The hydrothermal decomposition of calcium monosulfoaluminate 14-hydrate to katoite hydrogarnet and β-anhydrite: An in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study

We apply in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction to study the transformation of calcium monosulfoaluminate 14-hydrate Ca₄Al₂O₆(SO₄)·14H₂O [monosulfate-14] to hydrogarnet Ca₃Al₂(OH)₁₂ on the saturated water vapor pressure curve up to 250 °C. We use an aqueous slurry of synthetic ettringite Ca₆Al₂(SO₄)₃(OH)₁₂·26H₂O as the starting material; on heating, this decomposes at about 115 °C to form monosulfate-14 and bassanite CaSO₄·0.5H₂O. Above 170 °C monosulfate-14 diffraction peaks slowly diminish in intensity, perhaps as a result of loss of crystallinity and the formation of an X-ray amorphous meta-monosulfate. Hydrogarnet nucleates only at temperatures above 210 °C. Bassanite transforms to β-anhydrite (insoluble anhydrite) at about 230 °C and this transformation is accompanied by a second burst of hydrogarnet growth. The transformation pathway is more complex than previously thought. The mapping of the transformation pathway shows the value of rapid in-situ time-resolved synchrotron diffraction.     

Thermal decomposition of HfCl4 as a function of its hydration state

The thermogravimetric behavior of HfCl₄ powders with different hydration states has been compared. Strongly hydrated powders consist of HfOCl₂·nH₂O with n>4. Partially hydrated powders consist of particles with a HfCl₄ core and a hydrated outerlayer of HfOCl₂·nH₂O with n in the range of 0-8. Hydrated powders decomposed at temperature lower than 200 °C whereas the decomposition of partially hydrated powders was completed at a temperature of around 450 °C. The observed differences in decomposition temperature is related to the structure of HfOCl₂·nH₂O, which is different if n is higher or smaller than 4 and leads to intermediate compounds, which decompose at different temperatures.     

Thermal decomposition of potassium hexanitronickelate(II) hydrate

The thermal decomposition of the complex K₄[Ni(NO₂)₆]·H₂O has been investigated over the temperature range 25-600 °C by a combination of infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, FAB-mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The first stage of reaction is loss of water and isomerisation of one of the coordinated nitro groups to form the complex K₄[Ni(NO₂)₄(ONO)]·NO₂. At temperatures around 200 °C the remaining nitro groups within the complex isomerise to the chelating nitrite form and this process acts as a precursor to the loss of NO₂ gas at temperatures above 270 °C. The product, which is stable up to 600 °C, is the complex K₄[Ni(ONO)₄]·NO₂, where the nickel atom is formally in the +1 oxidation state.     

H2O + Fe(NO3)3 + Ni(NO3)2 ternary system isotherms at 0 °C and 30 °C

H₂O + Ni(NO₃)₂ binary system were investigated in the temperature range from −25 °C to 55 °C. The solid-liquid equilibria of the ternary system H₂O + Fe(NO₃)₃ + Ni(NO₃)₂ were studied using a synthetic method based on conductivity measurements. Tow isotherms were established at 0 °C and 30 °C, and the appearing stable solid phases are iron nitrate nonahydrate (Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O), iron nitrate hexahydrate (Fe(NO₃)₃·6H₂O), nickel nitrate hexahydrate (Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O) and nickel nitrate tetrahydrate (Ni(NO₃)₂·4H₂O).     

Conservation of [(C2H4NH3)3N]2·(ZrF7)2·H2O layers during the topotactic dehydration of [(C2H4NH3)3N]2·(ZrF7)2·9H2O

Tren amine cations [(C₂H₄NH₃)₃N]³⁺ and zirconate or tantalate anions adopt a ternary symmetry in two hydrates, [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O and [H₃tren]₆·(ZrF₇)₂·(TaOF₆)₄·3H₂O, which crystallise in R32 space group with a_H = 8.871 (2) Å, c_H = 38.16 (1) Å and a_H = 8.758 (2) Å, c_H = 30.112 (9) Å, respectively. Similar [H₃tren]₂·(MX₇)₂·H₂O (M = Zr, Ta; X = F, O) sheets are found in both structures; they are separated by a water layer (O_w(2)-O_w(3)) in [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O. Dehydration of [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O starts at room temperature and ends at 90 °C to give [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O. [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O layers remain probably unchanged during this dehydration and the existence of one intermediate [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·3H₂O hydrate is assumed. O_w(1) molecules are tightly hydrogen bonded with -NH₃⁺ groups and decomposition of [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O occurs from 210 °C to 500 °C to give successively [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₆)·(Zr₂F₁₂) (285 °C), an intermediate unknown phase (320 °C) and ZrF₄.     

Determination of equilibrium humidities using temperature and humidity controlled X-ray diffraction (RH-XRD)

Confined growth of crystals in porous building materials is generally considered to be a major cause of damage. We report on the use of X-ray diffraction under controlled conditions of temperature and relative humidity (RH-XRD) for the investigation of potentially deleterious phase transition reactions. An improved procedure based on rate measurements is used for the accurate and reproducible determination of equilibrium humidities of deliquescence and hydration reactions. The deliquescence humidities of NaCl (75.4 ± 0.5% RH) and Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O (50.8 ± 0.7% RH) at 25 °C determined with this improved RH-XRD technique are in excellent agreement with available literature data. Measurement of the hydration of anhydrous Ca(NO₃)₂ to form Ca(NO₃)₂·2H₂O revealed an equilibrium humidity of 10.2 ± 0.3%, which is also in reasonable agreement with available data. In conclusion, dynamic X-ray diffraction measurements are an appropriate method for the accurate and precise determination of equilibrium humidities with a number of interesting future applications.     

Preparation and characterization of proton-conducting sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/phosphatoantimonic acid composite membranes

The solid proton conductor, phosphatoantimonic acid, HSbP₂O₈ · H₂O was prepared by ion exchange of the corresponding potassium salt. The composite membranes of SPEEK with up to 40 wt% of HSbP₂O₈ · H₂O were prepared by introducing the solid proton conductor from the aqueous suspension. The composite membranes were characterized using FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction, SEM, DSC/TGA. Thermal stability of the composite membranes was slightly lower than that of SPEEK. The composite membranes had higher water uptake when compared with SPEEK and the membranes exhibited controlled swelling up to 50 °C. The proton conductivity of the membranes was measured under 100% relative humidity up to 70 °C. The composite membranes showed enhanced proton conductivity up to 20 wt% of HSbP₂O₈ · H₂O and the conductivity was reduced with further increase of HSbP₂O₈ · H₂O loading. A maximum of four-fold increase in proton conductivity at 70 °C was observed for the composite membrane with 20 wt% of solid proton conductor.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of Ca2[B2O4(OH)2]·0.5H2O

A pure calcium borate Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O has been synthesized under hydrothermal condition and characterized by XRD, FT-IR and TG as well as by chemical analysis. The molar enthalpy of solution of Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O in HC1·54.582H₂O was determined. From a combination of this result with measured enthalpies of solution of H₃BO₃ in HC1·54.561H₂O and of CaO in (HCl + H₃BO₃) solution, together with the standard molar enthalpies of formation of CaO(s), H₃BO₃(s) and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(3172.5 ± 2.5) kJ mol⁻¹ of Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O was obtained.     

The evolution of structural changes in ettringite during thermal decomposition

The thermal decomposition of ettringite, Ca₆[Al(OH)₆]₂(SO₄)₃·∼26H₂O, was studied with pulsed neutron time-of-flight diffraction combined with Rietveld structure refinement. Like prior investigations, transition from a crystalline to amorphous state occurred following the loss of ∼20 water molecules. In contrast to earlier investigations, which relied upon indirect measurements of water and hydroxyl occupancies, the present study inferred the occupancies directly from Rietveld crystal structure refinement of the diffraction data. The decomposition pathway was shown to be more complex than previously envisioned, involving the simultaneous loss of hydroxyl and water molecules. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy studies of the rigid lattice lineshapes of fully and partially hydrated ettringite were performed and confirmed our decomposition model.     

Conformation of oligo(ethylene glycol) grafted poly(norbornene) in solutions: A small angle neutron scattering study

The conformation of newly synthesized amphiphilic poly(methoxyoligo(ethylene oxide) norbornenyl esters) macro-homopolymers in dilute solutions of toluene-d8 and D₂O was investigated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The macro-homopolymers consist of a polynorbornene (PNB) backbone with a degree of polymerization (DP) of 50, and each repeat unit has a grafted ethylene glycol (EG) side chain with an average DP of 6.6. The hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic side chains interact differently with solvents of different polarity, which makes the polymer conformation very sensitive to the solvent quality. It was found that in a 0.5 wt.% toluene solution the polymers assume coil-like conformation and gradually contract and become more compact with increasing polymer concentration. In D₂O, the conformation of the polymers were studied at different concentrations: 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 wt.% and at different temperatures: 25, 44, 60 and 74 °C. The polymers are partially contracted in D₂O and their shape can be described by the form factor of a rigid cylinder. The second virial coefficient A₂ was extracted at three temperatures (25, 44 and 60 °C) and the theta point was estimated to be reached at ∼45 °C. The attractive interactions between the polymers in D₂O increase with temperature, which leads to the polymer-solvent phase separation at the cloud point temperature (CPT). The polymer conformation remains virtually temperature independent below the CPT and at 74 °C polymers collapse and form compact structures with water soluble side chains in the shell.     

Preparation and photoluminescence property of a loose powder, Ca3Al2O6:Eu by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor

A novel red light-emitting material, Ca₃Al₂O₆:Eu³⁺, which is the first example found in the Ca₃Al₂O₆ host, was prepared by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor at 1350 °C. The precursor, [Ca_2.9−xAl₂Eu_x(OH)_9.8](NO₃)_2+x·2.5H₂O, was prepared by coprecipitation of metal nitrates with sodium hydroxide. The material is a loose powder composed of irregular particles formed from aggregation of particles of a few nanometers, as shown in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. It was found that the photoluminescence intensity reached the maximum when the calcination temperature was 1350 °C and the concentration of Eu³⁺ was 1.0%. The material emits bright red emission at 614 nm under a radiation of λ=250 nm.     

Synthesis of boron suboxide (B6O) with ball milled boron oxide (B2O3) under lower pressure and temperature

Boron reacted with ball milled boron oxide under pressures between 1 and 5 GPa and at temperatures between 1300 and 1700 °C to afford boron suboxide (B₆O). Icosahedral B₆O grains with diameters ranging from 100 nm to 1.3 μm were prepared. The factors that affect the synthesis of B₆O are investigated. The best sample with crystal size up to 1.3 μm is obtained at 2 GPa and 1400 °C for 6 h. The indentation experiment gave an average Vickers hardness of 32.3 GPa for bulk B₆O sample, which is consistent with previous reports. Bulk B₆O sample exhibits oxidation resistance in air up to 1000 °C and mild oxidation in the temperatures of 1000-1200 °C, which is more oxidation resistant than diamond. It is possible that B₆O could be used as a substitute for diamond in industry because of its relatively mild synthesis conditions, high thermal stability and high hardness.     

Solid–liquid phase equilibria in the systems K2SO4–MSO4–H2O (M = Co,Ni, Cu) from ambient to enhanced temperatures

Reviewing the literature solubility isotherms in the ternary systems K₂SO₄–MSO₄–H₂O (M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) revealed a lack at ambient temperatures. The solid–liquid phase equilibria have been determined in the systems K₂SO₄–MSO₄–H₂O (M = Co, Ni, Cu) at T = 313 K. With increasing bivalent metal sulfate concentration, the solubility of potassium sulfate rises until the two-salt point is reached. Reciprocally, the solubility of the bivalent metal sulfate hydrates (CoSO₄·7H₂O, α-NiSO₄·6H₂O, CuSO₄·5H₂O) increases with rising potassium sulfate concentration. In all three systems the double salts of Tutton's type K₂SO₄·MSO₄·6H₂O (M = Co, Ni, Cu) are formed.     

Transition metal tetramolybdate dihydrates MMo4O13·2H2O (M=Co,Ni) having a novel pillared layer structure

Hydrothermal synthesis in the M/Mo/O (M=Co,Ni) system was investigated. Novel transition metal tetramolybdate dihydrates MMo₄O₁₃·2H₂O (M=Co,Ni), having an interesting pillared layer structure, were found. The molybdates crystallize in the triclinic system with space group P−1, Z=1 with unit cell parameters of a=5.525(3) Å, b=7.058(4) Å, c=7.551(5) Å, α=90.019(10)°, β=105.230(10)°, γ=90.286(10)° for CoMo₄O₁₃·2H₂O, and a=5.508(2) Å, b=7.017(3) Å, c=7.533(3) Å, α=90.152(6)°, β=105.216(6)°, γ=90.161(6)° for NiMo₄O₁₃·2H₂O The structure is composed of two-dimensional molybdenum-oxide (2D Mo-O) sheets pillared with CoO₆ octahedra. The 2D Mo-O sheet is made up of infinite straight ribbons built up by corner-sharing of four molybdenum octahedra (two MoO₆ and two MoO₅OH₂) sharing edges. These infinite ribbons are similar to the straight ones in triclinic-K₂Mo₄O₁₃ having 1D chain structure, but are linked one after another by corner-sharing to form a 2D sheet structure, like the twisted ribbons in BaMo₄O₁₃·2H₂O (or in orthorhombic-K₂Mo₄O₁₃) are.     

Two-dimensional composition diagram of the Al(OH)3-dien-HFaq.-ethanol system: Evidence of a new tetrahedral (Al4F18) polyanion

Six domains appear in the 2D composition diagram of the Al(OH)₃-dien-HF_aq.-ethanol system at 190 °C and [Al³⁺] = 1 mol L⁻¹ under microwave heating. Four organic-inorganic fluorides crystallise: [H₃dien]·(AlF₆) (P2₁/c, Z = 4), [H₃dien]₂·(AlF₅(H₂O))₃·2H₂O (P2₁/n, Z = 4), [H₃dien]·(AlF₆)·2H₂O, which was previously known, and [H₃dien]₂·(Al₄F₁₈) (C2/c, Z = 4). A new (Al₄F₁₈)⁶⁻ polyanion, which results from the tetrahedral association of four AlF₆ octahedra linked by corners, is evidenced in [H₃dien]₂·(Al₄F₁₈).     

Synthesis,structures and NLO properties of five non-centrosymmetric coordination compounds from the copper(II)/dps system (dps = 4,4′-dipyridyl sulfide)

The formation, crystal structure and properties of five copper(II) coordination compounds with the angular ligand, 4,4′-dipyridyl sulfide (dps) are described, {[Cu₃(μ-dps)₄(μ-SO₄)₂(SO₄)(H₂O)₅] · 10H₂O}_∞ (1 · 10H₂O), [Cu(dps)₄(H₂O)₂] · (ClO₄)₂ · H₂O (2 · H₂O), {[Cu(μ-dps)₂(DMF)₂](ClO₄)₂}_∞ (3), {[Cu(μ-dps)₂(H₂O)₂] · (NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O}_∞ (4 · 2H₂O) and {[Cu₃(μ-dps)₆(DMF)₂(H₂O)₄] · (NO₃)₆ · (DMF) · 6H₂O}_∞ (5 · DMF · 6H₂O). The topological architectures of all these coordination compounds are strongly dependent on the counteranions, with the aid of guest solvents, and include a chiral 3D non-interpenetrated structure for 1, an acentric mononuclear structure for 2, acentric 2D undulating networks for 3 and 5, and a chiral 1D double-stranded chain for 4. In particular, all these acentric or chiral coordination architectures are generated from an achiral ligand as a building unit, and their second-order non-linear optical (NLO) properties are also studied in this paper.     

Thermal and calorimetric studies of M(IO3)2·6H2O and M(IO3)2·6D2O forM 2+=Ca2+ and Sr2+

Thermal and calorimetric studies were carried out on M(IO₃)₂·6H₂O and M(IO₃)₂·6D₂O forM ²⁺=Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺, using DTA and DSC methods. The thermal behaviour of the ordinary and deuterated hydrates is outlined and the differences observed between them are discussed. The enthalpies of the phase transitions were determined. The H _f ^o for Ca(IO₃)₂·6H₂O, Ca(IO₃)₂·6H₂O(D₂O) and Sr(IO₃)₂·6H₂O(D₂O) were calculated from the H _deh data and comments are made on the isotope effect observed.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels DTA- und DSC-Methoden wurden Me(IO₃)₂·6H₂O und Me(IO₃)₂·6D₂O (mitMe ²⁺=Ca²⁺ und Sr²⁺) thermisch und kalorimetrisch untersucht. Es wird ein Überblick über das thermische Verhalten ordentlicher und deuterierter Hydrate gegeben, in dem auch die Unterschiede zwischen beiden diskutiert werden. Die Enthalpien der untersuchten Phasenumwandlungen wurden bestimmt. Aus den Daten für H_deh wurde H_f von Ca(IO₃)₂·6H₂O, Ca(IO₃)₂H₂O(D₂O) und Sr(IO₃)₂·6H₂O(D₂O) berechnet und Bemerkungen zum beobachteten Isotopeneffektes gemacht.

     

Solid-liquid phase equilibria in the system water + methanol + MgSO4·7H2O + MnSO4·4H2O

The solubilities and complex phase equilibria for the system of MnSO₄·4H₂O + MgSO₄·7H₂O + H₂O + CH₃OH were determined at the temperatures 291.2 and 301.2 K over the methanol mole fraction range of 0.00–0.12.The solubility data were used for modelling with the modified extended electrolyte non-random two-liquid equation. The salting-out effect of MgSO₄ and methanol on the solubilities of two manganese salts (MnSO₄·H₂O and MnSO₄·4H₂O) are represented in the several thermodynamic figures as a function of temperature. The solventing-out effect was stronger than the salting-out effect, which results in a decrease of the solubilities of manganese, salts even though the solubility of MnSO₄·H₂O decreased and solubility of MgSO₄·4H₂O increased as temperature increased.     

Synthesis, structure and optical features of single adamantanoid Hg-SePh-X anionic clusters stabilized by octahedral complexes (Ph = phenyl; X = Cl, Br, I)

The ligand dppmo₂ [CH₂{P(O)Ph₂}₂] (Ph = phenyl), MgCl₂·6H₂O, MgBr₂, MgI₂, FeBr₂, CoBr₂, NiBr₂ and Hg(SePh)₂ react one at a time to give the complex salt of the general formula [M(dppmo₂)₃][Hg₄X₄(SePh)₆]·4dmf·H₂O (M = Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺; X = Cl, Br, I; dmf = dimethylformamide). The cations [M(dppmo₂)₃]²⁺ are predominantly octahedral with axial angles from 175° to 178°. The adamantane like anions [Hg₄X₄(SePh)₆]²⁻ are examples of single adamantanoid species, since these compounds normally appear as polymers or fused cages. Adamantanoid cages are the preferential thermodynamic configuration for this atomic aggregate. They appear as single molecules or ions however only in a halogen rich reactions milieu.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and structural conversion of Ni molybdate hydrate NiMoO4·nH2O

The synthesis and crystal structure of NiMoO₄·nH₂O were investigated. The hydrate crystallized in the triclinic system with space group P−1, Z=4 with unit cell parameters of a=6.7791(2) Å, b=6.8900(2) Å, c=9.2486(2) Å, α=76.681(2)°, β=83.960(2)°, γ=74.218(2)°. Its ideal chemical composition was NiMoO₄·3/4H₂O rather than NiMoO₄·1H₂O. Under hydrothermal conditions the hydrate turned directly into α-NiMoO₄ above 483 K, giving nanorods thinner than the crystallites of the mother hydrate. On the other hand, it turned into Anderson type of polyoxomolybdate via a solid-solution process in a molybdate solution at room temperature.