Synthesis and magnetic properties of CuCr1.5Sb0.5S4 ? x Se x solid solutions

CuCr_1.5Sb_0.5S_{4 ? x} Se _x (x = 0, 0.5, 3.5, 4) metal chalcogenides with spinel structure have been synthesized for the first time. Unit cell parameters have been calculated and magnetic properties have been measured for the samples prepared. These samples are nonuniform antiferromagnets having Neel temperatures of T _N = 21?C30 K.     

Magnetic properties of (Cu0.5Ga0.5)1 − x Fe x Cr2S4 solid solutions

Magnetic properties are studied and a magnetic phase diagram is constructed for (Cu_0.5Ga_0.5)_{1 ? x} Fe _x Cr₂S₄ solid solutions formed between chromium chalcogenide spinels (Cu_0.5Ga_0.5)Cr₂S₄ and FeCr₂S₄.     

Magnetic properties of Cu0.5Fe0.5 ? x Ga x Cr2S4 solid solutions

Solid solutions between ferrimagnet Cu_0.5Fe_0.5Cr₂S₄ (T _C = 347 K) and antiferromagnet Cu_0.5Ga_0.5Cr₂S₄ (T _N = 31 K) have been synthesized, and their magnetic properties studied. Both compounds belong to the A _0.5 ⁺ A _0.5 ³⁺ Cr₂X₄ group with the 1 : 1 order of A⁺ and A³⁺ ions in the tetrahedral spinel sites. Measurements on a SQUID magnetometer over wide ranges of fields (0.05?C40 kOe) and temperatures (5?C300 K) provided a deeper insight into the nature of magnetism and cation distribution in the studied samples.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of Cu0.5Fe0.5 ? x In x Cr2S4 (x = 0?0.4) solid solutions

Multistep synthesis with X-ray diffraction monitoring of the phase composition has been carried out, optimal synthesis parameters have been determined, and the magnetic properties of solid solutions between thiospinels with ordered tetrahedral A lattices (ferrimagnet Cu_0.5Fe_0.5Cr₂S₄ (T _C = 347 K) and anti-ferromagnet Cu_0.5In_0.5Cr₂S₄ (T _N = 35 K) have been studied. Both compounds crystallize in F $\bar 4$ 3m (T _d ² ) structure. Measurements over wide ranges of fields (0.05?C40 kOe) and temperatures (5?C300 K) highlighted the nature of magnetism in the samples; new magnetic species have been discovered.     

Synthesis and properties of fuel cell anodes based on (La0.5 + x Sr0.5 − x )1 − y Mn0.5Ti0.5O3 − δ (x = 0–0.25, y = 0–0.03)

Results are presented of studying electrochemical properties of perovskite-like solid solutions (La_{0.5 + x} Sr_{0.5 ? x} )_{1 ? y} Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} (x = 0–0.25, y = 0–0.03) synthesized using the citrate technique and studied as oxide anodic materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis is used to establish that the materials are stable in a wide range of oxygen chemical potential, stable in the presence of 5 ppm H₂S in the range of intermediate temperatures, and also chemically compatible with the solid electrolyte of La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.15Co_0.05O_{3 ? δ} (LSGMC). It is shown that transition to a reducing atmosphere results in a decrease in electron conductivity that produced a significant effect on the electrochemical activity of porous electrodes. Model cells of planar SOFC on a supporting solid-electrolyte membrane (LSGMC) with anodes based on (La_0.6Sr_0.4)_0.97Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} and (La_0.75Sr_0.25)_0.97Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_{3 ? δ} and a cathode of Sm_0.5Sr_0.5CoO_{3 ? δ} are manufactured and tested using the voltammetry technique.     

Second-harmonic generating properties of polar noncentrosymmetric aluminoborate solid solutions, Al(5-x)Ga(x)BO9 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

A series of solid solutions of polar aluminoborate materials, Al(5-x)Ga(x)BO(9) (0.0 ≤x≤ 0.5) have been synthesized by standard solid-state reactions using Al(2)O(3), Ga(2)O(5), and B(OH)(3) as reagents. The phase purities, crystal structures, and solid solution behavior of the reported materials have been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction. Solid solutions of Al(5-x)Ga(x)BO(9) crystallize in the polar noncentrosymmetric space group, Cmc2(1), with a three-dimensional structure consisting of distorted MO(4), MO(5), MO(6), and BO(3) polyhedra (M = Al or Ga). Powder second-harmonic generating (SHG) measurements on the Al(5)BO(9) using 1064 nm radiation, indicate the material has a SHG efficiency of approximately 2 times that of α-SiO(2) and is not phase-matchable (type 1). Further nonlinear optical (NLO) measurements on the Al(5-x)Ga(x)BO(9) solid solutions indicate a sharp increase in SHG efficiency up to 10 times that of α-SiO(2) for x≥ 0.4. Close structural examination suggests that the alignment of the asymmetric π-delocalization of BO(3) groups is responsible for the abrupt increase of SHG efficiency.     

Electrical properties of Ba2(In1 − x Al x )2O5 solid solutions

The electric conductivity of perovskite-like Ba₂(In_{1 ? x} Al _x )₂O₅ solid solutions (0 < x ≤ 0.20) characterized by structural disordering in the oxygen sublattice was studied as a function of temperature and partial pressure of oxygen in an atmosphere with a low content of water vapors ( $p_{H_2 O}$ = 3 × 10^?5 atm). When In³⁺ was partially replaced by Al³⁺, the oxygen ion conductivity increased because of the disordering of oxygen structural vacancies, leading to a significant increase in the total electric conductivity of the samples.     

Structural and electrical properties of sol–gel grown (1 − x) (ZnO) + (x) (SnO2) (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5) nanocomposites

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - Semiconducting oxide nanocomposites of ZnO/SnO2 with different weight ratio, i.e. (i) ZnO:SnO2?=?100:0 (ZnO0), (ii)...     

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Pb_(1-1.5x)La_xZr_(0.5)Ti_(0.5)O_3 (x = 0.01-0.06) Nanocrystallites

Lanthanum doped lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics display excellent electrooptic and photostriction properties because of the existence of cavities in the perovskite structure1-3. The PLZT powders are conventionally prepared by solid state reaction4-5, and the wet chemical methods such as sol-gel techniques are then introduced6-7. However, the homogeneity, morphology and size of the particles, which greatly affect the sinterability and the property of the resulting ceramics, are dif…     

Thermal properties and structure of (As2S3)100−x(Sb4S4)x glassy system

Thermal properties and structure of bulk glasses of (As₂S₃)_1?x(Sb₄S₄)_x system (x varies from 0 to 60 mol%) were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that with increasing Sb content the glasses can be sorted out to the three groups. The structure of glasses with x ≤ 10 is build-up mainly from AsS_3/2 pyramidal units and the well-known crystallization resistance of As₂S₃ can explain the reluctance of these undercooled liquids against crystallization. In glasses with a higher content of antimony, i.e., 10 < x ≤ 30 mol%, the vibration characteristics of As₄S₄ clusters appear. Undercooled melts of these glasses crystallize forming both β-As₄S₄ and high-temperature phases of Sb₂S₃. Structure of glasses with the highest antimony content (x > 30 mol%) is based on SbS_3/2 structural units significantly lowering stability of their undercooled melts from which only Sb₂S₃ crystallizes.     

Effect of hydration on conductivity of Ba4La x Ca2 − x Nb2O11 + 0.5x (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) phases

Substitution of Ca by La in initial cubic double perovskite Ba₄(Ca₂Nb₂)O₁₁[VO]₁ allowed obtaining phases with a similar structure with a lower content of structural oxygen vacancies, Ba₄(La _x Ca_{2 ? x} Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} [VO]_{1 ? 0.5x} (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2). The impedance technique was used to measure the temperature dependences of conductivity in the atmosphere of dry and humid air. Transport numbers determined using the EMF method in an oxygen-air and water steam concentration cells point to the predominantly hole nature of conductivity in the high-temperature region (T > 600°C) and to predominance of proton conductivity in the low-temperature region. Activation energies of hole and proton conductivity were calculated. Thermogravimetric measurements were carried out under heating from 25 to 1000°C with simultaneous mass-spectrometric determination of evolved H₂O and CO₂. The properties of the studied Ba₄(La _x Ca_{2 ? x} Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) phases were compared with the earlier studied Ba_{4 ? x} La _x (Ca₂Nb₂)O_{11 + 0.5x} phases with similar lanthanum content.     

Electrophysical properties of solid solutions of Zn2 − x (Zr a Sn b )1 − x Fe2x O4 compositions

The electrophysical properties of the multicomponent Zn₂ZrO₄ ? Zn₂SnO₄ ? ZnFe₂O₄ system are studied. The electrophysical parameters of solid solutions of Zn_{2 ? x} (Zr _a Sn _b )_{1 ? x} Fe_2x O₄ (x = 0–1.0, Δx = 0.1, a + b = 1) are determined. It is found that the formed solid solutions are semiconductors with electrophysical properties that change in a regular fashion with composition and are distinguished by high values of resistivity (107–1012 Ω cm).     

Pyrochlore solid solutions (LaxY1−x)2Mo2O7, x = 0.0 to 0.5. Spin-glass-like behavior

The (La_xY_1−x)₂Mo₂O₇ system was investigated in the range x = 0.0 to x = 0.5. Single-phase materials exist up to x = 0.4; the x = 0.5 composition has a small impurity contamination. The lattice constants are linear with x and range from 10.224 Å (x = 0.0) to 10.461 Å (x = 0.5). These lattice constants span the same range as the R₂Mo₂O₇ series from R = Y to R = Nd. In this series, there is a discontinuous change from ferromagnetic long-range order to short-range spin-glass-like order between R = Gd and R = Tb. Yet, the solid solutions all show spin-glass-like properties with maxima in the susceptibility in the 20–25 K range and sample-history-dependent effects at lower temperatures. Deviations from the Curie-Weiss Law occur well above the susceptibility maxima. The Weiss constants change from −61 to +41 K for x = 0.0 and x = 0.5, respectively, indicating a competition between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic exchange interactions. This competition, coupled with the inherent frustration of the Mo⁴⁺ lattice in space group Fd3m is a possible origin of the spin-glass properties.     

Magnetic and Transport Properties of Bi_(0.5)Ca_(0.5–x)La_xFe_(0.3)Mn_(0.7)O_3(x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) Prepared by Molten Salt Method

Polycrystallines Bi0.5Ca0.5–xLaxFe0.3Mn0.7O3(x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) were prepared by molten salt method and showed perovskite orthorhombic structure with space group Pnma. The magnetic measurements indicate that the compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic behavior in a temperature range of 4―300 K. The measurements of transport properties suggest that the substitution of La for Ca enhanced the conductivity, and a kink appeared on the curve of temperature dependence of resistivity at 275 K, which is ...     

Structure and electronic properties and phase stabilities of the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution in the range of 0≤x≤1

As an excellent bandgap-engineering material, the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution, is found to be an efficient visible light response photocatalyst for water splitting, but few theoretical studies have been performed on it. A better characterization of the composition dependence of the physical and optical properties of this material and a thorough understanding of the bandgap-variation mechanism are necessary to optimize the design of high-efficience photocatalysts. In order to get an insight into these problems, we systematically investigated the crystal structure, the phase stability, and the electronic structures of the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution by means of density functional theory calculations. The most energetically favorable arrangement of the Cd, Zn, S atoms and the structural disorder of the solid solution are revealed. The phase diagram of the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution is calculated based on regular-solution model and compared with the experimental data. This is the first report on the calculated phase diagram of this solid solution, and can give guidance for the experimental synthesis of this material. Furthermore, the variation of the electronic structures versus x and its mechanism are elaborated in detail, and the experimental bandgap as a function of x is well predicted. Our findings provide important insights into the experimentally observed structural and electronic properties, and can give theoretical guidelines for the further design of the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S solid solution.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Mo6−x Nb x I11 (x = 1–1.5)

A solid solution Mo_{6 ? x} Nb _x I₁₁ (x = 1.1–1.5) containing cluster cores {Mo₅NbI₈} is obtained by the high-temperature reaction of molybdenum, niobium, and iodine (550°C, 70 h, quartz ampule). According to the X-ray diffraction data, heating at 800°C in a molybdenum container results in the decomposition of the solution to Mo₆I₁₂ and Nb₆I₁₁. According to the X-ray structure analysis data, the compounds are isostructural to the high-spin modification Nb₆I₁₁ (space group Pccn). The presence of Nb atoms in the structure changes the structural type from the layered (Mo₆I₁₂) to framework structure, noticeably increases the metalmetal distances (2.661–2.716 Å, 2.695 Å) Mo₆ octahedron with the retention of the distance from the metal (M) to the μ₃-“capped” I atoms, and strongly elongates the M₆-I-M₆ bridges almost to the value observed in Nb₆I₁₁.     

Two-step hydrothermal synthesis of submicron Li(1+x)Ni(0.5)Mn(1.5)O(4-δ) for lithium-ion battery cathodes (x = 0.02, δ = 0.12)

A facile two-step hydrothermal method is developed for the large-scale preparation of lithium nickel manganese oxide spinel as a cathode material for lithium ion batteries. In the reaction, nickel is introduced in a first step at neutral pH, followed by lithium insertion under base to form a product having composition Li(1.02)Ni(0.5)Mn(1.5)O(3.88). The X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman spectroscopy of the synthesized material support a cubic Fd3m structure in which Ni and Mn are disordered on the 16d Wyckoff site, necessary for good cycling characteristics. XP spectroscopy and elemental analysis confirms that Mn remains reduced in the final product (Z(Mn) = 3.82) and that two different chemical environments for Ni exist on the surface. SEM imaging shows a primary particle size of ~200 nm, and galvanostatic cycling of the material vs. Li(+/0) gives a reversible gravimetric capacity of ~120 mA h g(-1) at 1 C rate (147 mA g(-1)) with reversible cycling up to 1470 mA g(-1), supported by rapid Li(+) diffusion. The capacity fade at 1 C is substantial, 17.3% over the first 100 cycles between 3.4 and 5.0 V. However, when the voltage limits are altered, the capacity retention is excellent: nearly 100% when cycled either between 3.4 and 4.4 V (where oxygen vacancies are not electrochemically active) or 89% when cycled between 4.4 and 5.0 V (where the Jahn-Teller active Mn(4+/3+) couple is not accessed).     

Thermodynamic properties of solid solutions of silica in forsterite (Mg2Si1+γO4+2γ)

From solid state electrochemical measurements on Mg₂SiO₄SiO₂ solid solutions in air at 1300 K ≤ T ≤ 1780 K the thermodynamic (excess) functions are calculated. A pronounced nonideality is found.     

Novel solid solutions of Ca3–1.5xYbx□0.5xB2SiO8: Synthesis,crystal structure,luminescence and thermal properties

New cation-deficient solid solutions of Ca_3–1.5xYb_x□_0.5xB₂SiO₈ (x = 0–0.4) based on Ca₃B₂SiO₈ borosilicate were synthesized. It was found that solid solutions in the range 0 ≤ x < 0.125 are structurally similar to the low-temperature monoclinic β-Ca₃B₂SiO₈, whereas those of the range 0.187 < x < 0.4 are similar to the high-temperature orthorhombic α-Ca₃B₂SiO₈. The crystal structures of solid solutions with x = 0.2 and 0.3 were determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data and refined in the orthorhombic space group Pnma to R_obs = 0.051 and 0.057, respectively. Thermal expansion of the samples with x = 0.1, 0.3 was investigated using powder high-temperature X-ray diffraction in the temperature range of 20–800 °C. Photoluminescence spectra of Ca_3–1.5xYb_x□_0.5xB₂SiO₈ consist of the intra-configurational ²F_5/2–²F_7/2 transitions inside of Yb³⁺ ions with a maximum at 975 nm.