Deep metastable eutectic nanometer-scale particles in the MgO–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> system

Laboratory vapor phase condensation experiments systematically yield amorphous, homogeneous, nanoparticles with unique deep metastable eutectic compositions. They formed during the nucleation stage in rapidly cooling vapor systems. These nanoparticles evidence the complexity of the nucleation stage. Similar complex behavior may occur during the nucleation stage in quenched-melt laboratory experiments. Because of the bulk size of the quenched system many of such deep metastable eutectic nanodomains will anneal and adjust to local equilibrium but some will persist metastably depending on the time–temperature regime and melt/glass transformation.     

Magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>FeMoO<Subscript>6–δ</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoheterostructures

A method has been developed for fabricating nanoporous matrices based on anodic aluminum oxide for the deposition of ferromagnetic nanoparticles in them. The modes of deposition of strontium ferromolybdate thin films prepared by the ion-plasma method have been worked out, and the magnetic and magnetoresistive properties, structure, and composition of the films have been investigated. It has been revealed that the microstructure and properties of the strontium ferromolybdate films deposited by ionplasma sputtering depend on the deposition rate and the temperature of the substrate. Based on the measurement of the electrical resistivity of nanoheterostructures in a magnetic field, it has been found that the magnetoresistance reaches 14% at T = 15 K and B = 8 T, which is due to the manifestation of tunneling magnetoresistance.     

Study of the KNO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system by differential scanning calorimetry

The structural and the thermodynamic properties of potassium nitrate KNO₃ and its composites with nanosized aluminum oxide Al₂O₃ have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. It has been found that an amorphous phase forms in composites (1–x)KNO_3–xAl₂O₃. The thermal effect corresponding to this phase has been observed at 316°C. It has been found that the phase transition heats of potassium nitrate decreased as the aluminum oxide fraction increased.     

Sol–gel synthesis and characterization of Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> composite solid electrolytes

Composite solid electrolytes in the system (1???x)Li₂CO₃–xAl₂O₃, with x?=?0.0–0.5 (mole), were synthesized by a sol–gel method. The synthesis carried out at low temperature resulted in voluminous and fluffy products. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and AC impedance spectroscopy. Structural analysis of the samples showed an amorphous feature of Li₂CO₃ and traces of α-LiAlO₂, γ-LiAlO₂ and LiAl₅O₈. The prepared composite samples possess high ionic conductivities at 130–180 °C on account of the presence of lithium aluminates as well as the formation of a high concentration of an amorphous phase of Li₂CO₃ via this sol–gel preparative technique.     

White,green, and yellow photoluminescence in the (CaO · Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> · SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>): Eu system

It is shown that nitrogen-laser excited (2CaO · m(Al₂O₃) · SiO₂): Eu photoluminescent phosphors obtained by direct solid-state synthesis at 1350°C emit white, green, and yellow lights when Al₂O₃ content m in the system decreases from 0.40 to 0.05. The coordinates of these colors correspond to the coordinates of light warning systems according to International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and are close to the coordinates of primary colors in the EBU and NTSC TV standards.     

Phase formation in the BaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–PbO–Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> system

Features of the formation of lead-ferroniobate compounds in the xBaCO₃–(1 – x)PbO–Fe₂O₃–Nb₂O₅ system by solid-phase synthesis are investigated. For perovskite-type lead-ferroniobate solid solution, a single-phase concentration region is revealed at 1233 K. The crystalline structures of the synthesized compounds are refined using Rietveld analysis and the Pm3?m and R3m space groups. Ceramic samples of lead ferroniobate are studied by scanning electron microscopy.     

Electrical switching in the MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> and MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> glasses

High field electrical switching on blown films of MoO₃(60%)–P₂O₅(40%), MoO₃(50%)–WO₃(10%)–P₂O₅(40%), and MoO₃(45%)–WO₃(15%)–P₂O₅(40%) having different thicknesses was studied and compared. Switching was observed using two terminal samples. S-type current–voltage characteristic (current-controlled negative resistance—CCNR) with memory was observed in molybdenum–phosphate glasses, but N-type characteristic (voltage-controlled negative resistance—VCNR) with threshold in tungsten–molybdenum–phosphate glasses was observed. The important observation was that with the addition of WO₃ to binary MoO₃–P₂O5 led to a change of I–V characteristic from CCNR with memory to VCNR with threshold. The measurements of density and molar volume showed linear relation between MoO₃ content and density which decreased with the increase of MoO₃ content. The samples’ thickness had no significant effect on threshold voltage. The attained results also indicated that the electrode material had no effect on switching property of devices. The switching behavior of the devices did not show any dependence on the polarity of the applied voltage. In terms of the effect of heat on the switching behavior of molybdenum–phosphate glasses, it was found that threshold voltage decreases with increasing of temperature. Finally, the switching phenomenon was explained by thermal (formation of crystalline filaments) and electronic models.     

Investigation on the effects of addition of SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles on ionic conductivity,FTIR, and thermal properties of nanocomposite PMMA–LiCF<Subscript>3</Subscript>SO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Composite polymer electrolyte systems composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the host polymer, lithium trifluoromethanesulphonate (also known as lithium triflate; LiCF₃SO₃) as dopant salt, and a variety of different concentrations of nano-sized fumed silica (SiO₂) as inorganic filler were studied. The effect upon addition of SiO₂ on the ionic conductivity of the composite polymer electrolytes was investigated, and it was proven that the ionic conductivity had been enhanced. In addition, the interfacial stability also showed improvement. Maximum conductivity was obtained upon addition of 2 wt.% SiO₂. The complexation of PMMA and LiCF₃SO₃ was verified through Fourier transform infrared studies. The thermal stability of the polymer electrolytes was also found to improve after dispersion of inorganic filler. This was proven in the thermogravimetric studies.     

Anomalous nuclear spin–lattice relaxation of <Superscript>3</Superscript>Не in contact with ordered Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> aerogel

Spin–lattice relaxation of ³Не in contact with the ordered Al₂O₃ fiber aerogel has been studied at the temperature of 1.6 K in fields of 0.1–0.5 T by the pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method. An additional mechanism of the relaxation of ³Не in aerogels is found and it is shown that this relaxation mechanism is not associated with the adsorbed layer. A hypothesis about the influence of intrinsic paramagnetic centers on the relaxation of gaseous ³Не is proposed.     

Influence of Matrix Nature on the Structural Characteristics of In<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Composites Fabricated by the Impregnation Method

The structural characteristics, valence states, and distribution of cerium ions between the components in In₂O₃–CeO₂ and SnO₂–CeO₂ nanocomposites fabricated using the impregnation method were studied. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to show that, during impregnation, cerium ions are not included into In₂O₃ crystals and are disposed only on their surface in the form of nano-sized crystallites or amorphous clusters. On the other side, under the contact of CeO₂ clusters with a surface of SnO₂ matrix crystals, cerium ions penetrate into the surface layer of these crystals. In contrast to an In₂O₃–CeO₂ system, where the addition of CeO₂ does not affect the conduction activation energy, where cerium oxide is added to SnO₂, the observed increase in the resistance of a SnO₂–CeO₂ composite is accompanied by a sufficient increase in activation energy. These data and the XPS spectra confirm the modification of the surface layers of conductive SnO₂ crystals as, a result of the penetration of cerium ions into these layers.     

Elastic properties of TeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>O glasses

A series of glasses [(TeO₂) _x (B₂O₃)_1−x ]_1−y [Ag₂O] _y with x = 70 and y = 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mol% were synthesised by rapid quenching. Longitudinal and shear ultrasonic velocity were measured at room temperature and at 5 MHz frequency. Elastic properties, Poisson's ratio, microhardness, softening temperature and Debye temperature have been calculated from the measured density and ultrasonic velocity at room temperature. The experimental results indicate that the elastic constants depend upon the composition of the glasses and the role of the Ag₂O inside the glass network is discussed. Estimated parameters based on Makishima–Mackenzie theory and bond compression model were calculated in order to analyse the experimental elastic moduli. Comparison between the experimental elastic moduli data obtained in the study and the calculated theoretically by the mentioned above models has been discussed.     

Reactions of initiation of the autoignition of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>–O<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixtures in shock waves

The initiation of the autoignition of hydrogen–oxygen–argon mixtures behind reflected shock waves is studied by absorption and emission spectrophotometry in the temperature range of 960 < T < 1670 K at pressures of ~0.1 MPa. Introduction of Mo(CO)₆ additive in an amount of ~80 ppm made it possible to study the effect of O atoms on the shortening of the ignition delay time of H₂–O₂–Ar mixtures. A kinetic modeling of our own and published experimental data at temperatures of 930 < T < 2500 K and pressures of 0.05 < P < 8.7 MPa enabled to establish how the initiation reactions influence the process of self-ignition and to evaluate the rate constant for one of the initiation reactions: k(H₂ + O₂ → 2OH) = (3 ± 1) × 10¹¹exp(–E _a/RT), cm³ mol^–1 s^–1, where E _a = (40 ± 2) kcal/mol.     

Dielectric response of SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–SrMg<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2/3</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions in the terahertz–infrared range

The reflection and transmission spectra of ceramic samples of SrTiO₃–SrMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ solid solutions have been measured in the frequency range of 5–5000 cm^–1 and in the temperature range of 5–370 K. Based on these spectra, the spectra of the real ε'(ν) and imaginary ε''(ν) parts of the complex permittivity ε*(ν) have been simulated by the method of dispersion analysis. It has been found that the temperature evolution of the dielectric constant is entirely determined by the behavior of the soft mode.     

Specific features of the magneto-optical properties of α-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> in the IR region

The spectra of reflection and magnetoreflection of light from the crystalline insulator α-Al₂O₃ in the IR spectral region (λ = 2.5–25 μm) are investigated. Some features in the magnetoreflection spectra in the wavelength range corresponding to the excitation of optical phonon modes in α-Al₂O₃ are found. A significant increase in magnetoreflection is observed near these wavelengths. The amplitude and shape of the magnetore-flection spectra for the p and s polarizations of probe light are determined. It is shown that the optical and magneto-optical properties of α-Al₂O₃ in the IR region can be described on the basis of the theory of polaron excitation. A satisfactory correlation between the theoretical and experimental spectra is obtained, which indicates that polarons play an important role in determining the optical characteristics of nonmagnetic insulators and make the dominant contribution to the magnetoreflection spectra.     

Adhesion and interfacial interactions of BaO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-based glass-ceramic seals and AISI430 interconnect for solid oxide fuel cell applications

In the present work, adhesion, leak rate, and chemical compatibility of a series of borosilicate-based glasses, belonging to the ternary BaO–SiO₂–B₂O₃ system, with AISI 430 alloys as interconnect were investigated for solid oxide fuel cell applications. Wetting angle and deformation behavior of the selected glasses with temperature and time were initially characterized with the hot-stage microscope. It was observed that the temperature ranges of wetting for all combinations were greater than 1000 °C. Significant deformation did not appear in the samples over soaking time at sealing temperature. In the next step, the leakage tests of AISI430/glass-ceramic couples were performed. The sample containing 32 % molar BaO (Ba32) had no gas leakage; a low leak rate of 10^?7to 10^?8 Pam³ s^?1 was obtained for the glass with 37 % molar BaO (Ba37) and big leak of the system (10^?3to 10^?4 Pam³ s^?1) for Ba42. Possible interfacial reactions between the as-received glass and cell ingredients and aging up to 100 h were studied by scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray dot mapping. The results showed that the Ba32 and Ba37 glasses coupled with AISI had fine adhesion, which remained stable under these conditions and were compatible with the interconnect. So, the use of these glass-ceramics will probably be successful in joining the ceramic electrolytes to the metallic interconnect.     

Metal–insulator phase transition in hydrogenated thin films of V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Temperature dependences of the electrical conductivity of thin vanadium sesquioxide V2O3 films obtained by using the laser sputtering technique have been studied. A significant decrease (by four–five orders of magnitude) in the electrical conductivity has been observed below 150 K as a result of a metal–insulator phase transition. It is shown that hydrogenation of films lowers the temperature of this phase transition.     

Spin-reorientation phase transition on the surface and in the bulk of α-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystals

Direct comparison of the properties of a thin surface layer and the bulk of macroscopic hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) crystals was used to study the magnetic structure of the surface layer and the bulk and the processes attendant on spin-reorientation phase transition (SRT). The investigation tool was simultaneous γ-ray, X-ray, and electronic Mössbauer spectroscopy, which enabled us to study the bulk and surface properties of macroscopic samples simultaneously and to compare them directly. Direct evidence of the existence of a surface “transition layer” on hematite crystals is obtained. The existence of this layer was suggested and described by Krinchik and Zubov [JETP 69, 707 (1975)]. The study in the SRT region showed that (1) the Morin SRT in the crystal bulk occurs in a jump (as a first-order phase transition), whereas in the surface layer of about 200 nm thick, some smoothness appears in the mechanism of magnetic-moment reorientation; (2) SRT in the surface layer, as in the bulk, involves an intermediate state in which low-and high-temperature phases coexist; and (3) SRT in the surface layer occurs at a temperature several degrees higher than in the bulk. Our experimental evidence on the SRT mechanism in the surface layer correlates with the inferences from phenomenological theory developed by Kaganov [JETP 79, 1544 (1980)].     

Determination of Montelukast in Plasma Using β − Cyclodextrins Coated on CoFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> Magnetic Nanoparticles in Luminol–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> Chemiluminescence System Optimized by Doehlert Design

A novel chemiluminescence method using β ? cyclodextrins coated on CoFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles is proposed for the chemiluminometric determination of montelukast in plasma. The effect of coated β ? cyclodexterinon CoFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles in the chemiluminescence of luminol–H₂O₂ system was investigated. It was found that β ? cyclodexterin coated on CoFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles could greatly enhance the chemiluminescence of the luminol–H₂O₂ system. Doehlert design was applied in order to optimize the number of experiments to be carried out to ascertain the possible interactions between the parameters and their effects on the chemiluminescence emission intensity. This design was selected because the levels of each variable may vary in a very efficient way with few experiments. Doehlert design and response surface methodology have been employed for optimization pH and concentrations of the components. Results showed under the optimized experimental conditions, the relative CL intensity (ΔI) is increased linearly in the concentration range of 0.003–0.586 μgml^?1 of montelukast with limit of detection (LOD) 1.09 × 10^?4 μgml^?1 at S/N ratio of 3, limit of quantitative (LOQ) 3.59 × 10^?4 μgml^?1 and the relative standard deviation 2_.63 %. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of montelukast in plasma of human body. Results specified that relative chemiluminescence intensity (ΔI) has good proportional with the montelukast concentration with R² = 0.99979. The test of the recovery efficiency for known amounts of montelukast was also performed, the recoveries range obtained from 98.2 to 103.3 %, with RSDs of <4 % indicated that the proposed method was reliable.