Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Crystalline Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 May 2022) | Viewed by 17387

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: development of new materials for energy applications, such as thermoelectrics, solid oxide fuel cell components, and next-generation battery components; use of “Fast Chemistry” methods of synthesis: microwave-assisted, combustion, high pressure, SPS, etc.; establishment of the relationship between the synthesis, structure, and physical properties of materials
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Guest Editor
SeeO2Energy Inc., 3655 36 st. NW, Calgary, AB T2L 1Y8, Canada
Interests: Reversible Solide Oxide Fuel Cells (RSOFCs); high temperature electrolysis (SOECs); SOFCs; electrochemistry; Oxygen Reduction and evolution reaction mechanisms(ORR and OER); solid-state chemistry; microwave assisted synthesis and ceramic processing

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: solid-state chemistry; superconductivity; magnetic properties; structural and electronic characterization; topochemical reactions; energy-conversion materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Crystals Special Issue dedicated to the memory of Professor Emilio Morán (1952–2020), from Complutense University of Madrid, for his outstanding contribution in the field of solid-state chemistry. 

His priceless achievements in the synthesis of non-molecular materials by means of alternative routes (such as hydrothermal synthesis, high-pressure synthesis, microwave-assisted synthesis), crystal growing and electrochemistry, have left an extraordinary mark on the field. Furthermore, Prof. Morán’s special interest in novel materials for energy applications is clearly reflected in his exceptional contributions to the area. He had a deep understanding of the synthesis and study of complex functional materials, covering high-temperature superconductors, Li-ion batteries, SOFCs and more, always emphasizing a correlation between the physical properties and the underlying crystal structure and microstructure of the materials.

We remember Prof. Morán for his permanent smile, his kind words, empathy, curiosity and enthusiasm. Emilio’s colleagues and students were familiar with one of his favourite concepts, serendipity. He would often claim that some of his major contributions were the product of serendipity, just like many major scientific discoveries. However, it was not a product of serendipity, but his deep understanding of chemistry, his extensive experience and his ability to think outside the box that made the perfect combination for his brilliant ideas to obtain novel materials. He was a passionate researcher and material synthesis expert who had unique creativity and intuition that cannot be taught. 

This Special Issue provides an opportunity to celebrate and perpetuate his work. We welcome the submission of previously unpublished manuscripts of original works, or reviews, that cover the topics where Prof. Morán has made an unforgettable mark.

Dr. Jesús Prado-Gonjal
Dr. Beatriz Molero-Sánchez
Dr. Sara A. López-Paz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Solid-state chemistry
  • Alternative synthesis routes of non-molecular materials
  • Materials for energy applications
  • Crystal growing
  • Structural characterization and physical properties

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 4945 KiB  
Article
Structural, Thermal and Functional Properties of a Hybrid Dicyanamide-Perovskite Solid Solution
by Javier García-Ben, Jorge Salgado-Beceiro, Ignacio Delgado-Ferreiro, Pedro Dafonte-Rodríguez, Jorge López-Beceiro, Ramón Artiaga, Socorro Castro-García, Manuel Sánchez-Andújar, Juan Manuel Bermúdez-García and María Antonia Señarís-Rodríguez
Crystals 2022, 12(6), 860; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst12060860 - 18 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1520
Abstract
In Solid-State Chemistry, a well-known route to obtain new compounds and modulate their properties is the formation of solid solutions, a strategy widely exploited in the case of classical inorganic perovskites but relatively unexplored among emergent hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs). In this work, [...] Read more.
In Solid-State Chemistry, a well-known route to obtain new compounds and modulate their properties is the formation of solid solutions, a strategy widely exploited in the case of classical inorganic perovskites but relatively unexplored among emergent hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs). In this work, to the best of our knowledge, we present the first dicyanamide-perovskite solid solution of [TPrA][Co0.5Ni0.5(dca)3] and study its thermal, dielectric and optical properties, comparing them with those of the parent undoped compounds [TPrA][Co(dca)3] and [TPrA][Ni(dca)3]. In addition, we show that the prepared doped compound can be used as a precursor that, by calcination, allows CNTs with embedded magnetic Ni:Co alloy nanoparticles to be obtained through a fast and much simpler synthetic route than other complex CVD or arc-discharge methods used to obtain this type of material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán)
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13 pages, 35179 KiB  
Article
Structural, Interfacial, and Electrochemical Stability of La0.3Ca0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3-δ Electrode Material for Application as the Oxygen Electrode in Reversible Solid Oxide Cells
by Haris Masood Ansari, David Avila-Brande, Steve Kelly, Paul Kwesi Addo and Beatriz Molero-Sánchez
Crystals 2022, 12(6), 847; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12060847 - 15 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2329
Abstract
A detailed study aimed at understanding the structural, interfacial, and electrochemical performance stability of La0.3Ca0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3-δ (LCFCr) electrode material for application as the oxygen electrode in reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) is presented. Specifically, emphasis [...] Read more.
A detailed study aimed at understanding the structural, interfacial, and electrochemical performance stability of La0.3Ca0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3-δ (LCFCr) electrode material for application as the oxygen electrode in reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) is presented. Specifically, emphasis is placed on the stability of the LCFCr oxygen electrode during oxygen evolution (electrolysis mode), whereby many known electrode materials are known to fail due to delamination. The porous microstructure of the electrode was characterized by nanoscale X-ray microscopy (XRM) to reveal the percentage porosity, pore connectivity, average pore size, and electrochemical surface area, etc. Under polarization in a two-electrode symmetrical-cell configuration, while the working electrode was under anodic polarization, a very stable performance was observed at a cell potential of 0.2 V, although increasing the cell potential to 0.65 V caused significant performance degradation. This degradation was reversible when the cell was run at open circuit for 10 h. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy revealed that the working electrode (LCFCr)/electrolyte (GDC) interface was structurally and chemically stable after hundreds of hours under polarization with no interdiffusion of the various species observed across the interface, hence rendering LCFCr a viable alternative for the oxygen electrode in RSOCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán)
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9 pages, 2488 KiB  
Article
Growth and Thermal Conductivity Study of CuCr2Se4-CuCrSe2 Hetero-Composite Crystals
by Haomin Lu, Chenghao Yin, Ruonan Zhan, Yanyan Zhang, Yangyang Lv, Minghui Lu, Jian Zhou, Shuhua Yao and Yanbin Chen
Crystals 2022, 12(3), 433; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst12030433 - 21 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2101
Abstract
The CuCrSe2 shows attractive physical properties, such as thermoelectric and multiferroic properties, but pure-phase CuCrSe2 crystal is still quite challenging to obtain because CuCr2Se4 can be easily precipitated from a CuCrSe2 matrix. Here, taking the advantage of [...] Read more.
The CuCrSe2 shows attractive physical properties, such as thermoelectric and multiferroic properties, but pure-phase CuCrSe2 crystal is still quite challenging to obtain because CuCr2Se4 can be easily precipitated from a CuCrSe2 matrix. Here, taking the advantage of this precipitation reaction, we grew a series of CuCrSe2-CuCr2Se4 hetero-composites by adjusting growth parameters and explored their thermal conductivity property. Determined by electron-diffraction, the orientation relationship between these two compounds is [001] (100) CuCrSe2‖[111] (220) CuCr2Se4. The out-of-plane thermal conductivity κ of these hetero-composites was measured by a time-domain thermo-reflectance method. Fitting experimental κ by the Boltzmann-Callaway model, we verify that interface scattering plays significant role to κ in CuCrSe2-CuCr2Se4 hetero-composites, while in a CuCrSe2-dominated hetero-composite, both interface scattering and anharmonic three-phonon interaction lead to the lowest κ therein. Our results reveal the thermal conductivity evolution in CuCr2Se4-CuCrSe2 hetero-composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán)
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10 pages, 1113 KiB  
Article
LaNi0.6Co0.4−xFexO3−δ as Air-Side Contact Material for La0.3Ca0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes
by Kalpana Singh, Paul Kwesi Addo, Venkataraman Thangadurai, Jesús Prado-Gonjal and Beatriz Molero-Sánchez
Crystals 2022, 12(1), 73; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst12010073 - 05 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1965
Abstract
The goal of the current work was to identify an air-side-optimized contact material for La0.3Ca0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ (LCFCr) electrodes and a Crofer22APU interconnect for use in reversible solid oxide fuel cells (RSOFCs). LaNi0.6Co0.4−x [...] Read more.
The goal of the current work was to identify an air-side-optimized contact material for La0.3Ca0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ (LCFCr) electrodes and a Crofer22APU interconnect for use in reversible solid oxide fuel cells (RSOFCs). LaNi0.6Co0.4−xFexO3 (x = 0–0.3) perovskite-type oxides were investigated in this work. The partial substitution of Co by Fe decreased the thermal expansion coefficient values (TEC) closer to the values of the LCFCr and Crofer 22 APU interconnects. The oxides were synthesized using the glycine–nitrate method and were characterized using X-ray thermodiffraction and 4-probe DC electrical conductivity measurements. Based on the materials characterization results from the Fe-doped oxides investigated here, the LaNi0.6Co0.2Fe0.2O3−δ composition was selected as a good candidate for the contact material, as it exhibited an acceptable electrical conductivity value of 395 S·cm−1 at 800 °C in air and a TEC value of 14.98 × 10−6 K−1 (RT-900 °C). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán)
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9 pages, 2797 KiB  
Article
Observation of a New Polyhalide Phase in Ag-Cl2 System at High Pressure
by Adam Grzelak, Jakub Gawraczyński, Mariana Derzsi, Viktor Struzhkin, Maddury Somayazulu and Wojciech Grochala
Crystals 2021, 11(12), 1565; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11121565 - 15 Dec 2021
Viewed by 1719
Abstract
In this short contribution, we examine Raman spectroscopic data from high-pressure and high-temperature experiments with an Ag-Cl2 system, and find that they are in good agreement with previously observed and calculated spectra of polychloride species. Our results imply the formation of a [...] Read more.
In this short contribution, we examine Raman spectroscopic data from high-pressure and high-temperature experiments with an Ag-Cl2 system, and find that they are in good agreement with previously observed and calculated spectra of polychloride species. Our results imply the formation of a hitherto unknown AgClx compound, which warrants further study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán)
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10 pages, 2227 KiB  
Article
Single-Crystal Structure of HP-Sc2TeO6 Prepared by High-Pressure/High-Temperature Synthesis
by Raimund Ziegler, Martina Tribus, Clivia Hejny and Gunter Heymann
Crystals 2021, 11(12), 1554; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11121554 - 13 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2051
Abstract
The first high-pressure scandium tellurate HP-Sc2TeO6 was synthesized from an NP-Sc2TeO6 normal-pressure precursor at 12 GPa and 1173 K using a multianvil apparatus (1000 t press, Walker-type module). The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P [...] Read more.
The first high-pressure scandium tellurate HP-Sc2TeO6 was synthesized from an NP-Sc2TeO6 normal-pressure precursor at 12 GPa and 1173 K using a multianvil apparatus (1000 t press, Walker-type module). The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2/c (no. 13) with a = 729.43(3), b = 512.52(2), c = 1095.02(4) pm and β = 103.88(1)°. The structure was refined from X-ray single-crystal diffractometer data: R1 = 0.0261, wR2 = 0.0344, 568 F2 values and 84 variables. HP-Sc2TeO6 is isostructural to Yb2WO6 and is built up from TeO6 octahedra, typical for tellurate(VI) compounds. During synthesis, a reconstructive transition from P321 (normal-pressure modification) to P2/c (high-pressure modification) takes place and the scandium–oxygen distances as well as the coordination number of scandium increase. However, the coordination sphere around the Te6+ cations gets only slightly distorted. High-temperature powder XRD investigations revealed a back-transformation of HP-Sc2TeO6 to the ambient-pressure modification above 973 K. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán)
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13 pages, 5763 KiB  
Article
Investigation on Ultrasonic Cavitation Erosion of Aluminum–Titanium Alloys in Sodium Chloride Solution
by Jingtao Zhao, Liping Ning, Jingwen Zhu and Yinglong Li
Crystals 2021, 11(11), 1299; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11111299 - 26 Oct 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1990
Abstract
Two kinds of Ti-alloys, i.e., Al–5Ti and Al–10Ti alloys, were manufactured in this study, and their ultrasonic cavitation erosion behaviors in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution were evaluated by the cumulative mass loss, scanning electronic micrograph, and three-dimensional morphology. The results show that mass [...] Read more.
Two kinds of Ti-alloys, i.e., Al–5Ti and Al–10Ti alloys, were manufactured in this study, and their ultrasonic cavitation erosion behaviors in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution were evaluated by the cumulative mass loss, scanning electronic micrograph, and three-dimensional morphology. The results show that mass loss and surface damage of the Al, Al–5Ti, and Al–10Ti alloys obviously increased with the increasing cavitation erosion time. Compared with the pure Al, the cavitation resistance of the Al–5Ti and Al–10Ti alloys was improved because of the presence of the TiAl3 phase. In addition, the synergistic effect between cavitation and corrosion of the Al–Ti alloy in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was studied according to the polarization curve of the moving electrode. The mass loss caused by the synergistic effect between cavitation erosion and corrosion accounted for a large percentage, 23.59%, indicating that corrosion has a critical impact on the cavitation erosion of the Al–Ti alloys. Compared with corrosion promoted by cavitation erosion, the cavitation erosion promoted by corrosion had a larger promoting effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán)
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13 pages, 3478 KiB  
Article
Oxidative Thermal Conversion of Hydrothermal Derived Precursors toward the Mixed-Metal Cobaltite Spinel Oxides (ZnCo2O4 and NiCo2O4): In-Situ Investigation by Synchrotron-Radiation XRD and XAS Techniques
by Wanchai Deeloed, Yuranan Hanlumyuang, Wanwisa Limphirat, Songwut Suramitr, Kantapat Chansaenpak, Pongsakorn Kanjanaboos, Suttipong Wannapaiboon and Worawat Wattanathana
Crystals 2021, 11(10), 1256; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11101256 - 17 Oct 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2319
Abstract
In-situ investigations of structural transitions during the thermal-oxidative event of mixed-metal spinel oxide precursors, the so-called nickel- (NCO) and zinc-containing (ZCO) cobaltite spinel precursors, were investigated to understand the formations of the derived NiCo2O4 and ZnCo2O4 spinel [...] Read more.
In-situ investigations of structural transitions during the thermal-oxidative event of mixed-metal spinel oxide precursors, the so-called nickel- (NCO) and zinc-containing (ZCO) cobaltite spinel precursors, were investigated to understand the formations of the derived NiCo2O4 and ZnCo2O4 spinel oxides, respectively. In-situ XRD investigation revealed that emerged temperatures for spinel oxide phase were between 325 and 400 °C, depending on the cationic substituent. It indicated that the emerged temperature correlated with the absolute octahedral site preference energy (OSPE) of those cations that participated in the development of the spinel framework. Moreover, the incorporated nickel and zinc in the precursors was beneficial for inhibiting the occurrence of the undesired CoO phase. Time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopic (TRXAS) data suggested the local structure rearrangement of nickel and zinc throughout the calcination process, which differed from the behavior of single-metal cobalt system. The essential information reported herein provides a benefit to control the cationic distribution within spinel materials, leading to the tunable physical and chemical properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid State Chemistry: Memorial Issue for Professor Emilio Morán)
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