Use of a Reflectance Spectroscopy Accessory for Optical Characterization of ZnO-Bi(2)O(3)-TiO(2) Ceramics

The optical band-gap energy (E(g)) is an important feature of semiconductors which determines their applications in optoelectronics. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the electronic states of ceramic ZnO and the effect of doped impurities under different processing conditions. E(g) of the ceramic ZnO + xBi(2)O(3) + xTiO(2), where x = 0.5 mol%, was determined using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer attached to a Reflectance Spectroscopy Accessory for powdered samples. The samples was prepared using the solid-state route and sintered at temperatures from 1140 to 1260 °C for 45 and 90 minutes. E(g) was observed to decrease with an increase of sintering temperature. XRD analysis indicated hexagonal ZnO and few small peaks of intergranular layers of secondary phases. The relative density of the sintered ceramics decreased and the average grain size increased with the increase of sintering temperature.     

Thermal Decomposition of Divanadium Pentoxide V2O5: Towards a Nanocrystalline V2O3 Phase

Thermal decomposition of V₂O₅ was studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). Samples were heated in a specimen chamber of an electron microscope up to 600 °C in vacuum at 10^-7 Torr. TEM and EELS reveal a sequence of transformations from V₂O₅ via VO₂ to V₂O₃, which differs from the electron-beam-induced reduction of V₂O₅. The phase transformation does not proceed topotactically. Our observation reveals that the initial thermal decomposition of V₂O₅ to V₂O₃ is followed by a combination of diffusion, coalescence, and stabilization processes. Our experiments open a new way for the preparation of single-crystalline V₂O₃ nano-particles.     

Infrared Study of Er(3+)/Yb(3+) Co-Doped GeO(2)-PbO-Bi(2)O(3) Glass

Heavy metal oxide glasses, containing bismuth and/or lead in their glass structure are new alternatives for rare eart (RE) doped hosts. Hence, the study of the structure of these vitreous systems is of great interest for science and technology. In this research work, GeO(2)-PbO-Bi(2)O(3) glass host doped with Er(3+)/Yb(3+) ions was synthesized by a conventional melt quenching method. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results showed that PbO and Bi(2)O(3) participate with PbO(4) tetragonal pyramids and strongly distort BiO(6) octahedral units in the glass network, which subsequently act as modifiers in glass structure. These results also confirmed the existence of both four and six coordination of germanium oxide in glass matrix.     

Sorption of ethene and ethane on the V2O5(001)/TiO2(001) anatase interface

Simulation techniques have been employed to investigate the differences in the low energy adsorption configurations of ethene and ethane on the TiO₂ supported and unsupported V₂O₅(001) surface. We find that the ethene molecule approaches much closer to thesupported V₂O₅(001) surface which is reflected in the 40 kj mol^–1 higher adsorption energy. The low energy adsorption configuration located for ethane on the supported V₂O₅ shows that the molecule does not approach as close to the supported V₂O₅ surface as does ethene, resulting in the adsorption energy of ethane being 52 kJ mol^–1 lower than that of ethene on the supported V₂O₅ surface.     

Electron-Beam-Induced Structural Variations of Divanadium Pentoxide (V2O5) at Liquid Helium Temperature

The electron-beam-induced changes in V₂O₅ crystals were investigated by means of electron microscopy at liquid helium temperature (4.2 K). We obtained high-resolution images of this system, but observed an amorphization process during a prolonged exposure to the electron beam. The average oxidation state of the amorphous phase was estimated to be about 4+. This phase was stable at room temperature, but a partial recrystallization occurs by further irradiation at room temperature and it can be reduced to VO. These observations are discussed with respect to the reduced diffusion rate of oxygen and lattice collapses at this very low temperature.     

Reactivity of V2O5/MgF2 Catalysts for the Selective Ammoxidation of 3-Picoline

V₂O₅/MgF₂ catalysts with V₂O₅ contents ranging from 2.1 to 15.7 wt% were prepared, and the influence of the V₂O₅ content of the V₂O₅/MgF₂ catalyst on the structure and activity for the ammoxidation of 3-picoline was investigated. XRD data indicate that V₂O₅ is in a highly dispersed state though segregation of V₂O₅ into tiny crystallites occurs at and above 8 wt% V₂O₅. The 3-picoline ammoxidation activity increased with an increase in V₂O₅ content due not only to the species arising out of interaction of V₂O₅ and MgF₂, but also to the presence of V₂O₅ microcrystals in the catalysts.     

Oxidation of toluene to benzoic acid over modified V2O5-TiO2 catalyst with SeO2, TeO2 and Sb2O3

It was found that the addition of SeO₂, TeO₂ or Sb₂O₃ to a V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst greatly improved the catalytic activity in the vapor phase oxidation of toluene to selectively form benzoic acid.     

Electronic Structure of Unsaturated V2O5(001) and (100) Surfaces: Ab Initio Density Functional Theory Studies

Vanadium oxides based materials are well known to play an active role as catalysts in many chemical processes of technological importance like for example hydrocarbon oxidation reactions or selective catalytic reduction of NO _x in the presence of ammonia. Usually the (010) surface is pointed out as the most important, however one has to underline that other low-indices surfaces are by far less studied. In the present study the electronic structure of V₂O₅(001) and (100) surfaces are determined by ab initio DFT methods using gradient-corrected RPBE exchange-correlation functional. As models of surface sections different embedded V₁₄O₄₅H₂₀, V₁₄O₄₄H₁₈, and V₂₁O₆₅H₂₅ clusters are considered for the (001) surface and V₁₂O₄₀H₂₀, V₁₄O₄₆H₂₂, V₁₆O₅₂H₂₄ for the (100) surface. Detailed analyses of the electronic structure of each cluster are performed using charge density distributions, Mayer bond orders, electrostatic potential maps, character of frontier orbitals, and density of states (total as well as partial, atom projected). Results of the calculations show that overall negative charge of the surface oxygen sites scales with their coordination independent of the surface orientation. Terminal oxygen O(1) is charged the least negatively while doubly coordinated atoms –O(2) and O^e(2) have charge twice as large. This indicates that bridging (for (001) and (100) netplanes) and edging (only for (001) netplane) oxygen sites are more nucleophilic than terminal vanadyl sites, which becomes important in view of the reactivity of the different sites for surface chemical reactions. Vanadium atoms present at these surfaces are positively charged (electrophilic) and may play a role of electron acceptors. The unsaturated surfaces show a strong tendency to surface relaxation that manifest by large relaxation energies.     

Tribochemical Modification of the Microstructure of V2O5

The tribochemical activation of vanadium pentoxide V₂O₅ is studied by means of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The two-stage process can be described as crushing of large crystals into small ones (macroscopic process) followed by amorphisation and reagglomeration of the fragments (microscopic process). No milling equilibrium state can be found. Energy-loss spectra reveal the reduction of vanadium via oxygen loss. The formation and distribution of V⁴⁺ or V³⁺ species depends on the history of milling.     

The Synergistic Effect of Adsorption-Photocatalysis for Removal of Organic Pollutants on Mesoporous Cu2V2O7/Cu3V2O8/g-C3N4 Heterojunction

Cu₂V₂O₇/Cu₃V₂O₈/g-C₃N₄ heterojunctions (CVCs) were prepared successfully by the reheating synthesis method. The thermal etching process increased the specific surface area. The formation of heterojunctions enhanced the visible light absorption and improved the separation efficiency of photoinduced charge carriers. Therefore, CVCs exhibited superior adsorption capacity and photocatalytic performance in comparison with pristine g-C₃N₄ (CN). CVC-2 (containing 2 wt% of Cu₂V₂O₇/Cu₃V₂O₈) possessed the best synergistic removal efficiency for removal of dyes and antibiotics, in which 96.2% of methylene blue (MB), 97.3% of rhodamine B (RhB), 83.0% of ciprofloxacin (CIP), 86.0% of tetracycline (TC) and 80.5% of oxytetracycline (OTC) were eliminated by the adsorption and photocatalysis synergistic effect under visible light irradiation. The pseudo first order rate constants of MB and RhB photocatalytic degradation on CVC-2 were 3 times and 10 times that of pristine CN. For photocatalytic degradation of CIP, TC and OTC, it was 3.6, 1.8 and 6.1 times that of CN. DRS, XPS VB and ESR results suggested that CVCs had the characteristics of a Z-scheme photocatalytic system. This study provides a reliable reference for the treatment of real wastewater by the adsorption and photocatalysis synergistic process.     

SO2 oxidation over the V2O5/TiO2 SCR catalyst

The effects of V₂O₅ loading of the V₂O₅/TiO₂ SCR catalyst on SO₂ oxidation activity were examined by infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT) and SO₂ oxidation measurement. Vanadium oxide added to the catalyst was found to be well dispersed over the TiO₂ carrier until covered with monolayer V₂O₅. The rate of SO₂ oxidation increased almost linearly with V₂O₅ loading below the monolayer capacity and attained saturation with further increase. The hydroxyl groups bonded to vanadium atoms, V–OH, might be altered by SO₂ oxidation. Both V=O and V–OH groups are likely involved in the adsorption and desorption of SO₂ and SO₃.     

Magnetoelectricity in CoFe2O4 nanocrystal-P(VDF-HFP) thin films

Transition metal ferrites such as CoFe₂O₄, possessing a large magnetostriction coefficient and high Curie temperature (T_c > 600 K), are excellent candidates for creating magnetic order at the nanoscale and provide a pathway to the fabrication of uniform particle-matrix films with optimized potential for magnetoelectric coupling. Here, a series of 0–3 type nanocomposite thin films composed of ferrimagnetic cobalt ferrite nanocrystals (8 to 18 nm) and a ferroelectric/piezoelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene), P(VDF-HFP), were prepared by multiple spin coating and cast coating over a thickness range of 200 nm to 1.6 μm. We describe the synthesis and structural characterization of the nanocrystals and composite films by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, STEM, and SEM, as well as dielectric and magnetic properties, in order to identify evidence of cooperative interactions between the two phases. The CoFe₂O₄ polymer nanocomposite thin films exhibit composition-dependent effective permittivity, loss tangent, and specific saturation magnetization (M_s). An enhancement of the effective permittivity and saturation magnetization of the CoFe₂O₄-P(VDF-HFP) films was observed and directly compared with CoFe₂O₄-polyvinylpyrrolidone, a non-ferroelectric polymer-based nanocomposite prepared by the same method. The comparison provided evidence for the observation of a magnetoelectric effect in the case of CoFe₂O₄-P(VDF-HFP), attributed to a magnetostrictive/piezoelectric interaction. An enhancement of M_s up to +20.7% was observed at room temperature in the case of the 10 wt.% CoFe₂O₄-P(VDF-HFP) sample.     

铬酸酐掺杂V2O5制备高红外反射率氧化铬绿颜料

研究了铬酸酐热分解制备高性能红外反射氧化铬绿颜料,在优化现有铬酸酐热分解工艺的基础上,详细探讨了掺杂制备红外反射氧化铬绿颜料的工艺条件和相关机理。借助UV-vis-NIR、FT-IR、SEM、XRD和CIE-L^*a^*b^*等手段发现:在铬酸酐热分解过程中,不同的热分解温度导致粒径变化,从而影响红外反射率;优化的制备工艺条件(热分解温度1250℃、热分解时间0.5 h)下,氧化铬绿的红外反射率达到90%。在掺杂过程中,V₂O₅的添加可使氧化铬绿的最高红外反射率达到98%。随着V₂O₅添加量的增加,红外反射率先增加后减少;当V/Cr摩尔比为0.004时,红外反射率、电导率、介电常数都达到极值,三者呈现一致的规律性变化。初步机理探索表明,氧化铬本征导电类型为空穴导电,掺杂V₂O₅以后导电类型发生改变,伴随着电阻率的变化,氧化铬吸收和反射光子能力改变,从而影响红外反射性能。     

Molten V2O5/Cs0.9K0.9Na0.2S2O7 and V2O5/K2S2O7 catalysts as electrolytesin an electrocatalytic membrane separation device for SO2 removal

Bench scale fuel cell tests have been carried out on the SO₂ oxidation catalyst systems V₂O₅/M₂S₂O₇ (M = alkali) used as electrolytes in a standard molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) fuel cell setup for removal of SO₂ from power plant flue gases. Porous Li _x Ni_(1–x)O electrodes were used both as anode and cathode. The cleaning cell removes SO₂ when a potential is applied across the membrane, potentially providing cheap and ecological viable means for regeneration of SO₂ from off-gases into high quality H₂SO₄. Results show that successful removal of up to 80% SO₂ at 450 °C can be achieved at approximately 5 mAcm^–2. However, the data obtained during the experiments explain the current limitations of the process, especially in terms of electrolyte wetting capability and acid/base chemistry of the electrolyte.     

Revisiting Ga2O3/H-ZSM-5 propane aromatization catalysts

Oxidative or reducing treatments at 873 K of Ga₂O₃/H-ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 13 or 60) cause a change in H⁺ concentration as evidenced by IR spectroscopy of OH groups at 3610 cm^–1; this change is nicely correlated to the variation ofm-xylene isomerisation rate.     

Gas-phase elemental mercury capture by a V2O5/AC catalyst

Gas-phase elemental mercury (Hg⁰) capture by an activated coke (AC) supported V₂O₅ (V₂O₅/AC) catalyst was studied in simulated flue gas and compared with that by the AC. The study on the influences of V₂O₅ loading, temperature, capture time and flue gas components (O₂, SO₂, H₂O and N₂) shows that the Hg⁰ capture capability of V₂O₅/AC is much higher than that of AC. It increases with an increase in V₂O₅ loading and is promoted by O₂, which indicates the important role of V₂O₅ in Hg⁰ oxidation and capture; it is promoted slightly by SO₂ but inhibited by H₂O; it increases with an increase in temperature up to 150 °C when Hg desorption starts. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and sequential chemical extraction experiments indicate that the main states of Hg captured on V₂O₅/AC are HgO and HgSO₄. Temperature programmed desorption experiments were also made to understand the stability of the Hg captured.     

The reactivity of V2O5-WO3-TiO2 catalyst supported on a ceramic filter candle for selective reduction of NO

For realizing the environmental issues and constituting an economical treatment system, a catalytic filter based on V₂O₅/TiO₂ supported on tubular filter elements has many advantages by removing NO_x and particulate simultaneously from flue gas. In order to improve the activity of a catalytic filter based on V₂O₅/TiO₂ supported on a commercial high temperature filter element (PRD-66), the promoting effects of WO₃ were investigated in an experimental unit. PRD-66 presented very good properties for SCR catalyst carrier since it contains much active material such as A1₂O₃ SiO{om2}, and MgO whose contributions were remarkable. For additional catalyst carrier, TiO₂ particles were coated in the pores of PRD-66 with relatively good distribution of the particle size less than 1 μm, by a coating process applying centrifugal force. WO₃, in the V₂O₅-WO₃-TiO₂/PRD-66 catalytic filter system, increased the SCR activity significantly and broadened the optimum temperature window. The catalytic filter shows the maximum NO conversion of more than 95% for NO concentration of 700 ppmv at face velocity of 0.02 m/sec, which is comparable to the current commercial catalytic filters of plate form.     

Photocatalytic Study of Bi-ZSM-5 and Bi2O3/HZSM-5 for the Treatment of Phenolic Wastes

Bi-ZSM-5 and Bi₂O₃/HZSM-5 with varying amounts of (1, 3, and 5 wt.%) of Bi₂O₃ were prepared by impregnation and solid state dispersion (SSD) methods. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, UV–Vis DRS, XPS, and BET surface area techniques. Characterization of these catalysts by DRS clearly shows a blue shift of >100 nm in the absorption band edge of Bi₂O₃ (band gap shift from 2.75 to 3.5 eV) in the samples prepared by impregnation and a blue shift of 50 nm in the samples prepared by SSD methods indicating that Bi₂O₃ is in interaction with the support in impregnated samples. XPS studies are also in favor of this observation. The photocatalytic activities of these systems were evaluated in the degradation of phenol under UV irradiation. Catalysts prepared by impregnation method are showing good photocatalytic activity compared to catalysts prepared by SSD method. Based on the characterization and photodegradation activity of the Bi-ZSM-5 catalysts a structure–activity correlation has been established for the effective treatment of phenolic wastes.     

SO2 and NO removal from flue gas over V2O5/AC at lower temperatures — role of V2O5 on SO2 removal

Supporting V₂O₅ onto an activated coke (AC) has been reported to significantly increase the AC's activity in simultaneous SO₂ and NO removal from flue gas. To understand the role of V₂O₅ on SO₂ removal, V₂O₅/AC is studied through SO₂ removal reaction, surface analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. It is found that the main role of V₂O₅ in SO₂ removal over V₂O₅/AC is to catalyze SO₂ oxidation through a VOSO₄-like intermediate species, which reacts with O₂ to form SO₃ and V₂O₅. The SO₃ formed transfers from the V sites to AC sites and then reacts with H₂O to form H₂SO₄. At low V₂O₅ loadings, a V atom is able to catalyze as many as 8 SO₂ molecules to SO₃. At high V₂O₅ loadings, however, the number of SO₂ molecules catalyzed by a V atom is much less, due possibly to excessive amounts of V₂O₅ sites in comparison to the pores available for SO₃ and H₂SO₄ storage.