Promising performances for a La<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3-δ</Subscript> cathode with a dense interfacial layer at the electrode-electrolyte interface

As for the commonly studied La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (6428), here, a very low area-specific resistance (ASR) was measured for La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ (6482) cathode deposited on a Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2-δ (GDC) electrolyte with addition of a thin (1 μm) dense LSCF film deposited by spin coating at the interface between the GDC electrolyte and a 40-μm-thick screen-printed electrode. The ASR ranged from 1 Ω.cm² at 500 °C, 0.11 Ω.cm² at 625 °C and value as low as 0.03 Ω.cm² at 700 °C. Impedance spectra collected in between 500 and 700 °C were carefully studied. They could all be modelled with two R//CPE in series which are likely associated to the oxygen reduction reaction itself (dissociation/adsorption/ionization) at low frequency and to the oxide ion transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface at high frequency.     

Multiphoton SRS-Lasing in a Monoclinic β-BaYb<Subscript>2</Subscript>F<Subscript>8</Subscript> Crystal

The discovery of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in monoclinic fluoride β-BaYb₂F₈ known as a host matrix for Ln³⁺ lasant ions was reported. All the recorded spectral components of Stokes and anti-Stokes χ⁽³⁾-nonlinear picosecond generation were assigned to the three SRS-active photon A_g- and B_g-modes of a crystal (ω_SRS1 ~ 362 cm^–1, ω_SRS2 ~ 295 cm^–1, and ω_SRS3 ~ 230 cm^–1).     

Current dependent fluctuations in a Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>6+δ</Subscript> thin film

The current dependence of the excess conductivity is measured up to ≃3T_c for a Bi₂Sr₂CuO_6+δ thin film, as a function of doping. It is found to be anomalously sensitive to the transport current and to behave as a universal function of T/T_c in the whole doping range. We discuss these results in the perspective of a granular superconductor with a gapless-like behavior.     

Detection of YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−x</Subscript> magnetization nonlinearity in a pseudogap region

The temperature dependences of magnetization higher harmonics were studied experimentally in single-domain YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x samples above T _c . YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x magnetization nonlinearity was found in different samples up to temperatures T = 103–112 K, which is much higher than the temperature of transition into the superconducting state of the given compound. The observed specific feature of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x magnetization is associated with the occurrence of pseudogap state in this compound.     

Sequence of phase transitions in a quasi-one-dimensional β-Na<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> compound with variable valence

The thermal properties—specific heat, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion coefficients—of a single crystal of quasi-one-dimensional variable-valence β-Na_0.33V₂O₅ compound were studied. With lowering temperature, it sequentially undergoes the structural (T _S ～ 230 K), charge (T _C ～ 136 K), and magnetic (T _N ～ 22 K) phase transitions. The structural transition at T _S , resulting in the ordering of the Na ions, and the charge ordering at T _C , resulting in the charge redistribution over the positions of V ions, are accompanied by the anomalies in the temperature dependences of all the studied properties. The magnetic ordering at T _N results in the appearance of the canted antiferromagnetic structure and manifests itself only in the anomaly in the temperature dependences of the thermal expansion coefficients.     

Fabrication of a nanoparticle TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> photoelectrochemical cell utilizing a solid polymeric electrolyte of PAN–PC–LiClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

A nanoparticle TiO₂ solid-state photoelectrochemical cell utilizing as a solid electrolyte of poly(acrylonitrile)–propylene–carbonate–lithium perchlorate (PAN–PC–LiClO₄) has been fabricated. The performance of the device has been tested in the dark and under illumination of 100-mW cm⁻² light. A nanoparticle TiO₂ film was deposited onto indium tin oxide-covered glass substrate by controlled hydrolysis technique assisted with spin-coating technique. The average grain size for the TiO₂ film is 76 nm. LiClO₄ salt was used as a redox couple. The room temperature conductivity of the electrolyte is 4.2 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹. A graphite electrode was prepared onto a glass slide by electron beam evaporation technique. The device shows the rectification property in the dark and shows the photovoltaic effect under illumination. The best J _sc and V _oc of the device were 2.82 μA cm⁻² and V _oc of 0.58 V, respectively, obtained at the conductivity of 4.2 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ and intensity of 100 mW cm⁻². The J _sc was improved by about three times by introducing nanoparticle TiO₂ and by using a solid electrolyte of PAN–PC–LiClO₄ replacing PVC–PC–LiClO₄ in the device. The current transport mechanism of the cell is also presented in this paper.     

Actively Q-switched performance of a mixed crystal Nd:Lu<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>VO<Subscript>4</Subscript> at 1.34 μm

The actively Q-switched laser performance of the mixed Nd:Lu_0.5Y_0.5VO₄ crystal was demonstrated for the first time. At the pump power of 7.26 W, the minimum pulse width of 46.6 ns was obtained at the pulse repetition rate of 5 kHz with the cavity length of 80 mm, and the single pulse energy and peak power were calculated to be 42 μJ and 901.3 W, respectively.     

Mössbauer study of mechanical alloying in a Mo<Subscript>80</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>20</Subscript> system

The sequence of solid state reactions upon the mechanical alloying of Mo and Fe powders with an 80: 20 atomic ratio was established by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. At the first stage, a nanostructure and Mo₆₃Fe₃₇ hexagonal close packed (HCP) phase are formed in Mo body-centered cubic lattice (BCC) particles. At the second stage, a body-centered cubic lattice of Mo-Fe solid solution is formed. The process is accompanied by the formation of a minor amount (about 20%) of X-ray amorphous phase.     

Thermal stability of nonstoichiometric ceramic YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6.8</Subscript> at 200°C in a dried air

The behavior of the nonstoichiometric ceramic YBa₂Cu₃O_6.8 has been investigated during annealing at a temperature of 200°C in an atmosphere excluding the penetration of water into the sample. It has been found that, under these conditions, the separation into two phases with different oxygen contents proceeds extremely weakly. The previously observed disordering of Y and Ba atoms along the crystallographic axis c occurs under the effect of the OH⁻ group formed on the crystallite surface as a result of dissociation of water in the case of treatment in the undried atmosphere.     

Internal friction and magnetoelectric response in two-layer composites Tb<Subscript>0.12</Subscript>Dy<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.68</Subscript>–PbZr<Subscript>0.53</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>0.47</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The inverse magnetoelectric effect and internal friction in two-layer composites based on ferromagnetic Tb_0.12Dy_0.2Fe_0.68 and piezoelectric PbZr_0.53Ti_0.47O₃ are studied in an ac electrical field in the frequency range of 52–213 kHz at temperatures of 293 to 400 K. A correlation is found between the internal friction and the efficiency of the inverse magnetoelectric transformation at resonant frequencies.     

μSR study of Eu<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> and EuMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> multiferroics

A comparative μSR study of ceramic samples of the EuMn₂O₅ and Eu_0.8Ce_0.2Mn₂O₅ multiferroics is performed in the temperature range from 15 to 300 K. It is found that the Ce doping of the EuMn₂O₅ sample slightly reduces the temperature of the magnetic phase transition from T _N = 45 K for the EuMn₂O₅ sample to T _N = 42.5 K for the Eu_0.8Ce_0.2Mn₂O₅ sample. Below the temperature T _N for both samples, there are two types of localization of a thermalized muon with different temperature dependences of the precession frequency of the magnetic moment of the muon in an internal magnetic field. The higher frequency in both samples refers to the initial antiferromagnetic matrix. The behavior of this frequency in Eu_0.8Ce_0.2Mn₂O₅ follows the Curie–Weiss law with the exponent β = 0.29 ± 0.02, which differs from the value β = 0.39 standard for 3D Heisenberg magnetics and is observed in EuMn₂O₅, because of the strong frustration of the doped sample. The temperature-independent low frequency is due to the presence of Mn³⁺–Mn⁴⁺ ferromagnetic pairs located along the b axis of the antiferromagnetic matrix and in the regions of phase separation, which contain such ion pairs and e _g electrons recharging them. In both samples, polarization losses are the same (about 20%) and are associated with the formation of Mn⁴⁺–Mn⁴⁺ + Mu complexes near Mn³⁺–Mn⁴⁺ ferromagnetic pairs. In the temperature interval from 25 to 45 K, the separation of the Eu_0.8Ce_0.2Mn₂O₅ structure into two fractions where the relaxation rates of polarization of muons differ by an order of magnitude is revealed. This effect is due to a change in the state of regions of phase separation (1D superlattices) at the indicated temperatures. Such effect in EuMn₂O₅ is significantly weaker.     

High-Temperature Heat Capacity of Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>–Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> Solid Solutions

Differential scanning calorimetry has been used to study the influence of temperature on the heat capacity of synthesized vanadates Zn₂V₂O₇, (Cu_0.56Zn_1.44)V₂O₇, and (Cu_1.0Zn_1.0)V₂O₇. It is found that dependences C_p = f(T) have extremes. The thermodynamic properties of Zn₂V₂O₇ have been determined.     

Electron diffraction study of various lattice defects in a Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> crystal

Lattice defects in a scintillation detector made of Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ (BGO) could severely impact detector efficiency via non-radiative transfer of electron excitation, thus making thorough investigations of these defects highly important. Here we present a combined experimental and theoretical study of two- and three-dimensional defects in a Czochralski-grown BGO crystal. Upon examination by transmission electron microscopy the selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns in two neighboring parts of the specimen reveal different kinds of two- and three-dimensional defects. Three sub-grains misoriented at 2.47° with reference to each other and probable presence of stacking faults lying in {011} planes were observed in the first examined local area. The SAED image taken from an area in the close neighborhood is much more complicated and is explained in terms of the superposition of reflections from: (i) a partially textured GeO₂ second-phase inclusion; (ii) the basic lattice of BGO and (iii) a superlattice-like structure based on the BGO lattice. The atomic structure of such a superlattice-like structure was theoretically modeled and the corresponding simulated SAED patterns were found to be in good agreement with the experimentally observed one.     

Magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>FeMoO<Subscript>6–δ</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoheterostructures

A method has been developed for fabricating nanoporous matrices based on anodic aluminum oxide for the deposition of ferromagnetic nanoparticles in them. The modes of deposition of strontium ferromolybdate thin films prepared by the ion-plasma method have been worked out, and the magnetic and magnetoresistive properties, structure, and composition of the films have been investigated. It has been revealed that the microstructure and properties of the strontium ferromolybdate films deposited by ionplasma sputtering depend on the deposition rate and the temperature of the substrate. Based on the measurement of the electrical resistivity of nanoheterostructures in a magnetic field, it has been found that the magnetoresistance reaches 14% at T = 15 K and B = 8 T, which is due to the manifestation of tunneling magnetoresistance.     

Cluster spin glass and superparamagnetism in RuSr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Eu<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>10-</Subscript><Subscript>δ</Subscript>

We investigate in detail the dc magnetization and nonlinear ac susceptibility behavior of the superconducting ferromagnet RuSr₂Eu_1.5Ce_0.5Cu₂O_{10- δ} (Ru1222) to develop a comprehensive understanding of the spin glass and superparamagnetism in this material. The structural properties of the system result in the formation of magnetic (ferromagnetic) clusters of different sizes, shapes and properties. The magnetic clustering of the system leads to observation of various features in dc magnetization and ac susceptibility consistent with superparamagnetism and cluster spin glass states, which can coexist or stand alone, depending on the temperature range considered. Experimental results of magnetic measurements in combination with their analysis have enabled us to explain and distinguish these phenomena, as well as to propose a temperature dependent scenario of the system behavior.     

Colossal Magnetoresistance of Layered Manganite La<Subscript>1.2</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>1.8</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> and Its Description by a “Spin–Polaron” Conduction Mechanism

The resistance of a La_1.2Sr_1.8Mn_2(1–z)O₇ single crystal has been studied in magnetic fields from 0 to 90 kOe. The magnetoresistance at temperature T = 75 K, near which a colossal magnetoresistance maximum is observed, has been successfully described in terms of the “spin–polaron” electric conduction mechanism. This value of the colossal magnetoresistance is due to a three-fold increase in the polaron size. The method of separating contributions of various conduction mechanisms to the magnetoresistance developed for materials with activation type of conduction is generalized to compounds in which a metal–insulator transition is observed. It is found that, at a temperature of 75 K, the contribution of the “orientation” mechanism is maximum (≈20%) in a magnetic field of 5 kOe and almost disappears in fields higher than 50 kOe.     

Microwave characterization of Pb<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> multiferroics at X-band

The microwave characteristics of Pb_1?x Ca _x Fe_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ multiferroics (x = 0.0, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6), have been investigated as a function of frequency and substitution. The results depict ?13.99 dB reflection loss at 11.65 GHz in composition x = 0.6. Microwave absorption is enhanced with substitution of Ca²⁺ ions and undoped composition 0.0 behaves as electromagnetic shield. The model governing microwave absorption is discussed and different compositions for electromagnetic applications have been suggested.     

Electrical switching in the MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> and MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> glasses

High field electrical switching on blown films of MoO₃(60%)–P₂O₅(40%), MoO₃(50%)–WO₃(10%)–P₂O₅(40%), and MoO₃(45%)–WO₃(15%)–P₂O₅(40%) having different thicknesses was studied and compared. Switching was observed using two terminal samples. S-type current–voltage characteristic (current-controlled negative resistance—CCNR) with memory was observed in molybdenum–phosphate glasses, but N-type characteristic (voltage-controlled negative resistance—VCNR) with threshold in tungsten–molybdenum–phosphate glasses was observed. The important observation was that with the addition of WO₃ to binary MoO₃–P₂O5 led to a change of I–V characteristic from CCNR with memory to VCNR with threshold. The measurements of density and molar volume showed linear relation between MoO₃ content and density which decreased with the increase of MoO₃ content. The samples’ thickness had no significant effect on threshold voltage. The attained results also indicated that the electrode material had no effect on switching property of devices. The switching behavior of the devices did not show any dependence on the polarity of the applied voltage. In terms of the effect of heat on the switching behavior of molybdenum–phosphate glasses, it was found that threshold voltage decreases with increasing of temperature. Finally, the switching phenomenon was explained by thermal (formation of crystalline filaments) and electronic models.     

Nernst effect of stripe ordering La<Subscript>1.8−x</Subscript>Eu<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>x</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

We investigate the transport properties of La_1.8−xEu_0.2Sr_xCuO₄ (x = 0.04, 0.08, 0.125, 0.15, 0.2) with a special focus on the Nernst effect in the normal state. Various anomalous features are present in the data. For x = 0.125 and 0.15 a kink-like anomaly is present in the vicinity of the onset of charge stripe order in the LTT phase, suggestive of enhanced positive quasiparticle Nernst response in the stripe ordered phase. At higher temperature, all doping levels except x = 0.2 exhibit a further kink anomaly in the LTO phase which cannot unambiguously be related to stripe order. Moreover, a direct comparison between the Nernst coefficients of stripe ordering La_1.8−xEu_0.2Sr_xCuO₄ and superconducting La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ at the doping levels x = 0.125 and x = 0.15 reveals only weak differences. Our findings make high demands on any scenario interpreting the Nernst response in hole-doped cuprates.