Professor, Principal investigator, Institute of High-Temperature Electrochemistry (IHTE), Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia.

Speech Title: Using chloride melts as reaction media for modifying surface layers of fine Ni₄Nb₂O₉ powder
Abstract: The thermal stable chloride melts are attractive reaction media for modifying surface layers of complex oxide materials ensuring a marked increase in their working properties. This paper discusses the original results of the direct action of molten KCl-CoCl₂ mixtures on the fine Ni₄Nb₂O₉ powder under argon and oxygen-containing gaseous atmospheres at 500^oC. The initial Ni₄Nb₂O₉ powder synthesized specially as well as the reaction products were studied in detail using the methods of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray diffractometry (RFA), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), chemical analysis and conductometry which pointed clearly to the formation of mixed Ni-Co niobates with elevated electrical conductivity.