羧甲砜基氢氧化铁通过热脱羧分解的方式合成纳米氧化铁颗粒。     

离子液体水溶液pH值测定及酸碱特性研究

在离子液体水溶液作为新一代优良吸收工质的工业应用研究和开发中,对该体系的物理化学性质（诸如离子液体在水中存在性状及其酸碱性问题等）的深入认识和掌握尤为重要. 本文采用pH酸度计和精密pH试纸两种方法,对水质量分数分别为0.04～0.95的1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑醋酸盐（[EMIM]Ac）和0.01～0.96的1-己基-3-甲基咪唑氯盐（[HMIM]Cl）离子液体水溶液的pH值进行测试和定量分析. 测试结果表明pH酸度计和精密pH试纸两种方法的测试结果有较大的差异,这种差异是由于离子液体-水混合体系中局部形态与整体特性不同造成的. 本文成功拟合了pH精密试纸测定值,计算获得的这两种离子液体水溶液的酸浓度与测定值基本符合,精密试纸测定的pH值可用于表征离子液体水溶液整体酸碱特性. 基于离子液体在水溶液中形成惰化聚合膜的假设,提出了分别表征聚合膜水溶解度和离子液体水溶液水活度系数的溶液理论模型,根据溶液相平衡理论建立了聚合膜中氢离子浓度与水溶液中氢离子浓度差别的计算方法,成功拟合了pH酸度计测定值. 研究结果为离子液体水溶液体系的pH值和酸碱度分析提供了实验依据和预测理论模型.     

Effects of the Sol-Gel Processing on the Fluorescence Properties of Laser Dyes in Tetraethoxysilane Derived Matrices

Two fluorescent dyes were incorporated into sol-gel derived SiO₂ matrices. The dye was added to SiO₂ precursors of different degrees of pre-condensation and the spectroscopic properties of the immobilized dye were measured at various aging and drying stages of the resulting gels. The significant influence of the processing parameters on the spectroscopic properties is manifested in the relative intensity of a second red shifted emission band (550–560 nm), which was observed besides the typical coumarin emission band (495 nm). The appearance of this long wavelength emission might be attributed to dye aggregation or to other reactions with the ambient matrix forced by micro porosity phenomena.     

Fourier Transform and Multi Dimensional EPR Spectroscopy for the Characterization of Sol-Gel Derived Hydroxyapatite

Calcium hydroxyapatite powder was prepared by sol-gel method using calcium acetate and PO(OC₂H₅)₃ as initial compounds, and alcohol (methyl, ethyl, and propyl-alcohol) as solvent. Homogeneous solution and gels were prepared using a molar ratio of Ca/P=1.67. The evolution of the structure was detected by X-ray diffraction, IR, and FT-n(=1,2,3)D-EPR spectroscopy. The dried gels exhibit a signal characterized by a central line and two satellites. The 2D spectrum (ESEEM vs. field sweep) showed the same modulation for the central line. The FT-EPR spectrum vs. field sweep 2D-spectrum indicated that the satellites are due to an hfs splitting with water. The central region of this 2D spectrum is influenced by P and H in a concentration ratio of [H]/[P]=2.5. The ESEEM spectrum was simulated assuming the equation V_mod=V_mod(P)^mV_mod(H)ⁿ for two spin systems S=1/2 and I=1/2. This simulation gave form andn the values of 2 and 5, respectively. This finding suggests the structure: for the unpaired state. It appears that one ethyl group does not hydrolyse in the gelation process. The ESEEM spectra of hydroxyapatite exhibit a modulation generated by P, H and Ca atoms.