The Convergence in Spatial Tasks

The article reveals the problem of convergence of direct and inverse problems in Earth Sciences, describes the features and application of these problems, discloses analytical features of direct and inverse problems. The convergence criteria and conditions for convergence were presented. This work is supported by the Grant of the Government of the Russian Federation for support of scientific research, implemented under the supervision of leading scientists in Russian institutions of higher education in the field "Space Research and Technologies" in 2011–2013

Chemical strain in perovskite-like materials

Pseudo-cubic perovskites based upon substituted oxides RBO3-δ as well as double perovskites RBaB2O6-δ and Sr2BMoO6, where R=rare-earth element and B=3d-transition metal, with A-site and B-site, respectively, cation ordering are very promising materials for a variety of different devices for moderate high temperature applications. The unique feature of the oxides is their ability to undergo both thermal strain and that induced by the defects of oxygen nonstoichiometry in the oxide crystal lattice. The latter is called as chemical or defect-induced strain, which is extremely sensitive to the defect structure of the oxide material. This property was shown recently to be isotropic for pseudo-cubic perovskites unlike that of double perovskites. The crystal lattice of a double perovskite expands along a-axis and simultaneously contracts along c-axis with the decreasing lattice oxygen content. The model of the oxide lattice chemical strain based on a change of mean ionic radius due to reduction of most reducible cation has been recently developed by us. In this work we introduced the new feature in the model such as change of preferable coordination of cations caused by change of oxygen content in the oxide. The modified model was shown to enable correct prediction of chemical expansion upon increasing oxygen nonstoichiometry along a-axis for both pseudo-cubic and double perovskite oxides and simultaneous lattice contraction along c-axis in double perovskites. Thus most important finding is that simultaneous lattice contraction along c-axis in double perovskites is caused by aforementioned change of preferable coordination

Technology of moisture-resistant chipboard using amino-formaldehyde binder

In this paper we study the possibility of using modified amino-formaldehyde resins in the production of moisture-resistant wood particle boards. As a modifier of amino-formaldehyde resins it is proposed to use a by-product of melamine production -melan, which is a powder of light brown color, insoluble in water. Melan in its chemical composition and properties is largely similar to melamine, but unlike the latter it is an available raw material for the synthesis of polymers. This is the high market value of commercial melamine. Melamine, on the other hand, is often a waste product that is absolutely free. Aminoformaldehyde resins modified with melamine, despite its dark coloring, provide particleboards with a coloring identical to those obtained from conventional aminoformaldehyde resins. However, the properties of the obtained materials allow them to be classified as moisture-resistant

The technology of low-toxic chipboard using an amino-formaldehyde binder

This paper considers one of the key production problems associated with the production of environmentally friendly particle boards (reinforced wood particle board) based on aminoformaldehyde binders that meet all the necessary requirements of modern standards. One of the promising solutions to this problem can be the use of reactive technological additive, which has a complex action: catalyst for curing the binder and acceptor of free formaldehyde contained in the binder. The proposed action will allow to produce boards with high physical and mechanical characteristics and minimum content of free formaldehyde, which can indicate a high quality of the products and expand the scope of these composite materials, including production of furniture for home and children's institutions

Experimental thermochemical verification of trends in thermodynamic stability of hybrid perovskite-type organic-inorganic halides

Hybrid perovskite-type methylammonium lead halides have received great attention in recent years due to high conversion efficiency obtained in solar cells based on such materials. Since the time of the first demonstration photovoltaic devices based on the hybrid perovskites CH3NH3PbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) have showed huge progress in increase of conversion efficiency reaching currently 20.1%. However, despite very promising achievements fundamental chemistry and physics of hybrid organic-inorganic (HOIP) perovskites is far from being completely understood. In particular it is true for thermodynamic properties of HOIP perovskite-type halides ABX3 and A2BX4 (A=CH3NH3, formamidinium, Cs, Rb, etc; B=Sn, Pb, 3d-element; X = Cl, Br, I). Moreover, reported results of DFT calculations aiming at estimating the stability of these materials often give controversial results. In addition, some of the HOIP perovskites (for example, CH3NH3PbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I)) are known to be entropy-stabilized phases. Therefore experimental verification of the stability trends in HOIP perovskite-type halide systems is strongly required. This is especially important for assessment of the stability of these materials under particular working conditions. Therefore, the main aim of this work was to study the thermodynamics of formation of HOIP perovskite-type halides ABX3 and A2BX4 (A=CH3NH3, formamidinium, Cs, Rb, etc; B=Sn, Pb, 3d-element; X = Cl, Br, I). Their standard formation enthalpy at 298 K was measured by solution calorimetry. Heat capacity was measured in the temperature range 2-298 K using PPMS system. Standard entropy was obtained by integration of the Cp/T vs T curve. Standard Gibbs free energy of ABX3 and A2BX4 (A=CH3NH3, formamidinium, Cs, Rb, etc; B=Sn, Pb, 3d-element; X = Cl, Br, I) was evaluated using measured formation enthalpy and entropy. Trends in variation of the thermodynamic functions with chemical composition and crystal structure of HOIP perovskite-type halides were analyzed and compared with available results of DFT calculations. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant No. 18-73-10059)

Hydration thermodynamics of proton-conducting perovskite Ba4Ca2Nb2O11

The oxygen nonstoichiometry index δ, i.e. number of oxygen vacancies per formula unit, in perovskite-type BaCa(1+y)/3Nb(2-y)/3O3–δ (BCNy) oxides can be tailored by varying the Ca–Nb ratio y, and equals . These oxygen vacancies can be hydrated under humid atmosphere, providing nonstoichiometric BCNy oxides with good proton conductivity. It makes them promising materials for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrolytes and high-temperature humidity sensors. The present work aimed to partly address the lack of fundamental thermodynamic studies on BCNy by investigating the heat of low-temperature hydration-induced phase transition as well as the higher-temperature thermodynamics of hydration and related defect chemistry of BCN50 oxide. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

In situ and ex situ study of cubic La0.5Ba0.5CoO3–δ to double perovskite LaBaCo2O6– δ transition

Double perovskites REBaCo2O6–δ (RE – rare-earth element) have received great attention in past decades as promising materials for various electrochemical devices because of their high mixed ionic-electronic conductivity and catalytic activity for the reaction of oxygen reduction. Among these compounds, cobaltite LaBaCo2O6–δ can serve as a good example of structural flexibility, since it is able to form either A-site disordered cubic “simple” perovskite or layered A-site ordered double perovskite. However, the exact limits of the thermodynamic stability of LaBaCo2O6–δ double perovskite with respect to temperature (T) and oxygen partial pressure (pO2) have not been determined so far. Furthermore, synthesis and study of selected properties of either cubic or layered LaBaCo2O6–δ oxide were mostly of interest for researchers, whereas the transition from “simple” to double perovskite was not addressed in detail so far. At the same time, it is generally recognized that such transition significantly improves oxide ion transport in the perovskite-type oxides and, therefore, understanding this order-disorder transition is of key importance for successful development of new materials for practical application. Therefore, the present work aims at providing some insights into the nature of the aforementioned order-disorder transformation of LaBaCo2O6–δ, as well as into thermodynamic stability of both ordered and disordered phases, using a set of complementary techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, in situ X-ray diffraction and solid state coulometric titration. As a result, formation of complex domain textured intermediate products during the phase transition “ordered LaBaCo2O6–δ – disordered La0.5Ba0.5CoO3–δ” was revealed. These products were found to exhibit strong affinity to oxygen and fast oxygen exchange with ambient atmosphere even at temperature as low as 70 °C. This particularity seems to provide a unique possibility to develop a new class of advanced materials for IT SOFCs, ceramic membranes and catalysis. The thermodynamic stability limits of the cubic and double perovskites were determined as log(pO2) = f(1/T) dependencies. The stability diagram of the LaBaCo2O6–δ – La0.5Ba0.5CoO3–δ system was plotted as a result. Oxygen nonstoichiometry of the thermodynamically stable cubic perovskite La0.5Ba0.5CoO3–δ was measured as a function of pO2 in temperature range between 1000 and 1100 °C using coulometric titration technique. Acknowledgement: This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant No. 18-33-20243)

Crystal structure, oxygen nonstoichiometry, hydration and conductivity BaZr1- xMxO3-d (M=Pr, Nd, Y, Co)

Partially substituted perovskite-like barium zirconates with general formula BaZr1-хМхО3-d possess oxygen-ion and proton conductivity and, therefore, may be promising as electrolytes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. The aim of this work was to study the crystal structure, thermal and chemical expansion, water uptake, oxygen nonstoichiometry, total conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of zirconates BaZr1-xMxO3-d (M=Pr, Nd, Y, Co) in the atmospheres with different levels of humidity (log(pH2O/atm.) = -1.75; -2.5; -3.5) as a function of oxygen partial pressure (log(pO2/atm) = -20 - -0.67) and temperature (T = 25 – 1050 °C). Synthesis of the samples was carried out by glycerol-nitrate method. The phase composition of the as-prepared powders was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD). Room temperature and high temperature XRD studies were carried out using Shimadzu XRD-7000 diffractometer equipped with high temperature chamber HTK 16N (Anton Paar GmbH). Thermal and chemical expansion was also measured using DIL 402 C dilatometer (Netzsch GmbH). Oxygen nonstoichiometry was studied by solid state coulometric titration and thermogravimetry. Electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient were measured simultaneously in the same setup. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project No.18-73-00022)

Barriers to implementation of hydrogen initiatives in the context of global energy sustainable development

Modern trends in the global energy market linked to the Sustainable Development Goals often lead to the adoption of political decisions with little basis in fact. Stepping up the development of renewable energy sources is an economically questionable but necessary step in terms of its social and ecological effects. However, subsequent development of hydrogen infrastructure is, at the very least, a dangerous initiative. In connection with mentioned above, an attempt to examine hydrogen by conducting an integral assessment of its characteristics has been made in this article. As a result of the research conducted, the following conclusions concerning the potential of the widespread implementation of hydrogen in the power generation sector have been made: as a chemical element, it harms steel structures, which significantly impedes the selection of suitable materials; its physical and volume characteristics decrease the general efficiency of the energy system compared to similar hydrocarbon solutions; the hydrogen economy does not have the necessary foundation in terms of both physical infrastructure and market regulation mechanisms; the emergence of widely available hydrogen poses a danger for society due to its high combustibility. Following the results of the study, it was concluded that the existing pilot hydrogen projects are positive yet not scalable solutions for the power generation sector due to the lack of available technologies to construct large-scale and geographically distributed infrastructure and adequate international system of industry regulation. Thus, under current conditions, the risks of implementing such projects considerably exceed their potential ecological benefits

Thermogravimetric analysis of gasification and pyrolysis of algae biomass

In the present paper, the case of the brown algae Saccharina japonica from Aniva Bay (Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin Island) was investigated by a thermogravimetric analysis up to 700°C at different atmospheres. The elemental composition, lower heating value, ash content, and biochar yield of the algae were examined. The analysis showed that carbohydrates like alginate, mannitol, fucoidan, and laminarin were decomposed between 250-350°C, while proteins and lipids were burned out between 500-550°C