Thermoelectric properties of Ca3−xYxCo4O9+δ ceramics

The Ca_3?xY_xCo₄O_9+δ (x=0, 0.15, 0.3) ceramics were prepared by combining the polyacrylamide gel method and the spark plasma sinter (SPS) technology in order to improve the thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₄O_9+δ ceramics. The Seebeck coefficients and the resistivities of the Y-doped samples were obviously enhanced due to the decrease of carrier concentration, and their thermal conductivities were decreased due to the impurity scattering effect. The thermoelectric properties were improved at high temperature by Y-doping according to the power factor analysis and the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) data. The optimized figure of merit ZT=0.22 at 973 K was obtained for Ca_2.7Y_0.3Co₄O_9+δ.     

Electrical properties of Ca3-xSmxCo4O9+δceramics prepared under magnetic field

We fabricate Sm-doped Ca3Co4O9+δ(CCO)bulk materials in magnetic field during both processes of chemical synthesis and cold pressing.The structure and electrical performance of the samples are investigated.With the increasing Sm concentration,the electrical conductivity 1/ρ decreases and the Seebeck coefficientαincreases.As a result,the power factor(PF=α^2/ρ)is raised slightly.After applying magnetic field,the extent of texture,grain size and density of all the bulk materials are improved obviously,thereby an enhanced electrical conductivity can be gained.Additionally,the degeneracy of Co^4+ state in the CoO2 layer of CCO is also increased as the magnetic field is used in the preparing process,which results in an enhancedα.The Ca2.85Sm0.15Co4O9+δ prepared in magnetic field shows the largest power factor(0.20 mW·m^-1·K^-2 at 1073 K).     

Significant enhancement of electrical transport properties of thermoelectric Ca3Co4O9+δ through Yb doping

We report the significant enhancement of the power factor of Ca₃Co₄O_9+δ through Yb doping. The pellets were prepared by pressing under 0.5 GPa and 2 GPa. The highest power factor of 553 μW m^?1 K^?2 due to the significant increase of electrical conductivity was obtained for Ca_2.9Yb_0.1Co₄O_9+δ pressed at 0.5 GPa. This is 2.3 times higher than that of Ca₃Co₄O_9+δ (246 μW m^?1 K^?2). Nanostructure examinations show that the pellets pressed at 0.5 and 2 GPa have different nano-lamella structures. This work suggests that Yb is an effective doping element for enhancing the electrical transport properties of Ca₃Co₄O_9+δ, and the optimum doping level is related to the nanostructure of the bulk pellets.     

Lu-induced spin entropy enhancement in Ca3Co4O9+δ system

The magnetothermopower have been studied in Lu-doped Ca_3?xLu_xCo₄O_9+δ. A strong magnetic field suppression of thermopower indicates large spin entropy contribution. The magnetothermopower for doped samples are overall enhanced compared with that for undoped Ca₃Co₄O_9+δ, providing an experimental evidence for the enhancement of spin entropy. Magnetic results confirm that Co⁴⁺ concentration is reduced by Lu doping. We suggest that the reduction in Co⁴⁺ concentration results in the enhanced spin entropy.     

Electrical and magnetic properties of Gd(Ba2-xLax)Cu3O7+δ

We have studied the structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of the normal and superconducting states Gd(Ba2-xLax)Cu3O7+ [Gd(BaLa)123] samples with 0.0 x 0.8 prepared by the standard solid-state reaction. XRD characterization shows an orthorhombic-tetragonal structural transition at x=0.2. Iodometric titration analysis shows the oxygen content of the samples increase with the increase of La doping. The resistivity curves show that for x0.15, there is metallic behavior, and for x0.2, there is a gradual insulating transition behavior in the normal state. The metal-insulator and superconductor-insulator transitions occur between x=0.35 and x=0.4. The superconducting transition temperature decreases with the increase of La content as two-step curve. The normal-state resistivity is fitted for two and three dimensional variable range hopping (2D&3D-VRH) and Coulomb gap (CG) regimes, separately. The results show that the dominant mechanism is CG for x0.35, and VRH for x0.4. The pinning energy U, derived from the thermally activated flux creep (TAFC) model and Ambegaokar-Halperin (AH) theory, shows a power-law relation as UH -. The critical current density decreases with the increase of La doping and magnetic field. The E-J curves show that the induced electric field increases with the increase of magnetic field and La concentration. The magnetization measurements indicate that the critical penetration fields and magnetic current density decrease with La doping.     

Ferrimagnetic properties of Co/(Gd–Co) multilayers

Co/(Gd–Co) multilayers have been prepared by rf-sputtering and investigated by means of Transverse Magnetooptic Kerr Effect (TMOKE), SQUID and VSM magnetometry. The composition of amorphous _Gd0.36Co0.64${\mathrm{Gd}}_{0.36}{\mathrm{Co}}_{0.64}$ layers was chosen so that their saturation magnetization was dominated by Gd moments in all the temperature range. Co and Gd–Co layers formed a macroscopic ferrimagnetically coupled system displaying a compensation temperature. Complete magnetic moment compensation was found at such point. An inversion of TMOKE hysteresis loops and a divergent behaviour of coercivity were also observed. By changing the layers thickness it has been possible to control the magnetic characteristics of the Co/(Gd–Co) structures, in particular the compensation takes place at different temperatures.     

Photoluminescence Characteristics of Ca4LaNbMo4O20∶ Pr3+

采用高温固相法成功制备出荧光粉Ca4 LaNbMo4O20∶Pr3+,通过X射线衍射分析了样品的结构,其结构与CaMoO4结构相似.在Ca4LaNbMo4O20∶Pr3+的激发光谱中出现了NbO43-和MoO43-的电荷迁移(CTS)吸收和Pr3+离子的4f→4f5d激发跃迁,以及Pr3+-金属离子的价间电荷迁移(IVCT)吸收;另外在420～520 nm处,还观测到属于Pr3+离子的典型f-f激发跃迁.发射光谱中,在452 nm激发下,主要出现绿光和红光两种发射,其峰值位于490 nm和607 nm处,分别是Pr3+的3 P0→3 H4和1D2→3H4的跃迁作用;在紫外287 nm激发下出现NbO43-和MoO42-发射和Pr3+离子的4f5d→4f跃迁宽带,以及Pr3+离子的4f→4f发射蜂.     

Structural analysis of nonlinearities of Ca4ReO(BO3)3 (Re = La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Er, Y)

4 ReO(BO₃)₃ (CReOB, Re=La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Er, and Y) have been theoretically predicted. The d₁₁ tensor coefficient of CReOB is predicted to be -11 d₃₆(KDP), which is the largest d_ij tensor that has been found in borate crystals. From the structural characteristic of CReOB, we find the isolated BO₃ ^3- clusters play a dominant role in contributions to the total nonlinearity, and the largest d₁₁ tensor of CReOB-type crystals is also ascribed to these BO₃ ^3- clusters. We also find the NLO property of this family does not change dramatically for different rare-earth elements. The details of the calculation of CGdOB only are presented. Received: 3 March 1998/Accepted: 22 June 1998     

Photoluminescence Property of Co3O4 Nanowires

Co3O4 nanowire arrays are fabricated by electrodeposition with following heat-treatment in atmosphere ambient. Photoluminescence is investigated at 295K. In the experiment, when increasing the excitation light wavelength from 260 nm to 360 nm, two kinds of emissions corresponding to the increasing excitation light wavelength are observed. One of them alters the excited emission position, another keeps its emission position. The distinct behaviour of excited emissions related to the increasing excitation wavelength indicates that the mechanism of them must be different. According to the experimental comparison and first-principle calculation, the two kinds of emissions are discussed.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Gd3+ ions in Ca1 − x − y Y x Gd y F2 + x + y crystals

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Ca_{1 ? x ? y} Y _x Gd _y F_{2 + x + y} single crystals has revealed spectra that are not typical of gadolinium-doped CaF₂ crystals. These spectra have a nearly tetragonal symmetry and are most probably caused by Gd³⁺ ions localized in yttrium clusters. Weak spectra of tetragonal Gd³⁺ centers, whose parameters are close to those of a cubic gadolinium center caused by an isolated Gd³⁺ ion, have been also detected. These centers are attributed to isolated Gd³⁺ ions localized near octahedral rare-earth clusters or their associations.     

Colour emission tunability in Ho3+–Tm3+–Yb3+ co-doped Y2O3 upconverted phosphor

The frequency upconversion (UC) emission throughout the visible region from the Y₂O₃:Ho³⁺?CTm³⁺?CYb³⁺ co-doped phosphors synthesized by using low temperature combustion process upon excitation with a diode laser operating at 980?nm have been presented. The colour emission tunability in co-doped phosphor has been observed on increasing the pump power and seen by the naked eyes. The tunability in colour emission has also been visualized by CIE chromaticity diagram. The variation in UC emission intensity of the ¹G₄????³H₆ (Tm³⁺) and ⁵F₃????⁵I₈ (Ho³⁺) transitions lying in the blue region has been monitored with increase in the pump power and marked that their ratio can be used to determine the temperature. The developed phosphor has been used to record fingerprints. The observed most intense visible colour emission from the developed material may be used for photodynamic therapy and as an alternative of traditional fluorescent biolabels.     

Rapid change of electronic anisotropy in overdoped (Y,Ca)Ba2Cu3O7−δ

Electronic anisotropy was studied for overdoped (Y, Ca)Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ with various doping levels (p). It was found that the pseudogap-like behavior in the resistivity disappear when p exceeds 0.17, independent of the oxygen deficiency. The anisotropy ratio γ estimated from upper critical fields showed a rapid decrease at around p = 0.18, approaching γ = 3 for p > 0.20.     

Synthesis,structural and optical properties of Eu3+–doped Ca2V2O7 nanophosphors

Europium doped calcium pyrovanadate nanoparticles Ca₂V₂O₇:Eu³⁺, having a size of 57–63 nm, were synthesized using combustion process. Structure, morphological and optical properties of nanophosphors have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fluorescence spectrometry (PL) and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. X-ray studies shows that a pure triclinic Ca₂V₂O₇ phase was obtained at 900 °C temperature. The red emission observed at 620 nm upon excitation at 305 nm is due to hypersensitive transition ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ of luminescent activator Eu³⁺ location at a site with no inversion symmetry in Ca₂V₂O₇ crystal lattice. High luminescent intensity and easy synthesis technique make this red phosphor a promising candidate for application as luminescent materials.     

NMR of 89Y in normal and superconducting YBa2 Cu3 O9-δ

Pulsed NMR data for ⁸⁹Y in the high-T_c superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_9-δ (δ ≈ 2.1) in both the normal and mixed states are presented. Spin-lattice relaxation exhibits a Korringa temperature dependence in the normal state, with T₁T = (4.6 ± 0.1) × 10³ s-K. Below T_c, T₁ increases much more quickly than for a conventional superconductor. From linewidth measurements, the zero-field penetration depth is estimated to be λ ≈ 3800 Å. The Knight shift in the normal state is small, K ≈ 0.02%. Spin-spin relaxation times, determined by Y-Cu dipolar interactions, decrease below T_c due to the detuning of Cu-Cu interactions by fluxoid field gradients.     

Influence of Y2Cu2O5 nanoparticles doping on superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7-δ

ABSTRACT

The blue phase of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7- δ} (YBCO) family, Y₂Cu₂O₅ (Y202) nanoparticles were prepared and doped into (YBCO) superconductor and the effect of doping on critical current density and critical temperature was investigated. Y202 nanoparticles with particle sizes of 47, 107 and 206?nm were prepared by a sol–gel combustion method and added into the YBCO superconductor by 0.5–2?wt.%. XRD and scanning electron microscope measurements were used to characterize the samples. The measurement of critical current density at 77?K revealed that the doped superconductors had larger critical current density compared to the undoped superconductors. For a fixed dopant concentration, by increasing the size of nanoparticles, the J_c was increased. For the samples including 0.5?wt.% of nanoadditives, J_c was higher. The highest critical current density of 137?A/cm² was measured for the superconductors containing 0.5?wt.% of 206?nm Y202 nanoparticles. Also, by increasing the nanoparticles concentration, the T_c was reduced.     

Elastic properties of superconducting and non-superconducting DyBaSrCu3O7−δ

Ultrasonic longitudinal and shear wave velocities were measured for superconducting and non-superconducting DyBaSrCu₃O_7−δ (Dy-1113) at 10 MHz between 80 and 270 K. The superconducting sample exhibits a step-like elastic anomaly between 190 and 230 K. No elastic anomaly was observed in the non-superconducting Dy-1113. The anomaly observed in the superconducting sample is attributed to structural phase transition caused by oxygen orderings.     

Crystal structure and properties of FeSr2NdCu2O7+δ

The compound FeSr₂NdCu₂O₇₊ (Fe1212) was successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction data indicate that the sample is of single phase. Rietveld whole-pattern-fitting method was used to refine the crystal structure of samples prepared under different annealing conditions using the tetragonal system with space group P4/mmm. Magnetization measurements indicate that magnetic susceptibility changes with temperature in a Curie-type manner. Resistance measurements indicate that these samples have a semiconductor-like behavior. PACS 61.10.Nz; 74.72.Jt