Synthesis and characterization of Pb<Subscript>1–x</Subscript>La<Subscript>x</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanocrystalline powders

Pb_1–xLa_xTiO₃ (PLT) nanocrystalline powders were obtained by polymeric precursor method. The samples were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) techniques to characterize properly the distinct thermal events occurring during synthesis. The X-ray diffraction patterns show a tetragonal structure for the samples with x=0.10 and 0.15. An increase of the lanthanum concentration to x=0.20 led to a highly symmetric structure, cubic on average. The powders obtained at the end of the synthesis had an average particle size of 30 to 70 nm.     

Structure de SnPb2O4 à quatre températures: relation entre dilatation et agitation thermiques

The structural study of SnPb₂O₄ oxide, an isomorphic compound belonging to the general family “MeX₂O₄” like Pb₃O₄, is made from accurate X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques on powdered samples. The structural evolution of SnPb₂O₄ is analyzed from 300 to 5 K: no phase transition is observed, contrary to Pb₃O₄, which exhibits a tetragonal → orthorhombic transition at 170 K. The thermal expansion tensor is practically isotropic in this temperature range: the α_a, α_c and α_V coefficients are neighboring those observed in the Pb₃O₄ tetragonal phase at the same temperature. On the other hand, the thermal vibrations are strongly anisotropic, with large amplitudes in the (a, b) plane. In this study the thermal vibrations are connected to the thermal expansion. $\text{B}\text{ab}$ and $\text{B}\text{c}$ temperature factors are considered as functions of the a and c cell parameters. The relation established by Grüneisen between the mean-square amplitudes of vibrations and the thermal volume expansion is discussed. The interatomic distances found show that the bindings are similar to that of Pb₃O₄: only the [Sn⁴⁺O₆] octahedrons are smaller than [Pb⁴⁺O₆] octahedrons.     

Evolution des propriétés structurales,electriques et magnétiques au sein du système La1−xCaxVO3

The crystallographic, electrical, and magnetic properties of the system La_1?xCa_xVO₃ have been investigated as a function of x and temperature. An insulator ? metal transition similar to that observed in the system La_1?xSr_xVO₃ appears for $\text{x ? 0.25}$ : It may be described as a Mott-Anderson transition in an impurity band.     

Phase formation of BICUVOX solid solutions

Phase formation of Bi₄(V_{1 ? x} Cu _x )₂O_{11 ? z} solid solutions (BICUVOX) with x = 0.00–0.20 and Δx = 0.02 was studied. The concentration stability ranges were determined for the α, β, and γ polymorphs of BICUVOX solid solutions at room temperature, and their unit cell parameters were revised. The following was found to occur as x rises: the α ai β phase transition temperature between the monoclinic and orthorhombic phases shifts down, the β ai γ phase transition temperature to the high-temperature tetragonal phase shifts down, and the order-disorder phase transition temperature between γ′ ai γ tetragonal phases shifts up.     

Low temperature heat capacities of mechanically alloyed La-doped PbWO4 system

Heat capacity measurements were carried out on Pb_1-xLa_xWO_4+x/2 (x=0.2) and Pb_1-xLa_2x/3WO₄ (x=0.2, 0.5) solid solutions prepared by sintering and mechanical alloying (MA) methods. For all the solid solutions, sintered samples showed slightly larger heat capacity around 100 K in comparison with MA samples, which was presumably caused by the excitation of mobile oxide ion motion. For sintered scheelite-type structured PbWO₄s, high-temperature synthesis introduced oxide ion interstitials even for the Pb_1-xLa_2x/3WO₄ system, which resulted in the excess heat capacity at low temperature for excitation. On the other hand, for the samples prepared by room-temperature MA technique, oxide ion seemed to occupy the regular sites rather than interstitial ones and excess heat capacities were not observed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phase transition in the family LaxBi4−xTi3O12: In relation to lattice symmetry and distortion

The ferroelectric phase transition in the family La_xBi_4?xTi₃O₁₂ was investigated by X-ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The crystal symmetry is orthorhombic in the range of 1 > x ≥ 0 and tetragonal in x ? 1. It was found that the shift of the phase-transition temperature is closely related to crystallographic symmetry and lattice distortion. (1) As the value of x increases, the ratio of lattice parameters, $\text{a}\text{b}$, decreases toward 1. (2) In the range of 1 > x ≥ 0, the lattice distortion increases with increasing x; just before x exceeds about 1, the distortion reaches a maximum. (3) As x exceeds about 1, the distortion decreases distinctively. (4) In the orthorhombic region, the phase-transition temperature decreases with increasing x. (5) In the tetragonal region, the transition does not occur. (6) The relation of transition temperature T_c to x is represented by a nonlinear function.     

Negative thermal expansion in rare earth molybdates

Negative thermal expansion in rare earth molybdates of A₂Mo₃O₁₂ family (A=Y, Er, Yb and Lu) is measured by high temperature X-ray diffraction and dilatometry. Rare earth molybdates which are isostructural with the corresponding rare earth tungstates, also exhibit this phenomena attributed to transverse acoustic vibrations. The rare earth molybdates of A₂M₃O₁₂ family with an orthorhombic structure (A=Y, Er, Yb and Lu) are highly hygroscopic and exhibit negative thermal expansion after the complete removal of water molecules. Axial thermal expansion co-efficient calculated from high temperature X-ray diffraction (RT-1073K) shows rare earth size effect. As the ‘A’ cation decreases in size, the thermal expansion co-efficient along ‘b’ axis and the linear thermal expansion co-efficient become less negative. The thermal expansion behaviour of the tetragonal La₂Mo₃O₁₂ is also reported to demonstrate the effect of crystal structure.     

Aurivillius Phases in the Bi4Ti3O12/BiFeO3 System: Thermal Behaviour and Crystal Structure

Four compounds of the Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/BiFeO₃ system with the formula Bi₂Bi_n?1(Ti,Fe)_nO_3n+3, n = 3, 4, 4.5 and 6 were studied using high‐temperature X‐ray powder diffraction and differential thermoanalysis methods. The crystal structure of the n = 6 phase was refined by the Rietveld method. An unusual behaviour of thermal expansion attributed to an orthorhombic‐to‐tetragonal transformation was revealed. For all the compounds, the lattice parameter c vs temperature T dependence has three regions in the range of T = 20 –750 °C interpreted as (1) expansion of the initial orthorhombic phase, (2) a pronounced structure reconstruction to the tetragonal phase, (3) an expansion of the tetragonal phase. The crystal structure of Bi₇Ti₃Fe₃O₂₁ based on 6‐layer‐perovskite blocks is proposed from X‐ray powder diffraction data. The Rietveld refinement of the structure in the orthorhombic space group F2mm with lattice parameters a = 5.4699(3), b = 5.4924(3), c = 57.551(3) Å (R_p = 9.4, R_wp = 11.9, R_exp = 4.7, R_B = 4.4 %) shows that a distorted 6‐layer model fits the data of Bi₇Ti₃Fe₃O₂₁.     

Transport Properties of Bi2−xInxSe3 Single Crystals

The paper reports on the temperature dependence of the electrical and thermal conductivity, Hall constant, and Seebeck coefficient of Bi_2−xIn_xSe₃ (x=0, 0.2, 0.4) single crystals measured over the temperature range from 2 to 300 K. One single-valley conduction band model is used to interpret relations among transport coefficients. The data analysis relies on the use of a mixed carrier scattering mechanism consisting of acoustic scattering and scattering on ionized impurities. The effect of In incorporation into the Bi₂Se₃ crystal lattice on the individual components of thermal conductivity is evaluated and discussed.     

Abnormal Anti‐Quenching and Controllable Multi‐Transitions of Bi3+ Luminescence by Temperature in a Yellow‐Emitting LuVO4:Bi3+ Phosphor for UV‐Converted White LEDs

Phosphors with an efficient yellow‐emitting color play a crucial role in phosphor‐converted white LEDs (pc‐WLEDs), but popular yellow phosphors such as YAG:Ce or Eu²⁺‐doped (oxy)nitrides cannot smoothly meet this seemingly simple requirement due to their strong absorptions in the visible range. Herein, we report a novel yellow‐emitting LuVO₄:Bi³⁺ phosphor that can solve this shortcoming. The emission from LuVO₄:Bi³⁺ shows a peak at 576 nm with a quantum efficiency (QE) of up to 68 %, good resistance to thermal quenching (T_{50 %}=573 K), and no severe thermal degradation after heating–cooling cycles upon UV excitation. The yellow emission, as verified by X‐ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), originates from the (³P₀,³P₁)→¹S₀ transitions of Bi³⁺. Increasing the temperature from 10 to 300 K produces a temperature‐dependent energy‐transfer process between VO₄^3? groups and Bi³⁺, and further heating of the samples to 573 K intensifies the emission. However, it subsequently weakens, accompanied by blueshifts of the emission peaks. This abnormal anti‐thermal quenching can be ascribed to temperature‐dependent energy transfer from VO₄^3? groups to Bi³⁺, a population redistribution between the excited states of ³P₀ and ³P₁ upon thermal stimulation, and discharge of electrons trapped in defects with a trap depth of 359 K. Device fabrication with the as‐prepared phosphor LuVO₄:Bi³⁺ has proved that it can act as a good yellow phosphor for pc‐WLEDs.     

Analysis of magnetic and structural phase transition behaviors of La1−xSrxCrO3 for preparation of phase diagram

The phase transition behavior of perovskite-type compounds, La_1−xSr_xCrO₃, was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dilatometry, dc magnetic susceptibility measurement and X-ray diffraction analysis. Both second-order magnetic phase transition from antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic and first-order structural phase transition from orthorhombic to rhombohedral were observed in the DSC or dilatometric curve of every specimen. The temperatures of both these magnetic and structural phase transitions decreased linearly with an increase in Sr content. The structural phase transition temperature of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ with x less than 0.11 is higher than the magnetic phase transition temperature; however, a larger decrease in structural phase transition temperature than in magnetic phase transition temperature was observed with an increase in Sr content, resulting in a structural phase transition temperature lower than the magnetic phase transition temperature for La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ with x of more than 0.12. It was also observed that the heat of absorption of the structural phase transition decreased with an increase in x. In the dependence of dc magnetic susceptibility on temperature, variations by not only magnetic but also structural phase transitions were observed. It was also revealed that thermal expansion coefficient is affected not only by structural phase transition but also magnetic phase transition. Magnetic and structural phase diagram of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃, suggesting the existence of two Sr contents and temperatures at which triple phases coexist, was proposed.     

Crystal structure and thermal expansion of PrGaO3 in the temperature range 12-1253 K

Crystal structure and thermal expansion of PrGaO₃ single crystal, obtained by the Czochralsky method, have been investigated by means of single crystal and high-resolution powder diffraction techniques applying synchrotron radiation in a wide temperature range 12-1253 K. It was shown that PrGaO₃ adopts an orthorhombically distorted variant of perovskite structure (GdFeO₃ type of structure, space group Pbnm, Z=4) throughout the entire temperature range. Temperature dependence of lattice parameters and respective unit cell volume display anisotropic and nonlinear behavior. Lattice contraction in [010]- and [100]-directions is observed in temperature ranges 12-180 and 12-50 K, respectively. In total PrGaO₃ exhibits a negative thermal expansion of the volume between 12 and 50 K. A linear increase of the average bond lengths (PrO)₈, (PrO)₉, (PrO)₁₂, (GaO)₆, as well as the average (OO)₈ distances was observed. However, with the average (PrPr)₆, (PrGa)₈ and (GaGa)₆ cation-cation distances a change of slope occurs at 200-300 K. Over all, with rising temperature a decrease of the deformation is observed for the perovskite type structure. A phase transition from orthorhombic to rhombohedral structure of PrGaO₃ around 1855 K is predicted from extrapolation of both the temperature dependencies of the (PrPr)₆/(GaGa)₆ distance ratio and of the experimental temperatures of the -Pbnm phase transition for LaGaO₃, CeGaO₃ and La_1−xRE_xGaO₃ (RE—rare earth) perovskites.     

Isomorphism and phase diagram of the Pb5(PO4)3Cl-Pb5(VO4)3Cl system

Compounds of composition Pb₅(P _x V_1−x O₄)₃Cl (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), which are synthetic analogues of minerals pyromorphite, vanadinite, and endlichite, were synthesized for the first time by high-temperature solid-phase reactions. X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy were used to determine the structure of the compounds and revealed complete miscibility in the solid phase of the Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl-Pb₅(VO₄)₃Cl binary system. Adiabatic reaction calorimetry was used to determine standard enthalpies of mixing and formation and showed that the regular solutions model is applicable to the Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl-Pb₅(VO₄)₃Cl system. Differential thermal analysis in tandem with high-temperature X-ray diffraction was used to study the phase diagram and characterize phase transitions.     

Ferroelectric phase transitions in Pb2xSn2(1-x)P2Se6 system

Heat capacities of the Pb_2xSn_2(1-x)P₂Se₆ crystals (x=0, 0.098, 0.251, 0.402 and 1.0) were measured using an adiabatic calorimeter at temperatures between 10 and 350 K. In the crystal of x=0, two heat capacity anomalies corresponding to the ferroelectric commensurate - intermediate incommensurate(C-IC) phase transition temperature T _i, and the incommensurate - paraelectric (IC-N) phase transition temperature T _c, were observed at 193.24±0.10 and 220.07±0.15 K, respectively. The phase transition temperatures decreased with an increase in Pb²⁺ concentration. The anomaly at Ti disappeared at x=0.251 in the mixed systems of the Pb_2xSn_2(1-x)P₂Se₆. In the crystal of Pb₂P₂Se₆ (x=1.0), no phase transition was observed. The normal heat capacities for the mixed crystals were determined by least squares fitting of the Debye and Einstein functions to the experimental data. The anomalous heat capacities gave the phase transition entropies of 8.5 and 1.5 J mol^-1 K^-1 for x=0. The large transition entropies are consistent with an order-disorder mechanism in the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transitions in x=0. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Verwey-type transition within the Pb3Rh7−xMnxO15 solid solution

A complete solid solution was found between isostructural Pb₃Mn₇O₁₅ and Pb₃Rh₇O₁₅. Single-crystals of two members of the solid solution Pb₃Rh_7−xMn_xO₁₅ (x=1.07 and 2.26) were grown and their crystal structures were determined. The Verwey-type transition for Pb₃Rh₇O₁₅ at 185 K remains with a 3% substitution of Mn for Rh but disappears with 4% substitution of Mn for Rh. The magnetic ordering temperature found for Pb₃Mn₇O₁₅ at about 70 K is maintained at a 43% substitution of Rh for Mn but has disappeared for 57% substitution of Rh for Mn. The unit cell volume of this layered structure contracts with increasing x for Pb₃Rh_7−xMn_xO₁₅ phases, but the structure actually expands in the direction perpendicular to the layers due to increased separation between the layers.     

Low thermal expansion behavior and electrical conductivity of Mn3(Cu0.5SixGe0.5−x)N at low temperatures

Anti-perovskite manganese nitrides with the general formula Mn₃(Cu_0.5Si_xGe_0.5?x)N (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) were fabricated by mechanical ball milling followed by solid state sintering. The temperature dependence of thermal expansions, magnetic properties and electrical conductivities were investigated in the temperature range of 77–300 K. The results show that the operation-temperature window of negative thermal expansion (NTE) shifts to lower temperature and the magnitude of NTE becomes smaller with increasing Si content. Very low average coefficients of thermal expansion of 1.3 × 10^?6 K^?1 and 1.65 × 10^?6 K^?1 were observed in Mn₃(Cu_0.5Si_0.1Ge_0.4)N and Mn₃(Cu_0.5Si_0.15Ge_0.35)N within the temperature range of 77–300 K, respectively. In addition, the electrical conductivities of all the samples are in the range of 2.5–3.5 × 10⁵ (ohm m)^?1.     

Thermal properties,texture, second-order stress,and magnetic susceptibility of the Bi1.8Pb0.3Sr2Ca2Cu3.3Ox

Mono-phase high critical temperature (Bi,Pb)-2223 superconductor from the off-stoichiometric Bi_1.8Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca₂Cu_3.3O_x belonging to the tetragonal system, has been obtained. We studied the crystalline structure, the stress of second order, and the texture of the surface pellet, in the framework of XRD diffractometry. Results of the thermal measurements made in the nitrogen, with a heating rate of 10 K min^?1, from room temperature (RT) to 1273.15 K, show a slow mass decrease of 1.25 % from RT to 1003.15 K probably due to the elimination of water, oxygen, and of the other gases accumulated on the crystallite surface through chemical adsorption. Two endothermic processes were evidenced on DSC, and DTG curves: the first in the range of 1135.15–1193.15 K (melting and slow decomposition), and another after 1217.45 K (decomposition). The contribution of crystal lattice to the estimated specific heat capacity was in conformity with the Einstein model, giving for the Einstein temperature a value of 1297.5 K. In conformity with the Müller critical state model, we found linear dependences for intragrain critical transition temperature, T _g, and intergrain coupling temperature, T _p, versus the amplitude of the external AC magnetic fields. There was evidenced that intergrain critical currents are five orders smaller than the intragrain critical currents.     

Phase separation in the spin-state transition system of La1−xBaxCoO3

The magnetic and electric transport properties of La_1−xBa_xCoO₃ (0<x≤0.50) have been studied systematically. Two effects of substitution divalent ions on the spin-state transition of Co³⁺ have been differentiated for the substitution of Ba²⁺ for La³⁺ in La_1−xBa_xCoO₃. The first is the transition from low-spin state to high-spin state due to lattice expansion, and the second is the transition from low-spin state to intermediate-spin state caused by the strong hybridization between ligand (oxygen) 2p and Co 3d orbital with introduction of holes in the oxygen 2p orbital. Based on the two different spin-state transition mechanisms and experimental results, a phase separation model has been developed and a very detailed magnetic and electric phase diagram of La_1−xBa_xCoO₃ has been constructed.     

Structural and magnetic characterisation of Aurivillius material Bi2Sr2Nb2.5Fe0.5O12

The n=3 Aurivillius material Bi₂Sr₂Nb_2.5Fe_0.5O₁₂ is investigated and combined structural refinements using neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and X-ray powder diffraction data (XRPD) data reveal that the material adopts a disordered, tetragonal (I4/mmm) structure at temperatures down to 2 K. Significant ordering of Fe³⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ over the two B sites is observed and possible driving forces for this ordering are discussed. Some disorder of Sr²⁺ and Bi³⁺ over the M and A sites is found and is consistent with relieving strain due to size mismatch. Highly anisotropic thermal parameters for some oxygen sites suggest that the local structure may be slightly distorted with some rotation of the octahedra. Magnetic measurements show that the material behaves as a Curie-Weiss paramagnet in the temperature range studied with no evidence of any long-range magnetic interactions. Solid solutions including Bi_3−xSr_xNb₂FeO₁₂, Bi₂Sr_2−xLa_xNb₂FeO₁₂ and Bi₂Sr₂Nb_3−xFe_xO₁₂ were investigated but single-phase materials were only successfully synthesised for a narrow composition range in the Bi₂Sr₂Nb_3−xFe_xO₁₂ system.