Structural,optical and dielectric relaxor properties of neodymium doped cubic perovskite (Ba1−xNd2x/3)(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3

Neodymium doped Barium Zirconate Titanate (Ba_1−xNd_2x/3)(Zr_0.3Ti_0.7)O₃ (x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10) ceramics were prepared using the solid state reaction route. Structural characterizations of the materials were done by using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. XRD study suggested that all the compositions were of single phase cubic perovskite structure with space group Pm-3m while Raman spectra revealed that the replacement of the Ba²⁺ ions by Nd³⁺ ions significantly reduced the intensity of the Raman active modes and shifted them towards higher energy side. Room temperature optical property was analyzed by photoluminescence spectroscopy, which confirmed formation of shallow defects in the band gap. Photoluminescence property was attributed to the presence of polar [TiO₆] distorted clusters in the globally cubic matrix. As a result PL emission spectra of these materials were found to belong to violet–blue regions. Microstructural study of sintered pellets revealed that the grain sizes increase with increase in doping concentration. The temperature dependence of the dielectric properties was investigated in the frequency range 1 kHz to 1 MHz. The broadening in the dielectric constant peak around the phase transition temperature and shifting of the temperature maximum towards higher temperatures with increase in frequency indicated a relaxor type of behavior.     

The structural and electric properties of the perovskite system BaTiO3–Ba(Fe1/2Ta1/2)O3

Compounds in the pseudo-binary BaTiO₃–Ba(Fe_1/2Ta_1/2)O₃ system have been synthesized at 1500°C in air and characterized by X-ray and electron diffraction as well as impedance analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The symmetry of Ba(Fe_1/2Ta_1/2)O₃ is found to be trigonal with the space group P3m1. Two solid solutions exist in the BaTi_1−xFe_x/1Ta_x/1O₃ system at room temperature. The first (SS1) is in the composition range 0⩽x⩽0.07 and is tetragonal, P4mm, while the second broader solid solution, (SS2) 0.12⩽x⩽1, is trigonal and has the space group P3m1. The conductivity becomes higher with reduced amount of Ti in the structure. The activation energy of conductivity differs between the two solid solutions, 0.80 eV for SS1 and 0.30 eV for SS2, which indicates different mechanisms. The maximum of the real part of the permittivity recorded for compounds in SS1 decreases towards room temperature with increasing amount of Fe/Ta doping and a high dielectric constant of around 7000 is found for BaTi_0.94Fe_0.03Ta_0.03O₃.     

Electrical properties of Ba2(In1 − x Al x )2O5 solid solutions

The electric conductivity of perovskite-like Ba₂(In_{1 ? x} Al _x )₂O₅ solid solutions (0 < x ≤ 0.20) characterized by structural disordering in the oxygen sublattice was studied as a function of temperature and partial pressure of oxygen in an atmosphere with a low content of water vapors ( $p_{H_2 O}$ = 3 × 10^?5 atm). When In³⁺ was partially replaced by Al³⁺, the oxygen ion conductivity increased because of the disordering of oxygen structural vacancies, leading to a significant increase in the total electric conductivity of the samples.     

Structure and properties of glasses in the system Li2O–SnO–B2O3

Glasses in the system Li₂O–SnO–B₂O₃ system were prepared by a melt-quenching method. Thermal and viscous properties and local structure of these glasses were investigated. The SnO–B₂O₃ glasses exhibited relatively low glass-transition temperatures (T_g) around 350 °C and excellent thermal stability against crystallization. Viscosity measurements in the vicinity of T_g indicated that the glasses were considerably fragile compared to alkali borate glasses. Fraction of four-coordinated boron was maximized at the composition with 50 mol% SnO and that of nonbridging oxygen, which is not purely ionic in alkali borate systems but partially covalent, augmented with an increase in the SnO content. Correlation between glass properties and structure was discussed in the SnO–B₂O₃ binary system.     

Sintering, microstructures and dielectric properties of Ba1−xPbx(Ti1−xLix)O3−3xF3x ferroelectric ceramics

Various compositions (1−x)BaTiO₃ + xPbF2 + xLiF were prepared, shaped to pellets then sintered at 900°C for 2 h in gold sealed tubes. The purity and the symmetry of the obtained samples were checked by X-ray diffraction. A new solid solution with Ba_1−x Pb _x (Ti_1−x Li _x ) O_3−3x F_3x formula occurs in the composition range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20. SEM observations were performed on polished and fractured ceramics. The complex permittivity was measured as a function of temperature (−120°C ≤ T ≤ 250°C) and frequency (50 Hz ≤ f ≤ 4 × 10⁷ Hz). The dielectric performances are the best for ceramic Ba_0.97Pb_0.03(Ti_0.97Li_0.03)O_2.91F_0.09. The real component ε′, exhibits a maximum of approximately 7500 at the ferroelectric Curie temperature T _C ≈ -18°C, the dielectric losses tan δ value being 0.012. At room temperature, the relaxation frequency f _r is around 40 MHz for this ceramic. This novel ferroelectric oxifluoride is a promising material for applications, in particular in the field of Z5U multilayer capacitors.      

Oxygen isotope exchange and electrical conductivity of CaZr1–x Sc x O3–x/2

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The effect of scandium content in CaZr1–x Sc x O3–x/2 on electrical conductivity and oxygen exchange kinetics was investigated. The electrical...     

Structures and optical properties of Zn1?x Ni x O nanoparticles by coprecipitation method

Nanocrystals of undoped and nickel-doped zinc oxide (Zn_1?x Ni _x O, where x?=?0.00?C0.05) were synthesized by the coprecipitation method. Crystalline size, morphology, and optical absorption of prepared samples were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and UV?Cvisible spectrometer. XRD and SEM studies revealed that Ni-doped ZnO crystallized in hexagonal wurtzite structure. Doping of ZnO with Ni²⁺ was intended to enhance the surface defects of ZnO. The incorporation of Ni²⁺ in place of Zn²⁺ provoked an increase in the size of nanocrystals as compared to undoped ZnO. Crystalline size of nanocrystals varied from 10 to 40?nm as the calcination temperature increased. Enhancement in the optical absorption of Ni-doped ZnO indicated that it can be used as an efficient photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Optical absorption measurements indicated a red shift in the absorption band edge upon Ni doping. The band gap value of prepared undoped and Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles decreased as annealing temperature was increased up to 800?°C.     

The (100) orientation evolution and temperature-dependent electrical properties of Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3–PbTiO3 ferroelectric films

The 0.2Bi(Zn_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃–0.8PbTiO₃ (0.2BZT–0.8PT) ferroelectric thin film was successfully fabricated on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by a sol–gel method. The result indicates that the film exhibits the (100) preferred orientation and has a relatively dense and uniform microstructure with a thickness of ~230 nm. The formation mechanism of the oriented films was ascribed to the growth of the (100) oriented PbO layer at ~450 °C during a layer-by-layer crystallization process. Temperature-dependent electrical properties of the 0.2BZT–0.8PT films were investigated, showing that the film has a potential for high temperature applications.     

Preparation and optical properties of silica sol–gel microparticles functionalized with [Eu(ntac)3][pphendcn] and [Eu(phen)2](NO3)3 complexes

Preparation methods and optical properties of silica sol–gel microparticles functionalized with [Eu(ntac)₃][pphendcn] and [Eu(phen)₂](NO₃)₃ [ntac = 1-(2-naphthoyl)-3,3,3-trifluoroacetone, pphendcn = pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10-phenanthroline-2,3-dicarbonitrile, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline] complexes displaying an energy transfer are discussed. Adsorption of [Eu(ntac)₃][pphendcn] on the silica surface leads to strong red emitting samples. A method for functionalization of SiO₂:Eu³⁺ with 1,10-phenanthroline is described. Diffuse reflectance spectra, excitation/emission spectra and quantum yield measurements of the investigated solids are presented. The studies are supported by chemical analysis, NMR data, IR spectra and X-ray diffraction measurements of the functionalized powders.     

Synthesis and optical properties of quasi-2D CdS x Se1 − x nanoparticles

Colloidal 2D CdS _x Se_{1 ? x} nanoparticles have been synthesized by a solution method in octadecene using oleic acid as a stabilizer. Growth of quasi-2D nanoparticles has been promoted by the presence of cadmium acetate in the reaction mixture. The resulting nanoparticles are platelets with lateral sizes 20–30 nm. The absorption and luminescence spectra of these nanoparticles show narrow bands of lh-e and hh-e exciton transitions corresponding to 2D systems. The spectral position of the lowest energy hh-e transition monotonically changes within 382–461 nm with a change in the composition of nanoparticles. The observed absorption bands are broader than those for the individual CdSe and CdS nanoparticles. The suggested method makes it possible to vary the exciton band position for quasi-2D nanoparticles by changing their composition.     

Electrical, electrochemical, and thermomechanical properties of perovskite-type (La1?x Sr x )1?y Mn0.5Ti0.5O3?δ (x?=?0.15–0.75, y?=?0–0.05)

Strontium additions in (La_1?x Sr _x )_1?y Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_3?δ (x?=?0.15–0.75, y?=?0–0.05) having a rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure under oxidizing conditions lead to the unit cell volume contraction, whilst the total conductivity, thermal and chemical expansion, and steady-state oxygen permeation limited by surface exchange increase with increasing x. The oxygen partial pressure dependencies of the conductivity and Seebeck coefficient studied at 973–1223?K in the p(O₂) range from 10^?19 to 0.5?atm suggest a dominant role of electron hole hopping and relatively stable Mn³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ states. Due to low oxygen nonstoichiometry essentially constant in oxidizing and moderately reducing environments and to strong coulombic interaction between Ti⁴⁺ cations and oxygen anions, the tracer diffusion coefficients measured by the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotopic exchange depth profile method with time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometric analysis are lower compared to lanthanum–strontium manganites. The average thermal expansion coefficients determined by controlled-atmosphere dilatometry vary in the range 9.8–15.0?×?10^?6?K^?1 at 300–1370?K and oxygen pressures from 10^?21 to 0.21?atm. The anodic overpotentials of porous La_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_3?δ electrodes with Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2-δ interlayers, applied onto LaGaO₃-based solid electrolyte, are lower compared to (La_0.75Sr_0.25)_0.95Cr_0.5Mn_0.5O_3?δ when no metallic current-collecting layers are introduced. However, the polarization resistance is still high, ~2 Ω?×?cm² in humidified 10?% H₂–90?% N₂ atmosphere at 1073?K, in correlation with relatively low electronic conduction and isotopic exchange rates. The presence of H₂S traces in H₂-containing gas mixtures did not result in detectable decomposition of the perovskite phases.     

Fabrication and properties of xBiFeO3-(1 − x)Bi4Ti3O12 system by sol–gel process

The thin films of mixture of xBiFeO₃-(1 − x)Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (x = 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6) system were prepared by a sol–gel process. The thicknesses of the thin films were 540, 500, and 570 nm, respectively. The crystal structure of all thin films annealed at 650 °C was analyzed by X-ray diffraction. It was found that the thin films at x = 0.4 and 0.5 mainly consisted of a Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ phase while Bi₅Ti₃FeO₁₅ was the major phase of the thin film at x = 0.6. The thin film (x = 0.6) showed better ferroelectric properties in remnant polarization and polarization fatigue than those observed in the thin films (x = 0.4 and 0.5). The values of remnant polarization 2P _r and coercive field 2E c of the thin film at x = 0.6 were 36 μC/cm² and 192 kV/cm at an applied electric field of 260 kV/cm, respectively. There was almost no polarization fatigue up to 10¹⁰ switching cycles. Also weak ferromagnetism was observed in the thin film at x = 0.6.     

Hydrates [Na2(H2O)x](2-thiobarbiturate)2 (x = 3, 4, 5): crystal structure,spectroscopic and thermal properties

The hydrates [Na₂(H₂O)₃(Htba)₂] (1) and [Na₂(H₂O)₄(Htba)₂] (2), where H₂tba is 2-thiobarbituric acid, were obtained under different thermal conditions from aqueous solutions and were structurally characterized. The molecular and supramolecular structures were compared to the known structure of [Na₂(H₂O)₅(Htba)₂] (3). In polymeric 1–3, the Htba^? ions are linked to Na⁺ through O and S forming octahedra. The decrease of the number of coordination water molecules led to an increase of the total number of bridge ligands (μ₂-H₂O, Htba^?) and a change of the Htba^? coordination. These factors induced higher distortion of the octahedra. It was assumed that hydrates, with a different number of coordinated water molecules, are more probable when the central metal has weaker bonds with O water molecules and with other ligands. The net topologies of 1–3 were compared. Thermal decomposition and IR spectra were analyzed for 1 and 2.     

Effect of Zr/Ce molar ratio on the structure of powders and Zr1−x Ce x O2 coatings on quartz fiber reinforced polyimide matrix composites via sol–gel process

In this investigation, Zr_1−x Ce _x O₂ coatings were fabricated on quartz fiber reinforced polyimide matrix composites via sol–gel process at 400 °C. The phase evolution, structural and morphological characteristic of specimens were investigated by differential scanning calorimetric, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The significant phase evolution of final powders with the decreasing Zr/Ce molar ratio could be observed as follows: tetragonal (t′) → cubic + tetragonal (t′) → tetragonal (t″). BET specific surface areas of powders exhibited a decreased tendency with the increasing calcination temperature as well as the decreasing Zr/Ce molar ratio. The average crystallite size and the mean particle size increased with the elevated calcination temperature, while the particle size also increased with the increase in Ce content. The progressive addition of Ce could promote the sintering process and the densification of coating. Morphologies of coatings changed with the variation of the Zr/Ce molar ratio. The results indicate that Zr_0.75Ce_0.25O₂ coating with the Zr/Ce molar ratio of 3 is a stable uniform coating with excellent adhesion.