Photoinduced decomposition of BaFeO3 during photodegradation of methyl orange

Tailoring the Composition of BaxBO3 (B = Fe, Mn) Mixed Oxides as CO or Soot Oxidation Catalysts in Simulated GDI Engine Exhaust Conditions

Mixed oxides with perovskite-type structure (ABO₃) are promising catalysts for atmospheric pollution control due to their interesting and tunable physicochemical properties. In this work, two series of Ba_xMnO₃ and Ba_xFeO₃ (x = 1 and 0.7) catalysts were synthesized using the sol-gel method adapted to aqueous medium. The samples were characterized by μ-XRF, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, H₂-TPR, and O₂-TPD. The catalytic activity for CO and GDI soot oxidation was determined by temperature-programmed reaction experiments (CO-TPR and soot-TPR, respectively). The results reveal that a decrease in the Ba content improved the catalytic performance of both catalysts, as B0.7M-E is more active than BM-E for CO oxidation, and B0.7F-E presents higher activity than BF for soot conversion in simulated GDI engine exhaust conditions. Manganese-based perovskites (BM-E and B0.7M-E) achieve better catalytic performance than iron-based perovskite (BF) for CO oxidation reaction due to the higher generation of actives sites.

Improving of photocatalytic activity of barium ferrate via bismuth and copper co-doping for degradation of paracetamol under visible light irradiation

Nanosized Ba_1-xBi_xFe_1-xCu_xO₃ (12-50 nm) with x values of 0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 system was prepared using the Pechini method. Structural, morphological, surface and optical characterizations were performed for the prepared samples. Cubic phase was the predominant phase for the undoped BaFeO₃ and Bi and Cu co-doped BaFeO₃ samples. Minor phases of monoclinic Ba₂Fe₂O₅, orthorhombic BaFe₂O₄ and orthorhombic BaCO₃ were identified for all the prepared samples. Ba_0.95Bi_0.05Fe_0.95Cu_0.05O₃ sample has the lowest band gap (2.43 eV). 98.1% paracetamol removal was achieved with 0.75 g/L of Ba_0.95Bi_0.05Fe_0.95Cu_0.05O₃ at pH 9 after 120 min. The paracetamol degradation follows the pseudo first-order kinetics. HO^• is the main oxidative species responsible for the paracetamol degradation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed at the end of the photocatalytic degradation experiment under optimum operating condition using Ba_0.95Bi_0.05Fe_0.95Cu_0.05O₃ to explain the reaction mechanism and identify the intermediate by-products which is confirmed by ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy study at different reaction times.

Proton Conduction in Grain-Boundary-Free Oxygen-Deficient BaFeO2.5+δ Thin Films

Reduction of the operating temperature to an intermediate temperature range between 350 °C and 600 °C is a necessity for Solid Oxide Fuel/Electrolysis Cells (SOFC/SOECs). In this respect the application of proton-conducting oxides has become a broad area of research. Materials that can conduct protons and electrons at the same time, to be used as electrode catalysts on the air electrode, are especially rare. In this article we report on the proton conduction in expitaxially grown BaFeO_2.5+δ (BFO) thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition on Nb:SrTiO₃ substrates. By using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements under different wet and dry atmospheres, the bulk proton conductivity of BFO (between 200 °C and 300 °C) could be estimated for the first time (3.6 × 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ at 300 °C). The influence of oxidizing measurement atmosphere and hydration revealed a strong dependence of the conductivity, most notably at temperatures above 300 °C, which is in good agreement with the hydration behavior of BaFeO_2.5 reported previously.

Synthesis, Structural and Physicochemical Characterization of BaFe1-xAlxO3−δ Oxides

In this study, BaFe1−xAlxO3-δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) perovskite-type oxides were prepared by sol-gel method using citric acid as chelating agent. The samples were subjected to various calcination temperatures in order to investigate the physicochemical properties of the oxide affected by the parameter. Thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques are used to explore precursor decomposition and to establish adequate calcination temperature for the preparation of the nano-powders. The studied compounds have hexagonal crystal structure at the temperature of 1123 K. The samples obtained after calcination at 1123 K were characterized by XRD, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy, powder size distribution and electrical conductivity. The microstructure and morphology of the compounds show that the particles are nearly spherical in shape and are partially agglomerated. The highest surface area and total pore volume are achieved for BaFe0.8Al0.2O3-δ oxide. Temperature dependence of electrical conductivity shows a semiconducting behavior.

Surprisingly high activity for oxygen reduction reaction of selected oxides lacking long oxygen-ion diffusion paths at intermediate temperatures: a case study of cobalt-free BaFeO(3-δ)

The widespread application of solid oxide fuel cell technology requires the development of innovative electrodes with high activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at intermediate temperatures. Here, we demonstrate that a cobalt-free parent oxide BaFeO(3-δ) (BF), which lacks long-range oxygen-ion diffusion paths, has surprisingly high electrocatalytic activity for ORR. Both in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis on room-temperature powder and transmission electron microscopy on quenched powder are applied to investigate the crystal structure of BF. Despite the lack of long oxygen-ion diffusion paths, the easy redox of iron cations as demonstrated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and oxygen temperature-programmed desorption and the high oxygen vacancy concentration as supported by iodometric titration and TGA benefit the reduction of oxygen to oxygen ions. Moreover, the electrical conductivity relaxation technique in conjunction with a transient thermogravimetric study reveals very high surface exchange kinetics of BF oxide. At 700 °C, the area specific resistance of BF cathode, as expressed by a symmetrical cell configuration, is only ∼0.021 Ω cm(2), and the derived single fuel cell achieves high power output with a peak power density of 870 mW cm(-2). It suggests that an undoped BF parent oxide can be used as a high-efficiency catalyst for ORR.

Sonophotoelectrocatalytic degradation of azo dye on TiO2 nanotube electrode

The degradation of azo dye, methyl orange (MeO) in aqueous solution with sonophotoelectrocatalytic process was investigated. The TiO(2) nanotubes were used as electrode in photoelectrocatalytic (PEC), sonophotoelectrocatalytic (SPEC) processes or as photocatalyst in photocatalytic (PC), sonophotocatalytic (SPC) processes, respectively. Experimental results showed that the hybrid processes could efficiently enhance the degradation efficiency of MeO, and followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. At the optimized experimental conditions, the rate constants of decolorization of MeO were 0.0732 min(-1) for SPEC process; 0.0523 min(-1) for PEC process, 0.0073 min(-1) for SPC process and 0.0035 min(-1) for PC process. The rate constants obviously indicated that there existed synergistic effect in the ultrasonic, electro-assisted and photocatalytic processes.