Characterization of transition metal nitride formation in rapid thermal processing (RTP)

The potential of RTP for the preparation of transition metal nitrides by reaction of metal thin films in molecular nitrogen was investigated. The films and the nitridation process were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and secondary neutral mass spectrometry (SNMS). The chemical states of vanadium at the utmost surface, detected by XPS, are related to V₂O₅ before RTP and to vanadium nitride, oxide and oxynitride after RTP. The deposition of a 3 nm Si top layer prevents V from oxidation and its selective removal before RTP enhances the proportion of nitride determined by XPS after RTP. From comparative experiments in a conventional tube furnace the advantages of RTP became obvious. With short process times of the RTP technique the integral amount of residual oxygen is kept low and oxide formation is largely avoided. The nitrogen content and the different polycrystalline phases formed by varying process time and temperature provide information about reactivity and the nitridation process. The nitrogen to vanadium ratio was determined by EDX and SNMS, revealing that the N content reaches saturation after only 5 seconds at 1100?°C.     

Preparation of transition metal complexes of strongly basic ligands by thermal decomposition

The usual stoichiometry of metal salicylates, 2-oxy-3-naphtholates, anthranilates and salicylaldoximates is M²⁺(HL⁻)₂.xH₂O. Heating such a solid in an inert atmosphere causes proton transfer between the two HL⁻-ligands and the following reaction takes place: M(HL)₂(s) → ML(s) + H₂L(g). The new complex ML(s) (e.g. zincsalicylate) reacts with solid or dissolved monoprotic ligands HL' (e.g. 8-hydroxyquinoline) to form the mixed complex (e.g. zinc-salicylate-oxyquinolate) in excellent yield.     

Reactions between ammonium sulphate and metal oxides (metal=Cr,Mn and Fe) and thermal decomposition of the products

The reactions between ammonium sulphate and three metal oxides (Cr₂O₃, MnO₂ and Fe₂O₃) were studied. It was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis that stable reaction intermediates were formed consecutively in the course of the reactions.These were (NH₄)₃M(SO₄)₃ and NH₄M(SO₄)₂ for Cr₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ and (NH₄)₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃ for MnO₂. The thermal decompositions of these intermediates and of the metal sulphates were carried out. The contracting-volume equation was valid for the decomposition of all the intermediates. The Arrhenius parameters were determined.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurden die Reaktionen zwischen Ammoniumsulfat und drei Metalloxiden (Cr₂O₃, MnO₂ und Fe₂O₃) untersucht. Durch Röntgendiffraktion und chemische Analyse wurde bestätigt, dass im Verlaufe der Reaktion stabile Zwischenprodukte gebildet werden. Es handelt sich dabei um (NH₄)₃M(SO₄)₃ und NH₄M(SO₄)₂ im Falle von Cr₂O₃ und Fe₂O₃ und um (NH₄)₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃ im Falle von MnO₂. Diese Zwischenprodukte und die Metallsulfate wurden thermisch zersetzt. Die Volumenkontraktionsgleichung war für die Zersetzung all dieser Zwischenprodukte gültig. Die Arrheniusparameter wurden bestimmt.

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Cr₂O₃, MnO₂ Fe₂O₃. , . , (NH₄)₃M(SO₄)₃ NH₄M(SO₄)₂, (NH₄)₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃. . . .

     

The thermal decomposition of some heteropolytungstates with transition metal ions

The thermal behaviour of some heteropolytungstates of the 2:11 series was studied by means of T.G. and D.T.A. measurements, I.R. spectrometry and X-ray powder analysis (DEBYE -SCHERRER method).     

The catalytic effects of metal oxides on thermal decomposition reactions,III

The catalytic activity of a series of iron oxides on the thermal decomposition of potassium chlorate was investigated by methods of thermal analysis. Structural and electronic defects were introduced into the oxide by doping, heat treatment in different atmospheres, and irradiation with-rays. These induced defects changed in a systematic way the conductive properties of the iron oxides and correspondingly, their catalytic activity. The results are consistent with ann-type semiconductive behavior of the oxides.

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Zusammenfassung Die katalytische Aktivität einer Reihe von Eisenoxiden gegenüber der thermischen Zersetzung von Kaliumchlorat wurde durch Methoden der Thermoanalyse untersucht. Strukturelle und elektronische Defekte wurden in das Oxid durch Dosierung, Wärmebehandlung in verschiedenen Atmosphären und Bestrahlung mit-Strahlen eingebaut. Diese induzierten Defekte änderten systematisch die Leitfähigkeitseigenschaften der Eisenoxide und dementsprechend ihre katalytische Aktivität. Die Ergebnisse stimmen mit dem Halbleiterverhalten desn-Typs der Oxide gut überein.

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. , . , , . , n-.

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This work was supported by the U.S. Army Edgewood Arsenal under Project No. DA-18-035-AMC-341(A). The authors are grateful to Mr. B. Zeffert and Mr. Harry A. Brown for valuable discussions and useful suggestions.

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The authors also wish to acknowledge Brent Boldt for the laboratory work which he conducted on this program.     

A comparative study on the thermal decomposition of some transition metal carboxylates

Thermal decomposition of transition metal malonates, MCH₂C₂O₄?xH₂O and transition metal succinates, M(CH₂)₂C₂O₄?xH₂O (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) has been studied employing TG, DTG, DTA, XRD, SEM, IR and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques. After dehydration, the anhydrous metal malonates and succinates decompose directly to their respective metal oxides in the temperature ranges 310–400 and 400–525°C, respectively. The oxides obtained have been found to be nanosized. The thermal stability of succinates have been found to be higher than that of the respective malonates.     

Modified montmorillonites as potential NO decomposition catalysts: Characterization by temperature-programmed reduction

Na-montmorillonite has been modified by ion exchange of simple Fe³⁺ or Keggintype cations obtainedvia the partial hydrolysis of AlCl₃ or the co-hydrolysis of AlCl₃+FeCl₂ mixture, in order to prepare catalysts for NO decomposition. Temperature-programmed reduction, the most important characterizing method in this work, revealed that isomorphous substitution of iron for aluminium was not feasible, instead, co-hydrolysis and co-pillaring occurred, resulting in Fe,Al mixed pillared clays.     

Studies on the thermal decomposition of alkali metal thiosulphatobismuthates(III)

The thermal decomposition of thiosulphatobismuthates(III) of alkali metals was investigated. The general formulae of the thiosulphatobismuthates are M₃[Bi(S₂O₃)₃]·H₂O where M = Na, K, Rb or Cs, and M₂Na[Bi(S₂O₃)₃]·H₂O where M = K or Cs.Typical thermal curves for thiosulphatobismuthates(III) and the results obtained in thermal, X-ray, chemical and spectrophotometrical analyses of the decomposition products are shown. The results were used to determine three stages of the thermal decomposition. At the first stage, at about 200°C, hydrated compounds are dehydrated. At the second stage, above 200°C, there is a rapid decrease in mass which is caused by evolving sulphur dioxide; bismuth sulphide and an intermediate decomposition product are formed. At about 320°C the thermal decomposition products are bismuth sulphide and alkali metal sulphate.     

Phase transition and thermal decomposition of silver isocyanate (AgNCO)

The thermal behavior of AgNCO (silver isocyanate) has been studied via thermal analysis, optical spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Upon quenching the high temperature polymorph (HT-AgNCO) to room temperature, a new modification has been obtained (q-AgNCO). Its crystal structure was solved from X-ray powder diffraction data and refined by the Rietveld method (Pmmn (no. 59), a = 3.579(3) Å, b = 5.777(4) Å, c = 5.807(2) Å, V = 120.08(3) Å³, Z = 2, T = 295 K). The structure consists of chains of Ag⁺ ions bridged by isocyanate units. HT-AgNCO exists between T = 135 °C and the melting/decomposition point and exhibits virtually free rotation of the complex anions. According to preliminary single-crystal studies, HT-AgNCO (C2/m, a = 5.87 Å, b = 3.51 Å, c = 5.81 Å, ß = 105.953°, Z = 2, T = 373 K) is structurally related to α-NaN₃. The crystal structures of both, HT-AgNCO and q-AgNCO have been compared with that of the room temperature modification (RT-AgNCO). The thermal behavior and the ionic conductivity of AgNCO are discussed with respect to the related compounds AgN₃ and KSCN. Decomposition of AgNCO proceeds in distinct steps, as seen from TGA, and results in the formation of nanoparticles of elemental silver and an amorphous polymer consisting of C, N and O, only.     

Investigations on poly(vinyl chloride). III. Effects of metal oxides upon thermal decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride)

Thermal decomposition mechanisms of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and the effects of a few metal oxides on the pyrolysis of PVC were previously reported. In the present work, 33 metal oxides were investigated to determine their effects on the thermal decomposition of PVC, by using a pyrolysis gas chromatograph. Most acidic oxides accelerate the recombination of chlorine atoms with double bonds, since PVC containing these metal oxides easily release lower aliphatics, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and chlorobenzenes. On the other hand, most basic metal oxides, such as oxides of alkaline earths or silver, inhibit the recombination. These tendencies observed in the thermal decomposition of PVC agree with the contributions of corresponding metal salts to the dehydrochlorination of PVC proposed by other workers. This means that thermal decomposition or dehydrochlorination of PVC is affected by irregularities in head-to-tail linkages formed by the recombination of chlorine atoms during heat treatment of PVC.     

Effect of metal oxides on the evolution of aromatic hydrocarbons in the thermal decomposition of PVC

The thermal decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) mixed with several metal oxides was investigated by direct pyrolysis in a mass spectrometer (MS) and flash pyrolysis–gas chromatography. Our results show that the thermal decomposition of PVC occurs in two stages. Unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene) are evolved mainly in the first stage, alkyl-aromatics (e.g., toluene) in the second. Although the addition of some metal oxides results in an overall suppression of aromatic hydrocarbons, the unsubstituted aromatics are much more suppressed with respect to alkyl-aromatics. Furthermore, the formation of ZnCl₂ and SnCl₄ was revealed by the mass spectra of PVC–metal oxide pyrolysates. This suggests that, at least in these two cases, metal chlorides are responsible for aromatic hydrocarbon suppression. With this information a detailed reaction mechanism could be formulated for the thermal degradation of PVC.     

Copper-iron oxides obtained by thermal decomposition of oxalic coordination compounds

The influence of the coordination architecture (materialized by ligand binding mode and content) on the thermal behaviour of coordination compounds containing copper, iron and oxalic anion as ligand was investigated. It was established that the metal-metal connections influence stronger, comparative with ligand content, the stoichiometry of the thermal decompositions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A comparative study on the thermal decomposition of some transition metal maleates and fumarates

Thermal decomposition of M(mal/fum)·xH₂O (M=Mn, Co, Ni) has been studied in static air atmosphere from ambient to 500°C employing TG-DTG-DTA, XRD and IR spectroscopic techniques. After dehydration the anhydrous maleate salts decompose to metal oxalate in the temperature range of 320–360°C, which at higher temperature undergo an abrupt oxidative pyrolysis to oxides. The anhydrous fumarate salts have been found to decompose directly to oxide phase. A comparison of thermal analysis reveals that fumarates are thermally more stable than maleates.     

Factors influencing the thermal decomposition of transition metal complexes with 2-OH-aryloximes under nitrogen

Summary The thermal behavior of copper(II), nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes with two anionic varieties of 2-OH-aryloximes (ox), [M(ox)₂] (2-hydroxypropiophenonoxime and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenonoxime) was studied by using simultaneous TG/DTG-DTA technique under nitrogen in the temperature range 40-700°C. The behavior was compared with that in static air, which had been previously studied. It was found that the metal, the substituents on the ligand and the heating rate influenced their thermal decomposition. The thermal stability of the complexes with the same ligand depended on the metallic cation, following the order Pd(II)>Ni(II)>Cu(II). It also depended on the type of ligand, increasing with bulky substituents on the oximic carbon and the benzene ring. The sample mass almost did not affect their decomposition mode. The residues at 700°C of all complexes consisted of a carbonaceous oxide, determined by energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and IR spectroscopy     

Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of nanostructured transition metal oxides

Ultrasound pretreatment of aqueous solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a structure- directing agent has been applied to prepare nanostructured mesoporous Mn, Fe, and Ni oxides. After removal of the template by triple extraction with a water–ethanol solution of sodium acetate or ammonium chloride, air-calcined samples of oxide materials prepared in such a way possess surface areas of about 300–450 m²/g and are thermally stable up to 300°C.     

Oxidation of dodecane on transition metal oxides

The catalytic oxidation of dodecane on individual and mixed vanadium and molybdenum oxides is studied. Products of the oxidation of alkane are studied qualitatively and quantitatively. The activities of the samples of the catalysts with various ratios of vanadium and molybdenum oxides are compared. One possible scheme for the activation of reagents on a catalyst is given.