Hydrothermal synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) Na<Subscript>x</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanostructures

Nanorods of sodium titanium dioxide bronze Na_xTiO₂ were synthesized by the hydrothermal treatment of the amorphous TiO₂·nH₂O gel with 10 M NaOH followed by ultrasonication in 0.1 M HCl and thermal treatment (500°C, 10 h). The thermal treatment of the nanorods does not change the morphology of the particles. According to the electron diffraction data, the Na_xTiO₂ nanorods grow along the c axis.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 71–73, January, 2005.     

Hydrothermal/microwave and hydrothermal/ultrasonic synthesis of nanocrystalline titania,zirconia, and hafnia

We compare the physical-chemical properties (X-ray diffraction (XRD), powder X-ray diffraction, TGA, TEM, and BET) of titania, zirconia, and hafnia nanopowders (d = 10–15 nm) synthesized from amorphous titanyl hydroxide TiO₂ · nH₂O, zirconyl hydroxide ZrO(OH)₂ · nH₂O, and hafnyl hydroxide HfO(OH)₂ · nH₂O using hydrothermal (HT), hydrothermal/microwave (HT-MW), and hydrothermal/ultrasonic (HT-US) methods at 150, 180, and 250°C with treatment lasting 0.5–24 h. Titania, zirconia, and hafnia crystallization from amorphous hydroxides is substantially enhanced, and the percentage of the thermally stable zirconia phase (m-ZrO₂) in the HT-MW and HT-US processes increases compared to conventional HT synthesis. The observed similar effects have completely different causes. A common factor in both cases is likely the uniformity of heating of treated suspensions. Local overheating in the reaction mixture, which appears during both ultrasonication and microwave treatment, can also play a role in accelerating the hydrothermal processes.     

Phase relations of the Cr2O3TiO2 system

The phase relations of the system Cr₂O₃TiO₂ were determined at temperatures between 1400 and 1765°C in air. Discrete homologous series of Cr₂Ti_n?2O_2n?1, with n = 6, 7, 8, were found to be stable as single phases in the range of certain temperatures, while a continuous solid solution existed in the composition of n > 8 below 1425°C. This presence and its stable region of a new compound of Cr₂TiO₅ corresponding to n = 3 are revealed in the present paper. Cr₂Ti₂O₇, the so-called E phase, existed in wide homogeneity range, corresponding to the composition of approximately 3 < n < 5. High-temperature phases (called n and n′ phases in the present work) existed above 1425°C and seemed to be closely related to each other from the viewpoint of the structure except that some X-ray diffraction lines of n phase were strongly diffused. Both rutile and chromia had limited solid solubilities. In the present paper, phase relations between Cr₂O₃ and TiO₂ are summarized in a phase diagram.     

Synthesis and Sorption Behaviour of Some Radioactive Nuclides on Sodium Titanate as Cation Exchanger

Crystalline (Na₄TiO₄·0.32H₂O) and amorphous (Na₂TiO₃·1.45H₂O) forms of sodium titanate were prepared by fusion reaction of TiO₂ and Na₂CO₃ at 1100°C in molar ratios of 2:1 and 1:2, respectively. The prepared products were characterized using IR, DTA-TG, X-ray and elemental analyses. Kinetic studies of the order of reaction (n) and activation energy (E _a) for crystallization transformation step (for crystalline sodium titanate only) have been determined from DTA thermogram and their values were found to be 0.87 (univalent order) and 3.97 kJ mol^–1, respectively. Ion exchange capacities and some distribution studies were carried out at different conditions in the presence of some complexing agents (EDTA, boric and citric acids) and the results showed that the capacities of the crystalline form are always less than the amorphous one.     

Neutron diffraction study on protonated and hydrated layered perovskite

A layered perovskite compound with Na⁺, D₃O⁺ ions (H₃O⁺) and D₂O molecules (H₂O) in the interlayer, D_xNa_1−xLaTiO₄·yD₂O, has been prepared by an ion-exchange/intercalation reaction with dilute DCl solution, using an n=1 Ruddlesden-Popper phase, NaLaTiO₄. Its structure has been analyzed in order to clarify the interlayer structure by Rietveld method, using powder neutron diffraction data. The structure analysis revealed that the layered structure changed from the space group P4/nmm-I4/mmm after the ion-exchange/intercalation reaction, and it induced the transformation of perovskite layers from staggered to an eclipsed configuration. The D₂O molecules and D₃O⁺ ions loaded in the interlayer statistically occupied the sites around a body center position of rectangular space surrounded by eight apical O atoms of TiO₆ octahedra in upper and lower layers.     

Anatase–rutile transformation at the synthesis of rutile pigments (Ti,Cr,Nb)O2 and their color properties

Synthesis of rutile pigments is based on solid state reaction and on Hedvall effect, i.e., phase transformation from anatase to rutile. Therefore, it is important to know the thermal behavior of these compounds (the temperature of this change). The goal was to prepare rutile pigments of type Ti_1?3xCr_xNb_2xO_2+x/2 by conventional solid state method from titanium dioxide TiO₂ (AV-01, anatase), to determine an influence of composition (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.50) and calcination temperature (850; 900; 950; 1,000; 1,050; 1,100; 1,150 °C) on color properties of these compounds and to analyze other starting compounds of titanium (hydrated anatase paste TiO₂·nH₂O, titanyl sulfate dihydrate TiOSO₄·2H₂O (VKR 611), hydrated sodium titanium oxide paste Na₂Ti₄O₉·nH₂O) and their reaction mixtures for x = 0.05 by simultaneous TG–DTA analysis. According to the highest chroma C of color, the optimal conditions for synthesis of these pigments are concentration x = 0.05 and calcination temperature 1,050 °C and higher. It was observed that initial temperature 760–830 °C is needful for a formation of rutile structure. This temperature is the lowest for hydrated Na₂Ti₄O₉ paste (760 °C) and similar for other starting compounds of titanium.     

Determining scaling in known phase diagrams of nonionic microemulsions to aid constructing unknown

Microemulsions based on nonionic surfactants of the ethylene oxide alkyl ether type C_mE_n, have been studied thoroughly for around 30 years. Thanks to the considerable amount of published data available on these systems, it is possible to observe trends to make predictions of phase diagrams not yet determined. Strey and Kahlweit, and subsequently Sottmann and Strey, with coworkers have studied and published phase diagrams for systems with a fixed ratio of oil to water, varying the surfactant, the so-called Kahlweit fish-cut diagrams. Some properties of the phase diagrams can be scaled to become general and not system dependent. Here are shown two examples of scaling data from phase diagrams and the use of trends to determine phase diagrams, both inside and outside a dataset. The trends of microemulsions with fixed ratio of surfactant to oil, the so-called Lund-cut diagrams, are also investigated. The trends are used to determine a new phase diagram and this is compared with previously unpublished experimental data on C₁₂E₅-Octadecane-Water system. The scalings and trends make it possible to get good estimations of many of the important properties of the phase diagrams, both temperatures and surfactant concentrations of interest, by investigating one sample in the 3-phase region of the balanced fish-cut diagram.     

Monte Carlo bicanonical ensemble simulation for sodium cation hydration free energy in liquid water

A series of bicanonical ensemble Monte Carlo (BC MC) simulations has been performed to calculate Na⁺ hydration Gibbs energy in aqueous solution. The hydration Gibbs energy of Na⁺ ion in aqueous solution is the difference between formation free energies of Na⁺ (H₂O)_n and (H₂O)_n clusters at n → α. The convergence of the hydration free energy to bulk water value is fast, and the results at n = 60 turned out to be in good agreement with experimental ones and those calculated using free energy perturbation method [1]. The ion–water interaction has been described by Aqvist's pair potential [1] and SPC model [2] has been used for water–water interactions. The behaviour of the absolute Gibbs energy, the entropy, the internal energy of the clusters and the development of hydration shells’ structure with the increase of the number of water molecules are discussed.     

Aus der Chemie von Uranhexachlorid und Uranpentachloridazid

On the Chemistry of Bauxite Extraction. III. Studies in the System Na₂O? MgO? CaO? Al₂O₃? TiO₂? H₂O The formation of crystalline compounds in the system Na₂O? MgO? CaO? Al₂O₃? TiO₂? H₂O was studied at 100°C and atmospheric pressure. Magnesium titanates or magnesium aluminates were not detected in the investigated range of concentrations. In the presence of Ca(OH)₂ the same compounds are formed as in the system Na₂O? CaO? Al₂O₃? TiO₂? H₂O. In addition, sodium aluminates are formed at high sodium and aluminium concentrations.     

Reaktionen von Natronwasserglas mit Kaolin unter hydrothermalen Bedingungen

Reactions of Sodium Silicate with Kaolin under Various Hydrothermal Conditions The reactions of sodium silicate (molar ratio SiO₂/Na₂O 3.8) with kaolin were investigated under various conditions of hydrothermal treatment in saturated water vapours in an autoclave. The products of reaction were identified by X-ray, electron-microscopic, and infrared methods. The results have shown that, under autoclave conditions, sodium silicate reacts with kaolin to alumosilicagel or to a crystallized zeolite mineral analcime Na₂O · Al₂O₃ · 4 SiO₂ · 2 H₂O. At the reaction kaolin dissolves and α-quartz simultaneously appears in the product of reaction.     

Preparation of a new pyrochlore-type compound Na0.32Bi1.68Ti2O6.46(OH)0.44 by hydrothermal reaction

A new pyrochlore-type Na_0.32Bi_1.68Ti₂O_6.46(OH)_0.44 with the cubic cell of a=10.339(5) Å was prepared by hydrothermal reaction using TiO₂ (anatase) and Bi₂O₃ in NaOH solution. This compound was obtained when the molar ratio of NaOH/TiO₂ was above 2 and the reaction temperature was above 240 °C. The TG-curve of as-prepared sample showed a mass loss of 0.8 mass% which was caused by release of OH group. This compound decomposed to a pyrochlore-type compound and a layered-type Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ above 800 °C. The optical band gap of Na_0.32Bi_1.68Ti₂O_6.46(OH)_0.44 was estimated to be 2.5 eV.     

Thermodynamic study of sodium-iron oxides: Part II. Ternary phase diagram of the Na-Fe-O system

Studies on ternary phase diagrams of the Na-Fe-O system have been carried out from the thermodynamic point of view. Thermodynamic data of main ternary Na-Fe oxides Na₄FeO₃(s), Na₃FeO₃(s), Na₅FeO₄(s) and Na₈Fe₂O₇(s) have been assessed. A user database has been created by reviewing literature data together with recent DSC and vapor pressure measurements by the present authors. New ternary phase diagrams of the Na-Fe-O system have been constructed from room temperature to 1000 K. Stable conditions of the ternary oxides at 800 K were presented in predominance diagram as functions of oxygen pressure and sodium pressure.     

Phase equilibria and thermodynamics of the double oxide phase Cu3TiO4

Phase equilibria in the system CuCu₂OTiO₂ were investigated in the temperature range of 1160–1270 K by means of thermogravimetry and measurements of the oxygen partial pressure. The tie lines on the isothermal phase diagram run from the phase Cu₃TiO₄ to CuO, Cu₂O, and TiO₂. The existence of Cu₃TiO₅ and Cu₂TiO₃ could not be confirmed in this temperature range. The phase “Cu₃TiO₄” is only stable above about 1140 K and its composition fluctuates between about Cu₃TiO_4.3 and Cu₃TiO_3.9. The formation of Cu₃TiO_4.3 according to the reaction 1.6 CuO + 0.7 Cu₂O + TiO₂ = Cu₃TiO_4.3 is endothermic: (1160 < T < 1270 K) ΔH° = (7600 ± 450 J-mole^?1; ΔS° = (6.7 ± 0.4) J·K^?1·mole^?1. The standard Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of formation of Cu₃TiO_4.3 at 1200 K are ΔG°_f = ?101.39 kJ, ΔH°_f = ?1115.84 kJ, and S°_f = 466.76 J·K^?1. Rather similar values were found for Cu₃TiO_3.9.     

Thermochemistry of the Reaction of Solvated Sodium Ion Clusters with Thymine in the Gas Phase: An Example of the Reaction in Microcosmic Environment

The thermochemistry of the reaction of the microsolvated Na⁺ such as [Na(H₂O) _n ; n?=?1?6]⁺, [Na(NH₃) _n ; n?=?1?6]⁺ and [Na(H₂O) _n (NH₃) _m ; n?+?m?=?2?6]⁺ with thymine (Thy), as an example of a reaction in the microcosmic environment, have been studied in this work, theoretically. It was found that the increase of the number of solvent molecules in the structure of microsolvated Na⁺ is accompanied by the decrease of the standard enthalpy (\(\Delta H_{r}^{^\circ }\)) and Gibbs free (\(\Delta G_{r}^{^\circ }\)) energies of the reaction (Thy?+?[Na(X) _n ]⁺→Thy-Na(X) _n ⁺ ; X?=?solvent molecule). Also, the calculations showed that the electronic intermolecular interaction (?E_int) between the Thy and microslovated Na⁺ decreased with the increase of solvent molecules. For the interaction of the [Na(H₂O) _n ; n?=?4, 5 and 6]⁺ ions with the Thy, there was the probability of forming of the hydrogen bond between water molecules in the structure of solvated Na⁺ and the Thy. The gas phase infrared (IR) spectra of the complexes of the microsolvated Na⁺ with the Thy for different values of n were calculated and compared with each other to follow the change in the frequency of the stretching vibration of the interaction path between the C=O group of the Thy and Na (O…Na) with n. Using the calculated values of \(\Delta G_{r}^{^\circ }\) of the reactions, the mole fractions of the complexes of microsolvated Na⁺ ions with the Thy were calculated at different humidity.     

Facile synthesis of [1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene from o-dihalostilbenes

A convenient one-pot synthesis of [1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene from readily available o-dihalostilbenes using combined reagents of sodium sulfide nonahydrate (Na₂S·9H₂O) or sodium hydrosulfide hydrate (NaSH·nH₂O) and sulfur is described along with plausible reaction paths in this intriguing reaction.     

Fabrication of Heterostructured Fe2TiO5–TiO2 Nanocages with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance for Solar Energy Conversion

Photocatalysts with well‐designed compositions and structures are desirable for achieving highly efficient solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion. Heterostructured semiconductor photocatalysts with advanced hollow structures possess beneficial features for promoting the activity towards photocatalytic reactions. Here we develop a facile synthetic strategy for the fabrication of Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ nanocages (NCs) as anode materials in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting cells. A hydrothermal reaction is performed to transform MIL‐125(Ti) nanodisks (NDs) to Ti–Fe–O NCs, which are further converted to Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NCs through a post annealing process. Owing to the compositional and structural advantages, the heterostructured Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NCs show enhanced performance for PEC water oxidation compared with TiO₂ NDs, Fe₂TiO₅ nanoparticles (NPs) and Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NPs.     

A study of the thermodynamic properties and dehydration reaction kinetics of some salt-hydrates

Correlations were determined between heat capacity and temperature and phase change enthalpy of Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O. The phase diagram and DSC curve of the binary system Na₂CO₃·10H₂O?Na₂HPO₄·12H₂O were determined The kinetics of the dehydrating reaction of Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O, Na₂CO₃·10H₂O and Na₂HPO₄·12H₂O were measured and theoretically analyzed by TG.     

The interaction of Co ions and sodium deoxycholate micelles

To mimic the interaction between divalent metal ions and bile slats in vivo, two groups of coordination complex compounds, crystalline and gel-like, were synthesized in vitro by mixing the aqueous solutions of CoCl₂ with sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) at various concentrations. Structures and compositions of the compounds were investigated using FT-IR, EXAFS, XRD as well as elemental and ICP analysis, respectively. Then the interaction of Co²⁺ with deoxycholate in solution was observed by laser light scattering (LLS), Transmission electronic microscope techniques and ICP analysis. Conclusions are (1) the crystalline complexes, Co (DC)₂·3H₂O were obtained by reaction of Co²⁺ with mono-molecules of NaDC, and the gel-like complexes, Na_nCo_m(DC)_n+2m formed by reaction of Co²⁺ with NaDC micelles. The gel-like complexes exhibit the non-stoichiometric character; (2) the coordination structures of carboxyl groups with Co²⁺ were different between the crystalline and gel-like complexes. In Co(DC)₂·3H₂O complex, the carboxyl groups of deoxycholate coordinated with Co²⁺ in chelating and pseudo-chelating modes, but that in bridge mode in the case of Na_nCo_m(DC)_n+2m complexes. The non-stoichiometric complexes of Na_nCo_m(DC)_n+2m are formed with a macromolecular structure through the Co²⁺ bridges; (3) NaDC can increase the solubility of Co(DC)₂·3H₂O in aqueous solution, and larger micelles (30-80 nm diameter) formed in the supernate. It is a mixed micelle formed by Co²⁺ ions bridges connecting with NaDC simple micelles. So these micelles are a new kind of micelle containing two kinds of metal ions; (4) these results are in agreement with those formed under physiological conditions in that the different states such as gel, precipitate, micelles of various structures are present in bile of gallbladder. An ideal model of the interaction between Co²⁺ and bile salts in vivo has been proposed.     

Fabrication of Heterostructured Fe2TiO5–TiO2 Nanocages with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance for Solar Energy Conversion

Photocatalysts with well-designed compositions and structures are desirable for achieving highly efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversion. Heterostructured semiconductor photocatalysts with advanced hollow structures possess beneficial features for promoting the activity towards photocatalytic reactions. Here we develop a facile synthetic strategy for the fabrication of Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ nanocages (NCs) as anode materials in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting cells. A hydrothermal reaction is performed to transform MIL-125(Ti) nanodisks (NDs) to Ti–Fe–O NCs, which are further converted to Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NCs through a post annealing process. Owing to the compositional and structural advantages, the heterostructured Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NCs show enhanced performance for PEC water oxidation compared with TiO₂ NDs, Fe₂TiO₅ nanoparticles (NPs) and Fe₂TiO₅–TiO₂ NPs.     

Structural change in a series of protonated layered perovskite compounds, HLnTiO4 (Ln=La, Nd and Y)

A deuterated n=1 Ruddlesden-Popper compound, DLnTiO₄ (HLnTiO₄, Ln=La, Nd and Y), was prepared by an ion-exchange reaction of Na⁺ ions in NaLnTiO₄ with D⁺ ions, and its structure was analyzed by Rietveld method using powder neutron diffraction data. The structure analyses showed that DLaTiO₄ and DNdTiO₄ crystallized in the space group P4/nmm with a=3.7232(1) and c=12.3088(1) Å, and a=3.7039(1) and c=12.0883(1) Å, respectively. On the other hand, DYTiO₄ crystallized in the space group P2₁/c with a=11.460(1), b=5.2920(4), c=5.3628(5) Å and β=90.441(9)°. The loaded protons were found to statistically occupy the sites around an apical oxygen of TiO₆ octahedron in the interlayer of these compounds, rather than Na atom sites in NaLnTiO₄.