Antimony Oxide Research Articles

A robust single compartment peroxide fuel cell using mesoporous antimony doped tin oxide as the cathode material.

To date, metal oxide catalysts have not been explored as cathode materials for robust and high-performance single-compartment H2O2 fuel cells due to significant non-electrochemical disproportionation losses of H2O2 on many metal oxide surfaces. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate an acidic peroxide fuel cell with antimony doped tin oxide as the cathode and widely used Ni foam as the anode material. Our constructed peroxide fuel cell records a superior open circuit potential of nearly 0.82 V and a maximum power density of 0.32 mW cm-2 with high operational stability. The fuel cell performance is further improved by increasing the ionic strength of the electrolyte with the addition of 1 M NaCl, resulting in an increased maximum power density value of 1.1 mW cm-2.

Self-supported antimony tin oxide anode with Sb segregation promoted atrazine removal

Sintering-driven Sb segregation induced a built-in electronic field in a self-supported Sb–SnO2 anode, promoting reaction electron transfer in electrochemical ROS generation.

Fluoride scavengeable Sb2O3-functionalized poly(imide) separators for prolonged cycling of lithium-ion batteries.

Nanosize-controlled antimony oxides (Sb2O3) that can effectively scavenge fluoride species in a cell are incorporated into a PI separator to regulate its porous structure. The incorporation of the Sb2O3 layer onto the PI separator surface prevents the internal short circuit and efficiently removes fluoride species via chemical scavenging reactions, thereby resulting in stable cycling behaviors upon cycling.

Different fates of Sb(III) and Sb(V) during the formation of jarosite mediated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Secondary iron-sulfate minerals such as jarosite, which are easily formed in acid mine drainage, play an important role in controlling metal mobility. In this work, the typical iron-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 was selected to synthesize jarosite in the presence of antimony ions, during which the solution behavior, synthetic product composition, and bacterial metabolism were studied. The results show that in the presence of Sb(V), Fe2+ was rapidly oxidized to Fe3+ by A. ferrooxidans and Sb(V) had no obvious effect on the biooxidation of Fe2+ under the current experimental conditions. The presence of Sb(III) inhibited bacterial growth and Fe2+ oxidation. For the group with Sb(III), products with amorphous phases were formed 72 hr later, which were mainly ferrous sulfate and pentavalent antimony oxide, and the amorphous precursor was finally transformed into a more stable crystal phase. For the group with Sb(V), the morphology and structure of jarosite were changed in comparison with those without Sb. The biomineralization process was accompanied by the removal of 94% Sb(V) to form jarosite containing the Fe-Sb-O complex. Comparative transcriptome analysis shows differential effects of Sb(III) and Sb(V) on bacterial metabolism. The expression levels of functional genes related to cell components were much more downregulated for the group with Sb(III) but much more regulated for that with Sb(V). Notably, cytochrome c and nitrogen fixation-relevant genes for the A.f_Fe2+_Sb(III) group were enhanced significantly, indicating their role in Sb(III) resistance. This study is of great value for the development of antimony pollution control and remediation technology.

Progressive low-temperature volatilization control: Efficient separation of arsenic and antimony from smelter dust

Given the high toxicity of arsenic (As) and the strategic importance of antimony (Sb), the separation of As and Sb has become a pivotal concern in the disposal of arsenic‑antimony flue dust and other arsenic‑antimony hazardous wastes. In this study, we propose a controlled roasting process employing anthracite and sulfuric acid additives to efficiently separate As and Sb at relatively low temperatures. Thermodynamic calculations revealed that the interactive reactions between arsenic and antimony oxides in conventional pyrometallurgical processes were the primary hindrance to their effective separation. However, the synergistic effect of anthracite and sulfuric acid not only disrupted the interactive reactions but also promoted the high-efficiency volatilization of As at low temperatures, thereby creating favorable conditions for the separation of As and Sb. Furthermore, a series of comparative experiments and comprehensive analyses regarding the evolution of phase composition, valence state, and morphology were conducted, revealing the underlying mechanisms of the effects of temperature and carbon addition. Through optimization, 91.24 % of As was successfully volatilized, while the volatilization efficiency of Sb was significantly reduced to 9.43 % under optimal conditions, involving a roasting temperature of 400 °C, anthracite addition of 1.6 %, sulfuric acid dosage of 0.135 mL/g, and a roasting duration of 3 h.

Tunable optical properties of ATO-CuO hybrid nanofluids and the application as spectral beam splitters

Nanofluids containing metal nanoparticles have promising application prospects in the spectral beam splitters (SBSs) of photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) setups on the merits of the tunable spectral absorption characteristic and relatively low price. While the existing nanofluid-based SBSs show some difficulties in large-scale industrial applications, such as their poor stability, sophisticated manufacturing process, etc. In this paper, a cheap and stable hybrid nanofluid containing antimony tin oxide (ATO) and cupric oxide (CuO) nanoparticles has proven to be a good candidate for SBSs. ATO has high absorption in the infrared region while CuO shows strong absorption for ultraviolet and visible light, so ATO and CuO nanoparticles have complementary optical properties and the spectral absorption of ATO-CuO hybrid nanofluids is expected to be effectively regulated by adjusting nanoparticles’ composition. Meanwhile, the increase in nanoparticle concentration can enhance the light absorption ability of hybrid nanofluids in the full spectrum. The hybrid nanofluid SBS with a 5:5 ATO:CuO mass ratio and 200 ppm concentration proves to perform best and the merit function is as high as 1.679 (worth factor is 3), which is highly competitive among the metal-based nanofluid SBSs from literature.

Characterization and Photovoltaic Effect of (Sb2O3: Metal Oxides)/ C-Si Heterojunctions

This work concerns the synthesis of two types of composites based on antimony oxide named (Sb2O3):(WO3, In2O3). Thin films were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition. The compositional analysis was explored using Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), which confirms the existence of antimony, tungsten, and indium oxides in the prepared samples. The hall effect measurement showed that antimony oxide nanostructure thin films are p-type and gradually converted to n-type by the addition of tungsten oxide, while they are converted almost instantly to n-type by the addition of indium oxide. Different heterojunction solar cells were prepared from (Sb2O3:WO3, In2O3/Sb2Se3/c-pSi) contained forms from two layers the first was Sb2Se3 and the second was (Sb2O3):(WO3, In2O3) nanostructured thin films. The heterojunction (Sb2O3:15%WO3 Sb2Se3/c-pSi showed a maximum conversion efficiency of 9% and exhibits an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 300 mV, short circuit current (Isc) of 35 mA, and a fill factor of 0.429 at an intensity of illumination of 100 mW/cm2.

Electronic Properties and Interlayer Interactions in Antimony Oxide Homo‐ and Heterobilayers

Antimony shows promise as a 2D mono‐elemental crystal, referred to as antimonene. When exposed to ambient conditions, antimonene layers react with oxygen, forming new crystal structures, leading to significant changes in electronic properties. These changes are influenced by the degree of oxidation. Utilizing density‐functional theory calculations, stable configurations of bilayer antimony oxide and their corresponding electronic properties are studied. Additionally, different stacking arrangements and their effects on the physical properties of the materials are investigated. Furthermore, the analysis encompasses strain‐free heterobilayers containing both pristine and oxidized antimonene layers, aiming to understand the interplay between these materials and their collective impact on the bilayer properties. In the results, insight is provided into how the properties of antimony‐based bilayer structures can be modified by adjusting stoichiometry and stacking configurations.

Reduced valence state of iridium supported on antimony doped tin oxide as a highly active and robust oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst for proton exchange membrane-based electrolysis

We use facile microwaves (MWs)-assisted polyol method to synthesize metallic Ir-nanoparticles (Ir-NPs) supported on antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO). Parameters such as Ir loading, reaction temperature and reaction time were optimized to achieve high electrocatalytic performance of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and durability under the corrosive OER environment of acidic electrolyzers. Electrocatalysts with varying Ir loading between 10 and 40 wt% were synthesized at two different temperatures (140 °C and 160 °C) to compare morphology, Ir valence state, OER activity and stability. This analysis has revealed efficient electrocatalyst synthesis with a narrow size distribution and homogeneous dispersion over the support surface. An electron rich state of Ir, contributing to the electrocatalyst activity and stability, was achieved at the synthesis temperature of 160 °C. Among the as-synthesized electrocatalysts, one, named Ir/ATO.AT-40-160, has demonstrated high activity (449 ± 2.7 A gIr−1) and high AST stability (75.1% retained current), reaching respectively 1.5 and 2 times those of a state-of-the-art commercial electrocatalyst. The high catalytic activity and excellent stability can both be attributed to the depressed overoxidation of the active Ir due to the low valence state, appropriate composition, and highly dispersed Ir NPs over the support surface.

Electrochemical performance of electrophoretically deposited zinc antimony oxide–carbon black anode for lithium-ion batteries

Zinc antimony oxide (ZnSb2O6), a relatively new anode having a tri-rutile type of structure, is synthesized by a solution-based synthesis route. Zinc antimony oxide–carbon black (ZSO-CB) electrodes are fabricated by electrophoretic deposition technique. Regarding, film quality and mass loading, a 3-minute deposition period at 100 V applied potential is shown to yield optimized performance. When used as an anode for lithium-ion battery (LIB), these electrodes show a steady capacity of 464 mAhg−1 at a specific current of 500 mAg−1 after 400 cycles. It exhibits an excellent rate capability of 370 mAhg−1 at 4000 mAg−1 specific current, which is comparable to that of the theoretical capacity of commercial graphite anode (372 mAhg−1). ZSO can therefore be a potential anode for LIBs.

Study of wear and corrosion resistance of ATO nanoparticle–doped micro‐arc oxide film layers

AbstractIn order to enhance the corrosion and wear resistance of aluminum alloys in complex and variable environments, an Al2O3 ceramic film was prepared on the surface of 7A04 aluminum alloy in a silicate electrolyte system using a micro‐arc oxidation technique. Subsequently, antimony tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles were used to dope the micro‐arc oxidation film to enhance the protective properties of the 7A04 aluminum alloy. The structural characteristics of the film were investigated by examining the surface and cross‐sectional morphology and the composition of the physical phases. The results show that ATO nanoparticles can promote the micro‐arc oxidation reaction, improve the surface morphology of the film layer, increase the thickness of the film layer and the denseness after sintering, and enter the film layer in the form of melt wrapping, which plays a role in refining the grain. In the study of the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of ATO‐doped ceramic film layers, it was found that the introduction of ATO nanoparticles did not significantly improve the wear resistance of the micro‐arc oxide ceramic film layers but significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the film layers.

Luminescence features of Ho3+ , Er3+ and Tm3+ ions in red lead added non-conventional antimony oxide glass system.

In this study, a glass system based on heavy metal oxides, namely Pb3 O4 -Sb2 O3 -SiO2 , was prepared with Ho2 O3 , Er2 O3 , and Tm2 O3 as dopants. The prepared glass were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) studies. The luminescence efficiencies of the three rare earth ions viz., Ho3+ , Er3+ , and Tm3+ in the glass system were investigated, specifically focusing on green (Ho3+ , Er3+ ), blue (Tm3+ ), and near-infrared (NIR) emissions. The optical absorption (OA) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of RE mixed glass displayed strong bands in the visible and NIR regions, which were analyzed using the Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory. The J-O coefficients (Ωλ ) were found to be in the order of Ω2 > Ω4 > Ω6 for all the three glass. Notably, the Tm3+ -doped glass exhibited the lowest Ω2 value, which was attributed to a larger degree of disorder in the glass network due to lower fractions of Sb5+ and Pb4+ ions that take part in the glass network forming. This conclusion was arrived based on the IR studies. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis of PL spectra and decay curves indicated that SbHo and SbEr glass were suitable for efficient green emission, while SbTm glass is a promising choice for blue laser emission.

Impact of red lead on 0.65 and 1.3 μm emissions of Pr3+ ions in a non-conventional antimony oxide glass system for application in optical communication

Impact of red lead on 0.65 and 1.3 μm emissions of Pr3+ ions in a non-conventional antimony oxide glass system for application in optical communication

Low-Temperature ALD of SbOx /Sb2 Te3 Multilayers with Boosted Thermoelectric Performance.

Nanoscale superlattice (SL) structures have proven to be effective in enhancing the thermoelectric (TE) properties of thin films. Herein, the main phase of antimony telluride (Sb2 Te3 ) thin film with sub-nanometer layers of antimony oxide (SbOx ) is synthesized via atomic layer deposition (ALD) at a low temperature of 80 °C. The SL structure is tailored by varying the cycle numbers of Sb2 Te3 and SbOx . A remarkable power factor of 520.8 µW m-1 K-2 is attained at room temperature when the cycle ratio of SbOx and Sb2 Te3 is set at 1:1000 (i.e., SO:ST = 1:1000), corresponding to the highest electrical conductivity of 339.8 S cm-1 . The results indicate that at the largest thickness, corresponding to ten ALD cycles, the SbOx layers act as a potential barrier that filters out the low-energy charge carriers from contributing to the overall electrical conductivity. In addition to enhancing the scattering of the mid-to-long-wavelength at the SbOx /Sb2 Te3 interface, the presence of the SbOx sub-layer induces the confinement effect and strain forces in the Sb2 Te3 thin film, thereby effectively enhancing the Seebeck coefficient and reducing the thermal conductivity. These findings provide a new perspective on the design of SL-structured TE materials and devices.

Manufacturing and Properties of Various Ceramic-Embedded Composite Fabrics for Protective Clothing in Gas and Oil Industries Part II: Thermal Wear Comfort via Thermal Manikin

Thermal wear comfort for workwear clothing plays a vital role in maintaining comfortable water- and moisture-vapor-permeable properties while wearing clothing. In particular, thermal wear comfort measured using a thermal manikin is required in the protective workwear clothing market because their use provides objective data concerning the actual wearing performance of the clothing. This paper investigated the thermal wear comfort properties of various ceramic-embedded composite fabrics for workwear clothing worn in gas and oil industries produced from new schemes. The thermal insulation rate (Clo value) of Al2O3(Aluminum oxide)/graphite, ZnO(zinc oxide)/ZrC(zirconium carbide) and ZnO/ATO(antimony tin oxide)-embedded clothing was greater (25.5, 24.7 and 16.9%, respectively) than that of regular clothing (control), which was in accordance with the results (15.0, 13.8 and 11.3% higher, respectively) of the heat retention rate (I) of fabric specimens. It revealed that ZnO- and ATO-embedded yarns mixed with ZrC particles enhanced thermal wear comfort and had superior anti-static and UV-protective properties. Considering UV-protective and anti-static protective clothing worn in gas and oil industries and cold weather regions, it can be concluded that ZnO/ZrC-incorporated fabric is suitable because it showed superior thermal wear comfort with excellent UV-protective and acceptable anti-static properties. Meanwhile, assuming high functional performance for protective clothing worn in winter and factories, ZnO/ATO-incorporated fabric is pertinent to fabricating protective clothing for cold weather regions.

Highly dispersed redox antimony oxide pairs for accurate detection and electrochemistry-controlled recovery toward an antibiotic drug: Sulfadiazine

BackgroundSulfadiazine (SDZ) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic widely used in aquaculture and animal husbandry and it is easy to remain in the water system to damage the human body. Therefore, detection and removal of sulfadiazine in water systems become critical. Nowadays, catalysts and visible light are used to degrade sulfadiazine into smaller molecules containing N and S to reduce toxicity. However, these small molecules are easily released into water and the atmosphere to be the acid rain. Therefore, it is urgent to design a sensor with the ability to detect and remove SDZ at the same time. (96) ResultsWe designed a novel composite catalyst sensor (Sb6O13@LTA GCE) with the ability to simultaneously monitor and remove sulfadiazine. The catalyst is generated by introducing SbCl5 into the reactive gel of LTA (Linde Type A) structure zeolite. In the hydrothermal reaction, the corrosive SbCl5 is transferred into nanosized Sb6O13 nanoparticle which is highly dispersed in the opening nano-scaled windows of the zeolite through redox and self-assembled progress. In the selected electrochemical overpotential range, the Sb6O13@LTA composited modified electrode could complete adsorption and desorption of SDZ through the electron transfer from Sb3+ to Sb5+. As the catalyst is in high stability, the only loss in the whole process of recovering SDZ is a small amount of electric energy. The extra-low detection limit and the removal efficiency of Sb6O13@LTA GCE have been achieved 4.0 pM and 19.3 mg/20 mg (136) SignificanceThe prepared novel sensor has low detection limit, high removal efficiency and high selectivity for sulfadiazine. The Sb6O13@LTA GCE sensor, which is low-cost and has a simple preparation method, exhibits good reproducibility in both seawater and cell fluid. This provides the possibility for wide application in detecting and removing SDZ in water system. (53).

Exfoliated Graphene Oxide @ Sb2O3 Octahedrons as Alloy-Conversion Anode for High-Performance Na-Ion Batteries with P2-Type Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 Cathode

Conversion–alloying–based anodes for sodium–ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted wide interest due to their high energy density and specific capacity. However, it suffers from volume expansion during operation, leading to poor cycling stability. This study introduces a novel carbon matrix, exfoliated graphene oxide (EGO), to alleviate the issues due to volume expansion in the antimony (III) oxide anode for SIBs. Four combinations of Sb2O3 with EGO were explored, and electrochemical performance was compared. An optimized combination (Sb–E1) showed a capacity of ∼100 mAh g–1 at a high current density of 1 A g–1 with good cycling stability. The results show that EGO can effectively buffer the volume expansion and promote fast kinetics. An in–situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study revealed that the exceptional charge-transfer resistance varies during the alloying reaction but not during the conversion reaction. The full-cell is fabricated with P2-type layered Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 (NNMO) cathode. The Sb–E1/NNMO cell displayed an average operating potential of ∼2.95 V, a high capacity of ∼100 mAh g–1 at a current density of 1 A g–1, and a maximum energy density of ∼100 Wh kg–1.

Slags from roasting of antimony ore in the Brioude-Massiac (France) area used as aggregates: An early example of circular economy.

Towards the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century, France was the world's largest producer of antimony, especially due to the rich deposits in the Brioude-Massiac area. Even though all the mining and smelting activities are long gone, there are still some remains of those activities. The most original of those is the use of roasting slags as aggregates in former plant walls or industrial building. They are macroscopically characterised by a black or red colour with a vesicular aspect similar to natural pozzolanas. Common petrography and mineralogy tools have been used to characterise those slags: optical mineralogy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). To gain an insight into their mineral complexity, a QEMSCAN map has been produced. The mineralogy is typical of high-temperature slags: cristobalite, quartz, mullite, fayalite-forsterite series and spinel. The antimony content is quite high, up to seven percent, under the form of various antimony oxides and native antimony.

Interaction of Catalysts for Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cells

Unitized regenerative fuel cells have emerged as promising energy conversion and storage systems for various applications. However, in order to optimize their efficiency, it is crucial to enhance the performance of the bifunctional catalyst. This study aims to provide deeper insights into the electrochemical behavior and performance of the bifunctional catalyst. Several electrocatalysts were prepared and evaluated using rotating disk electrode measurements. The focus was placed on investigating the interaction between Pt, Ir, and the support material, antimony doped tin oxide (ATO), and their impact on the oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction. Among the analyzed catalysts, Pt-black mixed with synthesized IrO2 supported on developed ATO exhibited the highest performance, considering the results from both the fuel cell and electrolyzer systems.

Vibrations and Phase Stability in Mixed Valence Antimony Oxide.

α-Sb2O4 (cervantite) and β-Sb2O4 (clinocervantite) are mixed valence compounds with equal proportions of SbIII and SbV as represented in the formula SbIIISbVO4. Their structure and properties can be difficult to calculate owing to the SbIII lone-pair electrons. Here, we present a study of the lattice dynamics and vibrational properties using a combination of inelastic neutron scattering, Mössbauer spectroscopy, nuclear inelastic scattering, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. DFT calculations that account for lone-pair electrons match the experimental densities of phonon states. Mössbauer spectroscopy reveals the β phase to be significantly harder than the α phase. Calculations with O vacancies reveal the possibility for nonstoichiometric proportions of SbIII and SbV in both phases. An open question is what drives the stability of the α phase over the β phase, as the latter shows pronounced kinetic stability and lower symmetry despite being in the high-temperature phase. Since the vibrational entropy difference is small, it is unlikely to stabilize the α phase. Our results suggest that the α phase is more stable only because the material is not fully stoichiometric.