Extensive research of conductivity in the fluorite-like KLn4Mo3O15F (Ln = La, Pr, Nd) rare earth molybdates: theoretical and experimental data

The conductive properties of fluorite-like structures KLn4Mo3O15F (Ln = La, Pr, Nd: KLM, KPM, KNM) have been studied theoretically and experimentally. Theoretical studies included the geometrical-topological analysis of voids and channels available for migration of working ions; bond valence site energy calculations of the oxygen ions' migration energy; quantum-chemical calculations for the estimation of the oxygen vacancies formation energy. Experimental measurements of conductivity were made using impedance spectroscopy and as a function of oxygen partial pressure. The total conductivity was ∼10-3 S cm-1 for KLM and ∼10-2 S cm-1 for KPM and KNM at 800 °C. Measurements with changes in partial pressure proved the mixed nature of electric transport in KLM, KPM, and KNM phases, with predominantly ionic conductivity. The measured ion transference numbers in air reached approximately 0.9 at 800 °C for the KPM and KNM ceramics. Also, evaluated proton transfer numbers were less than 10%, indicating a small contribution to the total conductivity.

A New Look at the Chemical Recycling of Polypropylene: Thermal Oxidative Destruction in Aqueous Oxygen-Enriched Medium

Recycling of plastic waste, in particular polypropylene, represents one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. Despite the promise of chemical methods for recycling polypropylene, they usually require a high temperature and are energy-intensive. In this work, we investigated the oxidative thermolysis of polypropylene in aqueous media. This approach rendered it possible to carry out the decomposition of the polymer at a comparatively low temperature (150 °C). It was shown that among the tested, the most promising aqueous medium for the decomposition of polypropylene is water saturated with gaseous oxygen at an elevated pressure (14 bar) and at a temperature of 150 °C. In such an environment, polypropylene was converted mostly to acetic acid (up to 1.3 g/g acetic acid to starting polypropylene mass ratio). Moreover, methanol, formic acid, and propionic acid were also detected as the products. Finally, the applicability of the proposed recycling method to real polypropylene waste was shown.

Green approach for fabrication of bacterial cellulose-chitosan composites in the solutions of carbonic acid under high pressure CO2

The functionalization of the bacterial cellulose (BC) surface with a chitosan biopolymer to expand the areas of possible applications of the modified BC is an important scientific task. The creation of such composites in the carbonic acid solutions that were performed in this work has several advantages in terms of being biocompatible and eco-friendly. Quantitative analysis of chitosan content in the composite was conducted by tritium-labeled chitosan radioactivity detection method and this showed three times increased chitosan loading. Different physicochemical methods showed successful incorporation of chitosan into the BC matrix and interaction with it through hydrogen bonds. Microscopy results showed that the chitosan coating with a thickness of around 10 nm was formed in the bulk of BC, covering each microfibril. It was found that the inner specific surface area increased 1.5 times on deposition of chitosan from the solutions in carbonic acid.

Synthesis, structure and properties of layered Pr2MoO6-based oxymolybdates doped with Mg

Undoped and Mg-doped Pr₂MoO₆ oxymolybdate polycrystals and single crystals have been prepared by solid-state reactions and flux growth. The compounds have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, scanning transmission electron microscopy, single crystal X-ray structure analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. The (MgO)_x(Pr₂O₃)_y(MoO₃)_z (x + y + z = 1) solid solution series has been shown to extend to x = 0.03. The structure of the Mg-doped Pr₂MoO₆ single crystals can be represented as superimposed lattices of the main matrix (Pr₂MoO₆) and lattices in which Mo atoms are partially replaced by Mg. The incorporation of Mg atoms into the structure of Pr₂MoO₆ results in the disordering of the praseodymium and oxygen lattices. Both the polycrystalline and single-crystal Mg-doped samples are hygroscopic.

Evolution of Oxygen-Ion and Proton Conductivity in Ca-Doped Ln2Zr2O7 (Ln = Sm, Gd), Located Near Pyrochlore-Fluorite Phase Boundary

Sm_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) and Gd_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (x = 0.05, 0.1) mixed oxides in a pyrochlore-fluorite morphotropic phase region were prepared via the mechanical activation of oxide mixtures, followed by annealing at 1600 °C. The structure of the solid solutions was studied by X-ray diffraction and refined by the Rietveld method, water content was determined by thermogravimetry (TG), their bulk and grain-boundary conductivity was determined by impedance spectroscopy in dry and wet air (100-900 °C), and their total conductivity was measured as a function of oxygen partial pressure in the temperature range: 700-950 °C. The Sm_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (x = 0.05, 0.1) pyrochlore solid solutions, lying near the morphotropic phase boundary, have proton conductivity contribution both in the grain bulk and on grain boundaries below 600 °C, and pure oxygen-ion conductivity above 700 °C. The 500 °C proton conductivity contribution of Sm_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (x = 0.05, 0.1) is ~ 1 × 10^-4 S/cm. The fluorite-like Gd_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (x = 0.1) solid solution has oxygen-ion bulk conductivity in entire temperature range studied, whereas proton transport contributes to its grain-boundary conductivity below 700 °C. As a result, of the morphotropic phase transition from pyrochlore Sm_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (x = 0.05, 0.1) to fluorite-like Gd_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (x = 0.05, 0.1), the bulk proton conductivity disappears and oxygen-ion conductivity decreases. The loss of bulk proton conductivity of Gd_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (x = 0.05, 0.1) can be associated with the fluorite structure formation. It is important to note that the degree of Ca substitution in such solid solutions (Ln_2-xCa_x)Zr₂O_7-δ (Ln = Sm, Gd) is low, x < 0.1. In both series, grain-boundary conductivity usually exceeds bulk conductivity. The high grain-boundary proton conductivity of Ln_2-xCa_xZr₂O_7-x/2 (Ln = Sm, Gd; x = 0.1) is attributable to the formation of an intergranular CaZrO₃-based cubic perovskite phase doped with Sm or Gd in Zr sublattice.

Proton and oxygen ion conductivity in the pyrochlore/fluorite family of Ln2-xCaxScMO7-δ (Ln = La, Sm, Ho, Yb; M = Nb, Ta; x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) niobates and tantalates

The tolerance factor is a good criterion to understand the structural transitions in Ln_2-xCa_xScMO_7-δ (Ln = La, Sm, Ho, Yb; M = Nb, Ta; x = 0, 0.05, 0.1). Decreasing the Ln ionic radius in Ln₂ScNb(Ta)O₇ leads to a morphotropic transition from a pyrochlore to a fluorite-like structure. Ca²⁺-doping leads to a pyrochlore-to-fluorite transition in Ln_2-xCa_xScMO_7-δ (Ln = La, Sm) and a fluorite-to-pyrochlore transition in Ho_2-xCa_xScNbO_7-δ. Proton contribution to the total conductivity was observed for Ln_2-xCa_xScNb(Ta)O_7-δ (Ln = La, Sm; x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) 3+/5+ pyrochlores and the maximum proton contribution was shown by Sm_1.9Ca_0.1ScMO_6.95 (M = Nb, Ta), which are located at the boundary between pyrochlores and fluorites (comparative study of electrical conduction and oxygen diffusion). Proton conduction of Sm_1.9Ca_0.1ScNbO_6.95 and Sm_1.9Ca_0.1ScTaO_6.95 pyrochlores persists up to 800 and 850 °C, respectively. The conductivity of fluorite-like Ho_2-xCa_xScNbO_7-δ (x = 0, 0.05) and Yb₂ScNbO₇ is dominated by the oxygen ion transport, in accordance with their energy activation values 1.09-1.19 eV. The dielectric permittivity and TG studies were used for the investigation of oxygen vacancy dynamics and water incorporation into the Ln_2-xCa_xScNb(Ta)O_7-δ (Ln = La, Sm, Ho, Yb; x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) lattice. It is shown that oxygen vacancy-related dielectric relaxation in the range of 550-650 °C (ambient air), typical of pyrochlores and fluorites with pure oxygen ion conductivity, decreases and disappears for proton-conducting oxides.

Structure of fluorite-like compound based on Nd₅Mo₃O₁₆ with lead partly substituting for neodymium

A single crystal of Nd5Mo3O16 with lead partly substituting for neodymium, which has a fluorite-like structure, was studied by precision X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission microscopy and EDX microanalysis. The crystal structure is determined in the space group Pn3¯n. It was found that the Pb atoms substitute in part for Nd atoms in the structure and are located in the vicinity of Nd2 positions. Partial substitutions of Mo cations for Nd positions and of Nd for Mo positions in crystals of the Ln5Mo3O16 oxide family are corroborated by X-ray diffraction for the first time. The first experimental verification of the location of an additional oxygen ion in the voids abutting MoO4 tetrahedra was obtained.

X-ray diffraction study of oxygen-conducting compounds Ln₂Mo₂O₉ (Ln = La, Pr)

The La2Mo2O9 (LM) and Pr2Mo2O9 (PM) single crystals are studied using precision X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission microscopy at room temperature. The crystal structures are determined in the space group P2(1)3. La and Pr atoms, as well as Mo1 and O1 atoms, are located in the vicinity of the threefold axes rather than on the axes as in the high-temperature cubic phase. In both structures studied, the O2 and O3 positions are partially occupied. The coexistence of different configurations of the Mo coordination environment facilitates the oxygen-ion migration in the structure. Based on the X-ray data, the activation energies of O atoms are calculated and the migration paths of oxygen ions in the structures are analysed. The conductivity of PM crystals is close to that of LM crystals. The O2 and O3 atoms are the main contributors to the ion conductivity of LM and PM.

Novel composite Zr/PBI-O-PhT membranes for HT-PEFC applications

Novel composite membranes for high temperature polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (HT-PEFC) based on a poly[oxy-3,3-bis(4'-benzimidazol-2″-ylphenyl)phtalide-5″(6″)-diyl] (PBI-O-PhT) polymer with small amounts of added Zr were prepared. It was shown in a model reaction between zirconium acetylacetonate (Zr(acac)4) and benzimidazole (BI) that Zr-atoms are capable to form chemical bonds with BI. Thus, Zr may be used as a crosslinking agent for PBI membranes. The obtained Zr/PBI-O-PhT composite membranes were examined by means of SAXS, thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and were tested in operating fuel cells by means of stationary voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The new membranes showed excellent stability in a 2000-hour fuel cell (FC) durability test. The modification of the PBI-O-PhT films with Zr facilitated an increase of the phosphoric acid (PA) uptake by the membranes, which resulted in an up to 2.5 times increased proton conductivity. The existence of an optimal amount of Zr content in the modified PBI-O-PhT film was shown. Larger amounts of Zr lead to a lower PA doping level and a reduced conductivity due to an excessively high degree of crosslinking.

Cell attachment on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer produced by Azotobacter chroococcum 7B

BACKGROUND

The improvement of biomedical properties, e.g. biocompatibility, of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) by copolymerization is a promising trend in bioengineering. We used strain Azotobacter chroococcum 7B, an effective producer of PHAs, for biosynthesis of not only poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and its main copolymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-HV), but also alternative copolymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PHB-PEG).

RESULTS

In biosynthesis we used sucrose as the primary carbon source and valeric acid or poly(ethylene glycol) 300 (PEG 300) as additional carbon sources. The chemical structure of PHB-PEG and PHB-HV was confirmed by 1H nuclear-magnetic resonance (1H NMR) analysis. The physico-chemical properties (molecular weight, crystallinity, hydrophilicity, surface energy) and surface morphology of films from PHB copolymers were studied. To study copolymers biocompatibility in vitro the protein adsorption and COS-1 fibroblasts growth on biopolymer films by XTT assay were analyzed. Both copolymers had changed physico-chemical properties compared to PHB homopolymer: PHB-HV and PHB-PEG had less crystallinity than PHB; PHB-HV was more hydrophobic than PHB in contrast to PHB-PEG appeared to have greater hydrophilicity than PHB; whereas the morphology of polymer films did not differ significantly. The protein adsorption to PHB-PEG was greater and more uniform than to PHB and PHB-PEG copolymer promoted better growth of COS-1 fibroblasts compared with PHB homopolymer.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, despite low EG-monomers content in bacterial origin PHB-PEG copolymer, this polymer demonstrated significant improvement in biocompatibility in contrast to PHB and PHB-HV copolymers, which may be coupled with increased protein adsorption and hydrophilicity of PEG-containing copolymer.

Phase transition in single crystal Cs2Nb4O11

We studied temperature dependence of complex capacitance, impedance, and polarized Raman spectra of single crystal Cs2Nb4O11. First, we observed a sharp lambda-shaped peak at 165 degrees C in the complex capacitance, then found drastic changes in the Raman spectra in the same temperature range. Utilizing the pseudosymmetry search of structure space group, we attributed the observed anomalies to a structural change from the room temperature orthorhombic Pnn2 to another orthorhombic Imm2. We also measured room temperature polarized Raman spectra in different symmetries of normal vibrations and assigned high wavenumber Raman bands to the internal vibrations of NbO6 octahedra and NbO4 tetrahedra.