Magnetic, magnetocaloric, and lattice properties of the La(Fe x Si1 − x )13 ferromagnets

The magnetic and lattice properties of a sample of La(Fe_0.86Si_0.14)₁₃ ferromagnet have been measured. The influence that neutron irradiation has on the physical properties of this ferromagnet is studied. It is shown that the irradiation of this sample by a fluence of 3 × 10¹⁹ n/cm² increases the lattice constant a and the Curie temperature (T _C ) as the volume magnetostriction decreases. A model of ferromagnet is proposed which satisfactorily describes the dependence a(T) of the initial and irradiated samples and their magnetic properties. The temperature dependence of the change in entropy when switching the magnetic field on and off is calculated. It is established that the change in both the magnetic and lattice parts of the total entropy at the magnetic phase transition must be taken into account for La(Fe _x Si_{1 ? x} )₁₃ compounds.     

X-ray diffraction study of the crystallographic characteristics of TlInS x Se2 − x solid solutions

Crystallographic parameters of TlInS _x Se_{2 ? x} solid solutions have been measured by X-ray diffraction. Dependences of the unit-cell parameters on the composition are determined. It is established that the values of parameters a, b, and c and the angle β decrease with an increase in x. It is shown that the TlInS _x Se_{2 ? x} system includes a continuous series of solid solutions based on the TlInSe₂ compound with tetragonal symmetry at x values ≤ 0.4, while at x ≥ 0.6 solid solutions based on the TlInS₂ compound with a monoclinic structure are formed.     

The study of transformation kinetics of the amorphous PdSi alloys

The kinetics of transformation behavior of roller-quenched amorphous Pd₈₃Si₁₇ and Pd₈₀Si₂₀ alloys after linear and isothermal heating is reported. The transformation was examined with electron microscopy, electron diffraction and electrical resistivity measurement. The crystallization of amorphous alloys with 17 at% Si begins with metastable ordered fcc solid solution. The ordered fcc solution is transformed to a ordered metastable phase with, probably, orthorhombic structure. The crystallization of amorphous alloys with 20 at% Si begins by formation of spherulites with lamellar structure. Using electron diffraction we found that spherulites consist of two phases - orthorhombic Pd₃Si silicide and Pd-rich silicide. From resistivity measurements, activation energies of 28.5 kcal/mol for Pd₈₃Si₁₇ and 80 kcal/mol for Pd₈₀Si₂₀, respectively, were calculated.     

Structure of the interfaces of the InxGa1 − x As quantum well from X-ray diffraction data

The structure of the interfaces of a 10-nm-thick In_xGa_{1 ? x} As quantum well buried in the semiconductor GaAs matrix has been studied by the method of double-crystal X-ray diffractometry. It has been shown that, in comparison with the well-known photoluminescence method, the X-ray diffraction method has considerable advantages in characterization of multilayer systems. The detailed analysis of the rocking curves provided the reconstruction of the profiles of indium distributions in quantum wells for specimens with different indium concentrations.     

Formation of glass in the GeSiS system

The formation of glass in the GeSiS system was investigated. After synthesis of material with the general formula Ge_1?xSi_xS_y, where x was chosen to be 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and y was in the range 1.28–3.6, cylindrical samples were prepared and used for the characterization of glass by means of DTA. It was found that the substitution of germanium with silicon does not lead to any expressive change of the glass transition temperature, crystallization and the onset of melting.     

Effect of germanium on the microstructure and the magnetic properties of Fe–B–Si amorphous alloys

In this work, we present a systematic study on the crystallization kinetics and the magnetic properties of melt-spun Fe₈₀B₁₀Si_10 ? xGe_x (x = 0.0 ? 10.0) amorphous alloys. The activation energy for crystallization, determined by differential scanning calorimetry, displayed a strong dependence on the Ge content, reflecting a deleterious effect on the alloys' thermal stability and their glass forming ability with increasing Ge concentration. On the other hand, the alloys exhibited excellent soft magnetic properties, i.e., high saturation magnetization values (around 1.60 T), alongside Curie temperatures of up to 600 K. Complementary, for increasing Ge substitution, the ferromagnetic resonance spectra showed a microstructural evolution comprising at least two different magnetic phases corresponding to a majority amorphous matrix and to Fe(Si, Ge) nanocrystallites for x ≥ 7.5.     

Growth of Ga x In1 − x Sb solid solution single crystals by the Czochralski method

Crystallography Reports - Ga x In1 ? x Sb solid solution single crystals (x = 0.03–0.09) have been grown. The dislocation density and electrophysical parameters are measured. A...     

Effect of rare-earth elements on the plasma etching behavior of the RE–Si–Al–O glasses

The effect of rare-earth elements on the plasma etching behavior of oxide glasses were investigated to develop the window glass for a plasma processing chamber in the semiconductor industry. Aluminosilicate glasses with various rare-earth elements (Y, Gd and La) were prepared and their optical transmittance and plasma etching depth were evaluated. The plasma etching behavior of the glasses was estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis at the fluorine plasma exposure surface of the glasses. The rare-earth element in the glass was highly related to various properties such as density, molar volume, mechanical properties and plasma etching depth. The cationic field strength of the rare-earth element more strongly affected the plasma etching depth of the glasses than the sublimation point of the fluorine compounds and this may be related to the plasma etching condition.     

Nanostructured crystals of fluorite phases Sr1 − x R x F2 + x (R are rare earth elements) and their ordering: 5. A study of the ionic conductivity of as-grown Sr1 − x R x F2 + x crystals

Crystallography Reports - The ionic conductivity σ of Sr1 ? x R x F2 + x crystals (R = Y, La-Lu) has been measured in the temperature range of 324–933 K. The isomorphic...     

Concentration dependences of the unit-cell parameters of nonstoichiometric fluorite-type Na0.5 − x R 0.5 + x F2 + 2x phases (R = rare-earth elements)

Unit-cell parameter a of the cubic phases with a varying composition Na_{0.5 ? x} R _{0.5 + x} F_{2 + 2x} (R = Gd-Lu and Y) and with a fluorite-type structure, is described within an accuracy of ±0.003 Å, by the formula a = 4.454 + 0.874r ₃ + x(6.7238r ₃ ? 7.259) where r ₃ is the Shannon “crystal ionic radius” R ³⁺ at c.n. = 8.     

Local lattice strains in the system of cubic Zn0.999Fe0.001S x Se1 − x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) crystals

The structure of cubic Zn_0.999Fe_0.001S _x Se_{1 ? x} (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) crystals obtained by vapor-phase chemical transport has been investigated by thermal-neutron diffraction. The diffraction patterns of these crystals are found to exhibit previously unknown diffuse-scattering effects related to local static atomic displacements in the metastable fcc lattice. It is substantiated that the tendency to form polytypes, which is characteristic to a greater extent of zinc sulfide, can be a key factor of instability in the lattice of compounds belonging to the series of anion-substituted solid solutions under study.     

Investigation of the structure and properties of (K x (NH4)1 − x )3H(SO4)2 single crystals

The influence of isomorphous replacement in the cation sublattice on the kinetics of the phase transition in single crystals of the solid solutions (K _x (NH₄)_{1 ? x} ) _m H _n (SO₄)_{(m + n)/2} · yH₂O belonging to the K₃H(SO₄)₂-(NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂-H₂O salt system was studied. Superproton phase transitions for the end compositions of this system have been found earlier. The optical and thermal properties of crystals with the composition (K,NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂ in the temperature range from 295 to 500 K were investigated, and the crystal structure was determined at 295 K. The results of the study and the comparison with the literature data show that the replacement of potassium atoms with ammonia leads to a fundamental change in the kinetics of the phase transition, the phase-transition temperature remaining virtually unchanged.     

Structural mechanisms of superionic conductivity in M 1−x R x F2+x single crystals

The relationship between the superionic transport in fluorite phases M _{1 ? x} R _x F_{2 + x} (M = Ca, Sr, or Ba; R are rare earth elements) and their defect structure has been analyzed. The superionic conductivity of M _{1 ? x} R _x F_{2 + x} crystals is provided by the high concentration of charge carriers. However, the carrier concentration is several tens of times lower than the concentration of anionic defects, which is explained by the presence of defect regions (DRs), which partially block carriers. The dependence of the superionic conductivity of M _{1 ? x} R _x F_{2 + x} phases on the RF₃(x) content has a percolation nature. Crystals of these phases are divided into two groups with respect to the percolation threshold: x _{p, 1} = 2–3 mol % RF₃ and x _{p, 2} = 7–8 mol % RF₃. The corresponding DR volumes are 3000–4000 ų (x _{p, 1}) and 500–700 ų (x _{p, 2}). The x _{p, 1}, and x _{p, 2} values correlate, respectively, with the octahedral cubic {M _{14 ? p} R _p F_{68 ? 69}} and tetrahedral {M _{4 ? p} R _p F₂₆} clusters, which are DR cores. The DR model and cluster structure are indicative of the heterogeneity of nonstoichiometric M _{1 ? x} R _x F_{2 + x} crystals at the nanoscale level with respect to the chemical composition and the electrical and crystallochemical (coordinations of M and R) characteristics.     

Crystallochemical model of ion-transport percolation in nonstoichiometric M 1−x RxF2+x phases with the defect CaF2-type structure

A crystallochemical model of ion-transport percolation in M _1?x R_xF_2+x (M = Ca, Sr, Ba; R = RE) solid solutions with the “defect” CaF₂-type structure has been suggested. Within this model, the percolation thresholds in M _1?x R_xF_2+x crystals with tetrahedral R ₄F_26? and octahedral R ₆F_37? clusters are considered, whose existence is highly probable in these disordered fluorite phases. It is established that the calculated percolation thresholds x _c = 2.8 mol % for nnn (next nearest neighbors) [(R ₆F₃₇) _M6F32 ?F_i] and x _c = 4.7 mol % for nn (nearest neighbor) [(R ₄F₂₆) _M6F32 ?F_i] are in satisfactory accord with the experimental percolation thresholds determined from the conductometric data.     

Structural Features and Mutual Influence of the Layers in PZT–LNO–SiOx–Si and PZT–LNO–Si Compositions

Crystallography Reports - The phase composition and specific features of the microstructures of layers in the Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3–LaNiO3–Si and...     

Displacements in the cationic motif of nonstoichiometric fluorite phases Ba1 − x R x F2 + x as a result of the formation of {Ba8[R 6F68–69]} clusters: I. The Ba0.78Tm0.22F2.22 crystals

The displacements of Ba²⁺ cations in the cationic motif of Ba_0.78Tm_0.22F_2.22 crystals, which are representatives of nonstoichiometric fluorite phases Ba_{1 ? x} R _x F_{2 + x} , are proved for the first time with the use of precision investigations of the fine atomic structure. It is shown that the cation displacements, like the previously revealed displacements in the anionic motif, reflect the formation of {Ba₈[R ₆F_68–69]} superclusters of structural defects with nanometer linear sizes. The Ba ²⁺ cations are displaced from the fluorite crystallographic positions 4a (space group Fm $ \bar 3 The displacements of Ba²⁺ cations in the cationic motif of Ba_0.78Tm_0.22F_2.22 crystals, which are representatives of nonstoichiometric fluorite phases Ba_{1 − x} R _x F_{2 + x} , are proved for the first time with the use of precision investigations of the fine atomic structure. It is shown that the cation displacements, like the previously revealed displacements in the anionic motif, reflect the formation of {Ba₈[R ₆F_68–69]} superclusters of structural defects with nanometer linear sizes. The Ba ²⁺ cations are displaced from the fluorite crystallographic positions 4a (space group Fm m) to the positions 32f. The static nature of the cation displacements is confirmed by the fact that these displacements are retained at a temperature of 110 K. The correctness of the interpretation of the correlation between the cation displacements and the formation of superclusters of structural defects is supported by the coincidence of the intercationic distances determined in the disordered phase Ba_0.78Tm_0.22F_2.22 with those found in the previously studied ordered phases Ba₄ R ₃F₁₇ (R = Y, Yb). The model with splitting of cationic positions is appropriate for testing in structural investigations of crystals of the fluorite phases M _{1 − x} R _x F_{2 + x} at room temperature. Original Russian Text ? A.M. Golubev, L.P. Otroshchenko, V.N. Molchanov, B.P. Sobolev, 2008, published in Kristallografiya, 2008, Vol. 53, No. 6, pp. 1023–1030.