Iron Silicides in Fulgurites

Iron silicide minerals (Fe-Si group) are found in terrestrial and solar system samples. These minerals tend to be more common in extraterrestrial rocks such as meteorites, and their existence in terrestrial rocks is limited due to a requirement of extremely reducing conditions to promote their formation. Such extremely reducing conditions can be found in fulgurites, which are glasses formed as cloud-to-ground lightning heats and fuses sand, soil, or rock. The objective of this paper is to review reports of iron silicides in fulgurites, note any similarities between separate fulgurite observations, and to explain the core connection between geological environments wherein these minerals are found. In addition, we also compare iron silicides in fulgurites to those in extraterrestrial samples.

Atomistic investigation of surface characteristics and electronic features at high-purity FeSi(110) presenting interfacial metallicity

Iron silicide (FeSi) is a fascinating material that has attracted extensive research efforts for decades, notably revealing unusual temperature-dependent electronic and magnetic characteristics, as well as a close resemblance to the Kondo insulators whereby a coherent picture of intrinsic properties and underlying physics remains to be fully developed. For a better understanding of this narrow-gap semiconductor, we prepared and examined FeSi(110) single-crystal surfaces of high quality. Combined insights from low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculations (DFT) indicate an unreconstructed surface termination presenting rows of Fe–Si pairs. Using high-resolution tunneling spectroscopy (STS), we identify a distinct asymmetric electronic gap in the sub-10 K regime on defect-free terraces. Moreover, the STS data reveal a residual density of states in the gap regime whereby two in-gap states are recognized. The principal origin of these features is rationalized with the help of the DFT-calculated band structure. The computational modeling of a (110)-oriented slab notably evidences the existence of interfacial intragap bands accounting for a markedly increased density of states around the Fermi level. These findings support and provide further insight into the emergence of surface metallicity in the low-temperature regime.

Synthesis of Al – Fe/SiO2 and Al – Co/SiO2 catalysts by solid-phase method

Powders of catalysts from aluminides Fe and Co on a SiO2 support (33.3 wt. %) were obtained by mechano-thermal synthesis. The formation of large powder fractions (> 100 μm) was experimentally established. The fractions of these fractions for Fe – Al – SiO2 and Co – Al – SiO2 respectively amounted to ~ 43 % and ~ 55 %, which is a positive result for further catalytic studies. After annealing the powders at 700 and 900 °C in vacuum, the SiO2 support and compounds: Co27Al73 (close in composition to CoAl3, Co4Al13 type intermetallic compounds), Fe3Al intermetallic compound with iron silicide type Fe0.9Si0.1 and compound Al0,3Fe3Si0.7 in small volumes. On the synthesis of cobalt aluminides, a conclusion has been made about more efficient annealing at 900 °C than at 700 °C. For Fe – Al – SiO2 powders, it is advisable to anneal in the temperature range 700 – 750 °C with the assumption that the SiO2 support influences the thermosynthesis of iron aluminides. An experimental analysis of the morphology and elemental composition of the surface of the obtained samples is presented. It was found that the catalyst powders have medium sphericity and angularity. Fe – Al – SiO2 powders have a more developed surface than Co – Al – SiO2. Lower intermetallics are predominantly formed on the surface of the Co – Al – SiO2 sample. The correction of the mechanical alloying modes by means of the fragmentation of the process, changes in the intensity of its parameters, and various annealing conditions for Co – Al – SiO2 and Fe – Al – SiO2 are proposed.

Converting Silicon Nanoparticles into Nickel Iron Silicide Nanocrystals within Molten Salts for Water Oxidation Electrocatalysis

We synthesize metal silicide electrocatalysts of water oxidation, by using the high reactivity of silicon nanoparticles and the unique stability and low vapor pressure of molten salt solvents, to perform...

Synthesis of Morphology-Improved Single-Crystalline Iron Silicide Nanowires with Enhanced Physical Characteristics

Single-crystalline iron silicide nanowires were synthesized via an original approach, pre-deposition method (PDM), with significantly improved morphologies and physical characteristics as compared with those fabricated by conventional chemical vapor deposition....