Epitaxially Grown LaSrCoO3 Thin Films on Various Substrates by the Sol-Gel Method

LaSrCoO₃ thin films have been prepared on various substrates by the sol-gel method using inorganic salts as starting materials. The crystallinity and in-plane alignment of the films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction -2 scans and scans (pole-figure analysis), respectively. Highly (h00)/(00l)-oriented LaSrCoO₃ films with crack-free surfaces were obtained by annealing at 800°C on SrTiO₃(100), while films grown on MgO(100) and Si(100) exhibited poor crystallinity. According to the X-ray diffraction -2 scan, crystallinity of the product films was found to depend on lattice-misfit values between the films and the substrates used. On the contrary, the lattice-misfit values were less effective to the epitaxy of the LSCO film. Epitaxial film grown on SrTiO₃ annealed at 800°C was found by reciprocal-space mapping (-2 scan) analysis to consist of the pseudocubic phase.     

Preparation and Optical Characterization of Sol-Gel Deposited Pb(Zr0.45Ti0.55)O3 Films

Homogeneous crack-free lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr_0.45Ti_0.55)O₃: PZT 45/55) films were prepared by a chemically modified sol-gel process using lead acetate trihydrate, zirconium n-propoxide, and titanium isopropoxide precursors. The coating solutions were modified by the addition of diethanolamine. Single and multilayer films were deposited with a 2000 rpm spin rate on fused silica and MgO(100) substrates. Multiple spin coating with an intermediate heat treatment in air at 400°C for 3 min between coatings was performed to obtain films up to 2 m in thickness. The formation of the tetragonal perovskite structure was found to depend on the intermediate firing temperature, final annealing temperature, and annealing time. A 650°C rapid thermal annealing treatment in oxygen was required to crystallize the PZT film into the perovskite structure. The films were characterized using optical spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermo-gravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The optical constants of the PZT films were evaluated from spectral transmittance and reflectance measurements. Optical constants are presented over the visible and near infrared region.     

Epitaxial stabilization of (110)-layered perovskites of the RE2Ti2O7 (RE=La, Nd, Sm, Gd) family

Thin films of RE₂Ti₂O₇ (RE=La, Nd, Sm, Gd) were deposited on single crystal SrTiO₃ (110) substrates at 900 °C using pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed sharp (00k) peaks (in θ-2θ scans) with narrow rocking curves (ω-scan peak widths of 0.4-0.9°), indicating that all compositions adopted the (110)-layered perovskite structure. While this is the stable structure for RE=La and Nd, it is metastable for RE=Sm and Gd. The metastable compounds are formed directly through epitaxial stabilization at these high temperatures and are shown to be isostructural to monoclinic La₂Ti₂O₇. The a, b, and c lattice parameters decreased monotonically with decreasing size of the RE cation, while the monoclinic angle remained fairly constant. The epitaxial relationship between the (110)-layered RE₂Ti₂O₇ films and the SrTiO₃(110) substrate was found by XRD and transmission electron microscopy to be . The single-phase, metastable, epitaxial, 100 nm thick films maintained the layered perovskite structure even after annealing at 900 °C for two hours in 200 Torr of oxygen.     

Spectroellipsometric Characterization of Multilayer Sol-Gel Fe2O3 Films

Multilayer Fe₂O₃ films were deposited by the sol-gel method on glass substrates using three successive deposition procedures. The films were thermally treated for 1 h at 300°C.The optical and microstructural properties of these films were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) in the 500–1000 nm range. The optical gap was found by fitting the dispersion of the film refractive index (n) with the Wemple-DiDomenico (WDD) formula.The ellipsometric measurements showed also that the Fe₂O₃ films are anisotropic. The birefringence values (n) of the sol-gel films (0.05–0.08) are smaller than the large values of the Fe₂O₃ (which are around 0.28) but increase with the crystalization of the films. AFM mesurements showed that the films treated at 300°C start to crystallize.     

Preparation of La0.75Sr0.25MnO3 Nano-Phase Powders and Films from Alkoxide Precursors

The first purely alkoxide-based sol-gel route to nano-phase powders and thin films of perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ is described. The phase and microstructure evolution on heat treatment of free gel films to form the target nano-phase oxide were investigated by TGA, IR spectroscopy, powder XRD, SEM and TEM-EDS. The xerogel consisted of a hydrated oxo-carbonate, without remaining alkoxo groups or solvent. Heating at 5°C·min^–1 decomposed the carbonate groups and yielded the pure perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ at 760°C. The cell dimensions were virtually unchanged from the first observation of perovskite at 680°C, to 1000°C, 4 h. The monoclinic cell of La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ obtained at 1000°C, 4 h, had the dimensions a = 5.475(1), b = 5.504(2), c = 7.771(1) Å, = 90.50(2), fitting the literature data quite well. Crack-free, homogenous, 150 nm thick La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ films were prepared by spin-coating Si/SiO₂/TiO₂/Pt and polycrystalline -Al₂O₃ substrates with a 0.6 M alkoxide solution, followed by heating at 5°C·min^–1 to 800°C, 30 min.     

Neo-Pentoxide Precursor Synthesis,Solution Preparation,and Electronic Properties of (Ba,Sr)TiO3 Thin Films Derived from a Solution Route

We have recently isolated the neo-pentoxide (HOCH₂CMe₃, ONp) derivatives of Ba, Sr, and Ti as Ba₄(ONp)₈(HONp)₆(py)₂, Sr₅(O)(ONp)₈(Solv)₅ (Solv = solvent), and Ti₂(ONp)₈, respectively. The combination of these precursors were found to be readily soluble in a wide range of solvents and thus were excellent candidates for preparation of barium strontium titanate ((Ba,Sr)TiO₃ or BST) thin films using spin-cast deposition techniques. The highest quality BST films for this system were generated from ternary mixtures dissolved in either pyridine or pyridine/toluene. By in situ VT-GIXRD analysis it was determined that the perovskite phase of BST was readily formed at 650°C. The electronic properties of films crystallized at 700°C indicated that the thin films (300 nm) possessed a dielectric constant of 120 (tan = 0.03) with a tunability of 29% at ±10 V. 300 nm films (700°C) which had been generated from a standard BST solution modified with a novel tridentate ligand, had a higher dielectric constant of 180 and a tunability of 35% at ±10 V. The collective characteristics of these precursors offer an attractive alternative to the more complex, less stable sol-gel precursors currently in use.     

Thin films of Ln1−xSrxCoO3 (Ln=La, Nd and Gd) and SrRuO3 by nebulized spray pyrolysis

Thin films of La_1−xSr_xCoO₃, Nd_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃, Gd_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ and SrRuO₃ have been deposited on Si(100), LaAlO₃(100) and SrTiO₃(100) single crystal substrates by nebulized spray pyrolysis. The films deposited on Si are generally polycrystalline, but they are highly oriented on the oxide substrates. The cobaltate films are generally not metallic, but exhibit low resistivity specially when x=0.3 and 0.5, the latter also exhibiting ferromagnetic characteristics. Films of La_0.7Sr_0.3CoO₃ show negative magnetoresistance of 35% around 180 K. Films of SrRuO₃ are metallic on Si and LaAlO₃ substrates but show an insulator–metal transition on SrTiO₃ around 130 K, around which temperature negative magnetoresistance is observed.     

Synthesis,Ferroelectric and Optical Properties of (Pb,Ca)TiO3 Thin Films by Soft Solution Processing

Calcium modified lead titanate sol was synthesized using a soft solution processing, the so-called polymeric precursor method. In soft chemistry method, soluble precursors such as lead acetate trihydrate, calcium carbonate and titanium isopropoxide, as starting materials, were mixed in aqueous solution. Pb_0.7Ca_0.3TiO₃ thin films were deposited on platinum-coated silicon and quartz substrates by means of the spinning technique. The surface morphology and crystal structure, dielectric and optical properties of the thin films were investigated. The electrical measurements were conducted on metal-ferroelectric-metal (MFM) capacitors. The typical measured small signal dielectric constant and dissipation factor at a frequency of 100 kHz were 299 and 0.065, respectively, for a thin film with 230 nm thickness annealed at 600°C for 2 h. The remanent polarization (2P_r) and coercive field (E _c) were 32 C/cm² and 100 kV/cm, respectively. Transmission spectra were recorded and from them, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and band gap energy were calculated. Thin films exhibited good optical transmissivity, and had optical direct transitions. The present study confirms the validity of the DiDomenico model for the interband transition, with a single electronic oscillator at 6.858 eV. The optical dispersion behavior of PCT thin film was found to fit well the Sellmeir dispersion equation. The band gap energy of the thin film, annealed at 600°C, was 3.56 eV. The results confirmed that soft solution processing provides an inexpensive and environmentally friendly route for the preparation of PCT thin films.     

On the crystal chemistry of three copper(II)-arsenates: Cu3(AsO4)2-III,Na4Cu(AsO4)2, and KCu4(AsO4)3

The three copper(II)-arsenates were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions; their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods:Cu₃(AsO₄)₂-III:a=5.046(2) Å,b=5.417(2) Å,c=6.354(2) Å, =70.61(2)°, =86.52(2)°, =68.43(2)°,Z=1, space group ,R=0.035 for 1674 reflections with sin / 0.90 Å^–1.Na₄Cu(AsO₄)₂:a=4.882(2) Å,b=5.870(2) Å,c=6.958(3) Å, =98.51(2)°, =90.76(2)°, =105.97(2)°,Z=1, space group ,R=0.028 for 2157 reflections with sin / 0.90 Å^–1.KCu₄(AsO₄)₃:a=12.234(5) Å,b=12.438(5) Å,c=7.307(3) Å, =118.17(2)°,Z=4, space group C2/c,R=0.029 for 1896 reflections with sin / 0.80 Å^–1.Within these three compounds the Cu atoms are square planar [4], tetragonal pyramidal [4+1], and tetragonal bipyramidal [4+2] coordinated by O atoms; an exception is the Cu(2)^[4+1] atom in Cu₃(AsO₄)₂-III: the coordination polyhedron is a representative for the transition from a tetragonal pyramid towards a trigonal bipyramid. In KCu₄(AsO₄)₃ the Cu(1)^[4]O₄ square and the As(1)O₄ tetrahedron share a common O—O edge of 2.428(5) Å, resulting in distortions of both the CuO₄ square and the AsO₄ tetrahedron. The two Na atoms in Na₄Cu(AsO₄)₂ are [6] coordinated, the K atom in KCu₄(AsO₄)₃ is [8] coordinated by O atoms.Die drei Kupfer(II)-Arsenate wurden unter Hydrothermalbedingungen gezüchtet und ihre Kristallstrukturen mittels Einkristall-Röntgenbeugungsmethoden ermittelt:Cu₃(AsO₄)₂-III:a = 5.046(2) Å,b = 5.417(2) Å,c = 6.354(2) Å, = 70.61 (2)°, = 86.52(2)°, = 68.43(2)°,Z = 1, Raumgruppe ,R = 0.035 für 1674 Reflexe mit sin / 0.90 Å^–1.Na₄Cu(AsO₄)₂:a = 4.882(2) Å,b = 5.870(2) Å,c = 6.958(3) Å, = 98.51(2)°, = 90.76(2)°, = 105.97(2)°,Z = 1, Raumgruppe ,R = 0.028 für 2157 Reflexe mit sin / 0.90 Å^–1.KCu₄(AsO₄)₃:a = 12.234(5) Å,b = 12.438(5) Å,c = 7.307(3) Å, = 118.17(2)°,Z = 4, Raumgruppe C2/c,R = 0.029 für 1896 Reflexe mit sin / 0.80 Å^–1.Die Cu-Atome in diesen drei Verbindungen sind durch O-Atome quadratisch planar [4], tetragonal pyramidal [4 + 1] und tetragonal dipyramidal [4 + 2]-koordiniert; eine Ausnahme ist das Cu(2)^{[4 + 1]}-Atom in Cu₃(AsO₄)₂-III: Das Koordinationspolyeder stellt einen Vertreter des Übergangs von einer tetragonalen Pyramide zu einer trigonalen Dipyramide dar. In KCu₄(AsO₄)₃ haben das Cu(1)^[4]O₄-Quadrat und das As(1)O₄-Tetraeder eine gemeinsame O—O-Kante von 2.428(5) Å, was eine Verzerrung der beiden Koordinationsfiguren CuO₄-Quadrat und AsO₄-Tetraeder bedingt. Die zwei Na-Atome in Na₄Cu(AsO₄)₃ sind durch O-Atome [6]-koordiniert, das K-Atom in KCu₄(AsO₄)₃ ist [8]-koordiniert.

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Zur Kristallchemie dreier Kupfer (II)-Arsenate: Cu₃(AsO₄)₂-III, Na₄Cu(AsO₄)₂ und KCu₄(AsO₄)₃

     

Untersuchungen des Hydroxylammonium-Fluorogallats

Summary Crystals of (NH₃OH)₃GaF₆ have been isolated from aqueous solution. The compound crystallizes triclinic, with cell parametersa=6.539(5) Å,b=6.924(5) Å,c=9.403(1) Å, =87.01(9)°, =83.98(8)°, =70.28(8)°. The thermal decomposition was studied by TG and DSC analysis.

     

Thermodynamic properties of crystalline polymeric C60 phases in the temperature region from O → 0 to 340 E

The temperature dependences of the heat capacity C _p° = f(T) were studied in an adiabatic vacuum calorimeter for the orthorhombic, tetragonal, and rhombohedral polymeric C₆₀ phases in the 7—340 K temperature interval with an error of 0.2%. Comparative analysis of C _p° of these phases formed by stacking of one-dimensional and two types of two-dimensional polyfullerenes C₆₀, was performed, and their fractal dimensionalities D were determined for temperatures below 50 K. The thermodynamic functions of the crystalline polymeric C₆₀ phases were calculated in the temperature region from O 0 to 340 K: C _p°(T), H°(T) — H°(0), S°(T) — S°(0), and G°(T) — H°(0). Assuming that S°(0) = 0, the standard entropies of formation _f S° of these phases from graphite at T = 298.15 K and standard pressure were calculated. In addition, the entropies of transformation of the initial face-centered cubic phase of fullerite C₆₀ in the crystalline polymeric C₆₀ phases and entropies of their interconversions under the same conditions were estimated. The thermodynamic characteristics of the polymeric C₆₀ phases were reviewed.     

UV-Visible and IR Spectroelectrochemical Properties of V2O5 Crystalline Films Charged/Discharged in Extended Potential Range

Electrochemical properties of amorphous and crystalline V₂O₅ films, dip-coated from V-oxoisopropoxide sols and thermally treated at various temperatures (100, 150, 200 and 300°C), have been studied in extended potential range, i.e. from 1.4 to –1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl in 1M LiClO₄/propylen carbonate (PC) electrolyte. The formation of various lithiated (-, -, - and -Li _x V₂O₅) phases was correlated with the values of insertion coefficient x obtained from cyclic voltammograms (CV) of crystalline V₂O₅ films (300°C). Reversible charging was observed when films were cycled up to –1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, while the extension of the potential to –1.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl change the CV of films irreversibly. Charging of crystalline V₂O₅ films was followed by the help of in-situ UV-visible spectroscopy, that revealed the intensity variations of the polaron absorption above 600 nm and the presence of the absorbing V³⁺ species between 550 and 650 nm. Ex-situ IR spectra of the crystalline films charged/discharged at –1.6V/1.4V vs. Ag/AgCl confirmed the amorphisation of the films' structure.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of monoclinic Fe2(SeO4)3

Summary Crystals of monoclinic Fe₂(SeO₄)₃ were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The structure was determined by single crystal X-ray methods and refined in space group P2₁/n with 2 646 independent reflections (sin /<0.7 Å^–1) toR=0.033,R _w=0.037:a=8.530 (2) Å,b=8.888 (2) Å,c=11.952 (2) Å, =91.13 (1)°,V=906.0 ų,Z=4. The crystal structure is isotypic with the monoclinic modification of Fe₂(SO₄)₃, containing two different Fe(III) and three Se(VI) atomic positions. The FeO₆ and SeO₄ polyhedra are only slightly distorted, the mean Fe-O bond lengths are 1.986 Å and 2.004 Å, the average distances within the SeO₄ tetrahedra are each 1.628 Å. The isolated FeO₆ octahedra only share corners with SeO₄ tetrahedra to build a framework structure.

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Synthese und Kristallstruktur von monoklinem Fe₂(SeO₄)₃

Zusammenfassung Kristalle von monoklinem Fe₂(SeO₄)₃ wurden unter Hydrothermalbedingungen gezüchtet. Die Struktur wurde mit Einkristall-Röntgenmethoden bestimmt und in der Raumgruppe P2₁/n mit 2 646 unabhängigen Reflexen (sin /<0.7Å^–1) aufR=0.033,R _w=0.037 verfeinert:a=8.530(2) Å,b=8.888(2) Å,c=11.952(2) Å, =91.13(1)°,V=906.0 ų,Z=4. Die Kristallstruktur ist isotyp mit der monoklinen Modifikation von Fe₂(SO₄)₃, sie enthält zwei unterschiedliche Fe(III) und drei Se(VI) Atompositionen. Die FeO₆-Polyeder sind nur gering verzerrt, die mittleren Fe-O Bindungslängen sind 1.986 Å und 2.004 Å, die mittleren Abstände in den SeO₄-Tetraedern sind jeweils 1.628 Å. Die isolierten FeO₆-Oktaeder sind nur über gemeinsame Ecken mit SeO₄-Tetraedern verbunden, wobei eine Gerüststruktur entsteht.

     

Crystal structures of Co3(SeO3)3·H2O and Ni3(SeO3)3·H2O,two new isotypic compounds

Summary The crystal structures of the new, hydrothermally synthesized, isotypic compounds Co₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O and Ni₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O were determined by direct and Fourier methods and refined toR _w=0.023, 0.032 using single crystal X-ray data up to sin/=0.81 Å^–1 [space group P ,a=8.102 (2), 7.986 (3) Å;b=8.219 (2), 8.133 (3) Å;c=8.572 (2), 8.422 (3) Å, =69.15 (1), 69.50 (1)°; =62.88 (1), 62.50 (1)°; =67.23 (1), 67.64 (1)°;Z=2]. The structures are built up from [Me ₅(SeO₃)₆·2H₂O]^2– sheets containing three crystallographically different types of octahedrally coordinatedMe ²⁺ and trigonal pyramidal coordinated Se⁴⁺ atoms, respectively. These sheets are linked only by a fourth type ofMe ^2+[6] atom. All coordination polyhedra deviate significantly from their ideal shapes, bond lengths within the extremly distortedMe(4)O₆ polyhedra range from 1.983 (2) Å to 2.403 (2) Å in Co₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O and from 1.987 (4) Å to 2.301 (3) Å in the Ni compound, O-Se-O bond angles were found between 92.8 (2)° and 104.9 (1)°. Hydrogen bond lengths are 2.802 (3)Å and 2.600 (4)Å in the Co compound, and 2.762 (6) Å and 2.561 (6) Å in Ni₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O. The latter is one of the shortest known hydrogen bonds donated by a water molecule.

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Die Kristallstrukturen von Co₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O und Ni₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O, zwei neue isotype Verbindungen

Zusammenfassung Die Kristallstrukturen der neuen, hydrothermal synthetisierten, isotypen Verbindungen Co₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O und Ni₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O wurden mit direkten und Fourier-Methoden bestimmt und unter Verwendung von Einkristallröntgendaten bis sin/=0.81 Å^–1 aufR _w-Werte von 0.023, 0.032 verfeinert [Raumgruppe P ,a=8.102 (2), 7.986 (3) Å;b=8.219 (2), 8.133 (3) Å;c=8.572 (2), 8.422 (3) Å, =69.15 (1), 69.50 (1)°; =62.88 (1), 62.50 (1)°; =67.23 (1), 67.64 (1)°;Z=2]. Die Strukturen werden von [Me ₅(SeO₃)₆·2H₂O]^2– Schichten aufgebaut, die je drei kristallographisch unterschiedliche Arten von oktaedrisch koordiniertenMe ²⁺ und trigonal pyramidal koordinierten Se⁴⁺ Atomen enthalten. Diese Schichten sind nur durch eine vierte Art vonMe ^2+[6] Atomen verknüpft. Alle Koordinationspolyeder weichen deutlich von ihren Idealformen ab, Bindungslängen in den extrem verzerrtenMe(4)O₆ Polyedern variieren zwischen 1.983 (2) Å und 2.403 (2) Å in Co₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O und zwischen 1.987 (4) Å und 2.301 (3) Å in der Ni-Verbindung, O-Se-O-Bindungswinkel liegen zwischen 92.8 (2)° und 104.9 (1)°. Wasserstoffbrückenlängen sind 2.802 (3) Å und 2.600 (4) Å in der Co-Verbindung, und 2.762 (6) Å und 2.561 (6) Å in Ni₃(SeO₃)₃·H₂O. Letztere ist eine der kürzesten bekannten Wasserstoffbrücken eines Wassermoleküls.

     

Epitaxial Growth of Sr x Ba1 − x Nb2O6 Thin Films Prepared from Sol-Gel Process

In this study, we prepared Sr _x Ba_{1 – x} Nb₂O₆ (x = 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7) thin film on 0.75 wt% La doped SrTiO₃ (100) and (110) single crystal substrates. A homogeneous coating solution was prepared with Sr and Ba acetates and Nb(OEt)₅ as raw materials, and acetic acid and diethlene glycol monomethyl ether as solvents. The substrates were coated with the solution by spin coating method. As-coated thin films were heated from 973 to 1273 K in air. The grains of the thin film on La doped SrTiO₃ (100) were pillar shaped and arranged in right angle to each other. On the other hand, the grains of these thin films on La doped SrTiO₃ were pillar shape and arranged in one direction. The crystallographic relationship of the thin film between Sr _x Ba_{1 – x} Nb₂O₆ and substrate that the 130 and 310 direction of the thin film on the substrate were oriented with c-axis in parallel to the substrate surface. On the other hand, (hk0) phase diffractions of Sr _x Ba_{1 – x} Nb₂O₆ thin film on the substrate (110) were investigated in the XRD theta-2theta measurement. It is expected that the Sr _x Ba_{1 – x} Nb₂O₆ (x = 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7) were highly oriented or epitaxial growing on La doped SrTiO₃ (110) single crystal substrate.     

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.     

PbCu3(OH)(NO3)(SeO3)3·1/2H2O und Pb2Cu3O2(NO3)2(SeO3)2: Synthese und Kristallstrukturuntersuchung

Crystals of PbCu₃(OH)(NO₃)(SeO₃)₃·1/2H₂O [a=7.761(3)Å,b=9.478(4)Å,c=9.514(4)Å, =66.94(2)°, =69.83(2)°, =81.83(2)°, space group P ,Z=2] and Pb₂Cu₃O₂(NO₃)₂(SeO₃)₂ [a=5.884(2)Å,b=12.186(3)Å,c=19.371(4)Å, space group Cmc2₁,Z=4] were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Their crystal structures were refined with three-dimensional X-ray data toR _w=0.033 resp. 0.055. In PbCu₃(OH)(NO₃)(SeO₃)₃·1/2H₂O the Cu atoms are [4+1] and [4+2] coordinated and via SeO₃ groups a three-dimensional atomic arrangement is built up. In Pb₂Cu₃O₂(NO₃)₂(SeO₃)₂ there are sheets, which are connected only via Pb-O bonds ranging from 2.98 Å to 3.16 Å.

     

Crystallization of textured PbTiO3 films deposited from gels

Sol-gel processed PbTiO₃ thin films have been deposited by spin coating onto different subtrates; Si[111], Si/Al, Si/SiO₂/Cr/Pt, MgO[100], SrTiO₃[100] and sapphire. Interactions between the substrate and PbTiO₃ films after heat treatment have been studied by X-ray diffraction and Rutherford Back Scattering. When deposited onto sapphire and Si[111], PbTiO₃ films exhibit a preferred orientation with (101) perpendicular to the substrate. These films become oriented along (100) onto MgO and (001) onto SrTiO₃[100] substrates. A strong channelling effect is observed by the RBS technique when the film is oriented along the c axis on SrTiO₃[100] suggesting that these films are epitaxially grown. The diffusion of metal atoms during the thermal treatment gives rise to the formation of lead silicate on Si[111] substrates. As a result a pyrochlore phase is formed. Lead titanate films on Si/SiO₂/Cr/Pt and Si/Al substrates are polycrystalline and do not exhibit any texture.     

Subsolidus phase relations and crystal structures of the mixed-oxide phases in the In2O3-WO3 system

Subsolidus phase relationships in the In₂O₃-WO₃ system at 800-1400°C were investigated using X-ray diffraction. Two binary-oxide phases—In₆WO₁₂ and In₂(WO₄)₃—were found to be stable over the range 800-1200°C. Heating the binary-oxide phases above 1200°C resulted in the preferential volatilization of WO₃. Rietveld refinement was performed on three structures using X-ray diffraction data from nominally phase-pure In₆WO₁₂ at room temperature and from nominally phase-pure In₂(WO₄)₃ at 225°C and 310°C. The indium-rich phase, In₆WO₁₂, is rhombohedral, space group (rhombohedral), with Z=1, a=6.22390(4) Å, α=99.0338(2)° [hexagonal axes: a_H=9.48298(6) Å, c=8.94276(6) Å, a_H/c=0.9430(9)]. In₆WO₁₂ can be viewed as an anion-deficient fluorite structure in which 1/7 of the fluorite anion sites are vacant. Indium tungstate, In₂(WO₄)₃, undergoes a monoclinic-orthorhombic transition around 250°C. The high-temperature polymorph is orthorhombic, space group Pnca, with a=9.7126(5) Å, b=13.3824(7) Å, c=9.6141(5) Å, and Z=4. The low-temperature polymorph is monoclinic, space group P2₁/a, with a=16.406(2) Å, b=9.9663(1) Å, c=19.099(2) Å, β=125.411(2)°, and Z=8. The structures of the two In₂(WO₄)₃ polymorphs are similar, consisting of a network of corner sharing InO₆ octahedra and WO₄ tetrahedra.     

Fabrication and luminescent properties of rare earths-doped Gd2(WO4)3 thin film phosphors by Pechini sol-gel process

Rare earth ions (Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺)-doped Gd₂(WO₄)₃ phosphor films were prepared by a Pechini sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting powders and films. The results of XRD indicate that the films begin to crystallize at 600°C and the crystallinity increases with the elevation of annealing temperatures. The film is uniform and crack-free, mainly consists of closely packed fine particles with an average grain size of 80 nm. Owing to an energy transfer from WO₄²⁻ groups, the rare earth ions show their characteristic emissions in crystalline Gd₂(WO₄)₃ phosphor films, i.e., (J=0, 1, 2, 3; J′=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, not in all cases) transitions for Eu³⁺ and (J=13/2, 15/2) transitions for Dy³⁺, with the hypersensitive transitions (Eu³⁺) and (Dy³⁺) being the most prominent groups, respectively. Both the lifetimes and PL intensity of the Eu³⁺ () and Dy³⁺ () increase with increasing the annealing temperature from 500°C to 800°C, and the optimum doping concentrations for Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ are determined to be 30 and 6 at% of Gd³⁺ in Gd₂(WO₄)₃ film host lattices, respectively.