Neutron diffraction study of the size-induced tetragonal to monoclinic phase transition in zirconia nanocrystals

Nanoionics and Nanocatalysts: Conformal Mesoporous Surface Scaffold for Cathode of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Nanoionics has become increasingly important in devices and systems related to energy conversion and storage. Nevertheless, nanoionics and nanostructured electrodes development has been challenging for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) owing to many reasons including poor stability of the nanocrystals during fabrication of SOFCs at elevated temperatures. In this study, a conformal mesoporous ZrO2 nanoionic network was formed on the surface of La1-xSrxMnO3/yttria-stabilized zirconia (LSM/YSZ) cathode backbone using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and thermal treatment. The surface layer nanoionic network possesses open mesopores for gas penetration, and features a high density of grain boundaries for enhanced ion-transport. The mesoporous nanoionic network is remarkably stable and retains the same morphology after electrochemical operation at high temperatures of 650-800 °C for 400 hours. The stable mesoporous ZrO2 nanoionic network is further utilized to anchor catalytic Pt nanocrystals and create a nanocomposite that is stable at elevated temperatures. The power density of the ALD modified and inherently functional commercial cells exhibited enhancement by a factor of 1.5-1.7 operated at 0.8 V at 750 °C.

Reconstructive phase transition in (NH4)3TiF7 accompanied by the ordering of TiF6 octahedra

An unusual phase transition P4/mnc → Pa\bar 3 has been detected after cooling the (NH4)3TiF7 compound. Some TiF6 octahedra, which are disordered in the room-temperature tetragonal structure, become ordered in the low-temperature cubic phase due to the disappearance of the fourfold axis. Other TiF6 octahedra undergo large rotations resulting in huge displacements of the F atoms by 1.5-1.8 Å that implies a reconstructive phase transition. It was supposed that phases P4/mbm and Pm\bar 3m could be a high-temperature phase and a parent phase, respectively, in (NH4)3TiF7. Therefore, the sequence of phase transitions can be written as Pm\bar 3m → P4/mbm → P4/mnc → Pa\bar 3. The interrelation between (NH4)3TiF7, (NH4)3GeF7 and (NH4)3PbF7 is found, which allows us to suppose phase transitions in relative compounds.

Size-Induced Tetragonal to Monoclinic Phase Transition in Zirconia Nanocrystals

Accurate neutron powder diffraction experiments at D20, ILL Grenoble, allowed to monitor the reconstructive tetragonal to monoclinic phase transition as a function of the size of zirconia nanoparticles. In the nanocrystals, both phases are identical to the ones generally observed in micrometric zirconia. Rietveld refinements on these samples point out an increase of the tetragonal fraction and a decrease of the lattice parameters when the size of the particle decreases. An uniaxial strain depending on the grain size is also observed. The phase transition definitely occurs above a threshold crystal size. These results are analysed within the Landau theory and they can be understood as a mechanism of size-dependent phase transition where the primary order parameter is altered by the nanoparticle size.

Facile synthesis of magnetic metal (Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) oxides nanocrystals via a cation-exchange reaction

Magnetic metal (Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) oxides nanocrystals with small size and uniform size distribution are synthesized via a cation-exchange reaction. Two experimental stages are included in the synthesis of metal oxides nanocrystals. Firstly, Cu(OH)2 decomposes to CuO nanocrystals, induced by free metal cations. Compared to CuO nanocrystals produced without any free metal cation, the free metal cation has an important influence on the shape and size of CuO. Secondly, free metal cations exchange with the Cu2+ cation in the CuO nanocrystals to get Mn3O4, Fe2O3, CoO and NiO nanocrystals by cation-exchange reactions. The magnetic properties of these metal oxides nanocrystals have been investigated, all the nanocrystals are superparamagnetic at room temperature.

Structural, electronic and vibrational properties of tetragonal zirconia under pressure: a density functional theory study

We present the results of a plane wave based density functional study of the structure and properties of tetragonal zirconia in the range of pressures from 0 to 50 GPa. We predict a transition to a fluorite-type cubic structure at 37 GPa which is likely to be of a soft mode origin and is accompanied by a power law decrease of the frequency of the Raman-active A(1g) mode. A detailed study of the pressure effect on phonon modes is given, including theoretical Raman spectra and their pressure dependence. Our results provide a consistent picture of the pressure-induced phase transition in tetragonal zirconia.

Self-assembled colloidal crystals from ZrO2 nanoparticles

Ordered three-dimensional (3-D) assemblies of nanocrystalline zirconia were synthesized from aqueous suspensions of ZrO(2) nanoparticles without the need for hydrocarbon surfactants or solvents to control colloidal crystal growth. Nanoparticles were suspended in mild acid and subsequently titrated from low to neutral pH. The solubility was reduced as the surfaces were neutralized, promoting assembly of the nanoparticles into ordered monoliths. TEM measurements indicated the formation of three-dimensional, hexagonal faceted, micrometer-sized colloidal crystals composed of 4 nm diameter ZrO(2) nanoparticles. Lacking organic surfactants, the colloidal crystals were exceptionally robust and were sintered at high temperatures (300-500 degrees C) for further stability. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements demonstrate that the samples become progressively more amorphous above 350 degrees C, although some ordered domains of nanoparticles persist. Additionally, the heat treatment dramatically increases the surface area of the colloidal crystals as water and residual organics are desorbed, revealing highly controlled interstitial spaces and pores.

A27Al,29Si,25Mg and17O NMR investigation of alumina and silica Zener pinned, sol-gel prepared nanocrystalline ZrO2and MgO

Alumina and silica Zener pinning particles in sol-gel prepared nanocrystalline ZrO2 and MgO have been characterised using 27Al and 29Si MAS NMR after annealing at various temperatures up to 1200 degrees C. The structures of the pinning phases were found to differ not just between the two metal oxide systems but also depending on the exact method of manufacture. Three distinct transitional alumina phases have been observed in different alumina-pinned samples annealed at 1200 degrees C, one in particular identified by a peak at a shift of 95 ppm in the 27Al NMR spectrum. Both the alumina and silica pinning phases reacted with the MgO nanocrystals, forming spinel in the case of alumina, and enstatite and forsterite in the case of silica. Despite reacting readily with the MgO, the silica pinning particles were effective at restricting grain growth, with 11 nm MgO nanocrystals remaining after annealing at 1000 degrees C.

Structural transition in rare earth oxide clusters

Size effects, such as structure transition, have been reported in small clusters of alkali halide compounds. We extend the study to rare earth sesquioxide (Gd(2)O(3)) clusters which are as ionic as the alkali halide compounds, but have a more complicated structure. In a clean and controlled environment (ultra high vacuum), such particles are well crystallized, facetted and tend to adopt a rhombic dodecahedron shape. This indicates the major role of highly ionic bonds in preserving the crystal lattice even at small sizes (a few lattice parameter). Based on both cathodo-luminescence and transmission electron microscopy, we report the existence of a structural transition from bcc to monoclinic at small sizes.

H2 Formation from the Radiolysis of Liquid Water with Zirconia

The formation of H(2) in the radiolysis of liquid water containing nanometer sized ZrO(2) particles was found to be dependent on the crystalline structure of the particle. Zirconia particles of a few tens of nanometer diameter may be formed with the tetragonal crystalline structure at room-temperature rather than the more stable monoclinic form for bulk zirconia. Radiolysis of liquid water containing tetragonal ZrO(2) particles exhibits a significant increase in the decomposition of water to H(2) compared to the monoclinic form. Annealing the tetragonal particles to the monoclinic structure results in the loss of excess H(2) production above that found with water alone. The results show that surface morphology is extremely important in the decomposition of liquids at solid interfaces, which may have many consequences ranging from nuclear waste storage to the H(2) economy.

Cation Exchange Reactions in Ionic Nanocrystals

Cation exchange has been investigated in a wide range of nanocrystals of varying composition, size, and shape. Complete and fully reversible exchange occurs, and the rates of the reactions are much faster than in bulk cation exchange processes. A critical size has been identified below which the shapes of complex nanocrystals evolve toward the equilibrium shape with lowest energy during the exchange reaction. Above the critical size, the anion sublattice remains intact and the basic shapes of the initial nanocrystals are retained throughout the cation exchange. The size-dependent shape change can also be used to infer features of the microscopic mechanism.