Papers by Author: Leticia M. Torres-Martínez

Abstract: Perovskite-type compounds such as alkali tantalates, ATaO3 (A = Li, Na and K), prepared by the sol-gel method are reported as heterogeneous basic catalysts for the acetone aldol condensation. It has been proposed that the activity order and the selectivity patterns (LiTaO3 > > KTaO3 > NaTaO3) depend on the octahedral arrangements of the TaO6 tantalates.

Abstract: In this work it was carried out the synthesis of Bi2InTaO7 pyrochlore-type structure compound by the sol-gel method. By X-Ray powder diffraction the sol-gel compound calcined at 600°C showed the pyrochlore-type structure phase and by scanning electron microscopy its morphology revealed the presence of particles with size lower than 1 micron. Its chemical elemental composition was determined by EDS analysis. Results of SBET area and Eg values of this compound suggested higher properties than those obtained by the compound prepared by solid state reaction. Bi2InTaO7 sol-gel was used as active photocatalyst on the degradation reaction of organic compounds such as Alizarin Red S, and Red and Green Tide, under UV-light. Half time life results showed that Bi2InTaO7 sol-gel compound could be a good candidate for the degradation of organic compounds because after few minutes showed high efficiency on the degradation reaction of Alizarin Red S (t1/2 = 30 min), and Green Tide inactivation (t1/2 = 17 min).

Abstract: In this work it was determined the effect of fly ash (FA) as bonding material during the fabrication of low thermal expansion porous materials. SiC, fly ash, Vitrified Bonding Material (VBM), and LiAlSiO4 powders were used as raw materials. Porous materials were sintered at 850°C and 950°C after manual milling and mechanical milling in a planetary ball milling at 800 RPM. SEM micrographs showed the presence of porous materials, and it was observed that fly ash particles did not melt at 850°C. However if sintering temperature increases at 950°C, FA starts to melt and it is forming bridges between SiC particles. Thermal expansion values were around 3.0x10-6 K-1. According to these results, it seems that it is possible to have a favorable synergy between FA and VBM to fabricate SiC porous materials with low thermal expansion values.

Abstract: Machines for manufacturing large scale flat displays are enlarging as the size of glasses increases. This work develops porous materials with a low thermal expansion coefficient and a high Young’s modulus. SiC and LiAlSiO4 were used for a positive and a negative thermal expansion materials, respectively. Compositions of powders for porous materials were determined to obtain a desirable Young’s modulus and thermal expansion coefficient by using SiC-VBM-LiAlSiO4 phase diagram at 20 % of porosity. The empirical values of Young’s modulus and a thermal expansion coefficient are close to the theoretical values by using the diagram. Fabricated porous material had high enough Young’s modulus of 87 GPa, and low enough thermal expansion coefficient of 2 x 10-6 K-1 at temperatures ranging from -17 °C to 190 °C with 22 % of porosity.

Abstract: Indium-alkali microfibers doped ceramic were prepared by the sol-gel process. The gels preparation samples, were heat treated at 700°C for different length of time. The products were characterized by means of XRD, SEM-EDS and UV–Vis-DRS. The XRD showed the formation of the Na2Ti6O13 phase whose crystallinity depends on the annealing time. The band gap calculated from the UV–Vis Kubelka-Munk function shows very similar values (3.53-3.55 eV). The SEM images of the indium-alkali titanates show microfiber clumps morphologies of about 5 µm, and the EDS spectra show that In2O3 is on the Na2Ti6O13 surface. The results of the evaluation of the In-Na2Ti6O13 semiconductors in the 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) photodecomposition under UV light irradiation, show that the photoactivity depends on the time of heat treatment of the samples.

Abstract: A kaolin obtained from a region near to San Luis Potosí (México) was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (DRX), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermal analysis (DTA/TGA), and chemical analysis. Mineralogical and morphological characteristics of the mineral are presented. The kaolin sample was formed mainly by kaolinite, but other minor phases were also detected such as quartz, cristobalite, trydimite, and dolomite. For iron lixiviation process, concentrate HCl was employed. The high content of volcanic glass detected, evidenced by optical microscopy, revealed an incomplete kaolinization process of the raw material. In agreement with these results, X-ray fluorescence analysis showed high- SiO2 and low-Al2O3 content in the sample as is expected on weakly kaolinized materials.

Abstract: Porous ceramic materials with low thermal expansion (LTE) at room temperature were prepared by heating a mixture of SiC or black-Al2O3, vitrified bonding material (VBM) and LiAlSiO4 at temperatures from 850°C to 1100°C. The mixture was prepared in adequate proportions to obtain a material with LTE according to previous works made in our laboratory. It was observed that a change in temperature provoked the formation of a new phase, LiAlSi3O8, which appears above 900°C. The presence of this new phase did not affect the thermal expansion value, keeping LTE at room temperature. All compounds showed around 40% of porosity, and Young’s modulus values of 30 GPa using black-Al2O3 or SiC. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) revealed that above 900°C the phase LiAlSi3O8 starts to appear as a consequence of the melting of VBM, which is reacting with the raw materials. SEM micrographs showed the presence of SiC or black-Al2O3 grains joined by VBM, which is acting as a bridge between them.

Abstract: The catalytic photodegradation of Rhodamine B with UV irradiation over NaMO3 (M= Ta and Nb) doped with Y2O3, La2O3, Nd2O3 and Sm2O3 has been studied in our laboratories. All catalysts were characterized by different techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis (DTA/TGA). Surface characterization of the solids was carried out from adsorption isotherms and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The band gap energy (Eg) of materials ranged from 4.1 to 2.9 eV. For comparative purpose the materials studied as catalysts were also synthesized by classical solid state reaction.

Abstract: Ceramic compound with the formula BaLi2Ti6O14 was prepared by sol-gel method at basic conditions, using ammonium hydroxide as hydrolysis catalyst. Some portions of gel sample obtained were heat treated at 200, 400, 600, and 800°C. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (DTA-TGA), UV-Vis and FTIR. Crystalline phase was formed when a sample was treated at 800°C for 6h. This material has been previously synthesized by solid state reaction using temperatures as high as 900-1150°C for 2 to 10 days. The crystal structure of BaLi2Ti6O14 is similar to that corresponding strontium containing phase, SrLi2Ti6O14, which has been reported as catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of lower alkanes.