K. Thomas Jacob

Glycol–nitrate combustion synthesis of fine sinter-active yttria

Yttrium oxide has been synthesized from yttrium nitrate by combustion synthesis using ethylene glycol as the fuel. The combustion characteristics, thermal decomposition, crystallite pattern of the reaction product, and densification of the calcined powders were studied for different glycol/nitrate ratios. The microstructural evolution of the reaction product with increasing calcination temperature was studied. By sintering compacted powders at 1698 K for 7.2 hs. 96% of the theoretical density was achieved. The average grain size was 3 mum and there was no evidence of intra-granular porosity.

Crystal structure, thermal expansion and electrical conductivity of Nd0.7Sr0.3Fe1-xCoxO3 (0 <= x <= 0.8)

The crystal structure, thermal expansion and electrical conductivity of the solid solution Nd0.7Sr0.3Fe1-xCoxO3 for 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.8 were investigated. All compositions had the GdFeO3-type orthorhombic perovskite structure. The lattice parameters were determined at room temperature by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The pseudo-cubic lattice constant decreased continuously with x. The average linear thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in the temperature range from 573 to 973 K was found to increase with x. The thermal expansion curves for all values of x displayed rapid increase in slope at high temperatures. The electrical conductivity increased with x for the entire temperature range of measurement. The calculated activation energy values indicate that electrical conduction takes place primarily by the small polaron hopping mechanism. The charge compensation for the divalent ion on the A-site is provided by the formation of Fe4+ ions on the B-site (in preference to Co4+ ions) and vacancies on the oxygen sublattice for low values of x. The large increase in the conductivity with x in the range from 0.6 to 0.8 is attributed to the substitution of Fe4+ ions by Co4+ ions. The Fe site has a lower small polaron site energy than Co and hence behaves like a carrier trap, thereby drastically reducing the conductivity. The non-linear behaviour in the dependence of log sigmaT with reciprocal temperature can be attributed to the generation of additional charge carriers with increasing temperature by the charge disproportionation of Co3+ ions

Phase relations in the system BiO1.5–SrO–CuO at 1123 K

Phase relations in the system Bi–Sr–Cu–O at 1123 K have been investigated using optical microscopy, electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) of equilibrated samples. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used to confirm liquid formation for compositions rich in BiO1.5. Compositions along the three pseudo-binary sections and inside the pseudo-ternary triangle have been examined. The attainment of equilibrium was facilitated by the use of freshly prepared SrO as the starting material. The loss of Bi2O3 from the sample was minimized by double encapsulation. A complete phase diagram at 1123 K is presented. It differs significantly from versions of the phase diagram published recently.

Crystal structure and thermal and electrical properties of the perovskite solid solution Nd1-xSrxFeO3-δ (0≤x≤0.4)

The crystal structure, thermal expansion and electrical conductivity of strontium-doped neodymium ferrite (Nd1-xSrxFeO3-delta where 0less than or equal toxless than or equal to0.4) were investigated. All compositions had the GdFeO3-type orthorhombic perovskite structure. The lattice parameters were determined at room temperature by X-ray powder diffraction. The orthorhombic distortion decreases with increasing Sr substitution. The pseudocubic lattice parameter shows a minimum at x=0.3. The thermal expansion curves for x=0.2-0.4 displayed rapid increase in slope at higher temperatures. The electrical conductivity increased with Sr content and temperature. The calculated activation energies for electrical conduction decreased with increasing x. The electrical conductivity can be described by the small polaron hopping mechanism. The charge compensation for divalent ion on the A-site is provided by the formation of Fe4+ ions on the B site and vacancies on the oxygen sublattice. The results indicate two defect domains: for low values of x, the predominant defect is Fe4+ ions, whereas for higher values of x, oxygen vacancies dominate

Measurement of Gibbs energy of formation of LaGaO3 using a composition-graded solid electrolyte

A composition-graded solid electrolyte (LaF3)y . (CaF2)1-y was used for the measurement of the standard Gibbs energy of formation of LaGaO3 from its component oxides. An equimolar mixture of CaO and CaF2 was employed as the reference electrode. The composition of the working electrode depended on temperature. A three-phase mixture of LaGaO3 + Ga2O3 + LaF3 was used in the temperature range from 910 to 1010 K, while a mixture of LaGaO3 + Ga2O3 + LaO1-x F1+2x was employed from 1010 to 1170 K. Both the reference and working electrodes were placed under pure oxygen gas. Because of the high activity of LaF3 at the working electrode, there was significant diffusion of LaF3 into CaF2. The composition-graded electrolyte was designed to minimize the electrode-electrolyte interaction. The concentration of LaF3 varied across the solid electrolyte; from y=0 near the reference electrode to a maximum value y=0.32 at the working electrode. For the correct interpretation of the electromotive force at T > 1010 K, it was necessary to use thermodynamic properties of the lanthanum oxyfluoride solid solution. The standard Gibbs energy of formation of LaGaO3 from its component oxides according to the reaction, 1/2La2O3 (A-rare earth) + 1/2Ga2O3 (\beta) \rightarrow LaGaO3 (rhombohedral) can be represented by the equation: \Delta G o f,(ox)/J mol-1 = -46 230 + 7.75 T/K (\pm 1500).

Phase relations in the systems Cu–O–R2O3(R = Tm, Lu) and Gibbs energies of formation of Cu2R2O5 compounds

The phase relations in the systems Cu–O–R2O3(R = Tm, Lu) have been determined at 1273 K by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and electron probe microanalysis of samples equilibrated in evacuated quartz ampules and in pure oxygen. Only ternary compounds of the type Cu2R2O5 were found to be stable. The standard Gibbs energies of formation of the compounds have been measured using solid-state galvanic cells of the type, Pt|Cu2O + Cu2R2O5+ R2O3‖(Y2O3)ZrO2‖CuO + Cu2O‖Pt in the temperature range 950–1325 K. The standard Gibbs energy changes associated with the formation of Cu2R2O5 compounds from their binary component oxides are: 2CuO(s)+ Tm2O3(s)→Cu2Tm2O5(s), ΔG°=(10400 – 14.0 T/K)± 100 J mol–1, 2CuO(s)+ Lu2O3(s)→Cu2Lu2O5(s), ΔG°=(10210 – 14.4 T/K)± 100 J mol–1 Since the formation is endothermic, the compounds become thermodynamically unstable with respect to component oxides at low temperatures, Cu2Tm2O5 below 743 K and Cu2Lu2O5 below 709 K. When the chemical potential of oxygen over the Cu2R2O5 compounds is lowered, they decompose according to the reaction, 2Cu2R2O5(s)→2R2O3(s)+ 2Cu2O(s)+ O2(g) The equilibrium oxygen potential corresponding to this reaction is obtained from the emf. Oxygen potential diagrams for the Cu–O–R2O3 systems at 1273 K are presented.

System LaPdO: phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of ternary oxides

An isothermal section of the phase diagram for the system La---Pd---O at 1200 K has been established by equilibration of samples representing seventeen different compositions, and phase identification after quenching by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDX). The binary oxide PdO was not stable at 1200 K. Two ternary oxides

Phase equilibria in the systems Ln-Pd-O and thermodynamic properties of Ln2Pd2O5 (Ln = Dy, Ho)

La_4PdO_7

The thermodynamics and phase behaviour of Tb2Pd2O5 and Er2Pd2O5

and

Measurement for Thermal Effusivity of AlxGa1-xN Alloys Using Thermoreflectance with Periodic Heating

La_2Pd_2O_5