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Alkali metal doped double perovskites containing manganese and at least one of cobalt, iron and nickel are useful in the oxidative coupling of alkane to higher hydrocarbons.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Nanocrystalline and nanostructured materials offer unique microstructure-dependent properties that are superior to coarse-grained materials. These materials have been shown to have very high hardness, strength, and wear resistance. However, most current methods of producing nanostructured materials in weapons-relevant materials create powdered metal that must be consolidated into bulk form to be useful. Conventional consolidation methods are not appropriate due to the need to maintain the nanocrystalline structure. This research investigated new ways of creating nanocrystalline material, new methods of consolidating nanocrystalline material, and an analysis of these different methods of creation and consolidation to evaluate their applicability to mesoscale weapons applications where part features are often under 100 {micro}m wide and the material's microstructure must be very small to give ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bulk nanocrystalline pure iron rods were fabricated by the equal channel angular pressure (ECAP) technique up to eight passes. The microstructure and grain size distribution, natural immersion and electrochemical corrosion in simulated body fluid, cellular responses and hemocompatibility were investigated in this study. The results indicate that nanocrystalline pure iron after severe plastic deformation (SPD) would sustain durable span duration and exhibit much stronger corrosion resistance than that of the microcrystalline pure iron. The interaction of different cell lines reveals that the nanocrystalline pure iron stimulates better proliferation of fibroblast cells and preferable promotion of endothelialization, while inhibits effectively the viability of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The burst of red cells and adhesion of the platelets were also substantially suppressed on contact with the ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have measured the oxygen positions in LaNiO{sub 3} films to elucidate the coupling between epitaxial strain and oxygen octahedral rotations. The oxygen positions are determined by comparing the measured and calculated intensities of half-order Bragg peaks, arising from the octahedral rotations. Combining ab initio density-functional calculations with these experimental results, we show how strain systematically modifies both bond angles and lengths in this functional perovskite oxide.

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This report contains detailed information of the research program entitled "Development of Bulk Nanocrystalline Cemented Tungsten Carbide Materials for Industrial Applications". The report include the processes that were developed for producing nanosized WC/Co composite powders, and an ultrahigh pressure rapid hot consolidation process for sintering of nanosized powders. The mechanical properties of consolidated materials using the nanosized powders are also reported.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The federating theme of superconductivity has given rise to a number of experimental studies of point defects in solids as different as transition metals (V, Nb, ...), A-15 compounds (V{sub 3}Si, Nb{sub 3}Ge, ...), or perovskite-like copper oxides. Some of these experiments are presented here. (orig.).

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ABO{sub 3} perovskite-type oxides having vacancies in the A-sites of their structure are interesting candidates for solid electrolytes when their A-sites are occupied by Li{sup +} ions having a high mobility. This is the case with the [Li{sub 3x}La{sub 2/3-x}]TiO{sub 3} solid solution compound which has a 10{sup -3} S cm{sup -1} ionic conductivity at ambient temperature. Electrochemical intercalation in this material is possible thanks to the presence of Ti{sup 4+} but the small amount of vacancies (0.33 maximum) leads to a low intercalation rate. In order to solve this problem, the LiLaNb{sub 2}O{sub 7} material which has a greater amount of vacancies has been studied and the results relative to the electrochemical intercalation of lithium in this perovskite are presented. The thermodynamical and kinetics properties of the lithium intercalation reaction have been studied by intermittent galvano-static discharges and impedance spectroscopy in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The color centers, which are generated in yttrium-aluminium perovskite (YAP):Nd(1 at.%) and YAP:Er(50 at.%) crystals under the influence of ultraviolet and #gamma#-irradiation, have been studied by absorption spectroscopy. The generated color centers are both stable and transient at room temperature. It is shown that the transient color centers are mainly responsible for the decrease of laser generation efficiency of Nd:YAP and YAP:Er irradiated crystals, although physical mechanisms leading to efficiency decrease are different in these materials. (orig.)

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Magnetic behavior in three compounds RTa{sub 3}O{sub 9} (R = Nd, Eu and Ho) with defect-perovskite structures has been investigated by DC magnetic susceptibility. The susceptibility of NdTa{sub 3}O{sub 9} shows strong influence of crystal field. For EuTa{sub 3}O{sub 9} a typical Van Vleck paramagnetism has been observed. HoTa{sub 3}O{sub 9} obeys a Curie-Weiss law above 20 K. (orig.) 8 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

New data about the structure of high-temperature resistant metalloceramic plasma sprayed coatings in micro and nano areas are presented. Application of the new instrumental methods: transmission electron microscopy combined with selected area electron diffraction mode is possible to obtain these data. The first layer in Ni based metallic bond coat shows nanocrystalline structure. External ceramic layer based on stabilised ZrO_2 is polycrystalline and contains both cubic and tetragonal crystalline phases. Local inhomogeneities in coatings phase composition are determined. (author)

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Nanocrystalline processing by inert gas condensation has the inherent advantages of generating: (1) high surface area nanoclusters, (2) non-stoichiometric oxides, and (3) high dispersions of dopants. This approach is exploited in the synthesis of fluorite-structured catalysts for SO{sub 2} reduction by CO. Nanocrystalline CeO{sub 2{minus}x}, La-doped CeO{sub 2{minus}x}, and Cu-doped CeO{sub 2{minus}x} were produced by magnetron sputtering from a pure or mixed metal target, followed by controlled oxidation of the metallic clusters. The as-prepared doped and undoped nanocrystalline CeO{sub 2{minus}x} materials were found to be excellent catalysts for complete SO{sub 2} conversion to elemental sulfur. Undoped nanocrystalline CeO{sub 2{minus}x} enabled light-off at 460 C, a temperature {approximately} 120 C lower than that over polycrystalline CeO{sub 2}, which is a novel effective catalyst itself. The high ...

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A process is described for the selective oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide in about 90% or greater yield with a minimum of nitrogen or dinitrogen oxide (N/sub 2/O) as by-products, comprising: (1) contacting gaseous ammonia in an oxygen containing gas optionally with an inert gaseous diluent with a mixed metal perovskite catalyst of the general formula: ABO/sub 3/, wherein: A is selected from the alkali, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide metals or a mixture of these metals having a relatively large ionic, radius, and B is selected from an element or a combination of elements selected from Groups IB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, or VIII of the Periodic Table, wherein the perovskite phase of the catalyst has an equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen at 1000/sup 0/C of greater than about 10/sup -15/ bar; and (2) heating the reactants of step (1) at greater than about 500/sup 0/C under conditions of 10 to 100,000 hr/sup -1/ hourly space velocity.

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Chloromethane, dichloromethane and 1,2-dichloroethane were completely decomposed in air on perovskite-type catalysts (LaMnO{sub 3}, LaCoO{sub 3}, (La{sub 0.84},Sr{sub 0.16})(Mn{sub 0.67},Co{sub 0.33})O{sub 3}) at reaction temperatures above 550C. Besides the main reaction products (carbon dioxide, water and hydrochloric acid), by-products (higher chlorinated-, C-C coupling- and cracking products) were formed in the low temperature range. Depending on the reaction temperature, residence time and kind of chlorinated hydrocarbon a reversible catalyst deactivation takes place. In the case of LaCoO{sub 3} catalysts an irreversible deactivation was observed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) measurements with the perovskite-type catalysts after interaction of chlorinated hydrocarbons indicate the formation of chlorinated species on the catalyst surface and in the bulk

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Ho{sub 2}CuTiO{sub 6} double pervoskite is synthesized by solid state reaction method and the phase formation was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Ho{sub 2}CuTiO{sub 6} crystallizes in space group P63 cm and are isostructural in AMnO{sub 3} structure. We have investigated the effect of the presence of a magnetic ion (Ho{sup 3+}{approx}10.4{mu}{sub B}) in Ho{sub 2}CuTiO{sub 6}, on the magnetic properties, compared to that of an isostructural double perovskite containing Y-ion (non-magnetic), i.e., Y{sub 2}CuTiO{sub 6}. Magnetization measurements on Ho{sub 2}CuTiO{sub 6} showed paramagnetic moment of 0.026{mu}{sub B}/Ho at room temperature in an applied field of 7 T although no saturation is observed at room temperature, whereas, at 5 K, the paramagnetic moment was 0.3{mu}{sub B}/Ho in the same field. Since this compound is non-centrosymmetric, it is of interest to look into the possibility of realizing multiferroicity (coexistence of magnetic and ferroelectric ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The concept of nanocrystal conversion chemistry, which involves the use of pre-formed nanoparticles as templates for chemical transformation into derivative solids, has emerged as a powerful approach for designing the synthesis of complex nanocrystalline solids. The general strategy exploits established synthetic capabilities in simple nanocrystal systems and uses these nanocrystals as templates that help to define the composition, crystal structure, and morphology of product nanocrystals. This article highlights key examples of 'conversion chemistry' approaches to the synthesis of nanocrystalline solids using a variety of techniques, including galvanic replacement, diffusion, oxidation, and ion exchange. The discussion is organized according to classes of solids, highlighting the diverse target systems that are accessible using similar chemical concepts: metals, oxides, chalcogenides, phosphides, alloys, intermetallic compounds, sulfides, and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this work, a new sol-gel auto-combustion method has been performed to synthesize single phase nickel ferrite nanocrystalline powders by using n-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, as a cationic surfactant. The gels were prepared from ferric and nickel nitrates and citric acid. Ammonia was used as pH adjusting agent as well. The effects of the surfactant on the after combustion calcination process and the reduction of the resulting powder crystallite size which affects the magnetic properties of the material were investigated by XRD and DTA/TGA techniques. The results showed that the ignition of the gels in air have a self-propagating behavior. Addition of surfactant to the starting solution affected the crystallite size of the synthesized powders and their phase constitution. The crystallit...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The use of X-ray diffraction line profile analysis for the study of nanocrystalline powders is described. The fundamentals of the theory are presented in terms of crystallite/domain size, size distribution, lattice distortion, dislocations density and stacking faults. Line profile parameters and the methods of pattern fitting introduced to overcome the diffraction-line overlap problem are discussed. The approaches based of the integral breadth of the measured line profiles and the Fourier method are discussed. In addition, simplified approaches are also commented. Representative examples are selected to illustrate various cases of microstructure, such as nanomaterials with strain-free spherical nano crystallites, strain-free crystallites with anisotropic crystallite shape, anisotropic crystallites with microstrains and spherical crystallites with dislocation densities and crystallite size distributions. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The EXAFS-study (Fe, Sn and Ge K-edges) of disordered by mechanical activation binary supersaturated nanocrystalline solid solutions Fe-Al, Fe-Ge, Fe-Sn and Fe-Si is presented. The EXAFS-spectra are processed by solving the inverse binary problem, using the EXAFS-spectrum of the Fe K-edge only or combining the EXAFS-spectra on two K-edges, Fe and Ge or Fe and Sn. The parameters of partial correlation functions indicate chemical short-range ordering, high local static distortions in the lattice, increasing with metalloid content. The macrostructure of other type is forming through an initial, 'local' stage within the bcc lattice.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In the present work, bulk amorphous and nanocrystalline Al83Fe17 alloys were obtained by consolidation of mechanically alloyed powders. Mechanical alloying of Al-17% Fe powder mixture yielded powder with an amorphous structure. Thermal behaviour of the milling product was examined using differential scanning calorimetry. This investigation revealed that the amorphous phase crystallised above 380^oC. The amorphous powder was compacted under a pressure of 7.7GPa in different conditions: at 380^oC for 600s and at 1000^oC for 180s. Structural investigations of the bulk material revealed that the amorphous structure was retained after consolidation process applied at 380^oC. Compaction under high pressure at 1000^oC caused crystallisation of the amorphous phase and appearance of metastable nano...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The layered PrBaCo_2O_5_+_#delta# (PBCO) perovskite oxides were synthesized by modified Pechini method and investigated as a cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on a stable and easily sintered perovskite oxide BaCe_0_._5Zr_0_._3Y_0_._1_6Zn_0_._0_4O_3_-_#delta# (BCZYZ) as electrolyte. The fabricated single cell of NiO-BCZYZ/BCZYZ (#approx#20 #mu#m)/PBCO was operated from 550 to 700 "oC with humidified hydrogen (#approx#5% H_2O) as fuel and the static air as oxidant. The BCZYZ perovskite electrolyte was completely dense after sintered at 1250 "oC for 5 h, lower than that without zinc dopant about 150 "oC. A high open-circuit potential of 1.007 V, a peak power density of 361 mW cm"-"2, and a low polarization resistance of the electrodes of 0.12 #OMEGA# cm"2 was achieved at 700 "oC. The ratio of polarization resistance to total cell resistance decreased with the increase of operating temperature, from ...

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Molecular dynamics computer simulations of a dense nanocrystalline Nickel sample are performed on the parallel Cray T3 (EPFL-Lausanne). The sample contains 50 grains with an average size of 3 nm. By perturbing the relaxed configuration elastic and plastic properties are studied. (author) 1 fig., 1 ref.

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Praseodymium-doped Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 12} (BIT) with various compositions of dopant, Pr (x = 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8) in Bi{sub 4-x}Pr{sub x}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 12} (BPT) were synthesized using a low temperature wet chemical technique. Powders calcined at 800 deg. C exhibit a single phase polycrystalline perovskite bismuth-layered structure. Randomly oriented plate-like structures were observed under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). A small amount of Pr doping (x = 0.5) resulted in dramatically reduced of grain size from 2 {mu}m to less than 50 nm in which Pr plays the role as a grain growth inhibitor. However, by increasing the composition of Pr, bigger grain size of up to 1 {mu}m was observed for x = 0.8 that was caused by diffusion of Pr in the perovskite structure. Dielectric properties showed that dielectric permittivity decreased with the addition of x = 0.50, and increasing with further addition of Pr. Dissipation factor (tan {delta}) ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Praseodymium-doped Bi4Ti3O12 (BIT) with various compositions of dopant, Pr (x=0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8) in Bi4-xPrxTi3O12 (BPT) were synthesized using a low temperature wet chemical technique. Powders calcined at 800degreeC exhibit a single phase polycrystalline perovskite bismuth-layered structure. Randomly oriented plate-like structures were observed under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). A small amount of Pr doping (x=0.5) resulted in dramatically reduced of grain size from 2mm to less than 50nm in which Pr plays the role as a grain growth inhibitor. However, by increasing the composition of Pr, bigger grain size of up to 1mm was observed for x=0.8 that was caused by diffusion of Pr in the perovskite structure. Dielectric properties showed that dielectric permittivity decreased with the ad...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this Letter, we study the structural, elastic and electronic properties of perovskite semiconductor SrTiO_3 using two different methods: the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method and the pseudo-potential plane wave (PP-PW) scheme in the frame of generalized gradient approximation (GGA). We have evaluated the ground state quantities such as lattice parameter, bulk modulus and its pressure derivative as well as the elastic constants. Also, we have presented the results of the band structure, densities of states and charge densities. These results were in favourable agreement with previous theoretical works and the existing experimental data. To complete the fundamental characteristics of this compound we have analyzed the thermodynamic properties such as thermal expansion coefficient, and specific heats in the whole pressure range from 0 to 20 GPa and temperature range from 0 to 1200 K.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We present the low-temperature physical properties of the polycrystalline perovskite systems La2/3A1/3Mn1-xCoxO3, A=Ca, Sr (0.5x1) including electrical resistance, magnetization, ac and dc susceptibilities. The experimental data suggest the presence of correlated ferromagnetic clusters embedded in some non-ferromagnetic matrix. The systems show semiconducting behavior and negative magnetoresistance.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The synthesis, crystal structure, thermal stability and absorbance spectra of perovskite-type oxynitrides with the general formula SrTi1-xNbx(O,N)3 (x=0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 0.80, 0.90, 0.95) have been investigated. Oxide samples were prepared by a polymerized complex synthesis route and post-treated under ammonia at 850 oC for 24 h to substitute nitrogen for oxygen. Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) evidenced that the mixed oxide phases were all transformed into oxynitrides with perovskite-type structure during a thermal ammonolysis. SrTi1-xNbx(O,N)3 with compositions x?0.80 crystallized in a cubic and samples with x?0.90 in a tetragonal structure. The Rietveld refinement indicated a continuous enlargement of the lattice parameters towards higher niobium content of the samples. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and hotgas extraction revealed the dependence of the nitrogen incorporation upon the degree of niobium substitution. It ...

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For the development of a rechargeable zinc/air battery, La{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}CoO{sub 3}-catalyzed (perovskite) bifunctional oxygen electrodes and pasted zinc electrodes were prepared and tested in monopolar zinc/air cells. The cells were cycled in moderately alkaline electrolyte. The maximum power as well as the cycle life of the cells were investigated. Up to 450 cycles could be reached, and attractive specific energies and powers were obtained. (author) 3 figs., 4 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The layered GdBa_0_._5Sr_0_._5Co_2O_5_+_#delta# (GBSC) perovskite oxides are synthesized by modified Pechini method and investigated as a novel cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on a stable perovskite oxide BaCe_0_._5Zr_0_._3Y_0_._1_6Zn_0_._0_4O_3_-_#delta# (BCZYZ) as electrolyte. The fabricated single cells of NiO-BCZYZ/BCZYZ (#approx#20 #mu#m)/GBSC (#approx#20 #mu#m) were operated from 550 to 700 "oC with humidified hydrogen (#approx#5% H_2O) as fuel. The BCZYZ perovskite electrolyte was completely dense after sintered at 1250 "oC for 5 h, lower than that without zinc dopant about 150 "oC. An open circuit voltage of 1.009 V and a maximal power density of 0.35 W cm"-"2 were achieved at 700 "oC. The interfacial polarization resistance was as low as 1.46, 0.45, 0.25 and 0.15 #OMEGA# cm"2 at 550, 600, 650 and 700 "oC, respectively. The ratio of polarization resistance to total cell resistance decreased ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nanocrystalline samples of Fe_8_0Mo_2_0 and Fe_5_0Mo_5_0 alloys were prepared by the mechanical milling method. The structure, lattice parameters, and crystallite size were determined by the X-ray diffraction. The magnetic properties of the milled products were determined by the Moessbauer spectroscopy. It was observed that in the case of the Fe_8_0Mo_2_0 alloy a solid solution of Mo in Fe was formed with the lattice parameters of the Fe increasing from 0.28659 nm to 0.29240 nm and the crystallite size decreasing from 250 nm to 20 nm. In the case of the Fe_5_0Mo_5_0 alloy there were no clear changes in values of the lattice parameters of Fe and Mo during the milling process, but the crystallite size decreased from 200 to 15 nm. Moessbauer spectra revealed different magnetic phases in the machanosynthesized Fe_Mo samples. In the case of the Fe_8_0Mo_2_0 alloy, the spectrum for the milled mixture indicated the formation of solid solution. In contrast, for the ...

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Nanocrystalline ZnO films were fabricated via a simple method involving the oxidation of Zn films at a remarkably low temperature of 380 C. X-ray diffraction study confirmed that the Zn films were completely oxidized even at the low temperature of 380 C and the ZnO films fabricated were of polycrystalline wurtzite structure. Room temperature optical pumping using a frequency-quintupled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser ({lambda}=213 nm) exhibited that sharp peaks at around 3.12 eV emerged above excitation powers of {proportional_to}7 MW/cm{sup 2}, demonstrating lasing in the ZnO films. These results represent that the process is a simple, promising approach for fabricating ZnO of sufficient optical performance for use as ultraviolet (UV) light emitters and an alternative UV laser source; both are key components in short-wavelength photonic devices. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Magnetic properties of a recently developed Fe-based amorphous alloy with a high saturation induction of 1.65 T are reviewed. The increased saturation induction is fully utilized in transformers with reduced magnetic losses, physical sizes and audible noises, minimizing some of the drawbacks of amorphous metal-based transformers based on a currently available amorphous alloy. Impacts of this on the worldwide energy savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are discussed. A recent effort in achieving a saturation induction beyond 1.65 T in nanocrystalline alloys is mentioned.

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Understanding the mechanical properties of biomedical devices is critical in predicting and preventing their failure in the body. Such knowledge is essential, for example, in the design of biomedical stents, which must undergo repeated strain over their ten year lifetimes without breaking. Computational models are used to predict mechanical response of a device, but these models are not complete; there are significant deviations from the predictions, especially when devices are subjected to repeated multi-axial loads. Improving these models requires comparisons with actual measurements of strained nitinol. Local measurements of the full strain tensor can be made using X-ray diffraction techniques, but they are currently limited to materials whose grain size is larger than the X-ray beam size or require several diffraction patterns produced by rotation of the sample. Nitinol stents are nanocrystalline, with grains smaller than any available X-ray beam. We present a ...

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This illustrated final report for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) presents the results of a project concerning a new, highly active oxygen reduction electrode for PEM fuel cell and zinc/air battery applications. The goal of this project was, according to the authors, to increase the efficiency of the oxygen reduction reaction by lowering the activation polarisation through the right choice of catalyst and by lowering the concentration polarisation. In this work, carbon nanotubes are used as support material. The use of these nanotubes grown on perovskites is discussed. Theoretical considerations regarding activation polarisation are discussed and alternatives to the use of platinum are examined. The results of experiments carried out are presented in graphical and tabular form. The paper is completed with a comprehensive list of references.

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For the development of a rechargeable zinc/air battery, La[sub 0.6]Ca[sub 0.4]CoO[sub 3]-catalyzed (perovskite) bifunctional oxygen electrodes and pasted zinc electrodes were prepared and tested in monopolar zinc/air cells. In addition, a bipolar Zn/air stack was tested using reticulated copper foam as substrate for the zinc deposit. The cells were cycled in moderately alkaline ZnO-saturated electrolyte with KF as an electrolyte additive. The maximum power as well as the cycle life of the cells was investigated. The differences in porosity of the zinc electrode before and after the long-term test were analyzed using mercury porosimetry. (author) 8 figs., 13 refs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

An unsymmetrical squaraine dye which contains an arylamino group was synthesized and used in dye-sensitized solar cells. The molar extinction coefficient of the dye is 77793 M-1 cm-1. Because our synthesized molecule may have no diradical character or the contribution of the diradicaloid component to resonance is quite small, the newly designed squaraine dye has a maximum absorption at 546 nm in the visible region compared with the NIR squaraine sensitizers. Cyclic voltammetry and time dependent density function theory calculation were accomplished to scrutinize the sensitized performance of the dye. Meanwhile, the novel sensitizer has been used to sensitize nanocrystalline TiO2-based solar cell. Under standard global AM 1.5 solar conditions, the squaraine dye-sensitized cell gives a short...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Nanocrystalline chromium oxynitride films were deposited by reactive RF magnetron sputtering of metallic chromium target in argon and helium atmospheres. The paper deals with consequence of increase in oxygen partial pressure on structural, hydrophobic and optical properties of chromium oxynitride films. The film stoichiometry changes from CrN and Cr2O3 to only Cr2O3 with increase in oxygen partial pressure as evident from X-Ray Diffraction analysis in both cases. The average crystallite size decreases with increase in oxygen partial pressure for both gas atmospheres. The thickness calculated from transmission data and surface profilometer are in good harmony with each other. The deposited films are hydrophobic by nature and the contact angle of the films varies as a function of surface ro...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Nanocrystalline MnFe"2O"4 ferrite was prepared by using autocombustion technique (flash). The microstructure and magnetic properties are studied. The results of XRD and TEM clarified that, this ferrite is nanosized with particle size (39 nm). Magnetic measurements showed a ferromagnetic behavior with T"C = 613 K, the saturation magnetization M"s = 13.71 emu/g, remanent magnetization M"r = 0.1694 emu/g and, coercivity H"c = 25.6 Oe. Natural material, egg white used as an aqueous medium to extend prepare nanoparticles better than other chemical interesting materials.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nanocrystalline powders of GaN with grain sizes ranging from 2 to 30 nm were examined under high external pressures by in situ diffraction techniques in a diamond anvil cell at DESY (HASYLAB, Station F3). The experiments on densification of pure powders under high pressure were performed without a pressure medium. The mechanism of generation and relaxation of internal strains and their distribution in nanoparticles was deduced from Bragg reflections recorded in situ under high pressures at room temperature. The microstrain was calculated from the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) values of the Bragg lines. It was found that microstrains in GaN crystallites are generated and subsequently relaxed by two mechanisms: generation of stacking faults and change of the size and shape of the grains occurring under external stress. (author)

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TiB{sub 2} appears to be a promising material for the wear protection in various tribological systems, e.g. the diecasting of Al. This study focuses on the development of titanium boride coatings deposited by PACVD, a deposition method which is most suitable for the coating of substrates with complex shapes. All layers analysed are very smooth and exhibit a quasi-amorphous fracture surface. XRD and TEM analysis indicate a nanocrystalline structure with grain sizes in the order of 2 nm. The diffraction patterns can well be correlated to titanium diboride. WDS reveals an over stoichiometric B/Ti ratio. The layer hardness reaches the value of 33 GPa and the critical load in scratch tests rises to 35 N. Neither 100Cr6 nor Al as a counterpart in pin-on-disk tests leads to wear of the coating. (orig.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this study a novel sol-gel auto-combustion method, using n-decyltrimethylammonium bromide as a cationic surfactant, has been used to synthesize strontium hexaferrite nanocrystalline powder. The dried nitrate-citrate gel, prepared from a solution of ferric nitrate, strontium nitrate, citric acid, trimethylamine and cationic surfactant, exhibited an auto-combustion behavior after ignition in air. The formation reaction temperature, phase identification, crystallites size, particles size distribution and morphology of resultant strontium hexaferrite powder were investigated by DTA/TGA, FTIR, XRD, LPSA, TEM and SEM techniques. The results showed that in presence of the cationic surfactant, the combustion intensity increases and the crystallite size decreases. The crystallite size of stronti...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Suspension direct current plasma spraying allows achieving finely structured coatings whose thickness is between few tens and few hundreds of micrometres. Drops (200-300 ?m in diameter) or liquid jets are mechanically injected in the plasma jet. With radial injection they are rapidly (a few ?s) fragmented into droplets (a few ?m in diameter). The latter are vaporized (in a few ?s) and the solid particles contained in suspension droplets are accelerated and melted by the plasma jet. As in conventional plasma spraying (CPS), much smaller splats (with diameters between 0.2 and 3 ?m and thicknesses between 30 and 200 nm) are arranged in layers up to form the coating. The low inertia of particles requires spray distances between 40 and 60 mm which induces plasma heat fluxes up to 22 MW m-2 participating in coating densification. Even more than in CPS, the plasma jet fluctuations, particularly for plasmas containing di-atomic gases, perturb drops penetration and fragmentation. It has been ...

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This patent describes the vapor phase catalytic dehydrogenation of a C/sub 2/-C/sub 4/ paraffin by contacting the paraffin with a spinel of the formula A/sup III/V/sub 2-x//sup III/C/sub x//sup III/O/sub 4/, formula (1) or a crystalline perovskite of the formula D/sup III/V/sub 1-y//sup III/C/sub y//sup III/O/sub 3/, formula (2) where A is one or more of Mg, Zn, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Cd; D is oone of more of Y, the rare earths and Bi; C is one or more of Al, Ga, Cr, Fe and Co, x is zero to < 1.9, and y is zero to < 0.9, which spinel or perovskite is made by a process which comprises (1) reducing a pentavalent vanadium oxidic compound to substantially the V/sup 111/ state by heating at 100/sup 0/C or less an aqueous medium slurry of solution of the pentavalent compound containing a reducing agent selected from hydrazine and a hydrocarbylhydrazine, (2) providing in the aqueous medium ether before, during or after the reducing step, A/sup ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a promising source of power generation in terms of conversion efficiency which is higher than the conventional one, as it is not limited by the Carnot efficiency. Theoretically, the SOFC have an efficiency of the order of 60-80 % but it is limited by the number of active side available for the reaction i.e. TPB (triple phase boundary) at the electrode-electrolyte interface which depends on the particle size of the materials employed during the fabrication of SOFC components (i.e. the method employed during the synthesis). Literally, there are several methods used in the syntheses of oxide materials such as conventional solid-state reaction, co-precipitation, hydrothermal rout, sol-gel and Glycine nitrate process (GNP) but among these GNP found to be effective over the other because of homogeneity, phase purity and smaller particle size of final product. In this work, the Nano-crystalline Ln_0_._6Sr_0_._4Co_0_._8Fe_0_._2O_3_-_#delta# ...

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Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) assembled in hydrophobic domain by fatty acid with long alkyl hydrocarbon chain such as myristic acid (Myr), stearic acid (Ste) and cholic acid (Cho) modified onto nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} electrode is prepared and the photovoltaic properties of the nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} film by Chl-a are studied. Incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) value at 660 nm in photocurrent action spectrum of Chl-a/Ste-TiO{sub 2}, Chl-a/Myr-TiO{sub 2} and Chl-a/Cho-TiO{sub 2} electrodes are 5.0%, 4.1% and 4.1%, respectively. Thus, the IPCE is maximum using Chl-a/Ste-TiO{sub 2} electrode. From the results of photocurrent responses with light intensity of 100 mW cm{sup -2} irradiation or monochromatic light with 660 nm, generated photocurrent increases using Chl-a/Ste-TiO{sub 2} electrode compared with the other Chl-a assembled TiO{sub 2} electrodes. These results show that the hydrophobic domain formed by stearic acid with long alkyl ...

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High-throughput synthesis and screening methods have been developed for the discovery of highly active catalysts for the control of emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Low temperature CO oxidation, CO methanation, NOx abatement and the destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) will be discussed. The discovery libraries for primary screening consisted of both 11x11 and 16x16 catalyst arrays on 3 inch and 4 inch quartz wafers, respectively. Catalysts were prepared by robotic liquid dispensing techniques and screened for catalytic activity in Symyx's Scanning Mass Spectrometer. The screening protocols encompassed mixed metal oxides, perovskites and supported base and noble metals. Active hits were further optimized in focus libraries using shallower compositional gradients. The ScanMS is a fast serial screening tool that uses flat wafer catalyst surfaces, local laser heating, a scanning/sniffing nozzle and a quadrupolar mass spectrometer to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this study, perovskite type oxide YAlO_3 has been doped with different amounts of the divalent cation Ca to synthesize Y_1_-_xCa_xAlO_3_-_#delta# (x = 0-0.21) compositions. The effect of dopant concentration on the crystal structure and electrical properties of YAlO_3 synthesized by citrate gel route has been investigated. The phase purity of the samples has been carried out using X-ray diffraction. The microstructural evaluation of the samples has been conducted by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrum analysis. Thermal analysis has been conducted to monitor the decomposition of the intermediate products. The electrical conductivity studies have been performed using a.c. impedance spectroscopy as a function of temperature in the range 200-800 "oC in air. The Y_0_._9_4Ca_0_._0_6AlO_3_-_#delta# composition exhibits a total conductivity of 2.5 mS/cm at 800 "oC.

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Electrodeposition of semiconducting iron oxide (Fe_2O_3) thin film was carried out from an alkaline sulphate bath. A 0.1 M ferrous sulphate (FeSO_4#centre dot#7H_2O) was complexed with 0.1 M citric acid. By addition of 1 N NaOH, pH of the solution was made alkaline (pH=9) and deposition of iron oxide (Fe_2O_3) thin films was carried out potentiostatically at room temperature (300 K). From cyclic voltametry (CV), electrochemical studies were carried out for deposition of iron oxide thin films. The XRD studies reveal that Fe_2O_3 with epsilon (#epsilon#) phase having monoclinic crystal structure is formed. By observing scanning electron microscope (SEM), it is seen that iron oxide films were homogeneous, uniform and well covered to surface of the substrate. Grain size was found to be in nanometers range from XRD analysis. The optical band gap of Fe_2O_3 thin film was estimated to be 1.90 eV. Electrical resistivity was order of 10"4 #OMEGA# cm. Dielectric constant and loss (tan #delta#) ...

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Nanocrystalline cemented tungsten carbide has attracted considerable interests for use in cutting tool because of its superior mechanical properties. In this study, nano-sized powders of mixed WC and Co were prepared from attrition-milled oxides by a gas reduction-carburization process. The effects of compacting pressure, heating schedule, additional ball-milling, and the presence of a grain growth inhibitor on the sintering properties of the nano-sized WC-Co powders were examined. The grain size and phases in WC-Co alloy were clearly affected by compacting pressure. Because of the trapped gases and the lower melting point of the cobalt binder, when a compact of nano-sized WC-Co powder was sintered through a heating schedule with holding steps, the sintered alloy maintained the small size of WC grains without any #eta# phase. In addition, the additional ball-milling improved the microstructure and mechanical properties of the nano-sized WC-Co powder by producing a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The microstructure, microhardness, corrosion, and wear resistance of d.c.-plated Ni electrodeposits prepared from different types of electrolysing Watts-type baths, without or with organic compounds, ceramic powder - SiC and polymer - polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), on Cu substrate, which was subsequently removed from the deposits, were investigated. With the change of the type of bath, the deposit grain size was found to decrease markedly, e.g. deposits with an average grain size of about 50 nm could be produced from the bath containing 45 g/dm"3 Ni"2"+ ions, 5 g/dm"3 SiC, and 20 g/dm"3 PTFE. The surface morphology on the bath side of the electrode-posited Ni or Ni-SiC-PTFE foils was characteristic of the type of bath, and its roughness correlated well with the observed grain size. Microhardness and wear resistance increased with decreasing grain size, as expected. On discussing the factors controlling deposit grain size, it is concluded that the Ni"2"+ ion content in the bath and the ...

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The synthesis of narrowly dispersed nanocrystalline TiO_2 was investigated with a surfactant aided solvothermal synthetic method in toluene solutions. When a sufficient amount of titanium isopropoxide, Ti[OCH(CH_3)_2]_4 (TIP), was added to the solution, the shapes of TiO_2 nanoparticles changed from spheres to rods. The aggregated microstructures of the nano-sized TiO_2 in systems of spheres, rods, and mixtures of spheres and rods was studied using TEM. The morphological shape of the aggregation was described in terms of the fractal dimensions. We used a box-counting method to get the fractal dimension of these systems. The fitted fractal dimensions for spheres, sphere/rod mixtures, and rods are D = 1.54, D = 1.81, and D = 1.89, respectively. The fractal dimension changed from 1.54 to 1.9 with the TIP/toluene ratio, indicating that the growth mechanism for aggregations showed different behaviors.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Studies were conducted of the bifunctional oxygen electrode. The development of a rechargeable metal-oxygen (air) cell has been hampered to a great extent by the lack of a stable and cost effective oxygen electrode capable of use during both charge and discharge. The first type of bifunctional electrode consists of two distinct catalytifc layers. The oxygen reduction catalyst layer containing a supported gold catalyst is in contact with a hydrophilic nickel layer in which evolution of oxygen takes place. Loadings of gold from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/cm/sup 2/ were investigated; carbon, graphite, metal, and spinel oxides were evaluated as substrates. The second part of the research effort was centered on developing a reversible oxygen electrode containing only one catalytic layer for both reduction and evolution of oxygen. The work was directed specifically to the study of perovskite type of oxides with the composition AA/sup 1/BO/sub 3/ where A is an element of the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The n=4 Aurivillius phase, Bi5Ti3CrO15, was synthesised by solid state reaction. Rietveld analysis of high resolution neutron diffraction data demonstrated this material to adopt the polar space group A21am at room temperature, transforming to the aristotype I4/mmm structure above 650 oC. This phase transition is coincident with an anomaly in DSC signal and relative permittivity, which are characteristic of a ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition. Bi5Ti3CrO15 exhibits paramagnetic behaviour at low temperature, with short range antiferromagnetic interactions, but no evidence for long range magnetic ordering. This is considered a consequence of significant disorder of Ti and Cr over the available octahedral sites, as demonstrated by analysis of neutron diffraction data. -- Graphical abstract: We report here the synthesis, structure and characterisation of the n=4 Aurivillius phase Bi5Ti3CrO15. Analysis of neutron powder diffraction and XANES data, supported by Madelung energy ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Magnetic properties of layer ferromagnets against the thickness are investigated. Two new compounds served for studies: Bisub(6)Tisub(2)Nbsub(0,5)Fesub(2,5)Osub(18) and Bi_7Ti_3Fe_3O_2_1. The Moessbauer effect and the magnetic susceptibility measurements were applied in the experiment. The Faraday method was used in magnetic measurements in fields from 1 to 9,5 kOe. The results of Moessbauer measurements show that temperature dependence of the spectra is typical for compounds with superparamagnetic properties. The magnetic fields Hsub(n) on Fe"5"7 nuclei in Bisub(6)Tisub(2)Nbsub(0,5)Fesub(2,5)Osub(18) and Bi_7Ti_3Fe_3O_2_1 are similar and equal to 520+-10 kOe. Therefore it may be concluded that relaxation times of nuclear spins in these compounds are equal or close to each other. The lines of quadrupole splitting appear in spectra together at 20 K. The results of magnetic measurements show that the Curie-Weiss law is satisfied in the range of high temperatures for magnetic ...

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Samarium cobaltite ceramic perovskites, with and without platinum particles dispersion, are possible candidates as electrode for electrochemical conversion of hydrocarbon and for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (ITSOFC). In this work, samarium cobaltites were synthesized by the combustion method using cobalt, and samarium nitrates as cation precursors and urea as fuel. For containing-platinum compositions Pt (II) acetyl acetonate was also employed as precursor. The effect of Sr on the phase formation and its electrical behavior is also studied. Specific surface area (BET), SEM-EDX, TEM and XRD analysis are used to characterize the powders obtained. Powders were pressed into pellets and sintered in air in the temperature range of 1200 -1400 C. Electrical impedance spectroscopy studies (EIS) are performed on sintered samples. The as-prepared powders showed an amorphous structure and by TEM a very small particle size ({proportional_to}10 nm) was ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The paper generalizes some results of the United States/Moldova program on advanced composite organic and semiconductor light emitters. High density exciton system bound to N impurity superlattice grown by modern technologies and GaP:N, GaP:N:Sm nanocrystals distributed in transparent fluorine-containing polymers will be used as the base elements for new generation of optoelectronic devices. The work seeks to expand further the applications of GaP itself through the formation of nanocomposites. Classic and new methods are applied for preparation of GaP:N nanoparticles with the controlled dimensions developed clear quantum confinement effect. The long-term ordered bulk GaP crystals as well as their nanoparticles have been investigated by TEM, XRD, Raman scattering, and luminescent methods. The evolution of the Raman Light Scattering and luminescence spectra is reported from pure and doped GaP single crystals grown over 40 years ago and evaluated approximately every 15 years. For the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We have investigated the nanocrystalline microstructure and the hard magnetic properties of Sm(Co_0_._7_2_5Fe_0_._1Cu_0_._1_2Zr_0_._0_4B_0_._0_1_5)_7_._4 melt-spun ribbons. The coercivity (H_c) of the as-spun ribbons increased with the wheel surface speed from 2.8kOe for 10m/s to 14.5kOe for 40m/s. The post-annealing of the melt-spun ribbons from 700 to 900 deg. C for 10min did not lead to a substantial increase of H_c. However, after isothermal aging at 820 deg. C and subsequent slow cooling (0.5 deg. C/min) to 120 deg. C, H_c increased from 2.8 to 10.9kOe for 10m/s, while it decreased from 14.5 to 13.5kOe for 40m/s ribbons. The grain size of the melt-spun ribbon reduced with structural transformation from 2:17H (Th_2Ni_1_7-hexagonal type) to 1:7H (TbCu_7-hexagonal type) as the wheel surface speed was increased. Three-dimensional atom probe analysis showed a boron enriched precipitate at the grain boundaries in the as-spun ribbons, which acts as the grain growth ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fuel cells based on solid oxides ('SOFC') are excellent alternative devices for power generation, when they are operated at high temperature, e.g. above 600 C. Having only fixed parts for the power generating part of the device is only one advantage of the fuel cell. Due to their unique design, these devices offer a maximum of efficiency for energy conversion compared to conventional power generating systems, which are mainly based on turbines. One aim of this thesis is the examination of alternative electrolyte and cathode materials for the SOFC applications at reduced temperatures, which means in the temperature range between 600 C and 750 C. For the first main task, several materials from the oxygen ion conducting electrolytes were selected. Different strontium and magnesium doped lanthanum gallate (LSGM) materials with additional transition metal doping were selected and prepared via two different preparation methods. The optimum calcining conditions were ...