Synthesis and characterization of the new high pressure phases ACu3 V4O12(A=Gd,Tb, Er)

New ACu₃V₄O₁₂ (A=Gd, Tb, Er) phases have been prepared at high pressure and high-temperature conditions (P～8–9 GPa, T～1000°C) in a toroid-type high pressure cell. These compounds crystallize in the cubic symmetry with a perovskite-like structure. At ambient pressure, they are paramagnetic and have activation-type conductivity. The effect of high pressure (10–50 GPa) on the electrical properties of the materials was analyzed in the temperature range from 78 to 300 K. Pressure ranges of the transition from activation type to metallic conductivity have been determined. The crystal structure of ACu₃V₄O₁₂ (A=Gd, Tb, Er) was found to be stable up to 50 GPa.     

Sequence and Hot Transitions in the Co2 Molecule; Interference of Adjacent Lines Belonging to Different Transitions as a Function of Temperature

Carbon-dioxide spectra of some higher transitions in the 9-11μm region were studied. Spectra of the sequence ([10°1,02°1]_I,II - 00°2) and hot (01¹1 - 11¹0) bands were calculated as a function of temperature. the positions of the ro-vibrational transitions and their intensities were determined as a function of temperature. for lines in hot and sequence transitions whose positions are close to some of the regular lines ([l0⁰0,02⁰0]_I,II - 00°1)¹ absorption coefficients of adjacent lines were calculated as functions of line center distances and temperature. the resulting values of the absorption coefficient for conditions of constant pressure or constant volume were determined.     

Disorder‐induced symmetry lowering in Ba(Y1/2Nb1/2)O3 ceramics probed by Raman spectroscopy

This work investigates the evolution of the crystal structure of microwave‐hydrothermal synthesized Ba(Y_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ powders as a function of firing temperature by Raman spectroscopy. The samples were produced at 200 °C and fired at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1600 °C. Raman spectra were obtained at room temperature for all samples and the results showed that materials fired at 1600 °C exhibited tetragonal (I4/m or ) structure, whereas those fired at lower temperatures exhibited the triclinic (P1 or C_i¹) structure. The results were compared with those observed for ceramics obtained by conventional solid‐state methods. It is believed that the lowering of the symmetry verified in materials fired below 1600 °C is a consequence of the local disorder of Y⁺³ and Nb⁺⁵ ions in octahedral sites. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase transitions and energy storage properties of some compositions in the (1−x)Li2SO4–xNa2SO4 system

In the binary system (1?x)Li₂SO₄–xNa₂SO₄, the solid–solid phase transitions and energy storage properties of Li₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄, the binary compound LiNaSO₄ and two eutectoids (E₁: 0.726Li₂SO₄–0.274Na₂SO₄; E₂: 0.03Li₂SO₄–0.97Na₂SO₄) were investigated by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Li₂SO₄ has a solid–solid phase transition at 578 °C with the transition enthalpy 252 J g^?1. The binary compound LiNaSO₄ gives a slightly lower enthalpy value, 214 J g^?1 and its transition temperature is clearly reduced to 514 °C. The transition enthalpy of the eutectoid E₁ is maintained to 177 J g^?1 and its transition temperature is further reduced to 474 °C. Li₂SO₄, LiNaSO₄ and the eutectoid E₁ are applicable phase transition materials because of their large transition enthalpies. The enthalpies of Na₂SO₄ and the eutectoid E₂ are not very high (～45 J g^?1), but their transition temperatures are quite low (～250 °C); thus their transition properties may be applied at such low temperatures.     

Synthesis hexagonal ZrW2O8 and its thermal properties

ZrW₂O₈ as the typical negative thermal expansion (NTE) material has attracted much attention for the potential applications in various fields such as tailored coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) composites. The hexagonal ZrW₂O₈ (h-ZrW₂O₈), with the combination of ZrO₂ and WO₃ in a composite, was synthesized at a pressure of 2 GPa and the temperature between 600°C and 700°C. We found h-ZrW₂O₈ decomposes to ZrO₂+WO₃ oxides that start from 500°C and end at 800°C, and determined the CTE of h-ZrW₂O₈ is?16.3×10^?6°C^?1 in the temperature range from 150°C to 450°C. The results show that ZrW₂O₈ with a hexagonal structure is metastable and exhibits high NTE property like its cubic structure.     

TL,OA and ESR of spessartine garnet

Thermoluminescence (TL), optical absorption (OA), electron spin resonance (ESR) and their relation to point defects in spessartine have been investigated. The TL glow curve presented four peaks at 150, 220, 260 and 335 °C. The 150 and 335 °C TL peaks growth curves presented a linear growth with radiation dose up to about 400 Gy, supralinearity above this dose, and saturation around 800–1000 Gy. The OA spectrum presented allowed spin transition bands due to Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ in dodecahedral environment. Absorption bands due to ultraviolet charge transfer of Fe³⁺ in octahedral and tetrahedral positions were also observed. Two ESR, a strong one around g?～?2 due to Fe³⁺ in octahedral position, and another weaker one at g?～?4 due to Fe³⁺ in tetrahedral position, have been detected. The effect of high temperature annealing (600–900 °C) before irradiation was also investigated.     

Radiation enhanced diffusion in UO2 and (U,Pu)O2

Abstract

The radiation enhanced diffusion (coefficient D*) of U-233 and Pu-238 in UO₂ and (U, Pu)O₂ with 2.5 and 15% Pu was measured during fission in a nuclear reactor. Normal diffusion sandwiches with a thin tracer layer were used. A radio-frequency furnace allowed the temperatures to be varied between 130 and 1400°. Neutron fluxes (7 × 10¹² to 1.2 × 10¹⁴ n cm^?2 s^?1) and irradiation times (56 to 334 h) were also varied to cover ranges of fission rates [Fdot] between 7× 10¹¹ and 6.4 × 10¹³ f cm^?3 s^?1 and of doses F between 4.2 × 10¹⁷ and 3.1 × 10¹⁹ f cm³. Below ～1000°, D* was completely athermal and increased linearly with [Fdot]. It was described by D* = A[Fdot] with A = 1.2× 10^?29cm⁵. A possible temperature dependence was indicated between ～1000and 1200°. The results are explained in terms of thermal and pressure effects of fission spikes and are related with other studies of radiation damage as well as with technologically interesting processes occurring in UO₂ during irradiation.     

Low-temperature sintering effects on NASICON-structured LiSn<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> solid electrolytes prepared via citric acid-assisted sol-gel method

LiSn₂P₃O₁₂ with sodium (Na) super ionic conductor (NASICON)-type rhombohedral structure was successfully obtained at low sintering temperature, 600 °C via citric acid-assisted sol-gel method. However, when the sintering temperature increased to 650 °C, triclinic structure coexisted with the rhombohedral structure as confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Conductivity–temperature dependence of all samples were studied using impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range 30 to 500 °C, and bulk, grain boundary and total conductivity increased as the temperature increased. The highest bulk conductivity found was 3.64?×?10^?5 S/cm at 500 °C for LiSn₂P₃O₁₂ sample sintered at 650 °C, and the lowest bulk activation energy at low temperature was 0.008 eV, showing that sintering temperature affect the conductivity value. The voltage stability window for LiSn₂P₃O₁₂ sample sintered at 600 °C at ambient temperature was up to 4.4 V. These results indicated the suitability of the LiSn₂P₃O₁₂ to be exploiting further for potential applications as solid electrolytes in electrochemical devices.     

High pressure-assisted encapsulation of vitamin D2 in reassembled casein micelles

For the encapsulation of vitamin D₂, native casein micelles and vitamin D₂ with or without additional Ca²⁺–P_i were treated at 600 MPa and 37 °C for 60 min. The pressure release rate was set at 20 or 600 MPa/min. Vitamin D₂ was quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and physical properties of the micelles were analysed by photon correlation spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that simultaneous application of Ca²⁺–P_i and high pressure treatment with a fast release rate significantly increased loading of vitamin D₂ per casein by 6.9-fold. The addition of Ca²⁺–P_i enhanced micelle aggregation and the vitamin was entrapped within the formed aggregates. However, high pressure treatment without Ca²⁺–P_i with a slow pressure release rate revealed similar results, increasing vitamin D₂ per casein by 6.7-fold. The vitamin D₂ loading in reassembled casein micelles is supposed to be due to hydrophobic interactions between the hydrophobic domains of the micelles.     

Temperature dependence of Bi2O3 structural parameters close to the α–δ phase transition

This article presents the results of in situ X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electrical impedance spectroscopy of the α-phase of Bi₂O₃, at 0.1 MPa in the temperature range below and above the α–δ-phase transition. This work demonstrated subtle nonlinear temperature variations of the cell parameters, of the hard-mode Raman shift, and of the activation energy of electrical conductivity in the temperature range about 100–120°C below the α–δ phase transition temperature T _Tr ≈ 725°C in Bi₂O₃. At T < 600°C, the linear variation of the inverse dielectric susceptibility (χ ^?1) correlates well with the hard mode frequency shift Δ(ω ²) of Raman A_1g mode as Δ(χ ^?1)/Δ(ω ²) ≈ 5.5 × 10^?7 cm². A structural model describing the mechanism of O^2? anion distribution and electric dipole disordering in the vicinity of T _Tr is discussed.     

Line broadening,shifting and mixing parameters for the ν1 + ν3 band of OCS perturbed by N2 and O2

In this paper, we report measured Rosenkranz N₂- and O₂-broadening, induced pressure-shift and mixing coefficients for OCS in the ν₁ + ν₃ band, using a multi-pressure fitting technique applied to the measured shapes of the lines, including the interference effects caused by the line overlaps. These measurements were made by analysing six laboratory absorption spectra recorded at 0.004 cm^?1 resolution using the Fourier transform spectrometer Bruker IFS125HR located at the Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques, in Créteil. The spectra have been recorded in the 1850–3000 cm^?1 wave number range at 295 K, using a multipass absorption cell with an optical path of 3.249 m. The total sample pressures ranged from 5.97 to 83.28 Torr with OCS volume mixing ratios between 0.001 and 0.013 in nitrogen or oxygen. We have been able to determine the N₂- and O₂-pressure-broadening coefficients of 81 ν₁ + ν₃ transitions with rotational quantum number J up to 50. The measured N₂- and O₂-broadening coefficients range from 0.0815 ± 0.0698 to 0.1169 ± 0.1027 cm^?1 atm^?1 at 295 K, respectively. Most of the measured pressure shifts are positive. The reported N₂- and O₂-induced pressure-shift coefficients vary from about ?0.0103 ± 0.0092 to 0.0097 ± 0.0092 cm^?1 atm^?1, respectively. We have examined the dependence of the measured broadening parameters on the quantum number m (m = ?J for the P branch and m = J + 1 for the R branch) and also developed an empirical expression to describe the broadening coefficients in terms of |m|. On average, this empirical expression reproduces the measured broadening coefficients to within 2%. Using a semi-classical Robert and Bonamy formalism, the theoretical broadening coefficients have been calculated at room temperature and compared with the experimental results. The theoretical results of the broadening coefficients are in very good overall agreement with the experimental data (2%).     

Charge states of the activator and size effects in BaF2: Eu nanophosphors

ABSTRACT

According to the spectra of stationary X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) of BaF₂: Eu nanophosphors at 80 and 294 K, it was revealed that the thermal annealing of fine-grained nanoparticles (d?=?35?nm) in the range of 400–1000°C, which is accompanied by an increase of their sizes in the range of 58–120?nm, does not result in effective changes of the charge state of Eu^{3 +} → Eu^{2 +} activator, in contrast to CaF₂: Eu nanoparticles. The maximum light output of X-ray excited luminescence of BaF₂: Eu nanophosphors in the 590?nm emission band of Eu³⁺ ion was observed at an annealing temperature of 600°C with the average size of nanoparticles 67?nm. The subsequent growth of annealing temperatures, especially in the range of 800–1000°C, causes decrease in the light output of X-ray excited luminescence due to the increase of defect concentration in the lattice as a result of sharp increase of nanoparticle sizes and their agglomeration. In BaF₂: Eu nanoparticles of 58?nm size, according to the thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) spectrum, transformation of Eu³⁺ → Eu²⁺ under the influence of long-time X-ray irradiation was revealed for the peak of 151?K. Thus, X-ray excited luminescence spectra of BaF₂: Eu nanophosphors are formed predominantly due to the emission of Eu³⁺ ions, while emission of Eu²⁺ ions is observed in the TSL spectra.     

Effect of the annealing temperature of thin Hf0.3Zr0.7O2 films on their energy storage behavior

With increasing annealing temperature (T_anneal), the magnitude of the electric fields for the antiferroelectric‐to‐ferro‐electric (E_AF) and ferroelectric‐to‐antiferroelectric (E_FA) transition of a 9.2 nm thick Hf_0.3Zr_0.7O₂ film decreased. The energy storage densities of the Hf_0.3Zr_0.7O₂ films crystallized at 400 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C were as large as 42.2 J/cm³, 40.4 J/cm³, and 28.3 J/cm³, respectively, at the electric field of 4.35 MV/cm. The maximum dielectric constant of the Hf_0.3Zr_0.7O₂ film crystallized at 600 °C was the largest (～46) as it had the smallest E_AF and E_FA, whereas the leakage current density of the film crystallized at 400 °C was the smallest. The 400 °C of T_anneal was the optimum condition for energy storage application. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Pressure-induced phase transformation of CsPbI3 by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy

The structural transformation of cesium lead iodine (CsPbI₃) has been investigated in diamond anvil cells up to ～15 GPa at room temperature by employing synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. One reversible transformation from orthorhombic (Pnma) to monoclinic (P2₁/m) phase has been observed at 3.9 GPa. Isothermal pressure–volume relationship of orthorhombic CsPbI₃ is well fitted by the third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state with K₀ = 14(3) GPa, K′₀ = 6(2) and V₀ = 891(7) ų. The ultralow value of bulk modulus K₀ demonstrates the high compressible nature of CsPbI₃, similar to those of organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites. The present results provide essential information on the intrinsic properties and stability of CsPbI₃, which may be applied in photovoltaic devices.     

Spin‐dependent‐magnetoresistance control by regulation of heat treatment temperature for magnetite nano‐particle sinter

The control of spin‐dependent‐magnetoresistance by regulation of the heat treatment (HT) temperature for magnetite (Fe₃O₃) nano‐particle sinter (MNPS) has been studied. The average nano‐particle size in the MNPS is 30nm and the HT was carried out from 400°C to 800°C. The HT of the MNPS varies the coupling form between adjacent magnetite nano‐particles and the crystallinity of that. The measurements on electrical resistance (ER), magnetoresistance (MR) and magnetization were performed between 4K and 300K. The behavior of the ER and MR considerably changes at the HT temperature of ～600°C. Below ～600°C the ER indicates the variable‐range‐hopping conduction behavior and the MR shows the large intensity in a wide temperature region. Above ～600°C the ER shows the indication of the Verwey transition near 110K like a bulk single crystal and the MR designates the smaller intensity. We consider that below ～600°C the ER and MR are dominated by the grain‐boundary conduction and above ～600°C those are determined by the inter‐grain conduction. The magnetic field application to the grain‐boundary region is inferred to cause the large enhancement of the MR.     

Raman studies on nanocomposite silicon carbonitride thin film deposited by r.f. magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperatures

Raman studies of nanocomposite SiCN thin film by sputtering showed that with increase of substrate temperature from room temperature to 500 °C, a transition from mostly sp² graphitic phase to sp³ carbon took place, which was observed from the variation of I_D/I_G ratio and the peak shifts. This process resulted in the growth of C₃N₄ and Si₃N₄ crystallites in the amorphous matrix, which led to increase in hardness (H) and modulus (E) obtained through nanoindentation. However, at a higher temperature of 600 °C, again an increase of sp² C concentration in the film was observed but the H and E values showed a decrease due to increased growth of the graphitic carbon phase. The whole process got reflected in a modified four‐stage Ferrari–Robertson model of Raman spectroscopy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of L(+)-Ascorbic acid with Raman spectroscopy in visible and UV light

Abstract: Raman spectroscopy investigations of l(+)-ascorbic acid and its mono- and di-deprotonated anions (AH^? and A^2?) are reviewed and new measurements reported with several wavelengths, 229, 244, 266, 488, and 532 nm. Results are interpreted, assisted by new DFT/B3LYP quantum chemical calculations with 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets for several conformations of ascorbic acid and the anions. Raman spectra were measured during titration with NaOH base in an oxygen-poor environment to avoid fluorescence when solutions were alkaline. The ultraviolet (UV) absorption band for ascorbic acid in aqueous solution at ～247 nm was found to cause strong resonance enhancement for the ring C?C stretching mode (called B) at ～1692 cm^?1. The ascorbate mono-anion absorbs at ～264.8 nm giving Raman resonance enhancement for the same ring C–C bond stretching, downshifted to ～1591 cm^?1. Finally, for the ascorbate di-anion, absorption was found at ～298.4 nm with molar absorptivity of ～7,000 L mol^?1 cm^?1 and below ～220 nm. With UV light (244 and 266 nm), strongly basic solutions gave pronounced Raman resonance enhancement at ～1556 cm^?1. Relatively weak preresonance enhancement was seen for A^2? when excitation was done with 229 nm UV light, allowing water bands to become observable as for normal visible light Raman spectra.     

Pressure-Tuning Raman Spectra of the Arene Chromium(0) Chalcocarbonyl Complexes, (η6-C6H5CO2CH3)Cr(CO)2(CX) (X = O,S)

The pressure-tuning Raman spectra of the two methylbenzoate complexes, (η⁶-C₆H₅CO₂CH₃)Cr(CO)₂(CX) (X = O, S), have been examined up to ～35 kbar. Structural changes occurred for both complexes in the 10–15 kbar pressure range, most probably as the result of second-order phase transitions. From the observed pressure dependences, replacement of a CO group in the piano-stool (η⁶-C₆H₅CO₂CH₃)Cr(CO)₃ molecule by a CS group has a marked influence on the Cr-arene ring vibrational modes, and the arene ring clearly plays a role in determining the nature of the Cr-CO and Cr-CS bonding interactions.     

PFM characterization of (K0.5Na0.5)0.95La0.05(Nb0.9Ti0.05)O2.9 ceramics lead free

The results of ferroelectric properties studies of KNN doped with La and Ti and sintered at temperatures in the interval of 1100 °C–1190 °C are presented in this work. The doping was achieved by the substitution of La for ions in A sites and Ti for ions in the B sites. Values of 94 % of the theoretical density were accomplished. The effect of the sintering temperature and the inclusion of the La and Ti cations in the KNN structure is evident through the shift in the ferroelectric-paraelectric transition temperature of ～110 °C with respect to that of pure KNN (420 °C). Microstructure and ferroelectric analyses were carried out using Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM) and hysteresis loops with interesting results, ΔP _r=9 (μC/cm²) and P _r/P _max=0.41, even when the saturation of the materials is not reached.     

Probing structural stability of double-walled carbon nanotubes at high non-hydrostatic pressure by Raman spectroscopy

Theoretical calculations predict that the collapse pressure for double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) is proportional to 1/R ³, where R is the effective or average radius of a DWCNT. In order to address the problem of CNT stability at high pressure and stress, we performed a resonance Raman study of DWCNTs dispersed in sodium cholate using 532 and 633 nm laser excitation. Raman spectra of the recovered samples show minor versus irreversible changes with increasing I _D/I _G ratio after exposure to high non-hydrostatic pressure of 23 and 35 GPa, respectively. The system exhibits nearly 70% pressure hysteresis in radial breathing vibrational mode signals recovery on pressure release which is twice that predicted by theory.