Abstract: The anion-excess fluorite-like solid solutions with general composition Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ (x > 0.5) have been synthesized by a solid state reaction of TeO2, BiF3 and Bi2O3 at 873 K with following quenching. The homogeneity areas and polymorphism of the I ↔ IV Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ phases were investigated. The crystal structure of the low temperature IV-Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ phase has been solved using electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction (a = 11.53051(9) Å, S.G. Ia-3, RI = 0.046, RP = 0.041). Glass formation area in the Bi2O3BiF3TeO2 (10% TiO2) system was investigated. IVBi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ phase starts to crystallize at short-time (0.53 h) annealing of oxyfluoride glasses at temperatures above Tg (600615 K). The ionic conductivity of the crystalline Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ phase and corresponding glass-ceramics was investigated. Activation energy of conductivity Ea = 0.41(2) eV for the IV-Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ crystalline samples and Ea = 0.73 eV for the glass-ceramic samples were obtained. Investigation of the oxyfluoride samples with a constant cation ratio demonstrates essential influence of excess fluorine anions on the ionic conductivity.

Abstract: Different factors such as the way of incorporating the Y2O3 stabilizer, alumina addition and sintering temperature were assessed with the goal to improve the low temperature degradation (LTD) resistance of 3Y-TZP without compromising on the mechanical properties. The degradation of hydrothermally treated specimens was studied by X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Decreasing the sintering temperature decreased the LTD susceptibility of 3Y-TZPs but did not allow to obtain a LTD resistant 3Y-TZP with optimized mechanical properties. Alumina addition along with the use of Y2O3 stabilizer coated starting powder allowed to combine both an excellent toughness and LTD resistance, as compared to alumina-free and stabilizer co-precipitated powder based equivalents. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the improved LTD resistance could be attributed to the segregation of Al3+ at the grain boundary and the heterogeneously distributed Y3+ stabilizer.

Abstract: The YbRuSn ternary system was investigated and a new material, Yb0.24Sn0.76Ru, with a simple cubic crystal structure, was discovered. Yb0.24Sn0.76Ru has a smaller lattice parameter a=3.217(4) Å, than its isostructural YbRu analogue (a=3.360 Å). Both X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques were used to refine the crystal structure of Yb0.24Sn0.76Ru. It was found that a new compound forms in the CsCl structure, with Ru on the 1a site and a (Yb, Sn) mixture on site 1b. The XRD Rietveld analysis provides the occupation of Yb equal to 0.24, in agreement with the single crystal nano-electron diffraction refinement, which gives the occupation 0.21.

Abstract: The control of the formation process during and after self-assembly is of utmost importance to achieve well structured, controlled template-assisted mesoporous titania materials with the desired properties for various applications via the evaporation induced self-assembly method (EISA). The present paper reports on the large influence of the thermal stabilization and successive template removal on the pore structure of a mesostructured TiO2 material using the diblock copolymer Brij 58 as surfactant. A controlled thermal stabilization (temperature and duration) allows one to tailor the final pore size and uniformity much more precise by influencing the self-assembly of the template. Moreover, also the successive thermal template removal needs to be controlled in order to avoid a structural collapse. N2-sorption, TGA, TEM, FT-Raman spectroscopy, and small angle wide angle XRD have been used to follow the crystal growth and mesostructure organization after thermal stabilization and after thermal template removal, revealing its effect on the final pore structure.

Abstract: Ultralong Cu(OH)(2) and CuO nanowire bundles with lengths ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers have been selectively synthesized on a large scale by a facile solution-phase method, using PEG200 as growth-directing agent. The growth mechanisms were investigated by monitoring the nanowire evolution process. The results showed that under the action of PEG200 molecules, the Cu(OH)(2) and CuO nanowires were first formed through oriented attachment of colloidal particles, then through side self-assembly leading to nanowire bundles, and finally to CuO nanoleaves. PEG200 plays a critical role in the synthesis of nanowires as it not only prevents the random aggregation of colloidal particles toward CuO nanoleaves but also helps to orientate nanowire growth by the coalescence and alignment in one direction of the colloidal particles. The concentration of OH(-) in the reaction system is also important for nanowire growth. In the absence of PEG200, nanoleaves are formed by an Ostwald ripening process. The band-gap value estimated from a UV-Vis absorption spectrum of CuO nanowire bundles is 2.32 eV. The photodegradation of a model pollutant, rhodamine B, by CuO nanowires and nanoleaves was compared with commercial nanopowders, showing that the as-synthesized ultralong CuO polycrystalline nanowire bundles have an enhanced photocatalytic activity with 87% decomposition of rhodamine B after an 8-h reaction, which was much higher than that of single-crystal nanoleaves (61%) and commercial nanopowders (32%). The origin of the high photocatalytic activity of these new polycrystalline CuO nanowire bundles has been discussed. This present work reveals that the (0 0 2) crystallographic surface is more favorable for photocatalytic decomposition of organic compounds and that these ultralong CuO nanowire bundles are potential candidates for photocatalysts in wastewater treatment. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Abstract: We present the post-modification of a gallium based Metal Organic Framework, COMOC-4, with a Mo-complex. The resulting Mo@COMOC-4 was characterized by means of N2 sorption, XRPD, DRIFT, TGA, XRF, XPS and TEM analysis. The results demonstrate that even at high Mo-complex loadings on the framework, no aggregation or any Mo or Mo oxide species are formed. Moreover, the Mo@COMOC-4 was evaluated as a catalyst in the epoxidation of cyclohexene, cyclooctene and cyclododecene employing TBHP in decane as oxidant. The post-modified COMOC-4 exhibits a very high selectivity toward the epoxide (up to 100%). Regenerability and stability tests have been carried out demonstrating that the catalyst can be recycled without leaching of Mo or loss of crystallinity.

Abstract: Different zeolites were tested for selective removal of methyl elaidate (trans isomer) from an equimolar mixture with methyl oleate (cis isomer). Sorption experiments of the geometric isomers show that only ZSM-5 samples with reduced Al content in the framework are able to discriminate among the bent cis and the linear trans fatty acid methyl esters. Hydrogenation experiments of equimolar methyl oleate and elaidate mixtures at low temperature (65 °C) and high hydrogen pressure (6.0 MPa), using Pt catalysts, confirm this result. Only with a Pt/NaZSM-5 catalyst outspoken selectivity for the hydrogenation of the trans isomer is obtained. In order to prepare a selective Pt/ZSM-5 catalyst, the influence of Pt addition (impregnation, ion-exchange and competitive ion-exchange) and Pt activation (different calcination and reduction temperatures) on the Pt-distribution and Pt particle size was investigated using SEM, bright-field and HR TEM, EDX, electron tomography, CO-chemisorption, XPS, XRD, and UVvis measurements. The best result in terms of hydrogenation activity and selectivity is obtained with a Pt/ZSM-5 catalyst, which is prepared via competitive ion-exchange, followed by slow calcination up to 350 °C under high O2 flow and a reduction up to 500 °C under H2. This preparation method leads to a Pt/ZSM-5 catalyst with the best Pt distribution and the smallest Pt clusters occluded in the zeolite structure. Finally, the influence of zeolite crystal size, morphology, and elemental composition of ZSM-5 on hydrogenation activity and selectivity was investigated in detail.

Abstract: Ti-MCM-41 nanoparticles 80-160 nm in diameter (Ti-MCM-41 NP) were successfully prepared by a dilute solution route in sodium hydroxide medium at ambient temperature. Ti-MCM-41 NP were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, SEM, TEM. FT-IR, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The characterization results showed the existence of highly ordered hexagonal mesoporous structure and tetrahedral Ti species in Ti-MCM-41 NP. In the epoxidation of cyclohexene with aqueous H2O2, Ti-MCM-41 NP displayed higher conversion and initial reaction rate than a Ti-MCM-41 sample with normal particle size (Ti-MCM-41 LP). Diffusion of the reactants was accelerated and the accessibility to the catalytic Ti species was enhanced in the shorter channels in Ti-MCM-41 NP samples. Ti-MCM-41 NP showed much higher selectivity for cyclohexene oxide compared with Ti-MCM-41 LP, suggesting reduced hydrolysis of cyclohexene oxide with water in the former case. The increased selectivity for cyclohexene oxide can be attributed to the lower concentration of residual surface silanols in Ti-MCM-41 NP and the shorter residence time of epoxide in the shorter mesoporous channels. Ti-MCM-41 NP also appears to be a suitable catalyst in the epoxidation of a bulky substrate, like cholesterol, with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Binary metal oxides with superior charge capacity and electrochemical activity have gained great interests. In this work, monodispersed CoMoO4 nanoclusters on the ordered mesoporous carbons were fabricated by a facile self-developed impregnation method. The synthesized hybrids possess improved wettability, high specific surface area (> 700m(2)/g) and regular mesoporous channels (similar to 4 nm), resulting in improved electrochemical performance for supercapacitors. These well-dispersed CoMoO4 nanoclusters exhibit a significant specific capacitance up to 367 F/g in the aqueous KNO3 electrolyte and good reversibility with a cycling efficiency of 99.8%. It is proposed that the mesoporous structure can facilitate the diffusion of electrolyte ions and then accelerate the electrochemical utilization of CoMoO4 nanoclusters. The results demonstrate that the produced binary metal oxide nanoclusters with excellent capacitance and good retention can be used as promising electrodes for the environment-friendly supercapacitors. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7) (0 <= x <= 1) solid solutions with a whitlockite-type (or beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2)-type) structure (sp.gr. R3c) were prepared by a standard solid-state method in air. Their luminescent properties under near-ultraviolet (n-UV) light were investigated. Excitation spectra of Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7) showed the strongest absorption at about 395 nm, which matches well with commercially available n-UV-emitting GaN-based LED chips. Emission spectra indicated an intense red emission due to the D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition of Eu3+, with a maximum in the intensity for Ca8.5Pb0.5Eu(PO4)(7). The emission intensity of Ca8.5Pb0.5Eu(PO4)(7) was about 1.8 times higher than that of a Ca9Eu(PO4)(7) phosphor. We suggest that the introduction of Pb2+ is an efficient approach to enhance luminescence properties of such phosphors. We clarified the influence of the Ca2+/Pb2+ substitution on intensities of three bands for the D-5(0) -> F-7(0) transition in excitation spectra of Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7). In addition, we found a reversible first-order phase transition from R3c to R (3) over barc symmetry by second-harmonic generation in the range from 753 K (x = 1) to 846 K (x = 0). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The microstructure of various compounds of the Ti-Ni-Au alloy system is investigated by transmission electron microscopy in relation with changing lattice parameters improving the compatibility conditions between austenite and martensite expressed by the lambda(2) = 1 equation based on the Geometrically NonLinear Theory of Martensite (GNLTM). Although local differences in microstructure are observed, when increasing the gold content compound twins are replaced by Type I twins, while twinned lamellar structures are replaced by untwinned plates and self-accommodating structures when lambda(2) = 1 is approached, all confirming the predictions of the GNLTM. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The 3D size, morphology and distribution of autocatalytic-grown Ni4Ti3 precipitates in a Ni51Ti49 single crystal were characterized via a FIB/SEM Slice-and-View procedure and phase-field simulation. Important parameters on size and shape of the precipitates were measured. The pair distribution function and the minimum distance between two precipitates from different variants were calculated to describe the 3D distribution of the autocatalytic-grown Ni4Ti3 precipitates in single crystal Ni-Ti, with a comparison to the polycrystalline Ni50.8Ti49.2 alloy. Phase-field simulation was conducted to study the nucleation behavior of precipitates in the single crystal Ni-Ti. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.