Electrical,Optical, and Structural Properties of SnO2: F Films as a Function of Fluoride Precursor Concentration and Temperature

Atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) employing the precursor system of tin tetrachloride, ethyl formate, and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl trifluoroacetate vapors that were transported to hot glass substrates to deposit fluorine doped tin dioxide thin films. The system is optimized with respect to the substrate deposition temperature and to the amount of fluoride added to the precursor stream and the resultant structural, electrical and optical properties compared. Increasing the substrate temperature from 360 °C to 610 °C resulted in an approximately linear increase in thickness of the tin dioxide films. However, the resistivity decreased from 1.8 × 10^–2 Ω · cm at 360 °C to a minimum of 5.9 × 10^–4 Ω · cm at 560 °C and increased to 9.4 × 10^–4 Ω · cm at 610 °C. While maintaining a substrate temperature of 560 °C different amounts of fluorine precursor was introduced into the carrier stream, from 0 mL · h^–1 to 5 mL · h^–1, resulting in a decrease in resistivity (ρ) from 5.3 × 10^–2 Ω · cm at 0 mL · h^–1 to a minimum of 5.9 × 10^–4 Ω · cm at 2 mL · h^–1 and then increased to 1.0 × 10^–3 Ω · cm at 5 mL · h^–1. As the amount of fluoride is increased a concommittent increase in carrier concentration results until the point of overdoping the film produces an increase in scattering sites that increases resistivity. Best films were deposited at 560 °C and when the fluoride precursor flow rate was 2 mL · h^–1.     

Conversion of C<Subscript>19</Subscript>–C<Subscript>38</Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-paraffins into components of kerosene and diesel fuels on Pt-containing amorphous aluminosilicate

The behavior of Pt-containing catalysts based on mesoporous amorphous aluminosilicate in the process of hydroconversion of C₁₉–C₃₈n-paraffins with the goal to produce diesel and kerosene fractions with improved cold flow properties was investigated. These systems were characterized by high efficiency and selectivity in the process of producing diesel and kerosene fractions. A 91% degree of conversion was achieved with a yield of liquid hydrocarbons of 76% (320°C, volume feed rate 0.5 h^–1, molar ratio hydrogen: feed = 600: 1, pressure 50 atm). The initial freezing point of the isolated kerosene fraction was below minus 50°C, and the cold filter plugging point of the diesel fraction was minus 34°C.     

Synthesis,pH‐ and temperature‐induced micellization and gelation of doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer of poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate) in aqueous solutions

A doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer of poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate)‐b‐Poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA‐b‐PEG‐b‐PDMAEMA) with well‐defined structure and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.21) was synthesized in aqueous medium via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) initiated by the PEG macroinitiator. The macroinitiator and triblock copolymer were characterized with ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DSL), transmittance measurement, and rheological characterization were applied to investigate pH‐ and temperature‐induced micellization in the dilute solution of 1 mg/mL when pH > 13 and gelation in the concentrated solution of 25 wt % at pH = 14 and temperatures beyond 80 °C. The unimer of R_h = 3.7 ± 0.8 nm coexisted with micelle of R_h = 45.6 ± 6.5 nm at pH 14. Phase separation occurred in dilute aqueous solution of the triblock copolymer of 1 mg/mL at about 50 °C. Large aggregates with R_h = 300–450 nm were formed after phase separation, which became even larger as R_h = 750–1000 nm with increasing temperature. The gelation temperature determined by rheology measurement was about 80 °C at pH 14 for the 25 wt % aqueous solution of the triblock copolymer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5869–5878, 2008     

Three-step macrokinetic model of butane and propane steam conversion to methane-rich gas

Low-temperature steam conversion (LTSC) of a methane-butane mixture (95% methane and 5% butane) into a methane-rich gas over an industrial Ni-based catalyst has been studied with the following reaction conditions: temperature 200–320°C, pressure 1 bar, gas hour space velocity 1200–3600 h^–1, and steam to carbon ratio 0.64. A three-step macrokinetic model has been suggested based on the kinetic parameters found. The model includes the following reactions: (1) irreversible steam reforming; (2) CO₂ methanation, which occurs in a quasi-equilibrium mode at temperatures above 260°C; (3) hydrogenolysis of propane and butane, which is essential at temperatures below 260°C. Steam reforming was shown to limit the overall reaction rate, whereas hydrogenolysis and CO₂ methanation determined the product distribution in low- and high-temperature regions, respectively. Temperature dependencies of the product distribution for the LTSC of a model ternary methane-propane-butane mixture (85% methane, 10% propane, and 5% butane) have been successfully simulated using the three-step model suggested.     

High-efficiency process for production of sulfur from metallurgical sulfur dioxide gases

Process in which sulfur is produced from a gas containing 25–55% SO₂ was studied in order to evaluate the real efficiency of the catalytic post-reduction of sulfur dioxide in a pilot unit with gas flow rate of up to 1.2 nm³ h^–1 at the following temperatures (°C): thermal stage 850–1100, catalytic conversion 350–570, and Claus reactor 219–279. It was found that the conversion at 400–550°C and space velocity of 1600 h^–1 on AOK-78-57 promoted aluminum oxide catalyst provides full processing of organosulfur compounds (CS₂ and COS). The temperature dependence of the conversion/generation of hydrogen sulfide on AOK-78-57 catalyst corresponds to the equilibrium model. It was experimentally confirmed that the homogeneous reduction of sulfur dioxide gas with methane at T ≈ 1100°C, with catalytic post-reduction at 400–550°C and subsequent Claus-conversion of the reduced gas at 230–260°C, provide a sufficiently deep (by 92–95%) general processing of sulfur dioxide gas to sulfur.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of diethyl dithiocarbamate complexes of copper(II) and nickel(II)

Thermogravimetric (TG), derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) curves of CuL₂ and NiL₂ (L^?=diethyl dithiocarbamate anion) in air are studied. The main decomposition temperature ranges are: For CuL₂, DTG 250–350°, DTA 300–320° and for NiL₂, DTG 290–390°, DTA 360–400°. Mass loss considerations at the main decomposition stages indicate conversion of the complex to sulphides. Mathematical analysis of TG data shows that first order kinetics are applicable in both cases. Kinetic parameters (energy and entropy of activation and preexponential factor) are reported.

     

Study of CuZnMOx oxides (M = Al,Zr, Ce,CeZr) for the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 into methanol

CuO–ZnO–Al₂O₃ catalysts were synthesized by two methods, sol–gel and co-precipitation syntheses. Al₂O₃ was then substituted with other supports, such as ZrO₂, CeO₂ and CeO₂–ZrO₂ in order to have a better understanding of the support's effect. These catalysts containing 30 wt% of Cu were then tested for CO₂ hydrogenation into methanol. The effect of reaction temperature and GHSV on the catalytic behaviour was also investigated. The best results were obtained with a 30 CuO–ZnO–ZrO₂ catalyst synthesized by co-precipitation and calcined at 400 °C. This catalyst presents a good CO₂ conversion rate (23%) with 33% of methanol selectivity, leading to a methanol productivity of 331 g_MeOH.kg_cata⁻¹·h⁻¹ at 280 °C under 50 bar and a GHSV of 10,000 h⁻¹.     

Acetone condensation over CaO—SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalyst

Aldol condensation of acetone was studied over solid base CaO—SnO₂ catalyst in the 300—450 °C temperature range and at 15—75 atm pressure in a fixed-bed reactor. The main products are mesityl oxide and isophorone. The high stability of CaO—SnO₂ catalyst performance was observed at pressure of 75 atm giving the acetone conversion of 36—41%. Increase in the temperature and pressure led to a simultaneous raise in acetone conversion. The maximum conversion of 41% was achieved at 400 °C, 75 atm and a flow rate of acetone of 8.1 g h^–1 (g catalyst)^–1.     

Catalytic oxidation of NO over Mn–Co–Ce–Ox catalysts: effect of reaction conditions

Manganese–cobalt–cerium oxide (Mn–Co–Ce–Ox) catalysts were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and tested for activity in low-temperature catalytic oxidation of NO in the presence of excess O₂. With the best Mn–Co–Ce mixed-oxide catalyst, approximately 80 % NO conversion was achieved at 150 °C and a space velocity of 35,000 h^?1. The effect of reaction conditions (reaction temperature, volume fractions of NO and O₂, gas hourly space velocity (GHSV), and catalyst stability) was investigated. The optimum reaction temperature was 150 °C. Increasing the O₂ content above 3 % results in almost no improvement of NO oxidation. This catalyst enables highly effective removal of NO within a wide range of GHSV. Furthermore, the stability of the Me–Co–Ce–Ox catalyst was excellent; no noticeable decrease of NO conversion was observed in 40 h.     

Fourier transform infrared determination of CO2 evolved from carbonate in carbonated apatites

A quantitative method based on FTIR has been developed to determine carbonate in synthetic apatites. The method measures the evolved CO₂ after reaction of 50 mg apatite with 2 mL of hydrochloric acid (0.5 M) in a reaction vessel, heated to 40?°C. The CO₂ evolved was swept by a carrier of nitrogen to a laboratory-made infrared gas cell of 39 mm pathlength and 490 μL volume. The signals were recorded as a function of time and the areas of the chemigram peaks obtained from the measurements in the wavenumber range of 2500–2150 cm^–1, were interpolated using a calibration curve. The method can be used to study apatites with carbonate contents below 0.2% with a sampling frequency of 8 h^–1.     

Fabrication of thermoresponsive micelles by functionalizing hydroxypropyl cellulose via azide-alkyne click reaction

In this work, we functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) by attaching tetraphenylethylene (TPE) via copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The obtained HPC-TPE samples displayed water-solubility, biocompatibility, fluorescence and thermoresponsive properties. The degree of substitution (DS_TPE) of HPC-TPE1 ~ 4 was determined to be 0.002, 0.006, 0.025, and 0.053, respectively. HPC-TPE could self-assemble into micelles in water with the hydrodynamic radius (R_h) ranging from 164 to 190 nm. Under different DS_TPE, HPC-TPE samples showed different lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behaviors in light transmittance, R_h and fluorescence. The critical transition temperatures in light transmittance for HPC-TPE1 ~ 4 solutions were 55–49 °C during the heating process, and were 44–40 °C during the cooling process, respectively. Moreover, HPC-TPE demonstrated a rapid and sensitive response to Fe³⁺ with ignoring interferences in the presence of other common metal ions, and could also be used to image 4T1 cells. Therefore, this work offered a general approach for the synthesis of functionalized polymers with promising applications in sensing and bioimaging.     

Effects of heating rate (1–300° h−1) on the non-isothermal thermogravimetry of CuSO4 · 5 H2O

The course of the reaction CuSO₄ · 5 H₂O ? CuSO₄ · H₂O + 4 H₂O was studied by non-isothermal thermogravimetry with various heating rates ranging from 1 to 300° h^?. The measurements were made either in static air, in a dry nitrogen stream, or in water vapor at a reduced pressure (9 mm Hg). In static air, the shape of the TG curve changed drastically at a heating rate of 13 to 15° h^?, and this change was explained by considering the nature of the plateaus and inflections present. In a dry nitrogen stream, the dehydration is made much easier at slow heating rates and occurs almost in one step at 2° h^?; in water vapor at 9 mm Hg, on the other hand, a very distinct two-step curve is obtained at 1° h^?. This can reasonably be compared with the phase diagram of copper sulfate.     

Synthese,Kristallstruktur und Festkörper-NMR-spektroskopische Untersuchungen von K5H(CN2)3

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Solid State MAS-NMR Spectroscopic Investigation of K₅H(CN₂)₃ Single phase K₅H(CN₂)₃ was synthesized by reaction of KHCN₂ with metallic potassium in liquid ammonia or by reaction of KNH₂ with melamine C₃N₃(NH₂)₃ at 320 °C, respectively. The crystal structure was determined from X-ray powder and single crystal data: K₅H(CN)₃, space group Im3m, a = 795.68(7) pm, Z = 2, R1 = 0.025, wR2 = 0.0438. In the solid K₅H(CN₂)₃ contains K⁺ and CN₂^2–, the anions exhibit D_∞h symmetry. According to ¹H and ¹³C solid state MAS-NMR investigations, temperature dependent impedance spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy the protons are only loosely bound to the CN₂^2– ions. The proton conductivity shows a sharp increase above 70 °C.     

Separation and purification of fructooligosaccharides on a zeolite fixed‐bed column

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a well‐known prebiotic product, are obtained by enzymatic synthesis and consist of a mixture of mono‐ and disaccharides. In this work, a methodology for their separation and purification was developed using a zeolite fixed‐bed column. The effects of column temperature (40–60°C), eluent flow rate (0.10–0.14 mL/min), injected to bed volume percent ratio (2.6–5.1%), and ethanol concentration in the eluent (40–60%, v/v) were investigated using a fractionary factorial design (2^4–1), having the separation efficiency and purity as target responses. Additional experiments were performed as well, where the temperature and ethanol concentration were studied in a central composite design (2²). In this work, the zeolite fixed‐bed column was shown to be a good alternative for FOS purification, allowing a FOS purity of 90% and separation efficiency of 6.86 between FOS and glucose, using an eluent at 45°C with 60% ethanol concentration.     

Reactions of the HO2 radical with OH,H, Fe2+ and Cu2+ at elevated temperatures

The temperature dependence of the rate constant for the reactions of HO₂ with OH, H, Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺ has been determined using pulse radiolysis technique. The following rate constants, k (dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) at 20°C and activation energies, E_a (kJ mol⁻¹) have been found. The reaction with OH was studied in the temperature range 20–296°C (k=7.0×10⁹, E_a=7.4) and the reaction with H in the temperature range 5–149°C (k=8.5×10⁹, E_a=17.5). The reaction with Fe²⁺ was studied in the temperature range 16–118°C (k=7.9×10⁵, E_a=36.8) and the reaction with Cu²⁺ in the temperature range 17–211°C (k=1.1×10⁸, E_a=14.9).     

Steam pre-reforming of natural gas over nanostructured Ni/12CaO–7Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst for hydrogen production: effect of support preparation method

Calcium aluminate (12CaO–7Al₂O₃) powder was synthesized using three methods, viz. Pechini, coprecipitation, and a new novel facile decomposition route starting from activated alumina and calcium nitrate precursors, then used as a support to prepare a series of 31 wt%Ni/12CaO–7Al₂O₃ catalysts by deposition–precipitation method. The resultant catalysts were tested in steam pre-reforming of natural gas at 400–550 °C, low steam-to-carbon (S/C) molar ratio of 1.5, and atmospheric pressure. The obtained samples were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), hydrogen chemisorption, and CO₂–temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Experimental results showed that the basicity and morphology of the supports depended significantly on the synthesis method. Calcium aluminate synthesized using the new decomposition procedure showed surface area of 6.23 m² g^?1, while the surface area of those prepared by the Pechini and coprecipitation method were 1.38 and 3.76 m² g^?1, respectively. The catalytic properties of the 31 wt%Ni/12CaO–7Al₂O₃ catalysts were strongly influenced by the support preparation approach. The highest specific surface area (about 230 m² g^?1), smallest Ni particle size (8.86 nm), and highest nickel dispersion (7.48%) were observed for the catalyst whose support was synthesized by the decomposition method. Even at high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 2 × 10⁵ mL \({\text{g}}^{ - 1}_{\text{catalyst}}\) h^?1, this catalyst exhibited around 100% C₂H₆ and C₃H₈ conversion at temperature above 500 °C. High catalytic stability during 60 h time on-stream was also shown. The TPO profiles of the spent catalyst demonstrated high resistance to carbon formation.     

Preparation and characterization of electrospun LiFePO4/carbon complex improving rate performance at high C-rate

LiFePO₄/carbon complexes were prepared by electrospinning to improve rate performance at high C-rate and their electrochemical properties were investigated to be used as a cathode active material for lithium ion battery. The LiFePO₄/carbon complexes were prepared by the electrospinning method. The prepared samples were characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD, TGA, electrometer, and electrochemical analysis. The LiFePO₄/carbon complexes prepared have a continuous structure with carbon-coated LiFePO₄ and the LiFePO₄ in LiFePO₄/carbon complex has improved thermal stability from carbon coating. The conductivity of LiFePO₄/carbon complex heat-treated at 800 °C is measured as 2.23 × 10^?2 S cm^?1, which is about 10⁶–10⁷ times more than that of raw LiFePO₄. The capacity ratio of coin cell manufactured from raw LiFePO₄ is 40%, whereas the capacity ratio of coin cell manufactured from LiFePO₄/carbon complex heat-treated at 800 °C is 61% (10 C/0.1 C). The improved rate performance of LiFePO₄/carbon complex heat-treated at 800 °C is due to the carbon coating and good electrical connection.     

NiMoW/P-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Hydrotreating Catalysts: Influence of the Mo/W Ratio on the Hydrodesulfurization and Hydrogenation Activity

A series of NiMoW/P-Al₂O₃ catalysts with different Mo/W ratios (sample containing Mo only, Mo/W = 2: 1, Mo/W = 1: 1, Mo/W = 1: 2, and sample containing W only; P₂O₅ content of the support 2.0 wt %) were synthesized. The precursors of the active phase were the heteropoly acids H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀?nH₂O and H₃PW₁₂O₄₀?nH₂O, and also nickel citrate. The sulfide phase in the samples was studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; the catalytic activity of the samples in dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization and naphthalene hydrogenation was determined. For the dibenzothiophene hydrogenolysis in the presence of quinoline and naphthalene (content in the model mixture, wt %: dibenzothiophene 0.3, naphthalene 1.5, and quinoline 0.5), k_HDS for different samples is in the range 17.6–42.5 h^–1 at 275°C and 24.6–45.9 h^–1 at 300°C. For the naphthalene hydrogenation, k_HYD varies from 0.79 to 1.89 h^–1 at 275°C and from 0.91 to 3.78 h^–1 at 300°C. The sample based on molybdenum showed the highest activity in hydrogenation and hydrodesulfurization.     

Multiphase structure of segmented polyurethanes: Its relation with spherulite structure

Small-angle light-scattering (SALS), Polarized light microscopy (PLM), differntial scanning calorimetry (DSC), and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) were used to study morphological changes in segmented polyurethanes with 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 1,4-butanediol (BD) as the hard segment. It was found. for the first time, that spherulites could form from the melt by quenching the polyurethanes in the melt state to annealing temperatures between 120°C and T_h, the highest annealing temperature for spherulite formation. T_h ranged from 140°C to ca. 170°C and depended upon the hard-and soft-segment compatibility. Within the range 120°C to T_h, the radius of the spherulite increased with increasing hard-segment content at each fixed annealing temperature. Annealing at 135–140°C gave rise to the largest spherulites. SAXS was used to investigate the phase-separated structures corresponding to the spherulite formation. The interdomain spacing increased with increasing hard-segment content and with increasing annealing temperature.The degree of phase separation first increased with increasing annealing temperature from room temperatures (ca. 25°C), reached a maximum at ca. 107°C, and then decreased with further increase in the annealing temperature. On the basis of these observations, the mechanisms of phase separation, crystallization, and spherulite formation are discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pyrolysis of Eucalyptus wood in a fluidized-bed reactor

Eucalyptus wood can be utilized as a biomass feedstock for conversion to bio-oil using a pyrolysis process. Eucalyptus wood samples were initially pyrolyzed on a laboratory-scale pyrolysis system at different values in the ranges of 300–800 °C and 0.050–0.300 L min^?1 to determine the effects of operation temperature and N₂ flow rate, respectively, on the yields of products. Then, the bio-oil in the highest yield (wB = 44.37 %), which was obtained at pyrolysis final temperature (450 °C), heating rate (35 °C min^?1), particle size (850 μm), and sweeping flow rate (0.200 L min^?1), was characterized by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and column chromatography. Subsequently, it was shown that the operating temperature and N₂ gas flow rate parameters affected the product yields. Also, some important physico-chemical properties of the pyrolytic oil obtained in high yield were determined as a calorific value of 37.85 MJ kg^?1, an empirical formula of CH_1.651O_0.105N_0.042S_0.001, a rich chemical content containing many different chemical groups, a density of 981.48 kg m^?3, and a viscosity of 61.24 mm² s^?1. Based on the determined properties of the pyrolytic oil, it was concluded that the use of pyrolytic oil derived from Eucalyptus wood may be useful for the production of alternative liquid fuels and fine chemicals after the necessary improvements.