Preparation of La0.75Sr0.25MnO3 Nano-Phase Powders and Films from Alkoxide Precursors

The first purely alkoxide-based sol-gel route to nano-phase powders and thin films of perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ is described. The phase and microstructure evolution on heat treatment of free gel films to form the target nano-phase oxide were investigated by TGA, IR spectroscopy, powder XRD, SEM and TEM-EDS. The xerogel consisted of a hydrated oxo-carbonate, without remaining alkoxo groups or solvent. Heating at 5°C·min^–1 decomposed the carbonate groups and yielded the pure perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ at 760°C. The cell dimensions were virtually unchanged from the first observation of perovskite at 680°C, to 1000°C, 4 h. The monoclinic cell of La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ obtained at 1000°C, 4 h, had the dimensions a = 5.475(1), b = 5.504(2), c = 7.771(1) Å, = 90.50(2), fitting the literature data quite well. Crack-free, homogenous, 150 nm thick La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ films were prepared by spin-coating Si/SiO₂/TiO₂/Pt and polycrystalline -Al₂O₃ substrates with a 0.6 M alkoxide solution, followed by heating at 5°C·min^–1 to 800°C, 30 min.     

Improvement of the Pd/Al2O3 Catalyst by the Control of the Sol-Gel Preparative Parameters

In this work, the metal dispersion of the Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared by sol-gel method is improved by an adequate optimisation of the preparative variables. First, the gelation temperature and the ageing time are selected, in order to avoid the reduction of the metal precursor (palladium acetylacetonate, Pd(acac)₂) by the solvent (sec-butanol, sB). The metal sintering effect on the catalysts treated in oxygen at 500°C is then minimized when the alumina pore size is controlled by the variation of the alumium alkoxide (AsB) concentration and the acetic acid amount ([AcA]/[AsB]). The appearance of new palladium particles on the alumina surface and the matching between the particle diameters and the pore sizes were also effective for the metallic surface area improvement on the samples treated in oxygen at 800°C. Compared to the reference catalysts, the higher metal dispersion obtained on the sol-gel ones was the determinant factor for their higher catalytic activity in methane combustion.     

Thermal and other properties of complexes of Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) with 2,2'-bipyridine and trichloroacetates

Complexes of the general formulae Mn(2-bpy)₂(CCl₃COO)₂, Co(2-bpy)₂(CCl₃COO)₂·H₂O and Ni(2-bpy)₂(CCl₃COO)₂·2H₂O (where: 2-bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) have been prepared and characterized by VIS and IR spectroscopy, conductivity and magnetic measurements. The thermal properties of complexes in the solid state were studied under non-isothermal conditions in air atmosphere. During heating the complexes decompose via different intermediate products to the oxides Mn₃O₄, CoO and NiO. A coupled TG-MS system was used to detection the principal volatile products of thermal decomposition and fragmentation processes of obtained compounds. The principal volatile products of thermal decomposition of complexes are: H₂O⁺, CO₂ ⁺, Cl₂ ⁺ and other. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Composition and thermal stability of SiO2-based hybrid materials TEOS-MTEOS system

Hybrid materials with different amounts of organics permanently bound on the inorganic network obtained in the TEOS-MTEOS (tetraethoxysilan-methyltriethoxysilan) system are used for obtaining coatings with different optical and mechanical properties. To study the thermal stability of the mentioned materials, compositions with different molar ratios of the precursors were prepared. The influence of the solvent and water amounts on the gelation process was also investigated. The gels obtained were characterised by IR spectrometry and their decomposition temperatures were determined by DTA/TG. Thermal stability of the gels is rather influenced by their composition than the conditions of the gelation process. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Polymer melting and polymer powder sintering by thermal analysis

Sintering of polymeric powders is a peculiar characteristic of many processing technologies, including rotational moulding and selective laser sintering (SLS). During polymer sintering, viscosity reduction in the melt state promotes densification of polymer powders, through a double stage mechanism, involving powder coalescence and bubble removal. In particular, sintering of semi-crystalline polymers is strongly influenced by the melting behaviour. Nevertheless, melting itself in absence of pressure is not necessarily accompanied by powder sintering, unless low viscosities are achieved. In this work, the melting and sintering behaviour of recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) have been analysed through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA). Efficient models capable of describing the melting temperature distribution and rate of sintering of rHDPE powders have been developed, highlighting the inherent differences between the two distinct processes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rapid Fabrication of Hollow SiO2 Spheres with Novel Morphology

The hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) occurred on the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microshperes immediately after these microshperes were prepared in TEOS. Micron-sized hollow SiO2 spheres were obtained by calcination of the coated PMMA microshperes. It was found that the final hollow spheres were constituted by small SiO2 particles.     

Fe2O3-ZrO2层柱蒙脱石的合成和热稳定性

蒙脱石是具有2∶1层状结构的粘土矿物,酸化蒙脱石用途广泛[1]。利用较大体积多聚金属阳离子与蒙脱石进行离子交换并把蒙脱石层撑开,可以得到复合材料—层柱蒙脱石(ＰＩＬＭ),它具有二维的层柱结构,其孔径比一般的分子筛大。其孔径还可以根据蒙脱石离子交换当量和交换阳离子的体积大小加以控制。它具有良好的热稳定性和酸性,并且合成方法简单。蒙脱石和膨润土在我国分布广泛,储量大。因此ＰＩＬＭ在载体、吸附剂及较大分子转化催化剂等方面具有较好的应用前景。传统的层柱蒙脱石是由单组分多聚金属阳离子与蒙脱石进行交联而合成的,本文在…     

卤化银乳剂的热增感效应研究

温度对卤化银胶片感光度的影响很早就有人进行过研究．在１９３４年,Ｗｅｂｂ［１］研究了不同温度下卤化银乳剂的互易率曲线,并发现温度对感光度的影响与照度有关．当照度很低时,在一定温度范围内感光度会随温度的降低而升高;在高照度下,随温度的升高感光度也增高．...     

The role of rigid unit modes in negative thermal expansion

The rigid unit mode (RUM) model provides a valuable computational method to investigate correlations of transverse thermal motions of atoms important in negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials. We report here detailed RUM calculations of ten framework oxide structures that have been studied for their negative (or ultra low) thermal expansion properties. The results negate any simple and direct correlation between presence or absence of RUMs in a structure and its NTE property. All the structures considered can be viewed as networks of polyhedral connected by corners only. All evidence supports the importance the transverse motion of the atoms at the corners, but NTE does not correlate well with the presence RUMs for the polyhedra.     

Thermal transformations in systems based on zeolites Y,X, and A containing zinc and sodium nitrates

Thermal transformations in systems formed by interaction of Zn and Na nitrates with Y, X, and A zeolites were studied by TG—DTA technique. Temperature regions of existence of adsorbed water, water of crystallization, and decomposition of NO₃ ^– anion were determined. These intervals depend on the composition, structure, method of preparation, and pre-treatment conditions of zeolite systems. The extent of NO₃ ^– decomposition depends not only on the zinc and sodium content but also on the presence of ammonia involved in NO₃ ^– reduction. The zeolite matrix strongly stabilizes the occluded NO₃ ^– anions. A portion of zinc oxide formed by zinc nitrate decomposition is probably localized inside the zeolite cavities as the [Zn—O—(ZnO) _n —Zn]²⁺ particles. The latter compensate charges of the isolated [AlO₄]^– tetrahedra.