Magnetic and thermal expansion properties of chromium-substituted lithium ferrite

The structure, magnetic, and thermal expansion properties of chromium-substituted lithium ferrite have been investigated. The lattice constant (Å) decreases linearly as a (x) = 8.32366 − 0.04338x for Li_0.5Fe_2.5−xCr_xO₄ (x = 0.0–1.0). When increasing Cr content, the initial permeability decreased gradually. The average thermal expansion coefficient of Li_0.5Fe_2.5−xCr_xO₄ (x = 0.0–1.0) varied from 15.34 to 17.77 ppm/°C, with increasing Cr content, the average thermal expansion coefficient decreased. The average thermal expansion coefficient (ppm/°C) in the range of 25–850 °C give the polynomial correlation as follows, TEC (x) = 1 7.775 − 0.216x − 0.723x² − 1.493x³ for Li_0.5Fe_2.5−xCr_xO₄ (x = 0.0–1.0).     

Effects of heating rate on microstructures and microwave dielectric properties of (1 − x)ZnAl2O4–xTiO2 (x = 0.21) ceramics

(1 − x)ZnAl₂O₄–xTiO₂ (x = 0.21) ceramics were synthesized at 1500 °C for 3 h using the solid-state reaction at a heating rate from 1 to 7 °C/min. The effects of heating rate on the microstructure, phase composition and oxidation state of titanium in the ceramics were investigated. The XRD results show that this system is composed of two phases, i.e. ZnAl₂O₄ spinel and rutile. The “black core” phenomenon resulting from reduction of Ti⁴⁺ ion valence appears after the ceramics are sintered at the speed of 1 and 3 °C/min. As the heating rate increases, the density and quality factor (Q·f) increase initially and reach the maximum value when the heating rate is 5 °C/min, and then reduce quickly to the minimum, while the dielectric constant (?_r) and temperature coefficient of resonator frequency (τ_f) nearly do not change. The optimal microwave dielectric properties can be achieved in (1 − x)ZnAl₂O₄–xTiO₂ (x = 0.21) ceramics sintered at a heating rate of 5 °C/min with an ?_r value of 11.6, a Q·f value of 74,000 GHz (at about 6.5 GHz), and a τ_f value of −0.4 ppm/°C.     

Electrochemical incineration of p-cresol and o-cresol in the filter-press-type FM01-LC electrochemical cell using BDD electrodes in sulfate media at pH 0

This work shows a comparative study of the incineration of 2-mM p-cresol and o-cresol in 1 M-H₂SO₄ in aqueous media. Microelectrolysis studies indicated that both the p-cresol and o-cresol oxidation were carried out via hydroxyl radicals (OH) formed by water oxidation in the boron-doped diamonds (BDD)-H₂O-H₂SO₄-p-cresol and o-cresol interface. In both cases, the potential and current density ranges, where great amounts of OH are formed, were between 2.3 V ≤ E ≤ 2.75 V versus SHE and J = 10 mA cm⁻². Electrolyses in an undivided FM01-LC reactor were performed at different Reynolds values 27,129 ≤ Re ≤ 42,631, and at J = 10 mA cm⁻². For p-cresol and o-cresol, the rate of degradation was slow, however it increases slightly as a function of the Re, indicating that the oxidation involves a complex pathway; current efficiency also rises as a function of the Re. For p-cresol, the mineralization at Re = 42,631 reached 90%, with 71% current efficiency and an energy consumption of 7.84 kWh m⁻³; whereas o-cresol was mineralized to 84%, with 67% current efficiency and an energy consumption of 6.56 kWh m⁻³. The results obtained in this work demonstrated that o-cresol is more recalcitrant than p-cresol.     

Electrosynthesis of poly(aniline-co-p-aminophenol) having electrochemical properties in a wide pH range

Copolymerization of aniline and p-aminophenol in aqueous sulfuric acid solutions was electrochemically performed using cyclic voltammetry on platinum electrodes. The monomer concentration ratio can strongly affect the copolymerization rate and electrochemical property of the copolymer. The optimum conditions for the copolymerization are that the potential sweep covers the −0.20 to 0.95 V (vs. SCE) potential range, and that a solution contains 0.18 M aniline, 0.02 M p-aminophenol and 0.50 M H₂SO₄. A resulting copolymer synthesized under the optimum conditions has a good electrochemical activity in 0.50 M solutions of Na₂SO₄ with pH ≤ 10.0. IR and XPS spectra indicate that -OH groups and SO₄²⁻ ions are contained in the resulting copolymer. The SEM images reveal that the microstructure of the copolymer depends on the monomer concentration ratio during the electrolysis.     

Impedance analysis of Sr-substituted CePO4 with mixed protonic and p-type electronic conduction

Members of the solid-solution series Ce_1−xSr_xPO_4−δ (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02) with mixed protonic and electronic transport have been synthesized by a nitrate-decomposition method followed by sintering at 1450 °C. Impedance spectroscopy is employed to estimate the bulk electrical conductivity in wet (∼0.03 atm) and dry atmospheres of O₂ and 10%H₂:90%N₂. Conductivity increases with dopant concentration (x), oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) and water vapour partial pressure (pH₂O) reaching ∼3.5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 600 °C for x = 0.02 in wet O₂. Activation energies (E_a) for the bulk conductivity of Ce_0.98Sr_0.02PO_4−δ below 650 °C are 0.44 and 0.78 eV for wet oxidising and wet reducing conditions, respectively. A moderate but positive pO₂⁺ⁿ power-law dependence (n < 1/10) of conductivity is exhibited in the pO₂ range 10^−2.5 to 10⁻¹ atm, consistent with mixed ionic and p-type electronic transport. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the Sr-doped materials are stable in a CO₂ atmosphere in the temperature range 25–1200 °C.     

Solubility studies and thermophysical properties of uranium–neodymium mixed oxides system

Uranium–neodymium mixed oxides (U_1−yNd_y)O_2±x (y=0.2–0.85) were prepared by citrate gel-combustion and characterized by XRD. Single phase fluorite structure was observed up to y=0.80. For solid solutions with y>0.80 additional lines pertaining to hexagonal neodymium oxide were observed. Lattice thermal expansion of these samples was investigated by using high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD). The coefficients of thermal expansion for (U_1−yNd_y)O_2±x for y=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 in the temperature range 298–1973 K were found to be 16.46, 16.64, 16.79, and 16.89×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, respectively. Heat capacity and enthalpy increment measurements were carried out by using DSC and drop calorimetry in the temperature range 298–800 K and 800–1800 K respectively. The C_p,m values at 298 K for (U_1−yLa_y)O_2±x (y=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) are 63.4, 64.3, 61.8, and 58.9 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ respectively.     

Mechanosynthesis of nanocomposites in TiO2–B2O3–Mg–Al quaternary system

The mechanochemical behavior of TiO₂–B₂O₃–Mg–Al quaternary system to synthesize various composite nanopowders was studied. A mixture of boron oxide and titanium dioxide powders along with different amounts of magnesium and aluminum was milled using a high-energy planetary ball mill to persuade necessary conditions for the occurrence of a mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction (MSR). Results showed that the formation of composite nanopowders was influenced strongly by the reducing agents content. In the absence of Al (100 wt% Mg), TiB₂ nanopowder was formed after 34 min of milling. In the presence of x wt% Mg–y wt% Al (x=40 and 70; y=100−x), mechanical activation was completed after 37–40 min which caused the formation of TiB₂–MgFe_0.6Al_1.4O₄ composite nanopowders. In the case of 10 wt% Mg–90 wt% Al, a ternary nanocomposite (TiB₂–MgAl₂O₄–Al₂O₃) was produced after 43 min of milling. Besides, Al₂O₃–TiB₂ nanocomposite was formed after 90 min of milling in the absence of Mg (100 wt% Al). From the SEM images, mechanochemical process reached a steady state after short milling times where the particles have become homogenized in size and shape. The reaction mechanism steps were proposed to clarify the reactions occurring during mechanochemical process.     

Synthesis and microstructure of (LaSr)MnO3 and (LaSr)FeO3 ceramics by a reaction-sintering process

(La_xSr_1−x)MnO₃ (LSMO) and (La_xSr_1−x)FeO₃ (LSFO) (x = 0.2–0.4) ceramics prepared by a simple and effective reaction-sintering process were investigated. Without any calcination involved, La₂O₃ and SrCO₃ were mixed with MnO₂ (LSMO) or Fe₂O₃ (LSFO) then pressed and sintered directly. LSMO and LSFO ceramics were obtained after 2 and 4 h sintering at 1350–1400 and 1200–1280 °C, respectively. Grain size decreased as La content increased in LSMO and LSFO ceramics.     

Kinetic modeling of a triarylmethane dye decolorization by photoelectro-Fenton process in a recirculating system: Nonlinear regression analysis

The treatment of C.I. Acid Blue 5 solution by electrochemical process was studied under recirculation mode with a cathode containing multi walled carbon nanotubes in the presence of sodium sulfate electrolyte. Comparison of electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton processes at pH 3.0 revealed that 23.04 and 98.25% of the dye was decolorized at 60 min, respectively. The kinetic of dye removal by photoelectro-Fenton process was studied with nonlinear regression analysis. A kinetic model was developed for estimation of pseudo-first order rate constant (k_app) as a function of operational parameters including initial concentration of the dye (10–50 mg/L), flow rate (5–20 L/h), pH (3–9), initial concentration of Fe³⁺ (0.05–0.2 mM) and applied current (0.05–0.45 A). The calculated results, which were obtained from kinetic model, were in consistent with the experimental data (R² = 0.9934). The calculated and experimental data were applied for prediction of the electricity consumption in decolorization processes.     

Depolarization temperature and piezoelectric properties of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–(Bi1/2Li1/2)TiO3–(Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

The phase transition temperature and piezoelectric properties of x(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO₃–y(Bi_1/2Li_1/2)TiO₃–z(Bi_1/2K_1/2)TiO₃ [x + y + z = 1] (abbreviated as BNLKT100y–100z) ceramics were investigated. BNLKT100y–100z ceramics were prepared by conventional ceramic fabrication. The depolarization temperature T_d was determined by the temperature dependence of the dielectric and piezoelectric properties. This study focuses on the effect of Li¹⁺ and K¹⁺ ions on T_d and the piezoelectric properties of BNT ceramics. BNLKT100y–100z (y = 0–0.08) has a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between rhombohedral and tetragonal phases at z = 0.18–0.20, and high piezoelectric properties were obtained at the MPB composition. The piezoelectric constant d₃₃ increased with increasing y; however, T_d decreased above y = 0.06. The d₃₃ and T_d values of BNLKT4-20 and BNLKT8-20 were 176 pC/N and 171 °C, and 190 pC/N and 115 °C, respectively.     

Sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties of a new low-permittivity ceramic system Ca(Mg1−xAlx)(Si1−x/2Alx/2)2O6

The diopside ceramics with a formula of Ca(Mg_1−xAl_x)(Si_1−x/2Al_x/2)₂O₆ (x=0.01–0.3) were synthesized via a traditional solid-state reaction method, and their solid solubility, sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties were investigated. The results revealed that the solubility limit of Al₂O₃ in Ca(Mg_1−xAl_x)(Si_1−x/2Al_x/2)₂O₆, which is defined as x, was between 0.15 and 0.2, and a second phase of CaAl₂SiO₆ presented when the x value reached 0.2. Appropriate Al³⁺ substitution for Mg²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ could promote the sintering process and lower the densification temperature, and a broadened densification temperature range of 1250–1300 °C was obtained for the compositions of x=0.08–0.15. With the increase of the x value, the dielectric constant (ε_r) increased roughly linearly, and the temperature coefficient of frequency (τ_f) showed a rising trend. The Q×f values increased from 57,322 GHz to 59,772 GHz as the x value increased from 0.01 to 0.08, and then they were saturated in the range of x=0.08–0.2. Further increase of the x value (x≥0.25) deteriorated the microwave dielectric properties. Good microwave dielectric properties of ε_r=7.89, Q×f=59,772 GHz and τ_f=−42.12 ppm/°C were obtained for the ceramics with the composition of x=0.08 sintered at 1275 °C.     

Effects of CeO2 addition on the piezoelectric properties of PNW–PMN–PZT ceramics

Temperature stability and electrical properties of the piezoelectric material are very important in piezoelectric transformers applications. In this study, it was investigated the temperature stability of PNW–PMN–PZT with CeO₂ additives and the variation of Zr/Ti ratio. Meanwhile, effects of CeO₂ additives and the variation of Zr/Ti ratio on the microstructure and electrical properties of PNW–PMN–PZT were investigated in detail. The results revealed that the optimized temperature stability of Δf_r/f_r25 °C = 0.15%, ΔK_p/K_p25 °C = −0.86% and ΔQ_m/Q_m25 °C = −45.26% could be attained at x = 0.1 wt.% and Zr/Ti = 51/49. Moreover, optimized electrical properties were achieved: K_p = 0.60, Q_m = 1405, d₃₃ = 388 pC/N, ?_r = 2140 and tan δ = 0.0059. The obtained temperature stabilities and electrical properties make this composition a good candidate for high power piezoelectric transformer applications.     

Effect of HfO2 content on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 lead-free ceramics

(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)_0.94Ba_0.06TiO₃–xHfO₂ [BNBT–xHfO₂] lead-free ceramics were prepared using the conventional solid-state reaction method. Effects of HfO₂ content on their microstructures and electrical properties were systematically studied. A pure perovskite phase was observed in all the ceramics with x=0–0.07 wt%. Adding optimum HfO₂ content can induce dense microstructures and improve their piezoelectric properties, and a high depolarization temperature was also obtained. The ceramics with x=0.03 wt% possess optimum electrical properties (i.e., d₃₃~168 pC/N, k_p~32.1%, Q_m~130, ε_r~715, tan δ~0.026, and T_d~106 °C, showing that HfO₂-modified BNBT ceramics are promising materials for piezoelectric applications.     

Phase equilibria and dielectric properties of Bi3+(5/2)xMg2−xNb3–(3/2)xO14−x cubic pyrochlores

Subsolidus pyrochlores with the proposed formula, Bi_3+(5/2)xMg_2−xNb_3−(3/2)xO_14−x (0.14≤x≤0.22) were successfully synthesised at the firing temperature of 1025 °C using conventional solid-state reaction. The excess Bi³⁺ charge was offset by removal of relative proportion of Mg²⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ together with creation of oxygen non-stoichiometry in order to preserve electroneutrality of the system. These samples were crystallised in cubic structure with space group of Fd3m, No. 227 and their refined lattice parameters were in the range of 10.5706 (3)–10.5797 (7) Å. The surface morphologies of the samples as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy analysis were of irregular shaped grains while their crystallite sizes of ~30–85 nm were calculated using the Scherrer equation and the Williamson–Hall method. No thermal event was discernable indicating these pyrochlores were thermally stable within a studied temperature range of ~30–1000 °C. The recorded dielectric constants of Bi_3+(5/2)xMg_2−xNb_3−(3/2)xO_14−x (0.14≤x≤0.22) subsolidus pyrochlores were generally above ~160 and their dielectric losses were in the order of 10⁻⁴–10⁻³ at the frequency of 1 MHz and temperature of ~30 °C. Meanwhile, these ceramic samples also exhibited negative temperature coefficient of relative permittivity between −528 and −742 ppm/°C in the temperature range of ~30–300 °C.     

Structure,dielectric and piezoelectric properties of Ba0.90Ca0.10Ti1−xSnxO3 lead-free ceramics

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics Ba_0.90Ca_0.10Ti_1−xSn_xO₃ have been prepared by a conventional ceramic fabrication technique and the effects of Sn⁴⁺ on the structure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics have been investigated. All the ceramics exhibit a pure perovskite structure. After the substitution of Sn⁴⁺, the crystal structure of ceramics is transformed gradually from a tetragonal to an orthorhombic phase, and becomes a pseudo-cubic phase at x≥0.14. The substitution also decreases the Curie temperature greatly from 138 °C at x=0 to 33 °C at x=0.12, and shifts the orthorhombic–tetragonal phase transition to higher temperatures. Coexistence of the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases is formed in the ceramic at x=0.10, leading to significant improvements in the piezoelectric properties: d₃₃=521 pC/N and k_p=45.5%. Our results also reveal that the ceramics sintered at higher temperatures contain larger grains, and thus exhibit more noticeable tetragonal–orthorhombic phase transition and enhanced ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties.     

Microstructure and electrical properties of (Na0.5K0.5)1−2xMgxNbO3–Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

0.975[(Na_0.5K_0.5)_1−2xMg_xNbO₃]–0.025(Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃) (KNMN–BNT, x=0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were fabricated by the conventional solid-state sintering method. The dependence of Mg content on the microstructure and electrical properties of the ceramics is investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that an appropriate amount of Mg diffused into the KNN–BNT lattice to form a stable solid solution, the ceramics possessed a pure perovskite structure, and a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases was observed with the composition of 0.02≤x≤0.05. The orthorhombic–tetragonal transition temperature (T_O–T) is less than 95 °C and the Curie temperature (T_c) is almost unchanged (~360 °C) with the increase of MgO content. The ceramics with x=0.02 showed enhanced piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties because of close proximity to the MPB, i.e., d₃₃~210 pC/N, k_p~0.41, 2E_c~22.4 kV/cm and 2P_r~39.2 μC/cm². Moreover, the dielectric properties exhibited optimal effects with x=0.02, that is ε_r~637 and tan δ~0.09. These results indicate that the introduction of MgO is an effective method to improve the density as well as the electrical properties and the temperature stability of the KNN–BNT ceramics. As a result, the KNMN–BNT ceramic is a promising candidate for lead-free piezoelectric materials.     

Modified Pb(Yb,Nb)O3-PbZrO3-PbTiO3 ternary system for high temperature applications

Ternary 33Pb(Yb_1/2Nb_1/2)O-(67−x)PbZrO₃-xPbTiO₃ [PYNZ-PTx] were investigated as a function of the PT contents. The maximum value of piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) was obtained, being on the order of 540 pm/V with high Curie temperature (Tc) of 375 °C for PYNZ-PT48 composition being regarded as the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). To further increase its properties, La₂O₃ with 0.0 mol% ≤ x ≤ 3.0 mol% was substituted for PbO as an A-site in ternary PYNZ-PT48 [PYNZT]. The substitution of La³⁺ for Pb²⁺ in PYNZT was found to increase the tetragonality, but greatly reduced Tc and broadened the dielectric permittivity maximum. The relative permittivity was found to follow a Curie-Weiss Law above the deviation temperature (T_D). The optimized properties with d₃₃ of 600 pm/V, maximum dielectric permittivity (?_max) of 22500 (at the Tc = 315 °C and 1 kHz) were obtained in PYNZT-La2.0.     

A new fluidization–suspension combustion technology for coal water slurry

Slagging is a major operating problem in application of the atomization–suspension combustion technology for burning coal water slurry (CWS) fuel in small and low height industrial boilers. The fluidization–suspension combustion is a new alternative for replacement of oil, which is capable of solving the slagging problems. In addition, it can be successfully applied to CWS-fired boilers with capacity smaller than 35 t/h. About 530,000 medium and small scale industrial boilers with low boiler efficiency in China provide the technology a very promising prospect. The principles and contents of CWS fluidization–suspension combustion technology are introduced in detail in this paper. And a new type of 14 MW fluidization–suspension CWS-fired boiler was developed, the performance of which showed that boiler efficiency was 91.53%. Emission of SO₂ and NO_x was 346.1 mg/m³ and 469.5 mg/m³, respectively. From the application, the CWS-fired boiler showed good features such as high efficiency, low pollutant emission, good load regulation, good CWS quality adaptability, steady operation and convenient maintenance.     

Effect of divalent ion substitution on oxygen sensing properties of hot-spot based Eu1−xCaxBa2Cu3O7−δ and Eu1−yMgyBa2Cu3O7−δ ceramics

In this paper effects of Ca and Mg substitution on oxygen sensing properties of hot spot based Eu123 rods are reported. Eu_1−xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (x=0.2–0.5) and Eu_1−yMg_yBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (y=0.2–0.5) ceramics were synthesized from oxide powders using the standard solid state method and fabricated into short rods. For Ca-substituted rods, after appearance of a visible hot spot, a constant current plateau in I–V curve was formed. The output current response of the rod in periodically changing pO₂ between 20% and 100% showed improved stability and reproducibility for x=0.4 compared to x=0.2. Improved oxygen absorption and desorption time was observed for x=0.4 compared to previously reported unsubstituted rod. On the other hand, for Mg-substituted rods the I–V behavior after formation of hot spot showed a negative slope. Faster absorption time of 3.0 s and desorption time of 6.9 s were observed for y=0.4 compared to y=0.2. The improved output current stability, reproducibility and response time is suggested to be due to changes in oxygen activation energy and increased hole concentration as a result of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺substitutions. The Mg-substituted rods showed better performance compared to Ca-substituted rods possibly due to higher porosity and vacancy concentration.