Effect of Al2O3 on phase separation of SiO2-Nd2O3 glasses

The immiscibility boundary and the critical point of SiO₂-Nd₂O₃ system glass were determined as a function of Al₂O₃ addition. The critical temperature of the immiscibility boundary was observed to decrease with the addition of Al₂O₃. Using the regular solution model, the observed decrease of the immiscibility boundary was directly related to the decrease of the concentration fluctuation of Nd₂O₃ in SiO₂. It is concluded that the Al₂O₃ addition to Nd₂O₃ containing silica glass is beneficial in decreasing the concentration quenching effect, deterioration of the optical efficiency due to clustering of rare earth element, because Al₂O₃ addition diminishes the concentration fluctuation of Nd₂O₃ in silica glass.     

Study on phase diagram of Bi2O3---SiO2 system for Bridgman growth of Bi4Si3O12 single crystal

Phase relation of Bi₂O₃---SiO₂ system was evaluated experimentally from DTA and XRD measurements and its stable and metastable phase diagrams were proposed. Although BSO melts near-congruently at 1025°C in the stable phase equilibrium, its melt crystallizes to form metastable phase Bi₂SiO₅ in accordance with the metastable phase diagram while cooling. Therefore, BSO couldn't nucleate and crystallize spontaneously without crystal seed and only Bi₂SiO₅ crystallized at about 850°C with significant supercooling during Bridgman growth. BSO single crystal with 20×20×100mm³ was grown in a vertical Bridgman furnace with a BSO seed according to its phase diagram. The measuring results of scintillation properties of BSO specimen show that its decay constant is 91 ns (about 1/3 of BGO) and light output is 23% of BGO.     

Growth of pure and RE-doped Y2O3 single crystals by LHPG technique

High-quality and crack-free Y₂O₃ single crystals containing low concentrations of Tm³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Yb³⁺ were obtained. The crystals were grown in the form of monocrystalline fibers by using a floating zone method with laser heating (laser-heated pedestal growth).     

Crystal growth of Na(V,Ti)2O5

Large single crystals of quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin system NaV_2−zTi_zO₅ (0z0.06) have been successfully grown by a flux method. We present growth conditions together with a characterization of the single crystals by means of X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and magnetic susceptibility measurements.     

Crystal growth and optical characterization of Cr,Ca: Y3Al5O12

Single crystals of Cr,Ca: Y₃Al₅O₁₂(YAG) with different Cr and Ca concentrations were grown by the Czochralski (CZ) and floating zone (FZ) method. The analysis of absorption and emission spectra of both as-grown and oxygen-annealed crystals in relation to concentration ratio of Ca and Cr (Ca/Cr) showed that Cr⁴⁺ concentration ratio to total Cr concentration increased up to about Ca/Cr = 6, and Cr⁶⁺ can also exist. Luminescence lifetime at 1400 nm was measured as a function of Cr⁴⁺ concentration.     

Atomic layer deposition of Al2O3, ZrO2, Ta2O5, and Nb2O5 based nanolayered dielectrics

Ta₂O₅, Ta-Nb-O, Zr-Al-Nb-O, and Zr-Al-O mixture films or solid solutions were grown on Si(1 0 0) substrates at 300 °C by atomic layer deposition. The equivalent oxide thickness of Ta₂O₅ based capacitors was between 1 and 3 nm. In Zr-Al-O films, the high permittivity of ZrO₂ was combined with high resistivity of Al₂O₃ layers. The permittivity, surface roughness and interface charge density increased with the Zr content and the equivalent oxide thickness was between 2.0 and 2.5 nm. In the Zr-Al-Nb-O films the equivalent oxide thickness remained at 1.8-2.0 nm.     

Growth and properties of (Cr, Nd) doped GdCa4O(BO3)3 crystals

Optical quality Nd:GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (Nd:GdCOB) crystal and chromium sensitized crystal of Cr:Nd:GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (Cr:Nd:GdCOB) were grown by the Czochralski (CZ) method. The transmittance spectra was measured at room temperature on 7at%Nd:GdCOB and lat%Cr:7at%Nd:GdCOB samples. The absorption in the blue-UV region of Cr:Nd:GdCOB was larger than that of Nd:GdCOB, which matched the xenon flash lamp very well. A 3×3×10mm³ Nd:GdCOB sample without any antireflective coating was sidepumped using a pulsed dye-laser tuned to 595.4nm. The green-light output energy was 1.35mJ at a pump energy of 17.5mJ. The conversion efficiency was 7.7%, and the threshold energy was less than 1.2mJ which are the best results up to now to our knowledge. 3×3×7mm³ Nd:GdCOB and Cr:Nd:GdCOB samples without antireflective coatings were pumped using a flash pump source. The threshold for Cr:Nd:GdCOB was 0.9J while for Nd:GdCOB it was I.O.J. The output green light energy was 2.46mJ for Cr:Nd:GdCOB at a 10J flash pump energy and was 1.96mJ for Nd:GdCOB at the same pump energy, which clearly shows that Cr³⁺ ions have the sensitizing effect on the Nd³⁺ ions in Nd:GdCOB crystal.     

Study of the structural insertion of Al in the Al2O3-SiO2 and Nd2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 glass systems

Glasses in the Al₂O₃-SiO₂ and Nd₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ systems were prepared by the sol-gel method. The gel-glass evolution was studied using near-infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The results obtained indicate a relationship between the sample compositions, the treatment temperature and the Al coordination. In the samples of the Nd₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ system the densification of the structure, when the treatment temperature increases, leads to the segregation of neodymium oxide particles.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of rare earth selenates Nd(HSeO4)3, Sm(HSeO4)3, and Nd2(SeO4)3 · 5H2O

Single crystals of rare earth (RE) selenates of the compositions Nd(HSeO₄)₃, Sm(HSeO₄)₃, and Nd₂(SeO₄)₃ · 5H₂O are synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction analysis at T = 297 and 180 K. It is established that Nd and Sm hydrogen selenates are isostructural to one another and to the corresponding hydrogen sulfates. Neodymium selenate pentahydrate is not isostructural to the analogous RE sulfates, although their structural motifs are similar. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 49, No. 5, 2004, pp. 835–840. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Zakharov, Troyanov, Kemnitz.     

Flux growth of PbMg1/3Ta2/3O3 single crystals

Single crystals of PbMg_1/3Ta_2/3O₃ (PMT) were grown by the flux method. The PbO–Pb₃O₄–B₂O₃ system was used as a solvent. Transparent and light yellow PMT single crystals of rectangular shape and dimensions up to 10×6×4 mm³ were obtained. For the applied growth conditions only, the crystals of the perovskite structure were grown. X-ray diffraction tests showed that at room temperature PMT exhibits cubic symmetry with lattice parameter a=4.042(1) Å. Dielectric studies pointed to relaxor properties of PMT. The characteristic broad and frequency-dependent maximum of dielectric permittivity was observed at 179.7 K (1 kHz).     

Al2O3-TiO2 and Al2TiO5 ceramic materials by the sol-gel process

Ceramic materials with a very low thermal expansion coefficient are synthesized by the sol-gel process. The binary gel is obtained by hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions of organometallic compounds of aluminium and titanium. The thermal evolution of the amorphous powder is followed by DTA and TGA measurements. Structural evolution is followed using X-ray diffraction. The crystallization of the TiO₂ rutile and Al₂O₃ corindon starts at 700 and 900°C respectively. The transformation of Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ into Al₂TiO₅ appears between 1200 and 1300°C. The densification of the powder is performed by the hot pressing process. The shrinkage of the powder was previously followed by dilatometric measurements. The physical properties of the final material are studied as a function of pressing parameters.     

Crystal growth of ferroelastic K2Cd2(SO4)3 and the K2SO4-CdSO4 phase diagram

Crystals of congruently melting K₂Cd₂(SO₄)₃ (having the langbeinite structure with a ferroelastic transition temperature of 156°C) were grown by the Bridgman and Czochralski techniques. The former yielded colorless crystals when using oxygen under pressure; the latter yielded tan crystals of slightly smaller unit cell volume and are assumed to be oxygen deficient. The ferroelastic transition was studied by thermal expansion measurements. Reexamination of the phase diagram showed the existence of a previously unreported phase K₆Cd(SO₄)₄ which is stable only between 520°C and the melting point of about 890°C.     

Influence of Y2O3 on structural and optical properties of SiO2-BaO-ZnO-xB2O3-(10−x) Y2O3 glasses and glass ceramics

SiO₂-BaO-ZnO-xB₂O₃-(10−x) Y₂O₃, (0 ≤ x ≤ 10) glasses are synthesized. The effect of Y₂O₃ on the structural and optical properties of glasses has been investigated using different characterization techniques. The results are discussed in light of non-bridging oxygens (NBO), optical basicity and heat-treatment of glasses. The band gap has been calculated for as cast and heat-treated glasses. The band gap energy is found to decrease with the increasing content of Y₂O₃ in the glasses and heat-treatment. The presence of the crystalline phase in the glass matrix showed remarkable effect on band gap which decreases to semiconducting range.     

Effect of Al2O3 on phase separation and crystallization in ZnO---Al2O3---B2O3---SiO2 glasses

The effect of alumina on the phase separation and the crystallization of the glasses of composition (mol%) 18ZnO·30B₂O₃·52SiO₂ and O-40 Al₂O₃ was studied using an electron microscope and IR spectroscopy. The main crystalline phase appears in the microphase for which the compositions are not nearer to the crystal stoichiometry than the mean. The addition of Al₂O₃ suppresses the immiscibility but enhances the crystallizability.     

Solvothermal Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Neodymium Thiostannates [Nd(dien)3]2[(Sn2S6)Cl2] and [Nd(dien)3]2[(Sn2S6)(SH)2]

Abstract  

Two neodymium thiostannates [Nd(dien)₃]₂[(Sn₂S₆)Cl₂] (1) and [Nd(dien)₃]₂[(Sn₂S₆)(SH)₂] (2) (dien = diethylenetriamine) were synthesized by the reaction of tin and sulfur in the presence of NdCl₃ and Nd₂O₃, respectively under solvothermal conditions. Compounds 1 and 2 crystallize in monoclinic space group P2₁/n. Crystallographic data for 1: a = 11.6722(16), b = 15.119(2), c = 14.1566(19) ?, β = 96.213(3)°, V = 2483.6(6) ?³, Z = 4. For 2: a = 11.7190(14), b = 15.2168(19), c = 14.2209(18) ?, β = 95.775(4)°, V = 2523.1(5) ?³, Z = 4. The nine-coordinate [Nd(trien)₃]³⁺ complex cation formed in situ acts as the counter ion to the [Sn₂S₆]⁴⁻ anion. The [Nd(dien)₃]³⁺, [Sn₂S₆]⁴⁻ and Cl^– (or SH^–) ions form a 3-dimensional network structure through the N–H···S and N–H···Cl hydrogen bonds.     

Quenched glasses in the systems of Li2O with Al2O3, Ga2O3 and Bi2O3

By rapid quenching in a twin roller apparatus, glass was found to occur widely in the systems of Li₂O with Al₂O₃, Ga₂O₃, Bi₂O₃ and in mixed systems. Examination of the resulting flakes by X-ray powder diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and capacitance data revealed the occurrence of glass, glass transitions, crystallization exotherms and the nature of some of the crystallization paths.The log ionic conductivity of the glasses was found to follow a linear relationship with the Li concentration. Evidence was observed for three new metastable crystalline phases, one in the Li₂OAl₂O₃ system and two in the Li₂OBi₂O₃ system. The latter system also showed evidence for the occurrence of two glasses at almost all compositions.     

Crystal structure and phase transitions in the new crystals of [(CH3)2NH2]2CuCl4[(CH3)2NH2]Cl

Crystals grown from a solution of dimethylammonium and copper chlorides are studied using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and X-ray diffraction. The dielectric properties of the crystals grown are measured. It is established that the crystals have the composition [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₂CuCl₄[(CH₃)₂NH₂]Cl and, in phase I at room temperature, are described by the orthorhombic space group Pna2₁ with the unit cell parameters a = 11.338 Å, b = 9.981 Å, and c = 15.675 Å. At temperatures of 279 K and 253 K, the crystals undergo jumpwise phase transitions into the incommensurate modulated ferroelectric phase II and commensurate modulated phase III, respectively. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 49, No. 1, 2004, pp. 92–100. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Kirpichnikova, Pietraszko, Bednarski, Waplak, Sheleg. Dedicated to the 80th Birthday of L.A. Shuvalov     

Synthesis and X-ray structural investigation of K2(H5O2)[UO2(C2O4)2(HSeO3)]

The synthesis and X-ray diffraction analysis of K₂(H₅O₂)[UO₂(C₂O₄)₂(HSeO₃)] single crystals have been performed. This compound crystallizes in the triclinic system with the unit-cell parameters a = 6.7665(4) ?, b = 8.8850(4) ?, c = 12.3147(7) ?, α = 94.73°, β = 90.16°, γ = 92.11°, sp. gr. P[`1]P\bar 1, Z = 2, and R = 0.019. The basic structural units are island [UO₂(C₂O₄)₂(HSeO₃)]³⁻ groups, which belong to the AB ₂⁰¹ M ¹ crystallochemical group of uranyl complexes (A = UO₂²⁺, B ⁰¹ = C₂O₄²⁻, and M ₁ = HSeO₃⁻). Uraniumcontaining complexes are linked through K⁺ and H₅O₂⁺ ions and via a system of hydrogen bonds with the participation of oxonium hydrogen atoms in this structure.     

X-ray diffraction study of phase transitions in Na3Sc2(PO4)3 and Ag3Sc2(PO4)3 single crystals in temperature range from 160 to 500 K

Two phase transitions are revealed for the first time in Ag₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃ single crystals in the vicinity of the temperatures 303 and 165–180 K. It is established that the phase transition at 303 K corresponds to the well-known phase transition to the superionic state in Na₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃ single crystals in the temperature range 423–433 K, whereas the phase transition observed in the temperature range 170–180 K corresponds to the phase transition from the rhombohedral to monoclinic phase at about 320 K in the monoclinic Na₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃ single crystals. It is also established that rhombohedral Na₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃ single crystals undergo the second phase transition. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 50, No. 1, 2005, pp. 122–126. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2005 by Shilov, Atovmyan, Kovalenko.