Synthesis and magnetic characterization of nickel ferrite nanoparticles prepared by co-precipitation route

Magnetic nanoparticles of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) have been synthesized by co-precipitation route using stable ferric and nickel salts with sodium hydroxide as the precipitating agent and oleic acid as the surfactant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses confirmed the formation of single-phase nickel ferrite nanoparticles in the range 8-28 nm depending upon the annealing temperature of the samples during the synthesis. The size of the particles (d) was observed to be increasing linearly with annealing temperature of the sample while the coercivity with particle size goes through a maximum, peaking at similar to 11 nm and then decreases for larger particles. Typical blocking effects were observed below similar to 225 K for all the prepared samples. The superparamagnetic blocking temperature (T-B) was found to be increasing with increasing particle size that has been attributed to the increased effective anisotropy energy of the nanoparticles. The saturation moment of all the samples was found much below the bulk value of nickel ferrite that has been attributed to the disordered surface spins or dead/inert layer in these nanoparticles. (c) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Structural and PL properties of Cu-doped ZnO films

Cu-doped ZnO films with hexagonal wurtzite structure were deposited on silicon (1 1 1) substrates by radio frequency (RF) sputtering technique. An ultraviolet (UV) peak at similar to 380nm and a blue band centered at similar to 430nm were observed in the room temperature photoluminescent (PL) spectra. The UV emission peak was from the exciton transition. The blue emission band was assigned to the Zn interstitial (Zn-i) and Zn vacancy (V-Zn) level transition. A strong blue peak (similar to 435 nm) was observed in the PL spectra when the alpha(Cu) (the area ratio of Cu-chips to the Zn target) was 1.5% at 100 W, and ZnO films had c-axis preferred orientation and smaller lattice mismatch. The influence of alpha(Cu) and the sputtering power on the blue band was investigated.

Liquid-phase hydrodechlorination of chlorinated benzenes over active carbon supported nickel catalysts under mild conditions

Liquid phase hydrodechlorination of chlorinated benzenes was studied over Ni/active carbon (Ni/AC), Ni/gamma-Al2O3, Ni/SiO2 and Raney Ni. The complete dechlorination of chlorobenzene (ClBz) was realized at 333-343 K on Ni/AC under hydrogen atmosphere of 1.0 MPa in the presence of alkaline hydroxide. Dichloro- and trichlorobenzenes were also hydrodechlorinated with 50-95% yields of benzene under the similar conditions, as above. The reaction follows zero-order to ClBz concentration and 1.9 order to hydrogen pressure. The reaction does not proceed in the absence of alkaline hydroxide, suggesting the complete coverage of active nickel surface with produced chlorine and the removal of the chlorine ion with hydroxide ion as a rate-limiting step. The active catalysts were characterized by H-2 chemisorption and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The apparent activity strongly depends on the active area of nickel on catalyst surface. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Direct synthesis of Al-SBA-15 mesoporous materials via hydrolysis-controlled approach

Aluminum-substituted mesoporous SBA-15 (Al-SBA-15) materials were directly synthesized by a hydrolysis-controlled approach in which the hydrolysis of the silicon precursor (tetraethyl orthosilicate, TEOS) is accelerated by fluoride or by using tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) as silicon precursor rather than TEOS. These materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 sorption isotherms, TEM, Al-27 MAS NMR, IR spectra of pyridine adsorption, and NH3-TPD. It is found that the matched hydrolysis and condensation rates of silicon and aluminum precursors are important factors to achieve highly ordered mesoporous materials. Al-27 MAS NMR spectra of Al-SBA-15 show that all aluminum species were incorporated into the silica framework for the samples prepared with the addition of fluoride. A two-step approach (sol-gel reaction at low pH followed by crystallization at high pH) was also employed for the synthesis of Al-SBA-15. Studies show that the two-step approach could efficiently avoid the leaching of aluminum from the framework of the material. The calcined Al-SBA-15 materials show highly ordered hexagonal mesostructure and have both Bronsted and Lewis acid sites with medium acidity.

Synthesis of carbon nanotube bundles with mesoporous structure by a self-assembly solvothermal route

A kind of carbon nanotube bundle has been synthesized by a simple one-step solvothermal reaction between Na and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) using NiCl2 as catalyst precursor. Before the reaction, NiCl2 was initially dispersed ultrasonically in cyclohexane then prereduced by Na at 230degreesC to produce small Ni particles in reduced state. The tubes thus-produced have a uniform outer diameter of about 20 nm, an inner diameter of 4 nm, and are highly ordered assembled as bundles which have a 2D hexagonal arrangement as proven by SAXS and TEM experiments.

A mathematical model of crevice and pitting corrosion—I. The physical model

A predictive and self-consistent mathematical model incorporating the electrochemical, chemical and ionic migration processes characterizing the propagation stage of crevice and pitting corrosion in metals is described. The model predicts the steady-state solution chemistry and electrode kinetics (and hence metal penetration rates) within an active corrosion cavity as a function of the many parameters on which these depend, such as external electrode potential and crevice dimensions. The crevice is modelled as a parallel-sided slot filled with a dilute sodium chloride solution. The cavity propagation rates are found to be faster in the case of a crevice with passive walls than one with active walls. The distribution of current over the internal surface of a crevice with corroding walls can be assessed using this model, giving an indication of the future shape of the cavity. The model is extended to include a solid hydroxide precipitation reaction and considers the effect of consequent changes in the chemical and physical environment within the crevice on the predicted corrosion rates. In this paper, the model is applied to crevice and pitting corrosion in carbon steel.

Synthesis and properties of two kinds of CPVC carboxylated ionic copolymers

In the present work, two kinds of CPVC carboxylated ionic copolymers were prepared by a new method. First, a graft copolymer (CPVC-cg-AA) comprising of polyacrylic acid (PAA) as branched chains and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) as backbone was synthesized by in-situ chlorinating graft copolymerization (ISCGC). Second, the acid groups of the graft copolymer were neutralized by sodium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide, respectively in order to prepare carboxylated ionic copolymers.

Structure and electrochemical characteristics of melted composite Ti0.10Zr0.15V0.35Cr0.10Ni0.30-LaNi5 hydrogen storage alloys

The structure and electrochemical characteristics of melted composite Ti0.10Zr0.15V0.35Cr0.10Ni0.30+x% LaNi5 (x=0, 1, 5 and 10) hydrogen storage alloys have been investigated systematically. XRD shows that the matrix phase structure of V-based solid solution phase with a BCC structure and C14 Laves phase with hexagonal structure is not changed after adding LaNi5 alloy. However, the amount of the secondary phase increases with increasing LaNi5 content. Field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS) shows that the C14 Laves phase contains more Zr and the white lard phase has a composition close to (Zr, Ti)(V, Cr, Ni, La)(2).

Structures and electrochemical characteristics of Ti0.26Zr0.07V0.24Mn0.1Ni0.33Mox (x=0-0.1) hydrogen storage alloys

Microstructures and electrochemical properties of Ti0.26Zr0.07V0.21Mn0.1Ni0.33Mox (x=0,0.025,0.05,0.075, 0.10) electrode alloys have been investigated. The results of XRD analysis show that the alloys are mainly composed of V-based solid solution phase with body centered cubic (bcc) structure and C14 Laves phase with hexagonal structure. The addition of Mo element can imp ove the activation characteristics, maximum discharge capacity and cyclic durability for the electrode alloys

Preparation and characterization of Gd2O3:Eu3+ luminescence nanotubes

The size controllable Gd2O3:Eu3+ luminescence nanotubes were successfully prepared using a simple method by coating gadolinium compounds on the carbon nanotubes and then firing the carbon nanotubes. The morphology of the obtained Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanotubes was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the obtained nanotubes have the outer diameters of similar to 100 nm, the inner diameters of similar to 50 nm, and the lengths of several tens of microns. The sizes of Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanotubes can be easily controlled by changing the reaction times and the concentration of reactants.

Combustion synthesis and luminescent properties of the Eu3+-doped yttrium oxysulfide nanocrystalline

Nanocrystallinc Y2O2S:Eu3+ was successfully prepared with a combustion synthesis method, the corresponding bulk Y2O2S:Eu3+ was synthesized by conventional sulfur flux method. The results of XRD indicated that both bulk and nanocrystalline Y2O2S:Eu3+ have Pure hexagonal phases. The crystallite size was calculated to be about 20 nm according to Scherrer formula, which was consistent with the size as indicated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).