On hydrolysis of Ba–Bi–O and K–Ba–Bi–O oxide systems

Fundamentally different behavior of Ba–Bi–O (Ba : Bi = 11 : 4, 1 : 1, 2: 3, and 1 : 5 mol/mol) and K_nBa_mBi_m+nO_y (m = n = 1, 2,...; exhibiting superconducting properties with T_c = 28–32 K) oxides and BaO₂ in hydrolysis reactions has been revealed by means of potentiometry and chemical analysis. Products of the oxides treatment with water do not contain H₂O₂, evidencing the absence of peroxide ions in their structure. The perovskite-type barium-bismuth(III) oxides are completely hydrolyzed into Ba(OH)₂ and Bi₂O₃ at room temperature.     

Crystal structure of natural Ag–Cu–Pb–Bi sulfide

The crystal structure of a natural sulfide Cu_3,44Ag_0,56Pb₂Bi₆S₁₃ (Сmcm, Z = 4, a = 3.973(1) Å, b = 13.370(2) Å, c = 42.182(7) Å, R = 0.059) is determined. The structure has seven cation positions: two of them (Cu and Ag) are in a tetrahedral environment of sulfur atoms; one (Pb), in a special position (mm2), has a coordination polyhedron in the form of a bicapped trigonal prism; and the other cation positions are surrounded by sulfur atoms forming distorted octahedra. The mirror symmetry plane perpendicular to the c translation causes microtwinning by cutting a layer of trigonal prisms framed by tetrahedron ribbons. These layers are divided by those composed by edge-linked octahedra with a diagonal ribbon of five octahedra (N = 5). The cation and anion positions are ordered by individual sublattices with pseudohexagonal subcells on the m planes perpendicular to the a translation, which concentrate the positions of all the atoms. Supposedly, this natural sulfide is the previously described (1885) yet unconfirmed alaskaite mineral from the lillianite–heyrovskyite homological series and may be isostructural to the ourayite mineral.     

New Phase in the Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O System

Cooling a melt of a Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O system (Bi:Sr:Ca:Cu = 4:3:3:4 or 2:2:2:4) from 1000°C-1050°C yielded crystals of a new red-colored nonsuperconducting phase, accompanying the superconducting 2212 and 2201 phases. Based on the EPR spectra, it was concluded that copper is univalent in this compound. The new phase has a composition Bi_2.2Sr_1.6Ca_1.3Cu₂Ox. The X-ray diffraction pattern has been indexed, and the unit cell parameters of the phase have been determined: space group P2/m, a = 12.93, b = 4.55, c = 10.94 ; = 102.72°.     

Liquid–liquid phase equilibrium in ternary immiscible Al–Bi–Sn melts

In this paper, the liquid-phase separation of ternary immiscible Al–Bi–Sn melts was studied with resistivity and thermal analysis methods at different temperatures. The resistivity–temperature curves appear anomalous and abrupt change as rising temperature, corresponding to the distinctive and low peak of melting process in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, indicative of the occurrence of the liquid-phase separation. The anomalous behaviour of the resistivity temperature dependence is attributable to concentration–concentration fluctuations. The microheterogeneity–microhomogeneity transformation causes large fluctuations in concentration, which make the randomness and chaos of the atoms larger, leading to the greater impediment to electron movement and the sharp rise of resistivity. The addition of tin to the Al–Bi immiscible alloys decreases the monotectic reaction. It is concluded that concentration–concentration fluctuations are responsible for the anomalous behaviour of resistivity and DSC methods.     

Electrical resistivity feature of Cu–Sn–(Bi) alloy melts

The temperature dependence of electrical resistivity of Cu–Sn alloys, along with Cu–Sn–Bi alloys, has been investigated in a wide temperature range using the DC four-probe technique. Evidently abnormal changes are observed on ρ–T curves of these alloys. The result reveals that the irreversible and reversible changes on these ρ–Tcurves indicate the existence of the metastable microinhomogeneous structure and microheterogeneous structure (including some short range orders) of the Cu–Sn and Cu–Sn–Bi alloy melts, respectively. Furthermore, the addition of Bi increases the metastable microheterogeneity in the first heating process of Cu–Sn melts.     

Surface tension of liquid high-entropy equiatomic alloys of a Cu–Sn–Bi–In–Pb system

An experimental study of the temperature dependences of the surface tension of liquid high-entropy equiatomic alloys of a Cu–Sn–Bi–In–Pb system is conducted. Measurements are made within the temperature range of t _L to 1300°C in the mode of heating and subsequent cooling of a sample. Overcooling of a melt prior to crystallization is detected. The depth of overcooling grows along with the number of components in the melt, while the temperature coefficient of surface tension falls. The experimental results qualitatively interpreted within the concepts of the specific surface entropy of a liquid.     

Impedance spectroscopy of V2O5–Bi2O3–BaTiO3 glass–ceramics

The glasses within composition as: (80 − x)V₂O₅/20Bi₂O₃/xBaTiO₃ with x = 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mol% have been prepared. The glass transition (T_g) increases with increasing BaTiO₃ content. Synthesized glasses ceramic containing BaTi₄O₉, Ba₃TiV₄O₁₅ nanoparticles of the order of 25–35 nm and 30–46 nm, respectively were estimated using XRD. The dielectric properties over wide ranges of frequencies and temperatures were investigated as a function of BaTiO₃ content by impedance spectroscopy measurements. The hopping frequency, ω_h, dielectric constant, ε′, activation energies for the DC conduction, E_σ, the relaxation process, E_c, and stretched exponential parameter β of the glasses samples have been estimated. The, ω_h, β, decrease from 51.63 to 0.31 × 10⁶ (s⁻¹), 0.84 to 0.79 with increasing BaTiO₃ respectively. Otherwise, the E_σ, increase from 0.279 to 0.306 eV with increasing BaTiO₃. The value of dielectric constant equal 9.5·10³ for the 2.5BaTiO₃/77.5V₂O₅/20Bi₂O₃ glasses-ceramic at 330 K for 1 KHz which is ten times larger than that of same glasses composition. Finally the relaxation properties of the investigated glasses are presented in the electric modulus formalism, where the relaxation time and the respective activation energy were determined.     

Preparation of onion-like Pd–Bi–Au/C trimetallic catalyst and their application

This paper describes the preparation of dispersed onion-like Pd–Bi–Au/C catalyst with average diameter of 13 nm obtained by consecutive chemical reduction of precursor gold, bismuth and palladium salts in aqueous solution and immobilization on active carbon. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy experiments were performed to analyze the structure and to characterize the Pd–Bi–Au/C catalyst. The onion-like morphology is composed of high content of gold inner core, a Bi-rich intermediate layer and a Pd-rich external layer. The catalytic activity of the catalyst was subsequently investigated and they were found to be efficient catalysts for the aerobic liquid phase oxidation. The results showed that the catalytic activity of Pd–Bi–Au/C was higher than that of Pd–Au/C bimetallic catalyst, indicating that bismuth plays an important role in synergistic effect between gold and palladium.     

Electrical Double Layer on Liquid Bi–Ga Alloys in Aqueous Solutions

Double-layer characteristics of a liquid bismuth–gallium electrode are studied in aqueous electrolyte solutions. Based on the results obtained it is shown that Bi in an alloy with Ga is a surface-active component and forced out to the electrode surface layer. For electrode charges q –5 C/cm², the double layer characteristics of Bi–Ga electrodes approach those of a bismuth electrode. Thus, with respect to its electrochemical properties, a Bi–Ga electrode containing 0.25 at. % Bi simulates a liquid bismuth electrode. The corrected electrochemical work function is determined for bismuth. The close values of the difference of zero-charge potentials on mercury and bismuth in water and the difference of corrected electrochemical work functions for these metals points to the very low hydrophilicity of the Bi–Ga electrode, which approaches the value for mercury at negative electrode potentials. Taking into account that the Bi–Ga electrode displays no semimetallic properties, the similarity of the electric double layer (EDL) parameters for the Bi–Ga alloy and solid pure Bi indicates that the semimetallic properties of bismuth make no contribution to the EDL characteristics of the alloy in the studied range of negative charges q –5 C/cm².     

The Thermal Synthesis of the ZnO–Bi2O3 Pigments

A zinc oxide pigment with an admixture of bismut oxide has been prepared as new yellow pigment for colouring of plastics and paints. The effect of the Bi₂ O₃ in the starting mixture on the colour hue of the pigment has been evaluated. The calcination conditions of the pigment synthesis have been established. The synthesis of these pigments was followed by thermal analysis using a derivatograph apparatus in our laboratory. The optimum conditions for the synthesis of pigments and the properties of the products have been estimated. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetic analysis of the crystallization processes in the glasses of the Bi–As–S system

Kinetic analysis of the crystallization process in Bi₄(As₂S₃)₉₆ and Bi₆(As₂S₃)₉₄ glasses was performed based on DSC curves recorded under non-isothermal measurement conditions. Samples were thermally treated at different heating rates in the temperature range 300?C770?K. The activation energy of crystallization E and the pre-exponential factor K ₀ are determined by the Kissinger method and the characteristic crystallization parameters m and n of investigated glasses by the Matusita method. For both crystallization processes the glass with 4 at.% of Bi is characterized by the mechanism of volume nucleation, which is manifested in the form of two-dimensional growth at the first crystallization process, and as three-dimensional at the second one. On the other hand, in the sample with 6 at.% Bi, the average value of the parameter m is close to one, which indicates one-dimensional crystal growth. Compatibility of the values of the parameters m and n suggests that this sample has a large number of crystallization centers, which do not increase significantly during the thermal treatment.     

Adsorption of n-Butanol from Aqueous Solutions on a Bi–Ga Electrode

Curves of the differential capacitance at the Bi–Ga/H₂O interface in 0.05 M Na₂SO₄ solutions with different concentrations of n-C₄H₉OH are obtained by a bridge method at 420 Hz and 32°C. Adsorption parameters of n-C₄H₉OH, determined by a regression analysis of these curves, are compared with relevant data for mercury and partially fused polycrystalline bismuth (pBi). That the adsorption behavior of organic molecules at Hg differs from that at pBi and Bi–Ga is due not to their different hydrophilicity but to a different physical interaction water–electrode. The reason for this phenomenon can be an unequal spread of electron density beyond the ionic cores of Hg and Bi. These notions are corroborated by the fact that the Bi–Ga data fit overall correlation dependence between the electronic capacitance of different electrodes in the absence of a chemisorption interaction metal–water and the adsorbability of the n-C₄H₉OH molecules on them.     

Visible-light photoresponsive heterojunctions of (Nb–Ti–Si) and (Bi/Bi-O) nanoparticles

The increasing motivation to seek alternative sources of clean and sustainable energy has intensified, due to a growing awareness that fossil fuels are finite in quantity, and that the combustion products of such fuels contribute to global warming. Solar energy is considered one of the most readily available alternatives, but materials which are able to harness this form of energy need to be developed. This study details the development of a novel composite material, of the form of Bi/Bi-O nanoparticles supported on a (Nb–Ti–Si) oxide. Characterized using electrochemical and other methods, this material generates a photocurrent, and is capable of photo-oxidizing airborne-styrene in a fluidized-bed photoreactor when exposed to visible-light.     

Thermodynamic modelling of liquid-vapour equilibrium and thermophysical properties of molten Pb–Bi systems

A lead–bismuth alloy is an advanced coolant for nuclear power plants. The study of this alloy is of current importance. However, performing high-temperature experiments involves many problems. In this work, to study evaporation of a lead–bismuth alloy in the presence of intermetallic compounds in the condensed phase and dimers and trimers of metals in the vapour phase, a method of thermodynamic modelling was used. The investigations were carried out at temperatures from 400 to 3000 K with the lead content from 0.1 to 0.9 weight fractions in the lead–bismuth alloy. In the method of thermodynamic modelling a software package TERRA and a model of an ideal solution of interaction products were applied. Concentration and temperature dependencies of the content of components in the melt and in the gaseous phase over the melt were calculated. Temperatures, enthalpies, entropies of the melt–vapour transition and various thermophysical properties were defined.     

Bi–O–Si键作为热电子传输通道增强SiO2@Bi微球的等离子体光催化效率

具有等离子体效应的贵金属Au和Ag等常被用于修饰半导体光催化剂.非贵金属Bi成本低,来源丰富,最近被报道可以直接作为等离子体光催化剂应用于空气中NO净化.为了进一步提高Bi单质的光催化活性,需对其进行改性.SiO2的禁带宽度过大,不能单独作为光催化剂,但它的稳定性好,比表面积大,因而常作复合材料用于提高光催化剂的反应效率、稳定性及对反应物的吸附能力.目前,尚未见SiO2修饰Bi单质的相关报道.本文通过溶剂热法制备了SiO2@Bi微球,并对其微结构进行了表征,对光催化氧化NO的反应过程进行了原位漫反射红外光谱(DRIFTS)分析,揭示了Bi–O–Si键在提升SiO2@Bi光催化氧化NO性能中的作用机制.结果显示,用SiO2纳米颗粒修饰Bi球,形成的Bi–O–Si键作为热电子传输通道,能显著提高Bi单质光催化氧化去除NO的能力.扫描电镜、透射电镜、傅里叶变换红外光谱和X射线光电子能谱等表征结果表明,SiO2纳米颗粒负载于Bi球上,且SiO2@Bi内形成了Bi–O–Si键.作为光生热电子的传输通道,Bi–O–Si键能促进光生电子的转移和载流子的分离,提高活性自由基?OH和?O2?的产量,增强SiO2@Bi在紫外光下等离子体光催化氧化NO的能力.自由基捕获测试(ESR)表明,SiO2@Bi在光催化反应中产生的?OH和?O2?数量均明显高于单质Bi在反应中形成自由基的数量.原位DRIFTS发现,Bi–O–Si键能快速转移光生电子,从而有利于NO→NO2→NO3?反应的进行.此外,SiO2@Bi的比表面积变大,因而对NO的吸附能力增强,同时促进了光催化反应.本文揭示了SiO2@Bi等离子体光催化性能增强的微观机制和光催化氧化NO的反应机理,为Bi基光催化剂的改性和应用提供了新的认识.     

Infrared,Raman and XPS spectroscopic studies of Bi2O3–B2O3–GeO2 glasses

Glasses with composition 50Bi₂O₃–(50 ? x) B₂O₃–xGeO₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 mol%) were prepared by conventional melting method. The thermal properties were investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and the structures of the glasses were probed by Infrared, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that density, refractive index and optical basicity increase with the increase of GeO₂. The glass transition temperature (T_g), onset crystallization temperature (T_x) and ΔT (T_x ? T_g) increase as well. The cut-off edges in ultraviolet and infrared shift to longer wavelength by the addition of GeO₂. Infrared, Raman and XPS results indicate that the glass network consists of [Bi–O₆] octahedron, [BO₃] triangle, [BO₄] tetrahedron and [GeO₄] tetrahedron and borate oxide mainly exists in [BO₃] units. XPS result indicates Ge⁴⁺ ions form steady [GeO₄] tetrahedra units in the glass network and the number of non-bridging oxygens decreases with the addition of GeO₂.     

The Electrical Double Layer at the Bi–Ga Liquid Alloy in the Acetonitrile Electrolyte Solutions

The electrical double layer (EDL) characteristics of a Bi (0.25 at. %)–Ga liquid electrode in acetonitrile are studied. In acetonitrile, as in water, the electrode models Bi electrodes in their electrochemical properties. In contrast to aqueous solutions, in acetonitrile solutions it is possible to study the EDL structure not only at negative charges but also near the zero charge and at small positive charges. In acetonitrile, the electrode's potential of zero charge not distorted by specific ion adsorption and the corrected electrochemical work function are determined. The electrode is as lyophilic with respect to acetonitrile as Hg. Thus, the orientation of acetonitrile dipoles on Hg and Bi is identical at negative charges. The obtained data and data for a partially fused polycrystalline electrode in aqueous solutions are used to determine contributions of semimetal properties of a Bi electrode to the capacitance of the inner part of EDL and to a potential drop. The charge dependences of these contributions are found.