Electronic structure and magnetooptical properties of an La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystal

The spectral and temperature characteristics of the magnetooptical Kerr effect and the optical properties of an La_0.7Ca_0.25Ba_0.05MnO₃ single crystal are studied. The data obtained are used to calculate the components of the permittivity tensor, whose behavior is interpreted within the framework of the known models of the electronic structure of manganites.     

Structural investigation of anion-deficient manganites La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3 − δ</Subscript>

The crystal structure of the anion-deficient manganites La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO_{3 ? δ} (δ = 0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) is investigated using high-resolution neutron diffraction. At room temperature, the crystal structure of the stoichiometric manganite La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ and the anion-deficient manganite La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO_2.9 is satisfactorily described in rhombohedral space group R \(\bar 3\) c. The anion-deficient manganite La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO_2.85 is characterized by two perovskite phases with space groups R \(\bar 3\) c and 14/mcm. The crystal structure of the La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO_2.8 manganite corresponds to the structure of a perovskite phase with space group I4/mcm. It is established that the phase separation in the crystal structure of the La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO_{3 ? δ} manganites at a temperature of 293 K is associated with a nonuniform distribution of oxygen vacancies.     

Influence of polymerizing agent on structure and spectroscopic properties of nano‐crystalline La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 powders

Strontium‐doped lanthanum manganite (La_1‐xSr_xMnO₃ or LSM) is the material most widely used on solid oxide fuel cells cathode. In this work, nano‐scale La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ powders have been synthesized by polymeric precursor‐based methods using different polymerizing agents with the aim of evaluating the influence of this change in the final powder. The powders calcined at 700 °C for 2 h have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in order to investigate the quality of both synthesis routes. It is shown that the crystal structure and morphology of the particles are significantly dependent on the preparation conditions. Single phase and La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ nano‐crystalline particles less than 30 nm were obtained using ethylene glycol as polymerizing agent. FTIR results have been indicated that only the powder obtained using gelatin presented small traces of hydroxyl groups on its surface. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Studies on electrical conduction behavior of La1‐3xCaxBaxSrxMnO3 synthesized by chemical route

In the manganite La_1‐xM_xMnO₃ (M = Ca, Ba, Sr) the doping concentration introduces a mixed valency (Mn³⁺, Mn⁴⁺) which governs the magnetic and electrical properties of the compound. The perovskite oxides La_1‐3xCa_xBa_xSr_xMnO₃ (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10) were prepared by chemical method. Single‐phase formation is confirmed by XRD studies. The electrical behavior of compositions with x = 0.00, 0.05 and 0.10 in the system La_1‐3xCa_xBa_xSr_xMnO₃ was studied in the temperature range 300‐420 K. It is observed that conductivity decreases with increasing temperature as well as dopants concentration. Metallic behavior of these compositions decreases with increasing dopants concentration (x). The microstructures of these samples have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). (© 2007 WILEY ‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Atomic structure of (Sr0.50Ba0.50)Nb2O6 single crystals in the series of (SrxBa1 ? x)Nb2O6 compounds

Czochralski grown (Sr_0.50Ba_0.50)Nb₂O₆ single crystals have been studied by the method of precision X-ray diffraction analysis. The structural characteristics of (Sr_xBa_{1 − x} )Nb₂O₆ compounds with x = 0.33, 0.50, 0.61, and 0.75 were analyzed. The distributions of the Sr and Ba atoms over the crystallographic positions are considered depending on their concentration. The establishment of the mechanisms of isomorphous replacements in these solid solutions allows the variation, within certain limits, of crystal properties by changing the Ba/Sr ratio. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 47, No. 2, 2002, pp. 249–252. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2002 by Chernaya, Volk, Verin, Ivleva, Simonov.     

High-pressure synthesis and magnetic properties of Bi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>D<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis> = Pb,Ba) solid solutions

Perovskites Bi_0.5D_0.5MnO₃(D = Pb, Ba) were prepared under high pressure (4 GPa) at 1200–1300°C. According to the X-ray diffraction data, crystalline Bi_0.5Pb_0.5MnO₃ has a tetragonal unit cell with the parameters a = 3.940 Å and c = 3.800 Å, whereas Bi_0.5Ba_0.5MnO₃ crystals are cubic with a = 3.940 Å. It is concluded from magnetic studies that lead-containing manganite is an antiferromagnet with T_N = 120 K, whereas Bi_0.5Ba_0.5MnO₃ is a spin glass with spin-freezing temperature T _f = 38 K. Both compounds are decomposed upon heating in air at temperatures above 500°C. With the use of synthesis in air, Bi_0.5Ca_{0.5 ? x}D _x MnO₃ solid solutions with x as high as 0.25 were obtained.     

Specific effects of nanometer scale size on magnetic ordering in La1−xCaxMnO3 (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.6) manganites

To check the impact of nano-size originated effects on the magnetic ordering in doped manganites, X-band electron magnetic resonance measurements were performed on nanometer sized and bulk samples of La_1?xCa_xMnO₃ (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.6). The model fittings of EPR signal parameters and complementary magnetic measurements indicate that bulk La_0.9Ca_0.1MnO₃ shows inhomogeneous confinement of charge carriers, leading to its mixed magnetic ordering. The carriers mobility within impurity-like band and ferromagnetic (FM)-like ground state are observed on nanocrystals of the same composition. The bulk La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ demonstrates homogeneous FM order and band-like carrier mobility. The surface magnetic disorder in its nano-counterpart leads to appearance of two magnetic phases – a core phase (bulk-like in properties) and a surface phase with notably reduced temperature of magnetic ordering; neither double-exchange interaction nor carriers mobility exist between these phases. The size reduction induced effects in La_0.4Ca_0.6MnO₃ are: an increase of surface FM-like component and a decrease of the charge-ordering temperature. These findings allow us to conclude that the nano-scale effect on magnetic ordering in La_1?xCa_xMnO₃ system weakens progressively upon stabilization of the low temperature magnetic ground state with Ca-doping.     

Synthesis and structure of (Rb<Subscript>0.50</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>)[UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>COO)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]

A new compound (Rb_0.50Ba_0.25)[UO₂(CH₃COO)₃] is synthesized and its crystal structure is studied by X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the form of yellow plates belonging to the cubic crystal system. The unit cell parameter a = 17.0367(1) Å, V = 4944.89(5) ų, space group I \(\bar 4\)3d, Z = 16, and R = 0.0182. The coordination polyhedron of the uranium atom is a hexagonal bipyramid with oxygen atoms of three acetate groups and the uranyl group in the vertices. The crystal chemical formula of the uranium-containing group is AB ₃ ⁰¹ (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , B ⁰¹ = CH₃COO^?). The oxygen atoms of the acetate groups that enter the coordination polyhedron of uranium are bound to barium and rubidium atoms.     

Structural conditionality for the quadratic nonlinear susceptibility of Sr1−x Ba x Nb2O6 crystals

The intensity of the second harmonic generated in powdered samples of the compositions Sr_0.75Ba_0.25Nb₂O₆, Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆, and Sr_0.50Ba_0.50Nb₂O₆ under irradiation by a pulsed-periodic YAG: Nd laser is measured. The effective values of the quadratic nonlinear susceptibility of these materials with respect to the reference sample of potassium dihydrophosphate crystals are estimated. The results obtained are compared with the precise parameters of the atomic structure of the single crystals with the corresponding compositions. It is established that the dominant contribution to the nonlinear optical susceptibility of the single crystals under investigation comes from the chains aligned parallel to the c axis of the crystal and composed of Nb octahedra with regularly alternating increased and decreased Nb-O interatomic distances. The occurrence of such a sequence in the crystal structure suggests an alternation of stronger and weaker chemical bonds in the chains ?O=Nb?O=Nb?O=. These bonds are characterized by different charge electron densities, a phenomenon confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis, which indicates not only a difference in the Nb-O bond lengths but also an anharmonicity in the thermal vibrations of the niobium atoms. The revealed anharmonicity is associated with the difference between the chemical bonds of the niobium atoms with the oxygen atoms located in trans positions in the octahedra.     

Synthesis and structure of new thorium phosphate CaGdTh(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Phosphate CaGdTh(PO₄)₃ was prepared by thermal treatment of a mixture of oxides. The final temperature was 1400°C. The phosphate was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure was studied by the Rietveld method. The compound crystallizes in the monazite structure type (sp. gr. P2₁/n). A comparative analysis of the structures of this phosphate and cerium orthophosphate CePO₄ was carried out.     

Refinement of the composition and structure of YBaCo<Subscript>4−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Al<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>7+δ</Subscript> crystals

YBa(Co_{4 ? x} Al _x )O_{7 + δ} (114Y) crystals have been grown in the Y-Ba-Co-O system by spontaneous crystallization from a slowly cooled nonstoichiometric melt. To change the oxygen content, the crystals were isothermally annealed in air in the range of 280–490°C. The crystals grown were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. According to the data of an X-ray spectroscopic quantitative microprobe analysis, the average compositions of “as-grown” and oxygen-saturated crystals were Y_1.04Ba₁Co_3.54Al_0.50O_7.8 and Y_1.02Ba₁Co_3.55Al_0.51O_8.4, respectively. The refinement of the crystal structure after saturation on an automatic Bruker X8APEX diffractometer with a CCD detector (MoKα radiation, graphite monochromator, θ_max = 32.54°, sp. gr. P6₃ mc, a = 6.2746(9), c = 10.257(3) Å, V = 349.71(13) ų, Z = 2, d _calcd = 5.220 g/cm³) reveals the location of Al in two independent positions of Co atoms and yields the general formula of the compound as YBaCo_3.26Al_0.74O₇. Problems related to the difference in the compositions obtained by different methods are discussed.     

Structural and magnetic phase transformations in La<Subscript>0.88</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> crystals

The crystal structure and elastic, magnetic, and transport properties of the La_0.88MnO_{3 ? x} system are studied. It is established that, depending on the oxygen content at x > 0.13, the system is orbitally ordered by the LaMnO₃ type and consists of a mixture of orbitally ordered and disordered orthorhombic phases (0.11 ≤ x ≤ 0.13); at x < 0.11, the system is monoclinically distorted. The orbitally ordered samples show properties inherent in both antiferro-and ferromagnetics, whereas the orbitally disordered samples are ferromagnetics and possess extremely high magnetic resistance. Analysis of the structure and properties of the samples showed that no oxygen vacancies are formed in the La_0.88MnO_{3 ? x} system. It is assumed that the excessive Mn³⁺ is incorporated into interstitials in the vicinity of lanthanum vacancies.     

Growth and characterization of lead-free Ba(1−x)CaxTi(1−y)ZryO3 single crystal

A lead-free Ba_(1?x)Ca_xTi_(1?y)Zr_yO₃ (BCZT) single crystal (x=0.08, y=0.26) was grown by the Czochralski (CZ) method in a mixed flux of TiO₂ and ZrO₂. The composition of as-grown BCZT was analyzed by electron probe micro-analysis. The structure, dielectric properties and phase transition were investigated at different temperatures. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the structure of the as-grown BCZT crystal was cubic both at 25 °C and 500 °C. The temperature dependence of the dielectric constant and Raman spectra characterization revealed that there was a phase transition from cubic to tetragonal, which happened between 200 K and 250 K. With increasing frequency, the Curie temperature shifted towards high temperature.     

Czochralski growth and characterization of Dy: La3Ga5.5Nb0.5O14 single crystals

Dysprosium (Dy) doped La₃Ga_5.5Nb_0.5O₁₄ single crystals were grown by the traditional Czochralski method along z‐axis. The structure of the crystal has been studied by X‐ray powder diffraction method, and the unit‐cell parameters are calculated to be a=8.22070 Å, c=5.12533 Å and V=299.965 ų. The segregation coefficient of Dy³⁺ in La₃Ga_5.5Nb_0.5O₁₄ crystal was measured by X‐ray fluorescence analysis. For 1 mol% doping level in the melt, the distribution coefficient of Dy³⁺ was determined to be 0.341 wt%. Specific heat, thermal expansion and transmission spectrum of Dy: La₃Ga_5.5Nb_0.5O₁₄ single crystals have been measured. The fluorescence spectra of Dy³⁺: La₃Ga_5.5Nb_0.5O₁₄ crystals were measured at room temperature, and there were four emission transitions occurring at 479, 576, 662 and 754 nm, respectively. The fluorescent lifetimes measurement results show 1.0% Dy: La₃Ga_5.5Nb_0.5O₁₄ possesses shorter fluorescence decay time (303.4 μs) than does 1.0%Dy:LGS (436.12 μs). (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal growth of La2NaTaO6: A new monoclinically distorted double perovskite

Single crystals of La₂NaTaO₆ were grown out of a reactive high-temperature hydroxide melt. The structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. La₂NaTaO₆ adopts the monoclinically distorted double perovskite structure type with general formula A₂BB′O₆, where tantalum atoms are located on the B′ site. La₂NaTaO₆ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a=5.6904(2) Å, b=5.9824(2) Å, c=8.1423(2) Å and β=90.8650(10)°? An optical bandgap of 4.5 eV was estimated from the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum.     

X-Ray Study of the Structure and Thermal Properties of Ba1–xKxBiO3 at Different Temperatures

The crystal structure as well as the temperature and composition dependences of the lattice parameters, the thermal expansion coefficients in the high-temperature superconducting Ba_1–xBiO₃ system were determined by an X-ray powder diffraction method at temperatures between 80 and 650 K. The character of variation of intensity, profiles, and line widths of the diffraction lines for different perovskite structures as a function of the content x and temperatures was found. The correlation between the behaviour of the thermal expansion coefficients and potassium content was revealed at different temperatures. It is shown that the thermal expansion coefficients vary inversely with rising x at any temperature in the range from 80 to 400 K.     

Structure and non-linear optical properties of BaO–TiO2–SiO2 glass containing Ba2TiSi2O8 crystal

The BaO–TiO₂–SiO₂ crystallized glass containing Ba₂TiSi₂O₈ crystal phase was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement and Maker fringe technique. It has been found that the crystallized glasses with a composition of close to the stoichiometric Ba₂TiSi₂O₈ showed bulk crystallization, whereas other crystallized glasses with non-stoichiometric composition of Ba₂TiSi₂O₈ showed surface crystallization. The parameter ΔT, the difference in temperature between the crystallization onset and the glass transition temperature, strongly affects the crystallization behaviors of the present BTS glasses. The 30BaO–20TiO₂–50SiO₂ transparent surface crystallized glass with strong c-oriented Ba₂TiSi₂O₈ phase showed its second-order non-linear optical constant, d₃₃ = 6.1 pm/V.     

Growth and structure properties of La1−xSrxMnO3−σ (x=0.2, 0.3, 0.45) thin film grown on SrTiO3 (0 0 1) single-crystal substrate by laser molecular beam epitaxy

La_1−xSr_xMnO_3−σ (LSMO) thin films have been grown on SrTiO₃ (0 0 1) single-crystal substrates using the laser molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technique. The two-dimensional layer-by-layer growth was in-situ monitored by reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). Kinetic growth with surface relaxation was also observed, and crystallinity of the thin films was investigated by high-resolution X-ray diffraction. Results of 2θ−ω scans revealed a strong correlation between out-of-plane lattice constant and oxygen content as well as strontium doping concentration. However, further analysis of rocking curve measurements around (0 0 2) plane of thin films grown under different oxygen pressure (P_O2) shown the effects of oxygen content on the crystal structure. An exceptionally low full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 0.02° was measured from the sample grown at P_O2 of 5.0 Pa, indicating the almost perfect epitaxial growth of LSMO thin films.     

Comparative characterization of defects formed by di-and trivalent metal dopants in KDP crystals and the structural mechanism of influence of impurities on face morphology

The structure of KDP crystals doped with trivalent (Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn³⁺, V³⁺, and La³⁺) and divalent (Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺) cations was simulated by minimizing the energy of atomic interactions. Three types of defects were revealed: isolated defect centers formed by M ³⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions, cluster chain centers formed by M ²⁺ ions with ionic radii exceeding 0.9 Å, and complex centers formed via the replacement of potassium ions by large Ba²⁺ dopants with the simultaneous replacement of some of the phosphorus atoms by silicon ones. The corresponding energies of defect formation are calculated. The surface morphology of the crystal faces is studied. The changes in morphology in the presence of M ³⁺ dopants are caused by their adsorption, whereas for M ²⁺ dopants, these changes are caused mainly by their incorporation into the crystal structure.     

Behavior of ammonium ion in β-LiRb<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>(NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>x</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript> mixed crystals (0.5 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> ≤ 1.0)

The influence of replacement of an ammonium ion by rubidium on the x-T phase diagram in the concentration range 0.50 ≤ x ≤ 1.0 has been studied by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction over a wide temperature range. It is shown that a decrease in the ammonium concentration is accompanied by an increase in the temperature of the II ? I phase transition and stabilization of phase II up to low temperatures (20 K). The changes occurring in the dynamics of mixed crystals are studied by inelastic incoherent neutron scattering. The spectra of the generalized vibrational density of states obtained allowed one to establish the difference in the phonon modes corresponding to phase III of β-LiNH₄SO₄ and phase II of β-LiRb_1?x(NH₄)_xSO₄ mixed crystal with x = 0.91 and x = 0.77 at 20 K. It is shown that a mixed crystal with x = 0.77 at 20 K is in the orientational glass state.