Measurements of the critical parameters for {xNH3 + (1 − x)H2O} with x = (0.9098, 0.7757, 0.6808)

Measurements of the critical parameters for {xNH₃ + (1 ? x)H₂O} with x = (0.9098, 0.7757, 0.6808) were carried out by using a metal-bellows variable volumometer with an optical cell. The expanded uncertainties (k = 2) in temperature, pressure, density, and composition measurements have been estimated to be less than 3.2 mK, 3.2 kPa, 0.3 kg · m^?3, and 8.8 · 10^?4, respectively. In each mole fraction, the critical temperature T_c was first determined on the basis of the intensity of the critical opalescence. The critical pressure p_c and critical density ρ_c were then determined as the point at which the meniscus disappears on the isotherm at T = T_c. The expanded uncertainties (k = 2) in the present critical parameters have also been estimated. Comparisons of the present values with the literature data as well as the calculated values afforded using the equation of state are also presented.     

High-temperature transport and stability of SrFe1−xNbxO3 − δ

The conductivity is measured in the series of solid solutions SrFe_1 ? xNb_xO_3 ? δ, where x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, within the oxygen partial pressure limits 10^?18–0.5 atm and temperature range 650–950 °C. The contributions to the total conductivity from oxygen ions, electrons and electron holes are obtained based on their different pressure dependences. The doped derivative with x = 0.1 is found to be a singular composition where ion conductivity attains a maximal value while activation energy for ion transport is minimal. This peculiar behavior is attributed to formation of favorable microstructure in the oxide. The deeper doping results in deterioration of ion transport, which is explained by oxygen vacancy filling. It is shown that replacement of iron for niobium favors enhanced thermodynamic stability towards reduction. The oxygen permeability is evaluated from the conductivity data, and it achieves rather high values in the doped derivatives. These oxides can, therefore, be recommended for further evaluation as oxygen separating membrane materials for partial oxidation of natural gas.     

Electrodeposition of nano-sized nuclei of magnetic Co–Ni alloys onto n-Si (1 0 0)

Nanometer-sized nuclei of Co–Ni alloys were electrodeposited onto n-Si (1 0 0) electrodes from buffered solutions of the metallic ions. The energy levels of the interface Si/(Co(II),Ni(II))_aq were determined from Mott–Schottky plots. Electrodeposition of the alloys occurs by an anomalous mechanism and preferential deposition of Co took place at all the Co(II)/Ni(II) ratios investigated. The morphology and magnetic properties of the nuclei were studied by AFM and MFM, respectively. It is showed that nuclei of height <30 nm and low aspect ratio present a single-domain magnetic behaviour. Larger nuclei depict complex magnetic characteristics, with a progressive built-up of multi-domains.     

Synthesis,characterization and thermochemistry of Cs(ASP) · nH2O (n = 0, 1)

New compounds of aspartic acid Cs(ASP) · nH₂O (n = 0, 1) have been synthesized and characterized by XRD, IR and Raman spectroscopy as well as TG. The structural formula of this new compound was Cs(ASP) · nH₂O (n = 0, 1). The enthalpy of solution of Cs(ASP) · nH₂O (n = 0, 1) in water were determined. With the incorporation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation of CsOH(aq) and ASP(s), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(1202.9 ± 0.2) kJ · mol⁻¹ of Cs(ASP) and −(1490.7 ± 0.2) kJ · mol⁻¹ of Cs(ASP) · H₂O were obtained.     

Selective synthesis of zigzag-type aligned carbon nanotubes on SiC (0 0 0 −1) wafers

Zigzag-type carbon nanotubes have been selectively produced by surface decomposition of a well-polished SiC single crystal. The SiC wafer was heated to 1500 °C at a very small heating rate under vacuum. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction patterns revealed that almost all the well-aligned carbon nanotubes formed perpendicular to the SiC (0 0 0 −1) surface were double-walled and of zigzag type. The results of high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) indicate that the zigzag type structure evolves from the Si–C hexagonal networks in the SiC crystal by the collapse of carbon layers remaining after the process of decomposition.     

Viscosity of {xCO2 + (1 − x)CH4} with x = 0.5174 for temperatures between (229 and 348) K and pressures between (1 and 32) MPa

A vibrating wire instrument, in which the wire was clamped at both ends, was used to measure the viscosity of {xCO₂ + (1 − x)CH₄} with x = 0.5174 with a combined uncertainty of 0.24 μPa · s (a relative uncertainty of about 0.8 %) at temperatures T between (229 and 348) K and pressures p from (1 to 32) MPa. The corresponding mass density ρ, estimated with the GERG-2008 equation of state, varied from (20 to 600) kg · m⁻³. The measured viscosities were consistent within combined uncertainties with data obtained previously for this system using entirely different experimental techniques. The new data were compared with three corresponding states-type models frequently used for predicting mixture viscosities: the Extended Corresponding States (ECS) model implemented in REFPROP 9.1; the SUPERTRAPP model implemented in MultiFlash 4.4; and a corresponding states model derived from molecular dynamics simulations of Lennard Jones fluids. The measured viscosities deviated systematically from the predictions of both the ECS and SUPERTRAPP models with a maximum relative deviations of 11 % at (229 K, 600 kg · m⁻³) and −16 % at (258 K, 470 kg · m⁻³), respectively. In contrast, the molecular dynamics based corresponding states model, which is predictive for mixtures in that it does not contain any binary interaction parameters, reproduced the density and temperature dependence of the measured viscosities well, with relative deviations of less than 4.2 %.     

Protonation thermodynamics of some aminophenol derivatives in NaCl(aq) (0 ⩽ I ⩽3 mol · kg−1) at T = 298.15 K

The acid–base properties of four aminophenol derivatives, namely m-aminophenol (L1), 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene (L2), 2-amino-5-ethylphenol (L3) and 5-amino-4-chloro-o-cresol (L4), are studied by potentiometric and titration calorimetric measurements in NaCl_(aq) (0 ? I ? 3 mol · kg^?1) at T = 298.15 K. The dependence of the protonation constants on ionic strength is modelled by the Debye–Hückel, SIT (Specific ion Interaction Theory) and Pitzer equations. Therefore, the values of protonation constants at infinite dilution and the relative interaction coefficients are calculated. The dependence of protonation enthalpies on ionic strength is also determined. Distribution (2-methyl-1-propanol/aqueous solution) measurements allowed us to determine the Setschenow coefficients and the activity coefficients of neutral species. Experimental results show that these compounds behave in a very similar way, and common class parameters are reported, in particular for the dependence on ionic strength of both protonation constants and protonation enthalpies.     

Phase behaviour of the ternary system {poly(ε-caprolactone) + carbon dioxide + dichloromethane}

Recently, production of biocompatible and biodegradable polymer microparticles has been a matter of growing interest in pharmaceutical and food areas such as drug or active compounds delivery. To conduct production of microparticles, polymeric particle coating, impregnation of active compounds in polymeric films, the knowledge of phase behaviour involving the biodegradable polymer in supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of a modifier may be needed to allow developing new industrial applications. In this sense, the aim of this work was to investigate the phase behaviour of the ternary system formed by the biodegradable polymer poly(ε-caprolactone) in (carbon dioxide + dichloromethane). Experimental phase transition (bubble and cloud point) values were obtained by applying the static-synthetic method using a variable-volume view cell over the temperature range of (303 to 343) K and pressures up to 21 MPa, in the CO₂ overall composition range of (25–46) wt%, while polymer concentrations studied were (1, 3, 5, and 7) wt%. For the system investigated, depending on the polymer concentration, vapour–liquid, liquid–liquid, and vapour–liquid–liquid phase transitions were verified.     

Ternary mutual diffusion coefficients of aqueous {l-dopa (1) + β-CD (2)} solutions at T = 298.15 K

Ternary mutual diffusion coefficients (D₁₁, D₂₂, D₁₂ and D₂₁) measured by the Taylor dispersion method are reported for aqueous solutions of {levodopa (l-dopa) + β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)} solutions at T = 298.15 K and concentrations up to 0.007 mol · dm⁻³. Significant effects on the diffusion were observed, suggesting interactions between this carbohydrate and l-dopa. Support for this came from ¹H NMR spectroscopy, which shows that these effects are due to formation of 1:1 (β-CD:l-dopa) complexes.     

Thermochemical behaviour of crown ethers in the mixtures of water with organic solvents. Part IX. Effect of base–acid properties of {(1 − x)AN + xH2O} on the solution enthalpy of cyclic ethers in this mixed solvent at T = 298.15 K

The enthalpies of solution of cyclic ethers: 1,4-dioxane, 12-crown-4 and 18-crown-6 in {(1 ? x)AN + xH₂O} have been measured over the whole mole fraction range at T = 298.15 K. Based on the results obtained, the effects of base–acid properties of mixed solvent and the number of –CH₂CH₂– groups in cyclic ethers molecules on the solution enthalpy of cyclic ethers in {(1 ? x)AN + xH₂O} have been analyzed.     

Investigation of the LiCo1−xMgxPO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1)–graphitic carbon foam composites

LiCo_1−xMg_xPO₄–graphitic carbon foam (LCMP–GCF with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) composites are prepared by Pechini-assisted sol-gel method and annealed with the 2-steps annealing process (T = 300 °C for 5 min in flowing air, then at T = 730 °C for t = 12 h in flowing nitrogen). The XRD analysis, performed on powders reveals LiCoPO₄ as major crystalline phase, Co₂P and Co₂P₂O₇ as secondary phases. The morphological investigation revealed the formation and growth of microcrystalline “islands” which consist of acicular crystallites with different dimensions (typically 5–50 μm). By addition of Mg-ions, CV-curves of LCMP–GCF composites show a decrease of the surface between anodic and cathodic sweeps by cycling and a stark contribution of faradaic processes due to the graphitic structured foam. The electrochemical measurements, at a discharge rate of C/10 at room temperature, show the decrease of the discharge specific capacity from 100 mAh g⁻¹ for x = 0.0 to ∼35 mAh g⁻¹ for 0.025 ≤ x ≤ 0.05, then an increase to 69 mAh g⁻¹ for x = 0.1. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data reveal a decrease of the electrical resistance and the improvement of the Li-ion conductivity at high Mg-ions content into the LiCoPO₄ phase (x ≥ 0.025).     

Thermodynamics of formation of double salts M2SO4 · M′SO4 · 6H2O and M2SeO4 · M′SeO4 · 6H2O where M denotes Rb,or Cs and M′ denote Co,Ni, or Zn

This paper describes a chemical model that calculates (solid + liquid) equilibria in the (m₁Rb₂SO₄ + m₂CoSO₄)(aq), (m₁Rb₂SeO₄ + m₂CoSeO₄)(aq), (m₁Rb₂SO₄ + m₂NiSO₄)(aq), (m₁Rb₂SO₄ + m₂ZnSO₄)(aq), (m₁Rb₂SeO₄ + m₂ZnSeO₄)(aq), (m₁Cs₂SO₄ + m₂CoSO₄)(aq), (m₁Cs₂SeO₄ + m₂CoSeO₄)(aq), (m₁Cs₂SO₄ + m₂NiSO₄)(aq), (m₁Cs₂SeO₄ + m₂NiSeO₄)(aq), (m₁Cs₂SO₄ + m₂ZnSO₄)(aq), and (m₁Cs₂SeO₄ + m₂ZnSeO₄)(aq) systems, where m denotes molality at the temperature T=298.15 K. The Pitzer ion-interaction model has been used for thermodynamic analysis of the experimental osmotic and solubility data presented in the literature. The thermodynamic functions needed (binary and ternary parameters of ionic interaction, thermodynamic solubility products) have been calculated and the theoretical solubility isotherm has been plotted. The mixing parameters {θ(MN) and ψ(MNX)} have been chosen on the basis of the compositions of saturated ternary solutions and data on the binary solubility of the sulfate M₂SO₄. M^′SO₄ · 6H₂O double salts in water. To validate the mixing solutions model two different approaches have been used in evaluation of the ternary parameters: (I) preserving the same value of the binary mixing θ(MN) for the corresponding chloride, bromide, sulfate, and selenate systems with the same cations, and (II) with constant θ(MN) value (set equal to −0.05) for the all 11 sulfate and selenate systems. Very good agreement between experimentally determined and model predicted solubilities has been found. Important thermodynamic characteristics (thermodynamic solubility products, standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation) of the solid phases (simple salts, six sulfate – M₂SO₄ · M^′SO₄ · 6H₂O, and five selenate – M₂SeO₄ · M^′SeO₄ · 6H₂O – double salts) crystallizing in the systems under consideration are determined.