Scientific Papers in SCI

Abstract

Illuminated Arabic manuscripts have been studied, employing two laboratory-made X-ray diffraction (XRD) systems developed recently in the C2RMF laboratory. The validity of the µ-XRD and XRD portable systems for the study of this type of artworks has been demonstrated. A common observation in all the analyses is the presence of calcite and rutile; also, hematite, goethite, cinnabar, brass, anatase and barite were detected in the various colours. Differences between the results obtained by both techniques due to acquisition mode are discussed. In addition, other techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and micro-Raman were used for the complete characterization of the manuscripts.

Abstract

The sorption reversibility of La and Lu (considered as actinide analogues) onto a set of smectites (bentonite FEBEX; hectorite, HEC; MX80; saponite, SAP; Otay montmorillonite, SCa-3; and Texas montmorillonite, STx-1) was studied to estimate actinide retention by smectites that are candidates for use as engineered barriers in deep geological repositories. The sorption distribution coefficients (K _d) and the reversibility parameters (desorption distribution coefficients (K _d,des), adjusted distribution coefficients (K _d,adj), and desorption rates (R _des)) were determined from batch tests in two ionic media: deionized water and Ca 0.02 mol L ^-1. The latter simulates possible conditions due to the presence of concrete leachates. The results varied greatly depending on the ionic medium, the lanthanide concentration and the clay structure. The high values of K _d,des obtained (up to 1.1 × 10 ⁵ and 9.2 × 10 ⁴ L kg ^-1 for La and Lu in water, and 2.8 × 10 ⁴ and 4.1 × 10 ⁴ L kg ^-1 for La and Lu in the Ca medium) indicate the suitability of the tested smectites for lanthanide (and therefore, actinide) retention. Based on all the data, SCa-3, HEC and FEBEX clays are considered the best choices for water environments, whereas in Ca environments the suitable clays depended on the lanthanide considered.

Abstract

Novel controlled release formulations (CRFs) were developed for reducing leaching of herbicides and contamination of groundwater. The herbicide metribuzin (MTB) was entrapped within a sepiolite-gel matrix using a novel and ultrasound-based technique. Different sepiolite/herbicide matrices (either as a gel or as a powder after freeze-drying) were prepared with pesticide loading between 28.6 and 9.1%. The release of MTB from the control released formulations into water was retarded when compared with commercial formulation (CF), except in the case of the sepiolite-gel-based formulations with lower amounts of sepiolite. The rheological properties and microstructure of these formulations were examined in detail. FTIR spectra showed that there was no evidence of herbicide inside the sepiolite tunnels. The SEM micrograph of the sepiolite-gel-based formulations showed the fibrous morphology typical of sepiolite and no separate particles of MTB were found. However, the chemical analysis by EDX confirmed the presence of S, N, and C, which were attributed to MTB, together with the fibers of sepiolite. Rheological characterization indicated that samples containing MTB develops a microstructure, which is irrespective of concentration above 1 mass % sepiolite. There was a good agreement between the microstructure characteristics and MTB release behavior.

Abstract

Nanocomposite coatings combining hard phases (TiB2, TiC) with an amorphous carbon (a-C) were developed to provide a good compromise between mechanical and tribological properties for M2 steels used in a wide variety of applications such as cutting tools, bearings and gear mechanisms. A combined d.c.-pulsed and r.f.-magnetron deposition process was used to deposit nanocomposite TiBC/a-C coatings with a variable content of carbon matrix phase. Chemical composition was determined by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the coatings microstructure is rather amorphous with small nanocrystals of TiC and/or TiB2 (not possible to differentiate by diffraction techniques). Investigation of the chemical bonding environment by XPS and EELS allows us to confirm the presence of titanium-boron and titanium-carbon bonds together with free a-C. Coatings exhibited hardness values (H) of 25–29 GPa, effective Young modulus (E*) of 310–350 GPa, H/E* ratios over 0.080 and resistance to plastic deformation (H3/E*2) from 0.15 to 0.20. Tribological properties of the coatings were characterized by a pin-on-disk tribometer using steel and WC balls at high contact stresses (1.1 and 1.4 GPa respectively). Friction coefficients were reduced from 0.6 to 0.2 by increasing the content of free carbon without reduction of the hardness (around 28 GPa), by self-lubricant effects. The tribo-mechanical data are revised according to the phase composition and chemical bonding inside the nanocomposites.

Abstract

The process of investigating paintings includes the identification of materials to solve technical and historical art questions, to aid in the deduction of the original appearance, and in the establishment of the chemical and physical conditions for adequate restoration and conservation. In particular, we have focused on the identification of several samples taken from six famous canvases painted by Pedro Atanasio Bocanegra, who created a very special collection depicting the life of San Ignacio, which is located in the church of San Justo y Pastor of Granada, Spain. The characterization of the inorganic and organic compounds of the textiles, preparation layers, and pictorial layers have been carried out using an XRD diffractometer, SEM observations, EDX spectrometry, FT-IR spectrometry (both in reflection and transmission mode), pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and synchrotron-based μ-X-ray techniques. In this work, the advantages over conventional X-ray diffraction of using combined synchrotron-based μ-X-ray diffraction and μ-X-ray fluorescence in the identification of multi-layer paintings is demonstrated.

Abstract

The integration of the steam reforming and combustion of methane in a catalytic microchannel reactor has been simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Two models including 4 or 20 square microchannels of 20 mm of length and 0.7 mm of side have been developed. It has been assumed that a thin and homogeneous layer of an appropriate catalyst has been uniformly deposited onto the channels walls. The kinetics of the steam reforming of methane (SRM), water-gas shift (WGS) and methane combustion in air have been incorporated into the models. This has allowed simulating the effect of the gas streams space velocities, catalyst load, steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio and flow arrangement on the microreformer performance. The results obtained illustrate the potential of microreactors for process intensification: complete combustion of methane is achieved at gas hourly space velocities (GHSV) as high as 130,000 h−1. As concerns the SRM, methane conversions above 97% can be obtained at high GHSV of 30,000 h−1 and temperatures of 900–950 °C. Under these conditions selectivity for syngas is controlled by the WGS equilibrium.

Abstract

Combined kinetic analysis has been applied for the first time to the thermal degradation of polymeric materials. The combined kinetic analysis allows the determination of the kinetic parameters from the simultaneous analysis of a set of experimental curves recorded under any thermal schedule. The method does not make any assumptions about the kinetic model or activation energy and allows analysis even when the process does not follow one of the ideal kinetic models already proposed in the literature. In the present paper the kinetics of the thermal degradation of both polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyethylene (PE) have been analysed. It has been concluded, without previous assumptions on the kinetic model, that the thermal degradation of PTFE obeys a first order kinetic law, while the thermal degradation of PE follows a diffusion-controlled kinetic model.

Abstract

Herein, we present a detailed analysis of the structure of artificial opal films. We demonstrate that, rather than the generally assumed face centered cubic lattice of spheres, opal films are better approximated by rhombohedral assemblies of distorted colloids. Detailed analysis of the optical response in a very wide spectral range (0.4 ≤ a/λ ≤ 2, where a is the conventional lattice constant), as well as at perpendicular and off-normal directions, unambiguously shows that the interparticle distance coincides very approximately with the expected diameter only along directions contained in the same close-packed plane but differs significantly in directions oblique to the [111] one. A full description of the real and reciprocal lattices of actual opal films is provided, as well as of the photonic band structure of the proposed arrangement. The implications of this distortion in the optical response of the lattice are discussed.

Abstract

FeMn mixed oxides were prepared by the citrate method with Fe:Mn atomic ratio equal to 1:1, 1:3 and 3:1. The sample was characterized by means of specific surface area measurements, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), temperature programmed desorption of oxygen (O2-DTP), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), transmission electron microscopy (TEM and SAED) and high resolution TEM (HREM). The characterization results demonstrated the formation of a Mn2O3–Fe2O3 solid solution. The catalytic performance in ethanol, ethyl acetate and toluene total oxidation on these samples was better than on Fe2O3 and Mn2O3 pure oxides.

Abstract

Vibrational (infrared and Raman) spectroscopy has been used to characterize SiOxNy and SiOx films prepared by magnetron sputtering on steel and silicon substrates. Interference bands in the infrared reflectivity measurements provided the film thickness and the dielectric function of the films. Vibrational modes bands were obtained both from infrared and Raman spectra providing useful information on the bonding structure and the microstructure (formation of nano-voids in some coatings) for these amorphous (or nanocrystalline) coatings. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis have also been carried out to determine the composition and texture of the films, and to correlate these data with the vibrational spectroscopy studies. The angular dependence of the reflectivity spectra provides the dispersion of vibrational and interference polaritons modes, what allows to separate these two types of bands especially in the frequency regions where overlaps/resonances occurred. Finally the attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared measurements have been also carried out demonstrating the feasibility and high sensitivity of the technique. Comparison of the spectra of the SiOxNy films prepared in various conditions demonstrates how films can be prepared from pure silicon oxide to silicon oxynitride with reduced oxygen content.

Abstract

Diamond like carbon (DLC) thin films have been exposed to different nitrogen containing plasmas. A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure and a microwave discharge (MW) at low pressure using N2 and mixtures Ar + NH3 have been compared. Optical Emission and X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopies, Atomic Force Microscopy and contact angle measurements have been used for this study. A DBD with Ar + NH3 is the most efficient method for DLC functionalization. Films treated with this plasma presented the highest concentration of amine groups as determined by derivatization with 4-chlorobenzaldehyde. All the treated samples underwent a significant aging with time. The efficiency of the different plasmas for DLC functionalization is discussed in the light of the intermediate species detected in the plasma.

Abstract

In the present work we have evaluated the oxidation of toluene over different lanthanum perovskites with a general composition of LaNi1−y Co y O3−δ. These catalysts, prepared by a spray pyrolysis method, have been characterised by XRD, BET and FE-SEM techniques. Additional experiments of temperature programmed desorption of O2, reduction in H2 and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were also performed in order to identify the main surface oxygen species and the reducibility of the different perovskites. The catalytic behaviour toward the oxidation of toluene (as a model for VOCs compounds) was evaluated in the range 100–600 °C, detecting a total conversion for all the samples below 400 °C and higher activities for the cobalt-containing perovskites. The catalytic behaviour of these samples is consistent with a suprafacial mechanism, with the α-type oxygen playing an active role in the oxidation reaction.

Abstract

We have studied differences in the interface between undoped and Al-doped ZnO thin films deposited on commercial Si solar cell substrates. The undoped ZnO film is significantly thicker than the Al-doped film for the same deposition time. An extended silicate-like interface is present in both samples. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) probe the presence of a zinc silicate and several Si oxides in both cases. Although Al doping improves the conductivity of ZnO, we present evidence for Al segregation at the interface during deposition on the Si substrate and suggest the presence of considerable fixed charge near the oxidized Si interface layer. The induced distortion in the valence band, compared to that of undoped ZnO, could be responsible for considerable reduction in the solar cell performance.

Abstract

A new method for preparing high surface area α-alumina from urban waste is proposed. The method consists of the precipitation of a precursor that contains bohemite mixed with a linear polymer and subsequently the thermal decomposition of the precursor by heating in nitrogen and air to 1200 °C. The resulting α-alumina consists of nanocrystals of about 100 nm aggregated into larger particles with relatively high surface area (12 m2 g−1) and a significant macropore volume of 0.545 cm3 g. Methods of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) were used to characterize microstructure of prepared materials. Results of differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry and emanation thermal analysis characterized the thermal behaviour of α-alumina precursors.

Abstract

TiO2 materials were prepared by sol–gel method and then impregnated with sulfuric acid and calcined using different temperatures and atmosphere (air and nitrogen). Systematic variation of these two experimental parameters makes possible to modulate the amount of surface sulfur from the impregnation procedure. The best photocatalyst for liquid phenol degradation was obtained after calcination at 700 °C in air, while gas toluene degradation optimum performance is obtained by calcination at 700 °C in nitrogen from 500 °C. Structural analysis of these materials by XRD, micro-Raman spectroscopy and FE-SEM shows that once calcined at 700 °C the material was a well-crystallized, high surface area anatase structure in all cases. The surface characterization by FTIR and XPS confirms the presence of a higher amount of sulfur species and acidic OH groups in samples partially calcined in nitrogen, and a low XPS O/Ti-atomic ratio with the O 1s peak shifted to higher binding energies (1.8 vs. 2 ± 0.1 and 530.4 eV vs. 529.8 eV, respectively, against the reference materials) for samples calcined at 700 °C, temperature at which most of sulfate species have been evolved. The paper presents an attempt to correlate the contribution of the observed structural defects within the anatase sub-surface layers and surface acidity to the different photoactivity behaviour exhibited for phenol liquid phase and toluene gas phase photodegradation.

Abstract

It has been shown the ability of the Sample Controlled Reaction Temperature (SCRT) method for both discriminate the kinetic law and calculate the activation energy of the reaction. This thermal decomposition is best described by a Johnson–Mehl–Avrami kinetic model (with n = 2) with an activation energy of nuclei growth which fall in the range 52–59 kJ mol−1. The process is not a single-step because the initial rate of decomposition is likely to be limited by nucleation. The results reported here constitute the first attempt to use the new SCRT method to study the kinetic of the thermal decomposition of cobalt nitrate.

Abstract

The machinability of materials is a dynamic field with enormous implications in different industrial sectors because manufacturers are constantly looking for improvements that can increase the overall productivity. Manufacturers of cutting tool inserts need to develop products that can perform at higher speeds and last longer under increasingly rigorous operating conditions. It has been revealed that cermets may exhibit better properties and performances when solid solution of multiple hard compounds is added instead of a mixture of several binary ones. In this work, a mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction (MSR) is described as a suitable synthesis method to obtain a wide range of different new quaternary carbonitride systems by milling mixtures of elemental powders of transition metals and graphite in a nitrogen atmosphere. Characterization was carried out using X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), scanning and transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction (ED).

Abstract

The anodisation of aluminium monoliths was performed in order to generate an alumina layer that ensures a good adherence of the catalysts. In this study, it is demonstrated that the morphology of the produced alumina layer depends on time, temperature, current density and concentration of the selected electrolyte. When anodisation process with the extreme conditions was applied (30 °C, 50 min, 2 A dm−2 and 2.6 M of sulphuric acid) a significant cracks were obtained and used to fix the subsequent catalytic coatings. The washcoating method was used to cover the monoliths with colloidal solutions of CeO2 and/or Au-CeO2 catalysts. The resulting monolithic catalysts were tested in the CO oxidation reaction being 1%Au-CeO2 containing system the most active. The structured catalyst prepared this way changed neither the textural nor the catalytic properties of the deposited catalytic powders.

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive investigation of the interaction of layered silicates with Ca(OH)2 in hydrothermal conditions. The study is intended to evaluate the stability of the clay buffer in radioactive waste repositories, at the intermediate stages of concrete leaching, when the pH is controlled by the dissolution of portlandite. The influence of layer nature, octahedral occupation, presence of tetrahedral Al and degree of crystallinity will be assessed by analysing the behaviour of a set of well-selected phyllosilicates and using the combined capabilities of 29Si and 27Al MAS-NMR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and SEM/EDX. The results show that the main factor affecting the stability of the clay is the octahedral occupation, so that trioctahedral phyllosilicates are much more stable than dioctahedral ones. The nature and expandability of the layer does not seem to much influence the stability of the clay, so that a 2:1 expandable phyllosilicate shows the same stability as a chemically analogous 1:1 non-expandable phyllosilicate. However other factors like the poor crystallinity of the starting material or the presence of Al in the tetrahedral sheet of trioctahedral phyllosilicates weaken the clay structure in alkaline conditions and favour the transformation towards other phases.

Abstract

We study experimentally and theoretically light propagation and generation at the high energy range of a close-packed fcc photonic crystal of polystyrene spheres coated with a nonlinear material. We observe an enhancement of the second harmonic generation of light that may be explained on the basis of amplification effects arising from propagation at anomalous group velocities. Theoretical calculations are performed to support this assumption. The vector KKR method we use allows us to determine, from the linear response of the crystal, the behavior of the group velocity in our finite photonic structures when losses introduced by absorption or scattering by defects are taken into account assuming a nonzero imaginary part for the dielectric constant. In such structures, we predict large variations of the group velocity for wavelengths on the order or smaller than the lattice constant of the structure, where an anomalous group velocity behavior is associated with the flat bands of the photonic band structure. We find that a direct relation may be established between the group velocity reduction and the enhancement of a light generation processes such as the second harmonic generation we consider. However, frequencies for which the enhancement is found, in the finite photonic crystals we use, do not necessarily coincide with the frequencies of flat high energy bands.

Abstract

The influence of sulfated pretreatment of TiO2 on the structure, morphology, and dispersion of gold and photocatalytic properties of Au/TiO2 were studied. Notable enhancements in the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 were achieved by deposition of gold onto samples that had previously undergone sulfate treatment followed by high temperature calcination. The enhancement in activity can be attributed to the stronger bonding and improved electronic communication between gold particles and TiO2 on defect rich surfaces as are found on sulfated samples after calcination at 700 °C. Two different methods for gold deposition were evaluated: chemical reduction by citrate and photodeposition. The citrate method produced more homogeneous and smaller gold particles with a better dispersion than photodeposition, which lead to greater increases in activity in the photocatalytic degradation of phenol when the former method was used for deposition on both sulfated and nonsulfated TiO2. The combination of sulfate pretreatment and gold deposition by chemical reduction was shown to be a good strategy to obtain gold/titania catalysts possessing homogeneous particle size and dispersion of the metal and a strong bonding between the Au and the TiO2 surface.

Abstract

Mixed Zr–Si oxide thin films have been prepared at room temperature by ion beam decomposition of organometallic volatile precursors. The films were flat and amorphous. They did not present phase segregation of the pure single oxides. A significant amount of impurities (–C–, –CHx, –OH, and other radicals coming from partially decomposed precursors) remained incorporated in the films after the deposition process. This effect is minimized if the Ar content in the O2/Ar bombarding gas is maximized. Static permittivity and breakdown electrical field of the films were determined by capacitance–voltage and current–voltage electrical measurements. It is found that the static permittivity increases non-linearly from ~ 4 for pure SiO2 to ~ 15 for pure ZrO2. Most of the dielectric failures in the films were due to extrinsic breakdown failures. The maximum breakdown electrical field decreases from ~ 10.5 MV/cm for pure SiO2 to ~ 45 MV/cm for pure ZrO2. These characteristics are justified by high impurity content of the thin films. In addition, the analysis of the conduction mechanisms in the formed dielectrics is consistent to Schottky and Poole-Frenkel emission for low and high electric fields applied, respectively.

Abstract

N-doped TiO2 thin films have been prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and by physical vapor deposition by adding nitrogen or ammonia to the gas phase. Different sets of N-doped TiO2 thin films have been obtained by changing the preparation conditions during the deposition. The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman, UV−vis spectroscopy, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). By changing the preparation conditions, different structures, microstructures, and degrees and types of doping have been obtained and some relationships have been established between these film properties and their visible light photoactivity. The N1s XP spectra of the samples are characterized by three main features, one tentatively attributed to Ti−N (i.e., nitride with a binding energy (BE) of 396.1 eV) and two others with BEs of 399.3 and 400.7 eV, tentatively attributed to nitrogen bonded simultaneously to titanium and oxygen atoms (i.e., Ti−N−O like species). By controlling the deposition conditions it is possible to prepare samples with only one of these species as majority component. It has been shown that only the samples with Ti−N−O like species show surface photoactivity being able to change their wetting angle when they are illuminated with visible light. The presence of these species and an additional complex structure formed by a mixture of anatase and rutile phases is an additional condition that is fulfilled by the thin films that also present photocatalytic activity with visible light (i.e., surface and Schottky barrier driven photoactivities). The relationships existing between the reduction state of the samples and the formation of Ti−N or Ti−N−O like species are also discussed.

Abstract

New ceramic pigments based on the tialite (Al2TiO5) structure, doped with Co (pink), Cr (green), or Mn (brown), were prepared through the pyrolysis of aerosols followed by calcination of the obtained powders at 1400°C. The expected decomposition of Al2TiO5 into a mixture of Al2O3 and TiO2 on refiring was inhibited by Cr-doping and also by co-doping with Mg the Mn- or Co-doped samples. Microstructure and phase evolution during pigment preparation were monitored by scanning electron microscopy and XRPD. Unit cell parameters of tialite were determined by Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction patterns, revealing in all cases the formation of solid solutions where the solubility of dopants in the Al2TiO5 lattice followed the trend Co<Mn<Cr. The valence state and possible location of dopants in the tialite lattice were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectra and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, which suggested the presence of Cr3+ ions in a large interstitial site of the tialite lattice with a distorted octahedral geometry, and of Mn3+ and Co2+ ions in the Al3+ octahedral sites of the tialite lattice in the former case, and in both Al3+ and Ti4+ octahedral sites in the latter. Testing the ceramic glazes assessed the technological behavior of pigments, which found that the color stability was reasonably good for the Mn-doped tialite and the Cr-doped pigment, although the latter suffered a small loss of green hue. The Co-doped pigment was found to be not stable in glazes, undergoing a cobalt-leaching effect.

Abstract

In this work, a series of WC/C nanostructured films were deposited on silicon substrates by changing the ratio of sputtering power applied to graphite and WC magnetron sources (PC/PWC: 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1). The thermal stability of WC/C coatings was followed in situ by means of X-ray diffraction measurements up to 1 100 °C in vacuum (10−1 Pa). Initially, the film microstructure is composed of nanocrystalline WC1−x and W2C phases. As the PC/PWC ratio increases the crystallinity decreases, and WC1−x becomes the predominant phase from PC/PWC = 0.1. The results show that the structural evolution with temperature of all studied layers depends essentially on their initial phase and chemical composition (determined by the synthesis conditions: ratio PC/PWC). The coating deposited at PC/PWC = 0 reveals a transformation of W2C phase into W and W3C phases at 400 °C. However, the samples with PC/PWC greater than 0 exhibits an improved thermal stability up to 600–700 °C where the WC1−x begins to transform into W2C and WC phases. At 900 °C, WC is the predominant phase, especially for those coatings prepared with higher ratios. Further annealing above 1 000 °C yields W as the foremost phase. The thermal behaviour was later studied by means of Raman spectroscopy measurements at certain temperatures where the main changes in phase composition were observed. Particularly, a fitting analysis was carried out on the D and G bands typical of disordered and amorphous carbon. The changes induced during heating are discussed in terms of the positions of D and G lines, and full width at half maximum (FWHM).

Abstract

Superduplex stainless steels (SDSSs) combine the good mechanical behavior and the high corrosion resistance of the ferrite (α-Fe) and austenite (γ-Fe) phases. The SDSSs properties depend strongly on the partitioning of the elements that form the alloy. The ferrite is generally enriched in P, Si, Cr and Mo while the content of Ni, Mn, Cu and N in the austenite phase is higher. Nitrogen is known to be a strong austenite stabilizer and its presence increases the strength and the pitting corrosion resistance of the stainless steels. While the global nitrogen content in SDSSs can be readily determined using elemental analyzers, it cannot be measured at a microscopic scale.

In this work, the nuclear microprobe of the Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (Sevilla) was used to obtain the quantitative distribution of nitrogen in SDSSs. A deuteron beam of 1.8 MeV was employed to determine the overall elemental concentration of the matrix by deuteron-induced X-ray emission, whereas the nitrogen partitioning coefficients were obtained by using the 14N(d, α0)12C nuclear reaction. Mappings of this element show that the nitrogen ratio between the ferrite and austenite phases ranges from 0.3 to 0.6 in the analyzed samples.

Abstract

Manganese oxides having 2 × 2 tunnel structures (cryptomelanes) have been synthesized by a milling method in order to test their efficiency as catalysts for the abatement of volatile organic compounds, using toluene as probe molecule. These materials present excellent textural properties, arising from the nanofiber morphology and were active for toluene total oxidation. DRIFTS of the adsorbed phase allow proposing the role of lattice oxygen in the catalytic reaction.

Abstract

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of the thermal integration of the steam reforming of methanol (SRM) and the combustion of methanol in a catalytic microchannel reactor is presented. This issue is of interest for in situ H2 production for portable power units based on low-temperature PEM fuel cells. Three-dimensional simulations have been carried out under relevant conditions for the SRM reaction that have shown that microreactors allow achieving complete methanol reforming and combustion at space velocities as high as 50,000 h−1, with selectivities for H2 above 99% at relatively low temperatures in the 270–290 °C range.