Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of NiO-Ce1-XEuxO2-δ powders for fuel cell catalytic anodes

CeO2-based materials doped with rare earth (TR +3) can be used as alternative to traditional NiO-YSZ anodes in solid oxide fuel cells as they have higher ionic conductivity and lower ohmic losses compared to YSZ. Moreover, they allow fuel cell operation at lower temperatures (500-800°C). In the anode composition, the concentration of NiO acting as catalyst in YSZ provides high electrical conductivity and high electrochemical activity of reactions, promoting internal reform in the cell. In this work, NiO - Ce1-xEuxO2-δ compounds (x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) have been synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The materials were characterized by TG, XRD, TPR and SEM-FEG techniques. The refinement of data obtained by X-ray diffraction showed the presence of ceria doped with europium crystallized in a cubic phase with fluorite structure, in addition to the presence of NiO. The microwave-assisted hydrothermal method showed significant reduction in the average particle size and good mass control of phase compositions compared to other chemical synthesis techniques.

Parameters optimization of heat treatment for obtaining luminescent PZT powders

Low crystalline PZT powder samples were successfully synthesized using polymeric precursor method and slow decomposition steps. The polymeric resin precursor was thermal treated in a muffle type oven varying the temperature from 250 °C to 700 °C and the time from 3 to 24 hours in order to investigate the order/disorder mechanism toward the amorphous powders. Powder samples with low crystalline phases were obtained at lower temperatures and long time of thermal treatment, demonstrating a kinetic dependence for organic removal and a thermodynamic barrier for crystallization processes. Through XRD and FTIR spectroscopy characterizations the long time thermal treated samples showed to be composed of the solid solution of metal oxides in absent of organic matter, originating broad XRD peaks profiles and no carbonaceous bands in FTIR spectra. A Photoluminescence characterization showed that the peak emission is higher for disordered and homogeneous phases, which only can be reached through the long time of thermal treatment.

Influence of the preparation route on the structural, morphological and spectroscopic properties of SrTiO3 and SrTiO3:eu3+ powders

This research shows the influence of the synthesis route in the structural and morphological characteristics as well as in the luminescent properties of doped with europium and pure SrTiO3 (STO) powders prepared by microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis, MWH, and by the polymeric precursor method, PPM. The XRD at room temperature of the STO powders nominally pure obtained by PPM at 700°C for 3 hours, as well as by the MWH at 190°C by 30 minutes present all the reflection peaks for the cubic perovskite structure (JCPDS-ICDD 35-734). The morphology varies according to the synthesis route. The particles of pure STO obtained by PPM presents morphology in the form of plates and the morphology of the particles synthesized by MWH is spherical with approximately 150 nm. The photoluminescent analysis shows for pure STO wide bands associated with the transition of charge transfer from the titanates group (TiO3)2- that are centered on 450 nm. In both preparation methods the emission bands obtained in the composites spectra were found to be asymmetric and low intense. However, in the case of the STO prepared by the PPM a bigger FWHM of the band can be observed. The excitation of the samples was done using a laser (Coherent Innova) with wavelength of 350 nm.

Photocatalytic decomposition of rhodamine-B using scandium and silver-modified TiO2 Powders

Semiconductor-mediated photocatalytic oxidation is an interesting method for water decontamination and a specially modified TiO2 is said to be a promising material. This study verified that the synthesis of 1wt%Ag modified-Sc0.01Ti0.99O1.995 powder samples prepared by Polymeric Precursor Method is capable of forming a mixture of anatase-rutile phase with high photocatalytic performance. This kind of material is found to have a lower bandgap compared to the TiO2-anatase commercial powders, which can be associated to an innovative hybrid modification. The simultaneous insertion of scandium in order to generate a p-type semiconductor and a metallic silver nanophase acting as an electron trapper demonstrated being capable of enhancing the degradation of rhodamine B compared to the commercial TiO2. In spite of the different thermal treatments or phase amounts, the hybrid modified powder samples showed higher photocatalytic activity than the commercial ones.

Biomarker evaluation in fish after prolonged exposure to nano-TiO2: influence of illumination conditions and crystal phase

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

Effect of toothpaste with nano-sized trimetaphosphate on dental caries: In situ study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of alternative drying aids on water sorption of spray dried mango mix powders: a thermodynamic approach

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

Nano- and macroscale structural and mechanical properties of in situ synthesized bacterial cellulose/PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO biocomposites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Rietveld refinement and optical properties of SrWO4:Eu3+ powders prepared by the non-hydrolytic sol-gel method

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A joint experimental and theoretical study on the electronic structure and photoluminescence properties of Al-2(WO4)(3) powders

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Nano-displacement measurements of a new piezoelectric flextensional actuator by using a high dynamic range interferometry homodyne method

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Magnetically drivable nano-bio-conjugate mimicking free curcumin redox behavior

Curcumin possesses wide-ranging anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and its biological activity can be correlated to its potent antioxidant capacity. Novel maghemite (gamma-Fe3O4) nanoparticles, characterized by a diameter of about 10 nm and possessing peculiar colloidal properties and surface interactions, called Surface Active Maghemite Nanoparticles (SAMN), were superficially modified with curcumin by simple incubation, due to the presence of under-coordinated Fe(III) atoms on nanoparticle surface. The resulting curcumin-modified SAMNs (SAMN@curcumin) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR, Mossbauer, EPR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The redox properties of bound curcumin were tested by electrochemistry. Finally, SAMN@curcumin was studied in the presence of different electroactive substances, namely hydroquinone, NADH and ferrocyanide, in order to assess its electrochemical behavior. Moreover, SAMN@curcumin was electrochemically tested in the presence of one of the most diffuse reactive oxygen specie, such as hydrogen peroxide, demonstrating its stability. SAMN@curcumin in which curcumin is firmly bound, but still retaining its redox features represents a feasible adduct: a magnetically drivable nano-bio-conjugate mimicking free Curcumin redox behavior. The proposed nanostructured material could be exploited as magnetic drivable curcumin vehicle for biomedical applications.

Structural characterization of Li-MN doped powders prepared by Pechini's method

Pechini's method has been successfully used to prepare Li-doped MgNb2O6(MN) at short time and low temperature. It consists in the preparation of metal citrate solution, which is polymerized at 250°C to form a high viscous resin. This resin was burned in a box type furnace at 400°C/2h and ground in a mortar. Successive steps of calcination up to 900°C were used to form a crystalline precursor. SEM, DTA and XRD were used to characterize the powders. MN precursor powders containing from 0.1 to 5.0 mol% of LiNbO3 additive was prepared aiming better dielectric properties and microstructural characteristics of the PMN prepared from columbite route. SEM analysis showed that particles increased by sintering, forming large agglomerates. The surface area is also substantially reduced with the increase in additive amount above 1.0 mol%. In XRD pattern of the precursor material with 5.0 mol% of additive was observed the LiNbO3 phase of trigonal structure. XRD data were used for Rietveld refinement and a decrease in microstrain and pronounced increase in crystallite size with the increase of LiNbO3 were observed. It is in agreement with the particle morphologies observed by SEM analysis.

Effect of home-bleaching gels modified by calcium and/or fluoride and the application of nano-hydroxyapatite paste on in vitro enamel erosion susceptibility

This in vitro study compared the effect of bleaching agents modified by the addition of calcium and/or fluoride and the application of a nano-hydroxyapatite paste after bleaching, on the susceptibility of enamel to erosion. Bovine enamel cylindrical samples (3 mm diameter) were assigned to six groups (n = 20 specimens/group) according to the bleaching agent: no bleaching (C-control), 7.5% hydrogen peroxide gel (HP), HP with 0.5% calcium gluconate (HP+Ca), HP with 0.2% sodium fluoride (HP+F), HP with calcium and fluoride (HP+Ca+F) and HP followed by the application of a nano-hydroxyapatite agent (HP+NanoP). The gels were applied on the enamel surface (1 h) followed by cyclic erosive challenges (Sprite Zero®-2 min), for 14 days. The paste was applied after bleaching for 5 min (HP+NanoP). The enamel surface alteration was measured by contact profilometry (µm) (after 7 and 14 days). C-control (mean ± SD: 2.29 ± 0.37 at 7 days/4.86 ± 0.72 at 14 days) showed significantly lower loss compared to the experimental groups. HP+Ca (3.34 ± 0.37/6.75 ± 1.09) and HP+F (4.49 ± 0.92/7.61 ± 0.90) presented significantly lower enamel loss than HP (4.18 ± 0.50/10.30 ± 1.58) only for 14 days and HP+Ca+F (4.92 ± 1.03/8.12 ± 1.52) showed values similar to the HP+F group. The HP+NanoP (5.51 ± 1.04/9.61 ± 1.21) resulted in enamel loss similar to the HP after 14 days. It was found that 7.5% hydrogen peroxide increased the susceptibility of enamel to erosion. The addition of calcium or fluoride to the bleaching gel reduced the erosion effect, while the nano-hydroxyapatite agent did not provide any protective effect.

Osteoblast differentiation is enhanced by a nano-to-micro hybrid titanium surface created by Yb:YAG laser irradiation

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