Photoelectronic and electrical properties of CuIn5S8 single crystals

To identify the impurity levels in CuIn₅S₈ single crystals, the dark electrical conductivity and photoconductivity measurements were carried out in the temperature range of 50–460 K. The data reflect the intrinsic and extrinsic nature of the crystals above and below 300 K, respectively. Energy band gaps of 1.35 and 1.31 eV at 0 K and 300 K, were defined from the dark conductivity measurements and the photocurrent spectra, respectively. The dark and photoconductivity data in the extrinsic temperature region reflect the existence of two independent donor energy levels located at 130 and 16 meV. The photocurrent‐illumination intensity dependence (F) follows the law I_phαF^γ, with γ being 1.0, 0.5 and 1.0 at low, moderate and high intensities indicating the domination of monomolecular, bimolecular and strong recombination at the surface, respectively. In the intrinsic region and in the temperature region where the shallow donor energy level 16 meV is dominant, the free electron life time, τ_n, is found to be constant with increasing F. In the temperature region 140 K < T < 210 K, the free electron life time increases with increasing illumination intensity showing the supralinear character. Below 140 K, τ_n decrease with decreasing illumination intensity. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phase separation and crystallization in a melt-spun Ti45Zr35Ni17Cu3 alloy

Structure and crystallization behavior of amorphous and quasicrystalline Ti₄₅Zr₃₅Ni₁₇Cu₃ alloy have been studied. DSC trace of the amorphous alloy obtained during continuous heating to 1300 K shows distinctly an exothermic peak and two endothermic peaks. The amorphous alloy has different structures depending on annealing temperature. The first exothermic reaction at low temperature region from 400 K to 900 K is due to the precipitation of an icosahedral quasicrystalline phase, and the second endothermic reaction at higher temperature region from 950 K to 990 K results from the transformation of the I-phase to C14 Laves and α-(Ti, Zr) phases.     

Luminescence of GaN single crystals prepared by heating a Ga melt in Na–N2 atmosphere

Colorless transparent prismatic crystals (0.5‐2.0 mm long) and hopper crystals (1.0‐2.5 mm long) of GaN were prepared by heating a Ga melt at 800°C in Na vapor under N₂ pressures of 7.0 MPa for 300 h. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of a prismatic crystal at 4 K showed the emission peaks of neutral donor‐bound exciton (D⁰‐X) and free exciton (X_A) at 3.472 eV and 3.478 eV, respectively, in the near band edge region. The full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of (D⁰‐X) peak was 1.9 meV. The emission peaks of a donor–acceptor pair transition (D⁰‐A⁰) and its phonon replicas were observed in a lower energy range (2.9‐3.3 eV). The emission peaks of the D⁰‐A⁰ and phonon replicas were also observed in the cathodoluminescence (CL) spectrum at 20 K. The (D⁰‐X) PL peak of a hopper crystal at 4 K was at 3.474 eV (2.1 meV higher), having a FWHM of 6.1 meV which was over 3 times larger than that of the prismatic crystal. A strong broad band with a maximum intensity around 1.96 eV was observed for the hopper crystals in the CL spectrum at room temperature. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Thermoelastic and Piezoelastic Properties of Hexagonal RbMnCl3

Temperature and pressure derivatives of the elastic constants, indices of refraction, dielectric constants, Faraday effect and thermal expansion of RbMnCl₃ near T_c = 278 K confirm the existence of a second-order phase transition. A strongly anomalous behaviour is observed with the elastic shear stiffness c₄₄ which possesses a positive temperature derivative and a negative pressure derivative. These properties and also the pressure derivative of the transition temperature, dT_c/dp = 6.2 K kbar⁻¹ closely resemble the anomalous behaviour of two other ferroelectric species, betaine borate and betaine hydrogen maleinate.     

Crystal structure and phase transition of single crystalline CsNH2SO3

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X‐ray diffraction measurements have been performed on cesium sulfamate CsNH₂SO₃ single crystal. Two distinct endothermic peaks in the DSC curves are observed at 330 and 436 K. It is pointed out that the peak at 330 K is attributed to the structural phase transition, and the other peak at 436 K is associated with the thermal decomposition of the crystal. The structures in room‐ and high‐temperasture phases are determined, and the space group of the sample crystal is found to change from monoclinic P 2₁/c to orthorhombic Pnma. The structure of the room‐temperature phase consists of two different types of N‐H···O hydrogen bond, but in the high‐temperature phase there is no specific hydrogen bond between the NSO₃ pseudo‐tetrahera. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal Data,Electrical Resisitivity and Mobility in Cu3In5Se9 and Cu3In5Te9 Single Crystals

X-ray powder diffraction data were obtained for Cu₃In₅Se₉ and Cu₃Te₉, which were found to crystallize in orthorhombic and tetragonal systems, respectively. The electrical resistivities and Hall mobilities of these compounds were investigated in the temperature range 35–475 K. Cu₃In₅Se₉, was identified to be n-type with a room temperature resistivity of 3 × 10³ Ω·cm which decreases with increasing temperature. For T < 65 K impurity activation energy of 0.03 eV and for T > 350 K onset of intrinsic conduction yielding a band gap energy of 0.99eV were detected. The neutral impurity scattering was found to dominate at low temperatures, while in the high temperature region thermally activated mobility was observed. Cu₃In₅Te₉ exhibits p-type conduction with a room temperature resistivity of 8.5 × 10⁻³ Ω·cm decreasing sharply above 400 K and yielding an impurity ionization energy of 0.13 eV. The temperature dependence of mobility indicates the presence of lattice and ionized impuritiy scattering mechanisms above and below 160 K, respectively.     

Study of optical and transport properties of K2CuCl4 · 2H2O single crystal

Optical absorption, transport properties and EPR of K₂CuCl₄ · 2H₂O single crystals have been studied. The optical absorption in UV, and visible region are characterized by a charge transfer band, and in the near infrared region at 3998, 4336, and 4480 cm⁻¹ are attributed to transitions between the stark levels of copper(II) ion in an extended octahedral crystal field. An anisotrophic ‘g’ value was observed with g_∥ = 2.12 and g_∥ = 2.24 by EPR method. The spin orbit coupling constant is found to be 500 cm₋₁. D.C. electrical conductivity measurements with temperature reveal an anisotropy characteristic of a two-dimensional layered structure and exhibit a first order irreversible structural phase-transition at 377 K, i.e. from tetragonal to monoclinic crystal system. X-ray diffraction studies and density calculations from the crystal structure data in both the phases suggest that the first order irreversible transition occurs following the loss of the two water molecules of hydration.     

High-temperature X-ray irradiation induced thermoluminescence and half-life calculations in NaYF4 polycrystalline samples

Elevated irradiation temperature studies with NaYF₄ samples reveal that the intensity of the two glow peaks observed around 120 and 180°C enhances. The effect of temperature of irradiation (T_irr) on the sensitisation of the both peaks are studied. The half lives of these glow peaks were calculated and concluded that the half lives of these peaks decreases with the increase in irradiation temperatures.     

Thermoluminescence of Sr1–xEuxF2 + x Solid Electrolytes

Thermoluminescence (TL) studies have been carried out in different compositions of Sr_1–xEuxF_{2 + x} mixed crystals as a function of X-irradiation time. Three groups of TL glow peaks in the temperature ranges (340, 360 ∼ 370 K), (460 ∼ 475, 540 ∼ 575 K) and (615 ∼ 635, 680 ∼ 720 K) are identified. The growth rates of different glow peaks have been compared with each other to estimate the growth kinetics. The three groups of TL glow peaks are attributed to thermal ionization of radiative impurity centers, different stages of F-centers and other kinds of defect centers such as F-interstitials. The shift in the glow peak maxima is perhaps due to unassociated impurities surrounding F-centers causing a change in configuration. The concentration quenching of TL output due to increased europium is pertinent in Sr_1–xEuxF_{2 + x} mixed system.     

Electron‐phonon short‐range interactions mobility and p‐ to n‐type conversion in TlGaS2 crystals

The conductivity type conversion from p ‐ to n ‐type at a critical temperature of 315 K in TlGaS₂ crystals is observed through the Hall effect measurements in the temperature range of 200–350 K. The analysis of the temperature‐dependent electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient and carrier concentration data reveals the extrinsic type of conduction with donor impurity levels that behave as acceptor levels when are empty. The data analysis allowed the calculation of hole and electron effective masses of 0.36m ₀ and 0.23m ₀, respectively. In addition, the temperature‐dependent Hall mobility is found to decrease with temperature following a logarithmic slope of ∼1.6. The Hall mobility in the n ‐region is limited by the electron‐phonon short‐range interactions scattering with an electron‐phonon coupling constant of 0.21. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Twist Grain Boundary Phases in the Binary Mixtures of Smectic and Cholesteryl Compounds

Abstract

The binary mixture of Terephthal-bis-p-n-hexadecylaniline (TB16A) and cholesteryl nonanoate (CN) exhibits I - N* - TGB _A - TGB _c*- Sm A - Sm I - Sm F - Sm G - K phases in the concentration region between 95 to 98% of TB16A at higher temperature range. The 90% of TB16A exhibits I - N* - TGB _A - TGB _c - Sm A - Sm I - Sm F - K phases. The mixtures of concentration between 50 to 80% of TB16A exhibits I - Sm A - Sm I - K phases. The frustrated blue phase is also observed in the mixtures of lower concentration of TB16A in CN at higher temperature. Optical, DSC and X-ray studies were carried out for the identification of the different phases. The phase diagram of the Chen-Lubensky model in this context is discussed.     

Line width measurements of Cr in a zinc borate glass

The temperature dependence of the homogeneous line width (Γ_h) of the R-line of Cr³⁺ in 4ZnO·3B₂O₃ glass in the region between 15 K and room temperature has been measured. We found that Γ_h has a T ² dependence down to approximately 30 K. Below 30 K the data do not follow the power law, T ². The results are compared with those of Cr³⁺ in mullite and ED2 silicate glasses where the crossover was observed at about 80 K and with the data for Eu³⁺ in zinc borate and other glasses. The comparison indicates that the local environment affects Γ_h. In fact, the Cr³⁺ ions appear to form more defined complexes with the oxygen ligands than do the Eu³⁺ ions, which have a larger distribution of sites in the glass.     

Neutron powder diffraction studies in CaMn1‐xCuxO3 (x = 0, 0.2)

Neutron powder diffraction patterns were recorded on CaMn_1‐xCu_xO₃ (x = 0 and 0.20) compounds at different temperatures down to 11K. All the patterns were analyzed by employing Rietveld refinement technique and using the Fullprof program. The observed crystallographic peaks could be refined by using Pbnm space group and no structural transition has been observed down to 11K. An additional peak at 2θ = 16.7° has been observed with decrease in temperature below T_N and its intensity was found to increase with decrease in temperature. It could be indexed to magnetic (101) plane. The magnetic ordering is found to be G‐type antiferromagnetic behaviour. The magnetic moment at 11K for the samples x = 0.0 and 0.20 are found to be 2.69 and 2.42μ_B. The doped Cu ions are found to be in Cu²⁺ state and take part antiferromagnetic interactions with Mn ions. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effect of vibration frequency and sample composition on acoustic properties of Y?Ba?Cu?O high-Tc superconductors

Temperature dependences of absorption and velocity of longitudinal ultrasound in high-T_c ceramics Y Ba Cu O with different Y and Ba content at frequencies 100 kHz and 7.5 MHz are studied in the temperature range 6 to 300 K. For 100 kHz three peaks at 60, 140, and 230 K are observed in the temperature dependences of decrement. Temperature dependences of sound velocity show a broad hysteresis for thermocycling. The temperature boundaries of hysteresis and peak locations are almost independent of sample composition. Sizes of hysteresis and peak heights are very different in samples of various composition. For 7.5 MHz, a peak was found at 210 K in the temperature dependences of ultrasound absorption increment. It is shown that the acoustic anomalies are due to a structural phase transition of martensitic type. Thermoactivation parameters of the main microscopic mechanism responsible for the phase transition are estimated.     

Influence of structural ordering on ion transport in BiO<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>F<Subscript>2.0</Subscript> bismuth oxyfluoride

The influence of structural defect ordering on ionic conductivity (σ) in the cubic (fluorite) modification of BiO_0.5F_2.0 oxyfluoride has been investigated. Upon cooling, the disordered fluorite BiO_0.5F_2.0 phase undergoes a reversible transition to an ordered form. This transition manifests itself as a jump in the temperature dependence σ(T) near 583 ± 6 K. The ordering of structural defects deteriorates the characteristics of ion transport in BiO_0.5F_2.0. At 500 K, the σ value for the ordered phase is 1 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm, whereas an extrapolation to this temperature for the disordered phase gives σ = 4 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm.     

Crystal growth,spectral, optical,thermal, luminescence and magnetic properties of blue light emitting diaquabis(hydrogenmalonato)cobalt(II)

Abstract

The single crystals of diaquabis(hydrogenmalonato)cobalt(II) were synthesized and grown using the slow evaporation of solutions method. The structure of the compound was obtained through single crystal XRD analyses and it belongs to P2₁/c space group of monoclinic system. The UV-vis absorption spectrum exhibits two peaks at 216 nm and 259?nm in the UV region and one peak at 524?nm in the visible region. Photoluminescence studies revealed emission of intense blue radiation. The thermal stability and decomposition stages have been investigated by TGA-DTA analysis. The magnetic measurements exposed that the compound exhibits antiferromagnetic behavior at low temperature.     

Thermal expansion,pyroelectricity and linear optical properties of Li2SeO4·H2O and Li2SO4·H2O

Large single crystals of polar Li₂SeO₄·H₂O were grown at 343 K from aqueous solution. Temperature dependent thermal expansion coefficients of Li₂SeO₄·H₂O and Li₂SO₄·H₂O were determined within the temperature range 133 K–313 K and coefficients of the pyroelectric effect within the temperature range 183–343 K. Refractive indices between 365 nm and 1530 nm as well as unpolarized absorption spectra of Li₂SeO₄·H₂O and Li₂SO₄·H₂O were measured and phase‐matching curves for second harmonic generation were calculated. Both compounds allow type I and type II phase‐matching at wavelengths from about 650 nm to the near infrared region. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Preparation and Characterization of (1 — x) Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3) O3 — x PbTiO3 Electrocaloric Ceramics

Lead magnesium niobate Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ — lead titanate PbTiO₃ [abbr. as (1 — x) PMN — x PT] ferroelectric ceramics with different excesses of MgO and PbO were systematically studied under different processing conditions for ferroelectric refrigeration application. It was found that the excess amount of MgO and PbO, and the sintering temperature have great effect on the crystallographic properties of the ceramics. In our experiments, (1 — x) PMN —x PT (x = 0.08, x = 0.10, and x = 0.25 respectively) with the excesses of 2 mol% MgO and 2 mol% PbO ceramics sintered at 1250 °C/1 hour possess the desired perovskite structures and large electrocaloric temperature change (ΔT = 1 K and more) in the vicinity of room temperature under a dc electric field of 1.5 kV/mm. It is expected that (1 — x) PMN — x PT electrocaloric ceramics could be applied for cascade refrigeration near room temperature.     

Crystal growth experiments in the systems Ni2MSbO6 (M = Sc,In) using chemical vapour transport reactions: Ni2InSbO6 and NiSb2O6 crystals in the millimetre range

Endothermic chemical vapour transport (CVT) reactions of Ni₂MSbO₆ (M = Sc, In), using a temperature gradient of 1313 → 1233 K and HgCl₂, HgBr₂, PtCl₂ or TeCl₄ as transport agents, led to growth of Ni₂InSbO₆ single crystals in the millimetre range, whereas in the case of Ni₂ScSbO₆ an incongruent dissolution of the solid in the source region was observed, leading to the formation of single crystals of the ternary phase NiSb₂O₆ in the sink region. The crystal structures of the obtained crystals were refined from single crystal X‐ray data with high precision [Ni₂InSbO₆: R3, Z = 3, a = 5.21640(10) Å, c = 14.0142(3) Å, 1279 structure factors, 33 parameters, R[F² > 2σ(F²)] = 0.0189; NiSb₂O₆: P4₂/mnm, Z = 2, a = 4.63910(10) Å, c = 9.2182(2) Å, 500 structure factors, 19 parameters, R[F² > 2σ(F²)] = 0.0145]. Ni₂InSbO₆ crystallizes in a corundum‐related structure, NiSb₂O₆ in the trirutile structure type. Spontaneous polarization and the ferroelectric transition temperature were estimated from the atomic arrangement and cation displacement along the polar axis in Ni₂InSbO₆. Magnetic measurements on Ni₂InSbO₆ evidence an antiferromagnetic transition near T_N = 74 K, with significant magnetic frustration.     

Studies on the growth and optical characterization of Tm3+‐doped BaY2F8 single crystals

The BaY₂F₈ crystals doped with different concentrations of Tm³⁺ ions were prepared by the temperature gradient technique (TGT). X‐ray powder diffraction was applied to analyze the phase. The cracking phenomenon along (010) and (100) planes of the crystals grown by temperature gradient technique was studied on the basis of the structure of BaY₂F₈ crystals. The absorption spectra were measured and investigated in the ultraviolet‐visible and near‐infrared ranges at room temperature. Several characteristic absorption bands of Tm³⁺‐doped BaY₂F₈ crystal were observed. The emission and excitation spectra were obtained and investigated at room temperature and 12 K, showing the characteristic emission peaks of Tm³⁺ ions. The temperature dependence of Photoluminescence curve was also investigated in the range of 12–296 K. The luminescence intensity of emission bands decreased with increasing temperature, while the effective bandwidth increased. The up‐conversion spectrum excited at 650 nm was recorded and up‐conversion mechanism was analyzed in detail. The result showed the purple, green and yellow emissions corresponding to ³P₁→³F₃, ¹D₂→³H₅ and ³P₀→¹G₄ transitions, respectively.