High dielectric constant PrYxOy sensing films electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor pH-sensor for the detection of urea

In this paper, we describe the structural and sensing properties of high-k PrY_xO_y sensing films deposited on Si substrates through reactive co-sputtering. Secondary ion mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy were employed to analyze the compositional and morphological features of these films after annealing at various temperatures. The electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) device incorporating a PrY_xO_y sensing membrane that had been annealed at 800 °C exhibited good sensing characteristics, including a high sensitivity (59.07 mV pH⁻¹ in solutions from pH 2 to 12), a low hysteresis voltage (2.4 mV in the pH loop 7 → 4 → 7 → 10 → 7), and a small drift rate (0.62 mV h⁻¹ in the buffer solution at pH 7). The PrY_xO_y EIS device also showed a high selective response towards H⁺. This improvement can be attributed to the small number of crystal defects and the large surface roughness. In addition, the enzymatic EIS-based urea biosensor incorporating a high-k PrY_xO_y sensing film annealed at 800 °C allowed the potentiometric analysis of urea, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 16 mM, with a sensitivity of 9.59 mV mM⁻¹.     

(Mn1−xPbx)Pb10+ySb12−yS26−yCl4+yO, a new oxy-chloro-sulfide with ∼2 nm-spaced (Mn,Pb)Cl4 single chains within a waffle-type crystal structure

The new oxy-chloro-sulfide (Mn_1−xPb_x)Pb_10+ySb_12−yS_26−yCl_4+yO (x ∈ [0.2-0.3]; y ∈ [0.3-1.6]) was synthesized by dry way at 500-600 °C. A single crystal ∼Mn_0.7Pb_11.0Sb_11.3S_25.3Cl_4.7O indicates a monoclinic symmetry, space group C2/m, with a = 37.480(8), b = 4.1178(8), c = 18.167(4) Å, β = 106.37(3)°, V = 2690.2(9) Å³, Z = 2. Its crystal structure was determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction, with a final R = 5.11%. Modular analysis of the crystal structure reveals a “waffle” architecture, where complex rods with lozenge section delimitate an internal channel filled by a single chain of (Mn_0.7Pb_0.3)Cl₆ octahedra connected by opposite edges. Minimal inter-chain distances are close to 18 Å. The rod wall, two-atom thick, presents, in alternation with S atoms, Pb or (Pb,Sb) cations with prismatic coordination in the internal atom layer, while the external atom layer is constituted exclusively by Sb cations with dissymmetric square pyramidal coordination. A (Pb,Sb)₂S₂ fragment connects two successive rods along (2 0 1) to form a waffle-type palissadic layer. The unique O position, half filled, presents the same environment than the isolated O positions in the oxy-sulfide Pb₁₄Sb₃₀S₅₄O₅, or oxy-chloro-sulfides Pb₁₈Sb₂₀S₄₆Cl₂O and (Cu,Ag)₂Pb₂₁Sb₂₃S₅₅ClO. This compound belongs to a pseudo-homologous series of chalcogenides with waffle structure, ordered according to the size of their lozenge shape channel. Such a complex senary compound of the oxy-chloro-sulfide type illustrates the structural competition between three cations, on one hand, and, on the other hand, three anions. This compound is of special interest regarding the 1D distribution of magnetic Mn²⁺ atoms at the ∼2 nm scale.     

Effects of redox conditions and zinc(II) ions on metallothionein aggregation revealed by chip capillary electrophoresis

Metallothioneins (MTs) belong to cysteine-rich proteins with unique higher structure. One of the most known MT's functions is metals detoxification and maintaining their homeostasis in a cell. Structure of MT with naturally occurred zinc(II) ions can be affected by concentration of metal ions as well as redox milieu inside a cell, however the exact explanation and biochemical effects of the structural changes are still missing. In this study we used capillary electrophoresis on chip coupled with fluorescence detection to determine structural changes of MT with increasing concentration of zinc(II) ions and under various redox conditions. To investigate the structural-dependent effects, reduced and/or oxidized apo-MT (MT without natural occurred metal ion) was prepared. Zinc binding into reduced and/or oxidized apo-MT was compared. MT was incubated with 0, 5, 15, 25, 50 and 100 μM ZnCl₂ for 1 h in 37 °C. Formation of MT aggregates with increasing zinc concentration was observed by spectrophotometry, chip capillary electrophoresis, and SDS-PAGE. We found out that reduced MT forms aggregates more readily compared to oxidized MT. Using the chip capillary electrophoresis allowed us relative quantification of MT aggregation as a decrease in the area of the signal corresponding to the monomer form of MT (Mw 15 kDa, migration time 26.5 s) and its ratio to total signal (sum of all signals measured by the electrophoresis). The dependences had an exponential character with equation y = 2.4 × e^−0.01x, R² = 0.945 for 15 kDa peak area and y = 0.11 × e^−0.01x, R² = 0.938 for decrease of 15 kDa peak area ratio to the total signal. Zn–MT interaction was 30% faster during the first 15 min and 50% faster during the whole experiment for reduced MT. It can be concluded that formation of MT aggregates is dependent on redox state and Zn(II) concentration.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Bi6.4Pb0.6P2O15.2: A new polymorph in the series Bi6+xM1−xP2O15+y

Bi_6.4Pb_0.6P₂O_15.2 is a polymorph of structures with the general stoichiometry Bi_6+xM_1−xP₂O_15+y. However, unlike previously published structures that consist of layers formed by edge sharing OBi₄ tetrahedra bridged by PO₄ and TO₆ (T=transition metal) tetrahedra and octahedra the title compound's structure is more complex. It is monoclinic, C2, a=19.4698(4) Å, b=11.3692(3) Å, c=16.3809(5) Å, β=101.167(1)°, Z=10. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data were refined by least squares on F² converging to R₁=0.0387, wR₂=0.0836 for 7023 intensities. The crystal twins by mirror reflection across (001) as the twin plane and twin component 1 equals 0.74(1). Oxygen ions are in tetrahedral coordination to four metal ions and the O(BiPb)₄ units share corners to form layers that are part of the three-dimensional framework. Eight oxygen ions form a cube around the two crystallographically independent Pb ions. Pb-O bond lengths vary from 2.265(14) to 2.869(14) Å. Pairs of such cubes share an edge to form a Pb₃O₂₀ unit. The two oxygen ions from the unshared edges are part of irregular Bi polyhedra. Other oxygen ions of Bi polyhedra are part only of O(BiPb)₄ units, and some oxygen ions of the polyhedra are also part of PO₄ tetrahedra. One, two, three and or four PO₄ moieties are connected to the Bi polyhedra. Bi-O bond lengths ?3.1 Å vary from 2.090(12) to 3.07(3) Å. The articulations of Pb cubes, Bi polyhedra and PO₄ tetrahedra link into the three-dimensional structure.     

High selective SiO2-Al2O3 mixed-oxide modified carbon paste electrode for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Pb(II)

The main purpose of this study is to develop an inexpensive, simple, selective and especially highly selective modified mixed-oxide carbon paste electrode (CPE) for voltammetric determination of Pb(II). For the preliminary screening purpose, the catalyst was prepared by modification of SiO₂-Al₂O₃ mixed-oxide and characterized by TG, CHN elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. Using cyclic voltammetry the electroanalytical characteristics of the catalyst have been determined, and consequently the modified mixed-oxide carbon paste electrode was constructed and applied for determination of Pb(II). The electroanalytical procedure for determination of the Pb(II) comprises two steps: the chemical accumulation of the analyte under open-circuit conditions followed by the electrochemical detection of the preconcentrated species using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. During the preconcentration step, Pb(II) was accumulated on the surface of the modifier by the formation of a complex with the nitrogen atoms of the pyridyl groups in the modifier. The peak currents increases linearly with Pb(II) concentration over the range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 5.2 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ (r² = 0.9995).The detection limit (three times signal-to-noise) was found to be 1.07 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ Pb(II). The chemical and instrumental parameters have been optimized and the effect of the interferences has been determined. The Proposed method was used for determination of lead ion in the real samples.     

Crystal chemistry of Co-doped Zn7Sb2O12

Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ forms a full range of Co-containing α solid solutions, Zn_7−xCo_xSb₂O₁₂, with an inverse-spinel structure at high temperature. At low temperatures for x<2, the solid solutions transform into the low temperature β-polymorph. For x=0, the β→α transition occurs at 1225±25 °C; the transition temperature decreases with increasing x. At high x and low temperatures, α solid solutions are formed but are non-stoichiometric; the (Zn+Co):Sb ratio is >7:2 and the compensation for the deficiency in Sb is attributed to the partial oxidation of Co²⁺ to Co³⁺. From Rietveld refinements using ND data, Co occupies both octahedral and tetrahedral sites at intermediate values of x, but an octahedral preference attributed to crystal field stabilisation, causes the lattice parameter plot to deviate negatively from the Vegard's law. Sub-solidus compatibility relations in the ternary system ZnO-Sb₂O₅-CoO have been determined at 1100 °C for the compositions containing ?50% Sb₂O₅.     

Structural and X-ray powder diffraction studies of nano-structured lead(II) coordination polymer with η Pb?C interactions

A new nano-sized Pb(II) one-dimensional coordination polymer with η² Pb-C interactions, [Pb₂(μ₃-ba)₂(μ₂-ba)₂]_n (1) [ba⁻ = benzylacetylacetonate] has been synthesized and characterized by SEM, X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows the coordination number of Pb(II) ions is seven and the lead atoms have hemidirected coordination sphere containing involving Pb?C interactions, C₂O₇Pb. PbO nanoparticles were obtained by calcinations of the nano-sized compound 1 at 600 °C.     

Synthesis and properties of the Co7Se8−xSx and Ni7Se8−xSx solid solutions

We report the synthesis and elementary properties of the Co₇Se_8−xS_x (x=0-8) and Ni₇Se_8−xS_x (x=0-7) solid solutions. Both systems form a NiAs-type structure with metal vacancies. In general, the lattice parameters decrease with increasing x, but in the Ni₇Se_8−xS_x system c increases on going from x=5 to 7. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that all samples exhibit temperature-independent paramagnetism from 25-250 K. Samples within the Co₇Se_8−xS_x system, as well as Ni₇Se₈ and Ni₇SeS₇, were found to be poor metals with resistivities of ∼0.20 and ∼0.06 mΩ cm at 300 K, respectively. The Sommerfeld constant (γ) was determined from specific heat measurements to be ∼13 mJ/mol_CoK² and ∼7 mJ/mol_NiK² for Co₇Se_8−xS_x and Ni₇Se_8−xS_x, respectively.     

Hexaferrites and phase relations in the iron-rich part of the system Sr-La-Co-Fe-O

The iron rich part of the system was examined in the temperature range of 1200-1380 °C in air, with focus on the solid solutions of M-type hexaferrites. Samples of suitable compositions were studied by electronprobe microanalysis (EPMA). Substituted Sr-hexaferrites in the system Sr-La-Co-Fe-O do not follow the 1:1 substitution mechanism of La/Co in M-type ferrites. Due to the presence and limited Co²⁺-incorporation Fe³⁺-ions are reduced to Fe²⁺ within the crystal lattice to obtain charge balance. In all examined M-type ferrites divalent iron is formed, even at 1200 °C. The substitution principle Sr²⁺+Fe³⁺↔La³⁺+(Fe²⁺, Co²⁺) yields to the general substitution formula for the M-type hexaferrite Sr²⁺_1-xLa³⁺_xFe²⁺_x-yCo²⁺_yFe³⁺_12-xO¹⁹ (0≤x≤1 and 0≤y≤x). In addition Sr/La-perovskite_SS (_SS=solid solution), Co/Fe-spinel_SS, hematite and magnetite are formed. Sr-hexaferrite exhibits at 1200 °C a limited solid solution with small amounts of Fe²⁺ (SrFe₁₂O₁₉↔Sr_0.3La_0.7Co_0.5Fe²⁺_0.2Fe_11.3O₁₉). At 1300 and 1380 °C a continuous solid solution series of the M-type hexaferrite is stable. SrFe₁₂O₁₉ and LaCo_0.4Fe²⁺_0.6Fe₁₁O₁₉ are the end members at 1300 °C. The maximum Fe²⁺O content is about 13 mol% in the M-type ferrite at 1380 °C (LaCo_0.1Fe²⁺_0.9Fe₁₁O₁₉).     

空气中合成固溶体荧光粉Ba_2(Zn,Mg)Si_2O_7∶Eu~(2+),Eu~(3+),Ce~(3+)及其发光特性

采用高温固相法在空气中合成了Ba1.97-yZn1-xMgxSi2O7∶0.03Eu,y Ce3+系列荧光粉。分别采用X-射线衍射和荧光光谱对所合成荧光粉的物相和发光性质进行了表征。在紫外光330~360 nm激发下,固溶体荧光粉Ba1.97-yZn1-xMgxSi2O7∶0.03Eu的发射光谱在350~725 nm范围内呈现多谱峰发射,360和500 nm处有强的宽带发射属于Eu2+离子的4f 65d1-4f 7跃迁,590~725 nm红光区窄带谱源于Eu3+的5D0-7FJ(J=1,2,3,4)跃迁,这表明,在空气气氛中,部分Eu3+在Ba1.97-yZn1-xMgxSi2O7基质中被还原成了Eu2+;当x=0.1时,荧光粉Ba1.97Zn0.9Mg0.1Si2O7∶0.03Eu的绿色发光最强,表明Eu3+被还原成Eu2+离子的程度最大。当共掺入Ce3+离子后,形成Ba1.97-yZn0.9Mg0.1Si2O7∶0.03Eu,y Ce3+荧光粉体系,其发光随着Ce3+离子浓度的增大由蓝绿区经白光区到达橙红区;发现名义组成为Ba1.96Zn0.9Mg0.1Si2O7∶0.03Eu,0.01Ce3+的荧光粉的色坐标为(0.323,0.311),接近理想白光,是一种有潜在应用价值的白光荧光粉。讨论了稀土离子在Ba2Zn0.9Mg0.1Si2O7基质中的能量传递与发光机理。     

Development of a methodology for the simultaneous determination of inorganic and organolead compounds using supercritical fluid extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and its application to environmental matrices

A method for the extraction of triethyl lead (TEL⁺), trimethyl lead (TML⁺), and Pb²⁺ from sand was developed using supercritical modified CO₂-CH₃OH extraction and in situ complexation with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (NaDDTC) using a 2⁵ factorial exploratory design is described. The screened variables were (i) pressure (69-193 bar), (ii) temperature (40-150 °C), (iii) ligand amount (0-100 mg), (iv) methanol volume (0.0-0.5 mL) and (v) static time (0-45 min). The optimum extraction conditions found were as follow: pressure, 193 bar; temperature, 40 °C; amount of NaDDTC, 100 mg; methanol volume, 0.5 mL; static time 45 min; and CO₂ flow rate, 1 mL min⁻¹. Under these conditions the following recoveries were obtained (TML⁺ 97 ± 2%, TEL⁺ 70 ± 5%, and Pb²⁺ 100 ± 4%). The presence of NaDDTC is not necessary for the extraction of TML⁺ and TEL⁺, but it is a very significative parameter for Pb²⁺. A second experimental design 2² + star for temperature and pressure was realized, but the results were not better than those of the first model. SFE extract derivatization was achieved with pentylmagnesium bromide, and target analyte determination was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Detection limits in the full-scan mode were 4, 10, and 39 pg as lead for TMPeL, TEPeL and PbPe₄, respectively. The method was validated with urban dust containing TML⁺ (CRM 605. Pb 7.9 ±1.2 μg kg⁻¹) and river sediment containing inorganic lead (GBW08301. Pb 79.0 ± 12.0 mg kg⁻¹) as reference materials. The proposed method was applied to lead analysis in sand collected from an oil-polluted beach in Chile.     

Mixed conductivity, structural and microstructural characterization of titania-doped yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline/titania-doped yttria stabilized zirconia composite anode matrices

Taking advantage of the fact that TiO₂ additions to 8YSZ cause not only the formation of a titania-doped YSZ solid solution but also a titania-doped YTZP solid solution, composite materials based on both solutions were prepared by solid state reaction. In particular, additions of 15 mol% of TiO₂ give rise to composite materials constituted by 0.51 mol fraction titania-doped yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline and 0.49 mol fraction titania-doped yttria stabilized zirconia (0.51TiYTZP/0.49TiYSZ). Furthermore, Y₂(Ti_1−yZr_y)₂O₇ pyrochlore is present as an impurity phase with y close to 1, according to FT-Raman results. Lower and higher additions of titania than that of 15 mol%, i.e., x=0, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 30 mol% were considered to study the evolution of 8YSZ phase as a function of the TiO₂ content. Furthermore, zirconium titanate phase (ZrTiO₄) is detected when the titania content is equal or higher than 20 mol% and this phase admits Y₂O₃ in solid solution according to FE-SEM-EDX.The 0.51TiYTZP/0.49TiYSZ duplex material was selected in this study to establish the mechanism of its electronic conduction under low oxygen partial pressures. In the pO₂ range from 0.21 to 10^−7.5 atm. the conductivity is predominantly ionic and constant over the range and its value is 0.01 S/cm. The ionic plus electronic conductivity is 0.02 S/cm at 1000 °C and 10^−12.3 atm. Furthermore, the onset of electronic conductivity under reducing conditions exhibits a −1/4 pO₂ dependence. Therefore, it is concluded that the n-type electronic conduction in the duplex material can be due to a small polaron-hopping between Ti³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺.     

Structure and phase composition of nanocrystalline Ce1−xLuxO2−y

The microstructure and phase stability of nanocrystalline mixed oxide Lu_xCe_1−xO_2−y (x=0-1) are described. Nano-sized (3-4 nm) oxide particles were prepared by the reverse microemulsion method. Morphological and structural changes upon heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and Yb³⁺ emission spectroscopy, the latter ion being present as an impurity in the Lu₂O₃ starting material. Up to 950 °C, the samples were single phase, with structure changing smoothly with Lu content from fluorite type (F) to bixbyite type (C). For the samples heated at 1100 °C phase separation into coexisting F- and C-type structures was observed for 0.35<x<0.7. It was also found that addition of Lu strongly hinders the crystallite growth of ceria during heat treatment at 800 and 950 °C.     

Preparation of titania microfiltration membranes supported on porous Ti–Al alloys

A TiO₂ membrane supported on a planar porous Ti–Al alloy was prepared by combination of electrophoretic deposition and dip-coating. In the electrophoretic deposition process, the membrane thickness increased linearly with the square root of the deposition time, while increased with decrease of the suspension viscosity. The perfect TiO₂/Ti–Al composite membrane was obtained by further dip-coating modification. SEM images showed that the surface of the membrane was defect-free. XRD result indicated that rutile TiO₂ still remained in the membrane bulk as the main phase, while a new phase titanium oxides with the form of Ti_xO_y, where y is less than 2x, was also observed. The supported TiO₂/Ti–Al composite membrane had an average pore size of 0.28 μm, a thickness of 40 μm or so and a pure water flux of 3037 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹.     

Number of species in complexation equilibria of o-, m- and p-CAPAZOXS with Cd, Co, Ni, Pb and Zn ions by PCA of UV-vis spectra

A critical comparison of the selected derivative principal component analysis (PCA) methods on the absorbance matrix data concerning the complexation equilibria between o-CAPAZOXS and Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ or m-CAPAZOXS and Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ or p-CAPAZOXS and Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ at 25 °C is provided. As the number of complex species in a complex-forming equilibria mixture is an important step in spectral data treatment, the nine selected index functions for the prediction of the number of light-absorbing species that contribute to a set of spectra is critically tested by the PCA. An improved identification with the second SD(AE) or third derivative TD(AE) and derivative ratio function ROD(AE) for the average error criterion AE is preferred. After the number of various complexes formed the stability constants of species ML, ML₂ (and ML₃, respectively) type log β₁₁, log β₁₂ (and log β₁₃, respectively) for the system of o-CAPAZOXS (ligand L) with the metals (the standard deviation s(log β_pq) of the last valid digits is given in brackets) Cd²⁺ (6.39(5) and 11.51(9)), Pb²⁺ (4.24(2) and 9.01(2)) and Zn²⁺ (5.18(7) and 9.06(10)) and for the system of m-CAPAZOXS with Cd²⁺ (6.59(20) and 11.51(32)), Co²⁺ (7.19(6) and 12.19(8)), Ni²⁺ (7.64(7) and 13.39(12)) and Zn²⁺ (4.83(3) and 9.57(3)) and for the system of p-CAPAZOXS with Cd²⁺ (6.44(5), 10.99(10) and 14.57(25)) and Zn²⁺ (6.84(16), 13.05(29) and 18.74(43)) at 25 °C are estimated using SQUAD(84) nonlinear regression of the mole-ratio spectrophotometric data. The computational strategy is presented with goodness-of-fit tests and various regression diagnostics capable of proving the reliability of the chemical model proposed.     

Effects of vacancy concentration on the magnetic and transport properties of (La1−xPbx)1−y□yMnO3

(La_1−xPb_x)_1−y□_yMnO₃ with x=0.05-0.5 and y=0, 0.05, 0.1 (where □ is a vacancy) was studied to evaluate the effects of A-site vacancies on the physical properties. In this system manganese perovskites form with tolerance factors close to 1 and low A-site cation size mismatch due to similarities in the effective ionic radii of La³⁺ and Pb²⁺. Increasing vacancy concentration indicates no significant effect on the lattice parameters or volume. However, the vacancies introduce a greater A-site cation size mismatch, which leads to a lowering of the ferromagnetic and metal-insulator transition temperatures, although the transitions are not broadened with increasing vacancy content. Due to the vacancies a distribution of Mn-O-Mn angles and Mn-O distances are created, and long range order in (La_1−xPb_x)_1−y□_yMnO₃ appears to be determined by Mn-O-Mn angles and Mn-O distances which most distort from 180° and are the longest, respectively, in the structure.     

Ionic organoboranes. Part 9. Ab initio molecular orbital study of energy, structure, and frontier orbitals of the isomeric [7.7.10]ousenes

We have used HF/3-21G(*) geometry optimization to determine the relative energies, structures, symmetries, and nature of frontier orbitals for the seven isomeric [7.7.10^x,y]ousenes in which two cationic tropyliumyl (C₇H₆⁺-) rings are substituted on the cage of the B₁₀H₁₀²⁻ anion. The x,y=(2,7) isomer is the most stable. Energetically the remaining fall into two groups: (1,10), (2,4), and (1,6) which differ from (2,7) by less than 2 kcal mol⁻¹, and (2,6),(2,3), and (1,2) which differ by about 10 kcal mol⁻¹. The lower stability of the latter group is attributed to repulsive interactions between substituent rings rather than electronic effects. Three ousenes (1,2), (1,10), and (2,3) have lower symmetry than expected for a simple disubstituted B₁₀H₁₀²⁻ cage as a result of steric effects. Examination of frontier orbitals demonstrates that all seven species should show charge transfer excitations from cage to both rings similar to that previously experimentally observed for the [7.10²] hemiousenide ion.     

Crystal structure and physical properties of quaternary clathrates Ba8ZnxGe46−x−ySiy, Ba8(Zn,Cu)xGe46−x and Ba8(Zn,Pd)xGe46−x

Three series of vacancy-free quaternary clathrates of type I, Ba₈Zn_xGe_46−x−ySi_y, Ba₈(Zn,Cu)_xGe_46−x, and Ba₈(Zn,Pd)_xGe_46−x, have been prepared by reactions of elemental ingots in vacuum sealed quartz at 800 °C. In all cases cubic primitive symmetry (space group Pm3?n, a∼1.1 nm) was confirmed for the clathrate phase by X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray single crystal analyses. The lattice parameters show a linear increase with increase in Ge for Ba₈Zn_xGe_46−x−ySi_y. M atoms (Zn, Pd, Cu) preferably occupy the 6d site in random mixtures. No defects were observed for the 6d site. Site preference of Ge and Si in Ba₈Zn_xGe_46−x−ySi_y has been elucidated from X-ray refinement: Ge atoms linearly substitute Si in the 24k site whilst a significant deviation from linearity is observed for occupation of the 16i site. A connectivity scheme for the phase equilibria in the “Ba₈Ge₄₆” corner at 800 °C has been derived and a three-dimensional isothermal section at 800 °C is presented for the Ba-Pd-Zn-Ge system. Studies of transport properties carried out for Ba₈{Cu,Pd,Zn}_xGe_46−x and Ba₈Zn_xSi_yGe_46−x−y evidenced predominantly electrons as charge carriers and the closeness of the systems to a metal-to-insulator transition, fine-tuned by substitution and mechanical processing of starting material Ba₈Ge₄₃. A promising figure of merit, ZT ∼0.45 at 750 K, has been derived for Ba₈Zn_7.4Ge_19.8Si_18.8, where pricey germanium is exchanged by reasonably cheap silicon.     

XRD and Mössbauer studies of crystallographic and magnetic transformations in synthesized Zn-substituted Cu-Ga-Fe compound

System of samples in the form of Cu_1−xZn_xFe_2−yGa_yO₄ with (0.0?x?1.0, y=0.0 and 1.0) is synthesized. X-ray diffraction study confirms the presence of a single-phase structure, where tetragonal unit cell is obtained for samples CuFe₂O₄ and CuGaFeO₄ with c/a>1. At compositional parameter x?0.25, tetragonal-to-cubic transformation occurs. The determined lattice parameter a for the cubic samples is found to decrease with increasing Zn content x. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer measurements at 293, 77 and 12 K show characteristic spectra of paramagnetic, magnetic, and electronic types for the different compositions. Cation distribution obtained from the spectral analysis at 12 K revealed transformation from the ferrimagnetic inverse spinel of CuFe₂O₄ to the antiferromagnetic normal spinel of ZnFe₂O₄. Hyperfine parameters are found to be strongly dependent on temperature and concentration parameter x. Low-temperature measurements are carried out using installed and well-calibrated closed-cycle variable temperature cryostat Model REF-399-D22. Low vibration is obtained through bellows, spacer, and exchange gas isolation and a difference of 0.018 mm s⁻¹ between the FWHM of a pure iron foil at room temperature and 12 K is achieved.     

A potential red phosphor ZnMoO4:Eu for light-emitting diode application

Motivated by the need for new red phosphors for solid-state lighting applications Eu³⁺-doped ZnMoO₄ was prepared by solid-state reaction and its photoluminescence properties were investigated. Compared with Ca_0.80MoO₄:Eu_0.20³⁺, the obtained Zn_0.80MoO₄:Eu_0.20³⁺ phosphor shows a stronger excitation band near 400 nm as well as enhanced red emissions (under 393 nm excitation). The strong red-emission lines at 616 nm correspond to the forced electric dipole ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transitions on Eu³⁺. The chromaticity coordinates (x=0.63, y=0.37) are close to the standard of National Television Standard Committee (NTSC). The optical properties suggest that Zn_0.80MoO₄:Eu_0.20³⁺ is an efficient red-emitting phosphor for LED applications.