Magnetic and electrical properties of Mg1−x CuxO solid solutions and magnetic shielding in Cu-Mg1−x CuxO structures

Mg_1−x Cu_xO solid solutions having an NaCl structure with 0⩽x⩽0.20 are synthesized and Cu-Mg_1−x Cu_xO structures are prepared for superconductivity studies. The magnetic susceptibility χ, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and electrical conductivity of the solid solutions are studied at temperatures of 5–550 K. It is shown that χ ⁻¹(T) obeys the Curie-Weiss law with a paramagnetic Curie temperature Θ close to zero and an effective magnetic moment μ _eff=1.9 μ _B, close to the 1.73 μ _B of a Cu²⁺ ion with spin S=1/2. The width ΔH of the EPR line depends weakly on temperature and increases as x is raised. The volume narrowing of the EPR linewidth ΔH is used to estimate the exchange interaction parameter, 3×10⁻⁴ eV. The g-factor is close to 2 and is temperature independent. The electrical conductivity of Mg_1−x Cu_xO at T=300 K is ≈10⁻¹¹–10⁻¹² Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for x=0 and increases to 10⁻⁵–10⁻⁶ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for x=0.15–0.20. The conductivity is p-type. Magnetic shielding is observed in Cu-Mg_1−x Cu_xO structures with x=0.15 and 0.20. The possible connection of this phenomenon with interference superconductivity in the contact layer of the structure is discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 293–296 (February 1999)     

Model of current and optical conductivity switching in YBa2Cu3O7−x films

A model is proposed for the thermal and electrical responses of films of the high-T _c superconducting material YBa₂Cu₃O7_7−x to current and optical pulses. Numerical calculations are compared with experimental data for current pulses of duration 100 μs and laser pulses of duration 0.1 ns; this yields improved data on the thermal conductivity of thin YBa₂Cu₃O7_7−x films (1.5–2 W/m·K) and thermal resistance of the film-substrate contact (5×10⁻⁸m²·K/W) in the neighborhood of the superconducting transition. This model can be used for optimizing the film structure parameters and control regimes for switching elements for pulses lasting longer than 0.1 ns. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 77–82 (October 1999)     

Lithium ion conductivity of the B-site substitution in Li3xLa0.67−xRE y III Ti1−2yPyO3 system (REIII=Sc3+, Y3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Yb3+)

The B-site substituted perovskite solid solution systems Li_3xLa_0.67−xRE_yTi_1−2yP_yO₃ (RE=Sc, Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Yb) have been investigated. Perovskite solid solutions formed in the range of x=0.10, y<0.10 for RE=Sc³⁺, Y³⁺, Yb³⁺, x=0.10, y≤0.05 for RE=Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺. Li_0.3La_0.57Nd_0.05Ti_0.9P_0.05O₃ has the highest bulk conductivity of 4.31×10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹ and the highest total conductivity of 2.52×10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹ at room temperature in all prepared compositions. The compositions have low activation energies of about 24–30 kJ/mol in the temperature ranges of 298–523 K. SEM studies showed that the sample made by solid-state reaction has a sphere-like morphology and a rough particle with particle size of about 50 μm. The research results also indicated that the reaction temperature decreases and the electrochemical stabilities of the titanate-based perovskite-type solid solutions are improved by using RE³⁺ and P⁵⁺ replaced Ti⁴⁺ on B-site in the Li_3xLa_0.67−xTiO₃ parent.     

An anomaly in the magnetic susceptibility of the Mg1−x CuxO solid solutions with 0.01≤x≤0.20

The problem of localized superconductivity has motivated the preparation of Mg_1−x Cu_xO solid solutions with NaCl structure and 0.01≤x≤0.20, as well as a study of the magnetization and magnetic susceptibility χ in the 2–400 K temperature range and in magnetic fields of up to 5 T. The temperature dependence of χ is described for all compositions by the Curie-Weiss law, χ = C/(T − θ), where the constant C is close to the value calculated for each composition for μ_eff = 1.7–1.9μ_B, and θ is close to zero. For T < 30 K, χ(T) deviates for all compositions toward lower χ, which can be attributed to magnetic ordering of exchange-coupled clusters in the solid solution. At T∼320–330 K, an anomaly of a diamagnetic type, i.e., a decrease of χ by 6–30% of its paramagnetic value, has been observed for all compositions against the background of the generally paramagnetic χ(T). A discussion is presented of alternative reasons for this anomaly and of its possible connection with localized superconductivity. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 42, No. 4, 2000, pp. 701–703. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2000 by Samokhvalov, Arbuzova, Viglin, Naumov, Smolyak, Korolev, Lobachevskaya.     

Electrical resistivity of microinhomogeneous PdMnxFe1−x alloys

The electronic band-structure calculations of the PdFe ferromagnet and the PdMn antiferromagnet performed in this work permit one to conclude that the specific features of the electrical resistivity observed in the ternary PdMn_xFe_1−x alloy system [the deviation from the Nordheim-Kurnakov rule ρ₀(x)∼x(1−x), which is accompanied by a high maximum of residual resistivity (not typical of metals) ρ ₀ ^m ∼220 μΩ cm at x _C∼0.8 and a negative temperature resistivity coefficient in the interval 0.5≤x≤1] are due to the microinhomogeneous (multiphase) state of the alloys and a variation in the band-gap parameter d spectrum caused by antiferromagnetic ordering of a PdMn-type phase. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 44, No. 2, 2002, pp. 193–197. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2002 by Kourov, Korotin, Volkova.     

Optical properties of glasses activated by the compounds CuInSe2 and CuInTe2 and by the solid solutions CuInSe2x Te(1−x)

The spectral properties of amorphous media synthesized on the basis of glasses of the system SiO₂-CaO-R₂O (R=Na, K, Li), the ternary compounds CuInSe₂, and CuInTe₂, and solid solutions based on them have been investigated. It is shown that the absorption limit of the media investigated lies within 1.4–1.6 μm. It is noted that the three alkali ions constituting the system exert a favorable influence on the state and optical properties of the amorphous media activated with the compound CuInTe₂ and with the solid solutions CuInSe_2xTe_(1−x), where x≤0.5. The influence of the concentration of the solid solution CuInSeTe (x=0.5) on the optical properties of the amorphous media is investigated. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 132–134, January–February, 2000.     

Local-moment formation and metal-nonmetal transition in Ca1−x Y x VO3 and Ca1−x Y x TiO3

Electron-doped metallic states of Ca_1−x Y _x VO₃ and Ca_1−x Y _x TiO₃ change into non-metallic states around x∼0.4 and 0.6, respectively. The residual resistivity in the metallic states increases with increasing effective magnetic moment or coefficient of T ² term of resistivity. The effective moment reaches ∼ 0.5 μ_B/molecule in Ca_1−x Y _x VO₃ and also in Ca_1−x Y _x TiO₃ near the metal-nonmetal phase boundary. In these metallic states. ∼ 10% of 3d atoms seem to have large localized magnetic moments. In electron-doped metallic sample of Ca_1−x Y _x VO₃, the temperature dependence of resistance shows no resistance-minimum. However, weak negative magneto-resistance is observed for the sample with x=0.2 up to 50 Tesla at 4.2 K.     

Semiconducting properties of CoO thin films

This paper reports electrical properties of CoO thin films of different thickness in the range 0.375 – 7.95 μm. Both electrical conductivity and thermopower were measured at elevated temperatures (1223 – 1423 K) and under controlled oxygen partial pressure (5 − 2.1x10⁴ Pa). It was found that at low p(O₂) the electrical conductivity decreases with film thickness. The activation energy of the electrical conductivity (E_a) in air decreases with the oxide thickness from 0.56 eV at 0.375 μm to 0.52 eV for massive CoO while at low p(O₂)=5 Pa the E_a is independent of the thickness (E_a = 0.46 eV). The reciprocal of the p(O₂) exponent of the electrical conductivity (n_δ) in the range 1223 K – 1373 K is close to four for the 7,95 μm film and is about 3.5–3.7 for the 0.375 μm film. The electrical properties of the CoO thin films are considered assuming different defect structures in the bulk phase and the surface layer.     

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at IrL2,3 edges in Fe100−x Ir x and Co100−x Ir x alloys: Magnetism of 5d electronic states

The formation of induced 5d magnetic moment on Ir in Fe_100−x Ir _x (x=3, 10 and 17) and Co_100−x Ir _x (x=5, 17, 25 and 32) alloys has been investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at Ir L_2,3 absorption edges. Sum rule analysis of the XMCD data show that the orbital moment of Ir is in the range of −0.071(2)μB to −0.030(1)μB in Fe-Ir alloys and −0.067(2)μB to 0.024(1)μB in Co-Ir alloys. We find that the total moment of Ir in Fe-Ir alloys is approximately 1/5 of the total 3d moment on Fe at all the three compositions. In contrast, the total moment on Ir in Co-Ir alloys varies between 1/6 to 1/16 of the 3d moment on cobalt. The observed trends of Ir moments and the role of interatomic exchange interactions in 5d moment formation are discussed.     

Study of the thermal properties of Ba1−x SrxTiO3 thin films by the ac hot-probe method

The heat capacity and heat conductivity of Ba_1−x Sr_xTiO₃ (x=0.2, 0.5, 0.8) polycrystalline films 1.5–2.0 μm thick on a massive substrate have been studied by the ac hot-probe method for three-layer systems (conducting probe-dielectric film-substrate) at temperatures ranging from 100 to 400 K. It is found that the thermal properties exhibit anomalies in the phase transition range. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 42, No. 10, 2000, pp. 1839–1841. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2000 by Davitadze, Kravchun, Strukov, Taraskin, Gol’tsman, Lemanov, Shul’man.     

Measurement of the differential and integral distribution of diffuse x-ray scattering intensity from defects in thin strained layers

Double-and triple-crystal diffractometry have been used to study structural perfection of a ∼1 μm-thick Ga_1−x In_xSb_1−y As_y epitaxial film (x=0.9, y=0.8) on GaSb. It is shown that scattering from samples of this system can be divided into coherent and diffuse. The arrangement of reciprocal-lattice points of the film and substrate in the two-dimensional intensity distribution for asymmetrical reflections argues for the absence of elastic-strain relaxation. No dislocation networks are formed, and the diffuse scattering is produced by Coulomb-type defects. Localization of diffuse scattering in reciprocal space suggests that these defects reside in the epitaxial film. The diffuse-scattering distribution in asymmetrical reflections is shown to be anomalous; namely, it extends in a direction parallel to the surface and is split into two maxima. Schemes have been proposed and realized for measuring integral distributions of diffracted intensity along the surface and perpendicular to it, and their potential for studying diffuse scattering from defects is explored. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1188–1193 (July 1997)     

Autosolitons in electron-hole plasma in p-Ge

The self-organization of an electron-hole plasma (EHP) heated by an electric field in pure p-Ge samples at T = 77 K has been studied experimentally. The derived current-voltage characteristics (CVCs) and the distributions of the electric field and IR emission of the hot carriers along the samples show that the segments of a steep rise or the S-shaped segments of the CVCs in samples with n-p junctions are related to the formation of longitudinal thermal-diffusion autosolitons (AS_‖); as a result, thin (d = 2–20 μm in diameter), melted-through current channels appear. Such AS_‖ are formed at high EHP densities (n ≥ 1 × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³), when the electron-hole scattering is dominant, and at electron temperatures T _e = (2–4.5)T ₀ (T ₀ is the lattice temperature). The saturation segments and the N-shaped segments in the CVCs are attributable to the generation of transverse thermal-diffusion high-field autosolitons (AS_⊥) in the form of narrow strata with electric field strengths = 1–20 kV cm⁻¹. High-field AS_⊥ are formed at EHP densities n = 5 × 10¹³−1 × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³, when the electron-phonon scattering is dominant, and at electron temperatures T _e ∼ Θ ≥ 5T ₀ (Θ is the Debye temperature). The generated longitudinal and transverse autosolitons have high temperatures (T _e ≥ 1000 K) and reduced carrier densities and can exist simultaneously in different parts of the sample. Original Russian Text ? M.N. Vinoslavskiĭ, P.A. Belevskii, A.V. Kravchenko, 2006, published in Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2006, Vol. 129, No. 3, pp. 477–492.     

Spectroscopic Detection of Sulfur Oxides in the Aircraft Wake

The absorption/emission spectral regions of SO, SO₂, SO₃, S₂O and HSO are analyzed for the range from UV (λ ≥ 0.2 μm) to IR (λ < 30 μm) and are compared with the atmospheric transmission spectrum. It is shown that many vibrational bands of the compounds considered fall into atmospheric transmission windows. For the vibrational bands of SO, SO₂, SO₃, S₂O, and HSO molecules there are some gases which hinder the absorption diagnostics of the indicated compounds. These interfering gases are natural components of atmospheric air as well as specific gases of aircraft engine exhaust. It is found that the least influence of the interference takes place in the 2400–2700 cm⁻¹ IR region. The spectroscopic techniques used for the detection of aircraft engine exhaust compounds are briefly reviewed, with much consideration given to SO₂. The IR absorption spectra of SO₂ and other gases are calculated for the conditions of the aircraft engine nozzle exit. Narrow spectral intervals suitable for SO₂ detection in a hot flow are determined. An analysis is made for the detection capabilities of CO₂ lasers (including isotope CO₂ lasers) and CO lasers (both fundamental band and first-overtone ones) as applied to SO₂ detection in aircraft engine exhaust. Published in English as Preprint No. 5 of the P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow (2004).     

The dynamics of accumulation of electrically active radiation defects on implantation of graded-band-gap HgCdTe films grown by MBE

The dynamics of accumulation of electrically active radiation defects under ion doping of epitaxial Cd _x Hg _1−x Te films is studied for various distributions of film composition in the implantation region. The epitaxial films were irradiated by boron ions at room temperature in the continuous regime, with the dose ranging within 10¹¹−3·10¹⁵ cm⁻², energy — 20–150 keV, and ion current density — j = 0.001–0.2 μA·cm⁻². It is found that the natural logarithm of the introduction rate of electrically active radiation defects linearly depends on the epitaxial-film composition in the range of mean projected path of implanted ions. An analysis of the experimental data shows that the dynamics of accumulation of electrically active radiation defects is determined by the epitaxial-film composition in the implantation region. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 25–28, September, 2006.     

Thermal and Auger processes in p-n junctions based on GaInAs/InAs and InAsSbP/InAs heterostructures

A study is made of the excess-energy relaxation processes and the mechanisms responsible for overheating of the active zone of infrared emitters made from nonisoperiodic structures with stressed InGaAs layers and from nearly isoperiodic InAsSbP structures and emitting in the wavelength range λ=2.5–5.0 μm are investigated. The relationship between the overheat ΔT of the active zone of the structure and Auger processes is established for In_1−x Ga_xAs infrared emitters. It is shown that the efficiency of Auger recombination decreases as x increases in the interval 0–0.09, promoting a sharp reduction in ΔT. At x>0.09 the efficiency of CHHS Auger processes decreases exponentially, but an increase in the density of dislocations due to the appreciable value (∼6.9%) of the lattice mismatch parameter causes ΔT to increase, but slowly. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 68–71 (September 1997) Deceased.     

A STUDY ON SYNTHESIS OF La1-x SrxCrO3 BY SOL-GEL AND THEIR ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES

La_1-x Sr_xCrO₃ nanoparticles were prepared by the sol-gel method. The sintering temperature of the samples could be decreased to about 400 K. The crystal structures of La_1-x Sr_xCrO₃ at room temperature are all of the othorhombic perovskite GdFeO₃-type (x≤0.4). And the electrical conductivity increases with x, but when x>0.3 it decreases. The higher the sintering temperature, the better the electrical conductivity, because the grain size of the examples increases with increasing sintering temperature.     

Tailoring ceramics for specific applications: A case study of the development of all-solid-state lithium batteries

Metal oxides with the nominal chemical compositions Li₅La₃M₂O₁₂ (M=Nb, Ta), possessing a garnet-like structure, exhibit ionic bulk conductivities of the order of magnitude of ∼10⁻⁶ S/cm at 25 °C. Partial substitution of La by alkaline earth elements (Ca, Sr, Ba) in Li₅La₃M₂O₁₂ yields new members of compounds with garnet-like structure with the composition Li₆ALa₂M₂O₁₂ (A=Ca, Sr, Ba). Among the investigated compounds, so far, the Ba-compound Li₆BaLa₂Ta₂O₁₂ exhibits the highest bulk conductivity of 4.0×10⁻⁵ S/cm at 22 °C with an activation energy of 0.40 eV. All Ta-members were found to be stable against chemical reaction with molten elemental lithium. Li₆ALa₂Ta₂O₁₂ (A=Sr, Ba) exhibit also high electrochemical stability of ∼6 V vs. lithium and chemical stability against reaction with LiCoO₂ cathode material. A novel high voltage thin-film battery was constructed using spinel-type Li₂MMn₃O₈ (M=Co, Fe) as positive electrode, LiPON as electrolyte and Al as negative electrode material. Li₂MMn₃O₈ (M=Fe, Co) electrodes show two reversible plateaus during the charging and discharging cycle at ∼4 and ∼5 V vs. Li. The former plateau is due to the valence change of Mn³⁺ to Mn⁴⁺ and the latter one is due to the oxidation of M³⁺ to M⁴⁺. The chemical diffusion coefficient ( ) was found to be in the range 10⁻¹³–10⁻¹² cm²/sec for any composition x of Li_2−xMMn₃O₈ (M=Fe, Co) in the range from 0.1 to 1.6 by employing the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT). AC impedance studies revealed an electrolyte-electrode charge transfer resistance of 260–290 Θ and an electrode double layer capacity of ∼45–70 μF for an electrode area of 6.7 cm² at room temperature. The chemical diffusion coefficient of the Al,LiAl negative electrode is about three orders of magnitude higher than that of the positive electrode materials. Accordingly, we believe that the diffusion of Li into and out of the cathode material is the rate determining process. Paper presented at the Patras Conference on Solid State Ionics - Transport Properties, Patras, Greece, Sept. 14 – 18, 2004.     

EFFECT OF MANGANESE SUBSTITUTION IN R2AlFe16-x Mnx(R=Y,Ho,Nd AND Pr)COMPOUNDS ON STRUCTURAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES

The structural and magnetic properties of R₂AlFe_16-xMn_x(0≤x≤8 for Y,Ho,0≤x≤10 for Pr, 0≤x≤16 for Nd)compounds have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements.The R₂AlFe_16-xMn_x compounds have a hexagonal Th₂Ni₁₇-type structure for R=Y and Ho, and a rhombohedral Th₂Zn₁₇-type structure for Nd and Pr.With increasing x,the unit-cell volumes have a small increase initially,followed by a greater linear increase.The Curie temperature and the saturation magnetizati on of these compounds show marvelous drop with increasing x.Compensation point was observed in the temperature dependence of the magnetization for Ho₂AlFe₁₂Mn₄ compound.     

In searches for daemons

A possibility is considered of detecting Planckian particles carrying an electric charge Z≈10 and supposedly forming the dark matter of the Galactic disk, whence they are captured by combined action of the Sun and the Earth into strongly elongated Earth-crossing orbits. The flux of such dark electric matter objects, daemons, at the Earth’s orbit may reach f _⊕≈3×10⁻⁷cm⁻²s⁻¹ at a velocity about 52 km/s. Negatively charged daemons are capable of catalyzing the fusion of light (Z _n<10) nuclei. The rate of capture (and fusion) of nuclei should be particularly high in a metallic phase. A detection system is described that consists of beryllium plates 45 mm thick and 1200 cm² in area coated with a ZnS(Ag) scintillator. It is assumed that the products of the fusion reaction 2⁹Be → ¹⁸O that are ejected in amounts of up to about 10⁴ from the points of daemon entrance and exit would give rise to scintillations with a delay of about 1μs. An exposure of the system for 300 h revealed no event. The reason for the negative result can be (1) too optimistic an estimate of the flux (the inclusion of some factors could lower it by 1.5–3 orders of magnitude) and (2) the poisoning of the catalyst by capture of nuclei with Z _n≥10. The time required for the recovery of the daemon catalytic properties is estimated from the analysis of the energy release in the Sun at no less than 3×10⁻⁷ s. The analysis of the total available data suggests that the daemon flux at the Earth is about 3×10⁻⁸ cm⁻² s⁻¹. The experiments will be continued. From Yadernaya Fizika, Vol. 63, No. 6, 2000, pp. 1112–1117. Original English Text Copyright ? 2000 by Drobyshevski. This article was submitted by the author in English.     

Reference electrodes for low-temperature gas sensors

The behavior of sodium oxide bronzes in contact with sodium-conducting solid electrolytes in atmospheres of oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and humid air was investigated. The exchange currents at the Na_xCoO_y/NASICON interface was determined. It is shown that among the sodium-cobalt oxide bronzes the β-phase of the composition Na_0.6CoO₂ is the most reversible one (exchange current 236 μA/cm²). Paper presented at the 1st Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Zakynthos, Greece, 11–18 Sept. 1994