Low-energy lattice excitations in the decagonal Al-Ni-Fe and icosahedral Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystals and the (Al,Si)-Cu-Fe cubic phase

The specific heat of decagonal Al_71.3Ni_24.0Fe_4.7 and icosahedral Al₆₂Cu_25.5Fe_12.5 quasicrystals and the Al_55.0Si_7.0Cu_25.5Fe_12.5 cubic phase approximating the structure of the icosahedral alloy has been studied in the temperature range 4.2–40.0 K. All the three compounds exhibit low coefficients of the electronic heat capacity and pronounced deviations of the low-temperature lattice heat capacity from a cubic temperature law in the range 5–10 K. The results obtained by the thermodynamic method and inelastic neutron scattering have been compared and analyzed. It has been established that, at energies ɛ < 14 meV, the spectral density of thermal vibrations in the icosahedral quasicrystal is substantially higher than those in the cubic approximant and in decagonal quasicrystal.     

The development of multivalent ion conductors and their application for chemical sensors

New types of multivalent ion conducting solid electrolytes have been extensively developed and their applications for chemical sensors were investigated. Among the trivalent ion conductors, the highest ion conductivity was realized with the (Al_xZr_1−x)_4/(4−x)Nb(PO₄)₃ solid electrolyte and the value reaches the region between yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and calcia stabilized zirconia (CSZ) of the representative oxide anion conductors. The above described Al³⁺ ion conducting (Al_xZr_1−x)_4/(4−x)Nb(PO₄)₃ solid electrolyte was combined with YSZ, with accompanying the Y₂O₃-KNO₂ solid solution as an auxiliary electrode for nitrogen monoxide (NO) gas sensing. The sensor response was rapid and a reproducible output was continuously observed obeying the Nernst theoretical relationship in a typical NO gas content region in exhaust gases. Paper presented at the 9th EuroConference on Ionics, Ixia, Rhodes, Greece, Sept. 15 – 21, 2002.     

Analysis of the temperature dependence of the heat capacity of solid tin in the vicinity of its melting temperature

Summary The experimental temperature dependence of the heat capacityC _p(T) of solid tin (Sn) in its premelting region 402.07–502.22 K was investigated and two regions with different temperature dependences ofC _p(T) were found. In the far (from the melting temperatureT _m) region 402.07–485.88 K the experimentalC _p(T) of Sn is described by the standard vacancy model. In the close region 485.88–502.22 K it is described by the formation of complicated volumetric defects in the crystalline lattice of solid Sn near itsT _m.     

Magnetic susceptibility and characteristic features of the electronic structure of quasicrystalline alloys

Experiments are performed to determine the magnetic susceptibility of the icosahedral phase itself in the alloy Al₆₂Cu_25.5Fe_12.5 in the temperature range 3.9–1100 K. A new regularity is observed — the curves of the temperature dependences of the susceptibility and electrical conductivity are congruent. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 3, 206–210 (10 February 1999)     

Effect of constant-energy surface anisotropy on the thermoelectric figure-of-merit of the n-Bi2 (Te,Se,S)3 solid solutions

A study is reported of the thermoelectric and galvanomagnetic properties of n-Bi₂Te_3−x−y Se_xSe_y solid solutions for 0.12⩽x⩽0.36 and 0.12⩽y⩽0.21 within the 80–300 K temperature region. The thermoelectric figure-of-merit Z has been found to correlate with the parameters of the many-valley energy-band model including anisotropic carrier scattering. It is shown that a decrease in the constant-energy surface anisotropy and scattering anisotropy results in a growth of Z for optimum carrier concentrations in the solid solution. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 187–192 (February 1999)     

Colossal magnetoresistance of FexMn1−xS magnetic semiconductors

The magnetic, electric, magnetoresistive, and structural properties are investigated in the sulfide solid solutions Fe_xMn_1−2x S, which are based on the antiferromagnetic semiconductor α-MnS (the fcc NaCl lattice). Colossal negative magnetoresistance (δ_H∼−83% at 160 K for x ∼ 0.29), comparable to that observed in La-Ca-Mn-O polycrystals and films (δ_H∼−90% at 100 K and 40 kOe), is observed in compounds with intermediate concentrations 0.26<x<0.4, corresponding to the region of incipient ferromagnetism. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 12, 895–899 (25 June 1999)     

Structural evolutions of the mechanically alloyed Al<Subscript>70</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>20</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>10</Subscript> powders

Elemental mixtures of Al, Cu, Fe powders with the nominal composition of Al₇₀Cu₂₀Fe₁₀ were mechanically alloyed in a planetary ball mill for 80 h. Subsequent annealing of the as-milled powders were performed at 600–800°C temperature range for 4 h. Structural characteristics of the mechanically alloyed Al₇₀Cu₂₀Fe₁₀ powders with the milling time and the heat treatment were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Mechanical alloying of the Al₇₀Cu₂₀Fe₁₀ did not result in the formation of icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (i-phase) and a long time milling resulted in the formation of β-Al(Cu,Fe) solid solution phase (β-phase). The i-phase was observed only for short-time milled powders after heat treatment above 600°C. The β-phase was one of the major phases in the Al₇₀Cu₂₀Fe₁₀ alloy. The w-Al₇Cu₂Fe₁ phase (w-phase) was obtained only after heat treatment of the short-time milled and unmilled samples. The present investigation indicated that a suitable technique to obtain a large amount of quasicrystalline powders is to use a combination of short-time milling and subsequent annealing.     

Raman spectra and restructurizations in the system of solid solutions NaTa y Nb1−y O3

By recording the Raman spectra, concentrational restructurizations in the system of solid solutions NaTa_yNb_1−yO₃ were investigated. The regions of relatively stable existence of solid solutions (y<0.2, y>0.8) and the region of a rather high disordering (0.2<y<0.9) with maximum deformation of the elementary cell at y=0.5 have been revealed. It is found that at y=0.5 a concentrational phase transition is observed, and at y ∼ 0.25 and 0.8 concentrational restructurizations occur. It is shown that the octahedral anions of BO₆ are centrosymmetric when y<0.2 and y>0.9, and the system of solid solutions NaTa_yNb_1−yO₃ is antiferroelectric when y<0.2. In the range of concentrations 0.2<y< 0.9, the structure of NaTa_yNb_1−yO₃ is characterized by the presence of polar clusters. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 192–198, March–April, 2000.     

Electron and x-ray diffraction studies on Al86Fe14, Al82Fe18 and Al75Fe25 quasicrystals

Electron and x-ray diffraction experiments on the metlt-spun Al_100−x Fe _x (x=14, 18, 25) alloys are carried out. It is observed that all the melt-spun alloys possessing the quasi-crystalline phases have icosahedral point-group symmetry. The authors felicitate Prof. D S Kothari on his eightieth birthday and dedicate this paper to him on this occasion.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Ni-Li oxides

Mixed Li-Ni oxides, Li_xNi_1-xO, are prepared by solid state reaction in the range 0.2≤x≤0.46 by annealing around 1000 K for various times. As reported in literature, above x=0.31 an ordered solid solution (OSS) is formed in which planes of pure Ni alternate with Li-Ni planes, whereas below x=0.2 only a fully disordered solid state solution (SSS) exists. We analyze the intermediate composition region 0.22≤x≤0.31 by fitting the X-ray patterns with a two-phases model using the Rietveld method: a SSS phase and an OSS phase where partial occupancy of the Ni-planes by lithium is allowed. The two phases coexist in the intermediate region, and no lithium is allowed in the Ni planes of the OSS phase; furthermore, the lithium contents of the OSS and SSS phases are approximately x ∼ 0.4 and x ∼ 0.2, respectively, and loss of lithium is associated with transformation of the OSS phase into SSS.⁷Li NMR data find evidence of a common magnetic behaviour of the samples containing the OSS phase which agrees with the X-ray findings. Paper presented at the 2nd Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Sept. 10–16, 1995     

Quantum spins in Mackay icosahedral gold nanoparticles

We report on the direct observation of the intrinsic magnetization behavior of Mackay icosahedral Au nanoparticles. The spin arrangements in 3.5-nm icosahedral Au particles are found to be ferrimagnetic-like, where the core and surface moments point in opposite directions, with a net spontaneous magnetic moment of 16 μ_B per particle. The unpaired spins behave as J = 1/2 quantum spins. The average level separation is found to be a factor of ~1.53 larger than that estimated according to the Kubo formula for spherical Au particles. This reflects the fact that there are considerably fewer atoms packed in a particle with an icosahedral geometry than with a spherical one.     

Thermal and magnetic properties of La<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Pb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The thermodynamic and magnetic properties of the La_{1 − x} Pb _x MnO₃ (0.24 ≤ x ≤ 0.40) solid solution system were investigated in the temperature range of 4.2–340 K. All objects were ferromagnetics with Curie temperature T _C ≈ 320–340 K, which slowly increased with x. The M(T) behavior in the magnetic ordering region indicated a nonuniform ground state, due possibly to the competition of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. The increase in the saturation magnetic moment with x can be described by a simple model of the binary bonds in La_{1 − x} Pb _x MnO₃.     

Electron spectrum and wave functions of icosahedral quasicrystals

Electron spectra and wave functions of icosahedral quasicrystals have been investigated in the tight-binding approximation using the two-fragment structural model (the Amman-MacKay network) with “central” decoration. A quasicrystal has been considered as a limiting structure in a set of optimal cubic approximants with increasing lattice constants. The method of level statistics indicates that the energy spectrum of an icosahedral quasicrystal contains a singular (nonsmooth) component. The density of electron states has been calculated for the first four optimal cubic approximants of the icosahedral quasicrystal, and the respective Lebesgue measures of energy spectra of these approximants have been obtained. Unlike the case of a one-dimensional quasiperiodic structure, the energy spectrum of an icosahedral quasicrystal does not contain a hierarchical gap structure typical of the Cantor set of measure zero in a one-dimensional quasicrystal. Localization of wave functions in an icosahedral quasicrystal has been studied, and their “critical” behavior has been detected. The effect of disorder due to substitutional impurities on electron properties of icosahedral quasicrystals has been investigated. This disorder makes the electron spectrum “smoother” and leads to a tendency to localization of wave functions. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 1009–1025 (March 1998)     

The Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystalline approximant -phase revisited

A detailed investigation of the Fourier space of several Al-Pd-Mn samples with composition Al-72.6 at. %, Pd-22.9 at. %, Mn-4.5 at. % is reported. In the phase diagram of the Al-Pd-Mn ternary alloy, this composition corresponds to the so-called ξ' phase which was described as an icosahedral quasicrystalline approximant. By re-examining the Fourier space by means of X-ray diffraction (powder patterns and single crystal precession patterns), complex structures in close relation with the ξ'-phase have been observed. These long-range order complex structures are described as resulting from a periodic perturbation of the ξ' structure along the c direction. Two states with periodicities c (3 + τ) and c (5 + τ) have been observed in this study (τ: golden mean). Structural models based on periodic arrangements of “defects” layers separating layers of phase are proposed. These two states are certainly intermediate states between the phase and the metastable decagonal quasicrystalline phase. Received 11 April 2002 / Received in final form 24 June 2002 Published online 17 September 2002     

Infrared absorption spectra of 2,3- and 3,5-dichloroaniline

The infrared absorption spectra of 2,3- and 3,5-dichloroanilines have been recorded in the region 250–4000 cm⁻¹. The spectra of the latter are recorded in solid phase (KBr and Nujol mull) and in CS₂/CCl₄ and CHCl₃ solutions while that of the former in thin film only. The spectra have been analysed assuming C ₃ and C_2v point group symmetry respectively and a tentative assignment of the observed bands to different fundamental modes has been made.     

Effect of infrared radiation on the plasticity of solid hydrogen

This paper reports on the first results obtained from the investigation of the effect of IR radiation on the low-temperature (1.8 ≤ T ≤ 4.2 K) plasticity of solid hydrogen. It has been found that, when the samples are exposed to IR radiation, a drastic increment Δɛ_IR of the elongation per unit length ɛ (which was preliminarily achieved under a continuously applied mechanical stress σ = const) occurs without an increase in the temperature of the samples. It has been revealed that the effect observed both in the case of normal hydrogen (n-H₂, 75% o-H₂) and in the case of parahydrogen (p-H₂, ∼0.2% o-H₂) only for a sufficiently high power of the IR radiation source has a threshold character. The reverse deformation of solid hydrogen is observed after the irradiation with a flux of IR photons is completed: the quantity ɛ rapidly decreases to values provided only by the applied load. The appearance of jumps in the increment of deformation Δɛ_IR ⁱ is interpreted as a consequence of the existence of the fundamental IR absorption band for solid hydrogens. It has been established that, depending on the time t of exposure of the samples to IR radiation, the change in the quantity Δɛ_IR ⁱ (t) obeys the logarithmic law, which is characteristic of the dislocation creep and observed in the case of unirradiated hydrogen. It has also been found that, under multiple relatively long-term exposure to IR radiation, the constant α of the logarithmic creep of n-H₂ abruptly decreases, whereas the strength of both the n-H₂ and p-H₂ samples increases significantly, which indicates their explicit hardening (instead of the expected “superplastic” behavior due to the exposure to IR irradiation).     

Magnetic properties of single crystals of the Cr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S solid solutions (0 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> < 0.3)

The Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S single crystals have been synthesized based on manganese monosulfide as a result of cation substitution, and their magnetic properties have been studied. It has been established that the Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S solid solutions with a face-centered cubic NaCl structure are formed in the concentration region 0 ≤ x < 0.3. The unit cell parameter of the solid solution decreases as the degree of substitution increases due to the variation in the ionic radius of cations. These substances are antiferromagnets. An increase in the degree of cation substitution in the Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S solid solutions is accompanied by a decrease in the number of 3d electrons in the d shell of manganese monosulfide and causes a decrease in the magnetic transition temperature from 149 K (x = 0) to 96 K (x = 0.29), which differs from previously known results.     

Generation of the Ultracold Muonic Hydrogen Flux

We present the study of μp atom scattering in solid hydrogen. Anomalously large emission of E _pμ≤1.9 meV μp's from a solid H₂ layer was observed for the first time. This three times greater μp atom yield is due to non-elastic phonon scattering. As a result, it becomes possible to generate an ultracold flux of μp atoms. The recent calculations of the total and differential cross sections agree with all experimental results of μp atom scattering in solid H₂. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal hysteresis of the permittivity of Li0.12Na0.88TayNb1?yO3 solid solutions (y ≥ 0.7) prepared under high or normal pressure

The structural characteristics and dielectric properties (ε′, tanδ) of Li_0.12Na_0.88Ta_yNb_1−y O₃ solid solutions (y ≥ 0.7) synthesized under high or normal pressure (HP and NP ceramics, respectively) were studied. It was established that these solid solutions have an orthorhombic perovskite structure (space group Pnma) in the paraelectric state. The temperature and frequency dependences of the dielectric properties of the solid solutions are described in terms of microinhomogeneity of a system containing ferroelectric clusters with an enhanced Nb content as compared to that in the matrix. The characteristics of the cluster system depend on the method by which the ceramics were prepared. The HP ceramic is more homogeneous on the microscale. The permittivity ε′ was found to undergo thermal hysteresis in the region from 200 to 400 K, the parameters of which strongly differ for the HP and NP ceramics. The temperature of the maximum ε′ obtained in cooling runs for the NP and HP ceramics is 50–60 and 110 K lower, respectively, than that on the heating branch. The hysteresis may originate from interaction of the antipolar mode condensing under cooling with nonpolar ordered distortions, which drives the system to the state of global minimum. When the system residing in this state is heated, this mode undergoes decondensation at a higher temperature. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 47, No. 4, 2005, pp. 679–685. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2005 by Olekhnovich, Radyush, Vyshatko, Moroz, Pushkarev, Palatnikov.     

Low-temperature conductivity and the Hall effect in (PbzSn1 ? z)0.84In0.16Te semiconducting solid solutions

The temperature dependences of the conductivity and the Hall effect in heavily doped polycrystalline samples of the (Pb _z Sn_{1 − z} )_0.84In_0.16Te solid solutions with lead content varied within the 0 ≤ z ≤ 0.9 interval have been studied. For x ≤ 0.65, the material undergoes a superconducting transition at a critical temperature T _c ≤ 4.2 K in a magnetic field H _c2(0 K) ∼ 50 kOe. As the lead concentration is increased to z ≤ 0.9, a clearly pronounced trend to transfer of the material to the dielectric state is observed at helium temperatures. The observed behavior is related to the variation in the band structure of the solid solutions with variations in the material composition, doping level, and position of the indium impurity band. The dependences of the resistivity, Hall effect, and superconducting characteristics of (Pb _z Sn_{1 − z} )_0.84In_0.16Te on the temperature and the composition of the solid solutions is observed to be related to the variation in its band structure as tin atoms are replaced with lead in the metallic sublattice of the compound. Original Russian Text ? D.V. Shamshur, S.A. Nemov, R.V. Parfen’ev, M.S. Kononchuk, V.I. Nizhankovskii, 2008, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2008, Vol. 50, No. 11, pp. 1948–1952.