Electrical conductivity studies in the system Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>1.33</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>1.67</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Electrical conductivity in the monoclinic Li₂TiO₃, cubic Li_1.33Ti_1.67O₄, and in their mixture has been studied by impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range 20–730 °C. Li₂TiO₃ shows low lithium ion conductivity, σ₃₀₀≈10^–6 S/cm at 300 °C, whereas Li_1.33Ti_1.67O₄ has 3×10^–8 at 20 °C and 3×10^–4 S/cm at 300 °C. Structural properties are used to discuss the observed conductivity features. The conductivity dependences on temperature in the coordinates of 1000/T versus log_e(σT) are not linear, as the conductivity mechanism changes. Extrinsic and intrinsic conductivity regions are observed. The change in the conductivity mechanism in Li₂TiO₃ at around 500–600 °C is observed and considered as an effect of the first-order phase transition, not reported before. Formation of solid solutions of Li_{2– x} Ti_{1+ x} O₃ above 900 °C significantly increases the conductivity. Irradiation by high-energy (5 MeV) electrons causes defects and the conductivity in Li₂TiO₃ increases exponentially. A dose of 144 MGy yields an increase in conductivity of about 100 times at room temperature. Electronic Publication     

Quantitative study of hydration of C<Subscript>3</Subscript>S and C<Subscript>2</Subscript>S by thermal analysis

This research is part of a European project (namely, CODICE project), main objective of which is modelling, at a multi-scale, the evolution of the mechanical performance of non-degraded and degraded cementitious matrices. For that, a series of experiments were planned with pure synthetic tri-calcium silicate (C₃S) and bi-calcium silicate (C₂S) (main components of the Portland cement clinker) to obtain different calcium–silicate–hydrate (C–S–H) gel structures during their hydration. The characterization of those C–S–H gels and matrices will provide experimental parameters for the validation of the multi-scale modelling scheme proposed. In this article, a quantitative method, based on thermal analyses, has been used for the determination of the chemical composition of the C–S–H gel together with the degree of hydration and quantitative evolution of all the components of the pastes. Besides, the microstructure and type of silicate tetrahedron and mean chain length (MCL) were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ²⁹Si magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR, respectively. The main results showed that the chemical compositions for the C–S–H gels have a CaO/SiO₂ M ratio almost constant of 1.7 for both C₃S and C₂S compounds. Small differences were found in the gel water content: the H₂O/SiO₂ M ratio ranged from 2.9 ± 0.2 to 2.6 ± 0.2 for the C₃S (decrease) and from 2.4 ± 0.2 to 3.2 ± 0.2 for the C₂S (increase). The MCL values of the C–S–H gels, determined from ²⁹Si MAS NMR, were 3.5 and 4 silicate tetrahedron, for the hydrated C₃S and C₂S, respectively, remaining almost constant at all hydration periods.     

Synthesis and characterization of ambient temperature superionic solids in the composite system CuI–Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–TeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The present work deals with the composite system (CuI) _x –(Ag₂O–TeO₂)_{100– x} , where x=30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 mol%, respectively, synthesized by a solid-state reaction route. Powder specimens were analysed using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared techniques. These studies have revealed the formation of Cu₃TeO₆, AgI and/or other phases. The ambient temperature electrical conductivities obtained for the samples using a complex impedance method were found to lie in the range 10^–6–10^–4 Scm^–1, with low activation energies, thus indicating their superionic nature. The typical composition 35CuI–32.5Ag₂O–32.5TeO₂ was identified as the best conducting one, having an electrical conductivity of 6×10^–4 Scm^–1 at 296 K and an activation energy of 0.23 eV. Ion transport number measurements carried out using Wagner's polarization technique as well as by an electromotive force method suggested that silver ions were responsible for the observed transport features of the composite system. Electronic Publication     

Sol-coated preparation and characterization of macroporous α-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> membrane support

A simple approach namely sol-coated technique has been developed for the low cost fabrication of macroporous ceramic under a far below common sintering temperature of alumina with large dimension grains. The prepared green support shows higher sinteractive than the one treated by wet impregnation method under the same sintering conditions. The support possesses great potential applications with 6.63–7.71 μm in pore size, 39% open porosity as well as >45 MPa mechanical strength at the sintering temperature range of 1350°– 1500°C. The results indicate that the nitrogen gas flux and pure water permeation value was 51 252.35 m³ m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹, 98.43 m³ m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹, respectively, which were more dependent on the pore structure and pore size distribution than open porosity.     

The impedance of the Ag-CeF<Subscript>3</Subscript>/CeF<Subscript>3</Subscript> bicrystal-Ag system

The impedance spectra of CeF₃/CeF₃ bicrystal (two single crystals separated by a single intercrystalline boundary) between Ag-electrodes are studied over a 135 to 410 K temperature interval (including temperatures below room temperature). The bicrystal was prepared by thermal-diffusion welding under a pressure of 1.5 × 10⁷ Pa at 1473 K in vacuum (∼10⁻² Pa). It is shown that the intercrystalline boundary affects but insignificantly the bicrystal bulk impedance. The CeF₃/CeF₃ ionic conductivity is 3 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm at 293 K; it is mainly determined by transfer processes in the single crystal bulk.     

Thermodynamic properties of some polymeric forms of fullerite C<Subscript>60</Subscript> at temperatures ranging from 0 to 320 K

The temperature dependences of the heat capacityC ⁰ _p of fullerites C₆₀ were studied at temperatures ranging from 5 to 320 K in an adiabatic vacuum calorimeter with an accuracy of 0.4–0.2%. The fullerite C₆₀ samples were prepared by treating the starting fullerite C₆₀ under 8 GPa at 920 and 1270 K and “quenched” by a sharp decrease in pressure to −10⁵ Pa and in temperature to ∼300 K. Fullerite C₆₀(8 GPa, 920 K), a crystalline polymer with layered structure formed by polymerized fullerene C₆₀ molecules, was obtained at 920 K and 8 GPa. Fullerite C₆₀(8 GPa, 1270 K), a three-dimensional polymer with a graphite-like structure formed by fragments of decomposed C₆₀ molecules and containing many C(sp³)−C(sp³) bonds, was obtained at 1270 K and 8 GPa. Both polymers are metastable polymeric phases. The anomalous character of the temperature dependence of the heat capacity was revealed in the 49–66 K range for the polymer formed at 1270 K. The thermodynamic functions of the substances under study were calculated for the 0–320 K region along with entropies of their formation from graphite. The entropies of transformation of the starting fullerite C₆₀ into metastable phases and that of intertransformation of phases were estimated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 277–281, February, 2000.     

Obtaining of Ni<Subscript>0.65</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>0.35</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocomposites by thermal decomposition of complex compounds embedded in silica matrix

This article presents the results of our investigation on the obtaining of Ni_0.65Zn_0.35Fe₂O₄ ferrite nanoparticles embedded in a SiO₂ matrix using a modified sol–gel synthesis method, starting from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), metal (Fe^III,Ni^II,Zn^II) nitrates and ethylene glycol (EG). This method consists in the formation of carboxylate type complexes, inside the silica matrix, used as forerunners for the ferrite/silica nanocomposites. We prepared gels with different compositions, in order to obtain, through a suitable thermal treatment, the nanocomposites (Ni_0.65Zn_0.35Fe₂O₄)_x–(SiO₂)_100–x (where x=10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 mass%). The synthesized gels were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TG) and FTIR spectroscopy. The formation of Ni–Zn ferrite in the silica matrix and the behavior in an external magnetic field were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and quasi-static magnetic measurements (50 Hz).     

Impedance studies on the 5-V cathode material,LiCoPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Olivine-structured LiCoPO₄ is synthesized by a Pechini-type polymer precursor method. The structure and the morphology of the compounds are studied by the Rietveld-refined X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area technique, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy techniques, respectively. The ionic conductivity (σ ionic), dielectric, and electric modulus properties of LiCoPO₄ are investigated on sintered pellets by impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range, 27–50 °C. The σ (ionic) values at 27 and 50 °C are 8.8 × 10⁻⁸ and 49 × 10⁻⁸ S cm⁻¹, respectively with an energy of activation (E _a) = 0.43 eV. The electric modulus studies suggest the presence of non-Debye type of relaxation. Preliminary charge–discharge cycling data are presented.     

Aqueous sol–gel processing of precursor oxides for ZrW<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript> synthesis

This paper describes the synthesis of ZrW₂O₈ by the use of an aqueous citrate-gel method in order to prepare a fine, pure and homogeneous oxide mixture suitable for ceramic processing. The thermal expansion coefficient thus obtained for α-ZrW₂O₈ is −10.6 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (50–125 °C) whereas for the β-ZrW₂O₈ a value of −3.2 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (200–300 °C) is obtained. The advantages of the use of a sol–gel method is expressed in the very homogeneous end-products. The paper describes crystallographic data, morphological structure and the thermal expansion properties of the ZrW₂O₈ material. Moreover, photoluminescence and photochromic properties specific to the precursor gel are described and analyzed. These effects support our views that the precursors show homogeneity up to nanometer level.     

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.     

Viscosity and structural relaxation of 15Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>O·<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>MgO·(10−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>)CaO·75SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glasses

Temperature dependence of viscosity of title glasses (x=0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, abbreviated as M0, M2, M4, M6, M8, and M10, respectively) was measured by rotational viscometry (high temperature region: 10²−10^6.5 dPas) and thermomechanical analysis (low temperature region: 10^8.5−10^11.5 dPas) and described by the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann equation. The MgO/CaO equimolar substitution (i.e. the increasing x value) smoothly shifts the high temperature viscosity to higher values. In the low temperature region the mixed alkali effect is demonstrated, and the highest viscosities are observed for the glasses M0 and M10. In the low temperature range the activation energy of viscous flow linearly decreases with the increasing x value (E _act/kJ mol⁻¹=479−9.0x). No significant dependence of activation energy on x was found in the high temperature range (E _act/kJ mol⁻¹=238.1±4.2). The structural relaxation was measured by thermomechanical experiment and theoretically interpreted in the frame of Tool-Narayanaswamy-Mazurin’s model. The broadening of the relaxation time spectrum was observed for the calcium-magnesium glasses in comparison with the pure calcium or magnesium glasses.     

Influence of solvent structure on the aquation of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">trans</Emphasis>-[Ru(3-MePy)<Subscript>4</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript>] complex in mixed aqueous solvents

The kinetics of the solvolytic aquation of trans-[Ru (3-Me Py)₄Cl₂] was studied spectrophotometrically in water – isopropanol in the range (30–90% v/v), and water acetonitrile in the range (10–70% v/v), and in the temperature range 50–65 °C. Plots of log k versus the reciprocal of the relative permittivity and Grunwald–Winstien gave non-linear plots. This non-linearity is derived from a large differential effect of solvent structure between the initial and transition states. The plot of log k versus water concentration was also non linear; evidence for the presence of a S _N ¹ mechanism. However, extrema in the variation of enthalpy ΔH* and entropy ΔS* of activation correlate well with the extrema in physical properties of the mixtures which are related to changes in solvent structure. Linear plots of ΔH* versus ΔS* were obtained and the iso- kinetic temperature indicates that the reaction is entropy controlled.     

Kinetic studies on the hydrogenation of nitrate in water using Rh/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and Rh-Cu/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts

Liquid-phase reduction NO ₃ ⁻ using monometallic and bimetallic catalysts (5% Rh/Al₂O₃, 5% Rh-0.5% Cu/Al₂O₃, 5% Rh-1.5% Cu/Al₂O₃, 5% Rh-5% Cu/Al₂O₃ and a physical mixture of 5% Rh/Al₂O₃ and 1.5% Cu/Al₂O₃) was studied in a slurry reactor operating at atmospheric pressure. Kinetic measurements were performed for a low concentration of nitrate (0.4 × 10⁻³−3.2 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³) and the temperature range 293–313 K. From the experimental data, it was found that the reduction of nitrate is first order with respect to nitrate. On the basis of the rate constants, the apparent activation energy was established using a graphic method. Published in Russian in Kinetika i Kataliz, 2007, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 881–886. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Solid electrolytes based on CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> for medium-temperature electrochemical devices

CeO₂-based solid solutions with a fluorite structure are promising materials as electrolytes of medium-temperature electrochemical devices: electrolytic cells, oxygen sensors, and solid oxide fuel cells. In this work, studies are presented of the effect of the dopant cation radius and its concentration on the physico-chemical properties of the Ce_{1 − x} Ln _x O_{2 − δ} solid solutions (x = 0–0.20; Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb) and also of multicomponent solid solutions of Ce_{1 − x} Ln _x/2Ln′ _x/2O_{2 − δ} (x = 0–0.20; Ln = Sm, La, Gd and Ln′ = Dy, Nd, Y) and Ce_{1 − x − y} Sm _x M _y O_{2 − δ} (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) obtained using the solid-phase synthesis technique. Electric properties of the samples were studied in the temperature range of 623–1173 K and in the oxygen partial pressure range of 0.01–10⁻²² MPa. The values of oxygen critical pressure ( p_O2 ^* )\left( {p_{O_2 }^* } \right) are presented, at which the ionic and electron conductivity values are equal. The values were calculated on the basis of experimental dependences at 1023 K at the assumption that the ionic conductivity value is determined only by the dopant concentration and its effective ionic radius and is independent of the oxygen partial pressure.     

Ionic conductivity of bismuth oxofluoride BiO<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>F<Subscript>2.8</Subscript> with tysonite-type structure (LaF<Subscript>3</Subscript>)

The complex impedance method in the temperature range of 291–660 K was used to study conductivity of oxofluoride BiO_0.1F_2.8 belonging to the tysonite structural type (LaF₃). Bismuth oxofluoride was synthesized using a solid-phase method at 770–870 K for 1–2 h in an argon atmosphere. Heterovalent substitution of fluoride ions F⁻ by oxygen ions O²⁻ in the anionic BiF₃ matrix sublattice results in high ionic conductivity (∼0.1 S/cm at 660 K) of BiO_0.1F_2.8 ceramic samples.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and SO<Subscript>2</Subscript> uptake by oil shale ashes

In the present research, CO₂ and SO₂ binding ability of different oil shale ashes and the effect of pre-treatment (grinding, preceding calcination) of these ashes on their binding properties and kinetics was studied using thermogravimetric, SEM, X-ray, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis methods. It was shown that at 700 °C, 0.03–0.28 mmol of CO₂ or 0.16–0.47 mmol of SO₂ was bound by 100 mg of ash in 30 min. Pre-treatment conditions influenced remarkably binding parameters. Grinding decreased CO₂ binding capacities, but enhanced SO₂ binding in the case of fluidized bed ashes. Grinding of pulverized firing ashes increased binding parameters with both gases. Calcination at higher temperatures decreased binding parameters of both types of ashes with both gases studied. Clarification of this phenomenon was given. Kinetic analysis of the binding process was carried out, mechanism of the reactions and respective kinetic constants were determined. It was shown that the binding process with both gases was controlled by diffusion. Activation energies in the temperature interval of 500–700 °C for CO₂ binding with circulating fluidized bed combustion ashes were in the range of 48–82 kJ mol⁻¹, for SO₂ binding 43–107 kJ mol⁻¹. The effect of pre-treatment on the kinetic parameters was estimated.     

Sorption equilibrium of methanol on new composite sorbents “CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>/silica gel”

This paper presents experimental data on methanol sorption on new composite sorbents which consist of mesoporous silica gels and calcium chloride confined to their pores. Sorption isobars and XRD analysis showed the formation of a solid crystalline solvate CaCl₂⋅2MeOH at low methanol uptake, while at higher uptake the formation of the CaCl₂–methanol solution occurred. The solution confined to the silica pores showed the sorption properties similar to those of the CaCl₂–methanol bulk solution. Calorimetric and isosteric analyses showed that the heat of methanol sorption depends on the methanol uptake, ranging from 38±2 kJ/mol for the solution to 81±4 kJ/mol for the solid crystalline phase CaCl₂⋅2MeOH. The above mentioned characterizations allowed the evaluation of the methanol sorption and the energy storage capacities, clearly showing that the optimal applications of these new composite sorbents are the methanol removal from gaseous mixtures, heat storage and sorption cooling driven by low temperature heat.     

Ferroelectric properties of La and V co-substituted SrBi<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>15</Subscript> films prepared by sol-gel method

SrBi₄Ti₄O₁₅ (SBTi), SrBi_3.89La_0.1Ti_3.97V_0.03O₁₅ (SBLTV) thin films have been fabricated on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si by the sol–gel method. Well-saturated hysteresis loops with remnant polarization around 46.7 μC/cm² are obtained on Pt/SBLTV/Pt capacitors. The capacitor shows excellent fatigue resistance with no polarization reduction up to 10⁹ switching cycles even at low test frequency of 50 kHz. The improvement of ferroelectric and fatigue-endurance properties are attributed to the La³⁺ and V⁵⁺ co-substitution, which brings about the concentration decrease and the mobility weakening of the defects.     

Synthesis and characterization of La<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3±δ</Subscript> nanopowders by microwave assisted sol–gel route

Nano-crystalline La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3±δ powder has been successfully synthesized by microwave assisted sol–gel (MWSG) method. The decomposition and crystallization behavior of the gel-precursor was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. From the result of FT-IR and X-ray diffraction patterns, it is found that a perovskite La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3±δ was formed by irradiating the precursor at 700 W for 3 min, but the well-crystalline perovskite La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3±δ was obtained at 700 W for 35 min. Morphological and specific area analysis of the powder were done by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The surface areas measured was 38.9 m²/g and the grain size was ∼23 nm. Electrochemical properties of pure LSCF cathode on YSZ electrolyte at intermediate temperatures were investigated by using AC impedance analyzer, which shows a low area specific resistance (0.077 Ω cm² at 1073 K and 0.672 Ω cm² at 953 K). Moreover, the synthesis period of 20 h usually observed for conventional heating mode is reduced to a few minutes. Thus, the MWSG method is proved to be a novel, extremely facile, time-saving and energy-efficient route to synthesize LSCF powders.     

Mixed conductivity and stability of A-site-deficient Sr(Fe,Ti)O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> perovskites

Deficiency in the A sublattice of perovskite-type Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ (y=0–0.06) leads to suppression of oxygen-vacancy ordering and to increasing oxygen ionic conductivity, unit cell volume, thermal expansion, and stability in CO₂-containing atmospheres. The total electrical conductivity, predominantly p-type electronic in air, decreases with increasing A-site deficiency at 300–700 K and is essentially independent of the cation vacancy concentration at higher temperatures. Oxygen ion transference numbers for Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ in air, estimated from the faradaic efficiency and oxygen permeation data, vary in the range from 0.002 to 0.015 at 1073–1223 K, increasing with temperature. The maximum ionic conductivity was observed for Sr_0.97Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ ceramics. In the system Sr_0.97Fe_{1– x} Ti _x O_3–δ (x=0.1–0.6), thermal expansion and electron-hole conductivity both decrease with x. Moderate additions of titanium (up to 20%) in Sr_0.97(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ result in higher ionic conductivity and lower activation energy for ionic transport, owing to disordering in the oxygen sublattice; further doping decreases the ionic conduction. It was shown that time degradation of the oxygen permeability, characteristic of Sr(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ membranes and resulting from partial ordering processes, can be reduced by cycling of the oxygen pressure at the membrane permeate side. Thermal expansion coefficients of Sr_{1– y} Ti_{1– x} Fe _x O_3–δ (x=0.10–0.60, y=0–0.06) in air are in the range (11.7–16.5)×10^–6 K^–1 at 350–750 K and (16.6–31.1)×10^–6 K^–1 at 750–1050 K. Electronic Publication