Ionic conductivity of bismuth oxofluoride BiO<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>F<Subscript>2.8</Subscript> with tysonite-type structure (LaF<Subscript>3</Subscript>)

The complex impedance method in the temperature range of 291–660 K was used to study conductivity of oxofluoride BiO_0.1F_2.8 belonging to the tysonite structural type (LaF₃). Bismuth oxofluoride was synthesized using a solid-phase method at 770–870 K for 1–2 h in an argon atmosphere. Heterovalent substitution of fluoride ions F⁻ by oxygen ions O²⁻ in the anionic BiF₃ matrix sublattice results in high ionic conductivity (∼0.1 S/cm at 660 K) of BiO_0.1F_2.8 ceramic samples.     

Thermal analysis of doped Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

New environmentally inorganic pigments based on Bi₂O₃ doped by metal ions, such as Zr⁴⁺ and Dy³⁺ have been developed and characterized using the methods thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, and spectral reflectance data. The compounds having formula Bi_2−x Dy _x/2Zr_3x/8O₃ (x = 0.2, 0.6, 1.0, and 1.2) were prepared by the solid state reaction. Methods of thermal analysis were used for determination of the temperature region of the pigment formation and thermal stability of compounds. The incorporation of doped ions in Bi₂O₃ changes the color from yellow to orange and also contributes to a growth of their thermal stability. This property gives a direction for coloring ceramic glazes.     

Rate constant of the recombination of CF<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>•</Superscript></Stack> radicals in a gas (He,Ar, N<Subscript>2</Subscript>, or CF<Subscript>3</Subscript>I)

From recent rate constant data for the recombination reaction 2CF₃^• → C₂F₆ ($ k_{(CF_3 )_2 }^M $ k_{(CF_3 )_2 }^M ) in the high-pressure limit and from experimental data obtained at intermediate pressures of buffer gases M (M = He, Ar, N₂, CF₃I), analytical expressions for $ k_{(CF_3 )_2 }^M $ k_{(CF_3 )_2 }^M (in Lindemann’s formulation) are derived for the temperature range of 300–1300 K and intermediate pressures of the buffer gases.     

Synthesis,structure, and electric properties of oxygen-deficient perovskites Ba<Subscript>3</Subscript>In<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZrO<Subscript>8</Subscript> and Ba<Subscript>4</Subscript>In<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>11</Subscript>

Perovskite phases Ba₃In₂ZrO₈ and Ba₄In₂Zr₂O₁₁ with the nominal concentration of structural oxygen vacancies 1/9 and 1/12, respectively, were synthesized by solid-phase and solution methods. X-ray diffraction showed cubic symmetry of both phases with the unit cell parameter a = 0.4193(2) and 0.4204(3) nm, respectively. The absence of superstructural lines resulted in the conclusion on statistical arrangement of oxygen vacancies. Thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry proved that both phases can reversibly absorb water from gas phase (pH₂O = 2 × 10⁻² atm) with observed correlation between the concentration of oxygen vacancies and amount of absorbed water. The total water amount was up to 0.9 mol per formula unit or, if recalculated for perovskite unit ABO₃, 0.3 and 0.23 mol H₂O, respectively. The temperature curves of coductivity in the atmosphere with various partial water vapor pressures (pH₂O = 3 × 10⁻⁵ and 2 × 10⁻² atm) showed significantly higher conductivity and lower activation energy (0.52 eV) in humid atmosphere due to proton transfer. The proton conductivity is up to 5 × 10⁻⁴ Ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 300°C for Ba₃In₂ZrO₈ specimen. IR spectrometry showed that protons in the structure exist primarily in OH-groups.     

Investigation into the formation of heteronuclear clusters of formula [{Ru<Subscript>6</Subscript>C(CO)<Subscript>16</Subscript>Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>X}<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>2−</Superscript> (X = Cl,Br or I)

Reaction of [Ru₆C(CO)₁₆]²⁻ with an excess of AgX (X = Cl, Br or I) affords heteronuclear clusters of formula [{Ru₆C(CO)₁₆Ag₂X}₂]²⁻ in 80% yield, which for X = I and X = Br/Cl were crystallographically characterised. The formation of the cluster was followed in solution using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), which revealed the presence of a wide range of clusters with the general formula [{Ru₆C(CO)₁₆} _x Ag _y X _z ]^{(2x−y+z)−} where x = 1 or 2, y = 1, 2, 3 or 4 and z = 0, 1 or 2. The high yield of the product despite the evident complicated solution speciation is attributed to selective crystallisation of the observed compound driving the equilibrium toward this product.     

Thermal analysis and structural characterization of Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>V<Subscript>2–x</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>x</Subscript>O<Subscript>11–1.5x</Subscript> (0.02≤<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>≤0.50)

This work reports the study of Bi₄V_2–xBa_xO_11–1.5x (0.02≤x≤0.50) series, which is a potential source of solid electrolytes to apply in oxygen sensors. X-ray powder diffraction was used to point out the formation of major ionic conductive phases and minor ones. The modifications of vanadate substructure were probed, at short range, by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry evidenced the formation of tetragonal γ phase, which can be ionic conductive, for x=0.14.     

Interactions in the NdF<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Nd<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-MF<Subscript>2</Subscript> (M = Ba,Sr) systems

Isothermal anneals (at 873 K) and powder X-ray diffraction were used to study isothermal sections of phase diagrams of the NdF₃-Nd₂O₃-MF₂ (M = Ba, Sr) systems. In studying the NdF₃-Nd₂O₃-BaF₂ system, classical solid-phase synthesis was supplemented with mechanochemical activation of feedstock mixtures or BaF₂ activated with gaseous hydrogen fluoride was used. In both systems, a solid solution with the fluorite structure based on MF₂ and NdOF phases, a solid solution with the tysonite structure based on NdF₃, and an ordered fluorite-related phase Ba₄Nd₃F₁₇ were found. The NdOF-based solid solutions were shown to have polymorphism: β_trig ai α_cub at ≈800 K; a new trigonal phase of these solid solutions has been discovered. The effect of a dimensional factor $\left( {R_{Ba^{2 + } } > R_{Sr^{2 + } } } \right)$\left( {R_{Ba^{2 + } } > R_{Sr^{2 + } } } \right) on phase formation and unit cell parameters of the solid solutions was traced.     

Al,B, and F doped LiNi<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Co<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> as cathode material of lithium-ion batteries

A series of the mixed transition metal compounds, Li[(Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3)_1–x-y Al _x B _y ]O_2-z F _z (x = 0, 0.02, y = 0, 0.02, z = 0, 0.02), were synthesized via coprecipitation followed by a high-temperature heat-treatment. XRD patterns revealed that this material has a typical α-NaFeO₂ type layered structure with R3^- m space group. Rietveld refinement explained that cation mixing within the Li(Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3)O₂ could be absolutely diminished by Al-doping. Al, B and F doped compounds showed both improved physical and electrochemical properties, high tap-density, and delivered a reversible capacity of 190 mAh/g with excellent capacity retention even when the electrodes were cycled between 3.0 and 4.7 V.     

Electrochemical performance of LiFePO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/C doped with F synthesized by carbothermal reduction method using NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>F as dopant

The effect of fluorine doping on the electrochemical performance of LiFePO₄/C cathode material is investigated. The stoichiometric proportion of LiFe(PO₄)_1−x F_3x /C (x = 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2) materials was synthesized by a solid-state carbothermal reduction route at 650 °C using NH₄F as dopant. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses demonstrate that fluorine can be incorporated into LiFePO₄/C without altering the olivine structure, but slightly changing the lattice parameters and having little effect on the particle sizes. However, heavy fluorine doping can bring in impurities. Fluorine doping in LiFePO₄/C results in good reversible capacity and rate capability. LiFe(PO₄)_0.95 F_0.15/C exhibits highest initial capacity and best rate performance. Its discharge capacities at 0.1 and 5 C rates are 156.1 and 119.1 mAh g⁻¹, respectively. LiFe(PO₄)_0.95 F_0.15/C also presents an obviously better cycle life than the other samples. We attribute the improvement of the electrochemical performance to the smaller charge transfer resistance (R _ct) and influence of fluorine on the PO₄³⁻ polyanion in LiFePO₄/C.     

Solid electrolytes based on CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> for medium-temperature electrochemical devices

CeO₂-based solid solutions with a fluorite structure are promising materials as electrolytes of medium-temperature electrochemical devices: electrolytic cells, oxygen sensors, and solid oxide fuel cells. In this work, studies are presented of the effect of the dopant cation radius and its concentration on the physico-chemical properties of the Ce_{1 − x} Ln _x O_{2 − δ} solid solutions (x = 0–0.20; Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb) and also of multicomponent solid solutions of Ce_{1 − x} Ln _x/2Ln′ _x/2O_{2 − δ} (x = 0–0.20; Ln = Sm, La, Gd and Ln′ = Dy, Nd, Y) and Ce_{1 − x − y} Sm _x M _y O_{2 − δ} (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) obtained using the solid-phase synthesis technique. Electric properties of the samples were studied in the temperature range of 623–1173 K and in the oxygen partial pressure range of 0.01–10⁻²² MPa. The values of oxygen critical pressure ( p_O2 ^* )\left( {p_{O_2 }^* } \right) are presented, at which the ionic and electron conductivity values are equal. The values were calculated on the basis of experimental dependences at 1023 K at the assumption that the ionic conductivity value is determined only by the dopant concentration and its effective ionic radius and is independent of the oxygen partial pressure.     

The structural investigation of Ba4Bi3F17

The anion-excess ordered fluorite-related phase Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ has been synthesized by a solid state reaction of BaF₂ and BiF₃ at 873 K. The crystal structure of Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ has been studied using electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction (a=11.2300(2) Å, c=20.7766(5) Å, S.G. , R_I=0.020, R_P=0.036). Interstitial fluorine atoms in the Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ structure are considered to form isolated cuboctahedral 8 : 12 : 1 clusters. The structural relationship between Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ and similar rare-earth-based phases is discussed.     

Investigation of the α-BiO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>F<Subscript>3 − 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>-based tysonite-type solid solutions by X-ray diffraction and impedance spectroscopy

Tysonite solid solutions Bi_{1 ? x} M _x (O, F)_{3 ? d} (M = Na, Sr, or Nd) based on α-BiO _y F_{3 ? 2y} were prepared by solid-state synthesis at 873 K with subsequent quenching to ice-cold water. Aliovalent substitutions in both the cation and anion sublattices (M ⁿ⁺ → Bi³⁺ and O^2? → F^?) made it possible to vary the anion-vacancy density. The solid solutions were characterized by X-ray diffraction and impedance spectroscopy. The homogeneity regions for the tysonite solid solution were determined; triangulation schemes at 873 K were suggested for the systems BiF₃-BiOF-NaBiF₄ and BiF₃-BiOF-SrF₂, and a scheme of the subsolidus phase diagram for the system BiO_0.1F_2.8-NdF₃ was suggested. In the system BiO_0.1F_2.8-NdF₃, the transition temperature from the low-symmetry tysonite phase (phase II, space group P \(\overline 3 \) c1, Z = 6) to the high-symmetry one (phase I, space group P6₃/mmc, Z = 2) decreases with increasing anion-vacancy density. Conductivity measurements were performed in the temperature range 300–523 K and the frequency range from 5 to 1 × 10⁶ Hz. The conductivity of samples in the system BiO_0.1F_2.8-NdF₃ increases with increasing bismuth-ion and anion-vacancy concentrations.     

Thermal behaviour and fragility of Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-containing zinc borophosphate glasses

Thermal behaviour of the glass series (100-x)[50ZnO-10B₂O₃-40P₂O₅]·xSb₂O₃ (x=0-42 mol%) and (100-y)[60ZnO-10B₂O₃-30P₂O₅]·ySb₂O₃ (y=0-28 mol%) was investigated by DSC and TMA. The addition of Sb₂O₃ results in a decrease of the glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature in both compositional series. All glasses crystallize on heating in the temperature range of 522–632°C. Thermal expansion coefficient of the glasses monotonously increases with increasing Sb₂O₃ content in both series and varies within the range of 6.6–11.7 ppm °C⁻¹. From changes of thermal capacity within the glass transition region it was concluded that with increasing Sb₂O₃ content the ‘fragility’ of the studied glasses increases.     

Accessing HgSe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">1−x</Emphasis></Subscript> Nanoparticles Using the Single-Source Reagent Me<Subscript>3</Subscript>Si–SeS–SiMe<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Mercury-selenosulfide (HgSe _x S _1-x ) nanoparticles have been synthesized using the single-source reagent Me₃Si–SeS–SiMe₃. The reagent distributes Se²⁻ and S²⁻ to the metal core as the reaction between Me₃Si–SeS–SiMe₃ and mercury acetate occurs via a redox pathway, ultimately giving rise to Se–S bond cleavage. Particles are characterized by EDX, TEM and powder X-ray diffraction analysis in conjunction with UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dieter Fenske on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Phase formation in the V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>-Ta<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>-MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

Solid-phase interactions in the V₂O₅-Ta₂O₅-MoO₃ system were studied. The formation of com- pounds TaVO₅ and VTa₉O₂₅ in the V₂O₅-Ta₂O₅ binary system was verified. Tetragonal VTa₉O₂₅-base solid solutions of the general formula Ta_{5 + 4x} V_{5 − 4x} O₂₅ (x = 0.25–1) and TaVO₅-base solid solutions of the general formula Ta _x Mo_{1 − x} V_{2 − x} O_{8 − 3x} (x = 0.625–1) were found to form. Subsolidus phase equilibria in the V₂O₅-Ta₂O₅-MoO₃ were determined.     

Synthesis of Ba<Subscript>4</Subscript>R<Subscript>3</Subscript>F<Subscript>17</Subscript> (R stands for rare-earth elements) powders and transparent compacts on their base

Single-phase samples of Ba₄R₃F₁₇ · nH₂O (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Y, Er, or Yb; n = 2.5−3.2) were prepared by coprecipitation from nitrate solutions using hydrofluoric acid. The phases crystallize in a fluorite-type face-centered cubic lattice. The dried precipitates are transparent. Scanning electron and atomic-force microscopy and X-ray diffraction line broadening show a hierarchic structure in the samples: primary nanoparticles join into agglomerates with characteristic sizes of about 150–200 nm, these agglomerates being self-packed into parallel layers with a thickness on the order of 500 nm.     

Phase relations in the Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>-Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> system from room temperature to melting

Phase relations in the Zn₂V₂O₇-Cu₂V₂O₇ system were studied by high-temperature X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. The major phase constituents of the system are solid solutions based on Zn₂V₂O₇ and Cu₂V₂O₇ polymorphs and their coexistence regions. The generation of α-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ solid solution, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30, leaves almost unchanged the stabilization temperature of the high-temperature zinc pyrovanadate phase. The α-Cu_{2 − 2x} Zn_2x V₂O₇ homogeneity range is 5 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇. In the range 0.050 ≤ x ≤ 0.09 from 20 to ∼ 620°C, there is the two-phase field of α-Cu₂V₂O₇ and β-Cu₂V₂O₇ base solid solutions. At still higher temperatures, β-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ and α-Cu_{2 − 2x} Zn_2x V₂O₇ coexist in the mixed-phase region. β-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ solid solution, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30, exists above 610 ± 5°C. The extent of the β′-Cu₂V₂O₇-base solid solution is 9 to 65 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇ at 615 ± 5°C, expanding to 0 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇ with rising temperature. Original Russian Text ￠ T.I. Krasnenko, M.V. Rotermel’, S.A. Petrova, R.G. Zakharov, O.V. Sivtsova, A.N. Chvanova, 2008, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 53, No. 10, pp. 1755–1762.     

Citrate-gel synthesis and characterization of yttrium-doped multiferroic BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Perovskite Bi_1−x Y _x FeO₃ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) oxides were prepared by a citrate-gel method. The crystal structure examined by X-ray powder diffraction indicates that the samples were single-phase and crystallize in a rhombohedral (space group, R-3c no. 161) structure. The structural phase transition from rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase was observed at x = 0.10. Increase in magnetization was observed as a result of Y doping. The optical band-gap of (Bi, Y)FeO₃ materials were determined. The observed increase in magnetization and low band-gap of (Bi, Y)FeO₃ ceramics position them for potential magenotoelectric and photocatalytic applications, respectively.     

Oxygen reduction in acid media by a Ru<Subscript>x</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>y</Subscript>Se<Subscript>z</Subscript>(CO)<Subscript>n</Subscript> cluster catalyst dispersed on a glassy carbon-supported Nafion film

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction was studied on a Ru_xFe_ySe_z(CO)_n cluster catalyst with Vulcan carbon powder dispersed into a Nafion film coated on a glassy carbon electrode. The synthesis of the electrocatalyst as a mixture of crystallites and amorphous nanoparticles was carried out by refluxing the transition metal carbonyl compounds in an organic solvent. Electrocatalysis by the cluster compound is discussed, based on the results of rotating disc electrode measurements in a 0.5 M H₂SO₄. A Tafel slope of −80.00±4.72 mV dec⁻¹ and an exchange current density of 1.1±0.17×10⁻⁶ mA cm⁻² was calculated from the mass transfer-corrected curve. It was found that the electrochemical reduction reaction follows the kinetics of a multielectronic (n=4e⁻) charge transfer process producing water, i.e. O₂+4H⁺+4e⁻→2H₂O. Electronic Publication     

Preparation,Thermal Behaviour,and Crystal Structure of MgAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>F<Subscript>8</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Summary.  Single crystals of MgAl₂F₈(H₂O)₂ have been obtained under hydrothermal conditions (250°C, 14 d) from a starting mixture of AlF₃ and MgAlF₅(H₂O)₂ in a 5% (w/w) HF solution. The crystal structure has been determined and refined from single crystal data (Fmmm (#69), Z = 4, a = 7.2691(7), b = 7.0954(16), c = 12.452(2) ?, 281 structure factors, 27 parameters, R(F ² > 2σ (F ²)) = 0.0282, wR(F ² all) = 0.0885). The obtained crystals were systematically twinned according to (010/100/001) as twinning matrix, reflecting the pseudo-tetragonal metric. The crystal structure is composed of perowskite-type layers built of corner sharing AlF₆ octahedra with an overall composition of AlF₄ ⁻ which are connected via common fluorine atoms of [MgF_4/2(H₂O)_2/1] octahedra. Group-subgroup relations of MgAl₂F₈(H₂O)₂ to WO₃(H₂O)_0.33 and to other M(II)M(III)₂ F₈(H₂O)₂ structures are briefly discussed. Above 570°C, MgAl₂F₈(H₂O)₂ decomposes under elimination of water into α-AlF₃, β-AlF₃, and MgF₂. Received October 29, 2001. Accepted (revised) December 6, 2001