Optical,piezoelectric and mechanical properties of xylenol orange doped ADP single crystals for NLO applications

Single crystals of pure and xylenol orange (XO; C₃₁H₃₂N₂O₁₃S) dye doped (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mol%) ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP; NH₄H₂PO₄) were grown by slow evaporation method with the vision to improve the properties of pure ammonium dihydrogen phosphate crystal. The theoretical morphology of the grown crystals was drawn using Bravais–Friedel–Donnay–Harker (BFDH) law. The selective nature of xylenol orange dye to selectively stain the particular growth sectors of ADP crystal was studied. The structural analysis of as grown crystals was carried out using powder XRD study. The identification of the functional groups present in the ADP material was done using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The linear optical study on pure and dye doped crystals was carried out using UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy. The optical band gap, extinction coefficient, refractive index and optical conductivity were calculated using the transmittance spectra for all the samples. In photoluminescence studies, the blue emission intensity got quenched and an orange emission at 597 nm was seen as a result of XO doping. The thermal stability and decomposition temperature of ADP crystal were found to decrease as an effect of dye doping. The piezoelectric charge coefficient, SHG conversion efficiency, mechanical strength and wettability were also enhanced as a result of XO dye doping.     

Optical and dielectric properties of polyvinylchloride/polymethylmethacrylate blends

The optical and dielectric properties of prepared polyvinychloride/atactic polymethylmethacrylate (PVA/-PMMA) blends are studied as a function of applied field frequency and PMMA content. The observed optical energy gaps and the energy gap tails were determined from the measured absorption spectra. It was found that the applied frequency and the -PMMA concentration have some effects on the physical parameters such as the optical energy gap, the glass transition temperature (T_g), the dielectric constant, and the refractive index. Correlation between the determined optical energy gaps and the measured T_g is presented. The observed changes in these physical parameters are due to structural changes in the amorphous domains, impurities and space charge within the interfaces in the mixed phases.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and optical limiting properties of some W---Se---Cu clusters

A nest-shaped cluster [(C₄H₉)₄N]₂[WOSe₃Cu₃Br_1.67Cl_1.33] (1) and a cage-shaped cluster [(C₄H₉)₄N]₃[WSe₄Cu₃Br₂Cl₂] (2) were synthesized and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It was found that cluster 1 showed better optical limiting properties under an 8 ns pulsed laser at 532 nm but poorer optical limiting properties under a 35 ps pulsed laser compared with its analogue [(C₄H₉)₄N]₂[MoOS₃Cu₃BrCl₂]. The influence of the peripheral ligands of the cluster to the optical limiting properties was also discussed.     

Optical and dielectric characteristics of photochromic hybrid sol-gel materials

Photochromic silica based organic-inorganic hybrid materials containing covalently linked cyanoazobenzene chromophores were investigated by optical and dielectric spectroscopy. These materials, obtained via sol-gel process, were deposited onto glass substrates by spin coating technique to achieve thin transparent films. To investigate photoinduced alignment, the UV-Vis absorption spectra of the sol-gel films were recorded under illumination with linearly polarized blue light. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy revealed a variety of relaxation processes: the α-process related to the dynamic glass transition temperature located around 150°C, and an Arrhenius-type β-relaxation (activation energy 58–60 kJ/mol) that was assigned to orientational fluctuations involving the azobenzene group. The correspondence between dielectric and photochemical behavior was discussed.     

Structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of Sc modified (1 − y)BiFeO3–yBaTiO3 ceramics

In this study, the bulk ceramics with general formula (1 − y)BiFe_1−xSc_xO₃–yBaTiO₃ (x = 0.1–0.3, y = 0.1–0.3 mol%) were prepared by the traditional solid-state method. Their structural, magnetic, dielectric properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that all samples crystallized in pure perovskite structure. The structural phase transition from R3c to Pm-3m occurred when the amount of BaTiO₃ exceeded 20 mol%. The room temperature M–H curves were obtained and scandium doping could decrease the magnetic coercive field. Thus the soft magnetic property of prepared solid solutions could be improved. Frequency dependence of dielectric constant and loss were studied. The results indicated that addition of an appropriate amount of scandium could reduce the dielectric loss. The dielectric losses of 0.7BiFe_1−xSc_xO₃–0.3BaTiO₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) at 1 kHz were 0.104, 0.094, 0.043 and 0.057 respectively.     

Crystal structure, magnetic, and dielectric properties of Aurivillius-type Bi3Fe0.5Nb1.5O9

Bi₃Fe_0.5Nb_1.5O₉ was synthesized using conventional solid state techniques and its crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method using neutron powder diffraction data. The oxide adopts an Aurivillius-type structure with non-centrosymmetric space group symmetry A2₁am (a=5.47016(9) Å, b=5.43492(9) Å, c=25.4232(4) Å), analogous to other Aurivillius compounds that exhibit ferroelectricity. The Fe and Nb cations are disordered on the same crystallographic site. The [(Fe,Nb)O₆] octahedra exhibit tilting and distortion to accommodate the bonding requirements of the Bi cations located in the perovskite double layers. Magnetic measurements indicate non-Curie-Weiss-type paramagnetic behavior from 300 to 6 K. Measurements of dielectric properties and electrical resistivity exhibited changes near 250-260 °C and are suggestive of a ferroelectric transition.     

Studies on the growth, optical, electrical and spectral properties of potassium pentaborate (KB5) single crystals

The bulk single crystals of nonlinear optical material potassium pentaborate (KB5) have been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique using water as solvent. The grown crystal was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The structural perfection of the grown crystals has been analyzed by high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) studies by recording rocking curve. The photoluminescence (PL), UV-vis spectral studies were performed and the optical bandgap of the material was calculated. FTIR and FT-Raman measurements enumerate the functional groups present in the compound. The factor group analysis on KB5 reveals that there are 117 vibrational optical modes. The dielectric behavior of KB5 was investigated with different frequencies and temperatures.     

Swift heavy ion induced modification in dielectric and microhardness properties of polymer composites

Polymer composites with different concentrations of organometallics (ferric oxalate) dispersed PMMA were prepared. PMMA was synthesized by solution polymerization technique. These films were irradiated with 120 MeV Ni¹⁰⁺ ions in the fluence range 10¹¹-5 × 10¹² ions/cm². The radiation induced modifications in dielectric properties, microhardness, structural changes and surface morphology of polymer composite films have been investigated at different concentrations of filler and ion-fluences. It was observed that electrical conductivity and hardness of the films increase with the concentration of the filler and also with the fluence. The dielectric constant (?) obeys the Universal law given by ?αfⁿ⁻¹. The dielectric constant/loss is observed to change significantly due to irradiation. This suggests that ion beam irradiation promotes the metal to polymer bonding and convert polymeric structure into hydrogen depleted carbon network. This makes the composites more conductive and harder. Surface morphology of the films has been studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average surface roughness is observed to increase after irradiation as revealed by AFM studies. The SEM images show the blisters type of phenomenon on the surface due to ion beam irradiation.     

Optical constants,dispersion energy parameters and dielectric properties of ultra-smooth nanocrystalline BiVO4 thin films prepared by rf-magnetron sputtering

BiVO₄ thin films have been prepared through radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering of a pre-fabricated BiVO₄ target on ITO coated glass (ITO-glass) substrate and bare glass substrates. BiVO₄ target material was prepared through solid-state reaction method by heating Bi₂O₃ and V₂O₅ mixture at 800 °C for 8 h. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, LCR meter, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. BiVO₄ thin films deposited on the ITO-glass substrate are much smoother compared to the thin films prepared on bare glass substrate. The rms surface roughness calculated from the AFM images comes out to be 0.74 nm and 4.2 nm for the films deposited on the ITO-glass substrate and bare glass substrate for the deposition time 150 min respectively. Optical constants and energy dispersion parameters of these extra-smooth BiVO₄ thin films have been investigated in detail. Dielectric properties of the BiVO₄ thin films on ITO-glass substrate were also investigated. The frequency dependence of dielectric constant of the BiVO₄ thin films has been measured in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 2 MHz. It was found that the dielectric constant increased from 145 to 343 at 20 Hz as the film thickness increased from 90 nm to 145 nm (deposition time increased from 60 min to 150 min). It shows higher dielectric constant compared to the literature value of BiVO₄.     

Structure, energy band, and optical properties of NaLa(PO3)4 crystal

An alkali metal-rare earth phosphate crystal of NaLa(PO₃)₄ has been synthesized by high temperature solid-state reactions and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, for the first time. It crystallizes in the monoclinic P2₁/n space group with lattice parameters: a=7.2655(3), b=13.1952(5), , β=90.382°(1), , Z=4. It is composed of LaO₈ polyhedra and [(PO₃)₄]⁴⁻ chains sharing oxygen atoms to form a three-dimensional framework, delimiting intersecting tunnels in which the sodium ions are located. The IR spectrum, absorption spectrum, and emission spectrum of the compound have been investigated. The absorption edge is located at 340 nm (3.60 eV). The calculated total and partial densities of states indicate that the top of valence bands is mainly built upon O-2p states which interact with P-3p states via σ (P-O) interactions, and the low conduction bands mostly originates from unoccupied La-5d states. The P-O bond is mostly covalent in character, and the ionic character of the Na-O bond is larger than that in the La-O bond.     

Syntheses, crystal and electronic structure, and some optical and transport properties of LnCuOTe (Ln=La, Ce, Nd)

Three new compounds, LaCuOTe, CeCuOTe, and NdCuOTe, have been synthesized from the respective rare-earth elements, CuO, and a KI flux at 1023 K. The compounds, which have the ZrSiCuAs structure type, are isostructural to LaCuOS, and crystallize in space group P4/nmm of the tetragonal system with two formula units in cells of dimensions at 153 K of , , for LaCuOTe; , , for CeCuOTe; and , , for NdCuOTe. The structure of LnCuOTe (Ln=La, Ce, Nd) is composed of alternating PbO-like [Ln₂O₂] and anti-PbO-like [Cu₂Te₂] layers stacked perpendicular to [0 0 1]. The experimental optical band gaps of LaCuOTe and NdCuOTe are 2.31 and 2.26 eV, respectively. At 298 K the electrical conductivity of LaCuOTe is 1.65 S/cm and the Hall mobility is +80.6 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. The positive values of the Seebeck and Hall coefficients indicate p-type electrical conduction. First-principles theoretical calculations were performed on LaCuOQ (Q=S, Se, Te). In LaCuOTe, Cu 3d and Te 5p orbitals dominate the states near the valence band maximum; the states near the conduction band minimum are composed of Cu 4s, Te 5p, and La 5d orbitals. The larger dispersion of Cu 3d orbitals and the presence of Te 5p orbitals near the valence band maximum are responsible for the larger hole mobility of LaCuOTe compared to LaCuOS and LaCuOSe.     

Conductivity measurement and dielectric,impedance and modulus spectroscopic studies on bis (P-nitrophenol) melaminium monohydrate

The present work is aimed to study the dielectric and electrical characteristics of bis (P-nitrophenol) melaminium monohydrate (BNPM) over the temperature and frequency ranges of 333–453 K and 50 Hz–5 MHz, respectively. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), ac-conductivity (σ_ac), real (M′) and imaginary part (M″) of dielectric modulus were investigated as a function of temperature and frequency. The impedance analysis has been carried out using Cole-Cole plots to elucidate the electrical conduction mechanism. Further, observations indicated that the grain boundaries are more resistive and capacitive than the grains, inducing inhomogeneity in the material, which, in turn, causes broad frequency-dependent dielectric anomalies. The observed frequency-dependence of the AC conductivity validated the Jonscher power law. Further, an asymmetric dispersion peak in the imaginary part of the electrical modulus (M”) was noticed, indicating that the fabricated material exhibits non-Debye relaxation behavior.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, phase transition characterization and thermal decomposition of a new dabcodiium hexaaquairon(II) bis(sulfate): (C6H14N2)[Fe(H2O)6](SO4)2

The crystal structures of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco)-templated iron sulfate, (C₆H₁₄N₂)[Fe(H₂O)₆](SO₄)₂, were determined at room temperature and at −173 °C from single-crystal X-ray diffraction. At 20 °C, it crystallises in the monoclinic symmetry, centrosymmetric space group P2₁/n, Z=2, a=7.964(5), b=9.100(5), c=12.065(5) Å, β=95.426(5)° and V=870.5(8) ų. The structure consists of [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺ and disordered (C₆H₁₄N₂)²⁺ cations and (SO₄)²⁻ anions connected together by an extensive three-dimensional H-bond network. The title compound undergoes a reversible phase transition of the first-order at −2.3 °C, characterized by DSC, dielectric measurement and optical observations, that suggests a relaxor–ferroelectric behavior. Below the transition temperature, the compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, non-centrosymmetric space group Cc, with eight times the volume of the ambient phase: a=15.883(3), b=36.409(7), c=13.747(3) Å, β=120.2304(8)°, Z=16 and V=6868.7(2) ų. The organic moiety is then fully ordered within a supramolecular structure. Thermodiffractometry and thermogravimetric analyses indicate that its decomposition proceeds through three stages giving rise to the iron oxide.     

The dielectric function of LnSF rare-earth fluorosulfides (Ln=La, Ce): experiment and theory

The absorption properties of LaSF and CeSF in the UV-Visible range have been investigated on the basis of first principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations and from electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements. The extinction coefficient k, as well as the refractive index n, determined experimentally from the loss function Im(−1/ε), were compared with the corresponding factors extracted from the calculated dielectric tensor ε₂. The k and n values for the two compounds were expected to be very close to each other, owing to the chemical similarity of La and Ce. However, it was found that the nature of the electronic transitions in LaSF and CeSF strongly influences the k and n values with the result that the refractive index n and the extinction coefficient k are substantially larger for LaSF than for CeSF.     

Syntheses, crystal structures, magnetic properties of two new lanthanide-nitronyl nitroxide complexes (Ln = Gd, Nd)

Two new complexes based on lanthanide ions and nitronyl nitroxide radical, Ln(hfac)₃(NITPh-p-Cl)₂ (Ln = Gd(1), Nd(2); hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NITPh-p-Cl = 2-(4′-chlorphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The single-crystal structures show that two complexes have similar structures, which consist of radical-Ln-radical isolated molecules. The Ln(III) ions are eight-coordinated in slightly distorted dodecahedral geometry. NITPh-p-Cl molecules act as monodentate ligands linking two Ln(III) ions through the oxygen atoms of the N-O groups. The magnetic studies show that the spin coupling between the Gd(III) ion and the radicals in the complex 1 is weak ferromagnetic (J = 0.38 cm⁻¹), while complex 2 exhibits antiferromagnetic interactions (zJ′ = −0.36 cm⁻¹) between Nd(III) ion and radicals.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and nonlinear optical properties of Bi2Cu5B4O14

Bi₂Cu₅B₄O₁₄ crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric triclinic space group P1 (No. 1) with cell parameters a=10.1381(11) Å, b=9.3917(11) Å, c=3.4566(4) Å, α=105.570(2)°, β=92.275(2)°, γ=107.783(2)°, Z=1 and R₁=0.0401 and wR₂=0.0980. It is a layered structure that is built up from sheets of rectangular CuO₄ and trigonal BO₃ groups. The sheets are connected by infinite chains of edge shared BiO₆ polyhedra that intersect the bc plane at an angle slightly greater than 90°. The second-harmonic generation efficiency of Bi₂Cu₅B₄O₁₄, using 1064 nm radiation, is about one half times that of KH₂PO₄.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Optical Property of the Quaternary Semiconductor La4Cd4In2S13

The sulfide La₄Cd₄In₂S₁₃ in the quaternary RE/M/N/Q (RE = rare‐earth metal; M = Zn, Cd; N = Ga, In; Q = chalcogenides) system was prepared from stoichiometric mixtures of the elements by solid‐state reactions at 1223 K in an evacuated silica tube. The La₄Cd₄In₂S₁₃, crystallizing in the Pbam space group, is isostructural with Pb₄Bi₄In₂S₁₃. The structure of La₄Cd₄In₂S₁₃ consists of double chains of CdS₆ octahedra extending along [001] direction that are interconnected by single chains of InS₆ octahedra by edge‐sharing into 1D ribbons. These ribbons are further fused by the infinite one‐dimensional chains of InS₄ tetrahedra by corner‐sharing into Z‐shaped [Cd₄In₂S₁₃]^12– layers perpendicular to the b direction separated by the La³⁺ ions. UV/Vis/NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy study shows its optical gap of around 2.27 eV.     

Preparation and optical properties of three-dimensional navel-like Bi2WO6 hierarchical microspheres

Three-dimensional (3D) navel-like Bi₂WO₆ hierarchical microspheres were successfully prepared using a simple hydrothermal method. The 3D navel-like BWO hierarchical structure composed of well-ordered nanosheets displayed the excellent photocatalytic activity, and the degradation rate of norfloxacin was about 67%.     

A sodium gadolinium phosphate with two different types of tunnel structure: Synthesis, crystal structure, and optical properties of Na3GdP2O8

A sodium gadolinium phosphate crystal, Na₃GdP₂O₈, has been synthesized by a high-temperature solution reaction, and it exhibits a new structural family of the alkali-metal-rare-earth phosphate system. Although many compounds with formula M₃LnP₂O₈ have been reported, but they were shown to be orthorhombic [R. Salmon, C. Parent, M. Vlasse, G. LeFlem, Mater. Res. Bull. 13 (1978) 439] rather than monoclinic as shown in this paper. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows the structure to be monoclinic with space group C2/c and the cell parameters: a=27.55 (25), b=5.312 (4), c=13.935(11) Å, β=91.30(1)°, and V=2038.80 Å³, Z=4. Its structure features a three-dimensional GdP₂O₈³⁻ anionic framework with two different types of interesting tunnels at where Na atoms are located by different manners. The framework is constructed by Gd polyhedra and isolated PO₄ tetrahedra. It is different from the structure of K₃NdP₂O₈ [R. Salmon, C. Parent, M. Vlasse, G. LeFlem, Mater. Res. Bull. 13 (1978) 439] with space group P2₁/m that shows only one type of tunnel. The emission spectrum and the absorption spectrum of the compound have been investigated. Additionally, the calculations of band structure, density of states, dielectric constants, and refractive indexes have been also performed with the density functional theory method. The obtained results tend to support the experimental data.