Effects of Al and Ti/Cu on Synthesis of Type-IIa Diamond Crystals in Ni70Mn25Co5-C System at HPHT

High-quality type-Ⅱa gem diamond crystals are successfully synthesized in a NiToMn25Co5-C system by temperature gradient method （TGM） at about 5.5 GPa and 1560 K. Al and Ti/Cu are used as nitrogen getters respectively. While nitrogen getter Al or Ti/Cu is added into the synthesis system, some inclusions and caves tend to be introduced into the crystals. When Al is added into the solvent alloy, we would hardly gain high-quality type-Ⅱa diamond crystals with nitrogen concentration Nc 〈 1 ppm because of the reversible reaction of Al and N at high pressure and high temperature （HPHT）. Piowever, when Ti/Cu is added into the solvent alloy, high-quality type-Ⅱa diamond crystals with Nc 〈 1 ppm can be grown by decreasing the growth rate of diamonds.     

Growth and spectral characterization of β-Ga2O3 single crystals

Beta gallium oxide (β-Ga₂O₃) single crystals were grown by the floating zone technique. The absorption spectra and the luminescence of the crystals were measured. The absorption spectra showed an intrinsic short cutoff edge around 260 nm with two shoulders at 270 and 300 nm. Not only the characteristic UV (395 nm), blue (471 nm) and green (559 nm) lights, but also the red (692 nm) light can be seen in the emission spectra. The deep UV light was attributed to the existing of quantum wells above the valence band and the red light was owed to the electron-hole recombination via the vicinity donors and acceptors.     

Preparation of Mn5Si3 nanocages and nanotubes by molten salt flux

Mn₅Si₃ nanocages and nanotubes were successfully synthesized by molten salt flux reaction at 650 °C. The samples were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The influence of the reactants molar ratio of MnCl₂ to Mg₂Si and reaction temperature on the phases and morphologies of the products were discussed. The possible mechanism of forming Mn₅Si₃ nanocages and nanotubes is discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured Li2MnO3 from nanostructured MnOOH precursors

Li₂MnO₃ with different nanostructures was synthesized through a solid-state reaction. MnOOH nanorods and nanowires prepared via the hydrothermal method were used as precursors, respectively, to react with Li(OH)·H₂O to prepare nanostructured Li₂MnO₃ in the temperature range from 500 to 800 °C. The samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, ESR and FTIR results. Based on the experimental results, the dehydration-oxidation-combination (DOC) formation mechanism of Li₂MnO₃ was proposed.     

Optical behaviour of VTE treated near stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystals

Near stoichiometric LiNbO₃ crystal wafers of thickness up to 2 mm were prepared by vapour transport equilibration technique (VTE) at various process temperatures. Crystals were characterised by measurement of the UV absorption edge, refractive index, second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency, and conoscopy pattern analysis. The comparison of VTE treated crystals show that the blue shift in cut off wavelength occurred with the increasing process temperature (i.e. increasing Li/Nb ratio). The refractive indices were found decreasing with increasing process temperature of VTE samples. The SHG efficiency increases in the range of 1.98-2.3 times for the VTE processed samples with respected to congruent crystals. Conoscopy pattern reveals the optical homogeneity of the VTE treated crystal.     

A facile one-pot solvothermal route to tubular forms of luminescent polymeric networks [(C3N3)2(NH)3]n

A facile one-pot solvothermal route has been developed for the synthesis of tubular luminescent polymeric networks [(C₃N₃)₂(NH)₃]_n, structurally related to the proposed g-C₃N₄. XRD patterns showed a characteristic 002 basal plane diffractions, indicating an interlayer d spacing of 3.23 Å. XPS spectra show that the C1s and N1s have a symmetric peak and an asymmetric peak at 288.10 and 399.00 eV, respectively. The bulk composition C₆N_8.9H_4.5 determined by elemental analysis is comparable to the calculated value C₆N₉H₃ for this proposed polymer. FTIR spectra indicated the presence of s-triazine ring, which was further supported by the luminescent and UV-vis absorption characteristics probably depending on π→π^* electronic transition. The tubular structure has been studied by TEM, SAED, and HREM.     

Space-Selective Precipitation of Ba2TiSi2O8 Crystals in Sm3^＋-Doped BaO-TiO2-SiO2 Glass by Femtosecond Laser Irradiation

The ferroelectric crystal Ba2TiSi2O8 with high second-order optical nonlinearity is precipitated in Sm^3＋-doped BaO-TiO2-SiO2 glass by a focused 800hm, 250 kHz and 150fs femtosecond laser irradiation. No apparent blue and red emissions are observed at the beginning, while strong blue emission due to second harmonic generation and red emission due to the f-f transitions of Sm^3＋ are observed near the focal point of the laser beam after irradiation for 25s. Micro-Raman spectra confirm that Ba2 TiSi2O8 crystalline dots and lines are formed after laser irradiation. The mechanism of the phenomenon is discussed.     

Rational synthesis of α-MnO2 and γ-Mn2O3 nanowires with the electrochemical characterization of α-MnO2 nanowires for supercapacitor

An acidification-hydrothermal method was developed to synthesize α-MnO₂ nanowires, which was subsequently treated with ethanol, resulting in γ-Mn₂O₃ nanowire bundles on a large scale. The electrochemical characterization was carried out by cyclic voltammetry, which indicated that the α-MnO₂ nanowires in 0.5 mol L⁻¹ Na₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte was of an excellent electrode material for supercapacitor at the scan rate of 10 mV S⁻¹ in the range of 0.0-0.85 V.     

Chiral Symmetry Breaking During Growing Process of NaClO3 Crystal under Direct-Current Electric Field

We investigate the influence of dc electric field on chiral symmetry breaking during the growing process of NaClO3 crystal. Nucleation and growth of NaClO3 are completed from an aqueous solution by a fast cooling temperature technology. A pair of polarization microscopes are used to identify a distribution of chiral crystals. Experimental results indicate that the dc electric field has an effect on distribution of chirality, but the direction of the dc electric field is not sensitive to the chiral autocatalysis and selectivity, i.e. the nature convection driving by the gravity does not play an important role on a thin layer of NaClO3 solution. The experimental phenomena may be elucidated by the ECSN mechanism.     

Single-crystalline Zn2SnO4 hexangular microprisms: Fabrication, characterization and optical properties

Large-scale Zn₂SnO₄ hexangular microprisms were successfully synthesized through a simple thermal evaporation method by heating metal Zn and Sn powders under varying temperatures. The synthesized microprisms are single-crystalline, tens of micrometers in length. And their surfaces have many nano-scale skewed steps along the axial direction. Structurally, we supposed that the hexangular prism could be described as a row of inlaid octahedron of Zn₂SnO₄ crystals. A broad asymmetrical emission band was observed in the PL spectrum of these Zn₂SnO₄ microprisms, which was discussed in detail in the paper.     

Single-crystal growth of MnOOH and beta-MnO2 microrods at lower temperatures

Single-crystal MnOOH microrods were prepared hydrothermally by reducing KMnO₄ with NH₄Cl at 150 °C for 24 h. After the subsequent heat treatment of the as-prepared MnOOH microrods at 350 °C for 10 h in air, single-crystal beta-MnO₂ microrods were obtained, which retained the similar morphologies of MnOOH microrods. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influences of different reductants, the molar ratio between reaction materials, and temperature on the morphology and phase of the final products under hydrothermal conditions are discussed. The reaction temperature and reductant NH₄Cl were crucial factors for the formation and morphologies of MnOOH microrods. Based on the experimental results and MnOOH crystal structure, a possible formation mechanism has been proposed on the growth of MnOOH microrods.     

Structural Feature and Solute Trapping of Rapidly Grown Ni3Sn Intermetallic Compound

The rapid dendritic growth of primary Ni3Sn phase in undercooled Ni-30.9%Sn-5%Ge alloy is investigated by using the glass fluxing technique. The dendritic growth velocity of Ni3Sn compound is measured as a function of undercooling, and a velocity of 2.47m/s is achieved at the maximum undercooling of 251 K （0.17TL）. The addition of the Ge element reduces its growth velocity as compared with the binary Ni75Sn25 alloy. During rapid solidification, the Ni3Sn compound behaves like a normal solid solution and it displays a morphological transition of ＂coarse dendrite-equiaxed grain-vermicular structure＂ with the increase of undereooling. Significant solute trapping of Ge atoms occurs in the whole undercooling range.     

Synthesis of Cubic Boron Nitride by the Reaction of Li3N and B2O3

Cubic boron nitride is synthesized by the reaction of Li3N and B203 under high pressure and high temperature （4.0-5.0 GPa, 1350-1500℃）. The minimum pressure of cBN formation is 4.0 GPa. The present condition of cBN formation is clearly lower than the eutectic temperature of Li3BN2 and BN in the Li3N-hBN system （5.5 GPa, 1610℃）. The content of cBN in the sample increases, while the content of hBN decreases with the temperature and pressure. The maximum conversion rate （5.0 GPa, 1500℃） is about 34%, which is higher than that in the hBN-Li3N system. The cBN crystals are octahedral or tetrahedral in shape and approximately 20 μm in diameter.     

Structure and electrical conductivity of a novel inorganic solid electrolyte: Na14.5[Al(PO4)2F2]2.5[Ti(PO4)2F2]0.5 (NATP)

A novel inorganic solid electrolyte with a layered framework structure stable up to 1043 K, Na_14.5[Al(PO₄)₂F₂]_2.5[Ti(PO₄)₂F₂]_0.5 (NATP), has been hydrothermally prepared and characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction techniques, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, IR spectroscopic measurement, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA and DTA). NATP crystallizes in the acentric hexagonal space group P3 with a=10.448(2), b=10.448(2), , Z=1, containing a large number of Na⁺ cations in the interlamellar space and the cavities of its framework. There are six different crystallographic Na⁺ cationic sites, in which 8% Na(5) and 12% Na(6) sites are vacant. Electrical conductivity measurements show that Na⁺ cations exhibit a high mobility with two domains for the electrical conductivity versus temperature.     

Properties of a New Nonlinear Optical Crystal CdZn2B2O6

Cadmium dizinc diborate （CdZn2B2O6） single crystals have been grown for the first time. The crystal structure of CdZn2B2O6 is the same as that of the Cd3Zn3B4O12. The x-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectra, differential scanning calorimetry analysis and density indicate that the physical and chemical properties of both crystals are very similar. Especially, the nonlinear optical coefficients of CdZn2B2O6 and Cd3Zn3B4O12 crystals are 2.6 and 2.4 times as large as that of KH2PO4 crystal respectively. Chemical etching experiments indicated that these crystals are very stable in neutral solution and not hygroscopic in air at room temperature.     

Growth and optical properties of a new self-Q-switched laser crystal: Cr:Yb3Al5O12

Cr⁴⁺:YbAG (Cr⁴⁺:Yb₃Al₅O₁₂) crystal with a size up to Φ24 mm×30 mm was grown by the Czochralski method. In the absorption spectrum, there are two absorption bands at 939 and 969 nm, respectively, which are suitable for InGaAs diode laser pumping, and there is an absorption band at 1030 nm, which is suitable for passive Q-switched laser output at 1.03 μm. A broad emission spectrum from 970 to 1100 nm was exhibited from 940 nm wavelength pumping. This crystal is promising as a self-Q-switched laser crystal used for compact, efficient, highly stable, passive self-Q-switched thin chip solid-state lasers.     

Writing of two-dimensional crystal curved lines at the surface of Sm2O3-Bi2O3-B2O3 glass by samarium atom heat processing

Two-dimensional crystal curved lines consisting of the nonlinear optical Sm_xBi_1−xBO₃ phase are fabricated at the surface of 8Sm₂O₃·37Bi₂O₃·55B₂O₃ glass by continuous wave Nd:YAG laser (wavelength: 1064 nm) irradiation (samarium atom heat processing) with a power of ∼0.9 W and a laser scanning speed of 5 μm/s. The curved lines with bending angles of 0-90° or with sine-shapes are written by just changing the laser scanning direction. The polarized micro-Raman scattering spectra for the line after bending are the same as those for the line before bending, indicating that the crystal plane of Sm_xBi_1−xBO₃ crystals to the crystal growth direction might be maintained even after the change in the laser scanning direction. It is found from laser scanning microscope observations that the crystal lines at the surface are swelled out smoothly, giving a height of about 10 μm.     

Antiferromagnetic versus spin-glass like behavior in MnIn2S4

The low-temperature magnetic properties of MnIn₂S₄ have been studied using AC magnetic susceptibility and magnetization experiments. High-temperature susceptibility fits indicate the presence of antiferromagnetic interactions. Low-field magnetization data show a peak at 5.6±0.1 K, below which strong irreversibility is observed between zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) cycles suggesting that the observed peak corresponds to a spin-glass-like transition instead of the antiferromagnetic one previously reported. Further evidence of this magnetic state comes from AC susceptibility data at different frequencies. The in-phase component χ′(T) exhibits the behavior expected of spin glasses, i.e. a shift of the cusp to higher temperatures for higher frequencies.     

Vanadium-doped MgAl2O4 crystals as white light source

Spinel MgAl₂O₄ crystals doped with transition metals show charge-transfer transitions for Ti:MgAl₂O₄ on one hand and multiplet transitions of (3d)-electrons for Mn:, Fe:, and Co:MgAl₂O₄ on the other hand. We will show that optical responses of V:MgAl₂O₄ are closer to those of Ti:MgAl₂O₄ and also that white emission spectrum is observed. The microscopic process of the white emission is also proposed.     

Influence of niobium doping on the electrical properties of 0.58Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-0.42PbTiO3 single crystal

Piezoelectric single crystals of 0.58Pb(Sc_1/2Nb_1/2)-0.42PbTiO₃ and Nb⁵⁺-doped PSN-PT have been grown using flux technique. It is believed that the addition of Nb⁵⁺ creates lead vacancy in order to compensate charge neutrality. The structural distortion that occured in the doped crystals has been revealed through broadening of some peaks in X-ray diffraction studies. Niobium content that increased from 0.50 to 1.00 mol% might have induced more defect dipoles associated with . This plays a significant role in improving the ferroelectric, dielectric and piezoelectric properties. Our observations clearly show an increase in the spontaneous polarization (P_r), dielectric constant at room temperature, degree of diffuseness and transition temperature (T_c) and also a decrease in coercive field. The reasons behind these enhanced electrical properties are discussed in detail.