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At least 55 records · Page 3

Water-gas shift: Characterization and testing of nanoscale YSZ supported Pt catalysts

Nano-scale Y-doped zirconium oxide materials were prepared with high surface areas (150-200 m(2)/g) and small nano-crystallites (<8 nm). A combination of XANES and EXAFS was used to show that ZrO2 exhibited the tetragonal phase, while the Zr0.5Y0.5O1.75 support displayed the cubic phase. A comparison with undoped zirconia suggests that the Zr0.9Y0.1O1.95 support was tetragonal in structure. A slight increase in d-spacing observed in HR-TEM for the Zr0.9Y0.1O1.95 support relative to undoped ZrO2, along with a shift to lower 2 theta in XRD, provide evidence that Y-doping caused macrostrain. STEM imaging confirmed that the Pt clusters ranged from 0.5 to 2 nm over all three supports. Catalyst reducibility was explored by H-2-TPR, XANES at the Zr K-edge, and TPR-XANES at the Pt L-III edge. A higher concentration of surface defects for the 0.5%Pt/Zr0.9Y0.1O1.95 catalyst relative to 0.5%Pt/ZrO2 was confirmed by DRIFTS of adsorbed CO, while a greater surface mobility of surface formate was suggested based on forward formate decomposition experiments in steam. The Y-doped Pt promoted catalysts displayed higher water-gas-shift activity relative to the 0.5%Pt/ZrO2 catalyst when the Y content was at or below 50%, with the best catalyst being 0.5%Pt/Zr0.9Y0.1O1.95. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pt/YSZ↗

Characterization of applied fields for ion mobility separations in traveling wave based structures for lossless ion manipulations (SLIM)

Ion mobility (IM) is rapidly gaining attention for the analysis of biomolecules due to the ability to distinguish the shapes of ions. However, conventional constant electric field drift tube IM has limited resolving power, constrained by practical limitations on the path length and maximum applied voltage. The implementation of traveling waves (TW) in IM removes the latter limitation, allowing higher resolution to be achieved using extended path lengths. These can be readily obtainable in structures for lossless ion manipulations (SLIM), which are fabricated from electric fields that are generated by appropriate potentials applied to arrays of electrodes patterned on two parallel surfaces. In this work we have investigated the relationship between the various SLIM variables, such as electrode dimensions, inter-surface gap, and the TW applied voltages, that directly impact the fields experienced by ions. Ion simulation and theoretical calculations have been utilized to understand the dependence of SLIM geometry and effective electric field. The variables explored impact both ion confinement and the observed IM resolution in Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations (SLIM) modules.

Hamid, Ahmed M.↗

2Flux growth and characterization of Ce-substituted Nd 2 Fe 14 B single crystals [Growth and Characterization of Ce- Substituted Nd 2 Fe 14 11 B Single Crystals]

Single crystals of (Nd 1-x Ce x ) 2 Fe 14 B, some reaching ~6×8×8mm 3 in volume, are grown out of Fe-(Nd, Ce) flux. This crystal growth method allows for large (Nd 1-x Ce x ) 2 Fe 14 B single crystals to be synthesized using a simple flux growth procedure. Chemical and structural analyses of the crystals indicate that (Nd 1-x Ce x ) 2 Fe 14 B forms a solid solution until at least x=0.38 with a Vegard-like variation of the lattice constants with x. Refinements of single crystal neutron diffraction data indicate that Ce has a slight site preference (7:3) for the 4g rare earth site over the 4f site. Magnetization measurements at 300 K show only small decreases with increasing Ce content in saturation magnetization (M s ) and anisotropy field (H A ), and Curie temperature (T C ). First principles calculations are carried out to understand the effect of Ce substitution on the electronic and magnetic properties. For a multitude of applications, it is expected that the advantage of incorporating lower-cost and more abundant Ce will outweigh the small adverse effects on magnetic properties. Ce-substituted Nd 2 Fe 14 B is therefore a potential high-performance permanent magnet material with substantially reduced Nd content.

Susner, Michael A.↗

Improved synthesis and characterization of the copper Lyonsite-type compound Cu{sub 4−x}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12}

A novel method involving a molten Ga flux for the synthesis of diffraction quality crystals of the compound Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12}, a copper molybdate in the Lyonsite (α-Cu{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}(VO{sub 4}){sub 6}) family, has been developed. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data have been collected. Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} crystallizes in the space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1} with cell dimensions of a=4.9972(1) Å, b=11.0259(3) Å, and c=17.4912(5) Å. Refinement of the resulting structure has enabled modeling of disorder in the channels of the structure and has indicated the localization of copper vacancies to these channel positions. Thermopower measurements indicate that Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} is a rare and interesting example of a cation-deficient n-type material. - Graphical abstract: The unit cell of Cu{sub 3.82(1)}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} with displacement ellipsoids drawn at the 75% probability level. Cu is green, Mo is blue, O is red. Highlights: ► A repeatable method for the synthesis Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} has been developed. ► Single crystals were formed from a polycrystalline sample through the use of a gallium flux. ► Thermopower measurements of Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} show n-type behavior.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of Ti{sub x}Ta{sub y}Al{sub z}N{sub 1-δ}O{sub γ} for fuel cell catalyst supports

Quinary Ti{sub x}Ta{sub y}Al{sub z}N{sub 1-δ}O{sub γ} of various compositions have been prepared by a co-precipitation method followed by ammonolysis. The nitride samples were examined as potential catalyst supports in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The nitride products crystallized in the rock salt (NaCl) structure over a wide range of compositions. The addition of Ta and Al was highly beneficial towards improving the chemical and electrochemical stability of TiN, without a significant loss of electrical conductivity. Platinum particles were successfully deposited on the (oxy)nitride samples, and the composite samples at some compositions were found to be comparable to Pt/carbon in their stability and catalytic activity even without optimizing the Pt deposition and dispersion processes. - Graphical abstract: The effect of additions of Ta and Al into TiN structure. Shifts the lattice constant, and increases its chemical stability in acidic environment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Detailed Characterization of a Nanosecond-Lived Excited State: X-ray and Theoretical Investigation of the Quintet State in Photoexcited [Fe(terpy) 2 ] 2+

Theoretical predictions show that depending on the populations of the Fe 3dxy, 3dxz, and 3dyz orbitals two possible quintet states can exist for the high-spin state of the photoswitchable model system [Fe(terpy)2]2+. The differences in the structure and molecular properties of these 5B2 and 5E quintets are very small and pose a substantial challenge for experiments to resolve them. Yet for a better understanding of the physics of this system, which can lead to the design of novel molecules with enhanced photoswitching performance, it is vital to determine which high-spin state is reached in the transitions that follow the light excitation. The quintet state can be prepared with a short laser pulse and can be studied with cutting-edge time-resolved X-ray techniques. Here we report on the application of an extended set of X-ray spectroscopy and scattering techniques applied to investigate the quintet state of [Fe(terpy)2]2+ 80 ps after light excitation. High-quality X-ray absorption, nonresonant emission, and resonant emission spectra as well as X-ray diffuse scattering data clearly reflect the formation of the high-spin state of the [Fe(terpy)2]2+ molecule; moreover, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy resolves the Fe-ligand bond-length variations with unprecedented bondlength accuracy in time-resolved experiments. With ab initio calculations we determine why, in contrast to most related systems, one configurational mode is insufficient for the description of the low-spin (LS)-high-spin (HS) transition. We identify the electronic structure origin of the differences between the two possible quintet modes, and finally, we unambiguously identify the formed quintet state as 5E, in agreement with our theoretical expectations.

Vankó, György↗