Subsolidus phase relation in the Bi2O3-Fe203-La2O3 system

Bismuth-containing semiconductor material is a hot topic in photocatalysts because of its effective absorption under the visible light. In this paper, we expect to explore a new bismuth-based photocatalyst by studying the subsolidus phase relations of the Bi2O3-Fe2O3-La2O3 system. The X-ray diffraction data shows that in this ternary system the ternary compound does not exist, while seven binary compounds （including one solid solution series Bi1-xLaxO1.5 with 0.167 〈 x 〈 0.339） are obtained and eight compatibility triangles are determined.     

Photoluminescence characteristics and energy transfer between Bi~（3＋） and Eu~（3＋） in Na_2O–CaO–GeO_2–SiO_2 glass

We report the photoluminescence（PL） of Eu^3＋-doped glass with Bi^3＋as a sensitizer. The specific glass system with the strong enhancement of the red emission of Eu3＋is obtained by adding a small number of Bi3＋ions instead of increasing the Eu^3＋ concentration. The emission band of Bi3＋overlaps with the excitation band of Eu^3＋ and the lifetime decay curves,resulting in a very efficient energy transfer from Bi^3＋ to Eu^3＋. The probability of energy transfer is strongly dependent on Bi^3＋ concentration. In addition, the intensity of 4f–4f transition is much stronger than that of a charge-transfer（CT） band in the excitation spectrum, which indicates that the Na2O–Ca O–Ge O2-Si O2 glass is a suitable red-emitting phosphor with high stability as a candidate for light-emitting diodes（LEDs）.     

Multi-soliton solutions of a two-component Camassa–Holm system:Darboux transformation approach

We propose and develop another approach to constructing multi-soliton solutions of an integrable two-component Camassa–Holm(CH2)system.With the help of a reciprocal transformation and a gauge transformation,we relate the CH2 system to a negative flow of the Broer–Kaup or twoboson hierarchy.The solutions of this negative flow are given in terms of Wronskians via Darboux transformation.Then the multi-soliton solutions of the CH2 system are recovered in parametric form by inverting the reciprocal transformation and the gauge transformation.     

Atom–field entanglement in the Jaynes Cummings model without rotating wave approximation

In this paper, we present a structure for obtaining the exact eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the Jaynes–Cummings model(JCM) without the rotating wave approximation(RWA). We study the evolution of the system in the strong coupling region using the time evolution operator without RWA. The entanglement of the system without RWA is investigated using the Von Neumann entropy as an entanglement measure. It is interesting that in the weak coupling regime, the population of the atomic levels and Von Neumann entropy without RWA model shows a good agreement with the RWA whereas in strong coupling domain, the results of these two models are quite different.     

Dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton properties of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure

Surface plasmons(SPs) in ultraviolet(UV) have attracted a great deal of attention because of their emerging applications in energy resources, environmental protection, and biotechnology. In this article, the dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton(DLSPP) properties of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure are investigated theoretically. Sharp SP responses can be obtained in deep UV by setting an insulator grating on the aluminum film. It is found that the height of the grating element,the lattice parameter, and the filling factor can all modulate the DLSPPs of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure. We further find that this structure is sensitive to the embedding medium and can serve as a refractive index sensor in the UV region. The corresponding sensitivity increases with the decrease of the filling factor. The Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure may be useful for medical diagnostics and biotechnology in deep UV.     

Nonequilibrium behavior of the kinetic metamagnetic spin-5/2 Blume–Capel model

The dynamic magnetic behavior of the kinetic metamagnetic spin-5/2 Blume–Capel model is examined, within a mean-field approach, under a time-dependent oscillating magnetic field. To describe the kinetics of the system, Glaubertype stochastic dynamics has been utilized. The mean-field dynamic equations of the model are obtained from the Master equation. Firstly, these dynamic equations are solved to find the phases in the system. Then, the dynamic phase transition temperatures are obtained by investigating the thermal behavior of dynamic sublattice magnetizations. Moreover, from this investigation, the nature of the phase transitions(first- or second-order) is characterized. Finally, the dynamic phase diagrams are plotted in five different planes. It is found that the dynamic phase diagrams contain the paramagnetic(P),antiferromagnetic(AF5/2, AF3/2, AF1/2) phases and five different mixed phases. The phase diagrams also display many dynamic critical points, such as tricritical point, triple point, quadruple point, double critical end point and separating point.     

Phase relations in the ZnO-V2O5-K2O system

The subsolidus phase relations of a ZnO-V 2 O 5-K 2 O system are investigated by X-ray powder diffraction.There is 1 ternary compound,11 binary compounds and 14 three-phase regions in this system.The phase diagrams of V 2 O 5 K 2 O with the K 2 O content ranging from 0 to 71 mol% and pseudo-binary system of ZnO-K 2 ZnV 2 O 7 are also studied by X-ray powder diffraction and differential thermal analysis methods.     

Effect of transversal concentration gradient on H_2–O_2 cellular detonation

A two-dimensional detonation in H2–O2 system is simulated by a high-resolution code based on the fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory(WENO) scheme in the spatial discretization and the 3 th-order additive Runge–Kutta schemes in the time discretization, by using a detailed chemical model. The effect of a concentration gradient on cellular detonation is investigated. The results show that with the increase of the concentration gradient, the cell instability of detonation increases and gives rise to the oscillation of average detonation velocity. After a long time, for the case of the lower gradient the detonation can be sustained, with the multi-head mode and single-head mode alternating, while for the higher gradient it propagates with a single-head mode.     

Equilibrium between NO_3~- and NO_2~- in KNO_3–NaNO_2 melts:a Raman spectra study

We study ionic structure of KNO3–NaNO2 melts under air atmosphere by using Raman spectroscopy. Molar fraction of NO--3 and NO2 is obtained and thermal stability of this kind of melts system is then analyzed. The results show that when the temperature is increased to a certain value, equilibrium between the decomposition of NO-3 and the oxidation of NO-2 exists in KNO3–NaNO2 melts. When temperature is higher than 644 K, the molar fraction of NO-3 decreases a little with temperature increasing for the melts in which the initial fraction of KNO3 is 90 wt%, but for the melts in which the initial fraction of KNO3 is 10–80 wt%, the molar fraction of NO-3 increases with temperature, and the increasing rate is slower for a higher initial fraction of KNO-3. Molar fraction of NO3 increment increases linearly with initial fraction of NaNO2. The sample in which the initial fractions of NaNO2 are 11.3 and 14.5 wt% under air atmosphere shows the best thermal stability at 762 and 880 K, respectively.     

Structural,elastic, and electronic properties of recently discovered ternary silicide superconductor Li_2IrSi_3: An ab-initio study

The structural, elastic, and electronic properties of the very recently discovered ternary silicide superconductor,Li2 Ir Si3, are calculated using an ab-initio technique. We adopt the plane-wave pseudopotential approach within the framework of the first-principles density functional theory(DFT) implemented by the CASTEP code. The calculated structural parameters show reasonable agreement with the experimental results. The elastic moduli of this interesting material are calculated for the first time. The electronic band structure and electronic energy density of states indicate the strong covalent Ir–Si and Si–Si bonding, which leads to the formation of the rigid structure of Li2 Ir Si3. Strong covalency gives rise to a high Debye temperature in this system. We discuss the theoretical results in detail in this paper.     

Chemical quenching of positronium in Fe2O3/Al2O3 catalysts

Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by solid state reaction method using α-Fe₂O₃ and γ-Al₂O₃ nano powders. The microstructure and surface properties of the catalyst were studied using positron lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening annihilation radiation measurements. The positron lifetime spectrum shows four components. The two long lifetimes τ₃ and τ₄ are attributed to positronium annihilation in two types of pores distributed inside Al₂O₃ grain and between the grains, respectively. With increasing Fe₂O₃ content from 3 wt% to 40 wt%, the lifetime τ₃ keeps nearly unchanged, while the longest lifetime τ₄ shows decrease from 96 ns to 64 ns. Its intensity decreases drastically from 24% to less than 8%. The Doppler broadening S parameter shows also a continuous decrease. Further analysis of the Doppler broadening spectra reveals a decrease in the p-Ps intensity with increasing Fe₂O₃ content, which rules out the possibility of spin-conversion of positronium. Therefore the decrease of τ₄ is most probably due to the chemical quenching reaction of positronium with Fe ions on the surface of the large pores.     

Novel nanostructures of β-Ga2O3 synthesized by thermal evaporation

In this study, we report the novel β-Ga₂O₃ nanostructures synthesized by the thermal evaporation of Ga droplet in the presence of Au catalysts at 900 °C. The morphology and structure of the products were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The single-crystalline β-Ga₂O₃ nanosheets have lateral dimensions up to several tens of microns. Large arrays of column-like layered crystal β-Ga₂O₃ structures that consisted of many nanosheets were formed on the Au-coated silicon substrate under the suitable vapor concentration. These novel β-Ga₂O₃ nanostructures are expected to have potential application in functional nanodevices.     

Investigation on spectral features of tungsten ions in PbO-Bi2O3-As2O3 glass matrix

Lead bismuth arsenate glasses mixed with different concentrations of WO₃ (ranging from 0 to 6.0 mol%) were synthesized. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), optical absorption, ESR and IR spectral studies have been carried out. The results of DTA have indicated that there is a gradual decrease in the resistance of the glass against devitrification with increase in the concentration of WO₃ upto 4.0 mol%.The optical absorption spectra of these glasses exhibited a relatively broad band peaking at about 880 nm identified due to d_xy→d_x²_−y² transition of W⁵⁺ ions; this band is observed to be more intense in the spectrum of glass containing 4.0 mol% of WO₃. Further, two prominent kinks attributed to ³P₀→¹S₀, ¹D₂ transitions of Bi³⁺ ions have also been located in the absorption spectra. The ESR spectra of these glasses recorded at room temperature exhibited an asymmetric signal at g_⊥∼1.71 and g_ll∼1.61. The intensity of the signal is observed to be maximal for the spectrum of the glass W₄. The quantitative analysis of optical absorption and ESR spectral studies have indicated that there is a maximum reduction of tungsten ions from W⁶⁺ state to W⁵⁺ state in the glass containing 4.0 mol% of WO₃. The IR spectral studies have indicated that there is a increasing degree of disorder in the glass network with increase in the concentration of WO₃ upto 4.0 mol%.     

Optical absorption and thermoluminescence studies on LiF-Sb2O3-B2O3 glasses doped with Ni ions

20LiF-(30−x)Sb₂O₃-50B₂O₃:xNiO glasses with the value of x (ranging from 0 to 1.0 mol% in steps of 0.2) were prepared. A number of studies, viz. differential scanning calorimetry, optical absorption, magnetic susceptibility and thermoluminescence, on these glasses were carried out as a function of nickel ion concentration. An anomaly has been observed in all the properties of these glasses when NiO concentration is about 0.6 mol%. The results of these studies were analysed in the light of different environments of nickel ions in the glass network.     

Effects of RE2O3 (RE = Tm, Sc, Yb) addition on the superconducting properties of ErBa2Cu3Oy

We investigated the effects of added Tm₂O₃, Sc₂O₃, and Yb₂O₃ on the superconducting properties of sintered Er123 samples. Tm₂O₃ addition caused the least T_c degradation, exhibiting a T_c above 90 K even for 17 vol% addition. Samples with added Sc₂O₃ maintained a T_c at above 90 K up to an addition of 7.2 vol%, while Yb₂O₃-containing samples showed a monotonic decrease in T_c with increased vol% of added Yb₂O₃. Tm₂O₃-containing samples exhibited a slight increase in J_c(0.1 T)/J_c(0) and had constant J_c values even for 17 vol% addition. XRD and SEM results indicate that the Tm₂O₃ is very stable in the superconducting matrix.     

Effect of BiFeO3 addition on Bi2O3–ZnO–Nb2O5 based ceramics

In this paper, low temperature sintering of the Bi₂(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)₂O₇ (β-BZN) dielectric ceramics was studied with the use of BiFeO₃ as a sintering aid. The effects of BiFeO₃ contents and the sintering temperature on the phase structure, density and dielectric properties were investigated. The results showed that the sintering temperature could be decreased and the dielectric properties could be retained by the addition of BiFeO₃. The structure of BiFeO₃ doped β-BZN was still the monoclinic pyrochlore phase. The sintering temperature of BiFeO₃ doped β-BZN ceramics was reduced from 1000 °C to 920 °C. In the case of 0.15 wt.% BiFeO₃ addition, the β-BZN ceramics sintered at 920 °C exhibited good dielectric properties, which were listed as follows: ε_r = 79 and tan δ = 0.00086 at a frequency of 1 MHz. The obtained properties make this composition to be a good candidate for the LTCC application.     

Substrate effects on V2O3 thin films

We apply density functional theory and the augmented spherical wave method to analyze the electronic structure of V₂O₃ in the vicinity of an interface to Al₂O₃. The interface is modeled by a heterostructure setup of alternating vanadate and aluminate slabs. We focus on the possible modifications of the V₂O₃ electronic states in this geometry, induced by the presence of the aluminate layers. In particular, we find that the tendency of the V 3d states to localize is enhanced and may even cause a metal-insulator transition.     

Synthesis and characterization of wire-like and near-spherical Eu2O3-doped Y2O3 phosphors by solvothermal reaction

Eu₂O₃-doped yttrium oxide (3 mol%) [Y₂O₃:Eu(3 mol%)] with wire-like and near-spherical morphologies were prepared by a solvothermal treatment using water, ethanol, ethylene glycol and glycerol as reaction media followed by calcination. The powders prepared in water and ethanol possessed wire structure, where the powder treated in water showed high aspect ratio and that in ethanol showed low aspect ratio. The powders prepared in ethylene glycol and glycerol possessed well-dispersed near-spherical powders, which showed almost the same level of photoluminescence emission intensity as that of submicron particles prepared without solvothermal treatment.     

Influence of valence states and co-ordination of cobalt ions on dielectric properties of PbO-Bi2O3-As2O3:CoO glass system

The glasses of the composition (40−x) PbO-15Bi₂O₃-45As₂O₃-xCoO, with 0≤x≤0.6 mol% in the steps of 0.1 were synthesized. The dielectric properties viz., dielectric constant, loss and ac conductivity over moderately larger ranges of frequency and temperature were investigated. The results were analyzed with the aid of the data on optical absorption and IR spectra. The analysis indicated that there is an increase in the insulating strength of the glasses with increase in the concentration of CoO up to 0.4 mol%.     

Preparation and properties of composite ceramic coating containing Al2O3–ZrO2–Y2O3 on AZ91D magnesium alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation

A composite ceramic coating containing Al₂O₃–ZrO₂–Y₂O₃ was successfully prepared on AZ91D magnesium alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) technique in an alkaline aluminate electrolyte. The morphology, elemental and phase composition, corrosion behavior and thermal stability of the uncoated and coated samples were studied by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), electrochemical corrosion test, high temperature oxidation test and thermal shock test. The results showed that the composite ceramic coating was composed of Al₂O₃, c-ZrO₂, t-ZrO₂, Y₂O₃ and some magnesium compounds, such as MgO, MgF₂ and MgAl₂O₄. After PEO treatment, the corrosion potential of AZ91D alloy was increased and the corrosion current density was significantly reduced. Besides, the coated magnesium alloys also showed excellent high temperature oxidation resistance and thermal shock resistance at 500 °C environment.