Review and prospects on the low-voltage Na2Ti3O7 anode materials for sodium-ion batteries

Due to its low cost and natural abundance of sodium, Na-ion batteries(NIBs) are promising candidates for large-scale energy storage systems. The development of ultralow voltage anode materials is of great significance in improving the energy density of NIBs. Low-voltage anode materials, however, are severely lacking in NIBs. Of all the reported insertion oxides anodes, the Na₂Ti₃O₇ has the lowest operating voltage(an average potential of 0.3 V vs. Na⁺/...     

Sm2O3Ga2O3 and Gd2O3Ga2O3 phase diagrams

Four definite compounds exist in the Sm₂O₃Ga₂O₃ binary phase diagram, namely: Sm₃GaO₆, Sm₄Ga₂O₉, SmGaO₃, and Sm₃Ga₅O₁₂. The $\text{3}\text{1}$ compound is orthorhombic (space group Pnna - Z.4) with the cell parameters: a = 11.40₀Å, b = 5.51₅Å, c = 9.07Å and belongs to the oxysel family. Sm₃GaO₆ and SmGaO₃ melt incongruently at 1715 and 1565°C; Sm₄Ga₂O₉ and Sm₃Ga₅O₁₂ have a congruent melting point at 1710 and 1655°C. With regard to the Gd₂O₃Ga₂O₃ system three definite compounds have been identified: Gd₃GaO₆, Gd₄Ga₂O₉, and Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂. Only the garnet melts congruently at 1740°C with the following composition: Gd_3.12Ga_4.88O₁₂. Gd₃GaO₆, and Gd₄Ga₂O₉ melt incongruently at 1760 and 1700°C. GdGaO₃ is only obtained by melt overheating which may yield an equilibrium or a metastable phase diagram.     

浸渍-分解法制备高可见光催化活性的Bi2O3/TiO2纳米管阵列

用浸渍-分解法将Bi₂O₃纳米颗粒沉积在TiO₂纳米管壁上, 制备了Bi₂O₃/TiO₂纳米管阵列. 用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-AES)测定了Bi₂O₃/TiO₂ 纳米管阵列的化学组分, 利用X 射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)和紫外-可见(UV-Vis)吸收光谱表征了所制备的样品. 通过在可见光下(λ>400 nm)降解甲基橙(MO)水溶液来评价样品的光催化活性. 结果表明, Bi₂O₃纳米颗粒均匀地沉积在TiO₂纳米管中. Bi₂O₃/TiO₂纳米管阵列具有比纯Bi₂O₃膜和N-TiO₂纳米管阵列高得多的可见光催化活性. Bi₂O₃/TiO₂纳米管阵列活性的增强是其强可见光吸收和Bi₂O₃与TiO₂之间形成的异质结的协同作用的结果.     

Phase states in the Bi4Ti3O12-BiFeO3 section in the Bi2O3-TiO2-Fe2O3 system

Specific features of the thermal behavior of Bi _{m + 1}Fe _m−3Ti₃O_{3m + 3} layered perovskite-like compounds (where m takes integer and some fractional values between 3 and 9) were considered, and the temperature limits of stability of these compounds were determined. The phase diagram of the Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂-BiFeO₃ section through the Bi₂O₃-TiO₂-Fe₂O₃ system was constructed.     

The compounds and the phase diagram of MoO3-Rich Bi2O3MoO3 system

The equilibrium phase diagram between 0 and slightly above 50 mole% Bi₂O₃ in the Bi₂O₃MoO₃ system has been studied by differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffraction measurements on fused mixtures and single crystals. The results confirm the existence of the four compounds α (Bi₂O₃·3MoO₃), β (Bi₂O₃·2MoO₃), γ (Bi₂O₃·MoO)₃ and ? (～1.3Bi₂O₃·MoO₃) in the system. However, the phase diagram as well as the nature of melting of the α and γ were found disagreed with previous results. The γ compound melts incongruently at 947°C, whereas the α compound melts congruently at 662°C. The crystal class and lattice parameters of the compounds were determined based on the single crystal as well as powder pattern techniques. The results show that all four compounds have the monoclinic structure. The unit cell parameter of the β, γ, and ? compounds were found to be quite different from previously reported data. The lattice parameters obtained from X-ray analysis were also verified by density measurements of the single crystals. The polymorphism of the compounds was also investigated with single crystal samples. No polymorphic transformations for the α, β, and γ phases were detected in the work.     

Bi2O3 catalyzed asymmetric oxidation of sulfides

Bismuth based catalytic system for the asymmetric oxidation of alkyl and aryl benzyl sulfides using t-BuOOH as the oxidant has been investigated. This method affords sulfoxides with high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) and good yields in reasonable time. The over oxidized product namely the sulfone was not observed. The described method has wide range of applications, exhibits chemoselectivity/enantioselectivity, and proceeds under mild and environmentally friendly reaction conditions.     

Subsolidus phase equilibria and properties in the system Bi2O3:Mn2O3±x:Nb2O5

Subsolidus phase relations have been determined for the Bi-Mn-Nb-O system in air (750-900 °C). Phases containing Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺, and Mn⁴⁺ were all observed. Ternary compound formation was limited to pyrochlore (A₂B₂O₆O′), which formed a substantial solid solution region at Bi-deficient stoichiometries (relative to Bi₂(Mn,Nb)₂O₇) suggesting that ≈14-30% of the A-sites are occupied by Mn (likely Mn²⁺). X-ray powder diffraction data confirmed that all Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores form with structural displacements, as found for the analogous pyrochlores with Mn replaced by Zn, Fe, or Co. A structural refinement of the pyrochlore 0.4000:0.3000:0.3000 Bi₂O₃:Mn₂O_3±x:Nb₂O₅ using neutron powder diffraction data is reported with the A and O′ atoms displaced (0.36 and 0.33 Å, respectively) from ideal positions to 96g sites, and with Mn²⁺ on A-sites and Mn³⁺ on B-sites (Bi_1.6Mn²⁺_0.4(Mn³⁺_0.8Nb_1.2)O₇, (?227), a=10.478(1) Å); evidence of A or O′ vacancies was not found. The displacive disorder is crystallographically analogous to that reported for Bi_1.5Zn_0.92Nb_1.5O_6.92, which has a similar concentration of small B-type ions on the A-sites. EELS spectra for this pyrochlore were consistent with an Mn oxidation between 2+ and 3+. Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores exhibited overall paramagnetic behavior with negative Curie-Weiss temperature intercepts, slight superparamagnetic effects, and depressed observed moments compared to high-spin, spin-only values. At 300 K and 1 MHz the relative dielectric permittivity of Bi_1.600Mn_1.200Nb_1.200O₇ was ≈128 with tan δ=0.05; however, at lower frequencies the sample was conductive which is consistent with the presence of mixed-valent Mn. Low-temperature dielectric relaxation such as that observed for Bi_1.5Zn_0.92Nb_1.5O_6.92 and other bismuth-based pyrochlores was not observed. Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores were readily obtained as single crystals and also as textured thin films using pulsed laser deposition.     

On the mechanism of propene oxidation on Bi3Mo2FeO12 and Bi2Mo2Fe2O12 catalysts

Oxidation of propene on Bi₃Mo₂FeO₁₂ and Bi₂Mo₂Fe₂O₁₂ and Bi₂(MoO₄)₃ has been compared with the interaction of allyl iodide and diallyl oxalate with these compounds. Bi₂Mo₂Fe₂O₁₂ was found to be the most active and the least selective in propene oxidation. The three compounds show at the same time the same activity in acrolein formation from allyl iodide and oxalate. The results are interpreted in terms of the two-center mechanism of propene oxidation [9, 10]. The role of iron in elementary steps of propene oxidation on Bi–Mo–Fe–O catalysts is also discussed.

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Bi₃Mo₂FeO₁₂, Bi₂Mo₂Fe₂O₁₂ Bi₂(MoO₄)₃ . Bi₂Mo₂Fe₂O₁₂ . . , . Bi–Mo–Fe–O.

     

Lotus-stalk Bi4Ge3O12 as binder-free anode for lithium and sodium ion batteries

The synthesized lotus-stalk Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ utilized as binder-free anode for LIBs demonstrates excellent cycling performance. The synthesized lotus-stalk Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ is composed of nanosheets, which is contribute to outstanding lithium storage performance.     

Preparation and visible light photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3/Bi2WO6 heterojunction photocatalysts

The Bi₂O₃/Bi₂WO₆ heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared by a two-step solvothermal process using Bi(NO₃)₃-ethylene glycol solution as Bi source. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy. The heterostructure catalysts are composed of Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles as modifier and 3D Bi₂WO₆ microspheres as substrate. Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles with diameters of about 10-15 nm are tightly grown on the lateral surface of the Bi₂WO₆ microspheres. The hierarchical Bi₂O₃/Bi₂WO₆ microspheres exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than the single phase Bi₂WO₆ or Bi₂O₃ for the degradation of rhodamine B under visible light illumination (λ>420 nm). The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of the Bi₂O₃/Bi₂WO₆ heterojunction catalysts can be ascribed to their improved light absorption property and the reduced recombination of the photoexcited electrons and holes during the photocatalytic reaction. The effect of loading amount of Bi₂O₃ on the catalytic performance of the heterojunction catalysts was also investigated and the optimal content of Bi₂O₃ is 3 wt%. The Bi₂O₃/Bi₂WO₆ heterojunction photocatalysts are essentially stable during the photocatalytic process.     

Bi2Ti2O7/TiO2/Bi4Ti3O12多异质结的构筑及其增强的可见光催化性能

以静电纺丝技术制备的TiO₂纳米纤维为基质,硝酸铋为铋源,KOH为矿化剂,成功制备了多异质结Bi₂Ti₂O₇/TiO₂/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂复合纳米纤维光催化剂。通过X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、紫外可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)等一系列表征,对其物相组成、微观形貌和光学性质等进行分析。结果表明：TiO₂纳米纤维的介入,将Ⅰ型异质结Bi₂Ti₂O₇/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂分离为2个Ⅱ型异质结Bi₂Ti₂O₇/TiO₂和Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/TiO₂。Bi₂     

Bi2Ti2O7/TiO2/Bi4Ti3O12多异质结的构筑及其增强的可见光催化性能

以静电纺丝技术制备的TiO₂纳米纤维为基质,硝酸铋为铋源,KOH为矿化剂,成功制备了多异质结Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/TiO₂/Bi₂Ti₂O₇复合纳米纤维光催化剂。通过X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、紫外可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)等一系列表征,对其物相组成、微观形貌和光学性质等进行分析。结果表明： TiO₂纳米纤维的介入,将Ⅰ型异质结Bi₂Ti₂O₇/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂分离为2个Ⅱ型异质结Bi₂Ti₂O₇/TiO₂和Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/TiO₂。Bi₂Ti₂O₇、Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂和TiO₂三者的协同作用,有效提高了可见光吸收能力,改变了光生载流子的传输路径,降低了光生电子与空穴的复合几率,从而获得高效的光催化降解CH₃CHO性能。可见光照8 h,Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/TiO₂/Bi₂Ti₂O₇复合纳米纤维对CH₃CHO的降解率达到87.1%。     

Evidence for a monoclinic distortion in the ferroelectric Aurivillius phase Bi3LaTi3O12

An alternative chemical approach was used to prepare the ferroelectric Aurivillius phase Bi₃LaTi₃O₁₂ (BLT1.00) at low temperature (450°C) leading to well-crystallized compounds at 750°C. The existence of 90°-oriented twin domains, characteristic of a ferroelectric state, was revealed in selected area electron diffraction and microdiffraction studies. Though the 3D reconstruction of the reciprocal lattice enables to propose the non-centrosymmetrical orthorhombic space group (SG) B2cm, a further convergent-beam electron diffraction study was undertaken in order to ascertain the symmetry. The monoclinic symmetry was clearly identified. BLT1.00 crystallizes in the polar SG B1c1 (no. 7, non-standard setting of P1c1) instead of I4/mmm, as previously reported.     

Bi2O3 /TiO2复合纳米颗粒的可见光光催化性能

采用溶胶与水热相结合的方法合成了具有可见光光催化活性的复合纳米颗粒Bi2O3/TiO2,并对其进行了X射线衍射、透射电镜、X射线光电子能谱、紫外-可见漫反射谱、红外光谱、低温N2吸附脱附及电子顺磁共振分析。结果表明,复合少量的氧化铋可显著抑制TiO2由锐钛矿到金红石的相转移过程,并将光吸收范围扩展到可见光区。可见光照射下(λ>420 nm),利用电子顺磁共振技术检测到明显的羟基自由基(.OH)信号。铋的最佳掺杂量为Bi/Ti质量比2.0%,适量铋的掺入能显著改善锐钛矿TiO2的结晶度,抑制光生电子-空穴对的复合,提高光催化量子效率。通过可见光照射下,4-氯酚的降解实验测试Bi2O3/TiO2复合纳米颗粒的可见光光催化活性。同时,利用气-质联用仪对4-氯酚降解过程的中间产物进行了测定,并提出可见光照射下的Bi2O3光敏化机理。     

不同晶型Bi2O3可见光光催化降解罗丹明B的研究

采用化学沉淀法制备了α、β、γ 3种晶体结构的Bi₂O₃光催化剂。利用XRD、TEM、氮气吸附、TG-DSC、紫外-可见漫反射光谱对样品的晶体结构、微观形貌、光学吸收特性进行了表征,并以罗丹明B(RhB)作为模型污染物,研究了不同的粉体光催化剂在可见光(λ>420 nm)照射下的光催化能力。结果表明：制备的α-Bi₂O₃为长3 μm、宽1 μm的板条状颗粒,带隙为2.84 eV;β-Bi₂O₃为粒径约150 nm的不规则颗粒,带隙为2.75 eV;γ-Bi₂O₃为直径6 nm、长度150~200 nm的纳米管,带隙为2.68 eV。在可见光照射下Bi₂O₃光催化降解RhB的活性如下：γ-Bi₂O₃>β-Bi₂O₃>α-Bi₂O₃,其中γ-Bi₂O₃在辐照60 min后对罗丹明B的脱色率可达97%以上。     

Phase relations in the system Bi2O3CdO

Phase relations in the system Bi₂O₃CdO were studied in the composition range from 90-30 mole% Bi₂O₃. A new phase, Bi₂O₃ · CdO, was found to exist up to 925 K. At this temperature it decomposes to form CdO and the 5Bi₂O₃ · 3CdO phase. The 5Bi₂O₃ · 3CdO phase is stable between 925 and 963 K and melts incongruently. Below 925 K it decomposes to Bi₂O₃ · CdO and 6Bi₂O₃ · CdO. The phase 5Bi₂O₃ · 3CdO has cubic symmetry. The Sillenite-type bcc phase 6Bi₂O₃ · CdO forms above 897 K from oxide mixtures in the solid state or from fused oxide mixtures, but the compound could never be prepared as a single phase.     

Theoretical study of propene oxidation on Bi2O3 surfaces

The role of bismuth in the selective oxidation of propene has long been debated. We performed density functional calculations to study the dehydrogenation reaction of propene on Bi2O3 surfaces. Our calculated thermodynamic data reveal that the first dehydrogenation of propene on the most stable(010) surface and the(100) surface are difficult. Our calculations indicate that the barrier of the first hydrogen abstraction on the high Miller index surface(211) is much lower than those on the(100) and(010) surfaces, and is close to the experimental one. Further dehydrogenation is shown to be difficult and production of 1,5-hexadiene through dimerization of allyl is likely, in agreement with the experimental observations.     

Study of the liquidus in the system Bi2O3TiO2

The liquidus in the system Bi₂O₃TiO₂ has been determined in the range 2 to 22 mole % TiO₂ by a thermobalance technique and by DTA. It has been confirmed that Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ melts incongruently at 875°C and that the eutectic composition between Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ and Bi₂O₃ melts at 795°C.     

Chemical twinning of the pyrochlore structure in the system Bi2O3-Fe2O3-Nb2O5

New ternary bismuth iron niobates having structures based on chemical twinning of pyrochlore are described. Bi_5.67Nb₁₀FeO₃₅ has hexagonal symmetry, P6₃/mmc, , , Z=2 and Bi_9.3Nb_16.9Fe_1.1O_57.8 has rhombohedral symmetry, R-3m, , , Z=3. The structures of both phases were determined and refined to R₁=0.04 using single-crystal X-ray data. They can be described as being derived from the pyrochlore structure by chemical twinning on (111)_py oxygen planes. The chemical twin operation produces pairs of corner-connected hexagonal tungsten bronze (HTB) layers as in the HTB structure, so the structures may alternatively be described as pyrochlore:HTB unit-cell intergrowth structures. In the hexagonal phase the pyrochlore blocks have a width of 12 Å, whereas the rhombohedral phase has pyrochlore blocks of two widths, 6 and 12 Å, alternating with HTB blocks. It is proposed that the previously reported binary 4Bi₂O₃:9Nb₂O₅ phase has a related structure containing pyrochlore blocks all of width 6 Å. A feature of the structures is partial occupancy (∼65%) of the Bi sites and displacement of the Bi atoms from the ideal pyrochlore A sites towards the surrounding oxygen atoms, as observed in Bi-containing pyrochlores.     

On the structure of the disordered Bi2Te4O11 phase

The structure of the disordered metastable Bi₂Te₄O₁₁ phase has been investigated using both neutron powder diffraction and reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) modelling. The average structure, of fluorite-type (space group ), is characterized by very high Debye-Waller parameters, especially for oxygen. Whereas the cations form a fairly well-defined FCC lattice, the oxygen sublattice is very disordered. It is shown that the local order is similar to that present in the stable monoclinic Bi₂Te₄O₁₁ phase. Clear differences are observed for the intermediate range order. The present phase is analogous to the “anti-glass” phases reported by Trömel in other tellurium-based mixed oxides. However, whereas Trömel defines anti-glass as having long range order but no short range order, it is shown here that this phase is best described as an intermediate state between the amorphous and crystalline states, i.e. having short and medium range order similar to that of tellurite glasses and a premise of long range order with the cations only.