To account for the explanation of an eventual sensing and catalytic behavior of rhombohedral In2O3 (rh-In2O3) and the dependence of the metastability of the latter on gas atmospheres, in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR), in situ X-ray diffraction and in situ thermogravimetric analyses in inert (helium) and reactive gases (hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) have been conducted to link the gas-dependent electrical conductivity features and the surface chemical properties to its metastability towards cubic In2O3. In particular, for highly reducible oxides such as In2O3, for which not only the formation of oxygen vacancies, but deep reduction to the metallic state (i.e. metallic indium) also has to be taken into account, this approach is imperative. Temperature-dependent impedance features are strongly dependent on the respective gas composition and are assigned to distinct changes in either surface adsorbates or free charge carrier absorbance, allowing for differentiating and distinguishing between bulk reduction-related features from those directly arising from surface chemical alterations. For the measurements in an inert gas atmosphere, this analysis specifically also included monitoring the fate of differently bonded, and hence, differently reactive, hydroxyl groups. Reduction of rh-In2O3 proceeds to a large extent indirectly via rh-In2O3 → c-In2O3 → In metal. As deduced from the CO and CO2 adsorption experiments, rhombohedral In2O3 exhibits predominantly Lewis acidic surface sites. The basic character is less pronounced, directly explaining the previously observed high (inverse) water-gas shift activity and the low CO2 selectivity in methanol steam reforming.

A tellurate compound with CoII/CoIII mixed valence states and lithium ions within orthogonally oriented channels was realized in Li3Co1.06(1)TeO6. The single-crystal structure determination revealed two independent and interpenetrating Li/O and (Co,Te)/O substructures with octahedral oxygen coordination of the metal atoms. In contrast to other mixed oxides, a honeycomb-like ordering of CoO6 and TeO6 octahedra was not observed. Li3Co1.06(1)TeO6 crystallizes orthorhombically with the following unit cell parameters and refinement results: Fddd, a = 588.6(2), b = 856.7(2), c = 1781.5(4) pm, R1 = 0.0174, wR2 = 0.0462, 608 F2 values, and 33 variables. Additional electron density in tetrahedral voids in combination with neighboring face-linked and under-occupied octahedral lithium sites offers an excellent possible diffusion pathway for lithium ions. According to the symmetry of the crystal structure the diffusion pathways in Li3Co1.06(1)TeO6 were found in two orthogonal orientations. The CoII/CoIII mixed valence was investigated via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), revealing a composition comparable to that derived from single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. Magnetic susceptibility measurements underlined the coexistence of CoII and CoIII, the title compound, however, showed no magnetic ordering down to low temperatures. The ionic conductivity of Li3Co1.06(1)TeO6 was determined via alternating current (AC) electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and was found to be in the range of 1.6 × 10-6 S cm-1 at 573 K.

Evidence for dissolved hydrogen in mixed ionic–electronic conducting A- and B-site substituted perovskites.

The C1 chemistry of Y-doped ZrO2 samples (3, 8, 20, and 40 mol % Y2O3; 3-YSZ, 8-YSZ, 20-YSZ, and 40-YSZ) was comparatively studied with respect to the correlation of electrochemical properties and surface chemistry in CH4, CO, and CO2 atmospheres by electrochemical impedance (EIS) and spectroscopic (FT-IR) methods up to 1273 K to unravel the influence of the Y-doping level. A consistent picture with respect to qualitative and quantitative surface modifications as a function of temperature and gas-phase composition evolves by performing highly correlated operando/in situ measurements. A detailed study of carbon deposition in CH4 and CO and adsorption of CO and CO2, but also proof of the strong influence of the surface chemistry, is included. Carbon deposition during treatment in CH4 and CO at temperatures T >= 1023 K is a common feature on all materials, irrespective of the Y content. On the 40-YSZ sample, the thinnest, but at the same time fully percolated, carbon layer was generated, and hence, "metallic" conductivity was apparent. This goes along with the fact that 40-YSZ is most unreactive toward adsorption, suggesting a direct link between homogeneous deposition and suppressed reactivity. For all Y-doped samples, temperature regions with different charge carrier activation energies could be identified, perfectly corresponding to significant changes in surface chemistry. Due to the different degree of hydroxylation and the different ability to chemisorb CO and CO2, the influence of the surface chemistry on the electrochemical properties is varying strongly as a function of Y-content.

The surface reactivity of Y2O3, YSZ, and ZrO2 polycrystalline powder samples toward H2 has been comparatively studied by a pool of complementary experimental techniques, comprising volumetric methods (temperature-programmed volumetric adsorption/oxidation and thermal desorption spectrometry), spectroscopic techniques (in situ electric impedance and in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), and eventually structural characterization methods (X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy). Reduction has been observed on all three oxides to most likely follow a surface or near-surface-limited mechanism involving removal of surface OH-groups and associated formation of water without formation of a significant number of anionic oxygen vacancies. Partly reversible adsorption of H2 was proven on the basis of molecular H2 desorption. Dictated by the specific hydrophilicity of the oxide, readsorption of water eventually takes place. The inference of this surface-restricted mechanism is further corroborated by the fact that no bulk structural and/or morphological changes were observed upon reduction even at the highest reduction temperatures (1173 K). We anticipate relevant implications for the use of especially YSZ in fuel cell research, since in particular the chemical state and structure of the surface under typical reducing high-temperature conditions affects the operation of the entire cell.

In situ FT-IR spectroscopy was exploited to study the adsorption of CO2 and CO on commercially available yttria-stabilized ZrO2 (8 mol % Y, YSZ-8), Y2O3, and ZrO2. All three oxides were pretreated at high temperatures (1173 K) in air, which leads to effective dehydroxylation of pure ZrO2. Both Y2O3 and YSZ-8 show a much higher reactivity toward CO and CO2 adsorption than ZrO2 because of more facile rehydroxylation of Y-containing phases. Several different carbonate species have been observed following CO2 adsorption on Y2O3 and YSZ-8, which are much more strongly bound on the former, due to formation of higher-coordinated polydentate carbonate species upon annealing. As the crucial factor governing the formation of carbonates, the presence of reactive (basic) surface hydroxyl groups on Y-centers was identified. Therefore, chemisorption of CO2 most likely includes insertion of the CO2 molecule into a reactive surface hydroxyl group and the subsequent formation of a bicarbonate species. Formate formation following CO adsorption has been observed on all three oxides but is less pronounced on ZrO2 due to effective dehydroxylation of the surface during high-temperature treatment. The latter generally causes suppression of the surface reactivity of ZrO2 samples regarding reactions involving CO or CO2 as reaction intermediates.