High-temperature heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of Pb<Subscript>4</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> and Pb<Subscript>8</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>13</Subscript>

The molar heat capacity of Pb₄V₂O₉ and Pb₈V₂O₁₃ in the temperature range 350–1000 K was measured by differential scanning calorimetry. It was determined that the plot C_p = f(T) for Pb₈V₂O₁₃ has an extremum within the range 416–516 K, which is due to a phase transition. A correlation was found between the heat capacity and composition of oxides in the PbO–V₂O₅ system. The data obtained allowed one to predict the specific heat capacity value for Pb(VO₃)₂.     

Specific heat on Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> and Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ta<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Summary Specific heats on the single crystals of Sr₂Nb₂O₇, Sr₂Ta₂O₇ and (Sr_1-xBa_x)₂Nb₂O₇ were measured in a wide temperature range of 2-600 K. Heat anomalies of a λ-type were observed at the incommensurate phase transition of T_INC (=495 K) on Sr₂Nb₂O₇ and at the super-lattice phase transition of T_SL (=443 K) on Sr₂Ta₂O₇; the transition enthalpies and the transition entropies were estimated. Furthermore, a small heat anomaly was observed at the low temperature ferroelectric phase transition of T_LOW (=95 K) on Sr₂Nb₂O₇. The transition temperature T_LOW decreases with increasing Ba content x and it vanishes for samples of x>2%.     

Study on the oxygen exchange capacities of Ce<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> pyrochlore

Ce₂Sn₂O₇ pyrochlore was synthesized by a hydrothermal method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the composition and valence state of the sample. The oxygen exchange property of the Ce₂Sn₂O₇ phase was measured by an oxidation reaction in sealed air atmosphere and a followed reduction reaction in 5% H₂-95% N₂ atmosphere. Gas chromatography (GC) was used to analyze the oxygen change in the reaction. The results show that Ce₂Sn₂O₇ sample has excellent oxygen absorption capacity at 250°C as Ce³⁺ ions are oxidized to Ce⁴⁺ ions. The oxidized sample can be reduced by 5% H₂-95% N₂. The refreshed sample remains the capacity of oxygen absorption, while the oxygen exchange capacity degrades with the reduction times.     

High-temperature heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of pyrovanadate Pb<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> and orthovanadate Pb<Subscript>3</Subscript>(VO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The heat capacities of Pb₂V₂O₇ and Pb₃(VO₄)₂ as a function of temperature in the range 350–965 K have been studied by the differential scanning calorimetry method. The C_P = f(T) curve for Pb₂V₂O₇ is described by the equation C_p = (230.76 ± 0.51) + (73.60 ± 0.50)×10^-3T ? (18.38 ± 0.54)×10⁵T^-2 in the entire temperature range. For Pb₃(VO₄)₂, there is a well-pronounced extreme point in the C_P = f(T) curve at T = 371.5 K, which is caused by the existence of a structural phase transition. The thermodynamic properties of the oxide compounds have been calculated.     

Mechanism and kinetics of formation of La<Subscript>2</Subscript>SrFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> and Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>SrFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Phase formation processes in the systems Ln₂O₃-SrO-Fe₂O₃ (Ln = La, Nd) in air in the temperature range 1200–1500°C were studied. The synthesis of the complex ferrites La₂SrFe₂O₇ and Nb₂SrFe₂O₇ involves the formation of the intermediate compounds LnFeO₃ and LnSrFeO₄ and occurs by the same mechanism as the synthesis of the corresponding aluminates, but much faster.     

Effect of Er<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> on thermal stability of oxyfluoride glass

Glasses have been synthesized in the system SiO₂–Al₂O₃–Na₂O–AlF₃–LaF₃–Er₂O₃. A base glass (in mol% 67SiO₂–9Al₂O₃–20Na₂O–Al₂F₆–3La₂F₆) was modified by 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2 and 5 mol% Er₂O₃, respectively. Glasses were prepared by conventional fusion method from 20 g batches. The glass transition temperature (T _g), the jump-like changes of the specific heat (ΔC _p) accompanying the glass transition and the enthalpy of crystallization (ΔH) were calculated. DTA measurements clearly reveal that the increase of the Er₂O₃ content in the glass changes the effects of crystallization and diminishes the thermal stability of the glassy network. In the same time the changes in the transition temperature are observed. The formation of NaLaF₄ and Na_1.45La_9.31(SiO₄)₆(F_0.9O_1.1) as a main phase was confirmed. The diminishing of the thermal stability was connected with erbium which incorporated into Na_1.45La_9.31(SiO₄)₆(F_0.9O_1.1) structure.     

Heat capacity and heat content of BiNb<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>14</Subscript>

The heat capacity and the heat content of bismuth niobate BiNb₅O₁₄ were measured by the relaxation time method, DSC and drop method, respectively. The temperature dependence of heat capacity in the form C _pm=455.84+0.06016T–7.7342·10⁶/T ² (J K^–1 mol^–1) was derived by the least squares method from the experimental data. Furthermore, the standard molar entropy at 298.15 K S _m=397.17 J K^–1 mol^–1 was derived from the low temperature heat capacity measurement.     

Changes in the heat capacity of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions near the point of antiferromagnetic phase transition in Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃ solid solutions with 0, 4, 7, 10 and 20 mol% of corundum were synthesized using a high-pressure/high-temperature apparatus and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. Calorimetric measurements were carried out using DSC-111 (Setaram). Heat capacity was measured by the enthalpy method in a temperature range of 260–340 K, near magnetic phase transition in pure Cr₂O₃ (305 K). Magnetic contribution into the heat capacity was derived and found to change irregularly with the composition.     

Thermal synthesis of the (Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>1–x</Subscript>(Er<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>x</Subscript> pigments

The synthesis of new compounds based on Bi₂O₃ is investigated because they can be used as new environmentally friendly inorganic pigments. Chemical compounds of the (Bi₂O₃)_1–x(Er₂O₃)_x type were synthetized. The host lattice of these pigments is Bi2O3 that is doped by Er³⁺ ions. The incorporation of doped ions provides interesting colours and contributes to an increase in the thermal stability of these compounds. The simultaneous TG-DTA measurements were used for determination of the temperature region of the pigment formation and thermal stability of pigments.     

Phase relations in the Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>-Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> system from room temperature to melting

Phase relations in the Zn₂V₂O₇-Cu₂V₂O₇ system were studied by high-temperature X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. The major phase constituents of the system are solid solutions based on Zn₂V₂O₇ and Cu₂V₂O₇ polymorphs and their coexistence regions. The generation of α-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ solid solution, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30, leaves almost unchanged the stabilization temperature of the high-temperature zinc pyrovanadate phase. The α-Cu_{2 − 2x} Zn_2x V₂O₇ homogeneity range is 5 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇. In the range 0.050 ≤ x ≤ 0.09 from 20 to ∼ 620°C, there is the two-phase field of α-Cu₂V₂O₇ and β-Cu₂V₂O₇ base solid solutions. At still higher temperatures, β-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ and α-Cu_{2 − 2x} Zn_2x V₂O₇ coexist in the mixed-phase region. β-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ solid solution, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30, exists above 610 ± 5°C. The extent of the β′-Cu₂V₂O₇-base solid solution is 9 to 65 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇ at 615 ± 5°C, expanding to 0 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇ with rising temperature. Original Russian Text ￠ T.I. Krasnenko, M.V. Rotermel’, S.A. Petrova, R.G. Zakharov, O.V. Sivtsova, A.N. Chvanova, 2008, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 53, No. 10, pp. 1755–1762.     

Glass formation in the CaO-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and SrO-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> systems

A physicochemical study of glasses based on the MO-Bi₂O₃-B₂O₃ and SrO-Bi₂O₃-B₂O₃ systems was performed. Glass formation regions were found. The structural and optical properties, as well as the thermal behavior of the glasses, were studied.     

Synthesis and High-Temperature Heat Capacity of Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Yttrium germanate Y₂Ge₂O₇ was prepared by solid-phase synthesis from a stoichiometric Y₂O₃–GeO₂ mixture under multistage calcination in air within a temperature range of 1273–1473 K. The molar heat capacity of polycrystalline samples was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the C _P = f(T) dependence was used to calculate the thermodynamic properties of yttrium digermanates, such as the enthalpy and entropy changes and the reduced Gibbs energy.     

Advanced Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2.7</Subscript>/Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> composite film with enhanced visible-light-driven activity for the degradation of organic dyes

Bi₂O_2.7/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ composite photocatalyst films are synthesized by sol–gel dip-coating. The ratio of adding Bi and Ti precursors can be controlled during the preparation process. The phase structure is confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectrum shows that the composite catalysts present light absorption in the visible region. The obtained Bi₂O_2.7/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ composite films possess superior photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B, owing to the visible light response of Bi₂O_2.7 and the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes between the two components. As a result, the Bi₂O_2.7/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ (Bi/Ti = 1:1) displays the highest photocatalytic activity under visible light or UV light irradiation for the degradation of different organic dyes, including methyl blue, methyl orange and acid orange 7.     

Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> phase diagram

Phase relations in the Y₂O₃-Ga₂O₃ system were studied by the anneal-and-quench technique in air within 1000–2300°C, and a phase diagram was plotted. Three compounds were found to form: Y₃GaO₆, Y₄Ga₂O₉, and Y₃Ga₅O₁₂; the temperature and concentration bounds of stability were determined for these compounds. Indexing results for Y₃GaO₆ are given.     

Low temperature thermodynamic properties of Gd<Subscript>2</Subscript>SrCo<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Summary Thermodynamic properties of a layered perovskite oxide Gd₂SrCo₂O₇ have been studied. Powder X-ray diffraction, electric resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements were carried out. The crystal structure was determined as I4/mmm. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility was fitted to the Curie-Weiss behavior with antiferromagnetic interaction. Spin state of Co³⁺ ion was derived to be intermediate spin state configuration (t_2g⁵e_g¹). The spin ordering was observed as a broad anomaly in the heat capacity curve with a peak at 2 K. The measured entropy was 35.47 J K^-1mol^-1, which was 65% of expected value. Thus the spin ordering should not be completed at the lowest temperature 0.2 K covered in the present experiments and/or some short range ordering remains at higher temperatures.     

Subsolidus phase relations in the Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-Ta<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> (Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>) systems

The phase composition has been studied and an equilibrium phase diagram has been designed for the Al₂O₃-Li₂O-R₂O₅ (R = Ta or Nb) systems in the subsolidus region up to 1000°C and 85 mol % Li₂O. New phases with the composition Li_1+x Al_1?x O_2?x , where x = 0–0.67, have been found.     

Phase diagram of the system KF-K<Subscript>2</Subscript>TaF<Subscript>7</Subscript>-Ta<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>

As an asymmetric organic molecular crystal, p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DAB) exhibits peculiar optical property. It was first grown by solution technique adopting slow evaporation method at room temperature using CCl₄ as growth medium. The solubility of DAB increases with temperature. Good quality transparent crystals of p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde were carefully collected and subjected various characterization studies such as UV, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³CNMR spectral studies and thermal (TG-DTG) studies to determine the purity and application oriented properties of the grown crystals.     

Heat capacities and absolute entropies of UTi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> and CeTi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Summary As part of a larger study of the physical properties of potential ceramic hosts for nuclear wastes, we report the molar heat capacity of brannerite (UTi₂O₆) and its cerium analog (CeTi₂O₆) from 10 to 400 K using an adiabatic calorimeter. At 298.15 K the standard molar heat capacities are (179.46±0.18) J K^-1 mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and (172.78±0.17) J K^-1 mol^-1 for CeTi₂O₆. Entropies were calculated from smooth fits of the experimental data and were found to be (175.56±0.35) J K^-1 mol^-1 and (171.63±0.34) J K^-1 mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and CeTi₂O₆, respectively. Using these entropies and enthalpy of formation data reported in the literature, Gibb’s free energies of formation from the elements and constituent oxides were calculated. Standard free energies of formation from the elements are (-2814.7±5.6) kJ mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and (-2786.3±5.6) kJ mol^-1 for CeTi₂O₆. The free energy of formation from the oxides at T=298.15 K are (-5.31±0.01) kJ mol^-1 and (15.88±0.03) kJ mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and CeTi₂O₆, respectively.     

Solid solutions in the MgO-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

Coexisting solid solutions with spinel and corundum structure were synthesized at 1773 K and two pressures, 1 bar and 25 kbar. Samples were analyzed by electron microprobe analysis and X-ray powder diffraction. Pressure and temperature were shown to affect the properties of the solid solutions in different ways. Pressure governs the composition of the defect spinel Mg_1−xAl₂O₄, and temperature changes the cation distribution between coexisting phases. This allows one to separate the effects of cation exchange and magnetic contribution to the heat capacity in thermodynamic modeling. The defect spinel itself can form only because γ-Al₂O₃ exists, polymorph with spinel structure.