Study on the cluster of floating dross before nucleating during hot-dipping process

At present, hot-dipping anticorrosion metalliccoating on the surface of steel base is the main methodto prevent atmospheric corrosion of steel. With thechange of atmospheric environment, the traditionalidea of hot-dipping pure Zn cladding already does not…     

Thermokinetics on the reaction of formation of Dy[(C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>NS<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>(C<Subscript>12</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>)]

The enthalpy change of formation of the reaction of hydrous dysprosium chloride with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen?H₂O) in absolute ethanol at 298.15 K has been determined as (-16.12 ± 0.05) kJ?mol^-1 by a microcalormeter. Thermodynamic parameters (the activation enthalpy, the activation entropy and the activation free energy), rate constant and kinetics parameters (the apparent activation energy, the pre-exponential constant and the reaction order) of the reaction have also been calculated. The enthalpy change of the solid-phase reaction at 298.15 K has been obtained as (53.59 ± 0.29) kJ?mol^t-1 by a thermochemistry cycle. The values of the enthalpy change of formation both in liquid-phase and solid-phase reaction indicated that the complex could only be synthesized in liquid-phase reaction.     

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.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of the complex oxide La<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>CuMnO<Subscript>6.67</Subscript>

A new oxide phase, La_1.5Sr_1.5CuMnO_6.67, related to the Ruddlesden-Popper homologous series A _{n + 1}B _n O_{3n + 1} (n = 2) was synthesized. The magnetic susceptibility of the obtained compound obeys the Curie-Weiss law above 114 K. At 14 K, a magnetic anomaly related to the transition to the spin-glass state was detected.     

Synthesis,Phase Transition of La<Subscript>0.69</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.31</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Nanoperovskites Toward Its Versatile Structural,Electrical and Mechanical Properties Employing Ultrasonic Measurements

The present investigation correlates the propagation of ultrasonic waves with various micro structural features of nano La_0.69Sr_0.31MnO₃ (LSMO) perovskites with different grain sizes. A solid state reaction followed by the ball milling technique was used to synthesize the nano LSMO perovskite samples with various grain sizes. The occurrence of ferro-paramagnetic transition temperature (T_c) was explored through the observed anomalous behaviour in ultrasonic velocities, attenuations and elastic moduli. As the particle size gets reduced, lower T_c and broader transitions are observed due to the distribution of grain boundaries. The diffusion of the FM–PM phase transition along with decrease in T_c is correlated due to the effect of particle size. Furthermore structural, vibrational and electrical properties of nanosized LSMO perovskite samples with different grain sizes were studied by XRD, FTIR, BET surface area measurement, HRSEM, TEM and four probe conductivity studies. The phase of the synthesized nano LSMO perovskite samples are perfectly indexed to pure rhombohedral perovskite type crystal structure. The conductivity study proves the semiconductor nature of the nano LSMO perovskite samples. In addition to this, the peak broadening in ultrasonic studies at phase transition is in line with the observation made from the XRD pattern for the prepared nano LSMO perovskite samples.     

Electronic spectra of C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Superscript>+</Superscript> and C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> in the gas phase

Measurement of the ³Π-³Π transition of C₆H⁺ in the gas phase near 19486 cm⁻¹ is reported. The experiment was carried out with a supersonic slit-jet expansion discharge using cavity ringdown absorption spectroscopy. Partly resolved P lines and observation of band heads permitted a rotational contour fit. Spectroscopic constants in the ground and excited-state were determined. The density of ions being sampled is merely 2×10⁸ cm⁻³. Broadening of the spectral lines indicates the excited-state lifetime to be ≈100 ps. The electronic transition of HC₆H₂⁺ at 26402 cm⁻¹ assumed to be ¹A₁-X¹A₁ in C_2v symmetry could not be rotationally resolved.     

Synthesis and structure of bismuth 8-quinoline-selenolate Bi(C<Subscript>9</Subscript>H<Subscript>6</Subscript>NSe)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Bismuth 8-quinolineselenolate Bi(C₉H₆NSe)₃ was synthesized. The molecular and crystal structure of this compound was determined by X-ray diffraction structural analysis. The effect of replacing the ligand atoms Se→S and the role of the unshared electron pair on the formation of the coordination polyhedron of the central bismuth atom in bismuth(III) 8-quinolineselenolate and bismuth(III) 8-quinolinethiolate, which are complexes of a Group V p-element in an incomplete valence state was discussed. Dedicated to the memory of Academician Yurii Bankovsky, the founder of the chemistry of 8-mercaptoquinoline (December 22, 1927–January 28, 2003) on the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of his birth. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1866–1874, December, 2007.     

Chemical bonding and electronic structure of LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and La<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> orthorhombic crystals

The electronic structure of the LaMnO₃ orthorhombic crystal of a stoichiometric composition and of La_0.75MnO₃ crystals with a La vacancy in the unit cell is calculated in the LSDA+U approximation of density functional theory. The calculations showed that LaMnO₃ is an insulator with a forbidden gap of 0.5 eV and with antiferromagnetic ordering of magnetic moments. The magnetic moment on the manganese ions is 3.78 BM. The La atom has ionic bonds in the lattice, while the bond between oxygen and manganese is covalent. After lanthanum has been removed, geometry optimization of the unit cell leads to La_0.75MnO₃ stable structures. In one of the structures, which is lower in energy, the states of manganese may be attributed to Mn⁴⁺ ions. In both structures with removed lanthanum, the oxygen ions have reduced effective charge, so that one can speak about O^? ions appearing along with O^2? in the structure. The oxygen, as well as lanthanum and manganese, ions are nonequivalent in these structures; their nonequivalence is primarily reflected by the local densities of states. This leads to charge and magnetic nonequivalence of ions. In La_0.75MnO₃ crystals, the degree of bond covalence between manganese and oxygen decreases.     

Oligomers of C<Subscript>20</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript> polyhedral molecule: a computer simulation

DFT-PBE/DZ calculations of oligomers of C₂₀H₈ polyhedral molecule (derivative of C₂₀ fullerene) were carried out. From the results obtained it follows that quasi-one-dimensional, quasi-two-dimensional, and three-dimensional polymers with compositions [C₂₀H₈]_n can exist. The geometric parameters of the repeating units of these polymers were estimated.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1813–1817, September, 2004.     

Influence of pressure on the electrical and electrochemical behaviour of high-temperature steam electrolyser La<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> anode

This paper is dedicated to the impact of pressure on the electrochemical behaviour of LSCF (La_1-xSr_xCo_yFe_1-yO_3-δ) anode in high-temperature electrolysers. This study was carried out with symmetrical cells associating LSCF electrodes to a 3YSZ (yttrium-stabilised zirconia) electrolyte. Impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed using a three-electrode configuration, at temperature as high as 700 to 800 °C, in a pressure range from 1 to 30 bar. A clear improvement in terms of electrode resistance decrease is highlighted, mainly due to faster oxygen adsorption/desorption kinetics and a better supply of gas to electrochemical reaction sites. Other assumptions were considered and analysed, such as the impact of pressure on LSCF electrical conductivity and on the mechanical contacts. Thus, three contributions were determined as limiting steps at low pressure, up to 5 bar, whilst for higher pressure, the optimised conditions in operation are reached. This study completes a previous one related to a modelling approach.     

Microstructure and electrical properties of lead zirconate titanate thin films deposited by sol-gel method on La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Si substrate

(La_0.7Sr_0.3)MnO₃ thin films were deposited on SiO₂/Si substrates by a metal-organic decomposition (MOD) method, and then Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ (PZT) thin films were grown on (La_0.7Sr_0.3)MnO₃-coated SiO₂/Si substrates by a sol-gel method. The effects of annealing temperature on the crystalline phases, microstructures and electrical properties of the PZT films were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis results indicated that the PZT films with a perovskite single phase could be obtained by annealing at 650°C. The dielectric constant and the remnant polarization of the PZT films increased with increasing annealing temperature. The remnant polarization and the coercive field of the films annealed at 650°C were 18.3 μC/cm² and 35.5 kV/cm, respectively, whereas the dielectric constant and loss value measured at 1 kHz were approximately 1100 and 0.81, respectively.     

Synthesis of Gd<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>FeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> perovskite-type nanopowders for adsorptive removal of MB dye from water

In the present study, nanoparticles of perovskite-type Gd_0.5Sr_0.5FeO₃ (GSFO) were fabricated by a sol–gel method. A series of analytical techniques were used to characterize the crystallinity, morphology, specific surface area and grain size of GSFO powders. The thermal decomposition process of the complex precursor was examined by means of differential thermal analysis–thermal gravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction results showed that a single perovskite phase was completely formed after calcination at 700 °C. In addition, transmission electron microscopy images revealed that the average size of the particles is approximately 35.23 nm in diameter. The surface morphology and composition of these nanopowders were also investigated using a scanning electron microscope and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. GSFO nanoparticles showed excellent adsorption efficiency towards methylene blue dye in aqueous solution. The adsorption studies were carried out at different pH values, initial dye concentrations, various adsorbent doses and contact time in batch experiments. The dye removal efficiency was found to be increased with increasing the initial pH of the dye solution, and GSFO exhibited good dye removal efficiency at a basic pH, especially at a pH of 12. Experimental results indicated that the adsorption kinetic data follow a pseudo-second-order rate for the tested dye. The isotherm evaluations revealed that the Redlich–Peterson model attained better fits to the experiment's equilibrium data than the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models.     

Ca- and Al-doped ZnFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles as possible anode materials

Spinel ferrites are an amazing class of materials that can find application in different fields, from sensors and lithium-ion batteries to the intriguing biomedical field. For the use as anode in lithium-ion batteries, ZnFe₂O₄ is rather competitive due to low price, abundance, environmental benignity, working voltage of ~1.5 V, and, most importantly, a high theoretical specific capacity (~1072 mA h g^?1). For its practical application, however, some issues must be overcome, in particular its fast capacity fading and poor rate capability resulting from an inherent low electronic conductivity. Possible strategies are represented by ferrite carbon coating/embedding, peculiar synthesis routes, and doping. In this frame, we synthesized Ca- and Al-doped ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles by using microwave-assisted combustion synthesis, followed by a classical carbon coating (determined as about 5 wt% by thermogravimetry). A good solubility of Ca and Al up to 25 atom% on both Zn and Fe sites was obtained. Cyclic voltammetries evidenced redox reactions involving Zn and Fe ions, but also the Al intervention could be supposed. Galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles proved that particularly Al ions were useful to improve the anode structural stability at high C rate (up to 3C), thanks to the stronger Al–O bonds with respect to Fe–O ones. A further improvement of capacities comes from the use of sodium alginate as binder to substitute polyvinylidene fluoride in the anode preparation.     

Mid-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with thin film ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>: Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> electrolyte

Data on the mid-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) with thin-film ZrO₂-Y₂O₃ (YSZ) electrolyte are shown. Such a fuel cell comprises a carrying Ni-YSZ anode, a YSZ electrolyte 3–5 μm thick formed by vacuum ion-plasma methods, and a LaSrMnO₃ cathode. It is shown that the use of a combined method of YSZ electrolyte deposition, which involves the magnetron deposition of a 0.5–1.5-μm thick sublayer and its pulse electron-beam processing allows a dense nanostructured electrolyte film to be formed and the SOFC working temperature to be lowered down as the result of a decrease in both the solid electrolyte Ohmic resistance and the Faradaic resistance to charge transfer. SOFC are studied by the methods of voltammentry and impedance spectroscopy. The maximum power density of the SOFC under study is 250 and 600 mW/cm⁻² at temperatures of 650 and 800°C, respectively.     

Copolymerization of styrene and 1-hexene with a TiCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Al(C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>13</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> · Mg(C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>13</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalytic system

The copolymerization of styrene and 1-hexene with the TiCl₄-Al(C₆H₁₃)₃ · Mg(C₆H₁₃)₂ catalytic system has been investigated. The microstructure of polymer chains, molecular-mass characteristics, and thermophysical properties of the resulting copolymers have been studied. These copolymers contain 15 to 65 mol % styrene and mostly consist of isotactic polystyrene and poly(1-hexene) blocks.     

La<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORER) in alkaline electrolyte

Non-precious metal bifunctional catalysts are of great interest for metal–air batteries, electrolysis, and regenerative fuel cell systems due to their performance and cost benefits compared to the Pt group metals (PGM). In this work, metal oxides of La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄₇ catalyst as bifunctional catalysts were used in oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORER). The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N₂ adsorption isotherms. The electrocatalytic activity of the perovskite-type La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and Co₃O₄ catalysts both as single and mixtures of both were assessed in alkaline solutions at room temperature. Electrocatalyst activity, stability, and electrode kinetics were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE). This study shows that the bifunctional performance of the mixed La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄ was superior in comparison to either La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ or nano Co₃O₄ alone for ORER_. The improved activity is due to the synergistic effect between the La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄ structural and surface properties. This work illustrates that hybridization between these two metal oxides results in the excellent bifunctional oxygen redox activity, stability, and cyclability, leading to a cost-effective application in energy conversion and storage, albeit to the cost of higher catalyst loadings.     

Synthesis and characterization of Mn-, La-Mn- and La-Ca-Mn-citrates as precursors for LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and La<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Mn-, LaMn- and LaCaMn-citrates were synthesized at 60–120°C in ethylene glycol medium using chlorides or nitrates as metal sources. Their composition, IR spectra and thermal decomposition were studied. Equimolar La/Mn ratio has been established in the complex, prepared from chloride solution with the same initial composition of the metals. In the isolated three-metallic complex the molar ratio of the metals deviates from the composition in the initial solution. The final products of the heating of Mn- and mixed-metal LaMn-citrates at 1000°C are phase-homogeneous Mn₃O₄ (hausmannite) and LaMnO₃ respectively. Parasitic phase(s) are observed in La_xCa_1−xMn_yO₃, produced from LaCaMn-citrate.     

Synthesis and x-ray structural investigation of bismuth 2-methyl-8-quinolineselenolate Bi[C<Subscript>9</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)NSe]<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Bismuth 2-methyl-8-quinolineselenolate, Bi[C₉H₅(CH₃)NSe]₃, was synthesized. X-ray analysis was used to determine the structure of this complex. The crystal chemistry of bismuth(III), antimony(III), and arsenic(III) 2-methyl-8-quinolineselenolates and 2-methyl-8-quinolinethiolates was discussed relative to the effect of going from Se to S as the ligand atoms and presence of a methyl group at C-2 of the quinoline system and unshared electron pair of the central atom in the complex.     

Effect of polarization on the electrode behavior and microstructure of (La,Sr)MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> electrodes of solid oxide fuel cells

The electrode behavior and microstructure of freshly prepared (La_0.8Sr_0.2)_0.9MnO₃ (LSM) electrodes were investigated under various polarization conditions. The original, large agglomerates in freshly prepared LSM electrodes were broken down into sphere-shaped grains when exposed to cathodic or anodic current passage of 200 mA cm^–2 at 800 °C in air for 3 h. Microstructural changes under cathodic polarization could be related to the pronounced diffusion and migration of oxygen vacancies and Mn ions on the LSM surface and lattice expansion, while lattice shrinkage under oxidation conditions most likely contributes to the structural changes under anodic polarization. Such morphological changes were irreversible and were found to be beneficial to the performance of freshly prepared LSM electrodes. Freshly prepared LSM electrodes behaved very differently with respect to the cathodic and anodic current passage treatment.