Intrinsic tunneling study of underdoped Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+δ superconductors

We report on a tunneling study of underdoped submicron Bi₂Sr_2-xLa_xCuO_6+δ (La-Bi2201) intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs), whose self-heating is sufficiently suppressed. The tunneling spectra are measured from 4.2 K up to the pseudogap opening temperature of T^* = 260 K. The gap value found from the spectral peak position is about 35 meV and has a weak temperature dependence both below and above the superconducting transition temperature of T_c = 29 K. Since the superconducting gap should have a value of 10-15 meV, our results indicate that the pseudogap (～35 meV) plays an important role in the underdoped La-Bi2201 intrinsic tunneling spectroscopy down to the lowest temperature of 4.2 K. However, the contribution of the superconducting gap can be separated by normalizing the spectra to the one near and above T_c, which shows that the IJJs can be a useful tool for the study of the electronic properties of the La-Bi2201 cuprate superconductors.     

Electronic properties of LiMn2?xTixO4

Ti-substituted LiMn₂O₄ (LiMn_2−x Ti _x O₄, x=0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 0.60, and 0.75) has been synthesized using solid-state reactions. Their crystal and electronic structures were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). XRD data suggested that the lattice parameters of LiMn_2−x Ti _x O₄ increase due to the replacement of Mn by Ti ions. XPS results indicated that the substituted Ti ions were in +4 oxidation state; consequently, the normal oxidation state of Mn ions has been detected by measuring the binding energy splitting of Mn 3s states, which decreases with the content of substituted Ti. The valence band spectra suggested that the intensity of e _g level of Mn 3d orbitals increased due to the increase of the Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ratio.     

M?ssbauer study of compounds of Cu3 ? xFexSnS4 and Cu2Fe1 ?xZnxSnS4 systems

A M?ssbauer study of the structural and charge states of ⁵⁷Fe and ¹¹⁹Sn atoms in the compounds of Cu_{3 −x} Fe _x SnS₄ and Cu₂Fe_{1 − x} Zn _x SnS₄ systems was performed. It was shown that the iron atoms in the compounds of both systems were in the divalent and trivalent states occupying the tetrahedral positions of the structure. The character of the changes of the degree of covalency of the Fe²⁺-S, Fe³⁺-S and Sn⁴⁺-S bonds during the isomorphic substitution in the systems was established.     

Anomalous effect of magnetic field on the low-temperature thermal expansion of the Bi2Sr2?xLaxCuO6+δ and Nd2?xCexCuO4?δ HTSC systems in the non-superconducting phase

The thermal expansion of single crystals of the Bi₂Sr_2−x La _x CuO_6+δ high-temperature superconducting (HTSC) system in the insulating phase with compositions having no superconducting transition to a temperature of 1.8 K (x ≥ 0.8) is measured in an arbitrary direction in the (ab) plane in the temperature range of 7–50 K. Temperature regions of material compression upon heating are found. The study of anomalies in magnetic fields of 3 and 6 T, parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis revealed an anisotropic and nonmonotonic effect of the field on thermal expansion. Such anomalies for the n-type Nd_2−x Ce _x CuO_4−δ HTSC sample also having no superconducting transition are detected for the first time. The results show that the anomaly nature is caused by anisotropic electronic ordering, probably, by the charge density wave in the CuO₂ plane and superconductivity fluctuations in the insulating phase.     

Modification of the optical spectra of mixed K2CoxNi1–x(SO4)2?6H2O crystals

We propose a new method for obtaining K₂Co _x Ni_1–x (SO₄)₂⋅6H₂O (x = 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1) crystals, involving the use of the chlorides (CoCl₂⋅6H₂O and NiCl₂⋅6H₂O) in an aqueous solution instead of the widely used sulfates. We have studied the transmission spectra of the grown single crystals in the range λ = 200–900 nm and the IR reflectance spectra in the 2.5–20 μm region. We have observed a change in the position and intensity of the absorption bands as a function of the composition of the crystals. Based on the Tanabe–Sugano diagrams, we determined the crystal field splitting (D_q) and its dependence on the nickel concentration. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 1, pp. 126–130, January–February, 2009.     

Anomalous behavior of the coercive force of dilute nickel ferrites NiGaxAlxFe2 ? 2 xO4 with a frustrated magnetic structure

The behavior of the spontaneous magnetization σ _s (T) and coercive force H _c (T) of dilute nickel ferrites NiGa _x Al _x Fe_{2 − 2x} O₄ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 0.8) has been studied. Above the transition temperature T _t , the coercive force H _c is found to reveal an anomalous behavior for compositions with x ≥ 0.4, namely, the temperature dependence of the coercive force H _c (T) exhibits a maximum in the range from T _t to T _C. For the reduced temperature θ₂ = 0.8 T _C, at which ferrites with the substitution x ≥ 0.4 reside in the spin glass state, the coercive force H _c is observed to increase sharply with x. The assumption is made that the clusters prevailing in the spin glass state are no larger than 3 nm in size. Original Russian Text ? L.G. Antoshina, A.B. Korshak, 2009, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2009, Vol. 51, No. 5, pp. 900–903.     

Studying the local structural features of Zn2 ? 2xCd2xV2O7 by NMR and IR spectroscopy

The local structure of pyroanion groups in the incommensurate phase X-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cd_2x V₂O₇ (0.11 ≤ x ≤ 0.48) with a zero volumetric expansion coefficient is studied. Comparative analysis of IR and NMR spectra of samples in the X-phase and of ZnCdV₂O₇ revealed that vanadium atoms have a similar structural and an identical charge environment. Additional bands in the IR spectra of the X-phase in the range of end vibrations are due to the influence of the cation sublattice.     

Ion-electron transfer in solid solutions Rb2 ? 2xFe2 ? xPxO4

The rubidium monoferrite RbFeO₂-based solid solutions with the composition Rb_{2 − 2x} Fe_{2 − x} P _x O₄ have been synthesized, and their crystal structure and the temperature and concentration dependences of the total and electron conductivities have been studied. The introduction of P⁵⁺ ions has been found to sharply decrease the electron conductivity that prevails in pure rubidium monoferrite and, at the same time, to increase the ionic conductivity. The latter becomes dominant as the phosphorus concentration increases. The maximum rubidium-cation conductivity of the materials under study is ∼3 × 10⁻² S/cm at 300°C and ∼3 × 10⁻¹ S/cm at 700°C. The results have been compared with the previously obtained data for similar solid solutions based on rubidium monogallate and monoaluminate.     

Thermal conductivity of single crystals of Ca1 ? xErxF2 + x and Ca1 ? xTmxF2 + x solid solutions

The thermal conductivity of single crystals of Ca_{1 − x} Er _x F_{2 + x} (x = 0.01, 0.05, 0.07, and 0.10) and Ca_{1 − x} Tm _x F_{2 + x} (x = 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06) solid solutions is studied in the temperature ranges 50–300 and 298–673 K. With increasing content of rare-earth elements, the behavior of thermal conductivity in these solid solutions changes from the characteristic of defect single crystals to glasslike. The concentration dependences of thermal conductivity for the two systems differ insignificantly.     

LixNayCoO2的制备和热电性质

用固相反应方法，成功地合成了具有交互生长结构的Li_xNa_yCoO₂单相多晶系列样品. 热电势测量表明，该系统的室温热电势比Na_xCoO₂体系约高出60μV/K. 基于空穴载流子具有O2p特征，提出Li_xNa_yCoO₂中额外的热电势来源于氧空穴的占位熵. 关键词： xNa_yCoO₂')" href="#">Li_xNa_yCoO₂ 热电势 热电材料     

EPR Studies of Tl0.5Pb0.5Sr1.6Ba0.4CaCu2?xRuxO7?δ Superconductor

Bulk superconducting samples of type Tl_0.5Pb_0.5Sr_1.6Ba_0.4CaCu_2−x Ru _x O_7−δ, (Tl, Pb)/Sr-1212, with 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.525 were prepared by the conventional one-step solid-state reaction technique. The prepared samples were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, electrical resistivity and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements. Enhancement of the phase formation, superconducting transition temperature T _c and hole carriers concentration P was observed up to x = 0.075. For x > 0.075, a reverse trend was observed. EPR spectra were measured at different temperatures (120–290 K) for all prepared samples. The number of spins N participating in the resonance and the paramagnetic susceptibility χ were calculated as a function of both Ru-content and temperature. N and χ increased as the Ru-content increased. A linear relationship between logN and 1/T was established, from which the activation energy E _a was calculated as a function of the Ru-content. The temperature dependence of χ was fitted according to Curie–Weiss type of magnetic behavior. Curie constant C, Curie temperature θ, the effective magnetic moment μ and the electronic specific heat γ were estimated as a function of the Ru-content.     

Electrical conductivity and chemical stability of perovskite-type BaCe0.8-xTixY0.2O3-δ

Here we report the synthesis, chemical stability, and electrical conductivity of Ti-doped perovskite-type BaCe_0.8-x Ti _x Y_0.2O_3-δ (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3; BCTY). Samples were synthesized by conventional solid state (ceramic) reaction from corresponding metal salts and oxides at elevated temperature of 1,300–1,500 °C in air. The powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a simple cubic perovskite-type structure with a lattice constant of a = 4.374(1), 4.377(1), and 4.332(1) ? for x = 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 members of BCTY, respectively. Like BaCe_0.8Y_0.2O_3-δ (BCY), Ti substituted BCTY was found to be chemically not stable in 100% CO₂ and form BaCO₃ at elevated temperature. The bulk electrical conductivity of BCTY decreased with increasing Ti content and the x = 0.05 member exhibited the highest conductivity of 2.3 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 650 °C in air, while a slight increase in the conductivity, especially at low temperatures (below 600 °C), was observed in humidified atmospheres.     

EPR search for vortex excitations in Bi2Sr2Ca1 ? xYxCu2O8 + y crystals above the critical temperature

Excitations of the vortex type in the regions of temperatures both below and above critical temperature T _c are found by studying the local magnetic fields on the surface of Bi₂Sr₂Ca_{1 − x} Y _x Cu₂O_{8 + y} single crystals by means of EPR. The narrow EPR signal of the surface paramagnetic probe allows us to observe weak distortions of the magnetic field that arise when T > T _c. The behavior of the signal broadening agrees with the hypothesis about the existence of vortices in this temperature region.     

Low-field magnetization of ludwigites Co3O2BO3 and Co3 ? xFexO2BO3 (x ≈ 0.14)

Ludwigite single crystals of compositions Co₃O₂BO₃ and Co_{3 − x} Fe _x O₂BO₃ (x ≈ 0.14) have been synthesized. The crystal structure is investigated at room temperature, and the magnetization is studied in the temperature range T = 4.2–100 K in magnetic fields of up to 600 Oe. The orthorhombic symmetry is revealed, and the unit cell parameters are determined. A number of features are established for the temperature dependence of the magnetization. In unsubstituted Co₃O₂BO₃, two magnetic transitions are found at T _C1 = 43 K and T _C2 = 15 K. At temperatures below 40 K, spin-glass state is revealed. Substitution of iron ions for cobalt ions leads to a noticeable shift in the magnetic transitions toward the high-temperature range: T _C1 = 83 K and T _C2 = 74 K. A ferromagnetic ordering of the P type is found in the Co_{3 − x} Fe _x O₂BO₃ (x ≈ 0.14) compound. Original Russian Text ? N.V. Kazak, N.B. Ivanova, V.V. Rudenko, A.D. Vasil’ev, D.A. Velikanov, S.G. Ovchinnikov, 2009, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2009, Vol. 51, No. 5, pp. 916–919.     

High-resolution F T spectrum of A2Πr-X2Σ+ band system of MgCl

The emission spectrum of the A ² Π _r -X ² Σ ⁺ band system of MgCl molecule (360–380 nm) has been recorded on BOMEM DA8 Fourier transform spectrometer at an apodized resolution of 0.035 cm⁻¹. The spectra have been excited under flowing conditions in a demountable stainless steel hollow cathode lamp (400 V, 250 mA) containing anhydrous MgCl₂ and Ar. The resulting spectra are very intense and the 0-0, 1-1, 1-0 bands of A ² Π _1/2-X ² Σ ⁺ sub-transition and the 0-0 band of A ² Π _3/2-X ² Σ ⁺ sub-transition have been rotationally analyzed. Improved molecular constants have been derived using a least-squares fit program in which optical data of earlier analyzed 0-1 and 0-2 bands (A ² Π _1/2-X ² Σ ⁺) was also included. The Λ-doubling constants in the v′ = 0, 1 levels of the A ² Π _1/2 sub-state are as expected, i.e. p ₁ > p ₀, where as it is found that the spin-doubling constants of the v″ = 0, 1 and 2 levels of the ground state X ² Σ ⁺, decrease with the increase in v, i.e. γ ₀ > γ ₁ > γ ₂. This is indicative of the presence of some nearby state, influencing the spin-doubling.     

Mechanism of NdSr2 ? xCaxMn2O7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) solid solution formation

The mechanisms of formation of NdSr_{2− x} Ca _x Mn₂O₇ (0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) solid solution have been studied. The dependence of its volume magnetic susceptibility on the calcium concentration is obtained. The stability of this solid solution is compared with that of similar solid solutions in lanthanum-containing systems.     

Simulation of the electronic structure of simple oxides BeO and SiO2 and complex oxides Be2SiO4 and Be2SixGe1 ? xO4 with the phenacite structure

The ab initio numerical calculations of the electronic structure of simple oxides BeO and SiO₂ and complex oxides Be₂SiO₄ and Be₂Si _x Ge_{1 − x} O₄ with the phenacite structure have been performed using the electron density functional theory. The calculations indicate that the main feature of the systems under investigation is the presence of oxygen states in both the valence and conduction bands. The splitting of the bottom of the conduction band has been revealed in the electronic structure of the Be₂Si _x Ge_{1 − x} O₄ system. The splitting width is about 1.5 eV. The main contribution to the formation of a narrow subband of the conduction band comes from the 2s and 2p states of oxygen and the 4d state of germanium. Microscopic models of the spatial localization of the electron density on lower energy states of the conduction band of oxide crystals have been developed using the Wannier function technique. The reflection spectra of BeO, SiO₂, and Be₂SiO₄ have been analyzed. The reported calculations of the electronic structure imply the exciton nature of the 9.7-eV reflection peak in the Be₂SiO₄ crystal.     

Profile of the refractive index distribution over the depth of (HfO2)x(Al2O3)1 ? x films

Capabilities of the method of laser null ellipsometry for the study of optical parameters of thin films of multicomponent alloys are demonstrated. Films of alloys (HfO₂) _x (Al₂O₃)_{1 − x} on single-crystal silicon are obtained by the chemical vapor deposition with the use of the following volatile compounds: hafnium dipivaloylmethanate (IV) and aluminum acetylacetonate (III). The selection of initial sets for their optical parameters is justified. The selected model is shown to correspond to experimental data. In films deposited from the mixture of precursors, the refractive index increases from a substrate to a film surface. Due to the separation of sources, films described by a single-layer model were deposited. This fact is indicative of the homogeneous distribution of components over the film thickness.     

Elektronen-Spin-Resonanz an (La1??xGdyCex)Al2

In the EPR of (La_1––x Gd _y Ce _x )Al₂ a bottleneck in the relaxation of the conduction electrons to the lattice is present at sufficiently high Gd-concentrations. The bottleneck can be broken by decreasing the Gd-concentration or by adding Cerium as a spin-flip-scatterer.g-factor and line broadening are measured for (La_1–y Gd _y )Al₂ and (La_1––x Gd _y Ce _x )Al₂ as a function of temperature and Gd- and Ce-concentrations. The Cerium induced relaxationsrate _eL (Ce) increases linearly with Ce-concentration up tox0.025. This corresponds to the fact, well known by measurements of the Kondo anomalies, that Cerium impurities show no significant interaction up to rather high concentrations.     

Sc2－xGaxW3O12体系负热膨胀性能研究

通过固相反应法,在1100 ℃下成功制备出了系列Ga掺杂Sc_2-xGa_xW₃O₁₂（x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8）固溶体.X射线粉末衍射结构精修表明,Ga以替代Sc的形式成功进入Sc_2-xGa_xW₃O₁₂晶格,但不能获得端元组分Ga₂W₃关键词： 负热膨胀 热膨胀系数 Rietveld结构精修