Area-selective microscale metallization on porous anodic oxide film of aluminium

A new method for micropatterning of metallic patterns on porous anodic oxide film of aluminium is described. The porous anodic oxide film was impregnated with organic dye and palladium ions before the hydrothermal pore-sealing. The surface layers formed during the pore-sealing, i.e. outer acicular hydroxide layer and a compact intermediate sub-layer trap the palladium ion underneath the layers. Exposing the palladium enriched area by the help of laser beam followed by electroless nickel deposition results the deposition of nickel on the laser-exposed part. Thickness of the deposits can be up to about 2–3 μm, after about the 20 min of immersion in electroless nickel plating bath. The metallic micropatterns, formed by the method are crack free, smooth and uniform over extended length.     

Visualization and characterization of electroactive defects in the native oxide film on aluminium

Spatial!y localized electrochemical activity at Al/Al2O3 electrodes has been investigated using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in order to establish the relationship between localized corrosion of Al (and Al alloys) with the defect structure of the native Al2O3 film. Local electron transfer at microscopic defects (2 to 50 microm radius) was visualized in acetonitrile solutions using the nitrobenzene/nitrobenzene radical anion (Eo approximately -1.6 V vs. Ag/Ag+) and tetracyanoquinodimethane/tetracyanoquinodimethane radical anion couples (Eo approximately -0.3 V) as redox mediators for imaging. SECM investigations revealed no significant differences in electrochemical activity at Al/AI203 electrodes in the two mediator solutions, indicating that electrical conduction at the defect sites is weakly dependent on interfacial potential and the electric field across the Al2O3 film. The density of electroactive defects observed by SECM varied by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude between electrodes prepared from the same source of Al (either 99.450% and 99.9995%) suggesting that electrical conduction in the native oxide is very sensitive to surface preparation. Defect densities as low as approximately 3 sites cm(-2) were readily measured by SECM.     

Influence of aluminium precursor on physico-chemical properties of aluminium hydroxides and oxides

The process of hydrolysis of aqueous aluminium sulfate was carried on in ammonia medium at 100°C and for different time intervals (0, 20, 39 or 59 h). The products thus obtained were calcined at 550, 900 or 1200°C for 2 h with the aim to obtain aluminium oxides. The materials were studied with the following methods: thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, adsorption–desorption of benzene vapours and scanning electron microscopy. Freshly precipitated material was an amorphous basic aluminium sulfate which after prolonged refluxing at elevated temperature in a mother liquor underwent a phase transformation into highly crystalline NH₄Al₁₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆ containing tridecameric unit Al₁₃. It was accompanied by a decrease of specific surface area and the formation of a porous structure less accessible for benzene molecules. Regardless of the duration of the hydrolysis process, all products were characterised with poorly developed porous structure and hydrophilic character. Their calcination at the temperature up to 1200°C resulted in the formation of α-Al₂O₃ via transition forms of γ/η- and δ-Al₂O₃. The samples of aluminium oxides obtained after calcination at 550 and 900°C had higher values of specific surface area than starting materials due to processes of dehydroxylation and desulfurization. The process of calcination up to 900°C was reflected in developing of not only porous structure but also hydrophobic character of prepared materials. The S _BET values calculated for the oxide samples obtained from aged products of hydrolysis at 1200°C were lower than for the analogous sample prepared without the ageing step. It was concluded that prolonged refluxing at elevated temperature of the products of hydrolysis of aluminium sulfate decreased thermal stability of final aluminium oxides.     

Influence of aluminium precursor on physico-chemical properties of aluminium hydroxides and oxides

The paper concerns aluminium hydroxides precipitated during hydrolysis of aluminium acetate in ammonia medium, as well as aluminium oxides obtained through their calcination at 550, 900 or 1200°C for 2 h. The following techniques were used for analysing of obtained materials: thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, adsorption-desorption of benzene vapours and scanning electron microscopy. Freshly precipitated boehmite/pseudoboehmite had high value of S _BET, very good sorption capacity for benzene vapours, developed mesoporous structure and hydrophilic character. After prolonged refluxing at elevated temperature its crystallinity increased which was accompanied by a decrease of specific surface determined from nitrogen adsorption, decrease of sorption capacity for benzene vapours and weakening of the hydrophilic character. Calcination of all hydroxides at the temperature up to 1200°C resulted in the formation of α-Al₂O₃ via transition forms of γ-, δ-and θ-Al₂O₃. The samples of aluminium oxides obtained after calcination at 550 and 900°C were characterised with high values of specific surface area and displayed quite high heat resistance, probably due to a specific morphology of starting hydroxides. The process of ageing at elevated temperature developed thermal stability of aluminium oxides.     

Influence of aluminium precursor on physico-chemical properties of aluminium hydroxides and oxides

An attempt to obtain aluminium hydroxide that could give aluminium oxides of increased thermal stability was made. Aluminium hydroxide was precipitated during a hydrolysis of aluminium chloride in ammonia medium. The influence of preparative conditions, such as a dosing rate of aluminium precursor, pH, duration of the precipitate refluxing and temperature of calcination, on the properties of obtained hydroxides and oxides was investigated. The materials were studied with the following methods: thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and adsorption–desorption of benzene vapours. Precipitated boehmites had high values of S _BET determined from nitrogen adsorption (220–300 m²g^–1), good sorption capacity for benzene vapours, developed mesoporous structure and hydrophilic character. It has been proved that a high pH value during the precipitation of aluminium hydroxide favoured better crystallisation of boehmite structure, higher temperature of its dehydroxylation into γ-Al₂O₃, and delayed transformation of γ phase into α-Al₂O₃. Aluminium oxides derived from the hydroxides precipitated at a high pH were the most stable at high temperatures, and were characterised with the best surface properties. The online version of the original article can be found at     

Optical oxygen sensor based on fluorescence change of pyrene-1-butyric acid chemisorption film on an anodic oxidation aluminium plate

An optical oxygen-sensing material based on the fluorescence intensity changes of pyrene-1-butyric acid (PBA) chemisorption film has been developed and characterised. The fluorescence intensity of PBA film decreased with increase of oxygen concentration. The I₀/I₁₀₀ value of PBA film is estimated to be 6.14±0.15 and large Stern-Volmer constant (K_SV=0.028±0.13 Torr⁻¹) is obtained. After irradiation for 24 h with 150 W tungsten lamp, little changes of oxygen-sensing properties were observed. These results indicate that PBA film is highly oxygen-sensitive and photostability device. The response times of the PBA chemisorption film were 10.0 s for switching from argon to oxygen, and 53.0 s for switching from oxygen to argon. Moreover, the optical sensor based on the PBA chemisorption film was applied to the measurement of oxygen concentration in aqueous solution.     

Photoelectrochemical oxidation of water at transparent ferric oxide film electrodes

The fabrication of thin-film Fe(2)O(3) photoanodes from the spray pyrolysis of Fe(III)-containing solutions is reported along with their structural characterization and application to the photoelectrolysis of water. These films combine good performance, measured in terms of photocurrent density, with excellent mechanical stability. A full investigation into the effects that modifications of the spray-pyrolysis method, such as the addition of dopants or structure-directing agents and changes in precursor species or carrier solvent, have on the performance of the photoanodes has been realized. The largest photocurrents were obtained from photoanodes prepared from ferric chloride precursor solutions, simultaneously doped with Ti(4+) (5%) and Al(3+) (1%). Doping with Zn(2+) also shows promise, cathodically shifting the onset potential by approximately 0.22 V.     

Acetaldehyde adsorption on aluminium oxide

Acetaldehyde adsorption forms were studied on -Al₂O₃ and -Al₂O₃ treated with HCl. Aldehyde was shown to produce three forms of surface compounds. At the same time partial condensation of the aldehyde was observed with the formation of unsaturated compounds. The possible participation of surface compounds in catalytic reactions of aldehydes involving aluminium oxide was also investigated.

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-Al₂O₃ -Al₂O₃, HCl. , . . Al₂O₃.

     

Combinatorial synthesis of oxide powders with an autopipetting system

We describe development of a relatively simple, rapid route to produce combinatorial compositional oxide powder libraries by autopipetting of liquid precursors. This partitioning approach should apply equally well to any low viscosity, liquid precursors for the synthesis of oxide powders. A commercial autopipet is modified by fitting a plastic "mask" assembly beneath the pipet array in order to partition and direct liquids into crucibles. A series of 10 mixtures from two precursor solutions can be produced quickly. After they are dispensed, the liquid mixtures are dried in the crucibles and reacted at elevated temperatures to produce oxide powders. In the present work, the viability of the pipetting process is demonstrated by using a polymerizable complex powder synthesis method to produce (1-x) LaAlO(3) - x SrTiO(3) powders. For this system, a reaction at 900 degrees C for 2 h in air was sufficient to yield solid solutions in this system. X-ray powder diffraction was used to determine the pseudocubic unit cell lattice parameter. The linear change of lattice constant with composition confirms the compositional accuracy of the partitioning.     

Influence of intrinsic defects on the properties of zinc oxide

The effects of oxygen vacancies and zinc interstitials on the structure and energy of zinc oxide were studied with the semiempirical MO method MSINDO. Cyclic clusters were chosen as model systems. Single and multiple removal of oxygen atoms and zinc interstitials in zinc oxide served to determine the defect formation energy and the band gap. The interaction between two and three oxygen vacancies was investigated. The vacancies cause a decrease of the band gap, which originates from an occupied defect level. This is also found for zinc interstitials under zinc rich conditions. The defect formation energy of such zinc interstitials is found to be lower than that of oxygen vacancies at 0 K but decreases for oxygen vacancies and increases for zinc interstitials with increasing temperature.     

Catalytic properties of the vanadium-molybdenum oxide system for acrolein oxidation

The catalytic properties and phase composition of the silica-supported vanadium-molybdenum oxide system have been studied in acrolein oxidation. The active component of the catalyst is the compound VMo₃O_11+x, whose maximum content is observed in the compositions range of 10–15 mol.% V₂O₅ –90–95 mol.% MoO₃.

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, SiO₂. VMo₃O_11+x, 10–15 .% V₂O₅÷90–85 .% MoO₃.

     

Influence of the chemical nature of deposited metal ions on their catalytic properties in oxidation of methane by nitrous oxide

The catalytic properties of deposited metal ions in the reaction between methane and nitrous oxide were studied. On the basis of a previously proposed mechanism for the heterogeneous-catalytic reaction, an interpretation was given for the observed activity and selectivity series with respect to the formation of methanol, carbon monoxide and dioxide. The determining factor regulating the catalytic properties in this system is the bond energy of metal ions with the adsorbed oxygen anion radicals O.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 455–461, July–August, 1988.The authors wish to express their gratitude to V. M. Lukyanchuk for providing samples of the catalysts, and to A. N. Korol' for his assistance in carrying out the chromotographic analysis.     

AC impedance study on semiconducting properties of anodic plumbous oxide film

The semiconducting properties of anodic film formed on Pb in 4.5mol·dm^?3H₂SO₄ solution (30°C) at 0.9 V (vs. Hg/Hg₂SO₄) for 2 h were studied using AC impedance method. The phase composition of the film is PbSO₄ and PbO·PbSO₄. The semiconducting properties are due to the latter. The Mott-Schottky plots show that the said film is an n-type semiconductor with flat-band potential of ?0.9 V (vs. Hg/Hg₂SO₄) and donor density of 1×10¹⁶ cm^?3. The surface density measured at 410–2500 Hz is (2–5)×10¹² cm^?2 eV^?1.     

Influence of ammonia on propane oxidation over a gallium-antimony oxide catalyst

The influence of ammonia on propane oxidation over a Ga–Sb oxide catalyst has been studied. Acrylonitrile is formed upon the interaction of acrolein with partially dehydrogenated ammonia. Ammonia increases the rates of overall and selective oxidation of propane. This is assumed to be due to the formation of electron-donor sites promoting proton separation from the propane molecule.

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. , . . , , .

     

Adsorption properties of aluminium oxide modified with palladium,gold, and cerium oxide nanoparticles

The adsorption properties of nanocomposites based on γ-Al₂O₃ modified with CeO_x, Au/CeO_x, and Pd/CeO_x nanoparticles with contents of deposited metals ranging from 0.07 to 1.71 wt % are investigated by means of dynamic sorption method. n-Alkanes (C₆–C₈), acetonitrile, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, and dioxane are used as test adsorbates. Adsorption isotherms are measured, and the isosteric heats of adsorption of a number of test adsorbates are calculated. Electron-donor and electron-acceptor characteristics of the surfaces of γ-Al₂O₃-based nanocomposites are estimated. It is shown that Au(0.1%)/CeO_x(0.07%)/γ-Al₂O₃ nanocomposite, which has the lowest content of nanoparticles of the deposited metals, has the highest adsorption activity.     

Influence of sodium on the catalytic properties of bismuth-molybdenum oxide catalysts

In the ammoxidation of propylene, the presence of a normal NaBi(MoO₄)₂ phase in bismuth molybdenum oxide catalysts decreases the acrylonitrile yield due to its oxidation

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NaBi(MoO₄)₂ -- .

     

Influence of Cu powders on the properties and characteristics of nano-MgO based aluminate cementitious materials

From the perspective of practical application, the development of desirable thermal and mechanical performance of solid sensible materials for thermal energy storage (TES) is highly needed. Here, we report the improved properties of nano-MgO optimized aluminate cementitious materials incorporated with Cu powders for TES. The composite TES materials were heated at 105, 350, and 900 °C, respectively. The results show that as the Cu powders content increases the thermal conductivity and volume heat capacity significantly increase, but there is a gradual decrease in compressive strength. Through the characterizations such as calorimetric test, XRD, FESEM, TG-DSC, and MIP, a significant feature of mass compensation also has been obtained, which might result from the oxidation reaction of the Cu powder at elevated temperatures.     

Optimisation of the plasma electrolytic oxidation process efficiency on aluminium

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is a surface treatment technology enabling fabrication of adherent thick (50–150 µm) coatings on light metal alloys with significantly enhanced hardness, wear and corrosion resistance compared with other conventional treatments. The technology has the potential to play a significant role in the transport sector for replacement of steel with light‐weight materials of improved durability. A main limitation of PEO lies in its relatively high cost, associated with high energy consumption and low coating efficiency. The present work explores possible routes to improve the process efficiency. It is shown that a combination of conventional pre‐anodising with sequential PEO treatment reduces specific energy consumption up to five times because of an increase of the coating growth rate, up to 10 µm/min, compared with existing PEO processes. A further approach to improved coating efficiency involves PEO in electrolytes with suspended fine or nanoparticles, which results in the formation of thicker coatings in reduced time as a result of the incorporation of the particles from the electrolyte into the coating. Additionally, melting of the coating material during the micro‐arc discharge process leads to formation of stabilised high‐temperature phases, such as tetragonal and cubic zirconia, which provide significantly improved microhardness of the coating material and give a potential for thermal barrier applications. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.