XPS determination of uranium oxidation states

This contribution is both a review of different aspects of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy that can help one determine U oxidation states and a personal perspective on how to effectively model the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy of complicated mixed‐valence U phases. After a discussion of the valence band, the focus lingers on the U4f region, where the use of binding energies, satellite structures, and peak shapes is discussed in some detail. Binding energies were shown to be very dependent on composition/structure and consequently unreliable guides to oxidation state, particularly where assignment of composition is difficult. Likewise, the spin orbit split 4f_7/2 and 4f_5/2 peak shapes do not carry significant information on oxidation states. In contrast, both satellite‐primary peak binding energy separations, as well as intensities to a lesser extent, are relatively insensitive to composition/structure within the oxide–hydroxide–hydrate system and can be used to both identify and help quantify U oxidation states in mixed valence phases. An example of the usefulness of the satellite structure in constraining the interpretation of a complex multivalence U compound is given. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

AES and XPS investigations for the topochemical characterization of dope elements on WC powders

Summary Trace elements bias the hard metal production and can deteriorate the technological and mechanical properties of sintered tools. Therefore, within the COST 503 action, the surface enrichment of the dope elements Ca, Si, Al, P on 1.5 m WC milling grade starting powders has been investigated by AES and XPS. AES depth profiles and high resolution AES (HRAES) elemental maps describe the microscopic distribution of traces. XPS spectra are compared with the AES results and contribute to the understanding of the topochemical structure of doped WC-powder grains.     

XPS study of the SnO2 films modified with Rh

In this paper, we have analyzed the effect of the rhodium surface modification on the surface state of SnO₂ films. SnO₂ films, subjected for the surface modification, were deposited by spray pyrolysis, while Rh was deposited by using a microelectron beam evaporation. The thickness of the Rh coating varied in the range 0 to 0.1 monolayer. An explanation of the observed effects was proposed. Basing on the results of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, it was assumed that at a small thickness of the rhodium covering, Rh was in a the well‐dispersed state, close to atomically dispersed state. The growth in the size of the nanoparticles began mainly when the thickness of the Rh covering exceeeded 0.01 monolayer. The size of clusters did not exceed 0.5 to 1.0 nm.     

Activation of phosphorus by group 14 elements in low oxidation states

The activation of phosphorus remains a popular and competitive area of research driven by the dual goals of finding ways to avoid the environmentally questionable P-Cl compounds applied in many industrial processes and the target of catalytic functionalization of P(4). In recent years the activation, degradation, fragmentation, and functionalization of white phosphorus by compounds with heavier main group elements have become a fertile area of research. The isolation of various carbenes and functionalized silylenes has prompted chemists to investigate their reactions with white phosphorus. The most intriguing fact in these reactions is the subtle change in the substituents may afford strikingly different compounds. For example, from the reaction of P(4) with PhC(NtBu)(2)SiCl a cyclic Si(2)P(2) derivative is obtained, whereas the analogous reaction with PhC(NtBu)(2)SiN(SiMe(3))(2) resulted in an acyclic Si(2)P(4) framework. Similar phenomena have also been observed in the carbene mediated P(4) activation. Apart from these, a new entry point into phosphorus chemistry is the gentle activation of P(4) by an alkyne analogue of tin. In this feature article we have covered the activation of phosphorus by compounds with low valent group 14 elements with special concern to the recent developments in this topic.     

Spectrophotometric determination of vanadium in different oxidation states with pyrogallol

Determination of vanadium at low concentrations is easily performed with pyrogallol as a ligand which forms a bluish-violet complex with vanadium(III), (IV) or (V). The colour of the bluish-violet complex (lambda(max) = 580 nm) contrasts well with the colour of both pyrogallol and vanadium. The complexes are stable for several hours. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0-14 mug/ml vanadium at pH 6. The apparent molar absorptivity at 580 nm is (7.75 +/- 0.25) x 10(3)1.mole(-1).cm(-1). The effects of diverse ions on the determination of vanadium have been fully studied. Only Mo(VI) and W(VI) interfere seriously. The method is selective, sensitive and can be applied to the determination of total vanadium in a variety of samples.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric determination of iron oxidation states in geological materials

Summary A kinetic spectrophotometric approach is applied to the determination of iron oxidation states in geological materials. Silicate rock samples were sealed in a Teflon vial under argon atmosphere and were decomposed with a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and sulphuric acid by the microwave digestion technique. The absorbance of iron(III)-Tiron complex was followed at 560 nm and the absorbance/time relation was analyzed by non-linear least squares fitting. The FeO and Fe₂O₃ determinations in silicate rocks by the proposed kinetic method agree with those done by the static o-phenanthroline method. The analytical results for standard igneous rock samples are compared with published data.     

Two thermoanalytical methods for the determination of GeO2 on germanium powders

Two thermoanalytical methods have been developed for determining GeO₂ on the surface of germanium. Possible errors and attainable accuracies are discussed. Both methods give the same results within the limits of error. The applicability of the determination is demonstrated in two ways:

1. in connection with the growth of the oxide layer in air,
2. in connection with the dissolution of the oxide layer in water.

The oxidation at room temperature proceeds at a practically constant velocity; the equilibrium thickness of the oxide layer on crystalline Ge powder in water proved to be about 5 Å.     

XPS Study of the Corrosion Protection of Fluorozirconate Glasses Dip-Coated with SnO2 Transparent Thin Films

Tin oxide nanoparticles prepared by an aqueous sol–gel method were deposited by dip-coating on fluorozirconate glass, ZBLAN (53%ZrF₄-20%BaF₂-4%LaF₃-3%AlF₃-20%NaF) to improve its resistance against wet corrosion. The aqueous leaching of uncoated and SnO₂-coated fluorozirconate glass was studied by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and it was shown that even an ultra thin tin dioxide film provides good protection of the glass surface against the bulk propagation of the hydrolytic attack.     

SnO_2纳米棒负载Pd-Cu空心球催化剂的制备及其对乙醇氧化电催化性能研究

本文通过简单溶剂热反应合成棒状SnO2,然后以谷氨酸为添加剂,乙二醇为分散剂和还原剂,溶剂热合成SnO2纳米棒负载的Pd-Cu球形空壳催化剂.透射电镜结果表明Pd-Cu空心球粒径大约100 nm,并且分布均匀.电化学测试结果表明,该催化剂对乙醇氧化表现出较高的电催化活性和稳定性,其中电流密度可达119.4 mA cm?2,研究表明,合适的金属氧化物的引入可使催化剂释放更多的活性位点从而提高催化剂的电催化活性.     

SnO2基固溶体用于甲烷深度氧化：X射线衍射外推法测定 SnO2晶格容量

CH4和 CO是两种主要的温室效应气体和空气污染物,催化氧化是最有效的消除 CH4和 CO的方法.研发不含贵金属的金属氧化物催化剂或者减少催化剂中贵金属用量为该领域研究热点. SnO2是一种重要的宽禁带 n型半导体材料,广泛应用于气敏器件、锂离子电池以及光电设备. SnO2表面富含活泼的缺位氧且具有良好的热稳定性,因此其在催化方面的性能近年来逐渐受到人们关注.在过去的5年中,本团队深入研究了 SnO2材料在空气污染治理和绿色能源生产等领域的应用及其催化性质.发现通过其它阳离子如 Fe3+, Cr3+, Ta5+, Ce4+和Nb5+等的掺杂,替换晶格中部分 Sn4+,形成金红石型 SnO2固溶体结构,显著提高了催化剂氧物种的流动性、活性和催化剂本身的热稳定性.固溶体材料是一类重要的催化剂,受到广泛关注.一个典型的例子是铈锆固溶体,其作为储氧材料已广泛应用于汽车尾气净化器.形成固溶体结构后,氧化铈的储氧能力和热稳定性得到显著提高.为有效形成固溶体,两个阳离子需要具有相似的离子半径和电负性.以往,人们基于结构中金属阳离子和氧阴离子的离子半径提出了容忍因子的判别方法,以此来判断固溶体是否能有效形成及所生成固溶体的稳定性.我们在前期工作中,以 Sn-Nb固溶体为例,提出了简单的X射线衍射(XRD)外推法来计算固溶体晶格容量,即形成稳定固溶体时客体阳离子取代主体晶格阳离子的最大值.作为延续工作,本文采用共沉淀法制备了一系列 Sn/M (M = Mn, Zr, Ti, Pb)摩尔比为9/1的 SnO2基催化剂,并用于 CH4和 CO催化氧化.结果表明, Mn3+, Zr4+, Ti4+和 Pb4+均可以掺杂进四方金红石型 SnO2晶格中,形成稳定的固溶体结构.其中 Sn-Mn-O固溶体表现出最高活性.为了深入研究 Mn2O3在 SnO2中的晶格容量及最优催化剂配比,采用共沉淀法制备了一系列不同 Sn/Mn摩尔比的样品,采用 XRD, N2-BET, H2-TPR, SEM和XPS等手段对其物理化学性能进行了表征,并考察了对 CH4的催化氧化性能.通过 XRD外推法测定了 Mn3+离子在 SnO2中的晶格容量为0.135 g Mn2O3/g SnO2,相当于 Sn/Mn摩尔比为79/21.这表明形成稳定的固溶体后, SnO2晶格中最多只有21% Sn4+可以被 Mn3+替代;当 Mn3+含量超过晶格容量时,过量的 Mn3+在催化剂表面形成 Mn2O3,对催化剂活性不利.类似于 Sn-Nb-O固溶体,在 Sn-Mn-O催化剂体系中亦观察到明显的晶格容量效应.纯相的 Sn-Mn-O固溶体比含过量 Mn2O3晶相的 Sn-Mn-O催化剂具有更高活性.     

Effect of SO2 on the catalytic activity of SnO2 and CeO2 in methane oxidation

The variation of the catalytic activity of tin and cerium dioxides in the combustion of SO₂-containing methane has been investigated at SO₂ concentrations of 50 to 1000 ppm in the gas stream. The catalytic activity of SnO₂ decreases dramatically upon the introduction of SO₂, but it returns rapidly to its initial level and then remains invariable (95% conversion, operating temperature of 600°C). Cerium dioxide is much less resistant to poisoning with sulfur dioxide: the higher the SO₂ concentration in the gas stream, the larger the decrease in its activity. After sulfur dioxide is cut off, CeO₂ regains its initial activity at 750°C. The behaviors of SnO₂ and CeO₂ are in agreement with the thermal stabilities of the corresponding sulfates and oxosulfates.     

Multisensor system for determination of polyoxometalates containing vanadium at its different oxidation states

The electronic tongue (ET) multisensor system has been employed for the detection of metal-oxygen cluster anions (polyoxometalates) containing vanadium (IV/V) atoms. Sensitivity of a variety of potentiometric chemical sensors with plasticized polyvinyl chloride and chalcogenide glass membranes was evaluated with respect to vanadyl/vanadate ions, decavanadate and a series of Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POM) such as α-[SiW₁₁V^IVO₄₀]⁶⁻, α-[SiW₁₁V^VO₄₀]⁵⁻, α-[BW₁₁V^IVO₄₀]⁷⁻, α-[BW₁₁V^VO₄₀]⁶⁻, α-[PW₁₁V^IVO₄₀]⁵⁻ and α-[PW_12−nV_n^VO₄₀]⁽³⁺ⁿ⁾⁻ (n = 1, 2, 3). Sensor's responses to vanadium complexes were evaluated in the pH range of 2.4-6.5 and a set of sensors appropriate for detecting a variety of vanadium species was selected. Such sensor array was able to distinguish different vanadium complexes allowing their simultaneous quantification in binary (V(IV)/V(V)) mixtures. The vanillyl alcohol oxidation with α-[SiW₁₁V^VO₄₀]⁵⁻ was monitored using ET to evaluate the capacity of proposed analytic system to detect simultaneously V(IV)/V(V) in POM under dynamic equilibrium. ET was demonstrated to be a promising tool for the discrimination and quantification of vanadium-containing POMs at different oxidation states. In particular, such a system could represent a significant interest for the mechanistic studies of redox reactions with POMs.     

A method for the determination of vanadium and iron oxidation states in naturally occurring oxides and silicates

A valence-specific analytical method for determining V³⁺ in ore minerals has been developed that involves two steps: dissolution of a mineral sample without disturbing the V³⁺/V^tot ratio, followed by determination of V³⁺ in the presence of V⁴⁺. The samples are dissolved in a mixture of hydrofluoric and sulphuric acids at 100° in Teflon-lined reaction vessels. Tervalent vanadium is then determined colorimetrically by formation of a V³⁺-thiocyanate complex in aqueous-acetone medium. Fe³⁺ is measured semi-quantitatively in the same solution. The method has been tested with two naturally occurring samples containing vanadium and iron. The results obtained were supported by those obtained by other methods, including electron spin resonance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Mössbauer spectroscopy.