Deposition of Thin Electroconductive Layers of Tin (II) Sulfide on the Copper Surface Using the Hydrometallurgical Method: Electrical and Optical Studies.

Thin films of tin (II) sulfide (SnS) were deposited onto a 500 µm thick copper substrate by a chemical bath method. The effect of sodium (Na) doping in these films was studied. The synthesis of the films was performed at temperatures of 60, 70, and 80 °C for 5 min. The microstructure of the SnS films analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a compact morphology of the films deposited at 80 °C. The edges of the SnS grains were rounded off with the addition of a commercial surfactant. The thickness of different SnS layers deposited on the copper substrate was found to be 230 nm from spectroscopic ellipsometry and cross-section analysis using SEM. The deposition parameters such as temperature, surfactant addition, and sodium doping time did not affect the thickness of the layers. From the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the size of the SnS crystallites was found to be around 44 nm. Depending on the process conditions, Na doping affects the size of the crystallites in different ways. A study of the conductivity of SnS films provides a specific conductivity value of 0.3 S. The energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) equipped with the SEM revealed the Sn:S stoichiometry of the film to be 1:1, which was confirmed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The determined band-gap of SnS is equal to 1.27 eV and is in good agreement with the literature data.

Modulation of ODH Propane Selectivity by Zeolite Support Desilication: Vanadium Species Anchored to Al-Rich Shell as Crucial Active Sites.

The commercially available zeolite HY and its desilicated analogue were subjected to a classical wet impregnation procedure with NH4VO3 to produce catalysts differentiated in acidic and redox properties. Various spectroscopic techniques (in situ probe molecules adsorption and time-resolved propane transformation FT-IR studies, XAS, 51V MAS NMR, and 2D COS UV-vis) were employed to study speciation, local coordination, and reducibility of the vanadium species introduced into the hierarchical faujasite zeolite. The acid-based redox properties of V centres were linked to catalytic activity in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. The modification of zeolite via caustic treatment is an effective method of adjusting its basicity-a parameter that plays an important role in the ODH process. The developed mesopore surface ensured the attachment of vanadium species to silanol groups and formation of isolated (SiO)2(HO)V=O and (SiO)3V=O sites or polymeric, highly dispersed forms located in the zeolite micropores. The higher basicity of HYdeSi, due to the presence of the Al-rich shell, aided the activation of the C-H bond leading to a higher selectivity to propene. Its polymerisation and coke formation were inhibited by the lower acid strength of the protonic sites in desilicated zeolite. The Al-rich shell was also beneficial for anchoring V species and thus their reducibility. The operando UV-vis experiments revealed higher reactivity of the bridging oxygens V-O-V over the oxo-group V=O. The (SiO)3V=O species were found to be ineffective in propane oxidation when temperature does not exceed 400 °C.

The Properties of Cu Ions in Zeolites CuY Studied by IR Spectroscopy.

The properties of both Cu2+ and Cu+ ions in zeolite CuY were followed with NO and CO as probe molecules. Cu2+ was found to be located in SII, SII*, and SIII sites, whereas Cu+ was found in SII and SII* sites. The fine analysis of the spectra of Cu2+-NO and Cu+-CO adducts suggests that both in SII and in SII* sites two kinds of Cu cations exist. They differ in the positive charge, which may be related to the varying numbers of AlO4- in close proximity. The experiments of NO and CO adsorption and desorption evidenced that both Cu2+ and Cu+ sites of highest positive charge bind probe molecules most strongly but activate them to a lesser extent than the Cu sites of lowest positive charge. The experiments of reduction with hydrogen evidenced that the Cu ions of higher positive charge are first reduced by hydrogen. On the other hand, Cu sites of the lowest positive charge are first oxidized by oxygen. The experiments with CuNaY zeolites of various Cu contents suggest that the first introduced Cu (at low Cu contents) created Cu+, which was the most neutralized by framework oxygens. Such Cu cations are the most stabilized by framework oxygens.

Damage Development on the Surface of Nickel Coating in the Initial Period of Erosion.

The common occurrence of the phenomenon of cavitation in many industries and the multitude of factors affecting the resistance to cavitation erosion of used materials contribute to the search for methods and appropriate parameters of coating application that are able to minimize the effects of erosion. To determine the validity of the developed application parameters and the method used, cavitation studies and microscopic observations of the development of erosion during the cavitation test were carried out. There was a clear lack of incubation time and a linear increase in losses after 60 min of the test. Moreover, the damage observed during the test overlapped, widening the area of erosion and thus leading to damage to the integrity of the coating.

Polydispersity vs. Monodispersity. How the Properties of Ni-Ag Core-Shell Nanoparticles Affect the Conductivity of Ink Coatings.

The effect of polydispersity of nickel-silver core-shell nanoparticles (Ni-Ag NPs) on the conductivity of ink coatings was studied. Ni-Ag NPs of various average diameters (100, 220, and 420 nm) were synthesized and utilized for the preparation of conductive inks composed of monodisperse NPs and their polydisperse mixtures. The shell thickness of synthesized Ni-Ag NPs was found to be in the range of 10-20 nm and to provide stability of a core metal to oxidation for at least 6 months. The conductivity of metallic films formed by inks with monodisperse Ni-Ag NPs was compared with those formed by polydisperse inks. In all cases, the optimal conditions for the formation of conductive patterns (weight ratio of monodisperse NPs for polydisperse composition, the concentration of the wetting agent, sintering temperature, and duration) were determined. It was found that metallic films formed by polydisperse ink containing 100, 220, and 420 nm Ni-Ag NPs with a mass ratio of 1:1.5:0.5, respectively, are characterized by the lowest resistivity, 10.9 µΩ·cm, after their thermal post-coating sintering at 300 °C for 30 min that is only 1.6 higher than that of bulk nickel.

PDDA-Montmorillonite Composites Loaded with Ru Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Properties in Hydrogenation of 2-Butanone.

The effect of synthesis parameters on the physicochemical properties of clay/ polydiallyldimethylammonium (PDDA)/Ru composites and their applicability in hydrogenation of 2-butanone under very mild conditions (room temperature, atmospheric pressure, and aqueous solution) was studied. Three synthetic procedures were employed, differing in the order of addition of components and the stage at which metallic Ru species were generated. The materials were characterized with XRD (X-ray diffraction), XRF (X-ray fluorescence), EDS (energy-dispersive spectroscopy), AFM (atomic force microscopy), TEM/HRTEM (transmission electron microscopy/high resolution transmission electron microscopy), and TG/DSC (thermal gravimetry/differential scanning microscopy techniques. The study revealed that the method of composite preparation affects its structural and thermal properties, and controls the distribution and size of Ru particles. All catalysts are active in hydrogenation of 2-butanone. For best catalytic performance (100% conversion within 30 min) both the size of Ru particles and the load of polymer had to be optimized. Superior catalytic properties were obtained over the composite with intermediate crystal size and intermediate PDDA load, prepared by generation of metallic Ru species in the polymer solution prior to intercalation. This method offers an easy way of controlling the crystal size by modification of Ru/PDDA ratio.

Simultaneous removal of dyes and metal cations using an acid, acid-base and base modified vermiculite as a sustainable and recyclable adsorbent.

The aim of this work was the modification of vermiculite in order to produce a low cost, efficient and sustainable adsorbent for dyes and metals. Three activation methods consisting of acid, base and combined acid/base treatment were applied to improve the of vermiculite's adsorption properties. Adsorbents were tested in single, bi- and tricomponent solutions containing cationic dyes and Cu2+ cations. The raw material showed low adsorption capacity for dyes and metal. The acid/base treated vermiculite had very good adsorption capacity toward dyes while the maximum adsorption capacity for Cu2+ did not change comparing to the starting material. The alkaline treated vermiculite was a good adsorbent for metals, while still being able to remove dyes on the level of the not treated material. Moreover, it was shown that the materials may be regenerated and used in several adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, it was possible to separate adsorbed dyes from metals that were desorbed, using as eluents ethanol/NaCl and 0.05M HNO3, respectively. This opens a possibility for sustainable disposal and neutralization of both of the pollutants or for their further applications in other processes.