In situ pressure-induced solid-state amorphization in Sm2(MoO4)3, Eu2(MoO4)3 and Gd2(MoO4)3 crystals: chemical decomposition scenario

The effect of pressure on the phase transformations in Sm₂(MoO₄)₃, Gd₂(MoO₄)₃ and Eu₂(MoO₄)₃ crystals has been studied in situ using synchrotron radiation. All three isostructural compounds undergo a structural phase transition at 2.2-2.8 GPa to a new phase, which is interpreted as a possible precursor of amorphization. Amorphization in these crystals occurs irreversibly over a wide pressure range, and its mechanism, interpreted as a chemical decomposition, is found to be weakly affected by the degree of hydrostaticity.     

Electrical conduction and optical properties of amorphous (Sb2Se3)100−xSnx thin films

The variation of DC electrical conductivity and the optical properties of thermally evaporated a- (Sb₂Se₃)_100−xSn_x thin films with temperature have been studied. It is found that the thermal activation energy decreases, while the optical gap first increases (up to x=1) and then decreases, with the increase in Sn content. These results have been explained by taking into consideration the structural modifications induced by the incorporation of Sn into the parent alloy. The variation in the conductivity prefactor (σ_o) with Sn addition indicates a change in the dominant conduction transport mechanism from extended states to localized states. An experimental correlation between the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor has been observed, indicating the validity of Meyer–Neldel rule in the studied samples.     

Structure and low-temperature properties of Ba8Ni6Ge40

Structural, magnetic, heat capacity, electrical and thermal transport properties are reported on polycrystalline Ba₈Ni₆Ge₄₀. Ba₈Ni₆Ge₄₀ crystallizes in a cubic type I clathrate structure with unit cell a=10.5179 (4) Å. It is diamagnetic with susceptibility χ_dia=−1.71×10^-6 emu/g Oe. An Einstein temperature 75 K and a Debye temperature 307 K are estimated from heat capacity data. It exhibits n-type conducting behavior below 300 K. It shows high Seebeck coefficients (−111×10^-6 V/K), low thermal conductivity (2.25 W/K m), and low electrical resistivity (8.8 mΩ cm) at 300 K.     

On the power-law behavior of the AC conductivity of the mixed crystal (NH4)3H(SO4)1.42(SeO4)0.58

A power law used to describe the AC conductivity from 299 to 393 K of the mixed crystal (NH₄)₃H(SO₄)_1.42(SeO₄)_0.58 led to fractional exponent values ranging from 1.08 to 0.91, depending on structural changes induced on temperature variation [B. Louati, M. Gargouri, K. Guidara and T. Mhiri, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 66 (2005) 762]. In the present note, we suggest that the fractional law exhibits features of lattice relaxation. Despite the structural changes, the parameters of the power law are mutually interconnected to yield a temperature independent phenomenon. Such behavior is probably of general validity and characterizes the universal fractional dispersion of the AC conductivity, as it was also observed in glasses of different composition.     

Structural and electrical properties of high-energy ball-milled NASICON type Li1.3Ti1.7Al0.3(PO4)2.9(VO4)0.1 ceramics

Nano-crystallites of Li_1.3Ti_1.7Al_0.3(PO₄)_2.9(VO₄)_0.1 NASICON type material are prepared by means of solid-state reaction of a stoichiometric mixture after milling it for 22 and 55 h. The milling reduces the average crystallite size of the ceramic to 80 and 60 nm, respectively. Mechanical milling changes structural parameters and the strain induced at the grain-boundaries plays a major role in improving electrical conductivity. An order of magnitude increase in electrical conductivity is observed in the material milled for 55 h compared to the unmilled material, which is also reflected in permittivity loss. Modulus and permittivity representations substantiate the constriction effect of grain-boundaries observed in the complex impedance representation.     

Ionic to electronic dominant conductivity in Al2(WO4)3 at high pressure and high temperature

Electrical conduction and crystal structure of Al₂(WO₄)₃ at 400 °C have been studied as a function of pressure up to 5.5 GPa using impedance methods and synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction, respectively. AC impedance spectroscopy and DC polarization measurements reveal an ionic to electronic dominant transition in electrical conductivity at a pressure as low as 0.9 GPa. Conductivity increases with pressure and reaches a maximum at 4.0 GPa, where the conductivity value is 5 orders of magnitude greater than the 1 atm value. Upon decompression, the conductivity retains the maximum value until the sample is cooled at 0.5 GPa. The high pressure-temperature X-ray diffraction results show that the lattice parameters decrease as pressure increases and the crystal structure undergoes an orthorhombic to tetragonal-like transformation at a pressure ∼3.0 GPa. The change of conduction mechanism from ionic to electronic may be explained by means of pressure-induced valence change of W⁶⁺→W⁵⁺, which results in electron transfer between W⁵⁺-W⁶⁺ sites at high pressure.     

Growth, thermal and spectroscopic characterizations of BaNd2(MoO4)4 crystal

A new crystal, BaNd₂(MoO₄)₄, has been grown from the flux melt based on Li₂Mo₃O₁₀ by a spontaneous nucleation method. The phase structure of the obtained crystals was determined by X-ray powder diffraction. The result shows that the as-grown crystals are well crystallized and indexed in a monoclinic crystal system with space group B2/b. The specific heat of BaNd₂(MoO₄)₄ crystal at 20 °C is 0.485 J/g K. Absorption and fluorescence spectra were also measured at room temperature. There are several strong and broad absorption peaks from 200 to 1200 nm and three emission transition bands located at 890, 1060, and 1334 nm are detected.     

Magnetic contribution to heat capacity and entropy of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4)

The heat capacity of nickel ferrite was measured as a function of temperature from 50 to 1200 °C using a differential scanning calorimeter. A thermal anomaly was observed at 584.9 °C, the expected Curie temperature, T_C. The observed behavior was interpreted by recognizing the sum of three contributions: (1) lattice (vibrational), (2) a spin wave (magnetic) component and (3) a λ-transition (antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition) at the Curie temperature. The first was modeled using vibrational frequencies derived from an experimentally-based IR absorption spectrum, while the second was modeled using a spin wave analysis that provided a T^3/2 dependency in the low-temperature limit, but incorporated an exchange interaction between cation spins in the octahedral and tetrahedral sites at elevated temperatures, as first suggested by Grimes [15]. The λ-transition was fitted to an Inden-type model which consisted of two truncated power law series in dimensionless temperature (T/T_C). Exponential equality (m=n=7) was observed below and above T_C, indicating symmetry about the Curie temperature. Application of the methodology to existing heat capacity data for other transition metal ferrites (AFe₂O₄, A=Fe, Co) revealed nearly the same exponential equality, i.e., m=n=5.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic study of the thermal spin crossover in [Fe(II)(isoxazole)6](ClO4)2

The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of mononuclear [Fe(II)(isoxazole)₆](ClO₄)₂ has been studied to reveal the thermal spin crossover of Fe(II) between low-spin (S=0) and high-spin (S=2) states. Temperature-dependent spin transition curves have been constructed with the least-square fitted data obtained from the Mössbauer spectra measured at various temperatures between 84 and 270 K during a cooling and heating cycle. This compound exhibits an unusual temperature-dependent spin transition behaviour with T_C(↓)=223 and T_C(↑)=213 K occurring in the reverse order in comparison to those observed in SQUID observation and many other spin transition compounds. The compound has three high-spin Fe(II) sites at the highest temperature of study of which two undergo spin transitions. The compound seems to undergo a structural phase transition around the spin transition temperature, which plays a significant role in the spin crossover behaviour as well as the magnetic properties of the compound at temperatures below T_C. The present study reveals an increase in high-spin fraction upon heating in the temperature range below T_C, and an explanation is provided.     

Spin-peierls transition in dimerized stacks of anion-radical salt (N-Me-2,5-di-Me-Pz)(TCNQ)2, (Pz is pyrazine)

An anion-radical salt (ARS) (N-Me-2,5-di-Me-Pz)(TCNQ)₂, where Pz is pyrazine, was synthesized and its crystal structure was resolved. X-ray diffraction experiments on single crystals were performed. Heat capacity was measured in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K. Magnetisation and magnetic susceptibility were measured in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K and the low-temperature part was measured in magnetic fields from 5 mT to 5 T. The experimental results were explained in terms of dimerized Heisenberg spin chain model. Numerical calculations were performed and compared with experimental data.     

A re-evaluation of the heat capacity of cerium zirconate (Ce2Zr2O7)

The heat capacity of cerium zirconate pyrochlore, Ce₂Zr₂O₇, was measured from 0.4 to 305 K by hybrid adiabatic relaxation method for various magnetic field strengths. Magnetisation measurements were performed on the sample also. The results revealed a low-temperature anomaly that showed Schottky-type characteristics with increasing magnetic field strength. The estimated entropy due to the magnetic ordering of the two Ce³⁺ moments is 1.37R, close to the theoretical value for a doublet ground state (1.39R). The enthalpy increments relative to 298.15 K were measured by drop calorimetry from 531 to 1556 K. The obtained results significantly differ from those reported in the literature; the origin of the discrepancy is due to the probable oxidation of the pyrochlore structure into fluorite.     

Electrical conductivity and amorphization of Sc2(WO4)3 at high pressures and temperatures

Impedance spectroscopy measurements and synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies of Sc₂(WO₄)₃ at 400°C have been carried out as a function of pressure up to 4.4 GPa. Ionic conductivity shows normal decrease with increase in pressure up to 2.9 GPa, but then increases at higher pressures. The XRD results show that Sc₂(WO₄)₃ undergoes pressure-induced amorphization at pressures coincident with the reversal in conductivity behavior. The loss of crystal structure at high pressure is consistent with growing evidence of pressure-induced amorphization in negative thermal expansion materials, such as Sc₂(WO₄)₃. The increase in conductivity in the amorphized state is interpreted as the result of an increase in structural entropy and a concomitant reduction of energy barriers for ionic transport.     

Optical constants of Cu(In0.7Ga0.3)5Se8 and Cu(In0.4Ga0.6)5Se8 crystals

Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry has been applied to characterize the optical constants of bulk Cu(In_0.7Ga_0.3)₅Se₈ and Cu(In_0.4Ga_0.6)₅Se₈ crystals grown by the Bridgman method. The spectra were measured at room temperature over the energy range 0.8-4.4 eV. Adachi’s model was used to calculate the dielectric functions as well as the spectral dependence of complex refractive index, absorption coefficient, and normal-incidence reflectivity. The calculated data are in good agreement with the experimental ones over the entire range of photon energies. The parameters such as strength, threshold energy, and broadening, corresponding to the E₀, E_1A, and E_1B interband transitions, have been determined using the simulated annealing algorithm.     

Frequency dependence of ionic conductivity and dielectric relaxation studies in Na3H(SO4)2 single crystal

Electrical impedance measurements of Na₃H(SO₄)₂ were performed as a function of both temperature and frequency. The electrical conductivity and dielectric relaxation have been evaluated. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity reveals that the sample crystals transformed to the fast ionic state in the high temperature phase. The dynamical disordering of hydrogen and sodium atoms and the orientation of SO₄ tetrahedra results in fast ionic conductivity. In addition to the proton conduction, the possibility of a Na⁺ contribution to the conductivity in the high temperature phase is proposed. The frequency dependence of AC conductivity is proportional to ω^s. The value of the exponent, s, lies between 0.85 and 0.46 in the room temperature phase, whereas it remains almost constant, 0.6, in the high-temperature phase. The dielectric dispersion is examined using the modulus formalism. An Arrhenius-type behavior is observed when the crystal undergoes the structural phase transition.     

Synthesis and characterization of hexakis(acetonitrile)chromium(III) tetrafluoroborate, [Cr(NCMe)6][BF4]3. A nonaqueous Cr source

Oxidation of [Cr^II(NCMe)₄][BF₄]₂ with thianthrinium tetrafluoroborate forms [Cr^III(NCMe)₆][BF₄]₃ exhibiting two ν_CN absorptions at 2331 and 2301 cm⁻¹, and has been structurally characterized with an average Cr-N distance of 1.999 Å. From the electronic absorption spectra the ligand field splitting, Δ₀, is 20,160 cm⁻¹, which is slightly larger than [Cr^III(OH₂)₆]³⁺ in accord with the divalent chromium analogues. The 298 K ESR has a resonance at g=1.9884, and the magnetic susceptibility has a 300 K moment of 3.85μ_B characteristic of S=3/2 Cr(III). The field dependence of the magnetization can be fit to the Brillouin function also characteristic of S=3/2.     

Superconducting energy gap in MgCNi3 single crystals

Even though MgCNi₃ contains large molar volume of magnetic Ni atoms it clearly shows superconductivity. The origin of superconductivity in this material has not yet been clarified. There is a lot of discrepancy in experimental results and physical interpretation where even unconventional pairing or a two-band model have been proposed for the system. All that is based on results obtained on polycrystalline samples. Here we present the first point-contact spectroscopy and ac-calorimetry measurements on the MgCNi₃ single crystals of very good quality. Measurements have been performed in the temperature range from 1.5 to 10 K and in magnetic fields up to 8 T. The temperature dependence of the energy gap of the system is presented and compared to the BCS model.     

Magnetic properties for the Cu2MnSnSe4 and Cu2FeSnSe4 compounds

Magnetic susceptibility χ measurements in the range from 2 to 300 K were carried out on samples of the Cu₂FeSnSe₄ and Cu₂MnSnSe₄ compounds. It was found that Cu₂FeSnSe₄ was antiferromagnetic showing ideal Curie-Weiss behavior with a Néel temperature T_N of about 19 K and Curie-Weiss temperature θ=−200 K, while for Cu₂MnSnSe₄ the behavior was spin-glass with a freezing temperature T_f of about 22 K and Curie-Weiss temperature θ=−25 K. The spin-glass order parameter q(T), determined from the susceptibility data, was found to be in agreement with the prediction of conventional spin-glass theory.     

Crystal field investigation on the magnetic properties of Yb in Yb(CF3SO3)3·9H2O

Ytterbium tri-fluoromethanesulfonate (YbTFMS) single crystals are prepared from the slow evaporation of the aqueous solution of YbTFMS and the principal magnetic susceptibility perpendicular to the c-axis of the hexagonal crystal (χ_⊥) is measured from 300 K down to 13 K. Principal magnetic anisotropy Δχ(=χ_∥−χ_⊥) is measured from 300 K down to 80 K which provides principal magnetic susceptibility parallel to the c-axis (χ_∥) down to 80 K. Very good theoretical simulation of the observed magnetic properties of YbTFMS has been obtained using one electron crystal field (CF) analysis having C_3h site symmetry. No signature of ordering effect in the observed magnetic data is noticed down to the lowest temperature (13 K) attained, indicating the inter-ionic interaction to be of predominantly dipolar type. The calculated g-values are found to be g_∥=2.67 and g_⊥=2.51, respectively. CF analysis provides the electronic specific heat which gives two Schottky anomalies in its thermal variation down to ∼13 K. The temperature dependences of quadrupole splitting and hyperfine heat capacity are studied from the necessary information obtained from the CF analysis.     

Large relative cooling power of Gd52.5Co16.5Al31 magnetic bulk metallic glass

The magnetocaloric effect and thermal stability have been investigated on the new bulk metallic glass (BMG) Gd_52.5Co_16.5Al₃₁ alloy. The extent of supercooled liquid region is 70 K, which is wider than that of any other Gd-Co-Al ternary BMGs. The magnetic entropy change (ΔS_M) and relative cooling power (RCP) of 9.8 J/kg K and 9.1×10² J/kg are obtained, respectively, under a field change of 5 T. The large ΔS_M and RCP values make Gd_52.5Co_16.5Al₃₁ BMG attractive potential candidate for the magnetic refrigeration application.