Structural and magneto-transport properties of LCMO–STO composites

A manganite matrix-based composite series, (1 ? x)La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃(LCMO) ? (x)SrTiO₃ (STO), has been prepared by the solid state route. Influence of STO phase on structural and magneto-transport properties of LCMO phase has been investigated. By X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform of infrared spectroscopy, we find that there is no interdiffusion between the LCMO and STO phases. Measurements of resistivity on these samples reveal that the parent sample shows a distinct metal–insulator (M–I) transition of intrinsic type at a temperature close to the Curie temperature, whereas composite samples show two possible transitions, intrinsic as well as extrinsic. The series exhibits a conduction threshold at x = x _m ～ 20%, up to which extrinsic M–I transition temperature decreases along with an increase in extrinsic magnetoresistance; whereas, above x _m these trends of variation are reversed.     

Electronic transport in LCMO/BTO composites

A series of (1 ? x)La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃/(x)BaTiO₃ composites has been synthesized by the solid state route. Microstructural and transport studies on these samples show a complete immiscibility between metallic ferromagnet, La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (LCMO) and insulating ferroelectric, BaTiO₃ (BTO). Temperature dependent electrical transport studies show evidence of both intrinsic and extrinsic colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effects. Inclusion of BTO in LCMO phase results in high resistive samples with a metal-insulator transition at temperature T_{p 1} originating from intrinsic effect and another dominant metal-insulator transition at temperature T_{p 2} caused because of extrinsic effect. T_{p 2} decreases up to a certain percentage of BTO content above which this trend of variation is reversed.     

57Fe and 151Eu Mössbauer studies of magnetoresistive Europium based cobalt perovskites

Eu_0.8Sr_0.2Fe _x Co_1?x O_3?z CMR perovskites with different iron concentrations (x?=?0, 0.025, 0.075, 0.15, 0.3) were investigated by X-ray diffraction, AC magnetic susceptibility, magnetotransport, as well as ⁵⁷Fe and ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectrometry. The valence state of europium ions was found to be trivalent, independently of the iron concentration. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra and magnetic susceptibility of the investigated perovskites presented complementary results for the magnetic transitions.     

Effect of nano-sized SiO2 on the optical properties of YVO4:Eu3+ phosphors

In this paper, YVO₄: 1%Eu³⁺ phosphor was synthesized via solid state method at 1100 °C. Then TEOS was used as the source of silica, to coat the phosphors, using sol–gel approach. HRTEM analysis confirmed the formation of adhered and smooth coating layer with the thickness of 40–50 nm. From the experiments and characterizations, we found that although the amounts of added SiO₂ to the phosphors were not remarkable, but it resulted in enhancement of photoluminescence properties. Interestingly, under the excitation wavelength of 310 nm, the efficiency of the phosphors increased by about 20%. Also, a considerable effect of coating layer on decrease in surface oxygen vacancies was studied using ESR technique. Finally it was found that SiO₂ coating of YVO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors, improves both chemical stability and thermal quenching, effectively.     

Synthesis,structural and complex impedance spectroscopy studies of Ni0.4Co0.4Mg0.2Fe2O4 spinel ferrite

Spinel ferrite having composition Ni_0.4Co_0.4Mg_0.2Fe₂O₄ was prepared by sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction result indicates that the ferrite sample has a cubic spinel type structure. FT-IR showed two absorption bands (ν₁ and ν₂) that are attributed to the stretching vibration of tetrahedral and octahedral sites. Complex impedance properties have been investigated in 200–420 K temperature range with varying frequency between 40 and 10⁷ Hz. Frequency and temperature dependency of imaginary part of permittivity (?″) and dielectric loss (tanδ) has been discussed in terms of hopping of charge carriers between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. Activation energy has been estimated from both temperature dependency of dc conductivity and relaxation time data, which indicates that the relaxation process and conductivity have the same origin. Nyquist plots of impedance show semicircle arcs for sample and an electrical equivalent circuit has been proposed to explain the impedance results.     

Ab-initio study of structural and electronic properties of AlAs

The structural properties, i.e. equilibrium lattice constant, transition pressure, bulk modulus and its pressure derivatives, together with electronic properties, i.e. energy bands, Compton profile and autocorrelation function, of AlAs are presented in this work. The linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method of the CRYSTAL code was applied considering the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof correlation energy functional and Becke's ansatz for the exchange. The total energy of AlAs as a function of primitive cell volume has also been calculated for the zincblende (B3), nickel arsenide (B8), sodium chloride (B1) and cesium chloride (B2) phases. Structural parameters of the B3, B8, B1 and B2 phases are determined. The calculated structural parameters are found to be in good agreement with the results of previous investigations. The spherically averaged theoretical values of Compton profile are in good agreement with an earlier measurement. The LCAO calculation shows an indirect band gap of 1.85?eV, in reasonable agreement with earlier data. On the basis of the equal-valence-electron-density Compton profile, it is found that AlAs is more ionic compared to AlSb.     

Effect of preparation procedure on the magnetic and transport properties of double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6

Ordered and disordered double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 ceramics have been investigated by powder x-ray diffraction,magnetic and transport measurements, as well as Moessbauer spectroscopy. The heavily disordered sample can be acquired by annealing the ordered samples in argon. The annealing procedure affects not only the nature of grain boundaries but also the grain itself. The evidence of Moessbauer spectra performed at 77 and 300K indicates that there exist small oxygen deficient clusters of SrFeO3-y in the disordered sample. The paramagnetic Fe^4 and Fe^3 ions in the compound subsist down to 77K and the ratio of Fe^4 /Fe^3 increases with decreasing temperature.     

Effect of K-doping on structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films

In this work, K-doped ZnO thin films were prepared by a sol–gel method on Si(111) and glass substrates. The effect of different K-doping concentrations on structural and optical properties of the ZnO thin films was studied. The results showed that the 1 at.% K-doped ZnO thin film had the best crystallization quality and the strongest ultraviolet emission ability. When the concentration of K was above 1 at.%, the crystallization quality and ultraviolet emission ability dropped. For the K-doped ZnO thin films, there was not only ultraviolet emission, but also a blue emission signal in their photoluminescent spectra. The blue emission might be connected with K impurity or/and the intrinsic defects (Zn interstitial and Zn vacancy) of the ZnO thin films.     

Magnetic and structural properties of magnetoresistive FexAu100−x alloys produced by mechanical alloying

Fe_xAu_100−x alloys have been produced for the first time by mechanical alloying. X-ray diffractograms show FCC peaks. From the X-ray diffracion peak-widths we estimate the final grain size, which vary with x from 112 nm (for x=15) to 32 nm (for x=30). Lattice parameter decreases with concentration (minimum 0.401 nm at x=30), but above Vegard's law values. Susceptibility measurements show cluster-glass behaviour. Critical temperatures are consistently lower than similar alloys produced by arc melting followed by fast quenching. A magnetic phase diagram is presented. Giant magnetoresistance is present in all samples, with a maximum at x=25. This effect is caused by the dispersion of small iron clusters produced by the mechanical work.     

钛酸铋钡陶瓷的介电性、铁电性及对晶格结构的依赖性

采用溶胶-凝胶工艺成功制备出BaBi₄Ti₄O₁₅微细粉料，并利用此微粉烧结出成瓷良好的BaBi₄Ti₄O₁₅陶瓷.研究了BaBi₄Ti₄O₁₅陶瓷的铁电 顺电相 变，测定了BaBi₄Ti₄O₁₅的介 电特性和饱和状态下的铁电特性.所作测量表明B 关键词： 铁电性 介电性 晶格结构 溶胶 凝胶法     

Magnetic and transport properties of Dy substituted layered perovskite La1.3Sr1.7Mn2O7

The effect of Dy substitution for La site in layered manganese oxides La1.3-x Dyx Sr1.7 Mn2O7 on the magnetic and electrical properties has been investigated.With the La 3+ substituting by Dy3+,the long range three-dimensional ferromagnetism transition and the insulator-metal transition disappear.These effects are attributed to the lattice distortion due to the substitution of the smaller Dy3+.Addtionally,the small Dy3+ is inclined to occupy the R site which is in the rock-salt layer,then the distribution of La,Sr,Dy ions in Dy-doped sample should be more orderly than that in La1.3 Sr1.7 Mn2O7,so there is only one insulator-metal transition in the ρ-T curve of the sample with x = 0.05 and x = 0.1.     

Thermal characterization of nanocrystalline porous CePO4 ceramics

A laser-induced photoacoustic technique was employed to investigate thermal transport through nanocrystalline CePO₄ samples prepared via the sol–gel route. Evaluation of thermal diffusivity was carried out using the one-dimensional model of Rosencwaig and Gersho for the reflection configuration of the photoacoustic method. Structural analyses of samples revealed that they are nanoporous in nature, possessing micron-sized grains. Analysis of results shows that thermal diffusivity value varies with sintering temperature. Results are explained in terms of the variation in porosity with sintering temperature and the effects of various scattering mechanisms on the propagation of phonons through the nanoporous ceramic matrix. Further analyses confirm that apart from porosity, grain boundary resistance and interface thermal resistance influence the effective value of thermal diffusivity of the samples under investigation.     

Effects of ZSM-5 Treatment on the Properties of Gd2Ti2O7-nHZSM-5 Composites for RBR-X3B Degradation

Gd₂Ti₂O₇-nHZSM-5 (GTO-nZ) composites are prepared using HZSM-5 zeolite via a sol–gel route. The hydrochloric acid concentration in zeolite treatment can affect the properties of GTO-nZ composites. GTO has a typical pyrochlore phase Gd₂Ti₂O₇, and HZSM-5 zeolite does not have noticeable influences on GTO crystal formation. The bandgap energies are 3.77, 3.73, 3.67, 3.65, and 3.64 eV for GTO-nZ composites when hydrochloric acid concentration is 0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 mol L⁻¹, respectively. The isotherms of GTO-nZ composites are classified as IUPAC type IV of mesoporous material, while the adsorbed nitrogen quantities on GTO-nZ composites are much larger than the nitrogen quantity on GTO. The small amount of HZSM-5 zeolite can improve the porosity of GTO in the composites, and the surface area of GTO in the composites is significantly enlarged. The hydrochloric acid concentration has an apparent influence on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of GTO-nZ composites. RBR-X3B (Reactive Brilliant Red-X3B) degradation efficiency is enhanced with increasing hydrochloric acid concentration to the maximum value at 0.3 mol L⁻¹. The reaction rate constants are 2.03 × 10⁻², 9.1 × 10⁻³, and 3.1 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹ for GTO-0.3Z, GTO-0Z, and GTO, respectively.     

Magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of epitaxial Co/Cu/Co trilayers on Si(111)

Giant magnetoresistance of the epitaxial Co/Cu/Co trilayers grown on vicinal Si(111) was determined as a function of Cu spacer coverage in the range from 0 to 7 ML. The first maximum of giant magnetoresistance and antiferromagnetic coupling was detected at 3.0 ML coverage of the Cu spacer. The portion of antiferromagnetic coupling in the first antiferromagnetic maximum was estimated as 17%. 3D growth mode of the Cu spacer leads to the simultaneous occurrence of the ferromagnetically and antiferromagnetically coupled areas between the Co layers.     

Influence of Gd-doping in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 on its structural and magneto-electrical properties

Bulk samples of gadolinium doped manganites with compositional formula La_0.7−xGd_xCa_0.3MnO₃ (x=0.0 and 0.1) were prepared by conventional solid state reaction method. After characterizing the samples by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, a systematic investigation of electrical and magneto-transport properties has been investigated. The replacement of La ion by Gd results in a decrease of the metal-insulator transition temperature T_MI and the magnetoresistance as well as the resistivity are found to increase. The electrical resistivity in the entire temperature range fit well with the phenomenological percolation model, which is based upon an approach that the system consists of the phase separated ferromagnetic metallic and paramagnetic insulating regions.     

纳米Zn_(0.6)Co_xFe_(2.4-x)O_4晶粒的结构相变与磁性研究

采用溶胶 凝胶自燃烧法制备了纳米尺度的锌钴铁氧体Zn0 6 CoxFe2 4 -xO4 (x =0— 0 30 )粉体 ,分别在不同温度下进行了热处理 ,利用x射线衍射仪 (XRD)和振动样品磁强计 (VSM)对其物相结构和磁性进行了测量和分析 .实验结果表明 ,锌钴铁氧体Zn0 6 Co0 1 5Fe2 2 5O4 在 5 5 0— 80 0℃温度区间出现α Fe2 O3过渡相 ,在高于 80 0℃温度时生成单一尖晶石相锌钴铁氧体 ;随钴含量的增加 ,Zn0 6 CoxFe2 4 -xO4 的比饱和磁化强度先增后减 ,x =0 0 75— 0 1 5比饱和磁化强度较高 ;Zn0 6 CoxFe2 4 -xO4 在 1 30 0℃时x =0 0 75的矫顽力为 4 75 2 0A m ,x≥ 0 1 5时矫顽力在 1 2 0 0℃附近随温度缓慢上升 ,在 1 2 0 0— 1 30 0℃之间为平台状态 ,并且随钴含量的增加 ,矫顽力略有升高 .在x =0 1 0附近 ,可同时获得较高的比饱和磁化强度和较高的矫顽力     

Facile Synthesis via Electrospinning of a Tetraethoxysilane/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Sol and Characterization of Ultrafine Crystalline SiO2 Nanofibers

Silica nanofibers were developed by a combination of an electrospinning technique and the sol–gel method. In the process, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) were the components of the sol for the production of silica/PVP composite nanofibers by electrospinning. During a thermal treatment, PVP in the hybrid fibers was removed; in this way, we produced ultrafine crystalline silica nanofibers. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analyzer, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the nanofibers. These silica nanofibers should be potentially useful in catalyst support, adsorbent, energy storage, and gas storage applications.     

Investigation of structural and electrical properties of NdFeO3 perovskite nanocrystalline

The permittivity, impedance and AC conductivity studies of NdFeO₃ perovskite nanocrystalline material were performed in the frequency range 1 kHz–100 kHz, and temperature range 100 K–320 K. The Sol–gel auto-combustion technique employed to synthesis NdFeO₃ perovskite compound. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of NdFeO₃ indicating the single-phase orthorhombic structure. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image shows that the grains homogeneously spread throughout the surface morphology. The average grain size found to be 50 nm. The P–E loop suggests that the NdFeO₃ material is ferroelectric in nature. An impedance spectroscopy study suggests that the negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behavior of the material. The conductivity spectrum follows the Jonscher's law.     

The effective diffusivity in polycrystalline material in the presence of interphase boundaries

The problem of calculating the long-time-limit effective diffusivity in stable two-phase polycrystalline material is addressed for the first time. We make use of a phenomenological model where the high-diffusivity interphase boundaries are treated as connected ‘coatings’ of the individual grains. The derivation of expressions for the effective diffusivity with segregation is along the lines of the analysis by Maxwell in . Monte Carlo computer simulation using lattice-based random walks on a very fine-grained mesh is employed to test the validity of the expressions. It is shown that, for the specific cases analysed, the derived expressions for the effective diffusivity are in very good agreement with results from the simulations. Since the pattern of behaviour is not entirely clear at present, it is difficult to guide the choice for the best expression in a given case. The equivalent of the Hart equation for this problem is also derived. This equation is shown to be invariably in poor agreement with simulation results.     

Nd0.5Pb0.5-xSrx (Mn, Fe)O3的局域结构畸变和磁输运性质的研究

通过X光衍射，穆斯堡尔谱和输运性质的测量研究了掺杂Fe的Nd0.5Pb0.5-xSrxMnO3样品的结构和磁输运性质。x光衍射和穆斯堡尔谱都表明了样品随Sr的增多结构畸变减小。Sr的掺杂同时也降低了室温时的电阻率并使磁电阻增大。由于在样品中Mn3+ 与 Mn4+的比率是一样的，也就意味着具有相同的双交换作用。所以Sr对样品性质的改变可以认为是由于晶格畸变所产生的。由于Jahn-Teller 效应而产生的Mn(Fe)O6八面体的局域结构畸变可以局域电子。由我们的实验可以看到在居里温度Tc以上，除了双交换作用之外，Jahn-Teller 效应对于输运性质也起了重要作用。