As pilhas a combustível permitem a geração de energia elétrica de forma limpa e eficiente. Dentre seus diferentes tipos destaca-se a pilha a combustível do tipo óxido sólido (PaCOS). O óxido de cério dopado com samário (SDC) tem sido amplamente estudado, visando sua aplicação como eletrólito sólido e na elaboração do anodo tipo cermet. Inicialmente, este trabalho descreve a síntese, através do método do precursor, de nanopartículas de óxido de cério dopado com 20% mol de samário (Ce0,8Sm0,2O1,9). Posteriormente, é analisado o efeito do óxido de níquel (NiO) e do óxido de níquel dopado com 10% de cobalto (CoNiO) na sinterização de pastilhas de SDC, a 1200 ºC, visando à obtenção de porcentuais de sinterização superiores a 90%. Os materiais foram caracterizados por Difração de Raios X (DRX), Espectroscopia do Infravermelho (IV), Análise Térmica (TG/DTA), Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (MET) e Espectroscopia Raman. Observou-se um aumento no percentual de sinterização de 83,1 % (pastilha de SDC pura) para 98,6% (pastilha de SDC com CoNiO). Portanto, a SDC preparada pelo método do precussor permite a obtenção de pastilhas com alta densificação, o qual é um dos pré-requisitos para sua utilização na elaboração de componentes de pilhas a combustível do tipo PaCOS.

Fuel cells allow generation of electric energy in a clean and efficient way. Among the different types of fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stands out. Samarium doped cerium oxide (SDC) have been widely studied for its application as solid electrolyte and as a component of cermet type anode. Initially, this work describes synthesis of nanoparticles of 20% mol samarium doped cerium oxide (Ce0,8Sm0,2O1,9), by the precursor method. Subsequently, we analyze the effect of nickel oxide (NiO) and 10% cobalt-doped nickel oxide (CoNiO) on the sintering at 1200 °C of SDC pellets, aiming to attaining a sintering degree higher than 90%. Materials were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA), Transmition Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Raman Spectroscopy. We observed an increase in percentage of sintering from 83.1% (pure SDC pellet) to 98.6% (SDC pellet with CoNiO). Therefore, SDC prepared by the precursor method allows obtaining pellets with high density, which is a prerequisite for their use in preparation of components of SOFC type fuel cells.

Samples of Kaolin from different regions in Brazil were characterized by XRD, SEM and chemical analysis. A chemical bleaching study with pH adjustment was accomplished with the fractions below 37 μm, after classification by screening. The main objective was to evaluate the conditions of chemical bleaching that most increase the brightness of these kaolin's samples. Increases between 2.63 and 2.98% in the brightness (ISO) were observed after the chemical bleaching. We could say that the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ during the chemical bleaching promoted an increase in the brightness, based on the Pourbaix Diagrams.

Combinatorial chemistry refers to techniques to rapidly fabricate tens, hundreds or even thousands of different micro samples. The analysis of the large number of samples generated by combinatorial methods requires highly efficient analytical methods. In this case, the challenges are due not only to the large number of samples to be analyzed, but also to the small amount of sample available for analysis. This paper describes the fundamentals of combinatorial chemical methods applied to discover of materials and the development in x-ray diffraction to analyze micro samples.