Amplitude dependences of dielectric permittivity and dielectric losses in a mixed K0.88(NH4)0.12H2PO4 crystal

Amplitude dependences of dielectric permittivity ? and dielectric losses tanδ in K_0.88(NH₄)_0.12H₂PO₄ mixed crystal near the ferroelectric phase transition temperature T _C are investigated. At measurement fields E _～ exceeding some critical value, dependence tanδ(E _～) can be described within a model that includes the depinning of domain walls from point lattice defects. The activation field is found to grow appreciably when approaching T _C from below, due to the presence of nonpolar regions.     

Dielectric properties of a triglycine sulfate crystal grown with a transition through the Curie point

The dielectric properties of the triglycine sulfate (TGS) crystal grown by lowering the temperature with a transition through Curie point T_C during its growth are studied. The greatest values of low-frequency dielectric permittivity ε_max(T = T_C) and effective dielectric permittivity ε_eff(E₀) correspond to the layer of crystal formed at the temperature of the phase transition.     

Magnetodielectric coupling in MnCr2O4 spinel

We have investigated the magnetic and dielectric properties of polycrystalline samples of the spinel MnCr₂O₄. Below the ferrimagnetic ordering temperature at T_N∼43 K, both magnetization and dielectric measurements show signatures of the onset of a conical structure at T_s∼17 K and a lock-in temperature at T_f∼14 K. These values are similar to those previously reported for single-crystal samples, where the spiral structure is short-range ordered (SRO) at low temperatures. The application of magnetic field suppresses the dielectric anomaly at T_f indicating that the coherence length of the ordering increases. MnCr₂O₄ exhibits a symmetrical magnetodielectric response between T_f and T_s that scales with the square of the magnetization. This suggests that the magnetodielectric coupling originates from the P²M² term in the free energy expansion. The magnetodielectric response becomes asymmetric with respect to field below T_f.     

The pressure influence on the incommensurate-commensurate ferroelectric phase transition in [4-NH2C5H4NH][SbCl4]

The dielectric properties of the [4-NH₂C₅H₄NH] SbCl₄ (abbreviated as 4-APCA) crystal were investigated under hydrostatic pressure up to 300 Mpa. The pressure-temperature phase diagram was given. The paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition (II→III) temperature (T_c) increases linearly with increasing pressure with a slope dT_c/dp=21×10⁻² K/MPa. The pressure dependence of Curie-Weiss constants has been evaluated also. In the paraelectric phase (II) the Curie constant (C₊) was pressure dependent whereas the C₋ constant over the ferroelectric phase (III) was almost constant. The results are interpreted in terms of improper and displacive type phase transition model with a soft phonon at a zone boundary.     

Even-odd effect and chain configuration in p-alkoxybenzal-p′-ethoxyaniline

For the homologous series p-alkoxybenzal-p′-ethoxyaniline the nematic-isotropic transition temperature T_NI, NMR inter-pair dipolar interaction, and for the first time the frequency dependent dielectric response concerning the even-odd effect at microwave frequencies were measured. For T_NI a pronounced even-odd effect of type I was found. Some pecularities were observed in the NMR data of the molecules C₅ and C₇, i.e. with 5 and 7 carbon atoms in the benzal end chain. An even-odd effect was found in the dielectric response at microwave frequencies. However, at 23.5 GHz the molecules C₅ and C₇ show a significant deviation from the even-odd behaviour in the series, which is not evident at the lower microwave frequency of 7.8 GHz. To explain these deviations from the even-odd effect it is assumed that for C₅ and C₇ a modification of the chain configuration takes place in the nematic phase.     

Electrical properties of KTiOPO4 single crystal in the temperature range from −100 °C to 100 °C

The electrical property of a KTiOPO₄ single crystal was studied by means of a dielectric spectroscopy method in the temperature range from −100 to 100 °C. Dielectric dispersion began at a temperature, T_S=−80 °C. It is believed that this dielectric dispersion is related to the ionic hopping conduction, which arises mainly from the jumping of K⁺ ions. The activation energy concerned with hopping conduction is E_a∼0.20 eV above T_S. T_S=−80 °C can be the minimum temperature for the hopping K⁺ ion.     

Effect of electron and gamma irradiation on elastic characteristics of KTiOPO4 crystals

The elastic moduli C ₁₁ and C ₃₃ of KTiOPO₄ crystals unirradiated and irradiated by electrons and gamma quanta in the temperature range 100–330 K have been measured by the echo-pulse technique. It has been shown that C ₁₁ < C ₃₃ and, with increasing temperature, their values smoothly decrease; moreover, in the temperature range of the second-order phase transition at T ～ 281 K, the curves C ₁₁ = f(T) and C ₃₃ = f(T) exhibit anomalies in the form of a kink. It has been established that, under electron irradiation, the elastic moduli decrease and the phase transition temperature increases. Irradiation of KTiOPO₄ crystals by gamma quanta with a dose of 10⁷ R has no substantial effect on the dynamic characteristics of this crystal.     

Dielectric dispersion in the incommensurate phases of [N(CH3)4]2CoCl4 and [N(CH3)4]2ZnCl4

The complex dielectric permittivity ?(ω) of [N(CH₃)₄]₂CoCl₄ and [N(CH₃)₄]₂ZnCl₄ along the a-axis was measured between 0.35 MHz and 100 MHz. It has been found that for both substances the relaxation frequencies are about 5 MHz at T_c. The dielectric relaxation of both substances could be described by a polydispersive process β = 0.74 in the vicinity of T_c. However, for the temperature region of (T?T_c) > 0.6 for [N(CH₃)₄]₂CoCl₄ the dielectric absorption seems to be rather monodispersive.     

(Pr–Ca) Manganites That Display Multiferroic Properties: High-Temperature Magnetic,Resistive, and Dielectric Measurements

Complex magnetic, resistive, and dielectric studies of Pr_1–xCa_xMnO₃ (х = 0.15–0.30) manganites reveal multiferroic properties at T?T_C in these solid solutions. States with local magnetization in the form of ferromagnetic clusters (nucleation temperature T* ≈ 700 K) and high dielectric constants coexist in the temperature window T_C ≤ T ≤ T*. There is a correlation between the temperature dependences of specific resistance and specific magnetization.     

Study on ethyl groups with two different orientations in [N(C2H5)4]2CuBr4

The crystal structure and phase transition temperature of [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂CuBr₄ are studied using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); measurements revealed a tetragonal structure and the two phase transition temperatures T_C of 204 K and 255.5 K. The structural geometry near T_C is discussed in terms of the chemical shifts for ¹H magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ¹³C cross-polarization (CP)/MAS NMR. The two inequivalent ethyl groups are distinguishable by the ¹³C NMR spectrum. The molecular motions are discussed in terms of the spin–lattice relaxation times T_1ρ in the rotating frame for ¹H MAS NMR and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR. The T_1ρ results reveal that the ethyl groups undergo tumbling motion, and furthermore that the ethyl groups are highly mobile.     

Ultrasonic studies of phase transitions in stage-4 antimony pentachloride intercalated graphite

The c-axis shear elastic constant C₄₄ and transverse sound attenuation α_T for stage-4 SbCl₅ intercalated graphite from 4 to 300 K are studied with ultrasonic pulse-echo techniques. No transverse sound echo is observable above 230 K. At constant temperatures between 230 and 200 K, both C₄₄ and α_T drift spontaneously toward lower bounds over a period of hours. A decrease in C₄₄ by a factor of ～ 2 is observed. Below 195 K, the sample becomes metastable. From 195 to 4 K, C₄₄ increases by 60% for the quenched sample, and by 30% for the annealed sample. This abnormal behavior of the elastic property can be interpreted by a disordered-liquid to incommensurate-solid phase transition of the intercalant layer at 230 K. The time-dependence of C₄₄ and α_T is attributed to the growth of islands with a slightly incommensurate solid structure.     

Origin of dielectric relaxations in KHSeO4 above room temperature

The dispersion curves of the dielectric response for KHSeO₄ were obtained in the radio frequency range at several isotherms below the fast proton conducting phase (T?<?415 K). The results reveal a distinct dielectric relaxation at low frequency, which is about 682 Hz at 320 K, and then, it shifts to higher frequencies (～10 kHz) as the temperature increases. The f _max vs. reciprocal T shows an activated relaxation process with an activation energy of 0.5 eV, which is in close agreement with that associated with transport of charge carriers. We suggest that the observed dielectric relaxation could be attributed to polarization induced by the proton jump and selenate tetrahedral reorientations. The displacement of mobile H⁺ proton accompanied by SeO ₄ ^??2 tetrahedra reorientations creates structural distortion in both sublattices which induce localized dipoles like HSeO ₄ ^? .     

Temperature dependence of the elastic constants of single-crystal rutile between 4° and 583°K

Measurements of all the six principal elastic constants of single-crystal rutile were made in the temperature range of 298–583°K. The temperature derivatives (in kb/deg) at 298°K are: dC₁₁/dT = − 0·510, dC₃₃/dT = − 0·900, dC₄₄/dT = − 0·220, dC₆₆dT = − 0·458, dC₁₂/dT = − 0·580, and dC₁₃/dT = − 0·330. Measurements of the four modes, C₁₁, C′ = (C₁₁ — C₁₂)/2, C₆₆, and C_110L = (C₁₁ + C₁₂ + 2C₆₆)/2, were extended to 4°K. Two features related to the temperature and volume dependences of the lattice vibrational frequencies are revealed: first, all the measured dC_lj/dT except dC′/dT become less negative with increasing temperature above 100°K. Second, dC′/dT is positive at all temperatures but decreases with increasing temperature at temperatures > 300°K. Indirectly shown is that (∂C′/∂P)_T having a value of − 1·32 at 298°K, decreases with decreasing temperatures. The significance of this latter fact is discussed in light of the computation of Grüneisen mode γ's from the acoustic (∂C_ij/∂P)_T values, and the results are compared with the γ (α_v) values obtained by Kirby from thermal expansion data. It is concluded that the large increase in γ(α_v) at low temperatures cannot be ascribed to a large temperature dependence of (∂C′/∂P)_T. Therefore, Kirby's explanation, that the large increase in γ(α_v) is caused by the large volume dependence of the acoustical mode frequencies, is not substantiated.     

Dielectric properties of CsH2PO4 and CsD2PO4

Orthorhombic CsH₂PO₄ undergoes a ferroelectric transition at T_c = ?119.5°C, whereas the ferroelectric transition temperature in isomorphous CsD₂PO₄ is T_c = ?5.55°C. The transitions are of first order in both cases. The rather large isotope effect demonstrates the importance of the OHO bonds in the transition mechanism.     

Effect of γ irradiation on the structural and thermal properties of [N(C2H5)4]2ZnBr4 in the vicinity of a first-order phase transition

The unit cell parameters a and c of nonirradiated [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂ZnBr₄ crystals in the temperature region 90–300 K and of samples irradiated with γ rays to doses of 10⁶ and 5 × 10⁶ R in the 270-to 300-K interval were measured using x-ray diffraction. The data obtained were used to derive the thermal expansion coefficients α_a and α_c. It is shown that the parameter a increases and the parameter c decreases with increasing temperature. In the vicinity of the phase transition (PT) at T = 285 K, the temperature dependences of a(T) and c(T) reveal anomalies in the form of jumps and the α_a(T) and α_c(T) curves have a maximum and a minimum, respectively. The heat capacity of nonirradiated and irradiated [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂ZnBr₄ samples was measured by adiabatic calorimetry. A maximum was found in the C _p(T) curve at T = 285 K. Both x-ray diffraction and heat capacity measurements showed that the PT temperature decreased after γ irradiation.     

Phase transition and dielectric properties of Li2-x NaxGe4O9 crystals (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3)

The dielectric nonlinearity of ferroelectric Li_2-x Na_xGe₄O₉ crystals (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) is measured in the region of the phase transition temperatures. The ?(T) dependences for various values of the applied dc electric field E ₌ and the ?(E ₌)_T dependences at a constant temperature are studied in the Li_2-x Na_xGe₄O₉ crystals with T _c > 300 K and T _c < 300 K. It is shown that the Landau theory for second-order phase transitions describes the dielectric properties of the crystals with T _c < 300 K and does not describe the behavior of the crystals with T _c > 300 K. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that the different properties of the crystals with T _c > 300 K are likely to be related to the changed structure of these crystals caused by a change in the ratio between the Li and Na atoms.     

Antiferromagnetic resonance in CuB2O4 single crystal

The frequency-field, temperature, and angular dependences of the antiferromagnetic resonance parameters for the tetragonal CuB₂O₄ single crystal are studied in the frequency range 2.6–80 GHz and at temperatures of 4.2–30 K. The results obtained confirm the fact that, in the high-temperature state in the range 10–21 K, this compound is an easy-plane weak ferromagnet. The temperature dependence of the Dzyaloshinski field is determined. An abrupt change observed in the frequency-field dependence of the magnetic resonance at T=4.2 K and H ⊥ C ₄ indicates the transition to the weak ferromagnetic state induced by the external field H _⊥. The phase diagram for CuB₂O₄ is constructed on the H _⊥-T coordinates. It is demonstrated that, in the low-temperature state, the magnetic moments of copper ions remain in the basal plane, but the weak ferromagnetism is absent.     

Heat capacity of the 0.7PbNi1/3Nb2/3O3-0.3PbTiO3 ferroelectric ceramics

The temperature dependence of the heat capacity of the 0.7PbNi_1/3Nb_2/3O₃-0.3PbTiO₃ compound has been studied in the temperature range 120?C800 K. The temperature dependence of the heat capacity C _p has two diffuse anomalies in the temperature ranges 250?C450 K and 450?C650 K and a ?? anomaly at temperatures T ?? 225 K. The results are discussed with inclusion of the dielectric and structural data.     

Dielectric dispersion in the microwave range of the incommensurate phase (NH4)2BeF4

The complex dielectric constant of (NH₄)₂BeF₄ single crystals was measured in the frequency range from 0.6 to 300 MHz in the vicinity of the transition temperature T_c. It was found that, the relaxation frequency is about 1 × 10⁸Hz atT_c. Dielectric relaxation can be described by a polydispersive process.     

Large magnetocaloric effect with a wide temperature range in Gd5Si4

Gd₅Si₄ magnets have attracted much attention due to their many appealing properties such as strong ferromagnetism, magnetovolume effect, and large reversal magnetocaloric effect (MCE). However, Gd₅Si₄ exhibits a relatively high Curie temperature (T_C ∼336 K) with a narrow refrigeration temperature span, which limits the refrigeration application at room temperature. Here we show that the T_C of Gd₅Si₄ can be reduced to 330 K and the phase transition temperature range can be effectively expanded by applying a high pressure of 6 GPa to the sample during heat treatment. In addition, the room-temperature magnetic entropy changes are improved and the refrigeration temperature span also becomes wider, which leads to an enhanced relative cooling power (RCP) of 748 Jkg^-1 under a magnetic field change of 5 T. These unique features indicate that the Gd₅Si₄ compound prepared under high pressure can serve as a magnetic refrigerant in a wide temperature range covering room temperature.