Electrical and thermal properties of lead titanate glass ceramics

Glass samples with composition of (50−X)PbO-(25+X)TiO₂-25B₂O₃ (where X=0, 5, 10 and 12.5 mol%) were prepared using conventional quenching technique. The glass transition temperature, T_g and crystallization temperature T_c were determined from the DTA. These glass samples were converted to glass ceramics by following two stage heat treatment schedule. The glass ceramic samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and dielectric constant measurements. The XRD results revealed the formation of ferroelectric lead titanate (PT) as a major crystalline phase in the glass ceramics. The density increases and the CTE decreases for all glass ceramics with increase in X (mol%). This may be attributed to increase in PT phase. The SEM results which show rounded crystallites of lead titanate, also supports other results. Hysteresis loops observed at room temperature confirms the ferroelectric nature of glass ceramics. The optimized glass ceramic sample exhibits high dielectric constant which is of technical importance.     

Investigation of structural properties of lead strontium borate glasses for gamma-ray shielding applications

Glasses of the system PbO-SrO-B₂O₃ with the value of molar ratio R (=PbO/B₂O₃) in the region 0.14≤R≤2.0 were prepared using the melt quenching technique. In order to evaluate gamma-ray shielding properties for glass samples, mass attenuation coefficients have been calculated with the XCOM computer program. The longitudinal velocities of ultrasonic waves were measured in these glass samples at room temperature using the pulse echo technique. The results indicate that with increase in R value, stability of glass network decreases. Stability of glass network decreases indicate the increase in the number of borons with non-bridging oxygens at the expense of decrease of tetrahedral borate units. This feature may lead to open glass structure with lesser rigidity of the glass samples. DSC studies have been undertaken to measure the glass transition temperature and to get an idea about stability of the glass network with increasing R value.     

Determination of kinetics parameters of glass transition in glassy Se and glassy Se98M2 alloys using DSC technique

Glassy Se and Se₉₈M₂ (M = Ag, Cd, Zn) alloys are obtained by the melt quenching technique. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique (under non-isothermal conditions) has been applied to see the effects of Ag, Cd, and Zn additives on the glass transition kinetics of Se-rich glassy alloys at different heating rates. The variation of glass transition temperature, T _g with the heating rate, β has been used to investigate the glass transition kinetics. The values of various kinetic parameters such as glass transition temperature, activation energy of glass transition, overall mean bond energy 〈E〉, heat of atomization H _S , bond strength (Se–M) have also been calculated.     

Calorimetric studies of the crystallization process in a-Se75S25−xAgx chalcogenide glasses

Calorimetric studies of amorphous Se₇₅S_25−xAg_x (x = 2, 4, 6 and 8) chalcogenide glasses are made at different heating rates (5, 10, 15 and 20 K/min) under non-isothermal condition using Differential scanning calorimetry. The values of glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature are observed to be composition and heating rate dependence. From the heating rate dependence of glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature, the activation energy for structural relaxation (ΔE_t), the activation energy of crystallization (ΔE_c) and the order parameter (n) have been calculated. It is observed that Se₇₅S₁₉Ag₆ has a minimum value of activation energy for structural relaxation (ΔE_t), which indicates that this particular glass has a larger probability to jump to a state of lower configurational energy and higher stability in the glassy region. On the basis of the obtained experimental data the temperature difference (T_c − T_g) is found to be maximum for Se₇₅S₁₉Ag₆, which further indicate that this glass is the thermally most stable in the entire composition range of investigation.     

First Mössbauer observation of the glass transition in an amorphous metal

We report the first Mössbauer spectra of a metallic glass obtained above the glass transition temperature (T _G ). The temperature at which both the Lamb-Mössbauer factor and the average quadrupole splitting decrease sharply is in agreement withT _G determined by thermal and mechanical measurements, but the width of the quadrupole splitting distribution starts to increase at a much lower temperature. These results are compared with data from similar measurements on more conventional glasses.     

Characterization of solid electrolytes prepared from ionic glass and ionic liquid for all-solid-state lithium batteries

Glassy solid electrolytes were prepared by combining the 50Li₂SO₄·50Li₃BO₃ (mol%) ionic glass and the 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMI]BF₄) ionic liquid. High-energy ball milling was carried out for the mixture of the inorganic ionic glass and the organic ionic liquid. The ambient temperature conductivity of the glass electrolyte with 10 mol% [EMI]BF₄ was 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹, which was three orders of magnitude higher than that of the 50Li₂SO₄·50Li₃BO₃ glass. The addition of [EMI]BF₄ to the ionic glass decreased glass transition temperature (T_g) of the glass and the decrease of T_g is closely related to the enhancement of conductivity of the glass. Morphology and local structure of the glass electrolyte was characterized. The dissolution of an ionic liquid in an ionic glass with Li⁺ ion conductivity is a novel way to developing glass electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium secondary batteries.     

Electrical transport and crystallization studies of glassy semiconducting Si20Te80 alloy at high pressure

The effect of pressure on the electrical resistivity of bulk Si₂₀Te₈₀ glass is reported. Results of calorimetric, X-ray and transmission electron microscopy investigations at different stages of crystallization of bulk Si₂₀Te₈₀ glass are also presented. A pressure induced glass-to-crystal transition occurs at a pressure of 7 GPa. Pressure and temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of Si₂₀Te₈₀ glass show the observed transition is a pressure induced glassy semiconductor to crystalline metal transition. The glass also exhibits a double T_g effect and double stage crystallization, under heating. The differences between the temperature induced crystallization (primary crystallization) and pressure induced congruent crystallization are discussed.     

Electron spin-lattice relaxation of Yb3+ and Gd3+ ions in glasses

The electron spin-lattice relaxation rate (T ₁ ^?1) was measured in two glass samples: (i) a phosphate glass doped with 1 wt% Yb₂O₃ and (ii) a Li₂Si₄O₉ glass sample doped with 0.2 wt% Gd₂O₃. In the Yb³⁺-doped glass sample,T ₁ was measured by an electron-spin-echo technique from 4.2 to 6 K, by the modulation method from 10 to 26 K and by the EPR linewidth from 30 to 100 K. It was found thatT ₁ ^?1 αT ⁿ withn=9 in the range 4.2–6 K.n decreased gradually as the temperature was increased and tended towards 2 above 40 K. Over the entire temperature range 4.2–100 K,T ₁ ^?1 was fitted toAT+BT ⁹ J ₈ (Θ _D/T) (whereA andB are two temperature-independent constants,J ₈ is the well-known Van Vleck integral andΘ _D is the Debye temperature). The value ofΘ _D (=46.3±0.9 K) so determined is in good agreement with that of Stevens and Stapleton from theirT ₁ measurements in the range 1.5 to 7 K. In the Gd³⁺-doped glass, it was observed thatT ₁ ^?1 αT over the range 50–150 K. The data for Ye³⁺-doped glass sample were accounted for by assuming that the phonon modulation of the ligand field is the dominant mechanism, associated with a low Debye temperature in accordance with the published data obtained by using other techniques to study lattice dynamics. On the other hand, the data on the Gd³⁺-doped glass sample were explained to be predominantly due to a mechanism involving Two-Level-Systems (TLS)     

Mechanical spectrum study of glass transition by a composite method

Normalized mechanical spectra of glycerol, 1,2-propanediol carbonate and poly(vinyl chloride)/di(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (PVC/DOP) blends were studied in the temperature range from 100 to 300 K by a composite method. The dynamic glass transition was observed, which exhibits a peak of temperature-dependent loss modulus. The peak moves toward higher temperature with higher measuring frequency, which accords with the relaxation feature of the dynamic glass transition. Another characteristic temperature can be marked in the mechanical spectrum by the onset of storage modulus change, which is labeled as T_gm. T_gm is found to be nearly equal to the calorimetric glass transition temperature in glycerol, 1,2-propanediol carbonate and di(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate. As we expected, this onset temperature in the mechanical spectrum has an intimate relation with the calorimetric glass transition of materials, and it can be regarded as a representative when the calorimetric glass transition temperature is not available. Finally, normalized mechanical spectra of PVC/DOP blends with different PVC content were obtained and mechanical glass transition temperatures T_gm were determined.     

Photo-induced Magnetic bubbles in the spin glass Alloy Fe2SnTe4

The ternary material Fe₂SnTe₄ is an amorphous metallic alloy that exhibits spin glass behavior with a freezing temperature of T_f = 12 K. When this material is cooled well below the spin glass freezing temperature (T = 5 K) and placed in a magnetization field, the zero-field-cooled spin glass state has been observed to absorb ultraviolet radiation with the concomitant generation of a magnetic bubble on the surface of the material. The photo-induced magnetic bubbles are detected via magnetization measurements with a superconducting SQUID susceptometer. Photomagnetic experiments are reported on the zero-fieldcooled and field-cooled specimens. Each of these experiments results in the generation of a magnetic bubble in the material.     

Glass transition behavior of binary GaxSe100−x (0?x?10) glass systems

The glass transition behavior of glassy Ga_xSe_100−x (x=0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10) systems were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The variation of glass transition temperature, T_g, with Ga concentration has been studied. The value of activation energy of glass transition, E_g, has been found to increase with increase in Ga content. This increase in E_g has been explained in terms of the average heat of atomization for these glasses.     

Influence of lithium phosphate concentration and temperature on the electrical conduction of (76V2O5-24P2O5)1−X (Li3PO4)X glasses

Characterization of the (76V₂O₅-24P₂O₅)_1−X (Li₃PO₅)_X, where X=0.0,0.01,0.02,0.10 and 0.15, glass has been done using X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The dc conductivity of the glass samples was studied over a temperature range from 300 to 593 K. The temperature dependence of dc conductivity shows two regions. One at relatively high temperature range, above θ_D/2, and the other at relatively low temperature range, below θ_D/2. The I-V characteristics of the glasses have been studied as a function of both temperature and Li₃PO₄ content. The I-V characteristics exhibits threshold switching with differential negative resistance. It's found that both the threshold voltage (V_th) and threshold current (I_th) are dependent on the temperature and lithium phosphate concentration.     

Nonisothermal nucleation in the CuCl solid solution in glass: Dissolution of subcritical CuCl nuclei with a positive jump of the nucleation temperature

The processes of nucleation in a CuCl solid solution in glass with a positive temperature jump from T ₁ = 500°C to T ₂ = 550, 600, and 650°C have been investigated using optical spectroscopy and exciton-thermal analysis. The dissolution of a part of the particles of the CuCl nanomelt formed previously at T ₁ has been observed at T ₂. Variations in the shape of the radius distribution curve of the CuCl particles due to the dissolution of initial nuclei have been determined from the melting kinetics of CuCl particles during linear heating of the sample. The nonisothermal nucleation of CuCl in glass under conditions of the temperature jump has been simulated numerically. The results of calculations of the variations in the radius distribution of CuCl particles are in agreement with the experiment. The calculated data on the variation in time of the critical radius r _c and the concentration of CuCl monomers in glass after the temperature jump have been obtained.     

Resistance maximum across the spin glass to Kondo transition

In a recent theory of the noise model of alloys like AuFe a singular point at zero temperature was found to separate a spin glass phase at high concentrations and a Kondo phase at low concentrations. Despite this there is a resistance maximum in both “phases”, although of different characters. In the present letter a relation is given between the temperature of the maximum, T_m, the noise temperature, Δ_c, and the Kondo temperature, T_K. This extends a previously given expression, that is only valid in the spin glass limit Δ_c >> T_K, across the transition at Δ_c = T_K into the Kondo phase and values of Δ_c less than T_K.     

Urbach tails and the structure of chalcogenide glasses

A novel analysis of optical absorption tails of inorganic network glasses is shown to provide important information on the structure of the glass. The anomalous composition and temperature dependence of absorption tails in Ge_xSe_1?x and As_xSe_1?x systems indicate that these glasses retain locally layered structures at particular stoichiometries corresponding to GeSe₂ and As₂Se₃, and a reversible structural change is taking place well below the glass transition temperature. A phenomenological model for the absorption tail slope of glasses is proposed, analogous to the Urbach rule for crystalline materials.     

Study of PbO-SrO-TiO2-B2O3 glass and glass ceramics

The glasses with composition (50−X)PbO–XSrO-25TiO₂-25B₂O₃ (where X=0, 5, 10 and 15 mol%) were prepared using conventional quenching technique. The T_g, T_c, density and CTE of the glass samples were measured. The T_g observed to increase with increasing concentration of SrO, while the T_c first decreased and then increased. The glass samples were converted to glass ceramics by following two stage heat treatment schedule. The glass ceramic samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and dielectric measurements. The XRD results revealed the formation of ferroelectric lead titanate as a major crystalline phase in glass ceramics. Additional phases observed include Sr₂B₂O₅ and PbB₂O₄. The room temperature (RT) dielectric constant of glass and glass ceramics are in the range of 100–120 which is promising for capacitor application.     

Mössbauer study of the transition metal phosphorus trichalcogenide FePS3 and spin glass Mn0.5Fe0.5PS3

The transition metal phosphorus trichalcogenides MnPS₃ and the FePS₃ are CdCl₂ type layered compounds, where the transition metal ions form a hexagonal lattice. While these compounds order anti-ferromagnetically at low temperature, the magnetic structures are different. We have reported that these mixtures Mn_0.5Fe_0.5PS₃ is a spin glass with a glass transition temperature T _g=33.7 K. Then, in this work, we report that the results of the temperature variation of the ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of FePS₃ and Mn_0.5Fe_0.5PS₃, in detail. In the anti-ferromagnetic state of FePS₃, the hyperfine magnetic field H _int increases with decreasing temperature and the Isomer shift I. S. increases slightly with decreasing temperature. However in Mn_0.5Fe_0.5PS₃, the two broadened peaks are observed and the two peaks became a single peak with decreasing temperature at about 50.0 K, which is higher than T _g=33.7 K. In the spin glass Mn_0.5Fe_0.5PS₃, the Mössbauer spectra suggest that the magnetic interactions exist far above T _g.     

Observation of phase separation in some Se-Te-Sn chalcogenide glasses

Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were employed here to investigate the glass transition behavior and crystallization kinetics of Se_80−x Te₂₀Sn_x (x=0.0, 2.5 and 5) alloys, which were prepared by the conventional melt quenching method. Two exothermic peaks have been observed in the DSC scans for the samples that contain Sn. Three crystalline phases (Se_7.68Te_0.32, SnSe and SnTe) were classified after heat treating the Se_77.5 Te₂₀Sn_2.5 glass at temperature corresponding to the second crystallization peaks for 3 h. All the characteristic temperatures such as glass transition temperature (T_g), crystallization temperature (T_c) and crystallization peak temperatures (T_p) were found to depend on both the heating rate and the composition. This dependence has been used to deduce the activation energy of the glass transition (E_g), the activation energy of crystallization (E_c), the Avrami exponent (n), thermal stability and the fragility index (F_i).     

An anomalous enhancement in the electrical conductivity of Li2O : B2O3 : Al2O3 glasses

The study of electrical conductivity of 27.5 Li₂O : (72.5 − x) B₂O₃ : x Al₂O₃ glass samples has been carried out. It has been observed that the conductivity exhibits Arrhenius behavior for all samples up to glass transition temperature T_g. Beyond T_g, an anomalous enhancement followed by decrease in conductivity has been observed. The results have been explained by dividing the temperature range into two regions. In region-I, it has been observed that the conductivity variation exhibits a maximum at 2.5 mol% Al₂O₃, which has been explained on the basis of Mixed Glass Former Effect (MGFE). An anomalous enhancement in the conductivity observed in region-II has been attributed to the nucleation in the glass. The subsequent decrease in the conductivity has been attributed to the crystallization of the glass samples.     

Measurement of the figure of merit of indigenously developed Nd-doped phosphate laser glass rods for use in high power lasers

High energy, high power (HEHP) Nd:glass laser systems are used for inertial confinement fusion and equation of state (EOS) studies of materials at high temperature and pressure. A program has been undertaken for the indigenous development of Nd-doped phosphate laser glass rods and discs for HEHP lasers. In this paper, we report the characterization of the Nd-doped phosphate laser glass rods produced under this program and compare the indigenously developed laser glass to LHG-8 laser glass of M/s Hoya, Japan. We experimentally measured the values of the stimulated emission cross-section (σ) and coefficient of intensity-dependent refractive index (n ₂) and hence the figure of merit F = σ / n₂ of the indigenous phosphate laser glass rods. This value is found comparable to the reported value of identically doped Nd:glass rods.