Tungsten alkali metals

Figure Bl.26.24. The change of work fimction of the (100) plane of tungsten covered by Na, K and Cs, and work fiinction of alkali metals (dashed-dotted line) versus adatom concentration n (Kiejna A and Wojciechowski 1981 Prog. Surf. Sci. 11 293-338).

This review is structured as follows. In the next section we present the theory for adsorbates that remain in quasi-equilibrium throughout the desorption process, in which case a few macroscopic variables, namely the partial coverages 0, and their rate equations are needed. We introduce the lattice gas model and discuss results ranging from non-interacting adsorbates to systems with multiple interactions, treated essentially exactly with the transfer matrix method, in Sec. II. Examples of the accuracy possible in the modehng of experimental data using this theory, from our own work, are presented for such diverse systems as multilayers of alkali metals on metals, competitive desorption of tellurium from tungsten, and dissociative... 

The reduction of a transition-metal oxide and boron oxide by an electropositive metal such as Al, Mg or an alkali metal has been used as a pathway to titanium, iron, chromium, tungsten and alkali-earth borides . ... 

Filaments are usually refractory metals such as tungsten or iridium, which can sustain high temperatures for a long time (T > 3000 K). The lifetime of filaments for electron sources can be prolonged substantially if an adsorbate can be introduced that lowers the work function on the surface so that it may be operated at lower temperature. Thorium fulfills this function by being partly ionized, donating electrons to the filament, which results in a dipole layer that reduces the work function of the tungsten. In catalysis, alkali metals are used to modify the effect of the work function of metals, as we will see later. 

There is further emphasis on adsorption isotherms, the nature of the adsorption process, with measurements of heats of adsorption providing evidence for different adsorption processes - physical adsorption and activated adsorption -and surface mobility. We see the emergence of physics-based experimental methods for the study of adsorption, with Becker at Bell Telephone Laboratories applying thermionic emission methods and work function changes for alkali metal adsorption on tungsten. 

Linking of the octahedra in hexagonal and tetragonal tungsten bronzes M WOg. In the direction of view, the octahedra are arranged one on top of the other with common vertices. The channels in this direction contain varying amounts of alkali metal ions... 

Molybdenum In its pure form, without additions, it is the most efficient catalyst of all the easily obtainable and reducible substances, and it is less easily poisoned than iron. It catalyzes in another way than iron, insofar as it forms analytically easily detectable amounts of metal nitrides (about 9% nitrogen content) during its catalytic action, whereas iron does not form, under synthesis conditions, analytically detectable quantities of a nitride. In this respect, molybdenum resembles tungsten, manganese and uranium which all form nitrides during their operation, as ammonia catalysts. Molybdenum is clearly promoted by nickel, cobalt and iron, but not by oxides such as alumina. Alkali metals can act favorably on molybdenum, but oxides of the alkali metals are harmful. Efficiency, as pure molybdenum, 1.5%, promoted up to 4% ammonia. 

Reactions with highly electropositive elements (e.g. alkali metals) occur with explosive violence. On the other hand, certain metals, such as tantalum or tungsten, show little reactivity at ordinary temperatures. 

Nonpolar molecular compounds dissolve in nonpolar solvents. Polar molecular compounds and ionic compounds may dissolve in polar solvents. Metals dissolve in other molten metals. These can range from copper, silver, gold, alkali metals dissolving in mercury at room temperature, to chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten dissolving in molten iron. 

The M-NM transition has been a topic of interest from the days of Sir Humphry Davy when sodium and potassium were discovered till then only high-density elements such as Au, Ag and Cu with lustre and other related properties were known to be metallic. A variety of materials exhibit a transition from the nonmetallic to the metallic state because of a change in crystal structure, composition, temperature or pressure. While the majority of elements in nature are metallic, some of the elements which are ordinarily nonmetals become metallic on application of pressure or on melting accordingly, silicon is metallic in the liquid state and nonmetallic in the solid state. Metals such as Cs and Hg become nonmetallic when expanded to low densities at high temperatures. Solutions of alkali metals in liquid ammonia become metallic when the concentration of the alkali metal is sufficiently high. Alkali metal tungsten bronzes... 

In NaxW03-yFy Doumerc (1978) observed a transition that has all the characteristics of an Anderson transition similar phenomena are observed in NaxTayW3 y03. The results are shown in Fig. 7.14. It is unlikely that this transition is generated by the overlap of two Hubbard bands with tails (Chapter 1, Section 4) this could only occur if it took place in an uncompensated alkali-metal impurity band, which seems inconsistent with the comparatively small electron mass. We think rather that in the tungsten (or tungsten-tantalum) 5d-band an Anderson transition caused by the random positions of Na (and F or Ta) atoms occurs. The apparent occurrence of amiD must, as explained elsewhere, indicate that a at the temperature of the experiments. Work below 100 K, to look for quantum interference effects, does not seem to have been carried out. 

In fact, the oxidation of metals with very low work functions (alkali metals, alkaline earth metals) proceeds very quickly at room temperatures and more slowly at 83 K. If the work function of the metal has a medium-sized value, it is increased by oxygen, e.g., that of tungsten from 4.53 to 6.27 volts, or by 1.74 volts, according to the measurements of the contact potential by Bosworth and Rideal (12). In this case oxygen is adsorbed in the form of atoms. No oxidation was observed at low tem-... 

A new catalyst formulation containing alkali metals and W on a silica support gives more promising results.549 Alkali metals are able to lower the phase transition temperature from amorphous silica to a-crystoballite, shown to be critically important for an effective catalyst, while incorporation of W enhances catalytic activity to ensure high methane conversion and excellent ethylene selectivity. An alkali-stabilized tungsten oxo species is thought to be the active site. 

CARBIDES. A binary solid compound of carbon and another element. The most familiar carbides are those of calcium, tungsten, silicon, boron, and iron (cemcntitc) Two factors have an important bearing on the properties of carbides (1) the difference in electronegativity between carbon and the second elemenl. and (2) whether the second element is a transition metal. Saltlike carbides of alkali metals are obtained by reaction with acetylene. Those ohlained from silver, copper, and mercury sails are explosive. See also Carbon and Iron Metals, Alloys, and Steels. 

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