Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrated Rubidium Thio-hydroxosilicogermanates Using Mechanochemical Hydrothermal Synthesis

Thumbnail Image
Date
2006-12-26
Authors
Nelson, Carly
Olson, Sarah
Poling, Steven
Martin, Steve
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Person
Martin, Steve
Distinguished Professor
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
Materials Science and Engineering
Materials engineers create new materials and improve existing materials. Everything is limited by the materials that are used to produce it. Materials engineers understand the relationship between the properties of a material and its internal structure — from the macro level down to the atomic level. The better the materials, the better the end result — it’s as simple as that.
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Abstract

The synthesis, structure, and proton conductivity of the hydrated thio-hydroxosilicogermanates RbzGexSi1-xSz(OH)4-z·yH2O (2 ≤ z ≤ 3; 0 < y < 1.7) are reported. X-ray diffraction indicates that the z = 2 materials are amorphous and show no unreacted starting materials, which is consistent with the mechanochemical hydrothermal evaporation−precipitation synthesis method. Infrared spectroscopy shows a fully reacted system where both silicon and germanium central anions have vibrational modes at 950, 780, 667, and 450 cm-1 associated with asymmetric modes for Si−O, Ge−O, Si−S, and Ge−S chemical bonds, respectively. O−H stretching and bending modes are present at 3370 and 1655 cm-1, respectively, with the intensities of both modes decreasing with the addition of SiO2. Raman spectroscopy reveals symmetric stretching modes of the Ge−S unit at 420 cm-1. A new peak appears at 460 cm-1 with the substitution of Si4+ for Ge4+. There are weak peaks above 460 cm-1 that can be attributed to H2O and O−H libration modes. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that water loss begins above the synthesis temperature of 75 °C. All water is lost by 300 °C which is consistent with the onset of the loss of conductivity. Alternating current impedance spectroscopy measurements performed on low-pressure sealed pellets show conductivity values ranging from 10-5 to 10-2.5 S/cm from 100 to 260 °C, respectively. Maximum conductivity values of 10-4.5 and 10-3.5 S/cm at 120 °C are obtained for 2RbSH + 0.9GeO2 + 0.1SiO2 + 0.8H2O and 3RbSH + 0.9GeO2 + 0.1SiO2 + 1.1H2O, respectively. a.c. impedance experiments under humidified conditions resulted in large increases in the proton conductivity at low temperatures. For x = 0.9 and 0.8 for the 2RbSH + xGeO2 + (1−x)SiO2 +yH2O samples, the humidified d.c. conductivity was 10-4 S/cm at 60 °C, up from 10-8 S/cm for samples measured under dry nitrogen. The effects of water and SiO2 content on the proton conductivity are also discussed.

Comments

Reprinted with permission from Chemistry of Materials 18 (2006): 6436–6441, doi:10.1021/cm0618796. Copyright 2006 American Chemical Society.

Description
Keywords
Citation
DOI
Copyright
Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2006
Collections