High‐strength bimodal ultrafine Ti‐based alloys with enhanced ductility

Bulk Ti₆₅Fe₃₅ and (Ti₆₅Fe₃₅)_96.15‐xSn_3.85Nb_x (x = 0, 3, 5 and 7 at.%) alloys were prepared by cold crucible levitation melting, and tested in compression at room temperature. The Sn and Nb modified hypereutectic Ti‐Fe alloys exhibited improved mechanical properties under compression. (Ti₆₅Fe₃₅)_93.15Sn_3.85Nb₃ alloy displayed an ultimate compressive strength of 2.7 GPa and a compressive plastic strain of 15%. Electron microscope observations revealed Ti‐Fe(Sn,Nb) alloys having a bimodal microstructure with micrometer‐scale primary TiFe dendrites distributed in an ultrafine eutectic (β‐Ti+TiFe) matrix. The orientation relationship of β‐Ti with TiFe phases is TiFe (011)[100] ∥ β‐Ti (011)[100]. The improved mechanical properties are attributed to the morphology of the phase constituents and the larger lattice mismatches between β‐Ti and TiFe phases due to the additions of Sn and Nb.     

Optical Parameters of Nd‐Doped Gadolinium Aluminium Tetraborate Crystals

Nd‐doped gadolinium aluminium tetraborate, Nd_xGd_1‐xAl₃(BO₃)₄ (NGAB), crystallizes with x = 0.1 in the trigonal system with point group 32, conforming space group R32. They were grown using flux method, of large sizes and good optical quality. The unit cell constants were a = 0.93057 (6) and c = 0.72481 (3) nm, and z = 1. The measured absorption of the NGAB is compared to Judd‐Ofelt (JO) theory. When applied, the JO theory of parity‐forbidden electric‐dipole transitions of rare earth ions on noncentrosymmetric sites demonstrates good agreement. A measured band gap of the eigentransition was about 4.00 eV. The fitted intensity parameters Ot (t = 2, 4, and 6) were 2.446 × 10^‐20, 2.266 × 10^‐20 and 2.598 × 10^‐20 cm². Both the emission properties of the sub‐stable ⁴F_3/2 state with the level lifetime of 506.20 μs and a fluorescence spectrum corresponding to the transition ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_11/2 were studied. The results indicate the pass band of laser for potential applications in practice.     

Defect structure and optical damage resistance of Hf:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals with various [Li]/[Nb] ratios

Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals were grown in air by the Czochralski technique with various ratios of [Li]/[Nb]=0.94, 1.05, 1.20 in melt. The defect structure and location of doped ions were analyzed by the UV‐visible and infrared spectroscopy. The optical damage resistance ability of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals was measured by the photo‐induced birefringence change and the transmitted light spot distortion method. The results show that the optical damage resistance ability of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals is enhanced with the increase of the [Li]/[Nb] ratio. The dependence of the optical damage resistance of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals on the defect structure is discussed in detail. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Defect structure and light‐induced scattering of Zr‐doped near‐stoichiometric Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals grown by TSSG method

Near‐stoichiometric Mn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals doped with various concentration of ZrO₂ were grown by top seed solution growth (TSSG) method in the air atmosphere. The Zr concentration in the crystal was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The defect structures were analyzed by means of ultraviolet‐visible and infrared transmittance spectra. The appearance of vibration peak at 3466 cm^‐1 in infrared spectra manifested that Li/Nb ratio in crystals approached to stoichiometric proportion. The fundamental absorption edge represented continuous red‐shift which was discrepancy with congruent doped LiNbO₃ crystals showed that doping ions possessed different location mechanism. The light‐induced scattering of the doped stoichiometric LiNbO₃crystals were quantitatively scaled via incident exposure energy. The results demonstrated that Zr(2 mol%):Mn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystal had the weakest light‐induced scattering and the mechanism related to their defect structures was discussed. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Raman scattering study on Ga1–x Mnx As prepared by Mn ions implantation,deposition and post‐annealing

Raman scattering measurements have been performed in Ga_1–x Mn_x As crystals prepared by Mn ions implantation, deposition, and post‐annealing. The Raman spectrum measured from the implanted surface of the sample shows some weak phonon modes in addition to GaAs‐like phonon modes, where the GaAs‐like LO and TO phonons are found to be shifted by approximately 4 and 2 cm^‐1, respectively, in the lower frequency direction compared to those observed from the unimplanted surface of the sample. The weak vibrational modes observed are assigned to hausmannite Mn₃O₄ like. The coupled LO‐phonon plasmon mode (CLOPM), and defects and As related vibrational modes caused by Mn ions implantation, deposition, and post‐annealing are also observed. The compositional dependence of GaAs‐like LO phonon frequency is developed for strained and unstrained conditions and then using the observed LO_GaAs peak, the Mn composition is evaluated to be 0.034. Furthermore, by analyzing the intensity of CLOPM and unscreened LO_GaAs phonon mode, the hole density is evaluated to be 1.84×10¹⁸ cm^‐3. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical damage resistance of Hf:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals with various [Li]/[Nb] ratios

Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals were grown in air by the Czochralski technique with various [Li]/[Nb] ratios ([Li]/[Nb]=0.94, 1.05, 1.20) in melt. The defect structure and location of doped ions were analyzed by the UV‐visible absorption spectra. The optical damage resistance of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals was investigated by the photoinduced birefringence change and the transmitted light spot distortion method. The results show that the optical damage resistance ability of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals decreases with the increase of the [Li]/[Nb] ratio. The dependence of the optical damage resistance of Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals on the defect structure is discussed in detail. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal structure of N‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐N′‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2‐phenylacetamidine

The title compound (C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₂Cl₂) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/a with a=10.042(1) Å, b=10.317(1) Å, c=13.877(2) Å, β=97.36(2)°, V=1425.8(3) ų, Z=4, D_x=1.44 g.cm^‐3. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full‐matrix least‐squares method (R = 0.0457). The title molecule consists of 3,4‐dichlorophenylamino and 2‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanedione‐1‐oxime groups. The intermolecular O‐H…N and N‐H…O hydrogen bonds [O…N 2.760(6) and 3.087(5) Å] are highly effective in forming the polymeric chains. The oxime group has an E configuration. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical properties of non‐centrosymmetric mixed crystals K2(La1‐x Cex)(NO3)5 · 2 H2O (x = 0.0 – 1.0)

Large single crystals of optical quality of the non‐centrosymmetric orthorhombic potassium rare earth nitrate mixed crystals K₂(La_1–x Ce_x)(NO₃)₅ · 2 H₂O were grown at 38 °C from diluted HNO₃. For crystals with x = 0.0, 0.19, 0.38 and 0.66 refractive indices and their dispersion were determined with an error less than 1 · 10^–4 in the wavelength range 0.404 – 1.083 μm by the prism method. Phase matching conditions for collinear SHG frequency conversion were analysed in detail, including calculation of the effective nonlinear optical susceptibility. By an appropriate choice of the fraction x of cerium the mixed crystals K₂(La_1–x Ce_x)(NO₃)₅ · 2 H₂O allow an adjustment of non‐critical type I phase matching conditions to a desired wavelength of the fundamental wave within the range 1.055(4) – 1.107(6) μm. Non‐critical type II phase matching can be tuned in the wavelength range 0.949(2) – 0.931(2) μm. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Experimental and first‐principle investigation of Cu‐doped ZnO ferromagnetic powders

Zn_1‐xCu_x O powders were synthesized by using sol‐gel method. Electronic band structure and ferromagnetic properties of Zn_1‐xCu_x O powders were studied experimentally and theoretically. The simulations are based upon the Perdew‐Burke‐Ernzerhof form of generalized gradient approximation within the density functional theory. Zn_1‐xCu_x O shows dilute ferromagnetism, as a saturated magnetization of 0.9×10^‐3emu/g was observed for Zn_0.95Cu_0.05O powders. The strong p ‐d hybridization between Cu and its four neighbouring O atoms is responsible for the ferromagnetism. Comparing with ZnO whose Fermi level locates at the valence band maximum, the Fermi level of the Zn_1‐xCu_x O shifts upward into the valence band and hence the Zn_1‐xCu_x O system exhibits theoretically a p ‐type metallic semiconducting property. The Zn_1‐xCu_x O system may be a potential candidate in spintronics. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and spectroscopic characterization of Zr:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals with various Li/Nb ratios

In this paper, Zr:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals with various Li/Nb ratios were grown by the Czochralski method from melts having compositions varying between 48.6 and 58 mol% Li₂O. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission/mass spectrometry (ICP-OE/MS), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption and the infrared (IR) spectrum were measured and are discussed in terms of the spectroscopic characterization. It was found that as the Li/Nb ratio increases in the melt, the Li/Nb ratio in the crystal also increases, the distribution coefficients of Fe and Zr ions decrease, the absorption edge shifts to a shorter wavelength, and the ZrO₂ threshold concentration of the samples decreases.     

Photorefractive features of non‐stoichiometry codoped Hf:Fe:LiNbO3 single crystals

Hf(2mol%):Fe(0.05wt%):LiNbO₃ crystals with various [Li]/[Nb] ratios of 0.94, 1.05, 1.2 and 1.38 have been grown. The photorefractive resistant ability increases with the accretion of [Li]/[Nb] ratio. When the ratio of [Li]/[Nb] is 1.20 or 1.38, the OH^‐ absorption band shifts to about 3477cm^‐1. The mechanisms of the photorefractive resistant ability increase and the absorption band shift have been discussed. The exponential gain coefficient (Γ) of the crystals was measured with two‐beam coupling method and the effective charge carrier concentration (N_eff) was calculated. The results show that Γ and N_eff increase with the accretion of [Li]/[Nb] ratio. The temperature effect of codoped Hf:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals was also studied, it was found that the exponential gain coefficient increase dramatically at about 55°C, 70°C and 110°C, this is due to the inner electric field which is resulted from structure phase change. (© 2007 WILEY ‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical and magnetic properties of Nd‐doped ZnO nanoparticles

Nd‐doped ZnO nanoparticles with different concentration were synthesized by sol‐gel method. The structures, magnetic and optical properties of as‐synthesized nanorods were investigated. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results demonstrated that Nd ions were incorporated into ZnO lattice; but Zn_1‐xNd_xO nanoparticles with Nd concentration of x = 0.05 showed Nd₂O₃ phase, so the saturation concentration of Nd in Zn_1‐xNd_xO is less than 5 at%. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements indicated that Nd doped ZnO possessed dilute ferromagnetis behaviour at room temperature. Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) showed that Nd ions doping induced a red slight shift and decrease in UV emission with increase of Nd concentration.     

Defect structure and optical damage resistance of In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals with various [Li]/[Nb] ratios

In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals were grown in air by the Czochralski technique with various [Li]/[Nb] ratios of 0.946, 1.050, 1.200, and 1.380 in melt. Based on the ICP‐AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry) analyzed results, the chemical formula of the triple‐doped In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals were obtained. It can be seen that the near‐stoichiometric ratio value is between 1.050 and 1.200 for our samples. The optical damage resistance of In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals was characterized by changes in light‐induced birefringence and it increases with the increasing of [Li]/[Nb] ratios. The dependence of the optical damage resistance on the defect structure of In:Fe:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals is discussed in detail based on the obtained chemical formulas. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structural studies of crystalline oligosaccharides VI: Crystal structure and conformation of benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐3‐O‐benzoyl‐β‐D‐galactoside

Monsaccharides are the building blocks of polysaccharides and hence are the simplest sugar molecules to study the conformation and molecular structures of sugars. Benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐3‐O‐benzoyl‐β‐D‐galactoside is a key intermediate in the synthesis of polysaccharides. Crystal structural investigation of the title compound was undertaken to establish their chemical structure as well as to study their solid state conformation. Crystals of the title compound, obtained from water/methanol, are orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, with cell dimensions a=11.290 (4), b=9.941 (1), c= 21.442(2)Å, V= 2406ų, Z=4, D_obs= 1.42 gm/cm³, D_calc=1.423 g/cm³, 2886 reflections were collected on a CAD‐4 diffractometer. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to a final reliability index of 4.7%. The galactoside sugar has the chair conformation with C2' and C5' deviating from the mean plane of the other atoms of the sugar. The 4,6‐O‐benzylidene ring also has a chair conformation with the benzoyl group proximal to O6'. The crystal structure is stabilized by O‐H…O hydrogen bonds involving O2' as donor and three C‐H…O hydrogen bond interactions. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal and molecular structure of 3‐phenyl‐4‐(p‐chlorobenzylamino)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1‐H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐on

The structure of the title compound, C₁₅H₁₃N₄OCl was determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction technique. The structure consists of a p‐chlorobenzylamino moiety and triazol and phenyl rings. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 14.368(3), b = 6.255(3), c = 17.631(3) Å, β = 113.24(3)°, Z = 4, V = 1455.8(8) ų and D_x = 1.372 gcm^‐3. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full‐matrix least‐squares method (R=0.0477). The dihedral angle between the triazole moiety and the phenyl ring is 28.8(3)°. The molecular packing is stabilized by N‐H…N and N‐H…O types of inter molecular hydrogen bonds. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Electronic structure investigation of V1−xNbxO2 mixed oxide by XES and XPS

The mixed oxide system V_1−xNb_xO₂ (x ≦ 0.12) has been studied by X-ray and photo-emission spectroscopy as a function of the composition. The metal L valence band spectra (VL_III and NbLβ_2.15) with increasing Nb concentration change their width and relative band intensity substantially pointing to charge flow and hybridization effects. The XPS valence band for x ≧ 0.04 indicates a total d band shift of 0.4 eV relative to smaller Nb concentrations. The measured core level spectra at higher Nb doping x ≈︁ 0.10 support the expected existence of V³⁺-Nb⁵⁺ pairs. A comparison of different X-ray spectra and the XPS valence band spectrum for x = 0.08 exhibits a more stronger V3d localization relative to Nb4d, favouring charge transfer and bonding variations with Nb doping. Our spectroscopial data confirm the established ideas concerning the electronic structure of rutile-like compounds and its change at the phase transition point.     

Infrared optical characterization of epitaxial layer – substrate systems (II). Experimental results for AlxGa1−xAs/GaAS

Infrared reflectance and transmittance spectra and Raman scattering spectra of the epitaxial layer-substrate system Al_xGa_1−xAs/GaAs with compositions in the range x = = 0.08–0.49 are measured in the wavenumber range from 40 to 4000 cm⁻¹. In analysing the spectra in terms of the respective theoretical relations for an optical two-layer system the thickness of the layers, the optical mode characteristics and the free carrier parameters are determined. From a comparison with existing literature data for Al_xGa_1−xAs it is concluded that infrared optical measurements on epitaxial layer-substrate systems can be successfully employed to evaluate the material parameters of epitaxial layers with thicknesses down to a few micrometers.     

Some structural considerations on the perovskite‐type A1‐ySryCo1‐xFexO3‐δ solid solution series

Solid solution series of La_1‐ySr_yCo_1‐xFe_xO_3‐δ were extensively studied in the past as cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells. However, the crystal structure behavior of La_1‐ySr_yCo_1‐xFe_xO_3‐δ solid solution series when La‐ions are replaced with another rare‐earth ion or metallic alkaline earth metal is at present not fully understood. Here we report X‐ray powder diffraction measurements performed on samples of the Sm_0.8Sr_0.2Co_1‐xFe_xO_3‐δ solid solution series. This study demonstrates that the average A‐cation radius, as well as the Fe content (x), affects the structural modification of the A_1‐ySr_yCo_1‐xFe_xO_3+δ solid solution series significantly. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

High photorefractive sensitivity and fast response time of near‐stoichiometric and MgO doped LiNbO3:Fe crystals

Congruent LiNbO₃:Fe and LiNbO₃:Mg,Fe crystals were grown by Czochralski method, and vapor transport equilibration technique was employed to improve the [Li]/[Nb] ratios of these crystals. The influence of stoichiometry and MgO dopant on the photorefractive sensitivity and response time of LiNbO₃:Fe crystals was investigated. Both stoichiometry and MgO dopant can effectively reduce the amount of intrinsic defects, but MgO can also decrease the concentration of Fe²⁺ ions in Li‐sites. Near‐stoichiometric and MgO doped LiNbO₃:Fe crystal has high photorefractive sensitivity and fast response time. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth of big single crystals of a new magnetic superconducting double perovskite Ba2PrRu1–xCuxO6

Single crystals of Ba₂PrRu_1–xCu_xO₆ with x = 0 to 0.2, have been grown from high temperature solutions of a mixture of PbO‐PbF₂ in the temperature range 1100–1200 °C. Thin crystals with mostly a hexagonal and triangular plate like habit measuring up to 1–2 mm across and 0.1–0.2 mm thick were obtained. The size, quality and morphology of the crystals were improved by varying the solution volume as well as additives like B₂O₃. Large crystals measuring up to 3 mm across and 0.3 to 0.5 mm thick were obtained with 5–7 wt% solute concentration and 0.51 wt% of B₂O₃. The ZFC curves exhibit a spin glass like behavior with x = 0 and a superconducting transition at 8 to 11 K depending on x = 0.05 to 0.1. The transition was also influenced by the growth temperature and post growth annealing. Powder x‐ray diffraction, EDS and Raman spectroscopic measurements confirm the presence of Cu in the crystals. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)