Solid proton conductors as room-temperature gas sensors

Ammonia-exchanged ceramic samples of beta alumina have been obtained from plasma-dispersed powders. The ionic conductivity is slightly affected by ion exchange, but the surface conductivity for the amonia-exchanged sample drastically changes in the presence of the water and ammonia vapours. The ammonia-doped xerogel of antimonic acid hydrate in the form of a thick film has been tested as a potentiometric ammonia sensor.

Properties of Ni–Zn ferrite thin films deposited using spray pyrolysis

Abstract Nanocrystalline, homogeneous spinel Ni 1 − x Zn x Fe 2 O 4 thin films were deposited on glass substrates by using spray pyrolysis of metal nitrate aqueous solutions. The thickness of deposited films was below 500 nm, but crystallite size was under 30 nm. It has been shown that the DC resistivity, dielectric loss and optical band gap of deposited films are influenced by the zinc content. High DC resistivity and low dielectric losses of thin Ni 1 − x Zn x Fe 2 O 4 films are explained by mixed n-p conductivity and nanograin structure of spray pyrolysis deposited coatings which are changing with the ratio of Ni/Zn.

Hydrogen Adsorption in Zeolite Studied with Sievert and Thermogravimetric Methods

Natural clinoptilolite (mixture from clinoptilolite, quartz and muscovite) is activated with palladium and tested for hydrogen adsorption capability at temperatures RT - 200 o C. Thermogravimetric and volumetric methods showed that zeolite activated with palladium (1.25%wt) shows markedly high hydrogen adsorption capacity - up to 3 wt%. Lower amount of adsorbed hydrogen (~1.5 wt%) was found for raw zeolite and activated with higher amount of palladium sample. Hypothesis is proposed that the heating of zeolite in argon atmosphere forms and activates the pore structure in zeolite material, where hydrogen encapsulation (trapping) is believed to occur when cooling down to room temperature. An e…

INVESTIGATIONS OF THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT ADDITIVES TO THE LANTHANUM RICH MISCHMETAL

Antimonic acid hydrate xerogels as proton electrolytes

Abstract Two high stability types of protonic solid electrolytes based on antimonic acid hydrate xerogels have been obtained by the sol-gel technique: Sb 2 O 5 ·(3–4)H 2 O (colloidal) and Sb 2 O 5 ·5H 2 O (polymeric). The first one is a white compact material with conductivity 0.40 mS/cm (298 K) for n =3.7. The last one is transparent for visible light with a conductivity of 0.80 mS/cm. An electrochromic system based on the colloidal gel electrolyte in the form of paste has good performance-more than 10 7 cycles and a lifetime of more than five years.

Preparation and photoactivity of electrophoretic TiO2coating film

TiO2 thin films have been obtained by a sol-electrophoretic deposition method on metallic Ti and Pt substrates. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the structure and morphology of plated materials. Annealed TiO2 films mainly are formed in anatase structure with different morphology depending on substrate material. Light induced potential measurements indicate that the morphology substantially have an impact on photoactivity of TiO2 thin films.

Aqueous synthesis of Z-scheme photocatalyst powders and thin-film photoanodes from earth abundant elements

Riga Technical University supported the preparation of this manuscript from the Scientific Research Project Competition for Young Researchers No. ZP 2017/8

Effect of antisite defects on the magnetic properties of ZnFe2 O4

Magnetic zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanopowders were synthesized using the sol–gel autocombustion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements demonstrated that thermal decomposition of the 1-mm-thick xerogel layers in air formed monophasic spinel ferrite nanopowders with a particle size less than 30 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the obtained reaction product contained antisite defects, with zinc ions occurring at the octahedral sites of the spinel structure. The concentration of antisite defects or inversion degree decreased when the relatively low annealing temperature was increased from 150 to 500 °C. Overall, the obtained ZnFe2…

Solution to Urban Air Pollution – Carbon Free Transport

Abstract The analysis of the results of long-term air quality monitoring in Riga is presented, which shows that in city centre throughout the measurement time (2004-2014) according to the guidelines defined by the European Union directives and Latvian laws the limits of small particles PM10 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are exceeded. From the nature of appearance of pollution and from the research of morphology and composition of fine dust particles it was concluded that in the city centre where the monitoring was performed the main air pollutants are caused by internal combustion engine vehicles. The measures to reduce air pollution performed by two Action Programs (2004-2009; 2011-2015) of t…

Complex multilayer carbon structures for green energetics

The authors greatly acknowledge the IMIS2 project of the National Reform Programme of Latvia for financial support. The publication costs of this article were covered by the Estonian Academy of Sciences and the University of Tartu.

Electrochemical Investigation of Hydrogen Evolution and Absorption Phenomena in Nickel Based Electrodes

Due to its potential for industrial applications, hydrogen absorption in metals has attracted continuous interest. Understanding the hydrogen chemistry in metals is crucial due to the significance of hydrogen-metal interactions in important industrial and technical applications such as catalysis, H-fuel containment, corrosion and embrittlement of metals and rechargeable metal hydride batteries [1–2].

Application of micro Raman spectroscopy to industrial FC membranes

Raman spectra of as-received and protonated membranes (Nafion® NRE-212, Fumapem® F-14100 and Fumasep® FAA) were measured with He-Cd and Ar laser. For the first time the Raman and IR spectra are reported of Fumasep membranes. Most of peaks in vibration spectra active in Raman and IR of membranes are interpreted with C-F, C-S, C-O-C, SO3, C-C bonds. The vibration region connected with protons and H-O bond in both types of membranes is found in Raman and IR spectra.

Latvijas iedzīvotāju migrācija uz Ziemeļvalstīm

Pētījuma mērķis ir raksturot galvenās iezīmes Latvijas iedzīvotāju migrācijai uz Ziemeļvalstīm – Dāniju, Norvēģiju un Zviedriju. Pēc Latvijas iestāšanās Eiropas Savienībā, pieauga Latvijas iedzīvotāju emigrācija uz citām valstīm. Nozīmīgs galamērķis ir arī Ziemeļvalstis. Pēc 2013.gada pieejamiem statistikas datiem, Ziemeļvalstīs dzīvoja 17 689 Latvijas iedzīvotāji. Pētījuma ietvaros ir analizēta zinātniskā literatūra par starptautisko migrāciju. Veikta Latvijas, Dānijas, Norvēģijas un Zviedrijas migrācijas statistikas datu analīze kopš 2004.gada. Empīriski pētnieciskā daļa sastāv no Latvijas iedzīvotāju Ziemeļvalstīs aptaujas realizācijas un aptaujas rezultātu analīzes. Tika aptaujāti 227 L…

Studies of Reversible Hydrogen Binding in Nano- Sized Materials

Experimental review of materials suitable for reversible hydrogen binding in nanoporous and nanosized structures of materials, based on natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) and graphene (exfoliated electrochemically from raw graphite), were analyzed. Characterization of materials with SEM, XRD, EDS and Raman spectroscopy methods and aspects of synthesis of a nanostructured zeolite and a few-layer graphite material was done in this work. It was established from gas analyzer results that hydrogen mass fraction in natural zeolite ranged from 1.1 % to 1.4 %, but in the few-layer graphite material − from 0.39 % to 0.46 %.

Latvijas jauniešu migrācija uz Ārvalstīm. Norveģijas piemērs

Maģistra darba mērķis ir izvērtēt jauniešu migrācijas plūsmu no Latvijas uz Norvēģiju, raksturojot galvenās migrācijas iezīmes. Empīriski pētniecisko daļu veido Latvijas jauniešu aptaujas īstenošana un aptaujas rezultātu analīze. Izmantojot globālā tīmekļa sociālo vietni Facebook, tika iegūtas 224 anketas no Latvijas jauniešiem, kuri dzīvo vai ir dzīvojuši Norvēģijā. Iegūtie aptaujas rezultāti tika analizēti ar SPSS programmas palīdzību. Maģistra darbs sastāv no anotācijām un piecām nodaļām. Pirmajā nodaļā ir aprakstītas starpvalstu migrācijas galvenās formas un noteicošie motīvi, kā arī aplūkotas jauniešu migrācijai raksturīgās iezīmes. Otrajā nodaļā aplūkota Norvēģija kā starptautiskās mi…

Photocatalytic activity of non-stoichiometric ZnFe2O4under visible light irradiation

Nanostructured zinc ferrites with different excess iron contents (ZnFe2+zO4, where z = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) have been synthesized using the sol–gel auto-combustion method. The effect of excess iron on the structural, optical and visible light photocatalytic activity of zinc ferrite samples has been investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized non-stoichiometric ZnFe2O4 powders. The XRD patterns demonstrated that the samples con…

Estimation of hydrogen transfer mechanisms in composite materials

Abstract Spill-over effect as a hydrogen transfer mechanism is proposed to explain an increased capacity of hydrogen absorption and improvement of hydrogen activation kinetics in composite material based on the AB5 type metal hydride and powdered glass. A raw lanthanum nickel alloy AB5 with small amount of additives was used as catalyst and bulk material for hydrogen storage, and a borosilicate glass powder with developed surface was applied as a support material. Thermogravimetric technique to determine an absorbed amount of the hydrogen in materials and X-ray powder diffraction analysis for structural investigations was used.

Proton conducting composite electrolytes based on antimonic acid

Abstract This report concerns a composite proton electrolyte suitable for use in electrochromic devices. The electrolyte consists of nanosize pyrochlore antimonic acid particles suspended in a poly(vinyl acetate) matrix by a gel route. It was found possible to substitute the antimonic acid by inert oxides of aluminum and silicon, thus making the electrolyte less harmful to the oxide electrodes of the electrochromic devices without considerably decreasing the conductivity. The proton conductivity of the antimonic acid electrolyte was ∼10 −4 S/cm at room temperature, practically independent of its amount of absorbed water.

Characterization of LiFePO4/C Composite Thin Films Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

The composite LiFePO4/C thin films were prepared on steel substrate by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. Electrochemical properties of the obtained thin films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry charge-discharge measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The films annealed at 550 °C exhibited a couple of redox peaks at 3.45 V vs. Li/Li + characteristic for the electrochemical lithium insertion/extraction in LiFePO4. At low current rate such composite thin film showed a discharge capacity of over 110 mAh g -1 . The dependence of charge transfer resistance, double layer capacitance and lithium diffusion coefficients on applied electrode potential were calculat…

Gaseous sensors based on solid proton conductors

Abstract he chemical sensors for different gaseous (alcohol, acetone, ammonia, water vapour) detection at room temperature are developed by using polycrystalline β-alumina and xerogel of antimonic acid hydrate (AAH). The sensitivity and selectivity of sensors depend on the ion-exchange and preparative methods. The possibility of producing different types of potentiometric, amperometric, voltammetric and resistance sensors on the basis of these ion-conducting materials is shown. More success is achieved by producing ammonia-sensitive devices on β-alumina as well as on AAH xerogel.

Electrophoretically deposited α-Fe2O3 and TiO2 composite anchored on rGO with excellent cycle performance as anode for lithium ion batteries

Abstract Two nanostructured oxides, α-Fe2O3 and TiO2 with a particle diameters 50 nm and 21 nm, were mixed with graphene oxide (GO). Composite thin films on a stainless steel substrate were obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) procedure from water suspensions: α-Fe2O3/GO, TiO2/GO and α-Fe2O3/TiO2/GO. Subsequently reduction of as-prepared thin films was performed. Thicknesses of acquired films were evaluated in the range of 2–6 μm. Structure and morphology were investigated as well as electrochemical properties of all samples were studied. The results revealed that α-Fe2O3/TiO2/rGO (in this article denoted as FTGO) exhibited the specific discharge capacity of 790 mAh·g−1 after 150 cy…