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Herein, the crystallization behavior of a Li2O–Al2O3–SiO2 (LAS) glass system with the addition of ZrO2 and SnO2 as nucleating agents was investigated using X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, four‐dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray absorption fine‐structure measurements. At lower heat‐treatment temperatures, the addition of ZrO2 and SnO2 afforded a ZrSnO4 solid solution (SS), whereas at higher heat‐treatment temperatures, the ZrSnO4 SS decomposed, affording tetragonal ZrO2 and tetragonal SnO2. LAS‐based crystalline phases, such as β‐quartz and β‐spodumene phases SS, were formed after the formation of the ZrSnO4 SS. ZrSnO4 SS particles a few nanometers in size were present in contact with the β‐quartz SS particles a few dozen nanometers in size. This suggests that the ZrSnO4 SS served as a crystal nucleus for the β‐quartz SS, promoting its growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin zirconium oxide catalysts (Sn-based TMO s) were successfully prepared with three different methods, ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal, sol-gel, and traditional precipitation method, and applied for biodiesel production. The physicochemical and the catalytic efficiency by the esterification of stearic acid of the as-synthesized catalysts were investigated by different techniques. The production of biodiesel (as methyl stearate) has emerged as a greener and renewable substitute for petro based diesel fuel. The optimization of the esterification conditions for maximum yield of biodiesel was performed by studying different factors as the catalyst preparation method, reaction time, molar ratio of alcohol to stearic acid, reaction temperature, and the catalyst concentration. The preferred catalyst (SnZr h) was optimized as the reaction temperature of 120 °C, 150 M ratio of methanol to stearic acid, 0.2 g catalyst amount and reaction time of 60 min. The SnZr h catalyst exhibited 74% yield of methyl stearate. Also, the kinetic and thermodynamic studies of stearic acid esterification reaction were inspected. The reusability of the optimized tin zirconium oxide catalyst for seventh runs was professionally studied. The computational chemistry study showed that the interaction mechanism between the optimized catalyst and stearic acid was preferable between SnO 2 active sites and carbonic group of stearic acid. • (Sn-based TMOs) catalysts were prepared with three different methods and their physicochemical properties were studied.. • Their catalytic efficiency for biodiesel production was investigated. • Optimization of the esterification conditions, Kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were inspected.. • The reusability of the optimized catalyst for seventh runs was studied. • The mechanism was proposed and emphasized by computational chemistry study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust electron transport layer (ETL) is an essential component in planar-heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a sol-gel-driven ZrSnO4 thin film is synthesized and its optoelectronic properties are systematically investigated. The optimized processing conditions for sol-gel synthesis produce a ZrSnO4 thin film that exhibits high optical transmittance in the UV-Vis-NIR range, a suitable conduction band maximum, and good electrical conductivity, revealing its potential for application in the ETL of planar-heterojunction PSCs. Consequently, the ZrSnO4 ETL-based devices deliver promising power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 19.05% from CH3NH3PbI3-based planar-heterojunction devices. Furthermore, the optimal ZrSnO4 ETL also contributes to decent long-term stability of the non-encapsulated device for 360 h in an ambient atmosphere (T~25 °C, RH~55%,), suggesting great potential of the sol-gel-driven ZrSnO4 thin film for a robust solution-processed ETL material in high-performance PSCs.

A schematic diagram of the synthetic procedure of the sonicated SnZrSi oxide catalysts to form mesoporous (SiO 2 /SnZrO 4), and the set-up of esterification and transesterification processes. [Display omitted] • Novel (0.05–0.4 mol%) SiO 2 /ZrSnO 4 solids were synthesized by ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation method. • The silica impact with different percentages on physico-chemical properties of the as- synthesized catalysts were studied. • The efficiency of the mesoporous (SnO 2 /ZrSiO 4) was compared with ZrSnO 4 by esterification/transesterification processes. • The active sites responsible for the mechanism of esterification process were emphasized by the computational study. • The kinetic, mechanism, thermodynamic and reusability studies were performed. A set of unprecedented (mesoporous SnO 2 /ZrSiO 4) solids has been synthesized via the ultrasound-assisted co-precipitation path. The impact of silica dopant content (ranged between 0.05 and 0.4 mol%) on the characterization evolution of the sonicated ZrSnO 4 interface and their biodiesel production efficiency were examined. Physio-chemical characteristics of the synthesized catalysts were analyzed by XRD, SEM-EDS, TEM, TGA-DTG, N 2 adsorption–desorption analysis, NH 3 -TPD, UV–Visible/ DR, and FT-IR before and after pyridine adsorption. The obtained results revealed the formation of reconstructed rutile-SnO 2 and zircon as new active phases by calcination at 500 °C, good morphology with mesoporous structure, and significant increase in the S BET , pore volume, interesting optical behavior, and exhibited different acidic properties. The impacts of reaction temperature, silica dopant content, fatty acid type and calcination temperature on the biodiesel % were examined. The tertiary oxide catalysts were gainful for the biodiesel production. The optimum catalyst (0.2 % SiO 2 /ZrSnO 4) had the biggest number of both strong Brönsted and Lewis acid sites compared to the doped and undoped catalysts, so, its maximum yield at optimum conditions for esterification of palmitic acid reaction was 90.2 % and can be reused until the fifth run with giving excellent yield for biodiesel production. But, for the transesterification of soybean oil reaction with methanol was maxima at 88% for (0.4 % SiO 2 /ZrSnO 4) sample. The kinetic, mechanism studies and thermodynamic parameters were estimated. The important role of the doped silica molecules in the mechanism of the esterification process was emphasized by the computational chemistry study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust electron transport layer (ETL) is an essential component in planar-heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a sol-gel-driven ZrSnO4 thin film is synthesized and its optoelectronic properties are systematically investigated. The optimized processing conditions for sol-gel synthesis produce a ZrSnO4 thin film that exhibits high optical transmittance in the UV-Vis-NIR range, a suitable conduction band maximum, and good electrical conductivity, revealing its potential for application in the ETL of planar-heterojunction PSCs. Consequently, the ZrSnO4 ETL-based devices deliver promising power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 19.05% from CH3NH3PbI3-based planar-heterojunction devices. Furthermore, the optimal ZrSnO4 ETL also contributes to decent long-term stability of the non-encapsulated device for 360 h in an ambient atmosphere (T~25 °C, RH~55%,), suggesting great potential of the sol-gel-driven ZrSnO4 thin film for a robust solution-processed ETL material in high-performance PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]