Artículos SCI

We describe a facile procedure for the synthesis at low temperature (120 A degrees C) of water-dispersible uniform YF3:Yb,Er up-conversion nanophosphors of various morphologies (rhombic and spheroidal) by homogeneous precipitation in polyol solutions containing different lanthanide salts and an ionic liquid (1-butyl, 2-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) as fluoride source. It is shown that the shape of the obtained nanoparticles is mainly determined by the nature of both, the polyol and the lanthanide precursors, which also affects to their colloidal stability in water suspensions. These morphological differences are explained on the basis of a different mechanism of particle formation. The efficiency of the up-conversion processes in the synthesized rhombic and spheroidal nanoparticles is also comparatively analyzed and the observed differences are justified on the basis of the different impurities incorporated to the nanophosphors during their synthesis process.

Monolithic CeO2 and Au/CeO2 catalysts were prepared using austenitic stainless steel (AISI 304) as metallic substrate. Both monolithic and powdered catalysts were characterized before and after CO oxidation reaction by N-2 adsorption desorption, XRD, SEM, TEM and GD-OES. Catalyst deposition on the stainless steel surface results in modifications of the catalyst, the oxide scale and the oxide scale/alloy interface through the interaction between the coating and the steel oxidation layer. Besides this, oxidation of the alloy is also detected. The extension and nature of these modifications depends on the catalyst nature, and on the reaction conditions. As a result of these modifications CO oxidation on Au/CeO2 catalysts is enhanced and gold surface dynamics is modified.