Copper K-Edge X-ray Absorption Studies of La(2)(-)(x)()K(x)()CuO(4) Superconductors, Ba(4)NaCuO(4)(CO(3))(2), and NdCu(2)O(4)

Co-substitution effects on the Fe valence in the BaFe2As2 superconducting compound: a study of hard x-ray absorption spectroscopy

The Fe K x-ray absorption near edge structure of BaFe(2-x)Co(x)As(2) superconductors was investigated. No appreciable alteration in shape or energy position of this edge was observed with Co substitution. This result provides experimental support to previous ab initio calculations in which the extra Co electron is concentrated at the substitute site and do not change the electronic occupation of the Fe ions. Superconductivity may emerge due to bonding modifications induced by the substitute atom that weakens the spin-density-wave ground state by reducing the Fe local moments and/or increasing the elastic energy penalty of the accompanying orthorhombic distortion.

Structural transformation of LiVOPO4 to Li3V2(PO4)3 with enhanced capacity

In the present investigation, we report the transformation of alpha-LiVOPO 4 to alpha-Li 3V 2(PO 4) 3, leading to an enhancement of capacity. The alpha-LiVOPO 4 sample was synthesized by a sol-gel method, followed by sintering at 550-650 degrees C in a flow of 5% H 2/Ar. The structural transformation of a triclinic alpha-LiVOPO 4 structure to a monoclinic alpha-Li 3V 2(PO 4) 3 structure was observed at higher sintering temperatures (700-800 degrees C in a flow of 5% H 2/Ar). The alpha-Li 3V 2(PO 4) 3 phase was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and X-ray absorption near edge spectrum (XANES) techniques. The valence shift of vanadium ions from +4 to +3 states was observed using in situ XANES experiments at V K-edge. The structural transformation is ascertained by the shape changes in pre-edge and near edge area of X-ray absorption spectrum. It was observed that the capacity was enhanced from 140 mAh/g to 164 mAh/g via structural transformation process of LiVOPO 4 to Li 3V 2(PO 4) 3.

Thermochemistry of Gd2BaCuO5 and LuBa2Cu3Ox

Solution calorimetry, using 6.0 M HCl as a solvent, is used to study the thermochemistry of Gd2BaCuO5 and the high-temperature superconductor LuBa2Cu3O6.92. For the first time, the standard formation enthalpies of these phases have been determined as follows: DeltafH(o)(Gd2BaCuO 5, s, 298.15 K) = -2618.6 +/- 7.4 kJ/mol; DeltafH(o)(LuBa2Cu3O6.92, s, 298.15 K) = -2693.1 +/- 11.9 kJ/mol. The thermodynamic stability at room temperature has been assessed. The results show that Gd211 and Lu123 are thermodynamically stable with respect to binary oxides and unstable with respect to interaction with CO 2 at ambient temperatures. Lu123 is thermodynamically stable with respect to assemblages containing combinations of Lu2O3, CuO, and BaCuO2 and thermodynamically unstable with respect to interactions with water.