The chemical and dielectric properties of epoxy/(Ba0.8Sr0.2)(Ti0.9Zr0.1)O3 composites for embedded capacitor application

The characteristics of epoxy/(Ba_0.8Sr_0.2)(Ti_0.9Zr_0.1)O₃ (BSTZ) composites are investigated for the further application in embedded capacitor device. The effects of BSTZ ceramic powder filler ratio on the chemical, physical and dielectric properties of epoxy/BSTZ composites are studied. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermal analysis is conducted to determine the optimum values of hardener agent, curing temperature, reaction heat, and glass transition temperature (T_g). The hardener reaction process starts at about 115 °C and completes at about 200 °C, for that it is appropriate to process of epoxy/BSTZ composites in the range of temperature. The highest glass transition temperature (T_g) of 155 °C is obtained at one equivalent weight ratio (hardener/epoxy). Only the BSTZ phase can be detected in the XRD patterns of epoxy/BSTZ composites. The more BSTZ ceramic powder is mixed with epoxy, the higher crystalline intensity of tetragonal BSTZ phase are revealed in the XRD patterns. The dielectric constant measured at 1 MHz increases from 5.8 to 23.6 as the content of BSTZ ceramic powder in the epoxy/BSTZ composites increases from 10 to 70 wt%. The loss tangents of the epoxy/BSTZ composites slightly increase with the increase of measurement frequency.     

Preparation and photocatalytic activity of ZnO/TiO2/SnO2 mixture

ZnO/TiO₂/SnO₂ mixture was prepared by mixing its component solid oxides ZnO, TiO₂ and SnO₂ in the molar ratio of 4?1?1, followed by calcining the solid mixture at 200-1300 °C. The products and solid-state reaction process during the calcinations were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurement of specific surface area. Neither solid-state reaction nor change of crystal phase composition took place among the ZnO, TiO₂ and SnO₂ powders on the calcinations up to 600 °C. However, formation of the inverse spinel Zn₂TiO₄ and Zn₂SnO₄ was detected at 700-900 and 1100-1200 °C, respectively. Further increase of the calcination temperature enabled the mixture to form a single-phase solid solution Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄ with an inverse spinel structure in the space group of . The ZnO/TiO₂/SnO₂ mixture was photocatalytically active for the degradation of methyl orange in water; its photocatalytic mass activity was 16.4 times that of SnO₂, 2.0 times that of TiO₂, and 0.92 times that of ZnO after calcination at 500 °C for 2 h. But, the mass activity of the mixture decreased with increasing the calcination temperature at above 700 °C because of the formation of the photoinactive Zn₂TiO₄, Zn₂SnO₄ and Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄. The sample became completely inert for the photocatalysis after prolonged calcination at 1300 °C (42 h), since all of the active component oxides were reacted to form the solid solution Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄ with no photocatalytic activity.     

Preparation and performances of nanosized Ta2O5 powder photocatalyst

Nanosized-Ta₂O₅ powder photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by using sol-gel method via TaCl₅ butanol solution as a precursor. Ta₂O₅ species can be formed under 500 °C via the decomposition of the precursor. The crystalline phase of Ta₂O₅ powder photocatalyst can be obtained after being calcined above 600 °C for 4 h. The crystal size and particle size of Ta₂O₅ powder photocatalyst was about 50 nm. A good photocatalytic performance for the degradation of gaseous formaldehyde was obtained for the nanosized-Ta₂O₅ powder. The Ta₂O₅ powder formed at 700 °C for 4 h and at 650 °C for 12 h showed the best performance. The calcination temperature and time play an important role in the crystallization and photocatalytical performance of nanosized-Ta₂O₅ powder.     

Preparation of a new pyrochlore-type compound Na0.32Bi1.68Ti2O6.46(OH)0.44 by hydrothermal reaction

A new pyrochlore-type Na_0.32Bi_1.68Ti₂O_6.46(OH)_0.44 with the cubic cell of a=10.339(5) Å was prepared by hydrothermal reaction using TiO₂ (anatase) and Bi₂O₃ in NaOH solution. This compound was obtained when the molar ratio of NaOH/TiO₂ was above 2 and the reaction temperature was above 240 °C. The TG-curve of as-prepared sample showed a mass loss of 0.8 mass% which was caused by release of OH group. This compound decomposed to a pyrochlore-type compound and a layered-type Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ above 800 °C. The optical band gap of Na_0.32Bi_1.68Ti₂O_6.46(OH)_0.44 was estimated to be 2.5 eV.     

Temperature-dependent structural study of microporous CsAlSi5O12

CsAlSi₅O₁₂ crystals were synthesized at high temperature by slow cooling of a vanadium oxide flux. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure analysis and electron microprobe analyses yielded the microporous CAS zeolite framework structure of Cs_0.85Al_0.85Si_5.15O₁₂ composition. High-temperature single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction studies were utilized to analyze anisotropic thermal expansion. Rietveld refined cell constants from powder diffraction data, measured in steps of 25 °C up to 700 °C, show a significant decrease in expansion above 500 °C. At 500 °C, a displacive, static disorder-dynamic disorder-type phase transition from the acentric low-temperature space group Ama2 to centrosymmetric Amam (Cmcm in standard setting) was found. Thermal expansion below the phase transition is governed by rigid-body TO₄ rotations accompanied by stretching of T-O-T angles. Above the phase transition at 500 °C all atoms, except one oxygen (O6), are fixed on mirror planes. Temperature-dependent polarized Raman single-crystal spectra between −270 and 300 °C and unpolarized spectra between room temperature and 1000 °C become increasingly less resolved with rising temperature confirming the disordered static-disordered dynamic type of the phase transition.     

Investigation of the quasi-ternary system LaMnO3-LaCoO3-“LaCuO3”—I: the series La(Mn0.5Co0.5)1−xCuxO3−δ

The La(Mn_0.5Co_0.5)_1−xCu_xO_3−δ series with x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 was synthesized by the Pechini method to obtain insight into the phase formation in the quasi-ternary LaMnO₃-LaCoO₃-“LaCuO₃” system caused by the instability of LaCuO₃ under ambient conditions. After sintering at 1100°C some remarkable results were obtained: LaMn_0.3Co_0.3Cu_0.4O_3−δ crystallized as a single phase in the orthorhombic perovskite structure typical of LaCuO₃. Among the synthesized compositions this compound showed the highest electrical conductivity in air at 800°C (155 S cm⁻¹) and also the highest thermal expansion coefficient (α_30−800°C=15.4×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹). The LaCuO_3−δ composition also crystallized as a single phase but in a monoclinic structure although previous investigations have shown that other phases are preferably formed after sintering at 1100°C. The electrical conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient were the lowest within the series of compositions, i.e. 9.4 S cm⁻¹ and 11.9×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, respectively.     

Non-centrosymmetric Ba3Ti3O6(BO3)2

The compound previously reported as Ba₂Ti₂B₂O₉ has been reformulated as Ba₃Ti₃B₂O₁₂, or Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂, a new barium titanium oxoborate. Small single crystals have been recovered from a melt with a composition of BaTiO₃:BaTiB₂O₆ (molar ratio) cooled between 1100°C and 850°C. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction: hexagonal system, non-centrosymmetric space group, a=8.7377(11) Å, c=3.9147(8) Å, Z=1, wR(F²)=0.039 for 504 unique reflections. Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is isostructural with K₃Ta₃O₆(BO₃)₂. Preliminary measurements of nonlinear optical properties on microcrystalline samples show that the second harmonic generation efficiency of Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is equal to 95% of that of LiNbO₃.     

Crystal chemistry of Co-doped Zn7Sb2O12

Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ forms a full range of Co-containing α solid solutions, Zn_7−xCo_xSb₂O₁₂, with an inverse-spinel structure at high temperature. At low temperatures for x<2, the solid solutions transform into the low temperature β-polymorph. For x=0, the β→α transition occurs at 1225±25 °C; the transition temperature decreases with increasing x. At high x and low temperatures, α solid solutions are formed but are non-stoichiometric; the (Zn+Co):Sb ratio is >7:2 and the compensation for the deficiency in Sb is attributed to the partial oxidation of Co²⁺ to Co³⁺. From Rietveld refinements using ND data, Co occupies both octahedral and tetrahedral sites at intermediate values of x, but an octahedral preference attributed to crystal field stabilisation, causes the lattice parameter plot to deviate negatively from the Vegard's law. Sub-solidus compatibility relations in the ternary system ZnO-Sb₂O₅-CoO have been determined at 1100 °C for the compositions containing ?50% Sb₂O₅.     

Structural models for intergrowth structures in the phase system Al2O3-TiO2

The phase system Al₂O₃-TiO₂ was investigated in the compositional range from 48:52 to 62:38 mol% Al₂O₃:TiO₂. The samples were prepared by melting the binary oxides in an arc-imaging furnace and the obtained samples were examined by powder X-ray diffraction. The recorded powder patterns could be interpreted in terms of intergrowth structures consisting of two basic building blocks, which were deduced from the known crystal structures of β-Al₂TiO₅ and Al₆Ti₂O₁₃. The structure of a new ordered compound with the formula Al₁₆Ti₅O₃₄ is proposed. The thermal stability was estimated from DTA and tempering experiments and showed that all prepared samples decompose at temperatures around 800 °C into the binary oxides corundum and titania.     

Composition-induced phase transition in Ca14Zn6−xGa10+xO35+x/2 (x=0.0 and 0.5)

Novel complex oxides Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅ and Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 were prepared in air at 1200 °C, 72 h. Refinements of their crystal structures using X-ray powder diffraction data showed that Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅ is ordered (S.G. F23, =0.0458, R_p=0.0485, R_wp=0.0659, χ²=1.88) and Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 disordered (S.G. F432, =0.0346, R_p=0.0601, R_wp=0.0794, χ²=2.82) variants of the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn₆Al₁₀O₃₅. In the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅, there are large empty voids, which could be partially occupied by additional oxygen atoms upon substitution of Zn²⁺ by Ga³⁺ as in Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25. These oxygen atoms are introduced into the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 only as a part of four tetrahedra (Zn, Ga)O₄ groups sharing common vertex. This creates a situation where even a minor change in the chemical composition leads to considerable anion and cation disordering resulting in a change of space group from F23 (no. 196) to F432 (no. 209).     

Phase relations, crystal chemistry, and dielectric properties in sections of the La2O3-CaO-MgO-TiO2 system

Subsolidus phase equilibria and crystal chemistry were studied for the La₂O₃-MgO-TiO₂ system and for the ternary sections LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La₂O₃ and LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La_0.833Mg_0.25Ti_0.75O₃ in the quaternary La₂O₃-CaO-MgO-TiO₂ system. Dielectric properties (relative permittivity and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency, τ_f) were measured at 5-10 GHz and mapped onto the phase equilibria relations to reveal the compositions of temperature-stable (τ_f=0) compounds and mixtures. Phase equilibria relations were obtained by X-ray powder diffraction analysis of approximately 80 specimens prepared by solid-state reactions in air at ∼1450°C. Six ternary phases were found to form in the La₂O₃-MgO-TiO₂ system, including the three previously reported compounds LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃, La₅Mg_0.5Ti_3.5O₁₅, and “La₆MgTi₄O₁₈”; and the new phases La₁₀MgTi₉O₃₄, La₉Mg_0.5Ti_8.5O₃₁, and a perovskite-type solid solution (1−x)LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-xLa_2/3TiO₃ (0?x?0.5). The phase previously reported as “La₆MgTi₄O₁₈” was found to form off-composition, apparently as a point compound, at La₆Mg_0.913Ti_4.04O₁₈. Indexed experimental X-ray powder diffraction patterns are given for LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃, La₅Mg_0.5Ti_3.5O₁₅, La₆Mg_0.913Ti_4.04O₁₈, La₁₀MgTi₉O₃₄, and La₉Mg_0.5Ti_8.5O₃₁. LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃ exhibits a slightly distorted perovskite structure with ordered B-cations (P2₁/n; a=5.5608(2) Å, b=5.5749(3) Å, c=7.8610(5) Å, β=90.034(4)°). La₅Mg_0.5Ti_3.5O₁₅ (Pm1; a=5.5639(1), c=10.9928(5) Å) and La₆Mg_0.913Ti_4.04O₁₈ (R3m; a=5.5665(1), c=39.7354(9) Å) are n=5 and n=6 members, respectively, of the (111) perovskite-slab series A_nB_n−1O_3n. The new phases La₁₀MgTi₉O₃₄ (a=5.5411(2), b=31.3039(9), c=3.9167(1) Å) and La₉Mg_0.5Ti_8.5O₃₁ (a=5.5431(2), b=57.055(1), c=3.9123(1) Å) are n=5 and n=4.5 members, respectively, of the (110) perovskite-slab series A_nB_nO_3n+2, which exhibit orthorhombic subcells; electron diffraction revealed monoclinic superlattices with doubled c-parameters for both compounds. Extensive perovskite-type solid solutions form in the ternary sections LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La₂O₃ and LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La_0.833Mg_0.25Ti_0.75O₃. The La₂O₃-MgO-TiO₂ system contains two regions of temperature-stable (τ_f=0) compositions. The quaternary La₂O₃-CaO-MgO-TiO₂ system contains an extensive single-phase perovskite-type volume through which passes a surface of temperature-stable compositions with permittivities projected to be in the 40-50 range. Traces of this surface occur as lines of τ_f=0 perovskite-type phases in the ternary sections LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La₂O₃ and LaMg_1/2Ti_1/2O₃-CaTiO₃-La_0.833Mg_0.25Ti_0.75O₃.     

(La0.4Ba0.4Ca0.2)(Mn0.4Ti0.6)O3: A new titano-manganate with a high dielectric constant and antiferromagnetic interactions

A new perovskite-based titano-manganate, (La_0.4Ba_0.4Ca_0.2)(Mn_0.4Ti_0.6)O₃, has been prepared by the ceramic route at 1100°C. This oxide was found to possess the cubic perovskite structure with  Å (space group ). The refined composition as obtained by Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray data was found to be (La_0.44Ba_0.38Ca_0.18)(Mn_0.43Ti_0.57)O_2.91(3) (R_p=0.0704, wR_p=0.0828). The composition was also ascertained by Energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Iodometric studies led to a slightly higher oxygen content (compared to Rietveld refinement) corresponding to an average manganese oxidation state of 3.05. The above oxide was found to exhibit high dielectric constant (ε) of 6980 at 1 kHz decreasing to 590 at 100 kHz. At high temperatures (200°C) it shows an unusually high dielectric constant of 20,000 at 1 kHz. In addition to the dielectric properties, detailed magnetic studies show evidence of long-range antiferromagnetic interactions near 5 K. The presence of unusually high dielectric constant coupled with the long-range magnetic interactions may open up interesting applications.     

The disordered cubic structure of Ca7Co3Ga5O18

The new mixed oxide having composition close to Ca₇Co₃Ga₅O₁₈ was synthesized from CaCO₃, Co₃O₄ and Ga₂O₃ at 1150 °C in air and studied by neutron and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, selected-area electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The structure was refined, using time-of-flight (TOF) neutron powder diffraction data, in space group F432, with and Z=8, to R_F=0.7%. It is considerably disordered, with four different tetrahedral sites randomly occupied by Co and Ga atoms at a ratio of 1:2. The tetrahedra form a disordered (Co_1/3Ga_2/3)O₂ 3D-framework inside which isolated CoO₆ octahedra, surrounded by 8 Ca atoms, are located. The structure is related to the ordered structure of Ca₁₄Al₁₀Zn₆O₃₅. Electron diffraction patterns confirmed the symmetry and unit cell and revealed no diffuse scattering. High-resolution electron microscopy images showed the absence of extended structural defects.     

An anion substitution route to low loss colossal dielectric CaCu3Ti4O12

An anion substitution route was utilized for lowering the dielectric loss in CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) by partial replacement of oxygen by fluorine. This substitution reduced the dielectric loss, and retained a high dielectric constant that was essentially temperature independent from 25 to 200 °C. In particular, CaCu₃Ti₄O_11.7F_0.3 exhibited a giant dielectric constant over 6000 and low dielectric loss below 0.075 at 100 kHz within a temperature range of 25-200 °C. Fluorine analysis confirmed the presence of fluorine in all samples measured.     

Synthesis, structure and electrical properties of Cu3.21Ti1.16Nb2.63O12 and the CuOx-TiO2-Nb2O5 pseudoternary phase diagram

Subsolidus phase relations in the CuO_x-TiO₂-Nb₂O₅ system were determined at 935 °C. The phase diagram contains one new phase, Cu_3.21Ti_1.16Nb_2.63O₁₂ (CTNO) and one rutile-structured solid solution series, Ti_1−3xCu_xNb_2xO₂: 0<x<0.2335 (35). The crystal structure of CTNO is similar to that of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) with square planar Cu²⁺ but with A site vacancies and a disordered mixture of Cu⁺, Ti⁴⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ on the octahedral sites. It is a modest semiconductor with relative permittivity ∼63 and displays non-Arrhenius conductivity behavior that is essentially temperature-independent at the lowest temperatures.     

Effect of surface fluorination and conductive additives on the electrochemical behavior of lithium titanate (Li4/3Ti5/3O4) for lithium ion battery

Effect of surface fluorination and conductive additives on the charge/discharge behavior of lithium titanate (Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄) has been investigated using F₂ gas and vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF). Surface fluorination of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ was made using F₂ gas (3 × 10⁴ Pa) at 25-150 °C for 2 min. Charge capacities of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ samples fluorinated at 70 °C and 100 °C were larger than those for original sample at high current densities of 300 and 600 mA/g. Optimum fluorination temperatures of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ were 70 °C and 100 °C. Fibrous VGCF with a large surface area (17.7 m²/g) increased the utilization of available capacity of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ probably because it provided the better electrical contact than acetylene black (AB) between Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ particles and nickel current collector.     

Effect of sintering on the ionic conductivity of garnet-related structure Li5La3Nb2O12 and In- and K-doped Li5La3Nb2O12

Garnet-structure related metal oxides with the nominal chemical composition of Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂, In-substituted Li_5.5La₃Nb_1.75In_0.25O₁₂ and K-substituted Li_5.5La_2.75K_0.25Nb₂O₁₂ were prepared by solid-state reactions at 900, 950, and 1000 °C using appropriate amounts of corresponding metal oxides, nitrates and carbonates. The powder XRD data reveal that the In- and K-doped compounds are isostructural with the parent compound Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂. The variation in the cubic lattice parameter was found to change with the size of the dopant ions, for example, substitution of larger In³⁺(r_CN6: 0.79 Å) for smaller Nb⁵⁺ (r_CN6: 0.64 Å) shows an increase in the lattice parameter from 12.8005(9) to 12.826(1) Å at 1000 °C. Samples prepared at higher temperatures (950, 1000 °C) show mainly bulk lithium ion conductivity in contrast to those synthesized at lower temperatures (900 °C). The activation energies for the ionic conductivities are comparable for all samples. Partial substitution of K⁺ for La³⁺ and In³⁺ for Nb⁵⁺ in Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂ exhibits slightly higher ionic conductivity than that of the parent compound over the investigated temperature regime 25-300 °C. Among the compounds investigated, the In-substituted Li_5.5La₃Nb_1.75In_0.25O₁₂ exhibits the highest bulk lithium ion conductivity of 1.8×10⁻⁴ S/cm at 50 °C with an activation energy of 0.51 eV. The diffusivity (“component diffusion coefficient”) obtained from the AC conductivity and powder XRD data falls in the range 10⁻¹⁰-10⁻⁷ cm²/s over the temperature regime 50-200 °C, which is extraordinarily high and comparable with liquids. Substitution of Al, Co, and Ni for Nb in Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂ was found to be unsuccessful under the investigated conditions.     

Preparation and photoluminescence property of a loose powder, Ca3Al2O6:Eu by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor

A novel red light-emitting material, Ca₃Al₂O₆:Eu³⁺, which is the first example found in the Ca₃Al₂O₆ host, was prepared by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor at 1350 °C. The precursor, [Ca_2.9−xAl₂Eu_x(OH)_9.8](NO₃)_2+x·2.5H₂O, was prepared by coprecipitation of metal nitrates with sodium hydroxide. The material is a loose powder composed of irregular particles formed from aggregation of particles of a few nanometers, as shown in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. It was found that the photoluminescence intensity reached the maximum when the calcination temperature was 1350 °C and the concentration of Eu³⁺ was 1.0%. The material emits bright red emission at 614 nm under a radiation of λ=250 nm.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, structure and property of nano-BaTiO3-based dielectric materials

A series of Ba_1-xSr_xTi_1-yZr_yO₃ (0≤x≤0.5, 0≤y≤0.4) and BA_1?xZn_xTi_1?ySn_yO₃ (0≤x≤0.3, 0≤y≤0.3) solid solutions were synthesized by low-temperature/low-pressure hydrothermal method below 170°C, 0.8 MPa. XRD pattern and cell parameters-composition figures of these prepared powders demonstrated that they are completely miscible solid solutions based on BaTiO₃. Furthermore, TEM showed that they have a shape of uniform, substantially spherical particles with an average particle size of 70 nm in diameter. The sintered ceramics of those powders doped by Sr²⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ or Zn²⁺ and Sn⁴⁺ have dielectric constant twelve times higher than and dielectric loss 1/6 those of pure BaTiO₃ phase at room temperature.     

Giant dielectric constant response of the composites in ternary system CuO-TiO2-CaO

The subsolidus phase relations of the ternary system CuO-TiO₂-CaO sintered at 950 °C in air have been determined by powder X-ray diffraction method. Only one ternary compound CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ was found in this system. From room-temperature dielectric property mapping at 10 kHz, a giant dielectric constant (ε_r>10⁴) was observed for most of the ceramic composites in the CuO-rich region and in the region along the CaO-CuO binary line. The composites in the CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂-rich region were found to give a comparable giant dielectric constant when sintered at 1050 °C. The particular microstructure of larger grains with predominant phase surrounded by smaller grains with the secondary phases was found in such composites with a high dielectric constant. The relations between structures and dielectric properties were investigated. An internal barrier layer capacitance effect is the most probable mechanism to explain this particular dielectric behavior.