Pressure effects on the superconducting transition of ytterbium doped Ce0.6Yb0.4FeAsO0.9F0.1

The Effect of pressure on the superconducting transition temperature of Yb doped Ce_0.6Yb_0.4FeAsO_0.9F_0.1 has been investigated for the first time using resistivity and magnetization studies. Increase in chemical pressure by substitution of smaller Yb³⁺ ions in place of Ce³⁺ ions results in a significant enhancement of T_c from 38 K (Yb free) to 47 K (40% Yb). Enhancement in T_c with external pressure has been observed for this compound up to a maximum value of T_c = 48.7 K at 1 GPa, beyond which T_c starts decreasing monotonously. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

铌酸钾钠基无铅压电陶瓷的X射线衍射与相变分析

分析了斜方相、四方相铌酸钾钠基无铅压电陶瓷材料的结构和X射线衍射图谱的特点. 对于铌酸钾钠基压电材料斜方相结构, 从构成晶胞的一个单斜原胞进行分析, 计算出X射线衍射谱上每个衍射角附近的衍射峰数目和相对强度. 提出了2θ在20°—60°范围内根据(1 0 2)衍射峰(52°附近)和(1 2 1)衍射峰(57°附近)劈裂的数目区分斜方和四方相的新方法. 对于多晶陶瓷粉末, 可以更简便的由22°(或45°)附近前后峰的相对高低来判断斜方、四方相. 关键词： 铌酸钾钠 无铅压电陶瓷 X射线衍射 相变     

Enhanced piezoelectric properties of sodium bismuth titanate (Na0.5Bi4.5Ti4O15) ceramics with B‐site cobalt modification

The piezoelectric properties of the cobalt‐modified sodium bismuth titanate (Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅, NBT) piezoelectric ceramics were investigated. The piezoelectric properties of NBT ceramics were significantly enhanced by cobalt modification. The Curie temperature T_C and piezoelectric constant d₃₃ for the 0.3 wt% cobalt‐modified NBT ceramics (NBT‐C3) were found to be 663 °C and 30 pC/N, respectively. Thermal annealing studies presented that the cobalt‐modified NBT ceramics possess stable piezoelectric properties, demonstrating that the cobalt‐modified NBT‐based ceramics are promising candidates for high temperature piezoelectric applications. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dielectric,ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of (1−x)[K0.5Na0.5NbO3]−x[LiSbO3] ceramics

Lead-free (1?x)[K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃]?x[LiSbO₃] (x=0, 0.04, 0.05 and 0.06)/(KNN-LS) ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction route (CSSR). For dense morphology pure KNN ceramic was sintered at 1120 °C and LS modified KNN ceramics were sintered at 1080 °C for 4 h, respectively. The structural study at room temperature (RT) revealed the transformation of pure orthorhombic to tetragonal structure with the increase in LS content in KNN-LS ceramics. Temperature dependent dielectric study confirmed the increase of diffuse phase transition nature with the increase in LS content in KNN-LS ceramics. The presence of orthorhombic to tetragonal (T_O?T) polymorphic phase transition temperature (PPT) ～43 °C confirmed the presence of two ferroelectric (orthorhombic and tetragonal) phases in 0.95KNN-0.05LS ceramics at RT. 0.95KNN-0.05LS ceramics showed better ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties i.e., remnant polarization (P_r)～18.7 μC/cm², coercive field (E_c)～11.8 kV/cm, piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃)～215 pC/N, coupling coefficient (k_p)～0.415 and remnant strain ～0.07% were obtained.     

Phase transitions in the H+-conducting perovskite ceramics by the quasi-elastic neutron and high-pressure Raman scattering

H⁺-containing lanthanide-doped perovskites A(Ba, Sr etc.)B(Zr, Ce, Ti etc.)O₃ are potential ceramic membranes for fuel cell and medium temperature water electrolysis (300–800 °C). The comparison studies of the hydrated and non-hydrated Yb-doped BaZrO₃ and SrZrO₃ were performed by thermal expansion, medium–high temperature neutron and room-temperature high-pressure Raman scattering. Neutron diffraction and elastic/quasi-elastic studies carried out for BaZrO₃ ceramic show the presence of the protons, their successive diffusion above ∼600 °C, and then their departure above 750 °C (under vacuum). Phase transitions and their modification by proton insertion are discussed. A high-pressure Raman study of SrZrO₃ performed at room temperature in the diamond anvil cell reveals the presence of two pressure-induced phase transitions at about 5 and 22 GPa and confirms that proton insertion modifies the phase transition sequences. Paper presented at the 11th EuroConference on the Science and Technology of Ionics, Batz-sur-Mer, Sept. 9–15, 2007.     

New crystallographic dielectric phase boundary in K0.5Na0.5NbO3‐based lead‐free ceramics

0.979K_0.5Na_0.5Nb_1‐xSb_x O₃‐0.021Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ (KNNSx ‐BNT) lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics were fabricated by conventional solid state reaction technique, and their phase transition and electrical properties were studied. With the increase of x, the rhombohedral‐orthorhombic phase transition temperature of the ceramics increases. Finally, both the rhombohedral‐orthorhombic and orthorhombic‐tetragonal phase transitions of the ceramics were modified to be around room tempera‐ ture when about 6% Sb were substituted for the Nb site, resulting in the formation of a new phase boundary separating rhombohedral and tetragonal phases. The formation of the new phase boundary results in excellent properties for the ceramics, that is, the KNNS0.05‐BNT ceramic shows an enhancement in piezoelectric properties: d₃₃ = 380 pC/N and k_P = 0.438. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

La2O3对Yb:Y2O3透明陶瓷光谱性能的影响

研究了La₂O₃对Yb：Y₂O₃透明陶瓷光谱性能的影响，添加适量La₂O₃以后，Yb：Y₂O₃透明陶瓷的吸收峰和发射峰的位置不变，但由于La³⁺的离子半径大于Y³⁺的离子半径，在Y₂O₃中引入La³⁺离子后，导致Y₂O₃晶格常数变大，晶场强度变弱，同时降低了Y₂O₃晶体的有序度，致使发射峰强度有所下降，发射截面变小.过量的La₂O₃（x=0.16）造成Yb³⁺激活离子发射强度明显下降；其荧光寿命在添加La₂O₃后总体增大45%—60%. 关键词： 氧化镧 氧化钇 透明陶瓷 光谱性能     

Comparative spectroscopic investigation of Yb3x Y3(1 ? x )Al5O12 (x = 3, 5, 10 and 15%) transparent ceramics

Transparent Yb_3x Y_{3(1 ? x} )Al₅O₁₂ (x = 3, 5, 10 and 15%) ceramics were fabricated by solid-state reaction and vacuum sintering method with a mixture of commercial Al₂O₃, Y₂O₃ and Yb₂O₃ powders. Ethanol and 0.5 wt % tetraethoxysilane were doped. Transparent fully dense samples with grain sizes of several micrometers were obtained by sintered at 1750 K. The absorption spectra, emission spectra and fluorescence life time of these transparent Yb_3x Y_{3(1 ? x} )Al₅O₁₂ ceramics at room temperature have been measured and calculated. The air annealed effects of Yb_3x Y_{3(1 ? x} )Al₅O₁₂ ceramics have been compared with un-annealed Yb:YAG transparent ceramics which shows the difference of the Yb³⁺ ions between annealed and unannealed Yb:YAG ceramics is less than 1%.     

Microstructure,dielectric, and piezoelectric properties of Ce‐modified Na0.5Bi4.5Ti4O15 high temperature piezoceramics

The cerium modified sodium bismuth titanate (Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅, NBT) piezoelectric ceramics have been prepared by using the conventional mixed oxide method. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that the cerium modified NBT ceramics have a pure four‐layer Aurivillius phase structure. The piezoelectric activity of NBT ceramics was found significantly improved by the modification of cerium. The Curie temperature T_c, and piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ for the NBT ceramics with 0.50 wt% cerium modification were found to be 655 °C, and 28 pC/N respectively. The Curie temperature gradually decreased from 668 °C to 653 °C with the increase of cerium modification. The dielectric spectroscopy showed that the samples possess stable piezoelectric properties, demonstrating practical potential that for high temperature applications. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Chemical effects of high‐resolution YbLγ4 emission spectra: a possible probe for chemical analysis

An ‘eccentric’ X‐ray emission, YbLγ₄, was measured for Yb metal, Yb₂O₃, YbF₃, β‐YbAlB₄, YbNi₃Al₉, and YbNi₃Ga₉ with a resolution of ~0.9 eV. Peak splitting of the YbLγ₄ line was observed in all the recorded spectra and was attributed to the two components originating from the LS coupling of the Yb5p hole, the Yb5p_1/2 (L_IO_II: Lγ₄′) and Yb5p_3/2 components (L_IO_III: Lγ₄). The spectra were substantially different depending on the chemical environment of Yb. The position of the Lγ₄ + Lγ₄′ band shifts depending on the valence of Yb (v): ~4.4 eV from divalent to trivalent. The Lγ₄ + Lγ₄′ spectra of the mixed valence intermetallics, i.e. YbNi₃Ga₉ (v = 2.59) and β‐YbAlB₄ (v = 2.75), were fairly well reproduced by averaging the spectra of divalent Yb and trivalent YbNi₃Al₉, which suggests the possibility of using the YbLγ₄ emission for determining the valence of Yb intermetallics. In trivalent Yb compounds, the relative intensity of Lγ₄ compared with that of Lγ₄′, as well as the appearance of a high‐energy satellite, was found to be influenced by the ligands around the Yb ions. With the aid of preliminary atomic multiplet and band structure calculations, the differences in the valence band structure and resultant screening effects on the O_II,III^?1 states were determined to be the possible causes for the observed ligand dependence. © 2013 The Authors. X‐ray spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High P–T Raman study of transitions in relaxor multiferroic Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3

The vibrational and structural properties of Pb(Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)O₃ have been investigated using Raman spectroscopy up to 40 GPa at 300 K and from 300 to 415 K at selected pressures. The measurements reveal three phase transitions, at 5.5, 8.7, and 24 GPa at room temperature. The temperature dependences of the spectra indicate transitions at 1.5 GPa, at 335 and 365 K. The results are consistent with the appearance of an intermediate tetragonal P4mm phase between the ferroelectric R3m and paraelectric Pm‐3m phases. A P–T phase diagram is proposed that allows further insight into the magnetoelectric coupling present in this material. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Additive colouring of CaF2:Yb crystals: determination of Yb2+ concentration in CaF2:Yb crystals and ceramics

When growing CaF₂ crystal doped with rare-earth ions, most of these ions are present in a trivalent state. However, due to contact with graphite crucible, a small proportion of a number of ions (Eu, Sm, Yb and Tm) are reduced to a bivalent state. A similar situation takes place during fabrication of CaF₂ ceramics doped with rare-earth metals. This fact is of particular importance for laser CaF₂:Yb crystals (ceramics), a promising material for short-pulse, high-power, high-energy diode-pumped solid state lasers since the presence of bivalent Yb ions can be a source of thermal losses. To date, there has been no technique to determine Yb²⁺ concentration in as-grown crystals. The proposed technique is based on a total reduction of Yb³⁺ ions via the heating of as-grown CaF₂ crystals with known concentration of Yb in the reducing atmosphere of metal vapour and determining the cross section of absorption bands of Yb²⁺ ions. The knowledge of these parameters allows estimation of the Yb²⁺ content in CaF₂:Yb crystals or ceramics by analysing their absorption spectra. Examples of using this technique are given. The technology of CdF₂ crystals reduction (an “additive colouring”) and features of colouring of crystals doped with rare-earth ions are considered.     

Raman tensor analysis of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3–LiSbO3 lead‐free ceramics and its application to study grain/domain orientation

A quantitative polarized Raman analysis of ferroelectric grain/domain orientation in LiSbO₃ (LS‐modified) (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ (KNN) ceramics is presented, based on the analysis of the complex orientation dependence in space of their Raman‐active modes. Complete sets of Raman tensor elements of A_g, and E_g phonon modes for orthorhombic/tetragonal structures of KNN have been determined. Through this spectroscopic algorithm, quantitative information could be extracted in terms of three Euler angles in space for KNN samples consisting of mixed phases, thus enabling quantitative visualization of the local distribution of grains/domains in the solid angle. As an application of the method, we quantitatively examined the unknown crystallographic grain orientation patterns on the surfaces of pure KNN and of KNN‐0.05LS ceramics. These two samples were useful to clarify a polymorphic phase transition from the orthorhombic to the tetragonal phase taking place in the LS‐modified KNN system. Thus, we demonstrated that polarized Raman spectroscopy is a valuable and efficient tool for nondestructive three‐dimensional assessments of grain/domain orientation in ferroelectric materials with complex polymorphic structures. We believe that the data shown here represent a typical scenario encountered in grain/domain orientation assessments of piezoelectric perovskites. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties of Yb8Ag18.5Al47.5, Yb2Pd2Cd and Yb1.35Pd2Cd0.65

We report the synthesis of three new Yb-based compounds, Yb₈Ag_18.5Al_47.5 (Yb₈Cu₁₇Al₄₉-type, tetragonal tI74–I4/mmm), Yb₂Pd₂Cd (Mo₂B₂Fe-type, tetragonal tP10-P4/mbm) and Yb_1.35Pd₂Cd_0.65 (MnCu₂Al-type, cubic cF16–Fm3¯m). The crystal symmetry of these compounds has been determined and the complete structural characterisation carried out by single crystal and powder diffraction techniques. Two symmetry in-equivalent sites are available for the Yb ions in Yb₈Ag_18.5Al_47.5 and Yb_1.35Pd₂Cd_0.65. The 4f levels of the Yb ions are appreciably hybridised in Yb₈Ag_18.5Al_47.5 and to a lesser extent in Yb₂Pd₂Cd as inferred from the magnetisation and heat capacity data. Signatures of heavy fermion behaviour are observed in the heat capacity data of Yb₂Pd₂Cd in which the heat capacity, C/T, increases at low temperatures attaining a value of ≈600 mJ/mol K² at 1.8 K. The electrical resistivity of Yb₂Pd₂Cd follows a linear variation with temperature, T, between 1.4 and 5 K, thus indicating a possible non-Fermi liquid behaviour. In contrast, Yb ions are trivalent in Yb_1.35Pd₂Cd_0.65 and order magnetically near 1.4 K.     

Disorder‐induced symmetry lowering in Ba(Y1/2Nb1/2)O3 ceramics probed by Raman spectroscopy

This work investigates the evolution of the crystal structure of microwave‐hydrothermal synthesized Ba(Y_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ powders as a function of firing temperature by Raman spectroscopy. The samples were produced at 200 °C and fired at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1600 °C. Raman spectra were obtained at room temperature for all samples and the results showed that materials fired at 1600 °C exhibited tetragonal (I4/m or ) structure, whereas those fired at lower temperatures exhibited the triclinic (P1 or C_i¹) structure. The results were compared with those observed for ceramics obtained by conventional solid‐state methods. It is believed that the lowering of the symmetry verified in materials fired below 1600 °C is a consequence of the local disorder of Y⁺³ and Nb⁺⁵ ions in octahedral sites. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and phase stability of nanocrystalline Ce1−x Ln x O2−x/2−δ (Ln = Yb, Lu) in oxidizing and reducing atmosphere

The structure and phase evolution of nanocrystalline Ce_{1− x} Ln _x O_{2− x/2−δ} (Ln = Yb, Lu, x = 0 − 1) oxides upon heating in H₂ was studied for the first time. Up to 950 °C the samples were single-phase, with structure changing smoothly with x from fluorite type (F) to bixbyite type (C). For the Lu-doped samples heated at 1100 °C in the air and H₂, phase separation into coexisting F- and C-type structures was observed for ~0.40 < x < ~0.70 and ~0.25 < x < ~0.70, respectively. It was found also that addition of Lu³⁺ and Yb³⁺ strongly hinders the crystallite growth of ceria during heat treatment at 800 and 950 °C in both atmospheres. Valency of Ce and Yb in Ce_0.1Lu_0.9O_1.55−δ and Ce_0.95Yb_0.05O_1.975−δ samples heated at 1100 °C was studied by XANES and magnetic measurements. In the former Ce was dominated by Ce⁴⁺, with small contribution of Ce³⁺ after heating in H₂. In the latter, Yb existed exclusively as 3+ in both O₂ and H₂.     

First-principles characterisation of the pressure-dependent elastic anisotropy of SnO2 polymorphs

Using DFT calculations, this study investigates the pressure-dependent variations of elastic anisotropy in the following SnO₂ phases: rutile-type (tetragonal; P4₂/mnm), CaCl₂-type (orthorhombic; Pnnm)-, α-PbO₂-type (orthorhombic; Pbcn)- and fluorite-type (cubic; Fm-3m). Experimentally, these polymorphs undergo sequential structural transitions from rutile-type → CaCl₂-type → α-PbO₂-type → fluorite-type with increasing pressure at 11.35, 14.69 and 58.22 GPa, respectively. We estimate the shear anisotropy (A₁ and A₃) on {1?0?0} and {0?0?1} crystallographic planes of the tetragonal phase and (A₁, A₂ and A₃) on {1?0?0}, {0?1?0} and {0?0?1} crystallographic planes of the orthorhombic phases. The rutile-type phase shows strongest shear anisotropy on the {0?0?1} planes (A₂ > 4.8), and the degree of anisotropy increases nonlinearly with pressure. In contrast, the anisotropy is almost absent on the {1?0?0} planes (ie A₁ ~ 1) irrespective of the pressure. The CaCl₂-type phase exhibits similar shear anisotropy behaviour preferentially on {0?0?1} (A₃ > 5), while A₁ and A₂ remain close to 1. The α-PbO₂-type phase shows strikingly different elastic anisotropy characterised by a reversal in anisotropy (A₃ > 1 to < 1) with increasing pressure at a threshold value of 38 GPa. We provide electronic density of states and atomic configuration to account for this pressure-dependent reversal in shear anisotropy. Our study also analyses the directional Young’s moduli for the tetragonal and orthorhombic phases as a function of pressure. Finally, we estimate the band gaps of these four SnO₂ phases as a function of pressure which are in agreement with the previous results.     

Review on distorted face-centered cubic phase in yttrium via genetic algorithm

We present two distorted face-centered cubic (dfcc) structures of yttrium under high pressure, which have been found by a first-principles genetic algorithm technique. The structures are a tetragonal P4₃ (dfcc-I) and a triclinic P1¯ (dfcc-II), formed by slight distortions from a trigonal R3¯m structure reported as the dfcc phase earlier. The enthalpy difference between the two dfcc structures is less than 0.2 mRy/atom, and dfcc-I is marginally more stable than dfcc-II in lower pressure region. The enthalpy comparison among candidate structures indicates the structural phase transitions into dfcc-I at 41 GPa, into dfcc-II at 81 GPa, and into an orthorhombic Fddd structure at 106 GPa.