Abstract: A series of gold-ruthenium bimetallic catalysts of increasing Au:Ru molar ratios supported on a Ce0.62Zr0.38O2 mixed oxide are prepared and their structural and chemical features characterized by a combination of macroscopic and atomic-scale techniques based on scanning transmission electron microscopy. The influence of the temperature of the final reduction treatment used as activation step (350-700 degrees C range) is also investigated. The preparation method used allows catalysts to be successfully prepared where a major fraction of the metal nanoparticles is in the size range below 5 nm. The structural complexities characteristic of this type of catalysts are evidenced, as well as the capabilities and limitations of both the macroscopic and microscopic techniques in the characterization of the system of metal nanoparticles. A positive influence of the addition of Ru on both the resistance against sintering and the catalytic performance of the starting supported Au catalyst is evidenced.

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: It is shown that the infrared absorption spectra of pure type IaB diamonds, namely those that on cursory examination show only a B one-phonon component and neither A nor D, and the complete absence of a B' localized-mode platelet absorption peak, may be divided into two subgroups. The defect content of specimens of one of these subgroups has been studied before and comprises slip dislocations and voidites in random homogeneous distributions unconnected with the transformation of platelets to dislocation loops. Electron microscopy of a specimen of the other subgroup, which may be recognized by the presence of weak additional one-phonon absorption near 1100 cm-1, shows a population of dislocation loops resulting from the complete transformation of a former platelet population, plus accompanying voidites. It is suggested that the extra absorption is caused by the dislocation loops. Observation of the way in which loops and voidites are distributed suggests that voidite production and platelet transformation may not, after all, be interlinked phenomena, but parallel independent processes both promoted by the same unknown conditions.

Abstract: Titanate nanotubes were prepared via a hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 powders (Riedel De Haen) in a basic solution. Morphology and structure of the prepared samples were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), XRD, FT-Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen sorption and DSC. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation of rhodamine 6G. Trititanate nanotubes (TTNT) with inner pore diameters between 4 and 4.2 nm and surface areas up till 360 m(2)/g could be synthesized. The synthesis route was modified by introduction of a calcination step, by applying a lower hydrothermal temperature and microwave irradiation in order to increase the photocatalytic activity of the porous photoactive nanotubular materials. Calcination and a softer hydrothermal treatment led to the formation of anatase without affecting the surface area and nanotubular shape of the samples. In this way, the photocatalytic activity of the original trititanate nanotubes could be significantly increased. By making use of microwave assisted synthesis, the photocatalytic activity call also be increased due to the presence of anatase. However, by applying microwave synthesis, a different structure was obtained, nanoribbons (NR) instead of nanotubcs, resulting in a decrease in surface area and porosity.

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: Conventional glass-ionomer cements (GICs) are popular restorative materials, but their use is limited by their relatively low mechanical strength. This paper reports an attempt to improve these materials by incorporation of 10 wt% of three different types of nanoparticles, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, and titanium dioxide, into two commercial GICs (ChemFil((R)) Rock and EQUIA (TM) Fil). The results indicate that the nanoparticles readily dispersed into the cement matrix by hand mixing and reduced the porosity of set cements by filling the empty spaces between the glass particles. Both cements showed no significant difference in compressive strength with added alumina, and ChemFil((R)) Rock also showed no significant difference with zirconia. By contrast, ChemFil((R)) Rock showed significantly higher compressive strength with added titania, and EQUIA (TM) Fil showed significantly higher compressive strength with both zirconia and titania. Fewer air voids were observed in all nanoparticle-containing cements and this, in turn, reduced the development of cracks within the matrix of the cements. These changes in microstructure provide a likely reason for the observed increases in compressive strength, and overall the addition of nanoparticles appears to be a promising strategy for improving the physical properties of GICs.

Abstract: A crystal structure investigation of the low temperature Li2SnO3 modification has been carried out. X-ray, neutron powder and electron diffraction data showed that this compound crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell with parameters: a = 5.3033(2)Å, b = 9.1738(3)Å, c = 10.0195(2)Å, β ~ 100.042(2)º and has stacking disorder along the c-axis. Simulation of diffraction patterns with different stacking faults mainly reveal the presence of rotational stacking faults with a probability of about 40% .