Synthesis,morphology, and activity of La<Subscript>1–x</Subscript>Ag<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3 ± y</Subscript> catalysts

La_1–xAg_xMnO_{3 ± y} (x = 0-0.3) mixed oxides have been synthesized by the pyrolysis of polymer–salt compositions using different organic compounds and different salt: organic compound ratios. The correlation between the reaction medium temperature during pyrolysis, the composition of the resulting oxide, and synthesis conditions has been investigated. The effect of these conditions on the character of the pyrolysis process, on the phase composition and microstructure of the resulting oxide particles and metallic silver, and on their mutual distribution is reported. The catalytic properties of the synthesized oxides in methane and soot oxidation are considered, and a correlation is established between the catalytic activity of the oxides and the synthesis conditions.     

The effect of Me<Subscript>4</Subscript>NBr,Et<Subscript>4</Subscript>NBr,Bu<Subscript>4</Subscript>NBr,and (EtOH)<Subscript>3</Subscript>EtNBr on the Temperature of Maximum Density of Water

The densities of aqueous solutions of Me₄NBr, Et₄NBr, Bu₄NBr, and Et(OH)₃EtNBr were measured in the concentration range 0.002 to 0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹. The temperature of the determinations ranged from 275.15 to 279.15 K in 0.5 K steps, and the uncertainty of the densities was around ±1×10⁻⁶ g⋅cm⁻³. Eleven concentrations were used for each of the salts. It was found that all the solutes follow Despretz’ law. The absolute value of the Despretz’s constants increases with increasing number of carbon atoms in the cation, except for Et(OH)₃EtNBr which has the highest value. The ionic contributions to the Despretz’s constants were calculated. The volumetric data obtained allows the calculation proposed by Kalgud and Pokale. The effective ionic radii were calculated using a semi-empirical equation, as proposed previously by several workers. The nonlinearity of the plot of the ionic Despretz constants versus effective ionic radius is confirmed.     

Study of optical,dimensional, and catalytic properties of nanodispersed CdS–Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> powders

Composite powders of the CdS–Na₂SiO₃(SiO₂) type were synthesized. It was found that varying the amount of Na₂SiO₃ introduced in the synthesis stage affects both the texture characteristics of the powders obtained and their optical and photocatalytic properties. All the powders absorb electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range (~420–620 nm). It was shown for the example of photodestruction of Nile Blue and Rhodamine C dyes that the powders exhibit good photocatalytic properties under exposure to visible light (λ ≥ 410 nm). One of important advantages of the composites used as photocatalysts is that the transfer of cadmium ions under photoirradiation, characteristic of CdS particles, does not occur.     

Tree of phases of the quinary reciprocal system Li,K || F,Br, MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>, WO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and study of the stable tetrahedron LiF–KBr–Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The quinary reciprocal system Li, K || F, Br, MoO₄, WO₄ was partitioned into simplexes using graph theory by writing an adjacency matrix and solving a logical expression. A tree of phases of the system was constructed. The tree of phases has a linear structure and consists of four stable partitioning tetrahedra, two stable pentatopes, and three stable hexatopes. In the quinary reciprocal system Li, K || F, Br, MoO₄, WO₄, crystallizing phases were predicted. The stable tetrahedron LiF–KBr–Li₂MoO₄–Li₂WO₄ of the quinary reciprocal system Li, K || F, Br, MoO₄, WO₄ was studied by differential thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction. There are no invariant equilibrium points in the tetrahedron. Continuous series of solid solutions Li₂Mo_xW_1–xO₄ do not decompose.     

Theoretical analysis of the system Li,K, Ca,Ba||F,WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>: Physicochemical properties of the system LiF–K<Subscript>2</Subscript>WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–BaF<Subscript>2</Subscript>–CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript>–BaWO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The differentiation of the quaternary reciprocal system Li, K, Ca, Ba||F, WO₄ was performed based on the graph theory using special software. Stable and metastable complexes of the system were found using a matrix of reciprocal pairs of salts. For the first time, by a set of physicochemical analysis methods (differential thermal, visual polythermal, and X-ray powder diffraction analyses), based on the method of thermal analysis of successive projections of the composition polytope, the quaternary system LiF–K₂WO₄–CaF₂–BaF₂–BaWO₄, which is a stable complex of the quaternary reciprocal system Li, K, Ca, Ba||F, WO₄, was studied and the coordinates of invariant points were determined.     

Phase equilibria and the thermodynamic properties of saturated solid solutions of BiTeI,Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>TeI,and Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>TeI<Subscript>1.25</Subscript> compounds of the AgI–Bi–Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>–BiTeI system

The phase equilibria of the Ag–Bi–Te–I system in the part AgI–Bi–Bi₂Te₃–BiTeI is studied in the interval of 500–540 K by means of physicochemical analysis. Thermodynamic properties of phases are determined via EMF. Potential-forming processes occur in electrochemical cells (ECCs) of the C|Ag|glass Ag₃GeS₃I|D|C structure (where C denotes inert (graphite) electrodes; Ag, D denotes ECC electrodes; D denotes four-phase alloys of the AgI–Bi–Bi₂Te₃–BiTeI system; and Ag₃GeS₃I glass is the selective Ag⁺ conducting membrane). Linear dependences of the EMFs of cells Е(Т) in the interval of 505–535 K are used to calculate the values of the thermodynamic functions of BiTeI, Bi₂TeI, and Bi₄TeI_1.25 phases saturated over silver.     

Balance,uniformity, and asymmetry of the structure of volborthite Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>)·2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Four structural models of volborthite Cu₃(OH)₂(V₂O₇)·2H₂O (a = 10.646(2) Å, b = 5.867(1) Å, c = 14.432(2) Å, β = 95.19(1)°, V = 897.7(5) ų, Z = 4, R/R _w = 0.038/0.046) calculated in the space groups determined from the systematic absences are compared. Based on the structure balance and the similarity of constituting polyhedra, values of the R factor, and isotropic thermal parameters, the space group Ia is found to be preferable, which is the only possible asymmetric and uniform variant. Hydrogen atoms of OH-groups, oxygen atoms and, partially, hydrogen atoms of water are localized.     

Study of the stable tetrahedron LiVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–KBr–LiKMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> of the quaternary reciprocal system Li,KǁBr,VO<Subscript>3</Subscript>,MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Phase equilibria in the stable tetrahedron LiVO₃–Li₂MoO₄–KBr–LiKMoO₄ of the quaternary reciprocal system Li,K∥Br,VO₃,MoO₄ were studied by differential thermal analysis. The composition (mol %) and melting point of the alloy corresponding to a quaternary eutectic were determined: (24.2% LiVO₃, 10.4% Li₂MoO₄, 13.5% KBr, 51.9% LiKMoO₄, 407°С).     

Structure of bismuth oxoborate Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> at 20, 200, and 450°C

Single crystals of bismuth oxoborate Bi₄B₂O₉ have been grown by slowly cooling the melt of a stoichiometric Bi₂O₃ + H₃BO₃ mixture. The structure of the borate (monoclinic space group P2₁/c, a = 11.107 Å, b = 6.629 Å, c = 11.044 Å, β = 91.04°, Z = 4) has been studied at 20, 200, and 450°C. The structure is described not only in terms of full BiO₆ ^? and BiO₇ polyhedra but also in terms of truncated BiO₃ ^? and BiO₄ ^? polyhedra and BO₃ triangles, as well as oxo-centered OBi₃ triangles and OBi₄ tetrahedra. It is shown that both the B-O and Bi-O bond lengths are practically unaffected by temperature. Only the angles between polyhedra change with temperature, being responsible for the strong anisotropy of Bi₄B₂O₆ thermal expansion, which was measured by high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction: α₁₁ = 20, α₂₂ = 15, α₃₃ = 6 × 10^?6 °C^?1, and μ = (c, α₃₃) = ?19°.     

Phase equilibria,water dissolution,and peculiarities of charge transfer in Ca-doped La<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7–α</Subscript>

A series of oxides La_{2 - x} Ca _x Zr₂O_7–α (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) is synthesized. It is found that in samples with the calcium content x = 0.15, 0.20, the second phase Ca_0.9La_0.2Zr_0.9O₃ is present in the fraction increasing with the increase in x. The solubility limit of calcium to form solid solutions based on La₂Zr₂O₇ corresponds to x = 0.1. By high-temperature gravimetry, the proton concentration in La_1.95Са_0.05Zr₂O_7–α is obtained as a function of temperature in the interval of 300–950°С in Н₂О–О₂ atmosphere. According to temperature programmed desorption studies, in the temperature range of 400–900°С at least two types of OH defects with different binding energies are present in the oxide lattice. The temperature dependences of conductivity are obtained for La_1.95Са_0.05Zr₂O_7–α in dry and humid air atmosphere in the temperature range of 350–800°С by the method of impedance spectroscopy. The electrolyte conductivity in humid air is shown to substantially exceed the corresponding values in dry air, which can be associated with manifestation of protonic conductivity in humid atmosphere. The dependences of oxide conductivity on the oxygen content in the gas phase are determined. The conductivity is divided into its ionic and hole components.     

Synthesis and physicochemical study of M<Subscript>4</Subscript>Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>10</Subscript>O<Subscript>28</Subscript> · 10H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O (M=K,Rb, NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)

The formation conditions and physicochemical properties of binary decavanadates M₄Na₂V₁₀O₂₈ · 10H₂O (M=K, Rb, NH₄), synthesized by crystallization from saturated solutions of the NaVO₃-MH₂AsO₄-H₂O systems, were studied by chemical analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, microscopy, thermogravimetry, and IR spectroscopy. To optimize the synthesis conditions of M₄Na₂V₁₀O₂₈ · 10H₂O, the ( 1-x)NaVO₃ · 2H₂O · xMH2AsO4-H₂O (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) isomolar series method was applied to studying the interaction in the NaVO₃-MH₂AsO₄-H₂O systems (M = K, Rb, Cs) at the 0.4 mol/L total molar concentration of NaVO₃ and MH₂AsO₄ in solutions. The studied M₄Na₂V₁₀O₂₈ · 10H₂O compounds were shown to be isostructural with triclinic crystals (Z= 1, space group P $ \bar 1 $ \bar 1 ), and their unit cell parameters were estimated.     

Synthesis,microstructure, and electric properties of CaZr<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3 – δ</Subscript> films obtained on porous SrTi<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3 – δ</Subscript> supports

Compact CaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3–δ (CZY) film on a porous SrTi_0.8Fe_0.2O_3–δ (STF) support is obtained using the technique of deposition from solutions of inorganic salts in ethanol. According to the data of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the film has a nanoporous granular structure with the grain size of 0.2 to 1 μm. The thickness of the CZY film on the STF support is about 3 μm after 15-fold solution application. The results of studying the elemental composition showed that elements of the support diffuse into the film in the course of synthesis. Analysis of the data of impedance spectroscopy shows that conductivity of the CZY film is limited the grain bulk. It is assumed that the comparatively low conductivity activation energy of the film (50.3 kJ/mol) is due to diffusion of elements of the STF support that results in variation of the film composition and properties.     

Sol–Gel Synthesis of Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> Glasses and their Characterization by NMR,SNMS, and AFM

Sodium aluminophosphate samples with composition 43.8Na₂O12.5Al₂O₃43.8P₂O₅ were prepared by the sol–gel route using different precursors and working in different pH ranges from pH < 1 up to pH > 10. The structures of the gels and of the corresponding glasses were investigated by solid state NMR and compared to that of a glass with the same composition prepared by a traditional melting process. In addition to bulk materials, thin films were deposited by dip coating on silica glasses. Applying secondary neutral mass spectrometry (SNMS), the expected elements and residual carbon were identified. The surfaces of the coatings and fracture surfaces of bulk material were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Solid state NMR revealed that samples prepared via a lactate route exhibited local Al and P environments closest to that of the melt-prepared glass, with the highest extent of Al-O-P connectivity.     

Stable tetrahedron LiF–KI–K<Subscript>2</Subscript>CrO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>CrO<Subscript>4</Subscript> of the quaternary reciprocal system Li,K||F,I, CrO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The stable tetrahedron LiF–KI–K₂CrO₄–Li₂CrO₄ of the quaternary reciprocal system Li, K||F, I, CrO₄ was experimentally studied by differential thermal analysis. The compositions and melting points of mixtures of components at two eutectic points were determined. Based on experimental data, a T–x–y–z model of the phase complex was constructed, which allows one to solve problems of building polythermal and isothermal sections. A method for constructing the diagram of material balance of equilibrium phases for a given composition was developed. The diagram enables one to find the ratio between the amounts of the liquid and solid phases at constant temperature and also monitor the change in the composition of the phases within a chosen temperature range.     

The character of interactions of CO,H<Subscript>2</Subscript>, and CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>OH with the surface of γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and Cu-Zn oxide catalyst

The thermal desorption of CO, H₂, and CH₃OH from the surface of Katalco-58 industrial catalyst for the synthesis of methanol and γ-Al₂O₃ was studied. Weak interaction of the gases with the surface of samples was observed over the temperature range 75–400°C. The desorption of the gases obeyed the second-order Wigner-Polyani equation. The desorption energies of the gases were calculated. The mechanism of dimethyl ether synthesis was studied.     

Crystal structure,infrared and raman spectra of tripotassium trisaccha-rinate dihydrate,K<Subscript>3</Subscript>(C<Subscript>7</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>S)<Subscript>3</Subscript>·2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The crystal structure of tripotassium trisaccharinate dihydrate, K₃(C₇H₄NO₃S)₃·2H₂O, is triclic, space group\(P \bar 1, Z = 2\). It consists of three crystallographically independent potassium and saccharinato ions as well as two structurally different water molecules. Potassium coordination polyhedra are irregular, with K1 and K3 six-coordinated and the third one K2 seven-coordinated. The K?O distances range from 2.652(9) to 3.100(2) Å(mean: 2.790 Å) whereas the K?N distance is 3.025(3) Å. The water molecules W2 is disordered over three positions with occupancies of approximately 0.6, 0.2 and 0.2. The hydrogen atom (H1W1) of the ordered water molecule (O1W) is hydrogen bonded to the sulfonyl oxygen atom (O11) (R(O...O)=2.976(3) Å), whereas the other hydrogen atom (H2W1) is bifurcated to the carbonyl oxygen atom (O13) (R(O...O)=2.851(3) Å) and the disordered water molecules (O23W) (R(O...O)=3.067(12) Å). The carbonyl oxygens (O13, O23 and O33) and one of the disordered water molecules (O22W) are involved in C?H...O hydrogen bonds (R(C?H...O)=3.027(4)–3.304(9) Å). Structural characteristics of the studied compound are compared with the analogous trisodium trisaccharinate dihydrate and dipotassium sodium trisaccharinate monohydrate. Infrared and Raman spectra of the title compound have been analyzed in relation to the structure, and compared with the spectra of trisodium trisaccharinate dihydrate.     

Electrophysical and thermomechanical properties of perovskites La<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>A<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> (A = Ca,Sr, Ba) used as fuel cell anodes: the effect of radius of alkali-earth cation

The effect of the radius of the alkali-earth cation substituted into the A sublattice of La_0.5A_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_3–δ (А = Са, Sr, Ba) perovskites on their stability and transport and thermomechanical properties is considered. The increase in the cation radius is shown to improve the phase stability and decrease the conductivity under both oxidative and reductive conditions. The thermal and chemical expansion of La_0.5A_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_3–δ ceramics is studied by dilatometry in controlled atmospheres and a wide temperature range at p(O₂)=10^–21–0.21 atm. The coefficients of thermal expansion of La_0.5A_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_3–δ are in the interval of (10.7–14.3)× 10^–6 K^–1, i.e., compatible with those of standard solid electrolytes of solid-oxide fuel cells. The maximum chemical expansion does not exceed 0.2% at isothermal reduction in the CO?CO₂ mixture.     

Structure,microstructure and physicochemical properties of BaW<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>x</Subscript>O<Subscript>4−δ</Subscript> materials

Nb-doped BaWO₄ with the assumed formula BaW_1?xNb_xO_4?δ (x = 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.05) were prepared by solid-state reaction method. Crystal structure and phase composition were determined by X-ray diffraction method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) was used to describe microstructure and chemical composition of synthesised materials. It was found that solubility limit of niobium in the BaWO₄ structure is the range 0.5–1 mol%, as formation of second phase—Ba₅Nb₄O₁₅—was observed for samples with higher dopant content. For evaluation of the chemical stability of synthesized materials, the comparative CO₂/H₂O exposure test was performed. Samples were exposed to carbon dioxide- and water vapour-rich atmosphere (7% CO₂ in air, 100% RH) at 298 K for 700 h. During this exposition, the chemical reactions between the samples and the surrounding gaseous atmosphere resulting in formation of barium hydroxide and/or barium carbonate can process. Thermogravimetry (TG) method was used for chemical stability evaluation. The comparison of samples before and after the CO₂/H₂O exposure test was performed. To support the interpretation of TG results, the analysis of gaseous products evolved during thermal treatment of the samples was done using mass spectrometer. The effect of dopant on the BaWO₄ chemical stability improvement was observed. In order to determine the electrical properties of obtained materials, the DC resistance measurements in synthetic air atmosphere were taken. It was shown that niobium doping and the presence of second phase—Ba₅Nb₄O₁₅—leads to an increase in the total conductivity of synthesised materials.     

Cutting Tetrahedron LiVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–KBr–KVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–LiKMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> of the Quinary Reciprocal System Li,K||F,Br, VO<Subscript>3</Subscript>, MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The cutting tetrahedron LiVO₃–KBr–KVO₃–LiKMoO₄ of the quinary reciprocal system Li, K||F, Br, VO₃, MoO₄ was studied by differential thermal analysis. The composition and melting point of the alloy corresponding to a quaternary eutectic were determined (11.3 mol % LiVO₃, 18.0 mol % KBr, 57.0 mol % KVO₃, 13.7 mol % Li₂MoO₄ + K₂MoO₄, 318°С).     

Liquid-phase synthesis and physicochemical properties of xerogels,nanopowders and thin films of the CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

Low-agglomerated xerogels, ultrafine oxide powders with particle sizes of 12–20 nm, and uniform thin films with particle sizes of 8–14 nm are prepared in the CeO₂–Y₂O₃ system using liquid-phase low-temperature methods, namely via coprecipitation of hydroxides and cocrystallization of salts, sol—gel technology. A comparative characterization of the prepared xerogels and nanopowders is performed using a set of physicochemical analytical methods. A dependence of phase composition, microstructure, and particle size on synthetic parameters is elucidated.