Phase transitions in Cs5(HSO4)2(H2PO4)3 crystal

The symmetry (sp. gr.I $\bar 4$ 3d) and lattice parameters have been determined for the first time for Cs₅(H₂SO₄)₂(H₂PO₄)₃ crystals in the temperature range from 172 to 390 K. The thermal and optical properties of crystals, as well as their conductivity, have been investigated at elevated temperatures. It is shown that a crystal heated to T = 365 K undergoes a phase transition with symmetry lowering to the tetragonal phase (with the parameters a = 4.965(1) Å and c = 5.016(1) Å), while at T ≈ 390 K a phase transition to the cubic phase is presumably observed. With a decrease in temperature, a phase transition without a change in symmetry occurs at T = 240 K.     

EPR study of kinetic properties of a weak polar ferroelectric Li2Ge7O15

The EPR spectra of Mn²⁺ ions have been studied in the vicinity of the phase transition to the ferroelectric phase in lithium heptagermanate crystals. The anomalous broadening of the resonance lines observed in the vicinity of the transition temperature T _C was attributed to an increase of the contribution of low-frequency (ω < 10⁷ Hz) fluctuations of the local order parameter. The critical index of the correlation length is determined to be ν ≈ 0.63, which indicates the Ising-type critical behavior of the crystal. The experimental data obtained in the vicinity of T _C were interpreted with due regard for long-range dipole interactions. According to our estimates, the forces of dipole interactions are prevalent only in the close vicinity of the transition point, ¦ T-T _C¦ ? 0.1 K.     

Spectroscopic and thermal investigations of poly(vinylidene fluoride) films composites with LaNi3Co2

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and LaNi₃Co₂ were composites in various combinations by using melting technique. Morphological and physical properties of both the surface and interface of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/ LaNi₃Co₂ composite films have been investigated. FTIR and XRD diffraction analysis evidenced the increase of α, β and γ‐ PVDF crystalline phases. The bands at 888 and 1414 cm^‐1 were assigned to γ‐phase of PVDF. Maximum value of the relative amount of β‐phase was observed at 35 and 60% FL. This result was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Maximum value of degree of crystallinity was observed at 15% Filling level (FL). Morphology of SEM consists of two different size rings and spherulites. DSC was used to identify the melting temperature, the order of reaction and the activation energy of melting. A sharp endothermic peak at T_m ≈ 444 K due to melting and T₂ ≈ 360 K due to α‐relaxation/transition. Maximum values of magnetoresistance (MR) observed from range (243 to 238K) are due to reorientation of dipoles in a process associated with the glass transition temperature of PVDF. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spectroscopic and Transport Properties of (NH4)2CuCl4 · 2 H2O Single Crystal

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), Optical absorption and Transport properties of (NH₄)₂CuCl₄ 2 H₂O single crystals have been studied. An anisotropic g tensor was observed with gl = 2.241 and g∥ = 2.081 by EPR method. The spin orbit coupling constant is found to be 540 cm⁻¹. The optical absorption in UV region are characterized by charge transfer band, in the visible and near infrared region at 13,333, 4,480, 4,336, and 3,998 cm⁻¹ attributed to the transitions between the (d-d) stark energy levels of the copper (II) ion in an extended octahedral crystal field. Dc electrical conductivity measurements with temperature reveal an anisotropic characteristic of a two-dimensional layered structure, and exhibits two first order structural phase transitions at about 383 K and 413 K. These transitions are attributed to loss of the two water inolecules of hydration and free rotation of NH⁺₄ ion from a state of torsional oscillation.     

Phase Transition and Phase Diagram of Anion Radical Salts of [(C6H5)3PCH3]+ [(C6H5)3AsCH3]+ ×(TCNO)− 2 (0 ≤×≤ 1)

Abstract

Much attention has been paid to the solid anion radical salts of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), because of their prominent electronic properties.^1–4 In particular, the salts containing mixed cations represented by [(C₆H₅)₃PCH₃]⁺ _1–x [(C₆H₅)₃AsCH₃]⁺ _× (TCNQ)^? ₂, (0 ≤×≤ 1), are known to undergo phase transitions at 1 atm pressure in the solid state.^1–4 The phase transition of pure methyltriphenylphosphonium salt, (x = 0.00), takes place at 315.7 K. Heat-capacity measurements of this phase transition have been made by Kosaki et al. ³ The transition has thus been found to be of the first order. The enthalpy and the total entropy change associated with the phase transition were experimentally determined to be 485.18 cal/mol and 1.7206 cal/deg.mol, respectively. For the solid solutions, it was found that the transition temperature (T_c ) is increased, while the magnitude of the heat of transition (δH) is decreased, progressively with an increase in the composition parameter (x) and that pure methyltriphenylarsonium salt, (x = 1.00), has no such phase transition up to the decomposition temperature of about 480 K at 1 atm pressure.^1–3 Figure 1 shows the experimental relation between T _c and x, together with the relation between δH and x.⁴ In the present paper, we attempted to explain thermodynamically the phase diagram of Figure 1 for the solid solutions of those TCNQ anion radical salts.     

Study of optical and transport properties of K2CuCl4 · 2H2O single crystal

Optical absorption, transport properties and EPR of K₂CuCl₄ · 2H₂O single crystals have been studied. The optical absorption in UV, and visible region are characterized by a charge transfer band, and in the near infrared region at 3998, 4336, and 4480 cm⁻¹ are attributed to transitions between the stark levels of copper(II) ion in an extended octahedral crystal field. An anisotrophic ‘g’ value was observed with g_∥ = 2.12 and g_∥ = 2.24 by EPR method. The spin orbit coupling constant is found to be 500 cm₋₁. D.C. electrical conductivity measurements with temperature reveal an anisotropy characteristic of a two-dimensional layered structure and exhibit a first order irreversible structural phase-transition at 377 K, i.e. from tetragonal to monoclinic crystal system. X-ray diffraction studies and density calculations from the crystal structure data in both the phases suggest that the first order irreversible transition occurs following the loss of the two water molecules of hydration.     

A neutron diffraction study of the phase transition of fully deuterated triglycine sulphate (ND2CD2COOD)3.D2SO4

Using neutron single crystal and powder diffraction, the first thorough investigation of the structure of fully deuterated triglycine sulphate, (ND₂CD₂COOD)₃.D₂SO₄ is presented, including its evolution with T, through its structural phase transition. This includes new precise structural parameters determined at several key temperatures above and below T_C using single crystal diffraction, and for the first time a parametric study has been undertaken over a wide temperature range — from 4 to 500 K in 2 K steps. It was found that fully deuterated TGS shows a structure consistent with hydrogenous TGS and partially deuterated TGS. The evolution of several key hydrogen bond lengths suggests that weakening of the H‐bond network with T is crucial in decoupling the polarising glycine molecules from the other glycines and allowing the long‐range ferroelectric order to break down. A new parameterisation of the phase transition is demonstrated. Contrary to results of physical properties measurements, there is no evidence of a second low temperature phase transition in TGS – no low temperature anomalies were observed in the crystal structure.     

Nuclear57Fe relaxation in Fe2+-containing NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 single crystals

Spin-lattice (T ₁) and spin-spin (T ₂) relaxation times of ⁵⁷Fe nuclei in the single-crystal NiFe₂O₄ and CoFe₂O₄ ferrites containing Fe²⁺ ions have been studied in the temperature range of 4.2–100 K by a spin-echo technique. The peaks of relaxation rates T ₁ ^?1 and T ₂ ^?1 caused by the presence of Fe²⁺ ions were observed for both ferrites in the ranges 38–42 and 28–32 K, respectively. The analysis of the results obtained with invocation of the data on ferromagnetic resonance and the measurements of the temperature dependence of resistivity shows that the mechanism of nuclear relaxation responsible for “impurity” peaks and is a slow relaxation process caused by electron exchange Fe²⁺ ? Fe³⁺, characterized by a low activation energy.     

Structural phase transition in CuFe2O4 spinel

A structural transition with a reduction in symmetry of the high temperature cubic phase (sp. gr. Fd3m) to the tetragonal phase (sp. gr. I4₁/amd) and the appearance of a ferrimagnetic structure occur in CuFe₂O₄ copper ferrite at T ≈ 440°C. It is established by an experiment on a high-resolution neutron diffractometer that the temperature at which long-range magnetic order occurs is higher than that of tetragonal phase formation. When cooling CuFe₂O₄ spinel from 500°C, the equilibrium coexistence of both phases is observed in a fairly wide temperature range (～40°C). The composition studied is a completely inverse spinel in the cubic phase, and in the tetragonal phase the inversion parameter does not exceed few percent (x = 0.06 ± 0.04). At the same time, the phase formed upon cooling has a classical value of tetragonal distortion (γ ≈ 1.06). The character of temperature changes in the structural parameters during the transition from cubic to tetragonal phase indicates that this transition is based on the Jahn-Teller distortion of (Cu,Fe)O₆ octahedra rather than the mutual migration of copper and iron atoms.     

Structural Phase Transition of an Intercalation Compound Mn1/4NbS2

Abstract

A structural phase transition of an intercalation compound Mn_1/4NbS₂ has been investigated by X-ray diffraction at high temperatures. The lattice parameter c exhibited a discontinuous change at 640K. The superlattice reflections observed below 640K disappeared suddenly above 640K. The phase transition at 640K took an aspect of the first-order phase transition. The precise structure analyses were performed at various temperatures above and below the phase-transition temperature. It was revealed that Mn atoms were arranged in disorder in the high-temperature phase, while the Mn atoms were ordered forming the 2a ₀ × 2a ₀ × c ₀ superlattice in the low-temperature phase. The Nb and S atoms around the ordered Mn atoms slightly shifted from the high-symmetry position in the low-temperature phase. The order parameters were the degree of order of the Mn atoms and the degree of displacement of the Nb and S atoms.     

The Changes of Thermal,Dielectric, and Optical Properties at Insertion of Small Concentrations of Ammonium to K<Subscript>3</Subscript>H(SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> Crystals

The structure of (K_1–x(NH₄)_x)₃H(SO₄)₂ crystals with a low ammonium concentration and the behavior of their thermal, optical, and dielectric properties in a temperature range of 275–500 K have been investigated to clarify the influence of doping on the phase transition kinetics. An examination of unit-cell parameters of (K_{1 – x}(NH₄)_x)₃H(SO₄)₂ single crystals has confirmed the existence of a superprotonic phase transition at a temperature of ≈450K. The conducting properties of single-crystal and polycrystalline samples have been studied.     

NMR Studies of (TMTSF)2PF6

Abstract

Pulsed NMR determinations of the relaxation times T₂, T₂* and T₁, as a function of temperature and field, for the methyl group protons in (TMTSF)₂PF₆ are reported. Below the metal-insulator transition (T_MI)T₂* shortens while T₂ increases, indicating a line which is inhomogeneously broadened due to the onset of a SDW. The SDW also contributes to the spin-lattice relaxation rate, T₁ ^?1, in the neighborhood of T_MI. A frequency dependent maximum in T₁ ^?1 is observed near 20K and is attributed to methyl group rotation. A frequency independent maximum at 58K suggests a structural phase transition involving rearrangement of the methyl and PF₆ groups.     

Heat Capacity and Thermodynamic Properties of p'-Substituted p-n-Hexyloxybenzylideneaniline. I. p-n-Hexyloxybenzylideneamno-p'-Benzonitrile (HBAB)

Abstract

The heat capacity of the nematogenic liquid crystal, HBAB, has been measured between 15 K and 385 K by using an adiabatic calorimeter. The crystal-crystal phase transition has been discovered at 27 K below the crystal-nematic phase transition temperature. The transition temperatures, the enthalpies and the entropies of the three phase transitions have been determined: T ₁ = 306.98 K, ΔH _t = 5.11 kJ mol^?1, ΔS _t = 16.7 JK^?l; T _m = 334.05 K, ΔH _m = 23.77 kJ mol^?1, ΔS_m = 71.2 J K^?l mol^?1; and T _c = 375.10 K, ΔH _c = 1.75 kJ mol^?1, ΔS _c = 3.2 J K^?1 mol^?1, respectively. The thermodynamic functions of HBAB from 0 K to 385 K have been determined from the heat capacity data and the enthalpies of the transitions. Two crystal modifications, one yellow and granular form and the other white and needle-like form, have been obtained during the course of the preparation of the sample. It turned out that the yellow form was the stable crystal and the white the metastable modification. The crystal-crystal phase transition has been discussed as an onset of partial melting from the entropy consideration. In this connection the total entropies of the transitions, 91.1 J K^?1 mol^?1 has been proposed to be an important measure of melting.     

Effect of Pressure on Antiferromagnetic Transition in Alkali-Electro-Sodalite

Abstract

Pressure (0–19 kbar) and temperature (4–300 K) dependent EPR study of Sodium-Electro-Sodalite (SES) is presented. SES, which consists of a bcc sub-lattice of F-centers supported by a zeolite-like framework, is known to be a Mott insulator at room temperature. On cooling, SES undergoes an AF transition at 48±2 K providing the first example of an s-electron antiferromagnet. We find that the width of the EPR resonance above T _N is influenced not only by a strong exchange interaction, but also by a fast spin-lattice relaxation. Also, with increasing pressure, T _N decreases linearly and extrapolates to 0 K at about 65 kbar. The reason for this seemingly unexpected behavior is briefly discussed.     

Etude par Calorimetrie,Diffraction des Rayons X et Diffusion Raman d'une Transition de Phase dans (C4 H4P) Mn (CO)3

Abstract

Heat capacity measurements (95-300K), X-ray diffraction (78-300K) and low frequency Raman spectroscopy (10-350K) have evidenced an order-disorder phase transition in phosphacymantrene, (C₄ H₄P) Mn (CO)₃. This transition has been characterized by a monoclinic ←→ triclinic structural change at about 110 K and by a pretransitional phenomenon. The measured transition enthalpy and entropy are 480 ± 10J.mil^?1 and 4.17 ± 0.08J.K^?1 mol^?1, at 115 K, respectively.

A complete assignment of the observed Raman bands in h₄ and d₄ derivatives is proposed. From the temperature dependence of frequencies, intensities and half-widths of some Raman bands we have discussed the order, the nature and the mechanism of the phase transition: intermolecular interactions appear to be mainly involved in the mechanism and an activation energy roughly equal to 2100 ± 840 J. mol^?1 has been determined.     

Unusual Glassy Smectic-G Liquid Crystal: Heat Capacity of N-p-n-Pentyloxybenzylidene-p'-n-butylaniline between 11 and 393 K

Abstract

The heat capacities of the title compound (C₃H₁₁,O—C₆H₄,- CH=N—C₆H₄,—C₄H₉, abbreviation 5O ? 4) with a purity of 99.92 mole percent have been measured with an adiabatic-type calorimeter between 11 and 393 K. The transition temperature and the enthalpy and entropy of phase transition for stable crystal → S_G, S_G → N and N → isotropic liquid were T _c = 299.69 K/ΔH = 22.68 kJ mol^?1/ΔS = 75.70 JK^?1 mol^?1, 325.72/7.11/21.79 and 342.48/1.78/5.22, respectively. The crystal which melts at 285.5 K is a metastable modification. The S_A phase hitherto reported in between S_G and N does not exist. The glassy So state was realized by rapid cooling of the specimen from the So phase. The molar enthalpy of the glassy S_G state at 0 K was by (10.1±0.1) kJ mol^?1 higher than that of the stable crystalline state and the residual entropy of the glassy state was (9.40±0.83) JK^?1 mol^?1. The relaxational heat-capacity anomaly was observed from as low as 100 K and double glass transition phenomenon occurred around 200 K; a quite unusual phenomenon which has never been observed for the glassy states of nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals. The present results give a fair evidence that the unusual glass transition phenomenon previously found for the S_G state of 6O?4 (a homologous compound) is not exceptional at all but common to the smectic glasses; at least common to the glassy S_G states. Two possible origins responsible for the double glass transitions have been discussed.     

Elastic and dielectric properties of A<Superscript>II</Superscript>B<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>V</Superscript></Stack> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> = Cd or Zn, <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis> = P or As) single crystals

Elastic and dielectric properties of CdP₂, ZnP₂, and ZnAs₂ single crystals are investigated at frequencies of 10², 10³, 10⁴, 10⁶, and 10⁷ Hz in the [00l], [h00], and [hk0] directions in the temperature range 78–400 K. The elastic constants, the Gruneisen parameters, and the force constants of the crystals are calculated from the measured ultrasonic velocities. The elastic constants C_ij decrease with an increase in temperature and anomalously change in narrow (ΔT = 10–20 K) temperature ranges. The permittivity sharply increases from ε ≈ 7–14 at 78–150 K to ε ≈ 10²–10³ in the temperature range 175–225 K without any signs of a structural phase transition. The behavior of the temperature-frequency dependences of the complex permittivity ε*(f, T) is typical of relaxation processes. The dielectric relaxation in A^IIB ₂ ^V is considered on the basis of the model of isolated defects. The conuctivity σ of the single crystals under study is a sum of the frequency-dependent (hopping) conductivity σ_h and the conductivity σ_s that is typical of semiconductors. The hopping conductivity increases with an increase in frequency according to the law σ _h ～f^α, where α < 1 at low temperatures and α > 1 at high temperatures.     

Dielectric constant,loss factor and ac conductivity of Ni2+‐doped K2ZnCl4 crystals in the ferroelectric‐commensurate,incommensurate and normal phases

The dielectric constant (ϵ), dielectric loss (tanδ) and ac conductivity (σ_ac) of virgin and thermally cycled undoped and Ni²⁺‐doped K₂ZnCl₄ (KZC) crystals in the ferroelectric‐commensurate (FC), incommensurate (IC) and normal phases (N) have been studied. Anomalous behaviour at the two‐phase transition points was observed while measuring ϵ along the polar a‐axis for the undoped sample. With increasing Ni²⁺concentration a systematic shift of the phase transition temperature towards lower values and a continuous inhibition of the peak height were detected. ϵ changed linearly with lnf up to f =10⁵ Hz. tanδ along the a‐axis declared the phase transitions by peak changes. After Ni²⁺‐doping this behaviour was preserved at the FC‐IC phase transition point while the IC‐N phase transition was manifested by a change in the slope of the straight line representing the tanδ‐T dependence. The ac conductivity changed lineally with frequency according to a relation of the form σ_ac = σ_o f ^β where 0>β>1.9. σ_ac increased monotonically with increasing temperature and doping concentration in the low‐temperature phases tending to merge in one straight‐line with high activation energy that might be due to superionic dc conduction in the high temperature N‐phase. Doping with Ni²⁺ pinned stripples, decreased the soliton‐soliton interaction, weakened discommensuration effects, shortened the IC‐phase and strongly affected the ‘chaotic' behaviour at the T_C‐IC. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical,X-ray,and calorimetric studies of phase transitions in ND4BeF3

Phase transitions in ND₄BeF₃ crystals at T₁ = 330 and T₂ = 245 K were studied by specific heat (DSC) and X-ray lattice parameters measurements in function of temperature. These ferroelastic transitions are accompanied by anomalous heat absorption, sudden changes in the unit cell parameters and crystal symmetry. Formation of domain structure in particular phases examined under a polarizing microscope is also described. Domain walls of the type (100), (010), and (001) observable at room temperature indicate on the triclinic symmetry of the Phase II. Above T₁ the crystal becomes orthorhombic. First-order phase transition at T₂ causes the symmetry of the crystal in the Phase III to be monoclinic with the c-axis unique. The phase transition diagram is proposed and compared with the phase situation in nondeuterated NH₄BeF₃ crystals.     

Low‐temperature elastic and dielectric properties of K3Na(SO4)2 crystals

Elastic and dielectric properties of glaserite K₃Na(SO₄)₂ single crystal were examined using the method of composite oscillators, Brillouin light scattering methods and dielectric spectroscopy. Measurements were performed in the temperature range from 18 K to 300 K. Anomalies in the temperature dependencies of Brillouin shift and dielectric permittivity at about 70 K confirmed the earlier predicted phase transition at 75 ± 25 K. Temperature dependences of the resonance frequency of the vibrating composite oscillator, Brillouin shift measured in the [110] direction, components of dielectric permittivity tensor reveal an anomaly at about 50 K. Moreover, thermal hysteresis of the dielectric permittivity suggested the presence of an incommensurate state between T ₁ = 50 K and T ₂ = 70 K. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)