Surface structure and electronic properties of Pt-Fe/C nanocatalysts and their relation with catalytic activity for oxygen reduction

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Solid state reactions in the platinum-mercury system

Thermogravimetry, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and other analytical techniques (Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis; Scanning Electron Microscopy; Mapping Surface; X-ray Diffraction; Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy and Cold Vapor Generation Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) have been used to study the reaction of mercury with platinum foils. The results suggest that, when heated, the electrodeposited Hg film reacts with Pt to form intermetallic compounds each having a different stability, indicated by at least three mass loss steps. Intermetallic compounds such as PtHg4, PtHg and PtHg2 were characterized by XRD. These intermetallic compounds were the main products formed on the surface of the samples after partial removal of bulk mercury via thermal desorption. The Pt(Hg) solid solution formation caused great surface instability, attributed to the atomic size factor between Hg and Pt, facilitating the acid solution's attack to the surface.

Thermogravimetry (TG) applied to the study of the reaction of mercury with platinum-rhodium alloy

Thermogravimetry (TG) energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mapping surface, X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy and atomic spectroscopy with cold vapor generation have been used to study the reaction of mercury with platinum-rhodium (Pt-Rh) alloy. The results suggest that, the electrodeposited Hg film reacts with Pt-Rh to form intermetallic compounds of different stability, when heated indicated by at least four weight loss steps. Intermetallic compounds as PtHg4 and PtHg2 was characterized by XRD. These intermetallic compound are the main product presents on the surface of the samples after remotion of the bulk mercury via thermal desorption techniques. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of the annealing temperature effect on the structural and luminescent properties of SrWO4:Eu phosphors prepared by a non-hydrolytic sol-gel process

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Rietveld refinement, microstructure, conductivity and impedance properties of Ba[Zr0.25Ti0.75]O-3 ceramic

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

(Sr,Tm)ZrO3 powders prepared by the polymeric precursor method: Synthesis, optical properties and morphological characteristics

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morphology and Photoluminescence of HfO2 Obtained by Microwave-Hydrothermal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ferroelectric SBN thin films grown by an SBN/Bi2O3 PLD sequential process

Ferroelectric SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) using a sequential deposition process from two SBN and Bi2O3 targets. This route allows for bismuth enrichment of the film composition in order to improve the ferroelectric characteristics. Structural and microstructural characterizations were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of films and targets was determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). The deposition temperature, which provided well-crystallized layered perovskite SBN phase films in situ, was found to be 700°C. The results were compared with those obtained for SBN films deposited at 400°C and then crystallized ex situ. For an ex situ annealing temperature of 750°C, a remanent polarization value (Pr) of 23.2 μc/cm2 and a coercive field (Ec) of 112 kV/cm were measured. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dental implants: Surface modification of cp-Ti using plasma spraying and the deposition of hydroxyapatite

The commercial pure titanium (cp-Ti) is currently being used with great success in dental implants. In this work we investigate how the cp-Ti implants can be improved by modifying the metal surface morphology, on which a synthetic material with properties similar to that of the inorganic part of the bone, is deposited to facilitate the bone/implant bonding. This synthetic material is the hydroxyapatite, HA, a calcium-phosphate ceramic. The surface modification consists in the application of a titanium oxide (TiO2) layer, using the thermal aspersion - plasma spray technique, with posterior deposition of HA, using the biomimetic method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) techniques have been used for characterizing phases, microstructures and morphologies of the coatings. The TiO2 deposit shows a mixture of anatase, rutilo and TiO2-x phases, and a porous and laminar morphology, which facilitate the HA deposition. After the thermal treatment, the previously amorphous structured HA coating, shows a porous homogeneous morphology with particle size of about 2-2.5 μm, with crystallinity and composition similar to that of the biological HA.

Phase transformations in the Cu-Al alloy with Ag addition

The effect of Ag addition on the phase transformations that occur in the Cu-10% Al alloy was studied using differential thermal analysis, scanning electron and optical microscopies and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The results indicated that Ag addition is responsible for the separation of the reverse martensitic transformation in two stages, and for the refinement of the α-phase grains. The relative amount of the β1 martensitic phase, retained on slow cooling (above 2 K min-1 of cooling rate), and the relative fraction of phase α2 are increased. The solubility limit of Ag in the matrix is close to 6 mass% and at this concentration the maximum stability of the β-phase is reached. © 2005 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.

Bacterial cellulose-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for bone regeneration

The aim of this study was to develop and to evaluate the biological properties of bacterial cellulose-hydroxyapatite (BC-HA) nanocomposite membranes for bone regeneration. Nanocomposites were prepared from bacterial cellulose membranes sequentially incubated in solutions of CaCl2 followed by Na2HPO4. BC-HA membranes were evaluated in noncritical bone defects in rat tibiae at 1, 4, and 16 weeks. Thermogravimetric analyses showed that the amount of the mineral phase was 40-50 of the total weight. Spectroscopy, electronic microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray analyses, and X-ray diffraction showed formation of HA crystals on BC nanofibres. Low crystallinity HA crystals presented Ca/P a molar ratio of 1.5 (calcium-deficient HA), similar to physiological bone. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis showed bands assigned to phosphate and carbonate ions. In vivo tests showed no inflammatory reaction after 1 week. After 4 weeks, defects were observed to be completely filled in by new bone tissue. The BC-HA membranes were effective for bone regeneration. © 2011 S. Saska et al.

Ethanol electro-oxidation in an alkaline medium using Pd/C, Au/C and PdAu/C electrocatalysts prepared by electron beam irradiation

Carbon-supported Pd, Au and bimetallic PdAu (Pd:Au 90:10, 50:50 and 30:70 atomic ratios) electrocatalysts were prepared using electron beam irradiation. The obtained materials were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their catalytic activities toward ethanol electro-oxidation were evaluated in an alkaline medium using electrochemical techniques, in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis and a single alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell (ADEFC). EDX analyses showed that the actual Pd: Au atomic ratios were very similar to the nominal ones. X-ray diffractograms of PdAu/C electrocatalysts evidenced the presence of Pd-rich (fcc) and Au-rich (fcc) phases. TEM analysis showed a homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles on the carbon support, with an average size in the range of 3-5 nm and broad size distributions. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) experiments revealed the superior ambient activity toward ethanol electro-oxidation of PdAu/C electrocatalysts with Pd: Au ratios of 90:10 and 50:50. In situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy measurements have shown that the mechanism for ethanol electro-oxidation is dependent on catalyst composition, leading to different reaction products, such as acetaldehyde and acetate, depending on the number of electrons transferred. Experiments on a single ADEFC were conducted between 50 and 900 C, and the best performance of 44 mW cm-2 in 2.0molL-1 ethanol was obtained at 850C for the Pd:Au 90:10 catalysts. This superior performance is most likely associated with enhancement of ethanol adsorption on Pd, oxidation of the intermediates, the presence of gold oxide-hydroxyl species, low mean particle diameters and better distribution of particles on the support. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estudo da eletrocatálise da reação de oxidação de etanol sobre fases intermetálicas ordenadas Pt-M (M = Mn,Mo, Pb, Sb e Sn)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Reação de redução de oxigênio sobre perovskitas La1-xSrxFeyCo1-yO3-δ, para células a combustível de óxido sólido (SOFC)

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC

Nanocompósitos baseados em celulose bacteriana para aplicações ópticas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)