Formation of unusual Cr~(5+) charge state in CaCr_(0.5)Fe_(0.5)O_3 perovskite

A new oxide CaCr_(0.5)Fe_(0.5)O_3 was prepared under high pressure and temperature conditions. It crystallizes in a B-site disordered Pbnm perovskite structure. The charge combination is determined to be Cr~(5+)/Fe~(3+) with the presence of unusual Cr~(5+) state in octahedral coordination, although Cr~(4+) and Fe~(4+) occur in the related perovskites CaCrO_3 and CaFeO_3.The randomly distributed Cr~(5+) and Fe~(3+) spins lead to short-range ferromagnetic coupling, whereas an antiferromagnetic phase transition takes place near 50 K due to the Fe~(3+)–O–Fe~(3+) interaction. In spite of the B-site Cr~(5+)/Fe~(3+) disorder,the compound exhibits electrical insulating behavior. First-principles calculations further demonstrate the formation of CaCr_(0.5)~(5+)Fe_(0.5)~(3+)O_3 charge combination, and the electron correlation effect of Fe~(3+) plays an important role for the insulting ground state. CaCr_(0.5)Fe_(0.5)O_3 provides the first Cr~(5+) perovskite system with octahedral coordination, opening a new avenue to explore novel transition-metal oxides with exotic charge states.     

电子束诱导单壁碳纳米管不稳定的新观察

利用透射电镜在室温下对不同形态的单壁碳纳米管进行了原位电子束辐照研究.研究发现:在相同的辐照条件下随着辐照时间(或辐照剂量)的增加,两端固定的单壁碳纳米管径向收缩,且收缩速率越来越快;相同直径的轴向弯曲的单壁碳纳米管比平直的单壁碳纳米管更加不稳定;一端固定另端自由的单壁碳纳米管轴向收缩,但其直径基本不变.利用单壁碳纳米管纳米曲率效应和能量束诱导非热激活效应,对上述单壁碳纳米管不稳定性现象进行了新的、合理的解释.