Optical response of bimetallic Li x Na8−x (0≦x≦8) and of doped Na8Zn clusters

Total (elastic + inelastic) cross-sections for electron scattering from C, N, O atoms and their simple molecules are studied theoretically. Thee ^–-C, N, O atomic calculations are done in the complex optical potential approach. To study the electron scattering from O₂, N₂, CO, NO, CN, C₂ as well as CO₂, N₂O, NO₂ O₃ targets, we have adopted an additivity rule, wherein the molecular cross-section is an incoherent sum of the cross-sections of the constituent atoms. The cross-sections of C, N & O atoms are presented at incident energiesE _i =10–1000 eV, the molecular cross-sections are presented atE _i =100–1000 eV. The reliability of the additivity rule is discussed against the background of experimental data.     

Synthesis and characterization of a NASICON phase of variable composition Na1 − x Ni1 − x Sc1 + x (MoO4)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

Subsolidus phase ratios in the Na₂MoO₄-NiMoO₄-Sc₂(MoO₄)₃ system have been studied using X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and vibrational spectroscopy. A phase of variable composition Na_{1 ? x} Ni_{1 ? x} Sc_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) having NASICON structure (space group \(R\bar 3c\) ) and a triple molybdate crystallizing in triclinic system (space group \(P\bar 1\) ) have been obtained. The high conductivity of Na_{1 ? x} Ni_{1 ? x} Sc_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃ allows the phase of variable composition to be regarded as a promising sodiumion-conductive solid electrolyte.     

Vibrational spectra and electrophysical properties of a NASICON phase of variable composition Na1 − x Co1 − x Sc1 + x (MoO4)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

Subsolidus phase ratios of the Na₂MoO₄-CoMoO₄-Sc₂(MoO₄)₃ system have been studied by X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and vibrational spectroscopy. A phase of variable composition Na_{1 ? x} Co_{1 ? x} Sc_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 having NASICON structure (space group \(R\bar 3c\) ) and triple molybdate NaCo₃Sc(MoO₄)₅ crystallizing in triclinic system (space group \(P\bar 1\) ) have been obtained. The high conductivity of Na_{1 ? x} Co_{1 ? x} Sc_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃ allows the phase of variable composition to be regarded as a promising sodium-ion conducting solid electrolyte.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of Cu0.5Fe0.5 ? x In x Cr2S4 (x = 0?0.4) solid solutions

Multistep synthesis with X-ray diffraction monitoring of the phase composition has been carried out, optimal synthesis parameters have been determined, and the magnetic properties of solid solutions between thiospinels with ordered tetrahedral A lattices (ferrimagnet Cu_0.5Fe_0.5Cr₂S₄ (T _C = 347 K) and anti-ferromagnet Cu_0.5In_0.5Cr₂S₄ (T _N = 35 K) have been studied. Both compounds crystallize in F $\bar 4$ 3m (T _d ² ) structure. Measurements over wide ranges of fields (0.05?C40 kOe) and temperatures (5?C300 K) highlighted the nature of magnetism in the samples; new magnetic species have been discovered.     

Synthesis of sol–gel Na2Zr x Ti6−x O13 (0≤x≤1) materials and their performance in photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

In this work we present the synthesis and characterization of four compositions of the solid solution with the general formula Na₂Zr _x Ti_6−x O₁₃ (0≤x≤1) which was prepared by a sol-gel method. The main goal of this work is to evaluate the influence of the incorporation of different amounts of zirconium into the binary phase Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ on two properties: the textural surface and E _g values. This titanate phase crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell and is built into an octahedral TiO₆ framework forming a rectangular tunnel structure. Additionally, we have compared their photocatalytic performances in degradation of organic dyes under visible light. The heat-treated sol-gel samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, N₂ physisorption, thermal analysis, UV and FT-IR spectroscopy. According to the X-ray powder diffraction results, the new ternary tunnel compound Na₂ZrTi₅O₁₃ was obtained as a single phase at 800°C. The cell parameters for the two end-member phases of that solid solution were refined to confirm that Zr ion was incorporated into the structural framework. This ternary compound had an E _g value of about 2.9 eV. The activity of all heat-treated Na₂ZrTi₅O₁₃ samples was tested in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and Rhodamine B under visible light. The Na₂ZrTi₅O₁₃ calcined at 400°C showed the best performance with 95% of photodegradation of methylene blue and a half time t _1/2 of 15 min.     

Mechanical properties of mixed conducting La0.5Sr0.5Fe1−x Co x O3−δ (0≤x≤1) materials

Young’s modulus, strain–stress behavior, fracture strength, and fracture toughness of (0≤×≤1) materials have been investigated in the temperature range 20–1,000°C. Young’s moduli of and , measured by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, were 130±1 and 133±3 GPa, respectively. The nonlinear stress–strain relationship observed by four-point bending at room temperature was inferred as a signature of ferroelastic behavior of the materials. Above the ferroelastic to paraelastic transition temperature, the materials showed elastic behavior, but due to high-temperature creep, a nonelastic respond reappeared above ∼800°C. The room temperature fracture strength measured by four-point bending was in the range 107–128 MPa. The corresponding fracture toughness of , measured by single edge V-notch beam method, was 1.16±0.12 MPa·m^1/2. The measured fracture strength and fracture toughness were observed to increase with increasing temperature. The fracture mode changed from intragranular at low temperature to intergranular at high temperature. Tensile stress gradient at the surface of the materials caused by a frozen-in gradient in the oxygen content during cooling was proposed to explain the low ambient temperature fracture strength and toughness.     

Forms of oxygen in La1 − x Ca x MnO3 + δ (x = 0–1) perovskites and their reactivities in oxidation reactions

The effects of substitution in the cationic sublattice and of the synthesis procedure on the reactivity of different forms of oxygen in La_{1 ? x} Ca _x MnO_{3 + δ} perovskites synthesized by mechanochemical and ceramic processing was studied by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) with hydrogen. As the calcium content of the perovskite is raised, the maxima of the TPR peaks shift to lower temperatures and the extent of reduction of the perovskite increase, implying an increase in the reactivity of the system. Conversely, raising the calcination temperature or extending the calcination time shifts the maxima of the peaks to higher temperatures and diminishes the extent of reduction of the sample. TPR data for the intermediate-composition samples can be explained in terms of the dependence of microstructure on the synthesis procedure (near-surface calcium segregation in the mechanochemically synthesized samples and the microheterogeneous structure of the ceramic samples). The reduction process Mn⁴⁺ → Mn²⁺ takes place in the low- and medium-temperature regions. According to the literature, the bulk reduction process Mn³⁺ → Mn²⁺ occurs at high temperatures. The activity of the system in CO oxidation is correlated with the amount of the most reactive surface oxygen, which is eliminated in hydrogen TPR runs below 250–300°C.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation of perovskites La1−x Sr x FeO3−y (0 ≤x < 1.0), prepared via a mechanochemical route

Perovskite-structure oxides La_1?x Sr _x FeO_3?y (x = 0, 0.2, 0.6, 1) were synthesized by the mechanochemical method. In order to refine the stoichiometric composition and the charge state of ions, these samples were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). An investigation of perovskites with x = 0, 0.2, and 0.6 in air at room temperature showed that these samples do not contain oxygen vacancies (y = 0), i.e., they are fully oxidized. Hence, to produce electrical neutrality, these samples should contain iron(4+) cations in an amount proportional to the degree of substitution (x) of strontium(2+) for lanthanum(3+). However, no Fe⁴⁺ cations were found in the oxides. All perovskites contain only Fe³⁺ cations, oxygen ions O^2? along with oxygen ions with reduced electron density (O^?). These data provid evidence of the possible electron density redistribution from oxygen ions to iron cations. The fact that the oxides contain oxygen ions with reduced electron density suggests that weakly bound lattice oxygen in substituted perovskites is represented by O^? ions.     

CeMn1-xA11-xNi2x（x=0．00，0．25，0．50和0．75）合金的结构和电化学性能研究

研究了镍部分取代AB2型CeMnAl金属间化合物B侧Mn，Al形成的化学计量比合金的结构和电化学性能。XRD分析，SEM形貌观察和电化学性能测试结果表明：镍的部分取代使合金发生了相变化，形成了新相，CeMn1-x，A11-x,Ni2x（x=0．0，0．25，0．50和0．75）合金电极的电化学活性得到很大提高，298K时的放电容量从x=0时的17．93mAh·g^-1提高到x=0．75时的118．3mAh·g^-1，328K时的放电容量从x=0时的68．42mAh·g^-1提高到x=0．75时的216．1mAh·g^-1。合金的电化学P-C-T曲线表明：无Ni的CeMnAl合金几乎没有平衡氢压平台，随M取代量的增加，合金的平衡氢压平台斜率变小，宽度增大。     

Longitudinal conductivity of thin films of La1 − x Sr x F3 − x solid solutions on glass ceramics

The longitudinal conductivity of La_{1 ? x} Sr _x F_{3 ? x} solid solution films (x = 0–0.24) with thicknesses of 40–260 nm grown on glass ceramics at temperatures from room temperature to 300°C and frequencies of 10^?1–10⁶ Hz was studied by impedance spectroscopy. The concentration dependence of film conductivity on the SrF₂ content had a maximum near x = 0.05. An equivalent circuit was constructed on the basis of the impedance plots to describe migration processes. The DC conductivity was evaluated for all samples under study. The activation energies were estimated from the temperature dependences of the DC conductivities of the films. The resulting dependences of electrophysical parameters were compared with those for bulk materials in terms of the relaxation conductivity model.     

Phase Transitions in the BaCe1–x Nd x O3–δ System (x = 0–0.15)

Phase transitions in BaCe_{1 – x} Nd _x O_3– (x = 0–0.15) are studied on ceramic samples by dilatometry (at 370–1100 K) and by measuring electroconductivity (at 750–1220 K). Ion transport numbers are measured by an EMF method at 850–1240 K. All measurements are done in dry air (₂ 40 Pa). By treating the obtained temperature dependences of linear expansion with a difference method (difference between first-degree polynomial approximating the dependence and experimental points), the position and the sort of the phase transitions are determined. High-temperature phase transitions are confirmed by measuring the electroconductivity and ion transport numbers. Second-order phase transitions in pure BaCeO₃ are discovered at 480 ± 10, 530 ± 10, 900 ± 10, 1030 ± 20, and 1170 ± 10 K and a first-order transition, at 665 ±10 K. Phase transitions at 900 and 1030 K are discovered for the first time ever.     

Synthesis of garnet structured Li7+x La3Y x Zr2-x O12 (x = 0–0.4) by modified sol–gel method

Preparation of lithium garnet Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZ) in cubic phase by solid state method requires high temperature sintering around 1,200 °C for 36 h in Al₂O₃ crucible with intermittent grinding. Synthesis of LLZ in cubic phase at lower temperatures by wet chemical methods was reported earlier, however that decompose at high temperature around 850 °C. In this work we report the systematic studies on synthesis of garnet structured electrolytes by modified sol–gel method by the simultaneous substitution of Li⁺ and Y³⁺ for Zr⁴⁺ according to the formulae Li_7+x La₃Y _x Zr_2-x O₁₂ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4). The present investigation revealed that the cubic garnet phase is obtained at much lower temperature for Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ and the simultaneous increase of both Li⁺ and Y³⁺ in Li_7+x La₃Y _x Zr_2-x O₁₂ requires slightly higher sintering temperatures for the formation of cubic garnet phase. SEM micrographs of the Li_7+x La₃Y _x Zr_2-x O₁₂ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) annealed at minimum sintering temperature required for the formation of cubic garnet phase revealed the increase in grain size and relatively dense structure with increase of x in Li_7+x La₃Y _x Zr_2-x O₁₂.     

Electronic and Structural Properties of Neutral, Anionic, and Cationic Rh x Cu4−x (x = 0–4) Small Clusters: A DFT Study

In this study, electronic structure, stability, and tendency to exchange electron of neutral, anionic, and cationic Rh _x Cu_4?x (x = 0–4) small clusters were investigated by density functional theory calculations. For neutral small clusters, it was found that the most stable structures of Rh₄, Rh₃Cu and Rh₂Cu₂ have distorted tetrahedral shape while the most stable structures of RhCu₃ and Cu₄ have quasi-planer shape. Adding charges to the clusters, caused shapes of the most stable structures undergo variations. Stabilities of the neutral, anionic, and cationic clusters decrease linearly with increasing the copper content. In addition, calculated chemical harnesses indicated that the small cluster with 75 % copper content has the least chemical hardness. Interestingly, prevailing number of electronegative (Rh) and electropositive (Cu) atoms in the anionic and cationic clusters coincides with high dipole moment in these species that occur at 25 and 75 % copper respectively.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Na(x)Si(136) (0 < x ≤ 24) Single Crystals and Low-Temperature Transport of Polycrystalline Specimens

Na(x)Si(136) clathrate-II single crystals with x = 2.9, 5.1, 8.2, and 14.7 were prepared by a two-step process. In the first step, Na(24)Si(136) single crystals were grown from the precursor Na(4)Si(4) by reaction of the vapor phase with spatially separated graphite in a closed volume. In the second step, the Na(24)Si(136) single crystals were subjected to thermal decomposition in a nitrogen atmosphere at 10 Torr and 405 °C. The Na content was controlled by the duration of thermal decomposition. The structural properties were investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and compared with those of single-crystal Na(24)Si(136). The quality of the obtained products also allowed for low-temperature transport property measurements on agglomerates of crystals allowing for an investigation into the low-temperature electrical and thermal properties as a function of Na content.     

Effect of electronic state of ions on the electrochemical properties of layered cathode materials LiNi1−2x Co x Mn x O2

The cathode materials of the composition LiNi_{1 − 2x} Co _x Mn _x O₂ (x = 0.1, 0.2. 0.33) synthesized from the Ni, Co, Mn mixed hydroxides and LiOH by using mechanical activation method are studied. It is shown that all synthesized compounds have layered structure described by the space group R-3m. With the decreasing of the nickel content the cell volume and the degree of structure disordering decrease. According to XPS data, the electronic main state of d-ions at the prepared samples’ surfaces corresponds to Ni²⁺, Co³⁺, and Mn⁴⁺. An increase in the nickel content leads to the increase of the Ni2p _3/2 and Co2p _3/2 binding energy, which points to the change in the Me-O bond covalence. According to magnetic susceptibility measurements data, the nickel ions in LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ exist in the two oxidation states: Ni²⁺ and Ni³⁺. It is shown that this sample has the highest specific discharge capacity (∼170 mAh/g). The positions of redox peaks in the differential capacitance curves depend on the sample composition: with the increasing of nickel content they are shifted toward lower voltages. Based on the paper presented in the IX International Conference “Basic Problems of Energy Conversion in Lithium Electrochemical Systems” (Ufa, 2006).     

La0．67Ca0．33Mn1-xCrxO3（0．0≤x≤0．15）中的异常CMR效应

研究了Mn位掺Cr体系La0．67Ca0．33Mn1-xCrxO3(0．0≤x≤0．15)的磁性和磁电阻性质，发现Cr掺杂对居里温度Tc影响不明显，但是导致了反常的电输运和磁电阻行为，随着Cr含量的增加，起始电阻率峰向低温移动，同时电阻率出现一个附加峰。在磁场作用下，两个电阻率峰被强烈压缩，导致CMR效应中出现双峰，并且CMR效应的温区被极大地拓宽了，从低温直到接近室温。这个结果表明：Mn位元素替代是调节CMR效应的有效方法。     

Structure and electronic properties and phase stabilities of the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution in the range of 0≤x≤1

As an excellent bandgap-engineering material, the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution, is found to be an efficient visible light response photocatalyst for water splitting, but few theoretical studies have been performed on it. A better characterization of the composition dependence of the physical and optical properties of this material and a thorough understanding of the bandgap-variation mechanism are necessary to optimize the design of high-efficience photocatalysts. In order to get an insight into these problems, we systematically investigated the crystal structure, the phase stability, and the electronic structures of the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution by means of density functional theory calculations. The most energetically favorable arrangement of the Cd, Zn, S atoms and the structural disorder of the solid solution are revealed. The phase diagram of the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution is calculated based on regular-solution model and compared with the experimental data. This is the first report on the calculated phase diagram of this solid solution, and can give guidance for the experimental synthesis of this material. Furthermore, the variation of the electronic structures versus x and its mechanism are elaborated in detail, and the experimental bandgap as a function of x is well predicted. Our findings provide important insights into the experimentally observed structural and electronic properties, and can give theoretical guidelines for the further design of the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution.     

On the clathrate form of elemental silicon,Si136: preparation and characterisation of NaxSi136 (x→0)

The clathrate form of silicon, Si₁₃₆ (otherwise known as Si₃₄), having a residual sodium content as low as 35 ppm (i.e., x∼0.0058 in Na_xSi₁₃₆), has been prepared by thermal decomposition of NaSi under high vacuum, followed by several other treatments under vacuum, and completed by repeated reactions with iodine. The residual amount of sodium has been determined by a combination of analytic and spectroscopic methods involving XRD, electron probe microanalysis, atomic absorption, NMR and EPR. This latter technique proved to be very appropriate to the characterisation of very diluted sodium atoms in such clathrate structure and to the quantitative determination of its residual concentration.     

Glycolate Ti1 − x Fe x (OCH2CH2O)2 − x/2 as a precursor for the preparation of quasi-one-dimensional (1D) solid solutions Ti1 − x Fe x O2 − 2x/2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1)

Quasi-one-dimensional (1D) solid solutions Ti_{1 ? x} Fe _x (OCH₂CH₂O)_{2 ? x/2} (0 < x ≤ 0.1) with the structure of anatase were prepared by heating the glycolate Ti_{1 ? x} Fe _x (OCH₂CH₂O)_{2 ? x/2} in an atmosphere of air at a temperature of >450°C. The conditions of formation and the properties of the new glycolate Ti₃Fe₂(OCH₂CH₂O)₉ were described. It was found that the synthesized Ti_{1 ? x} Fe _x O_{2 ? 2x/2} solid solutions exhibit photocatalytic activity in the reaction of hydroquinone oxidation in an aqueous solution on irradiation with UV light. A correlation between the rate of oxidation of hydroquinone and the concentration of iron in the catalyst was established. A procedure for the preparation of titanium dioxide with the structure of anatase doped with iron and carbon (Ti_{1 ? x} Fe _x O_{(2 ? x/2) ? yCy)} and also composites on its basis, which contain an excess amount of carbon, was proposed.     

Electrode performance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of La0.8Sr0.2Mn1−x Cu x O3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2)–GDC composite cathodes for SOFCs

Electrochemical properties of composite cathodes consisting of La_0.8Sr_0.2Mn_1?x Cu _x O₃ (LSMCu, 0?≤?x?≤?0.2) and Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2?x (GDC) were determined by impedance spectroscopy, and conduction mechanism for the composite cathodes was investigated by a near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure analysis (NEXAFS). LSMCu–GDC cathodes showed lower polarization resistance (R _p) than LSM–GDC up to 750 °C, whereas they exhibited better performance at higher temperature (≥800 °C). The best performance was achieved with the LSMCu10–GDC cathode: 0.27 and 0.08?Ω cm² at 800 °C and 850 °C, respectively. NEXAFS and refinement results confirmed that Cu doping caused the oxidation of Mn³⁺ to Mn⁴⁺ and lattice contraction. This additional Mn⁴⁺ can lead to the formation of oxygen vacancies when Mn⁴⁺ is converted to Mn³⁺ at relatively high temperatures (above 600 °C). This in turn contributes to improved oxygen ion transport in LSM. The LSMCu–GDC composite cathode can thus be considered a suitable potential cathode for SOFC applications.