Effect of rare earth dopants on structural and mechanical properties of nanoceria synthesized by combustion method

Structural characteristics of combustion synthesized, calcined and densified pure and doped nanoceria with tri-valent cations of Er, Y, Gd, Sm and Nd were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results showed that the as-synthesized and calcined nanopowders were mesoporous and calculated lattice parameters were close to theoretical ion-packing model. The effect of dopants on elastic modulus, microhardness and fracture toughness of sintered pure and doped ceria were investigated. It was observed that tri-valent cation dopants increased the hardness of the ceria, whereas the fracture toughness and elastic modulus were decreased.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Rare Earth Chlorination and Bromination Processes

Research funded by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department at Montana Tech investigated various methods of extracting and refining rare earth elements (REEs) from mineral ores and concentrates. Extensive thermodynamic, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses were performed to evaluate the relative stabilities of various REE compounds in order to assess potential methods for selective separation and recovery of specific REEs. Conversion of rare earth oxides (REO) to rare earth chlorides or bromides is a possible initial step in pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processing of REEs. REO can be converted to chlorides or bromides by roasting in the presence of a chloridizing or bromidizing reactant. (e.g. NH4Cl and NH4Br).

Determination of rare earth elements in geological samples using the agilent SVDV ICP-OES.

2016

Structure and magnetotransport properties of the layered manganites REl.2Srl.8Mn,07(R E = La, Pr, Nd)

We have examined the magnetotransport properties and the structure, by Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray data, of the phases RE(1.2)Sr(1.8)Mn(2)O(7) (RE = La, Pr, Nd). We find that on cooling, La1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 undergoes a transition to a nearly perfect ferromagnet with 90% magnetization at 1.45 T, as reported by earlier workers, but the Pr and Nd phases show only a small magnetization that grows gradually as the temperature is decreased. There seems to be significant correlation between electrical transport and the Jahn-Teller elongation of the apical Mn-O bonds in these systems. The elongation of the apical Mn-O bonds forces the nine-coordinate rock-salt site to be occupied preferentially by the smaller rare-earth-metal cations. This preferential occupation is reliably obtained from the X-ray refinement. All three title phases show a magnetoresistance ratio of about 4(corresponding to a magnetoresistance, [R(0)-R(H)]/R(0), of about 75%) at a field of 7 T and temperatures around 100 K.

Spin-state equilibria in the LCoO3 system from 59Co NMR

Spin-state equilibria in the whole set of LCoO3 (where L stands for a rare-earth metal or Y) have been investigated with the use of 59Co NMR as a probe for the polycrystalline samples (except Ce) in the temperature interval 110-550 K and frequency range 3- 11.6 MHz. Besides confirming the coexistence of the high-spin—low-spin state in this temperature range, a quadrupolar interaction of ∼0.1 -0.5 MHz has been detected for the first time from 59Co NMR. The NMR line shape is found to depend strongly on the relative magnitude of the magnetic and quadrupolar interactions present. Analysis of the powder pattern reveals two basically different types of transferred hyperfine interaction between the lighter and heavier members of the rare-earth series. The first three members of the lighter rare-earth metals La, Pr (rhombohedral), and Nd (tetragonal), exhibit second-order quadrupolar interaction with a zero-asymmetry parameter at lower temperatures. Above a critical temperature TS (dependent on the size of the rare-earth ion), the quadrupolar interaction becomes temperature dependent and eventually gives rise to a first-order interaction thus indicating a possible second-order phase change. Sm and Eu (orthorhombic) exhibit also a second-order quadrupolar interaction with a nonzero asymmetry parameter ((η∼0.47)) at 300 K, while the orthorhombic second-half members (Dy,..., Lu and Y) exhibit first-order quadrupolar interaction at all temperatures. Normal paramagnetic behavior, i.e., a linear variation of Kiso with T-1, has been observed in the heavier rare-earth cobaltites (Er,..., Lu and Y), whereas an anomalous variation has been observed in (La,..., Nd)CoO3. Thus, Kiso increases with increasing temperature in PrCoO3 and NdCoO3. These observations corroborate the model of the spin-state equilibria in LCoO3 originally proposed by Raccah and Goodenough. A high-spin—low-spin ratio, r=1, can be stabilized in the perovskite structure by a cooperative displacement of the oxygen atoms from the high-spin towards the low-spin cation. Where this ordering into high- and low-spin sublattices occurs at r=1, one can anticipate equivalent displacement of all near-neighbor oxygen atoms towards a low-spin cobalt ion. Thus the heavier LCoO3 exhibits a small temperature-independent first-order quadrupolar interaction. Where r<1, the high- and low-spin states are disordered, giving rise to a temperature-dependent second-order quadrupolar interaction with an anomalous Kiso for the lighter LCoO3.

Electronic phase separation in correlated oxides: The phenomenon, its present status and future prospects

Many transition metal oxide materials of high chemical purity are not necessarily monophasic. Thus, single crystals of chemically pure rare earth manganites and cobaltates of the general formula Ln1-xAxMO3 (Ln=rare earth metal, A=alkaline earth metal, M=Mn, Co) exhibit the phenomenon of electronic phase separation wherein phases of different electronic and magnetic properties coexist. Such phase separation, the length scale of which can vary anywhere between a few nanometers to microns, gives distinct signatures in X-ray and neutron diffraction patterns, electrical and magnetic properties, as well as in NMR and other spectroscopies. While the probe one employs to investigate electronic phase separation depends on the length scale, it is noteworthy that direct imaging of the inhomogeneities has been accomplished. Some understanding of this phenomenon has been possible on the basis of some of the theoretical models, but we are far from unraveling the varied aspects of this new phenomenon. Herein, we present the highlights of experimental techniques and theoretical approaches, and comment on the future outlook for this fascinating phenomenon

Reversible Insertion of a Trivalent Cation onto MnO2 Leading to Enhanced Capacitance

Supercapacitor properties of MnO2 are studied generally in aqueous alkali metal salt solutions, often in a Na salt solution. During electrochemical discharge-charge processes, Na+ ions from the electrolyte get reversibly inserted/deinserted on the surface of MnO2 particles, which leads to redox reaction between MnOONa and MnO2. In the present study, it has been shown that MnO2 exhibits enhanced capacitance behaviour in a rare earth metal salt solution, namely, La(NO3)(3) solution in comparison with NaNO3 and Mg(NO3)(2) aqueous solutions. The specific capacitance increases with an increase in charge on the solution cation (Na+, Mg2+ and La3+). It is proposed that the number of surface sites for adsorption of cations remains unaltered in all solutions. The surface insertion of cation facilitates the reduction of Mn4+ in MnO2 to Mn3+ equivalent to the charge present on the cation. As the specific capacitance is related to the quantity of charge that is exchanged between the solid MnO2 and the aqueous solution, the trivalent cation (La3+) provides greater specific capacitance than in Mg(NO3)(2) and NaNO3 electrolytes. Accordingly, the number of Mn(IV)/Mn(III) redox pairs involved in the neighbourhood of the adsorption site is one, two and three when Na+, Mg2+ and La3+ ions, respectively, are adsorbed. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. DOI: 10.1149/1.3565177] All rights reserved.

Thermodynamic properties of oxygen in RE-O (RE = Gd, Tb, Dy, Er) solid solutions

The oxygen potentials of four rare-earth metal – oxygen (RE–O: RE=Gd, Dy, Tb, Er) solid solutions have been measured by equilibration with yttrium – oxygen (Y–O) and titanium – oxygen (Ti–O) solid solutions. Rare-earth metal, yttrium and titanium samples were immersed in calcium-saturated CaCl2 melt at temperatures between 1093 and 1233 K. Homogeneous oxygen potential was established in the metallic samples through the fused salt, which contains some dissolved CaO. The metallic samples were analyzed for oxygen after quenching. The oxygen potentials of RE–O solid solutions were determined using either Y–O or Ti–O solid solution as the reference. This method enabled reliable measurement of extremely low oxygen potentials at high temperature (circa pO2=10−48 atm at 1173 K). It was found that the oxygen affinity of the metals decreases in the order: Y>Er>Dy>Tb>Gd>Ti. Values for the standard Gibbs energy of solution of oxygen in RE metals obtained in this study, permit assessment of the extent of deoxidation that can be achieved with various purification techniques. It may be possible to achieve an oxygen level of 10 mass ppm using an electrochemical deoxidation method.

Electrochemical deoxidation of RE–O (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Er) solid solutions

The removal of oxygen from rare-earth metals (RE, RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Er) by an electrochemical deoxidation method was investigated. A titanium basket containing the rare-earth metal sample, submerged in molten CaCl2 electrolyte, formed the cathode of an electrolysis cell. A high-purity graphite anode was used. The calcium metal produced at the cathode effectively deoxidized the rare-earth metal. Carbon monoxide and dioxide were generated at the graphite anode. Rare-earth metals containing more than 2000 mass ppm oxygen were deoxidized to 10–50 mass ppm level by electrolysis at 1189 K for 36 ks (10 h). Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the molten salt at different stages of the process. The effectiveness of the process is discussed with the aid of a chemical potential diagram for RE–O solid solutions. The new electrochemical technique is compared with the conventional deoxidation methods reported in the literature. The possibility of nitrogen removal from the rare-earth metals by the electrochemical method is outlined.

含氮氧磷多齿配体稀土烷基配合物的合成、表征及催化丙交酯聚合

1. 合成了三齿水杨醛稀土配合物，发现配体中含有柔性取代基易生成均配物，而刚性较强的配体生成单烷基配合物。考察了单体浓度、聚合时间等因素对配合物催化丙交酯聚合活性的影响。 2. 以含二苯基膦苯胺的β-二酮单亚胺三齿配体合成了双配体单烷基稀土配合物，空间位阻比较大，因而引发丙交酯聚合的速度比较快。 3. 合成了含甲氧基侧基的芳氧胺四齿双烷基配合物，并合成了芳氧胺与茂（茚）混配的稀土单烷基配合物。首次将它们用于丙交酯的聚合，实验结果发现，双烷基配合物中的双烷基是作为双活性中心起作用的。 4. 合成了含双吡咯烷的稀土烷基配合物，将之应用于丙交酯的聚合，发现位阻大的配合物催化聚合可控性好。并应用双吡咯烷配合物进行了丙交酯和己内酯的共聚合研究。

噻吩胺基稀土配合物的合成、表征

本论文共合成了两种类型12个稀土金属配合物和一个硅化合物,分别对它们进行了红外、核磁等表征，对其中的9个配合物进行了晶体结构的测定。考察了配体结构和反应条件对所生成的配合物结构的影响，研究了稀土单烷基配合物的反应性，以及稀土双烷基配合物在烷基铝和有机硼盐的共同作用下对丁二烯聚合的催化活性和选择性。主要工作内容和结论如下： (1) 合成了噻吩苯胺配体(HL1)，该配体与(Lu，Y)稀土三烷基化合物反应，通过C–H活化和烷基消除反应制备了稀土(Lu，Y)单烷基配合物1和2，配体以少见的C，N模式配位，S原子并不参与配位。配体(HL1)与Sc三烷基化合物反应制备了配体分别以C, N和N, S配位的双配的Sc配合物5。 (2) 通过改变反应时间和溶剂体系，HL1与稀土钇三烷基化合物反应可得到罕见的由稀土烷基化物和胺化物两部分组成的配合物3，它们通过噻吩环上活化的C原子连接在一起。HL1和Lu(CH2SiMe3)2(THF)2LiCH2SiMe3在甲苯和正己烷溶剂中反应可得到以L12Lu(CH2SiMe3)2为阴离子，Li(THF)4为阳离子的离子对4。 (3) 研究配合物1和2的反应性。1和2与过量的PhSiH3反应得到中心金属与Si元素交换的Si化合物。 (4) 合成了噻吩苯基膦胺配体(HL2-4)和苯基膦胺配体(HL5)配体。HL2-5与稀土(Y, Lu和Sc)三烷基化合物反应制备了稀土双烷基配合物6，7，8，9，10，11和12。进一步研究了稀土金属双烷基配合物6–12对丁二烯的催化特性，发现该系列催化剂具有独特的催化性质，能够催化丁二烯高反1，4-聚合（91.3%），得到的聚合物分子量在1到2万之间，分子量分布较窄(1.4–1.6)。 (5) 研究了金属钇(Y)，镥(Lu)，钪(Sc)三种中心金属对丁二烯聚合活性和反式1，4选择性的影响，发现催化剂对丁二烯聚合活性和反1，4选择性取决于配合物的中心金属原子，其中选择性最高为钪配合物，催化活性最佳的为钇配合物。 (6) 研究了配体HL2-4的N-芳环上的取代基分别为甲基，乙基，异丙基时催化体系对丁二烯反式1，4聚合活性和选择性的影响，发现随着N-芳环上取代基空间位阻的增大，催化剂活性逐渐下降，选择性逐渐增加，但当其取代基为异丙基时，过大的空间位阻导致活性和选择性同时有明显的下降。我们通过改变噻吩基为苯基，比较了相同聚合条件下含噻吩基的稀土双烷基配合物和含苯基的稀土双烷基配合物对丁二烯聚合活性和选择性的影响，发现噻吩环的存在对催化剂的活性和选择性有较大的影响。 (7) 在相同催化剂条件下，研究了不同聚合条件(不同类型的AlR3，不同类型的Borate，Al/Ln比等)对丁二烯反1，4聚合活性和选择性的影响。 我们发现，在AlR3和Borate这两种影响因素中，以烷基铝的类型对催化剂催化活性和选择性的影响最大，而有机硼盐的影响则比较轻微，其中以烷基铝为AliBu3，Borate为[B(C6F5)4][Me2NHPh]时，反1，4选择性为最佳。Al/Ln增大并不能够显著增加催化剂的活性，对选择性的影响也并不明显，相反，随着铝比的增加，聚合过程中的链转移增加，导致分子量下降，对于该系列稀土烷基催化剂，最佳Ln/Al 为10。

Properties of complex of Tb(III) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-styrene) core-shell nanoparticles

We successfully prepared a new kind of thermoresponsive and fluorescent complex of Tb(III) and PNIPAM-g-P(NIPAM-co-St) (PNNS) core-shell nanoparticle. It was found that Tb(III) mainly bonded to 0 of the carbonyl groups of PNNS, forming the novel (PNIPAM-g-P(NIPAM-co-St))-Tb(III) (PNNS-Tb(III)) complex. The maximum emission intensity of the complex at 545 nm is enhanced about 223 times comparing to that of the pure Tb(III). The intramolecular energy transfer efficiency from PNNS to Tb(III) reaches 50%. When the weight ratio of Tb(III) and the PNNS-Tb(III) complex is 1.2 wt.%, the enhancement of the emission fluorescence intensity at 545 nm is highest.

Dy3+- and Eu3+-doped LaGaO3 nanocrystalline phosphors for field emission displays

Nanocyrstalline LaGaO3 and Dy3+- and Eu3+-doped LaGaO3 were prepared through a Pechini-type sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence spectra, and lifetimes were utilized to characterize the samples. XRD reveals that the samples begin to crystallize at 900 degrees C and pure LaGaO3 phase can be obtained at 1000 degrees C. FE-SEM images indicate that the Dy3+- and Eu3+-doped LaGaO3 samples are both composed of aggregated spherical particles with sizes ranging from 40 to 80 nm. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light and low voltage electron beams (1-5 kV), the undoped LaGaO3 sample shows a strong blue emission peaking at 433 nm, and the Dy3+- and Eu3+-doped LaGaO3 samples show their characteristic emissions of Dy3+ (F-4(9/2)-H-6(15/2) and F-4(9/2)-H-6(13/2) transitions) and Eu3+ (D-5(0,1,2)-F-7(1,2,3,4) transitions), respectively. The relevant luminescence mechanisms are discussed.

Laser-time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in immunoassays

This paper described a laser-excited time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay set. It made lanthanide ion to couple the anhydrde of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPAA) for labeling antibodies. The experiment used polystyrene tap coated with HCV antigen as the solid phase and a chelate of the rare earth metal europium as fluorescent label. A nitrogen laser beam was used to excite the Eu3+ chelates and after 60 ys delay time,the emission fluorescence was measured. Background fluorescence of short lifetimes caused by serum components and Raman scattering can be eliminated by set the delay rime. In the system condition, fluorescent spectra and fluorescent lifetimes of Eu3+ beta-naphthoyltrifluroacetone (NTA) chelates were measured. The fluorescent lifetime value is 650 mu s. The maximum emssion wavelength is 613 nm. The linear range of europium ion concentration is 1 x 10(-7)- 1 x 10(-11) g.mL(-1) and the detection limit is 1 x 10(-13) g.mL(-1). The relative standard deviation of determination ( n = 12) for samples at 0.01 ng.mL(-1) magnitude is 6.4%. Laser-TRFIA was also found to be suitable for diagnosis of HCV. The sensitvity and specificity were comparable to enzyme immunoassay. The result was obtained with laser-TRFIA for 29 human correlated well with enzyme immunoassay.

Solid acid-catalyzed dehydration/Beckmann rearrangement of aldoximes: towards high atom efficiency green processes

Rare earth metal ion exchanged (La3+, Ce3+, RE3+) KFAU-Y zeolites were prepared by simple ion-exchange methods and have been characterized using different physico-chemical techniques. In this paper a novel application of solid acid catalysts in the dehydration/ Beckmann rearrangement of aldoximes; benzaldoxime and 4-methoxybenzaldoxime is reported. Dehydration/Beckmann rearrangement reactions of benzaldoxime and 4-methoxybenzaldoxime is carried out in a continuous down flow reactor at 473K. 4-Methoxybenzaldoxime gave both Beckmann rearrangement product (4-methoxyphenylformamide) and dehydration product (4-methoxybenzonitrile) in high overall yields. The difference in behavior of the aldoximes is explained in terms of electronic effects. The production of benzonitrile was near quantitative under heterogeneous reaction conditions. The optimal protocol allows nitriles to be synthesized in good yields through the dehydration of aldoximes. Time on stream studies show a fast decline in the activity of the catalyst due to neutralization of acid sites by the basic reactant and product molecules.