Thermal and X-ray investigations of the quasi-binary system Ag1−xPdxMg (if0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.5)

It is shown by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and microscopy studies that the quasi-binary system Ag_1−xPd_xMg crystallizes with a CsCltype structure and forms single-phase alloys throughout the temperature range investigated. The lattice constants follow Vegard's law. They are described by a = a₀ − bx where a₀ = 331.526 pm and b = 15.756 pm.     

Mechanical properties of mixed conducting La0.5Sr0.5Fe1−x Co x O3−δ (0≤x≤1) materials

Young’s modulus, strain–stress behavior, fracture strength, and fracture toughness of (0≤×≤1) materials have been investigated in the temperature range 20–1,000°C. Young’s moduli of and , measured by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, were 130±1 and 133±3 GPa, respectively. The nonlinear stress–strain relationship observed by four-point bending at room temperature was inferred as a signature of ferroelastic behavior of the materials. Above the ferroelastic to paraelastic transition temperature, the materials showed elastic behavior, but due to high-temperature creep, a nonelastic respond reappeared above ∼800°C. The room temperature fracture strength measured by four-point bending was in the range 107–128 MPa. The corresponding fracture toughness of , measured by single edge V-notch beam method, was 1.16±0.12 MPa·m^1/2. The measured fracture strength and fracture toughness were observed to increase with increasing temperature. The fracture mode changed from intragranular at low temperature to intergranular at high temperature. Tensile stress gradient at the surface of the materials caused by a frozen-in gradient in the oxygen content during cooling was proposed to explain the low ambient temperature fracture strength and toughness.     

Synthesis and properties of fuel cell anodes based on (La0.5 + x Sr0.5 − x )1 − y Mn0.5Ti0.5O3 − δ (x = 0–0.25, y = 0–0.03)

Results are presented of studying electrochemical properties of perovskite-like solid solutions (La_{0.5 + x} Sr_{0.5 ? x} )_{1 ? y} Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} (x = 0–0.25, y = 0–0.03) synthesized using the citrate technique and studied as oxide anodic materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis is used to establish that the materials are stable in a wide range of oxygen chemical potential, stable in the presence of 5 ppm H₂S in the range of intermediate temperatures, and also chemically compatible with the solid electrolyte of La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.15Co_0.05O_{3 ? δ} (LSGMC). It is shown that transition to a reducing atmosphere results in a decrease in electron conductivity that produced a significant effect on the electrochemical activity of porous electrodes. Model cells of planar SOFC on a supporting solid-electrolyte membrane (LSGMC) with anodes based on (La_0.6Sr_0.4)_0.97Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} and (La_0.75Sr_0.25)_0.97Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} and a cathode of Sm_0.5Sr_0.5CoO_{3 ? δ} are manufactured and tested using the voltammetry technique.     

The electronic structure and properties of Ni1−xLixO1−y (0⩽x⩽1/4, 0⩽y⩽1/8)

The electronic structures of NiO, Ni_0.875O, NiO_0.875, Ni_0.875Li_0.125O, Ni_0.875Li_0.125O_0.875 and Ni_0.75Li_0.25O_0.875 with a NaCl-type crystal structure have been calculated using the ab initio linear muffin-tin orbitals method in the LSDA+U approximation. The effect of vacancies in the metal and metalloid sublattices and lithium ions on parameters of the NiO electronic spectrum (the energy gap and the valence band widths, etc.) has been analyzed. It is shown that the defects like the dipole LiV_O and the tripole LiV_OLi impaired stability and could reduce electrical conductivity of the nickel–oxide-based phases.     

Preparation and properties of the systems Co1−xRhxS2, Co1−xRuxS2, and Rh1−xRuxS2

Members of the systems Co_1−xRh_xS₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) were prepared, and their crystallographic and magnetic properties studied. The observed ferromagnetic moments for compositions where x ≤ 0.2 indicate a ferromagnetic alignment between Co(3d⁷) and Rh(4d⁷) electrons. This is the first observation of localized behavior of 4d electrons in the pyrite structure. Members of the systems Co_1−xRu_xS₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) and Rh_1−xRu_xS₂ (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1) were also prepared and their crystallographic and magnetic properties studied. From comparison with the Co_1−xRh_xS₂ system, it appears that the 4d electrons of Rh(4d⁷) are localized in the presence of Co(3d⁷) but are delocalized in the presence of Ru(4d⁶). The magnetic susceptibility of the Co_1−xRu_xS₂ system is sensitive to the homogeneity of the products and indicates that Ru(4d⁶) behaves as a diamagnetic ion.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of LiMn2−xAlxO4 powders prepared by mechanical alloying and rotary heating

LiMn_2−xAl_xO₄ (0.0⩽x⩽0.10) intercalation powders have been synthesized by mechanical alloying followed by rotary heating. The precursor of LiMn_2−xAl_xO₄ has been prepared using LiOH · H₂O, MnO₂, and Al₂O₃ by mechanical alloying, which ensured a high level of homogeneity in the chemical composition of the precursor and resulted in a reduction in the synthesis temperature and heating time. Highly crystallized LiMn_2−xAl_xO₄ powders were obtained by subsequent rotary heating of the precursor at 600 °C for 3 h. Rotary heating enhanced the experimental control in particle size distribution of the final products. The synthesized LiMn_2−xAl_xO₄ powder has a narrow particle size distribution, high discharge capacities and good cycleability. Compared with the conventional solid-state reaction process, the present method of mechanical alloying combined with rotary heating should be a suitable technique of decreasing synthesis temperature and shortening heating time, and enhancing the uniformity of particle size of the product.     

Synthesis and optical properties of quasi-2D CdS x Se1 − x nanoparticles

Colloidal 2D CdS _x Se_{1 ? x} nanoparticles have been synthesized by a solution method in octadecene using oleic acid as a stabilizer. Growth of quasi-2D nanoparticles has been promoted by the presence of cadmium acetate in the reaction mixture. The resulting nanoparticles are platelets with lateral sizes 20–30 nm. The absorption and luminescence spectra of these nanoparticles show narrow bands of lh-e and hh-e exciton transitions corresponding to 2D systems. The spectral position of the lowest energy hh-e transition monotonically changes within 382–461 nm with a change in the composition of nanoparticles. The observed absorption bands are broader than those for the individual CdSe and CdS nanoparticles. The suggested method makes it possible to vary the exciton band position for quasi-2D nanoparticles by changing their composition.     

Electric properties of oxyfluorides Ba2In2O5−0.5x F x with brownmillerite structure

Synthesis of fluoro-substituted substances based on brownmillerite Ba₂In₂O₅ is carried out. The width of the homogeneity region of the Ba₂In₂O_5?0.5x F _x (0 < x ≤ 0.25) solid solution was established using X-ray analysis. Measurement of temperature dependences of conductivity in atmospheres with different partial pressure of water vapor (pH₂O = 3.3 and 2 × 10³ Pa) showed an increase in conductivity at T ≤ 550°C in a humid atmosphere, which is due to appearance of proton transport. The dependence of conductivity on partial oxygen pressure (pO₂ = 0.21 × 10⁵ to 10^?15 Pa) is studied in the temperature range of 500–1000°C; ion transport numbers are calculated. The method of polarization measurements was used to determine transport numbers of fluoride. Total conductivity is divided into ion (proton, oxygen, and fluoride ion) and electron components. Analysis of concentration dependences of conductivities showed that low concentrations of fluoride allow increasing both the total and partial conductivities (oxygen-ion and proton) and, besides, allow shifting the “order-disorder” phase transition by 100°C to the low temperature range.     

Synthesis and characterization of PrBaCo2 − x Ni x O5 + δ cathodes for intermediate temperature SOFCs

Nickel-substituted layered perovskite PrBaCo_{2 ? x} Ni _x O_{5 + δ} (PBCN) powders with various proportions of nickel (x?=?0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3, abbreviated as PBCN-0, PBCN-1, PBCN-2, and PBCN-3, respectively) are investigated as potential cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) based on the yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte. It is found that PBCN-1 has the highest electrical conductivity of 1,397 S cm^?1 at 400 °C. Substitution of Co by Ni decreases the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) clearly. The average TEC at the temperature range of 35–900 °C decreases from 22.8?×?10^?6 K^?1 for PBCN-0 to 18.9?×?10^?6 K^?1 for PBCN-3. The polarization resistances of PBCN samples on YSZ electrolyte at 800 °C are 0.053, 0.048, 0.052, and 0.042 Ω cm² for PBCN-0, PBCN-1, PBCN-2, and PBCN-3, respectively. The single fuel cell with the configuration of PBCN-3/YSZ/Pt delivers the highest power densities of 100, 185, 360, 495, and 660 mW cm^?2 at 600, 650, 700, 750, and 800 °C, respectively.     

Effect of hydration on conductivity of Ba4La x Ca2 − x Nb2O11 + 0.5x (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) phases

Substitution of Ca by La in initial cubic double perovskite Ba₄(Ca₂Nb₂)O₁₁[VO]₁ allowed obtaining phases with a similar structure with a lower content of structural oxygen vacancies, Ba₄(La _x Ca_{2 ? x} Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} [VO]_{1 ? 0.5x} (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2). The impedance technique was used to measure the temperature dependences of conductivity in the atmosphere of dry and humid air. Transport numbers determined using the EMF method in an oxygen-air and water steam concentration cells point to the predominantly hole nature of conductivity in the high-temperature region (T > 600°C) and to predominance of proton conductivity in the low-temperature region. Activation energies of hole and proton conductivity were calculated. Thermogravimetric measurements were carried out under heating from 25 to 1000°C with simultaneous mass-spectrometric determination of evolved H₂O and CO₂. The properties of the studied Ba₄(La _x Ca_{2 ? x} Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) phases were compared with the earlier studied Ba_{4 ? x} La _x (Ca₂Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} phases with similar lanthanum content.     

Electrochemical reduction of NO and O2 on La2−x Sr x CuO4-based electrodes

A series of La_2 − x Sr _x CuO₄ (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.25 and 0.35) compounds was investigated for the use of direct electrochemical reduction of NO in an all-solid-state electrochemical cell. The materials were investigated using cyclic voltammetry in 1% NO in Ar and 10% O₂ in Ar. The most selective electrode material was La₂CuO₄, which had an activity of NO reduction that was 6.8 times higher than that of O₂ at 400 °C. With increasing temperature, activity increased while selectivity decreased. Additionally, conductivity measurements were carried out, and the materials show metallic conductivity behavior which follows an adiabatic small polaron hopping mechanism.     

Hydrogenation characteristics of Ti2NiOx compounds (0 ⩽ x < 0.5)

The hydrogenation characteristics of Ti₂NiO_x compounds (0 ⩽ x < 0.5) were investigated using combined TG-DTA techniques. The presence of oxygen in Ti₂Ni affects the hydrogen uptake capacity, the stability of the hydrides and the phase transition behavior of the corresponding hydrogen-containing compounds. Oxygen atoms occupy some of the available hydrogen interstitial sites and also influence the electron concentration, and possibly they reduce the enthalpy of formation of the hydrides. The cooling rate affects the maximum hydrogen uptake at room temperature, with rapid cooling giving the highest hydrogen content. These rate effects are tentatively explained on the basis of a model involving two types of hydrogen-occupied interstitial sites.     

Electron doping versus antisite defects: Structural and magnetic properties of Sr2−xLaxCrMoO6 and Sr2−xLaxCr1+x/2Mo1−x/2O6 perovskites

This study reports the synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of Sr_2?xLa_xCrMoO₆ and Sr_2?xLa_xCr_1+x/2Mo_1?x/2O₆ samples. Although both series exhibit similar crystal structures, Sr_2?xLa_xCrMoO₆ samples present an effective electron doping revealed by a significant expansion of the unit cell with increasing x. In Sr_2?xLa_xCr_1+x/2Mo_1?x/2O₆ samples instead, the Cr-excess leads to a non electron doped system. Both series show a large amount of antisite defects whose number increases as La-content increases. Neutron diffraction patterns reveal the existence of long-range magnetic ordering for all samples but the magnetic peaks are very broad for Sr₂CrMoO₆ indicating a short coherence length of the magnetic ordering. This coherence length is increased upon replacing Sr by La. In both systems there is a clear increase of the magnetic transition temperature with increasing the La-content. The samples show ferromagnetic contributions at low temperature as deduced from the magnetic hysteresis loops typical of hard ferromagnetic materials. However, magnetic saturation is not achieved even at 5 T and the magnetic moment at this field is small. The ac magnetic susceptibility reveals the existence of several anomalies suggesting that these compounds are magnetically inhomogeneous. This is probably due to the presence of the large amount of structural defects not homogenously distributed.     

Transport and electrocatalytic properties of La0.3Sr0.7Co0.8Ga0.2O3−δ membranes

Incorporation of gallium into the perovskite lattice of La_0.3Sr_0.7CoO_3– leads to increasing unit cell volume and to decreasing thermal expansion, total conductivity and oxygen permeability. At 973–1223 K, the oxygen permeation fluxes through La_0.3Sr_0.7Co_0.8Ga_0.2O_3– ceramics with 96.5% density are determined by the bulk ionic conduction and surface exchange rates. The total conductivity of La_0.3Sr_0.7Co_0.8Ga_0.2O_3–, predominantly p-type electronic, exhibits an apparent pseudometallic behavior due to oxygen losses on heating, whereas the p(O₂) dependencies of the conductivity and Seebeck coefficient suggest a small-polaron mechanism of hole transport. The average thermal expansion coefficients in air are 15.9×10^–6 K^–1 at 360–710 K and 27.9×10^–6 K^–1 at 710–1030 K. On decreasing oxygen pressure down to 4–30 Pa at 973–1223 K, perovskite-type La_0.3Sr_0.7Co_0.8Ga_0.2O_3– transforms into a brownmillerite-like modification, whose electrical properties are essentially p(O₂) independent. Further reduction results in the decomposition of the brownmillerite into a multiphase oxide mixture at p(O₂)=8×10^–10–3×10^–4 Pa, and then in the segregation of metallic cobalt. Due to surface-limited oxygen transport, La_0.3Sr_0.7Co_0.8Ga_0.2O_3– membranes are, however, kinetically stable under an air/CH₄ gradient up to 1223 K. The conversion of dry methane in model membrane reactors increases with oxygen permeation flux and temperature, but yields high CO₂ concentrations (>90%), indicating a dominant role of complete CH₄ oxidation on the membrane surface.     

Synthesis,structural, and spectral studies of diorganotin(IV) complexes with 2–hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde-N(4)-cyclohexylthiosemicarbazone

Three new diorganotin(IV) complexes, [Me₂Sn(L)] (2), [Bu₂Sn(L)] (3), and [Ph₂Sn(L)] (4) [where H₂L (1) = 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde-N(4)-cyclohexylthiosemicarbazone] have been synthesized by reacting the corresponding diorganotin(IV) dichloride with H₂L (1) in absolute methanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide. All the compounds have been characterized by CHN analyses, UV–vis, FT-IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of H₂L (1) and 2 have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. H₂L (1) is found to be in the thiol tautomeric form. The X-ray structure of 2 showed that H₂L is a tridentate ligand and binds to the tin(IV) atom via the phenolic oxygen, azomethine nitrogen, and thiolate sulfur. Complex 2 has a triclinic structure and the coordination geometry of tin(IV) is distorted trigonal bipyramidal. The sulfur and oxygen are in axial positions while the azomethine nitrogen of 1 and two methyl groups occupy the equatorial positions. The C-Sn-C angles determined from ¹J(¹¹⁹Sn, ¹³C) for 2, 3, and 4 are 124.35°, 123.11°, and 123.82°, respectively. The values of δ(¹¹⁹Sn) for 2, 3, and 4 are ?153.4, ?180.59, and ?158.3 ppm, respectively, indicating five-coordinate tin(IV). From NMR data a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal configuration at each tin is proposed.     

Phosphates M 0.5(1 + x) 2+ Cr x Ti2 − x (PO4)3: Synthesis, structure, and catalytic properties

Complex phosphates of titanium, chromium, and metals(2+) of the general formula M_{0.5(1 + x} )Cr _x Ti_{2 ? x} (PO₄)₃ (M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Ni, Sr, Ba, and Pb) were synthesized. Their phase formation was studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, differential thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Individual phases and solid solutions crystallizing in kosnarite and langbeinite structure types were identified; their crystallographic parameters were calculated. The catalytic properties of phosphates Ca_{0.5(1 + x} )Cr _x Ti_{2 ? x} (PO₄)₃ in methanol conversion were studied.