Abstract: A novel lithium zinc niobium oxide LiZnNb(4)O(11.5) (LZNO) has been found in the Nb-rich part of Li(2)O-ZnO-Nb(2)O(5) system. LZNO, with an original alpha-PbO(2) related structure, has been synthesized by the routine ceramic technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Reflections belonging to the LZNO phase, observed in X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and electron diffraction, have been indexed as monoclinic with unit cell parameters a=17.8358(9)angstrom, b=15.2924(7)angstrom, c=5.0363(3)angstrom and gamma=96.607(5)degrees or as alpha-PbO(2)-like with lattice constants a=4.72420(3)angstrom, b=5.72780(3)angstrom, c=5.03320(3)angstrom, gamma=90.048(16)degrees and modulation vector q=0.3a*+1.1b* indicating a commensurately modulated alpha-PbO(2) related structure. The monoclinic cell is a supercell related to the latter. Using synchrotron powder diffraction data, the structure has been solved and refined as a commensurate modulation (superspace group P112(1)/n(alpha beta 0)00) as well as a supercell (space group P2(1)/b). The superspace description allows us to consider the LZNO structure as a member of the proposed alpha-PbO(2)-Z (3 + 1)D structure type, which unifies both incommensurately and commensurately modulated structures. HRTEM reveals several types of defects in LZNO and structural models for these defects are proposed. Two new phases in Li(2)O-ZnO-Nb(2)O(5) system are predicted on the basis of this detailed HRTEM analysis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Abstract: YCuO2 delafossite crystallizes into two stacking variants; hexagonal 2H or rhombohedral 3R, depending on the preparation conditions. The structure of the fully oxygenated material YCuO2.50 has been determined as orthorhombic (a(O) = 6.1961 Angstrom; b(O) = 11.2158 Angstrom; c(O) = 7.1505 Angstrom; space group Pnma). The structure is based on the hexagonal 2H structure (a(O) = a(H)root3; b(O) = c(H); c(O) = 2a(H)). Upon incomplete oxidation, a different YCuOZ phase with ideal composition YCuO2.33 and lattice parameters a(H root)3, a(H)root3, c(H) is also formed. Diffraction patterns are often very complex because of the presence of planar defects and intergrowth of both phases. Under electron beam irradiation, oxygen is released from the structure and one phase gradually transforms into the other. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Abstract: The influence of neat and organically modified montmorillonite on the structureproperty relationships of a β-nucleated polypropylene matrix has been thoroughly investigated. High-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed that the organic modification of clay facilitated the dispersion of the clay, while X-ray diffractograms showed the α-nucleating effect of the clays on the β-nucleated matrix. The results from tensile tests showed that the organic modification of MMT affected profoundly only the tensile strength at yield and at break. The effect of the organic modification of the clay on the thermal stability of the composites was finally evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, where the samples filled with oMMT decomposed faster than the ones filled with neat MMT, due to the decomposition of the organic salts that were initially used for the modification of MMT. A kinetics study of the thermal degradation of the composites was also performed, in order to export additional conclusions on the activation energy of the samples.

Abstract: Different types of titanosilicates are synthesized, structurally characterized, and subsequently catalytically tested in the liquid-phase epoxidation of cyclohexene. The performance of three types of combined zeolitic/mesoporous materials is compared with that of widely studied Ti-grafted-MCM-41 molecular sieve and the TS-1 microporous titanosilicate. The catalytic test results are correlated with the structural characteristics of the different catalysts. Moreover, for the first time, immersion calorimetry with the same substrate molecule as in the catalytic test reaction is applied as an extra means to interpret the catalytic results. A good correlation between catalytic performance and immersion calorimetry results is found. This work points out that the combination of catalytic testing and immersion calorimetry can lead to important insights into the influence of the materials structural characteristics on catalysis. Moreover, the potential of using immersion calorimetry as a screening tool for catalysts in epoxidation reactions is shown.

Abstract: We report on the fabrication of CuxOTiO2 (x = 1, 2) nanomaterials by an unprecedented vapor-phase approach. The adopted strategy involves the growth of porous CuxO matrices by means of chemical vapor deposition (CVD), followed by the controlled dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles. The syntheses are performed on Si(100) substrates at temperatures of 400550 °C under wet oxygen atmospheres, adopting Cu(hfa)2·TMEDA (hfa =1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate; TMEDA = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) and Ti(O-iPr)2(dpm)2 (O-iPr = isopropoxy; dpm = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) as copper and titanium precursors, respectively. Subsequently, finely dispersed gold nanoparticles are introduced in the as-prepared systems via radio frequency (RF)-sputtering under mild conditions. The synthesis process results in the formation of systems with chemical composition and nano-organization strongly dependent on the nature of the initial CuxO matrix and on the deposited TiO2 amount. The decoration with low-size gold clusters paves the way to the engineering of hierarchically organized nanomaterials.

Abstract: Au particles were prepared by evaporation in ultra high vacuum at high temperature, on the surfaces of TiO2 micro-spheres with the anatase structure. The morphology and the structural deformation in Au deposits were studied by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and image simulations by the multislice technique. The particles were polyhedral, limited by (100) and (111) faces. Patches with a hexagonal lattice were found around the particles, which was interpreted as thin Au islands on the surface. In these islands the Au lattice was deformed and perfectly accommodated to the (110) surface of TiO2. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Multiwall carbon nanotubes grown by the catalytic decomposition of acetylene over supported Co catalyst were subjected to wet and dry oxidation in order to remove the unwanted products and the catalyst traces. The effects of the purification treatment on the Co content was monitored by physical methods: Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). The purified products were investigated by microscopic methods: TEM. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and STM. The KMnO4/H2SO4 aqueous oxidation procedure was found to be effective in reducing the Co content while damaging only moderately the outer wall of the nanotubes. Treatment in HNO3/H2SO4 yields a bucky-paper like product and produces the increase of the Si and S content of the sample. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: AlGaN/GaN heterostructures were grown on “on-axis” and 2° off (0001) 4H-SiC substrates by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). Structural characterization was performed by transmission electron microscopy. The dislocation density, being greater in the on-axis case, is gradually reduced in the GaN layer and is forming
dislocation loops in the lower region. Steps aligned along [11̅00] in the off-axis case give rise to simultaneous defect formation. In the on-axis case, an almost zero density of steps is observed, with the main origin of defects probably being the orientation mismatch at the grain boundaries between the small not fully coalesced AlN grains. V-shaped formations are observed in the AlN nucleation layer, but are more frequent in the off-axis case, probably enhanced by the presence of steps. These V-shaped formations are completely overgrown by the GaN layer, during the subsequent deposition, presenting AlGaN areas in the walls of the defect, indicating an interdiffusion between the layers. Finally, at the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure surface in the on-axis case, V-shapes are observed, with the AlN spacer and AlGaN (21% Al) thickness on relaxed GaN exceeding the critical thickness for relaxation. On the other hand, no relaxation in the form of V-shape creation is observed in the off-axis case, probably due to the smaller AlGaN thickness (less than 21% Al). The AlN spacer layer, grown in between the heterostructure, presents a uniform thickness and clear interfaces.

Abstract: We have prepared tungsten oxide films decorated with gold particles on Si substrates by aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) and characterized them using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SEM shows that the films are composed of needle-like structures and TEM shows that both the needles and the gold particles are crystalline. XPS indicates the presence of oxygen vacancies, i.e. the films are WO3−x, and hence the deposited material is composed of semiconducting nanostructures and that the interaction between the gold particles and the WO3 needles surface is weak. The synthesis of semiconducting tungsten oxide nanostructures decorated with metal particles represents an important step towards the development of sensing devices with optimal properties.