Photorefractive properties of LiNbO3:Zn crystals related to the defect structure

LiNbO₃:Zn single crystals and powders were studied by precise X-ray diffraction methods. Structural refinement yielded new models of the intrinsic defect structure valid for different Zn concentration ranges. For concentrations up to 7 at. % in the crystal, Zn ions incorporate onto Li sites; at higher concentrations Zn ions are found on both Li and Nb sites. Photorefractive properties of LiNbO₃:Zn are discussed in the context of the deduced defect models. A smooth increase in the photoconductivity up to 7 at. % Zn is accounted for by a decrease of Nb antisites. Steeper growth of the photoconductivity at higher Zn concentrations is related to vanishing Li vacancies. Received: 17 November 2000 / Revised version: 23 January 2001 / Published online: 20 April 2001     

Synthesis, atomic structure, and properties of crystals in the RbTiOPO4-CsTiPO5 system

The subsolidus region of the phase diagram of the RbTiOPO₄-CsTiPO₅ system has been studied in the temperature range 700–1000°C, and the boundaries between the stability fields of the orthorhombic phase with the KTiOPO₄-type structure and the cubic phase with the pyrochlore-type structure have been determined. Single crystals of the RbTiOPO₄ and CsTiPO₅ based solid solutions were synthesized by crystallization from flux. The crystal structure and the physical properties of the first members of the series were studied.     

Structure and properties of niobium-doped potassium titanyl phosphate crystals

A series of potassium titanyl phosphate crystals, KTiOPO₄, with various concentrations of niobium dopant has been grown, and some of their physical properties and structural characteristics have been studied. The incorporation of a small amount of niobium results in considerable changes in the electrical conductivity of KTP: Nb crystals and the temperature of the ferroelectric phase transition. Thus, the presence of 3–4 at. % of niobium results in an increase of conductivity by more than an order of magnitude, whereas T _C decreases from 930 to 620°C. The X-ray diffraction study of the crystals has been performed at room temperature; the neutron diffraction analysis was made at temperatures of 20, 330, and 730°C. It was revealed that two crystallographically independent positions are statistically (by 90%) occupied by potassium cations, which results in the concentration of potassium atoms in the structure higher than it was expected from the condition of preservation of crystal electroneutrality. At high niobium concentrations, the monoclinic compound of the composition K₂TiNb₂P₂O₃ is formed.     

A Series of Novel Pentagonal-Bipyramidal Erbium(III) Complexes with Acyclic Chelating N3O2 Schiff-Base Ligands: Synthesis,Structure, and Magnetism

A series of six seven-coordinate pentagonal-bipyramidal (PBP) erbium complexes, with acyclic pentadentate [N₃O₂] Schiff-base ligands, 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis-(4-methoxybenzoylhydrazone) [H₂DAPMBH], or 2,6-diacethylpyridine bis(salicylhydrazone) [H₄DAPS], and various apical ligands in different charge states were synthesized: [Er(DAPMBH)(C₂H₅OH)Cl] (1); [Er(DAPMBH)(H₂O)Cl]·2C₂H₅OH (2); [Er(DAPMBH)(CH₃OH)Cl] (3); [Er(DAPMBH)(CH₃OH)(N₃)] (4); [(Et₃H)N]⁺[Er(H₂DAPS)Cl₂]⁻ (5); and [(Et₃H)N]⁺[Y₀.₉₅Er₀.₀₅(H₂DAPS)Cl₂]⁻ (6). The physicochemical properties, crystal structures, and the DC and AC magnetic properties of 1–6 were studied. The AC magnetic measurements revealed that most of Compounds 1–6 are field-induced single-molecule magnets, with estimated magnetization energy barriers, U_eff ≈ 16–28 K. The experimental study of the magnetic properties was complemented by theoretical analysis based on ab initio and crystal field calculations. An experimental and theoretical study of the magnetism of 1–6 shows the subtle impact of the type and charge state of the axial ligands on the SMM properties of these complexes.