Self-assembly of BixTi1−xO2 visible photocatalyst with core–shell structure and enhanced activity

Mesoporous Bi_xTi_1−xO₂ spheres with core–shell chamber were prepared by alcoholysis under solvothermal conditions. The cross-condensation between Ti–OH and Bi–OH ensured complete incorporation of Bi-dopants into TiO₂ lattice, though Bi atom is much bigger than Ti. Meanwhile, the aggregation of titania building clusters into spheres and their subsequent reactions including dissolution and re-deposition processes lead to the hollow spheres with tunable interior structure. The Bi-doping induced strong spectral response in visible region owing to the formation of narrow intermediate energy band gaps. Meanwhile, multiple reflections within the sphere interior voids promoted the light absorbance. As a result, the as-prepared Bi_xTi_1−xO₂ spheres exhibited much higher activity than the undoped TiO₂, the Bi₂O₃/TiO₂ obtained by impregnating the TiO₂ with Bi(NO₃)₃ solution, and the Bi_xTi_1−xO₂ after being ground during photodegradation of p-chlorophenol under visible light irradiation. Meanwhile, the Bi_xTi_1−xO₂ could be used repetitively for 10 times owing to the high hydrothermal stability and the absence of Bi-leaching.     

Phase content and dielectrical properties of sintered BaSrTiO ceramics prepared by a high temperature hydrothermal technique

Ba_xSr_1−xTiO₃ ceramic powders with varying barium content were prepared by a high temperature hydrothermal technique and sintered at 1300 °C for 1–8 h. Their dielectrical, phase and structural properties were investigated. It was computed from the XRD spectra that the samples with a small amount of strontium, no more than 10% of the initial Ba:Sr share, had a single phase structure with x = 0.77–0.79 and Curie point T_c = 37–53 °C. Samples with a higher initial Sr ratio developed a two-phase structure and two Curie points. T_c(x) dependence showed that all the experimental data followed a linear trend and were close to the values obtained from the conventional solid state technique, while the dielectric constant was almost one order of magnitude smaller.     

Microstructures and dielectric properties of spark plasma sintered Ba0.4Sr0.6TiO3/CaCu3Ti4O12 composite ceramics

(1 − x)Ba_0.4Sr_0.6TiO₃/xCaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ composite ceramics were prepared by spark plasma sintering. Sintering behavior, microstructures and dielectric properties of the composite ceramics were investigated by XRD, SEM, EDS and dielectric spectrometer. Dense composite ceramics consisting of Ba_0.4Sr_0.6TiO₃ phase and CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ phase were prepared at 800 °C for 0 min. The dielectric loss of the composite ceramic decreased with increasing amount of Ba_0.4Sr_0.6TiO₃, and the high dielectric constant were retained. Moreover, the better temperature stability of dielectric constant was obtained. These improvements of dielectric characteristics have great scientific significance for potential application.     

Decolorization of methylene blue by heterogeneous Fenton reaction using Fe3−xTixO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.78) at neutral pH values

In this work, a series of Fe_3−xTi_xO₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.78) was synthesized using a new soft chemical method. The synthetic Fe_3−xTi_xO₄ were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Mössbauer spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC) analyses. The results showed that they were spinel structures and Ti was introduced into their structures.Then, decolorization of methylene blue (MB) by Fe_3−xTi_xO₄ in the presence of H₂O₂ at neutral pH values was studied using UV–vis spectra, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and element C analyses. Furthermore, the degradation products remained in reaction solution after the decolorization were identified using ionic chromatography (IC), ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (NMR), liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Although small amounts of MB were mineralized, the aromatic rings in MB were destroyed completely after the decolorization. Decolorization of MB by Fe_3−xTi_xO₄ in the presence of H₂O₂ was promoted remarkably with the increase of Ti content in Fe_3−xTi_xO₄ due to the enhancement of both adsorption and degradation of MB on Fe_3−xTi_xO₄.     

Effect of SrTiO3 concentration and sintering temperature on microstructure and dielectric constant of Ba1−xSrxTiO3

The Ba_1−xSr_xTiO₃ materials have received increased attention as one of the most important materials for electroceramic components, such as high dielectric ceramic capacitors, tunable phase shifters and PTCR. In this paper, the effect of SrTiO₃ concentration and sintering temperature on the microstructure and dielectric constant of Ba_1−xSr_xTiO₃ materials at the Curie temperature have been investigated. When Ba_1−xSr_xTiO₃ materials were sintered at 1350 °C, the peak value of the dielectric constant, ϵ_max, monotonically decreased with increasing SrTiO₃ concentration. At the sintering temperature of 1400 °C the dielectric constant maximum at the T_C increased with an increase in the x value, reaching the highest value at around x=0.4 and then decreased. As sintering temperature increased to 1450 °C, ϵ_max increased with increasing SrTiO₃ concentration up to x=0.6. The dielectric properties of Ba_1−xSr_xTiO₃ materials were discussed in terms of SrTiO₃ concentration and microstructure.     

Highly active TiO2−x−yNxFy visible photocatalyst prepared under supercritical conditions in NH4F/EtOH fluid

A novel N and F co-doped TiO₂ (TiO_2−x−yN_xF_y) photocatalyst is prepared by treating the TiO₂ precursor in NH₄F/ethanol fluid under supercritical conditions. During photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation, the as-prepared TiO_2−x−yN_xF_y exhibits higher activity than the undoped TiO₂, N-doped TiO₂ (TiO_2−xN_x), and F-doped TiO₂ (TiO_2−yF_y). Based on the characterizations including XRD, Raman, FTIR, TEM, PLS, UV–vis DRS, N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms, XPS and NH₃-TPD, the synergetic promotions of N- and F-dopants incorporated into the TiO₂ lattice are discussed based on the enhanced spectral response in visible region, oxygen vacancies, and surface acidic sites. Meanwhile, the supercritical treatment also promotes the activity owing to the increase in both the surface area and the crystallization degree of anatase, and the enhanced incorporation of N- and F-dopants into the TiO₂ lattice.     

Mechanism of the Formation of Ba2Ti9O20-Based Phases in the Course of Solid-Phase Interaction in the BaO–TiO2(ZrO2) and Cs2O–BaO–TiO2(ZrO2) Systems

The mechanism of solid-phase interaction in the BaO–TiO₂(ZrO₂) and Cs₂O–BaO–TiO₂(ZrO₂) systems is investigated. It is established that the formation of the Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ compound and Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀-based solid solutions is a multistage process proceeding through the formation of intermediate phases. The solid-phase interaction in the BaO–TiO₂(ZrO₂) system occurs through the formation of the BaTi₄O₉ intermediate compound. The Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ single-phase product is formed only in the presence of ZrO₂ (0.82 mol %) upon heat treatment at a temperature of 1250°C for 5 h. In the Cs₂O–BaO–TiO₂(ZrO₂) system, the BaTi₅O₁₁ metastable intermediate phase is formed at the first stage of the solid-phase interaction. The Cs _x Ba_{2 – x/2}Ti_{9 – y} Zr _y O₂₀ single-phase solid solutions are prepared upon heat treatment at 1100°C for 1 h. It is demonstrated that, in the Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ structure, cesium can isomorphously substitute for barium with the formation of Cs _x Ba_{2 – x/2}Ti_{9 – y} Zr _y O₂₀ solid solutions (0 x 0.8, y = 0 and 0.09).     

Composition and annealing effects on the linear electro-optic response of solution-deposited barium strontium titanate

Chemical solution deposition was used to deposit epitaxial Ba_xSr_(1−x)TiO₃ thin films on SrTiO₃ template layers on Si(001) for x = 1.0, 0.7, 0.5, 0.3, and 0.0. Effective Pockels coefficients were determined as a function of film composition both for as-deposited films (crystallized at 600°C) and for the films after annealing at 750°C for 10 hours. Pockels response decreased monotonically with decreasing Ba content and coefficients were higher for annealed films, reaching 89 ± 3 pm/V for annealed BaTiO₃. These results are contextualized with the aid of X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission microscopy, which illuminated the crystallinity and defect nature of the films.     

Role of A-site (Sr), B-site (Y), and A,B sites (Sr,Y) substitution in lead-free BaTiO3 ceramic compounds: Structural,optical, microstructure,mechanical, and thermal conductivity properties

Strontium and Yttrium-doped and co-doped BaTiO₃ (BT) ceramics with the stoichiometric formulas BaTiO₃, B_1-xSr_xTiO₃, Ba_1-xY_xTiO₃, BaTi_1-xY_xO₃, Ba_1-xY_xTi_1-xY_xO₃, and Ba_1-xSr_xTi_1-xY_xO₃ (x = 0.075) noted as BT, BSrT, BYT, BTY, BYTY, and BSrTY have been synthesized through sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the prepared ceramics, calcined at a slightly low temperature (950 °C/3h), displayed that BT, BSrT, and BYT ceramics possess tetragonal structures and BTY, BYTY, and BSrTY have a cubic structure. The incorporation of the Ba and/or Ti sites by Sr²⁺ and Y³⁺ ions in the lattice of BaTiO₃ ceramic and the behaviors of the crystalline characteristics in terms of the Y and Sr dopant were described in detail. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images demonstrated that the densification and grain size were strongly related to Sr and Y elements. UV–visible spectroscopy was used to study the optical behavior of the as-prepared ceramic samples and revealed that Sr and Y dopants reduce the optical band gap energy to 2.74 eV for the BSrTY compound. The outcomes also demonstrated that the levels of Urbach energy are indicative of the created disorder following the inclusion of Yttrium. The measurements of the thermal conductivity indicated the influence of the doping mechanism on the thermal conductivity results of the synthesized samples. Indeed, the thermal conductivity of BaTiO₃ is decreased with Sr and Y dopants and found to be in the range of 085–2.23 W.m^-1. K^?1 at room temperature and decreases slightly with increasing temperature from 2.02 to 0.73-W.m^-1. K^?1. Moreover, the microstructure and grains distribution of the BT, BSrT, BYT, BTY, BYTY, and BSrTY samples impacted the compressive strength, hence; the compressive strength was minimized as the grain size decreased.     

High-performance Li4Ti5−xVxO12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) as an anode material for secondary lithium-ion battery

Powders of spinel Li₄Ti_5−xV_xO₁₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) were successfully synthesized by solid-state method. The structure and properties of Li₄Ti_5−xV_xO₁₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), galvanostatic charge–discharge test and cyclic voltammetry (CV). XRD shows that the V⁵⁺ can partially replace Ti⁴⁺ and Li⁺ in the spinel and the doping V⁵⁺ ion does almost not affect the lattice parameter of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. Raman spectra indicate that the Raman bands corresponding to the Li–O and Ti–O vibrations have a blue shift due to the doping vanadium ions, respectively. SEM exhibits that Li₄Ti_5−xV_xO₁₂ (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) samples have a relative uniform morphology with narrow size distribution. Charge–discharge test reveals that Li₄Ti_4.95V_0.05O₁₂ has the highest initial discharge capacity and cycling performance among all samples cycled between 1.0 and 2.0 V; Li₄Ti_4.9V_0.1O₁₂ has the highest initial discharge capacity and cycling performance among all samples cycled between 0.0 and 2.0 V or between 0.5 and 2.0 V. This excellent cycling capability is mainly due to the doping vanadium. CV reveals that electrolyte starts to decompose irreversibly below 1.0 V, and SEI film of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was formed at 0.7 V in the first discharge process; the Li₄Ti_4.9V_0.1O₁₂ sample has a good reversibility and its structure is very advantageous for the transportation of lithium-ions.     

Phase evolution and <110>-orientation mechanism in RTGG-processed BaTiO3 ceramics with electrical properties

The <110>-oriented BaTiO₃ ceramics were fabricated using BaCO₃ matrix and H_1.08Ti_1.73O₄.nH₂O (HTO) template particles, and the mechanism of BaTiO₃ phase formation was investigated. The dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties were also investigated. The transformation of the HTO phase into the TiO₂ bronze or TiO₂ (B) phase was observed at 600°C, where the BaTiO₃ nucleation was accompanied by the formation of a Ba₂TiO₄ phase. The TiO₂ phase reacted with the Ba₂TiO₄ phase at 800°C to give a BaTiO₃ phase, whereas its reaction with the BaTiO₃ resulted in the formation of BaTi₂O₅ phase that got decomposed into BaTiO₃ and Ba₆Ti₁₇O₄₀ phase at sintering temperature ≥1300°C. Sintering with samples’ embedding in BaTiO₃ powders prevented the formation of the Ba₆Ti₁₇O₄₀ secondary phase. The crystallographic orientation along the <110> direction (F₁₁₀) was developed by the epitaxial grain growth mechanism. In addition to the contribution of the grain-size increment for enhancing the F₁₁₀, the preservation of the platelike structure was also found to have a significant impact. The ceramics prepared by the embedded sintering (grain size ≈12.4 µm and F₁₁₀ = 83%) exhibited the room-temperature dielectric constant of 1708 and piezoelectric strain constant of 445 pm/V, which are higher than those of the BaTiO₃ ceramics with randomly oriented grains.     

Improving the oxygen permeability of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ membranes by a surface-coating layer of GdBaCo2O5+δ

A GdBaCo₂O_5+δ layer was coated on the Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ membranes to enhance their oxygen permeability by employing the fast oxygen adsorption/desorption surface-exchange properties of the GdBaCo₂O_5+δ material. The oxygen flux of the coated and uncoated Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ membranes was measured in the temperature range of 600–850 °C. The results reveal that the oxygen-permeation flux of the Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ membranes coated by a GdBaCo₂O_5+δ layer shows significant enhancement. The GdBaCo₂O_5+δ layer coated on the oxygen desorption side (He side) has much effect than that coated on the oxygen adsorption side (air side). At 850 °C, the oxygen flux with a single coating layer on the air side can rise 16%, while a single coating on the helium side will result into a rise of 23%.     

Synthesis and Study of Isomorphous Miscibility Limits of Crystalline Phases with a Hollandite-Type Tunnel Structure in the Cs2O(MeO)–Al2O3–TiO2 (Me = Ba, Sr) Systems*

The possibility of forming hollandite-type phases during the solid-phase reaction in the Cs₂O(MeO)–Al₂O₃–TiO₂ (Me = Ba, Sr) systems is studied. It is revealed that, in the Cs₂O–BaO–Al₂O₃–TiO₂ system, the region of existence of Cs _x Ba_{1 – x/2}Al₂Ti₅O₁₄ solid solutions with a hollandite-type structure lies in the concentration range 0 x 0.7. In the SrO–BaO–Al₂O₃–TiO₂ system, no solid solutions with a hollandite-type structure are observed. The mechanism and kinetics of formation of the Cs _x Ba_{1 – x/2}Al₂Ti₅O₁₄ (0 x 0.7) solid solutions are analyzed, and the optimum conditions for synthesis of these solutions are determined.     

Phase relations and electrical properties in the pseudo-ternary La2O3–TiO2–Mn2O3 system in air

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron-probe microanalysis, energy- and wavelength-dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray powder diffraction were used to investigate the subsolidus phase relations in the pseudo-ternary La₂O₃–TiO₂–Mn₂O₃ system in air (oxygen partial pressure p_O2=0.21   atm) at 1275 °C. The addition of Mn₂O₃ to the starting La₂O₃:3TiO₂ mixture led to the formation of a La-deficient perovskite La_2/3TiO₃ compound. The oxides form two new compounds with the proposed compositions: (i) La_1.7Ti_13.0Mn_6.3O_38−x, with a davidite-like crystal structure, and (ii) La₄₉Ti₁₈Mn₁₃O₁₂₉. There were also several solid solutions existing over a wide range of concentrations.     

Electrical properties and phase of BaTiO3–SrTiO3 solid solution

It has been known that ABO₃ type perovskite ferroelectrics, such as BaTiO₃ (BTO) and SrTiO₃ (STO), form a complete solid solution. In this study, Ba_1?xSr_xTiO₃ (BST, x=0.0–1.0) solid solution were sintered by a solid-state reaction method using BTO and STO raw powders with appropriate chemical composition. The crystal structure was investigated by a Rietveld refinement method; Fullprof, using X-ray diffraction data. Within the reasonable goodness of fit, tetragonal symmetry was found in BST with x≤0.2, while BST with x≥0.4 were found to be cubic symmetry. However, Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃ was difficult to decide whether it is cubic or tetragonal because of large uncertainties after final fitting. The composition ratios calculated from the fitted occupancies match well with those measured by EDS within experimental uncertainties. Remnant polarizations of BST with x<0.3 decrease with increasing Sr concentration. Furthermore, measured phase transition temperatures and maximum dielectric constant decrease as increasing Sr concentration. Measured electrical properties of BST were match well with the structural refinement investigations.     

Phonon behaviors and dielectric functions in Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based ceramics by Raman scattering and optical ellipsometry

The dielectric functions and lattice vibrations of (0.935-x)Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-0.065BaTiO₃-xSrTiO₃ (BNBSTx) ceramics were investigated by temperature-dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman scattering. Based on the analysis of dielectric functions with the Tauc-Lorentz dispersion model, it was found that the band gap and the temperature coefficient increased with the addition of SrTiO₃. Moreover, the frequency, intensity and/or full width at half maximum of phonon modes related to Bi and Ti-localized phonon modes exhibited local maximum/minimum around the depolarization temperature and permittivity-maximum temperature, which indicated the ongoing structural transformation. In addition, the Sr introduction affected the TiO₆ tilting and the off-center displacement of Ti⁴⁺. These results seem to be significant for the enhanced response functions with the addition of SrTiO₃ in BNBSTx ceramics.     

Dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Ba0.8Sr0.2Ti1−5x/4NbxO3 ceramics

Ba_0.8Sr_0.2Ti_1−5x/4Nb_xO₃ ceramics, x = 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, were fabricated by conventional solid-state reaction. With increasing niobium content the ferroelectric phase transition temperature decreases linearly, and the dispersivity of the transition increases. Niobium B-site decreases transition temperature more pronounced than Sr²⁺ at A-site. The heterovalent substitution of Nb⁵⁺ in low content causes local defect dipole, while more substitutions introduce disorder to disturb the long-range dipole correlation. Ba_0.8Sr_0.2Ti_1−0.5/4Nb_0.1O₃ ceramic shows weak ferroelectric loop at room temperature far from its transition temperature, 153 K.     

Composition-dependent microstructure and electrical property of (1−x)SBN-xBNBT solid solutions

In this study, (1−x)Sr_0.75Ba_0.25Nb₂O₆-x[0.94Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-0.06BaTiO₃] solid solution ceramics were prepared and investigated. The length-diameter ratio of pillar-like grain increased with increase in x, reaching maximum value of 10.5 at average length of 1.36 μm and diameter of 0.13 μm for x = 0.20. The maximum dielectric constant, temperature corresponding to the maximum dielectric constant, and saturated polarization decreased, respectively, from 507, 36°C, and 3.2 μC/cm² for x = 0 to 365, −61°C, and 2.0 μC/cm² fort x = 0.10, and then increased to 1167, 43°C, and 5.5 μC/cm² for x = 0.20. These results indicate the competitive effects of B-site Ti⁴⁺ and A-site Ba²⁺ on ferroelectricity.     

Microstructure and Dielectric Properties of Nickel‐Doped Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 Ceramics Fabricated by Solgel Method

A study of phase transition, microstructure, and dielectric properties of Ba_0.7Sr_0.3Ti_1–xNi_xO₃ (BSTN) ceramics prepared by slow‐injection solgel technique with x ranging from 0 to 1 mol% is reported in this article. The as‐prepared BSTN material was calcined at 800 and 1000°C and subsequently sintered at 1100 and 1200°C, respectively. The optimized condition was found to be Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃ doped with 1 mol% nickel calcined at 1000°C and sintered at 1200°C having the lowest dielectric loss of 0.02 with a dielectric constant of 1603 which was measured at a frequency of 1 kHz at room temperature.     

Preparation and electrochemical performance studies on Cr-doped Li3V2(PO4)3 as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Cr-doped Li₃V_2−xCr_x(PO₄)₃/C (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1) compounds have been prepared using sol–gel method. The Rietveld refinement results indicate that single-phase Li₃V_2−xCr_x(PO₄)₃/C with monoclinic structure can be obtained. Although the initial specific capacity decreased with Cr content at a lower current rate, both cycle performance and rate capability have excited improvement with moderate Cr-doping content in Li₃V_2−xCr_x(PO₄)₃/C. Li₃V_1.9Cr_0.1(PO₄)₃/C compound presents an initial capacity of 171.4 mAh g⁻¹ and 78.6% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.2C rate. At 4C rate, the Li₃V_1.9Cr_0.1(PO₄)₃/C can give an initial capacity of 130.2 mAh g⁻¹ and 10.8% capacity loss after 100 cycles where the Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C presents the initial capacity of 127.4 mAh g⁻¹ and capacity loss of 14.9%. Enhanced rate and cyclic capability may be attributed to the optimizing particle size, carbon coating quality, and structural stability during the proper amount of Cr-doping (x = 0.1) in V sites.