Fabrication of low phase transition temperature vanadium oxide films by direct current reactive magnetron sputtering and oxidation post-anneal method

Vanadium oxide thin films were deposited on ordinary glass substrates by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering from a vanadium metal target and subsequent oxidation annealing. The deposition and annealing parameters were given in detail. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The phase transitions of films were observed by measuring their electrical and optical property variations at different temperature. The results indicated that the films fabricated had a semiconductor–metal phase transition temperature of about 30 °C.     

Combined effect of the transition layer and interfacial coupling on the properties of ferroelectric bilayer film

Within the framework of modified Ginzburg--Landau--Devonshire phenomenological theory, a ferroelectric bilayer film with a transition layer within each constituent film and an interfacial coupling between two materials has been studied. Properties including the Curie temperature and the spontaneous polarization of a bilayer film composed of two equally thick ferroelectric constituent films are discussed. The results show that the combined effect of the transition layer and the interfacial coupling plays an important role in explaining the interesting behaviour of ferroelectric multilayer structures consisting of two ferroelectric materials.     

高温高压下方解石相转变的拉曼光谱原位实验研究

用热液金刚石压腔装置结合拉曼光谱技术研究了高温高压下方解石的相变过程及拉曼光谱特征。结果表明:常温条件下,体系压力增至1 666和2 127 MPa时,方解石的拉曼特征峰155cm-1消失,1 087cm-1峰分裂为1 083和1 090cm-1两个谱峰、282cm-1峰突然降至231cm-1,证明其转变为方解石-Ⅱ和方解石-Ⅲ。在起始压力为2 761MPa和低于171℃的升温过程中,方解石-Ⅲ的拉曼散射的各个特征振动峰没有变化。当温度达到171℃,方解石晶体完全变成不透明状,其对称伸缩振动峰1 087cm-1、面内弯曲振动峰713cm-1和晶格振动峰155和282cm-1均发生突变,说明方解石-Ⅲ相变生成一种碳酸钙新相。体系降至常温,该新相一直保持稳定不变,表明高温高压下方解石向碳酸钙新相的转变过程是不可逆的。方解石-Ⅲ与碳酸钙新相之间的相变线方程为P(MPa)=9.09.T(℃)+1 880。碳酸钙新相的对称伸缩振动峰(ν1 087)随压力、温度的变化率分别为dν/dP=5.1(cm-1.GPa-1),dν/dT=-0.055 3(cm-1.℃-1)。     

Sulfur-catalyzed phase transition in MoS2 under high pressure and temperature

We report phase transition and stability of MoS₂ with and without the presence of sulfur melt under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. Rhombohedral (3R) phase is found to be a high-temperature phase of MoS₂ at high pressures. Excess sulfur melt catalyzes the hexagonal (2H) to rhombohedral (3R) phase transformation and lowers the conversion temperature by more than 280 K. Boundary between 2H and 3R phases has been delineated with a negative slope. Based on experimental observations, sulfur-catalyzed 2H→3R transformation mechanisms are proposed involving atomic exchange between MoS₂ and sulfur, which is different from the case of without excess sulfur that proceeds through rotation and translation of the S–Mo–S sandwich layers.     

Pressure and temperature induced high spin–low spin phase transition: Macroscopic and microscopic consideration

The behavior under pressure of the high spin–low spin phase transition in the coordination compounds containing 3d ions is analyzed using thermodynamic and microscopic approaches. For thermodynamic approach the mean field model with interactions between spin-crossover molecules is considered. Microscopic model takes into account the interaction of d electrons of the transition metal ions with full symmetric distortions of the ligands. The relationship of the thermodynamic interaction parameters with microscopic ones is installed and shown how the quantum–mechanical interactions form the cooperativity of the system. Within the microscopic model the temperature and pressure dependences of the high spin fraction in 2-D compounds {Fe(3-Fpy)₂[M(CN)₄]} (M=Pd, Pt) are simulated and microscopic parameters are evaluated. It is concluded that different experimental behaviors of the temperature and pressure induced spin transitions are determined by different variations of the inelastic and elastic energies under pressure, and vibrational component of the free energy drives the ST equally with electronic part.     

Characterization of phase transition in liquid crystals by voltaic potential difference

Our investigations show that the determination of voltaic potential differences is a useful method to characterize the phase transition N → I and I → N for a liquid-crystal (LC) mixture and for a phase transition from one liquid-crystalline phase into another. The ΔV/T curves show reversible as well as an irreversible behaviour. Moreover, the transition from the smectic into the nematic phase is demonstrated on liquid-crystalline polymers.     

The vibration spectrum and high temperature phase transition of NaBF_4 single crystal

The polarized Raman spectrum of NaBF_4 single crystal measured by use of different geometric arrangements are reported. The obvious anisotropy of the crystal results in the degradation of degenerated modes of BF_4. Experiments show that the vibration frequencies decrease with the increasing of temperature. But when it above the phase transition point the v_1 symmetric stretching vibration is restored. From this, the phase transition temperature can be estimated to be 250℃ (523K).     

Critical temperature studies of the anisotropic bilayer and multilayer Heisenberg ferromagnets in Pair Approximation

The Pair Approximation method is applied to studies of the bilayer and multilayer magnetic systems with simple cubic structure. The method allows to take into account quantum effects related to non-Ising couplings. The paper adopts the anisotropic Heisenberg model for spin S=1/2 and considers phase transition temperatures as a function of the strength of exchange integrals in line with the role of intra- and interplanar anisotropic interactions in the onset of low-dimensional magnetism. The compensation effect for the Curie temperature is found for asymmetric interactions within the neighbouring planes of the bilayer system. The paper predicts the saturation of the Curie temperature for strong interplanar interactions. However, such an effect for the multilayer system occurs only when the interplanar interactions are purely of isotropic character.     

Influence of hydrostatic pressure on the phase transition in the complex antifluorites and hexammines: Rigid-sphere model interpretation

Abstract

The pressure coefficient of the phase transition temperature T_c, dT_c/dp = -(11⁺-1) K/GPa, has been determined for Ni (NH₃)₆Cl₂ using a new high pressure and low temperature probe. The relations between T_c and dT_c/dp were determined for antifluorite K₂MCl₆ compounds and hexammines applying the rigid-sphere model.     

Dielectric and ultrasonic investigation of phase transition in cuinp2s6 crystals

Investigation results of dielectric and ultrasonic properties of layered CuInP₂S₆ crystals are presented. At low frequencies, dielectric spectra are highly influenced by the high ionic conductivity with the activation energy of 7357.4?K (0.635?eV). The high-frequency part of the spectra is determined by relaxational soft mode. The critical slowing down and Debye-type dispersion show the order–disorder type of the phase transition. The temperature dependence of the relaxational soft mode and dielectric contribution show a quasi-one-dimensional behaviour. Ultrasonic velocity exhibits critical slowing down which is accompanied by attenuation peaks in the phase transition region. Layered CuInP₂S₆ crystals have extremely large elastic nonlinearity in the direction perpendicular to layers. The nonlinear elastic parameters substantially increases at the PT temperature.     

Effect of calcium deficiency on the critical behavior near the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition temperature in La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 oxides

The critical behavior associated with the magnetic phase transition has been investigated by magnetization isotherms in La_0.8Ca_0.2MnO₃ and La_0.8Ca_0.1□_0.1MnO₃ (□ is the calcium deficiency). The critical exponents are estimated by various techniques such as the Modified Arrott plot, Kouvel–Fisher plot and critical isotherm technique. The critical exponents values for La_0.8Ca_0.2MnO₃ are very close to those found out by the 3D-Ising model (β=0.328, γ=1.180, and δ=4.826 at an average T_C=181.676 K). Moreover, the estimated critical exponents of La_0.8Ca_0.1□_0.1MnO₃ are consistent with the prediction of the 3D-Heisenberg model (β=0.357, γ=1.167, and δ=4.802 at an average T_C=178.182 K). We noted that the critical exponents γ are almost similar to the value of the mean-field theory which can be explained by the existence of a long-range dipole–dipole interaction. Following the Harris criterion, we deduced that the disorder in our case is relevant, which can be the cause of the change in the universality class.     

A dynamical test of phase transition order: New things in old places or old wine in new bottles

We first discuss nonlinear aspects of phase transition theory applied to a particular liquid crystal phase transition. A simple derivation is given to show how two coupled Goldstone modes (one appearing as gauge fluctuations of the ordered phase) can force a phase transition, against all expectations, to take place discontinuously (theory of Halperin, Lubensky, and Ma)-but the discontinuity may be immeasurably small. Then, we describe a new dynamical test of phase transition order, developed by Cladiset al., that turns out to be more sensitive than x-ray diffraction and adiabatic calorimetry. Quantitative data found by this new method are in excellent agreement with the measurements of adiabatic calorimetry and x-ray diffraction as well as expectations implicit in the predictions of HLM.This is the text of an after-banquet talk given at the CNLS Workshop on the Dynamics of Concentrated Systems.     

Photo-induced electrical instability in hydrogenated amorphous silicon based thin-film transistors and the effect of its phase transition

We investigate the origin of photo-induced electrical instability in hydrogenated amorphous silicon based thin-film transistors (a-Si:H TFTs). Photo instability alone was accompanied by a positive shift in the threshold voltage (V_TH) caused by photo irradiation, and even larger positive or negative shift further exacerbated the instability caused by photo-induced electrical bias stress. Such phenomena can occur as a result of extended charge trapping and/or the creation of defect-states at the semiconductor/dielectric interface or in the gate dielectric. The mechanism for such is difficult to describe through chemical interactions of electron-donating and -withdrawing molecules that exhibit a shift in V_TH in only one direction. We also prove that a transition from an amorphous to a protocrystalline phase improves the photo-induced electrical stability. Such results originate from a reduction in the density of the localized states in protocrystalline-Si:H films relative to that of a-Si:H. We believe that this study provides significant information on the device physics of optoelectronics, which commonly exhibit photo-induced instability and charge transport, as a result of prolonged exposure to photo irradiation.     

强磁场对Mn-Sb包晶合金相变及凝固组织的影响

以Mn-56.5 wt%Sb包晶合金为研究对象, 进行了不同磁场、不同冷速条件下的凝固实验. 通过对液相线温度、包晶温度的考察, 发现强磁场可以提高Mn-56.5 wt%Sb合金的液相线温度, 且该上升值随磁感应强度的增加而增加, 当所施加的磁感应强度为11.5 T时, 液相线温度升高大约3 ℃, 但施加磁场后包晶反应温度没有明显改变. 对该合金的凝固组织进行定量金相分析发现, 施加磁场后MnSb相明显减少, 该结果与磁场对相变温度的影响相一致. 另外通过X射线衍射分析发现, 强磁场诱发包晶反应生成相MnSb的c轴垂直于磁场方向取向, 而Mn₂Sb相的(311)面平行于磁场方向取向. 对不同冷速凝固的Mn-56.5 wt%Sb合金组织进行定量金相分析结果显示, 强磁场对合金凝固过程的作用效果受到冷却速度的影响. 随着冷却速度的增加, 强磁场对该合金凝固组织中MnSb相的相对含量变化影响效果减弱. 关键词： 强磁场 包晶合金 凝固 相变温度     

反射式高能电子衍射实时监控的分子束外延生长GaAs晶体衬底温度校准及表面相变的研究

以反射式高能电子衍射(RHEED)作为实时监测工具,根据GaAs(100)表面重构相与衬底温度、As₄等效束流压强之间的关系,对分子束外延(MBE)系统中衬底测温系统进行了校准,这种方法也适用于其他的MBE系统.为生长高质量的外延薄膜材料、研究InGaAs表面粗糙化及相变等过程提供了实验依据. 关键词： 分子束外延 反射式高能电子衍射 表面重构 温度校准     

Pressure-induced phase transitions in CaB6 by means of XRD and resistance measurement

High pressure behavior of CaB₆ with cubic crystal structure is investigated by means of energy dispersive X-ray diffraction and by employing in situ resistance measurement in a diamond anvil cell. Two newcome high pressure phase transitions are found with pressure ranging from ambient to 26 GPa. The first one at 12 GPa is a structural phase transition from CsCl-type structure to orthogonal structure, which is reflected by both the X-ray diffraction and the resistance variation. The other one at 3.7 GPa is suggested to be an electronic transition, which is observed only in resistance measurement. The diffraction pattern recovered while the pressure is released to 0 GPa with a pressure hysteresis over 11 GPa, which implies the reversibility of the two phase transitions. Bulk moduli of the cubic and orthogonal phases are estimated by fitting the data to a Brich-Murnaghan equation of state equal to 169.9 and 48.2 GPa, respectively.     

Dielectric and pyroelectric activities in Pb(Zr1−xTix)O3 ceramics: The role of the phase transition effects

Pure and Nb-doped Pb(Zr_1−xTi_x)O₃ (x = 0.47, 0.48, 0.50) ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction technique. Dielectric anomalies are observed in both kinds of samples near room temperature. The anomalies could be depressed by donor doping and prefer to be significant in ceramics with tetragonal crystallographic phase. Phase transition mechanism and domain wall pinning effect are proposed to explain this anomaly, and the former is considered as the dominated reason. Further results of the pyroelectric measurements confirm the existence of the ferroelectric–ferroelectric phase transition.     

Prediction of the phase transition from ferromagnetic perovskite to non-magnetic post-perovskite in SrRuO3 : A first-principles study

The phase transition in the perovskite (Pv) SrRuO₃ under pressure has been studied by using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The post-perovskite (Ppv) phase transition of SrRuO₃ will take place under hydrostatic pressure of about 40 GPa. The stability of Ppv- SrRuO₃ is justified by the enthalpy calculations, and this phase transition accompanies volume disconnection and magnetic moment collapses. The crystallographic data and the electronic structure of Ppv- SrRuO₃ are also predicted. The crystal structure of Ppv- SrRuO₃ is similar to that of Ppv- CaRuO₃. A non-magnetic ground state is found in Ppv- SrRuO₃. The strong hybridization of Ru and O is evident in the electronic structures of both phases. We expect that these results will help further understanding of SrRuO₃ under high pressure.     

Melting temperature and enthalpy variations of phase change materials (PCMs): a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis is a standard thermal analysis technique used to determine the phase transition temperature, enthalpy, heat of fusion, specific heat and activation energy of phase change materials (PCMs). To determine the appropriate heating rate and sample mass, various DSC measurements were carried out using two kinds of PCMs, namely N-octadecane paraffin and calcium chloride hexahydrate. The variations in phase transition temperature, enthalpy, heat of fusion, specific heat and activation energy were observed within applicable heating rates and sample masses. It was found that the phase transition temperature range increased with increasing heating rate and sample mass; while the heat of fusion varied without any established pattern. The specific heat decreased with the increase of heating rate and sample mass. For accuracy purpose, it is recommended that for PCMs with high thermal conductivity (e.g. hydrated salt) the focus will be on heating rate rather than sample mass.