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.     

The Phase Relations in the System In2O3–TiO2–MgO at 1100 and 1350°C

The phase relations in the system In₂O₃–TiO₂–MgO at 1100 and 1350°C are determined by a classical quenching method. In this system, there are four pseudobinary compounds, In₂TiO₅, MgTi₂O₅ (pseudobrookite type), MgTiO₃ (ilmenite type), and Mg₂TiO₄ (spinel type) at 1100°C. At 1350°C, in addition to these compounds there exist a spinel-type solid solution Mg_2−xIn_2xTi_1−xO₄ (0≤x≤1) and a compound In₆Ti₆MgO₂₂ with lattice constants a=5.9236(7) Å, b=3.3862(4) Å, c=6.3609(7) Å, β=108.15(1)°, and q=0.369, which is isostructural with the monoclinic In₃Ti₂FeO₁₀ in the system In₂O₃–TiO₂–MgO. The relation between the lattice constants of the spinel phase and the composition nearly satisfies Vegard's law. In₆Ti₆MgO₂₂ extends a solid solution range to In₂₀Ti₁₇Mg₃O₆₇ with lattice constants of a=5.9230(5) Å, b=3.3823(3) Å, c=6.3698(6) Å, β=108.10(5)°, and q=0.360. The distributions of constituent cations in the solid solutions are discussed in terms of their ionic radius and site preference effect.     

Electronic structures of superconductors YBa2Cu3−x M x O y (M=Sn,Ni)

Based on the EHMO approach, the energy band structures for superconductors YBa₂Cu_3–x Sn _x O _y (y>7) and YBa₂Cu_3–x Ni _x O_y (y<7) were calulated in the present paper. The influence of the cation doping at the Cu site in the unit cell and the oxygen content on their electronic structures was studied. The results showed that the cation doping at the Cu site resulted in the great decreases in the bandwidths of the broad anisotropic Cu-O bands and the densities of states. In YBa₂Cu_3–x Sn _x O _y , however, these decreases are compensated by the increase in the oxygen content caused by the Sn-doping, which results in a small change in the total densities of states. For YBa₂Cu_3–x Ni _x O _y , the effect of the doping on its electronic structures in dominant. The Ni-doping, therefore, results in a great change in the electronic structures. In addition, the study on the projected densities of states of the Ni-doped system revealed that the 2D Cu-O planes in the Y-Ba-Cu-O system played a dominant role in superconductivity.     

Influence of partial substitution of zinc for copper on electronic structures of YBa2Cu3O y

Summary By use of an approximate band-structure treatment based on the EHMO approach, the energy band structures for the Zn-doped superconductor YBa₂Cu_3–x Zn _x O _y were calculated in the present paper and the influence of partial substitution of zinc for copper on the electronic structures for orthorhombic YBa₂Cu₃O_y was studied. From analysis of the band structures and the densities of states for YBa₂Cu_3–x Zn _x O _y , it was demonstrated that the 2D Cu-O planes in the Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting system have a direct and dominant influence on superconductivity, whereas the role of the 1D Cu-O ribbons and the O(4) atoms is also of some importance.     

Influence of the process parameters on the structural and electric properties of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric PZT thin films realized on stainless steel by a Sol–gel derived method

Pb _x Zr_yTi_1−yO₃ thin films were prepared by a modified Sol–gel method using alkoxides precursor compounds and spin-coating onto RuO₂ coated stainless steel substrates. Depending on the zirconate/titanate ratio, both, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric behaviour has been obtained. Oxidation of the metal substrate due to the PZT crystallization process was studied in order to verify the influence of the heat treatment on the substrate morphology. In order to improve the properties of antiferroelectric Pb _x Zr_0.95Ti_0.05O₃, the influence of the lead excess in the composition was investigated. Thefs dependence of the switching field distribution from the annealing time and temperature, as well as the fatigue behaviour of the films, is discussed.     

X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of LiFe0.5Ti1.5O4 – A new primitive cubic ordered spinel

LiFe_0.5Ti_1.5O₄ was synthesized by solid-state reaction carried out at 900 °C in flowing argon atmosphere, followed by rapid quenching of the reaction product to room temperature. The compound has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect spectroscopy (MES). It crystallizes in the space group P4₃32, a = 8.4048(1) Å. Results from Rietveld structural refinement indicated 1:3 cation ordering on the octahedral sites: Li occupies the octahedral (4b) sites, Ti occupies the octahedral (12d) sites, while the tetrahedral (8c) sites have mixed (Fe/Li) occupancy. A small, about 5%, inversion of Fe on the (4b) sites has been detected. The MES data is consistent with cation distribution and oxidation state of Fe, determined from the structural data.The title compound is thermally unstable in air atmosphere. At 800 °C it transforms to a mixture of two Fe³⁺ containing phases – a face centred cubic spinel Li_(1+y)/2Fe_(5−3y)/2Ti_yO₄ and a Li_(z−1)/2Fe_(7−3z)/2Ti_zO₅ – pseudobrookite. The major product of thermal treatment at 1000 °C is a ramsdellite type lithium titanium iron(III) oxide, accompanied by traces of rutile and pseudobrookite.     

Room temperature photoluminescence of amorphous BaxSr1−xTiO3 doped with chromium

ABO₃ amorphous materials, such as BaTiO₃ (BT), SrTiO₃ (ST), PbTiO₃ (PT), and Ba_xSr_1−xTiO₃ (BST) have recently attracted a good deal of attention due to their ferroelectric and electro-optical properties. Intense photoluminescence at room temperature was observed in amorphous titanate doped with chromium (Ba_xSr_1−xTi_1−yCr_yO₃) prepared by the polymeric precursor method. Results indicated that substantial luminescence at room temperature was achieved with the addition of small Cr contents to amorphous Ba_xSr_1−xTi_1−yCr_yO₃. Further addition of Cr or crystallization were deleterious to the intensity of the luminescent peak obtained for excitation using λ=488.0 nm.     

Highly Dispersed Ce x Zr1−x O2 Nano-Oxides Over Alumina, Silica and Titania Supports for Catalytic Applications

We have been exploring the utilization of supported ceria and ceria–zirconia nano-oxides for different catalytic applications. In this comprehensive investigation, a series of Ce _x Zr_1−x O₂/Al₂O₃, Ce _x Zr_1−x O₂/SiO₂ and Ce _x Zr_1−x O₂/TiO₂ composite oxide catalysts were synthesized and subjected to thermal treatments from 773 to 1073 K to examine the influence of support on thermal stability, textural properties and catalytic activity of the ceria–zirconia solid solutions. The physicochemical characterization studies were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM), thermogravimetry and BET surface area methods. To evaluate the catalytic properties, oxygen storage/release capacity (OSC) and CO oxidation activity measurements were carried out. The XRD analyses revealed the formation of Ce_0.75Zr_0.25O₂, Ce_0.6Zr_0.4O₂, Ce_0.16Zr_0.84O₂ and Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ phases depending on the nature of support and calcination temperature employed. Raman spectroscopy measurements in corroboration with XRD results suggested enrichment of zirconium in the Ce _x Zr_1−x O₂ solid solutions with increasing calcination temperature thereby resulting in the formation of oxygen vacancies, lattice defects and oxygen ion displacement from the ideal cubic lattice positions. The HREM results indicated a well-dispersed cubic Ce _x Zr_1−x O₂ phase of the size around 5 nm over all supports at 773 K and there was no appreciable increase in the size after treatment at 1073 K. The XPS studies revealed the presence of cerium in both Ce⁴⁺ and Ce³⁺ oxidation states in different proportions depending on the nature of support and the treatment temperature applied. All characterization techniques indicated absence of pure ZrO₂ and crystalline inactive phases between Ce–Al, Ce–Si and Ce–Ti oxides. Among the three supports employed, silica was found to stabilize more effectively the nanosized Ce _x Zr_1−x O₂ oxides by retarding the sintering phenomenon during high temperature treatments, followed by alumina and titania. Interestingly, the alumina supported samples exhibited highest OSC and CO oxidation activity followed by titania and silica. Details of these findings are consolidated in this review.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of titanium(iv) polynuclear hydroxo complexes stabilized in solution by the [PW11O39]7− heteropolyanion

Unsaturated heteropolyanions (HPA) [PW₁₁O₃₉]⁷⁻ stabilize Ti^IV hydroxo complexes in aqueous solutions (Ti: PW₁₁ [PW₁₁O₃₉]⁷⁻⪯12, pH 1–3). Spectral studies (optical,¹⁷O and³¹P NMR, and IR spectra) and studies by the differential dissolution method demonstrated that Ti^IV hydroxo complexes are stabilized through interactions of polynuclear Ti^IV hydroxo cations with heteropolyanions [PW₁₁TiO₄₀ ⁵⁻ formed. Depending on the reaction conditions, hydroxo cations Ti _n−1O _x H _y ^m+ either add to oxygen atoms of the W−O−Ti bridges of the heteropolyanions to form the complex [PW₁₁TiO₄₀·Ti _n−1O _x H _y ] ^k− (at [HPA]=0.01 mol L⁻¹) or interact with Ti^IV of the heteropolyanions through the terminal o atom to give the polynuclear complexes [PW₁₁O₃₉Ti−O−Ti _n−1O _x H _y ]^q− (at [HPA]=0.2 mol L⁻¹). When the complexes of the first type were treated with H₂O₂, Ti^IV ions added peroxo groups. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 914–920, May, 1997.     

Sintering, microstructures and dielectric properties of Ba1−xPbx(Ti1−xLix)O3−3xF3x ferroelectric ceramics

Various compositions (1−x)BaTiO₃ + xPbF2 + xLiF were prepared, shaped to pellets then sintered at 900°C for 2 h in gold sealed tubes. The purity and the symmetry of the obtained samples were checked by X-ray diffraction. A new solid solution with Ba_1−x Pb _x (Ti_1−x Li _x ) O_3−3x F_3x formula occurs in the composition range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20. SEM observations were performed on polished and fractured ceramics. The complex permittivity was measured as a function of temperature (−120°C ≤ T ≤ 250°C) and frequency (50 Hz ≤ f ≤ 4 × 10⁷ Hz). The dielectric performances are the best for ceramic Ba_0.97Pb_0.03(Ti_0.97Li_0.03)O_2.91F_0.09. The real component ε′, exhibits a maximum of approximately 7500 at the ferroelectric Curie temperature T _C ≈ -18°C, the dielectric losses tan δ value being 0.012. At room temperature, the relaxation frequency f _r is around 40 MHz for this ceramic. This novel ferroelectric oxifluoride is a promising material for applications, in particular in the field of Z5U multilayer capacitors.      

Study on Gd3+ and Sm3+ co-doped ceria-based electrolytes

Doped ceria electrolytes of Ce_1-aGd_a-ySm_yO_2–0.5a, wherein a=0.15 or 0.2, and 0ya, were prepared with the citrate method, and characterized by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry, energy dispersive spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and AC impedance spectroscopy. The effect of composition on the structure and conductivity was studied. All the samples were fluorite-type ceria-based solid solutions. For the singly doped samples, the optimal composition was Ce_0.85Gd_0.15O_1.925 for Gd³⁺-doped ceria (CGO), which showed higher ionic conductivity than the best Sm³⁺-doped ceria (CSO) at 773–973 K. For the co-doped samples, the ionic conductivities were higher than those of the singly doped ones in the temperature range 673–973 K when a=0.15, but only better in 673–773 K when a=0.2. For the samples of Ce_0.85Gd_0.15-ySm_yO_1.925, wherein 0.05y0.1, much higher ionic conductivity was observed than those of the singly doped ceria at 773K~973 K. Therefore, these co-doped samples would be better than CGO and CSO to be the electrolytes of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells.     

Fluoride-conducting Electrolytes Based on Doped Oxyfluorides Pb1 – xAlxF2 + x–2yOy

Employing materials with fast transport of fluoride ions in chemical power sources and gas sensors requires synthesizing new materials with a wide range of electric properties. High conductivity of -PbF₂can be provided by introducing trivalent ions, which create excess concentration of fluoride ions in -PbF₂. Experimental data on the ionic conductivity of Pb_{1 – x} M _x F_{2 + x} , where M is In, Sb, or Bi, are presented in [1–3]. For the first time brief information about high ionic conductivity of doped Pb_{1 – x} Al _x F_{2 + x– 2y} O _y was reported in [4]. Here, we study in greater detail ionic conduction of neat Pb_{1 – x} Al _x F_{2 + x– 2y} O _y and that doped with fluorides of transition metals Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, Cr, V, or Ti in the temperature range 272–473 K.     

Cr3+在不同基质Y3Ga5O12或Ga2O3中的荧光特性

以Ga_2O_3、Y_2O_3、Cr(NO_3)_3·9H_2O为原料,柠檬酸为配位剂,通过溶胶-凝胶高温固相合成法制备出Ga_(2-2x)O_3∶2xCr~(3+)(Ga_2O_3∶xCr)与Y_3Ga_(5-5x)O_(12)∶5xCr~(3+)(YGG∶xCr)2种多晶粉体(x=0.01,0.03,0.05,0.07)。并采用X射线衍射(XRD)、红外光谱(IR)、扫描电镜(SEM)、荧光光谱(PL)对样品的结构、组成、形貌和荧光性能进行测试分析。XRD和IR分析结果显示在900℃煅烧后Ga_2O_3∶xCr和YGG∶xCr两种样品均成相。SEM照片显示Ga_2O_3∶xCr样品形貌为柱形多面体,YGG∶xCr为短棒状。PL结果显示Cr~(3+)在Ga_2O_3和YGG两种基质中的最强荧光发射峰分别位于742和740 nm,均属于Cr~(3+)的~2E-~4A_2跃迁,对比发现Cr~(3+)在YGG基质中的荧光发射强度更强,在远红光区的荧光性能更好,能满足温室照明中植物光合作用的需求。     

Diffusion limited crystallization and phase partitioning in ZrO2-metal oxide binary systems

Chemical routes to synthesize inorganics can start with solutions where multiple elements remain well mixed during liquid evaporation, precursor decomposition and crystallization. Because crystallization generally occurs at temperatures where diffusion is very limited, a single phase can crystallize with a greatly extended solid-solution that does not achieve its equilibrium phase assemblage until much higher temperatures where diffusion is no longer constrained. Partitioning at these higher temperatures can lead to unique microstructures such as the nano-composite illustrated here for a metastable Zr_(1–x)Al _x O_2–x/2 (x0.57) phase that partitions into a composite containing t-ZrO₂ grains and -Al₂O₃ plates.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis of Nanocrystalline PZT Using a Novel System

A simple system has been developed for the preparation of lead zirconate titanate, Pb(Zr _x Ti_{1 – x} )O₃ powders by sol-gel process. To achieve stable and homogeneous precursor solutions, chelating ligands such as acetic acid and acetylacetone have been used for the chemical modification of titanium and zirconium starting precursors. Phase-pure PZT powders were obtained, through a pyrochlore-free pathway, from the amorphous xerogel after heat treatment at 600°C. The formation of the crystalline phase, compositional homogeneity, sinterability, dielectric and piezoelectric characteristics of PZT are reported.     

Photocatalytic Activity and Characterization of the Sol-Gel Derived Pb-Doped TiO2 Thin Films

Photocatalytically active Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films were prepared on a soda-lime glass substrate by sol-gel dip-coating technique using TiO₂ sols containing lead(II) nitrate. The thin films were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-VIS spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A shift of the UV-VIS absorption towards longer wavelengths was observed, which indicated a decrease in the band-gap of TiO₂ upon Pb doping. XRD results showed both pure and Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films were polycrystalline, anatase type, and oriented predominantly to the (101) plane. A slight shift in the d-spacing for the Pb-doped film indicated the incorporation of Pb into the TiO₂ lattice to form Pb _x Ti_1–x O₂ solid solution. AFM results showed Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films were composed of larger TiO₂ particles and had rougher surface, compared with un-doped TiO₂ thin films. XPS results showed that except for the enrichment of Pb near the surface, Pb exists in the forms of Pb _x Ti_1–x O₂ and PbO. Dimethyl-2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DDVP) was efficiently degraded in the presence of the Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films by exposing the insecticide solution to sunlight. The mechanism of photocatalytic activity enhancement of the Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films was discussed.     

Die Kristallstruktur von TlFe3Te3

TlFe₃Te₃ is hexagonal, space groupP6₃/m–C _2h ⁶ ,a=9.350(2) Å,c=4.2230 (7) Å,Z=2. Iron and tellurium atoms occupy the positions 6 (h) withx=0.170,y=0.149 andx=0.046,y=0.357 respectively. Thallium atoms are situated in 2 (d). The structure was determined on the basis of single crystal data obtained form a four circle diffractometer. Refinement yielded andR-value of 4.8% for an asymmetric set of 267 reflections. TlFe₃Te₃ is a new structure type. The structure and its relations to the Mn₅Si_3–, the Nb₃Te₄-and the Tl _x V₆S₈-type are discussed.

     

Chemical solution processing and characterization of Ba(Zr,Ti)O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/LaNiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> layered thin films

Ba(Zr,Ti)O₃/LaNiO₃ layered thin films have been synthesized by chemical solution deposition (CSD) using metal-organic precursor solutions. Ba(Zr,Ti)O₃ thin films with smooth surface morphology and excellent dielectric properties were prepared on Pt/TiO _x /SiO₂/Si substrates by controlling the Zr/Ti ratios in Ba(Zr,Ti)O₃. Chemically derived LaNiO₃ thin films crystallized into the perovskite single phase and their conductivity was sufficiently high as a thin-film electrode. Ba(Zr,Ti)O₃/LaNiO₃ layered thin films of single phase perovskite were fabricated on SiO₂/Si and fused silica substrates. The dielectric constant of a Ba(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)O₃ thin film prepared at 700°C on a LaNiO₃/fused silica substrate was found to be approximately 830 with a dielectric loss of 5% at 1 kHz and room temperature. Although the Ba(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)O₃ thin film on the LaNiO₃/fused silica substrate showed a smaller dielectric constant than the Ba(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)O₃ thin film on Pt/TiO _x /SiO₂/Si, small temperature dependence of dielectric constant was achieved over a wide temperature range. Furthermore, the fabrication of the Ba(Zr,Ti)O₃/LaNiO₃ films in alternate thin layers similar to a multilayer capacitor structure was performed by the same solution deposition process.     

Mechanosynthesis of nanopowders of the proton-conducting electrolyte material Ba(Zr, Y)O3−δ

The formation of perovskite nanopowders of the common proton-conducting, electrolyte material Ba(Zr_1−xY_x)O_3−δ is demonstrated by room temperature mechanosynthesis for the compositional range x=0, 0.058 and 0.148. This is achieved with a planetary ball mill at 650 rpm in zirconia vials, starting from BaO₂ with ZrO₂, (ZrO₂)_0.97(Y₂O₃)_0.03 or (ZrO₂)_0.92(Y₂O₃)_0.08 precursors, respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the formation of the perovskite phase in the early stages of milling with phase purity being achieved after milling times of 240 min for composition x=0.058 whereas 420 min is necessary for composition x=0.148. In contrast, traces of ZrO₂ are apparent in composition x=0 even after milling times of 420 min. The use of BaCO₃ as precursor does not allow the formation of the perovskite phase for any composition. The perovskite crystallites are spherical in shape with an average size determined from XRD of ca. 30 nm in agreement with transmission electron microscopy observations. FTIR spectra demonstrate that contamination levels of BaCO₃ in the mechanosynthesized powders are very low. The spherical shape and nanoscale of the crystallites allow densification levels that are highly competitive when compared to BaZrO₃-based materials formed by alternative synthesis techniques documented in the literature.     

Fabrication of a novel Li<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MoO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> film modified electrode and its application as an electrochemical sensor of iodate

A novel organic gel film modified electrode was simply and conveniently fabricated by casting Li_xMoO_y and polypropylene carbonate (PPC) onto the surface of a gold electrode. The cyclic voltammetry and amperometry studies demonstrated that the Li_xMoO_y film modified electrode has a high stability and a good electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of iodate. In amperometry, a good linear relationship between the steady current and the concentration of iodate was obtained in the range from 3×10^–7 to 1×10^–4 mol L^–1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997 and a detection limit of 1×10^–7 mol L^–1.