Solid state electrical conductivity and thermal degradation studies on some phenothiazine derivatives

Electrical conductivity and thermal degradation studies of promethazine hydrochloride (PH); 2-chlorophenothiazine (CP); diethazine hydrochloride (DH) and trifluoperazine dihydrochloride (TFP) are reported. The activation energies are evaluated based on their electrical conductivity study conducted over the temperature range 30-150 °C. These energies for PH, CP, DH and TFP are found to be 0.86, 1.02, 0.68 and 1.08 eV, respectively. The materials are analyzed for the kinetic parameters like the activation energies for decomposition and the Arrhenious pre-exponential factors in their pyrolysis region using Broido's, Coats-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzger methods. Using these factors and the standard equations thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy, entropy and free energies are calculated. Thermogravimetric study on these phenothiazine derivatives in air indicated that their stabilities are in the order CP>TFP>PH >DH.     

Enhanced dielectric permittivity of fluorine polyimide matrix with embedded graphene

A polymer nanohybrid material with enhanced dielectric permittivity was prepared using the fluorine‐containing polyimide (PI) 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride/4,4′‐oxydianiline (6FDA/ODA) as matrix and graphene as conductive filler in our present work. Studies on the dielectric properties of the 6FDA/ODA–graphene nanohybrid films show that the dielectric permittivity (ε) can be significantly enhanced by the layer‐by‐layer structure of graphene and the presence of fluorine also has an important influence on the improvement of ε. The percolation theory and microcapacitor model are used to explain the change of dielectric properties and a percolation threshold f_c = 0.0152 (2.45 wt%) was obtained by a linear‐fit calculation.

     

Optical, thermal, dielectric and ferroelectric behaviour of sodium acid phthalate (SAP) single crystals

Sodium acid phthalate (SAP), an efficient semi-organic crystal having dimensions 17×8×2 mm³ has been grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation technique at room temperature within the period of 2 weeks. The lattice parameters of the grown crystals were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The presence of functional groups was estimated qualitatively by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The band gap energy was determined using optical absorption studies. The TG/DTA analysis reveals that the SAP crystal is thermally stable up to 141.6 °C. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss was studied as a function of frequency and the corresponding activation energy (E_a) has been calculated for the grown crystal. Scanning electron microscope studies enunciate the ferroelectric domain patterns of the SAP crystal. Ferroelectric property of the grown crystal was confirmed by hysteresis loop studies.     

Photoconductivity, dielectric and thermal investigations of pure, benzophenone- and iodine-doped benzoyl glycine NLO single crystals

Physical properties such as photoconductivity, dielectric and thermal stability have been investigated for pure benzoyl glycine (BG) crystals. In addition to this, the influence of dopants (benzophenone and iodine) of these properties on BG crystals has been studied. Photoconductivity studies on pure BG, benzophenone-and iodine-doped BG revealed the positive photoconducting nature. The dielectric responses of the samples have been studied in the frequency range 100 Hz-500 KHz at room temperature and the results are discussed in detail. The thermogravimetric studies of pure and doped BG crystals indicate that the presence of dopants has slightly increased the decomposition temperature of pure BG samples, thereby enhancing thermal stability to the doped ones.     

Investigations of magnetic and dielectric properties of cupric oxide nanoparticles

Cupric oxide nanoparticles of ∼8-10 nm width and 40-45 nm length self assembled as large particles ∼1-1.5 μm have been investigated, in the 10-325 K temperature range, using magnetic and dielectric measurements. In magnetic measurements a single broad peak at ∼230 K in a zero field cooled sample has been observed. Coercivity, in magnetization measurements at 10 K, suggests that the nanoparticles are core-shell type particles with an antiferromagnetic core and a ferromagnetic shell. Dielectric measurements, at various frequencies from 3.7 Hz to 949 kHz, exhibit a sharp peak at 284 K followed by weak anomalies around 213 and 230 K.     

Remarkable influence on the dielectric and magnetic properties of lithium ferrite by Ti and Zn substitution

The effect of Zn and Ti substitution on the magnetic and electrical properties of Li_0.5Zn_xTi_xMn_0.05Fe_2.45−2xO₄ ferrites (x=0.0 to 0.30 in steps of 0.05) +0.5wt% Bi₂O₃ prepared by a standard ceramic technique has been investigated. Electrical conductivity and dielectric measurements at different temperatures from 300 K to 700 K in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 2 MHz have been analysed. The variation of the real part of dielectric constant (ε^′) and loss tangent (tanδ) with frequency and temperature has been studied; it follows the Maxwell–Wagner model based on the interfacial polarization in consonance with the Koops phenomenological theory. It is found that the permittivity of zinc and titanium substituted lithium ferrite improves and shows a maximum value ( 1.5×10⁵) at 100 Hz for the x=0.25 sample. The dielectric transition temperature (T_d) depends on the concentration of Ti and Zn in Li_0.5Zn_xTi_xMn_0.05Fe_2.45−2xO₄. The saturation magnetization and Curie temperature both decrease with increase in the concentration of Ti and Zn in the ferrite.     

Influence of Ca additives on the optical and dielectric studies of sol-gel derived PbTiO3 ceramics

Sintered ceramic powders of calcium-doped lead titanate [Pb_1−xCa_xTiO₃] ceramics with different Ca dopant concentration in the range (x=0-0.35) have been prepared using a sol-gel chemical route. The sol-gel technique is known to offer better purity and homogeneity, and can yield stoichiometric powders with improved properties at relatively lower processing temperature in comparison to conventional solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy studies have been carried out to identify the crystallographic structure and phase formation. The infrared absorption spectra in the mid-IR region (400-4000 cm⁻¹) show the band corresponding to the Ti-O bond at ∼576 cm⁻¹ and is found to shift to a higher wave number 592 cm⁻¹ with increasing Ca content. The dielectric properties as a function of frequency, and phase transition studies on sintered ceramic Pb_0.65Ca_0.35TiO₃ has been investigated in detail over a wide temperature range 30-600 °C and the results are discussed.     

薄板型介质材料复介电常数的无损测量

采用带法兰结构的TE01n圆柱谐振腔,用无损检测的方法测量薄板型微波介质材料的复介电常数。利用轴向模式匹配法对谐振腔内的电磁场进行了求解,给出了相对介电常数和损耗角正切的计算公式,并利用矢量网络分析仪对几种常用微波介质材料进行了测量,其结果表明:该测量方法对相对介电常数的测量误差不超过1%,而对损耗角正切的测量误差不超过10%。该方法还具备一腔多模的测试能力,测量频率可调,可用于介质材料频率特性的测量。     

Mechanical and dielectric properties of SEBS modified by graphite inclusion and composite interface

Tough and flexible dielectrics were prepared using graphite (G), a natural and low-cost resource, as filler in polystyrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS) and maleinized SEBS (SEBS-MA) matrices. The disintegration of graphite in submicron particles was accomplished by the shear forces during the melt processing step and it was highlighted by atomic force microscopy. Simultaneous increase of tensile strain, strength and Young's modulus was noticed for SEBS/G and SEBS-MA/G composites compared to unfilled matrices, this remarkable feature being previously reported only for some nanocomposites. Moreover, an exponential variation of the dielectric permittivity with the volume fraction of G was obtained. Higher reinforcing efficiency and better dielectric properties were observed in SEBS-MA/G composites, compared to the corresponding SEBS/G composites, due to the stronger polymer–filler interface and better dispersion of graphite. This study brings new insights into nanolevel properties of SEBS composites and it opens new perspectives on high performance composites by using graphite instead of expensive graphene and efficient melt mixing process.     

Influence of sintering conditions and doping on the dielectric relaxation originating from the surface layer effects in CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

Detailed investigations into the dielectric dispersion phenomenon in the giant dielectric constant material CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) around room temperature revealed the existence of two successive dielectric relaxations. In the temperature domain, a new dielectric relaxation was clearly observed around 250 K, in addition to the well-investigated dielectric relaxation close to 100 K. The effect of sintering and doping (La³⁺) on the strength of these dielectric relaxations were studied in detail. The sintering temperature as well as its duration was found to have tremendous influence on the dielectric relaxation that was encountered around 250 K. This Maxwell-Wagner (M-W) type of relaxation was found to be originating from the surface layer containing the Cu-rich phase, which was ascribed to the difference in the oxygen content between the surface and the interior of the sample. Interestingly, this particular additional relaxation was not observed in La_2/3Cu₃Ti₄O₁₂, a low dielectric constant member of the CCTO family, in which the segregation of Cu-rich phase on the surface was absent. Indeed the correlation between the new relaxation and the presence of Cu-rich phase in CCTO ceramics was further corroborated by the absence of the same after removing the top and bottom layers.     

High frequency and static dielectric constants of zinc blende structured solids

A correlation is presented for the high frequency ε_∞ and static ε_o dielectric constants of A^IIB^{V I} and A^IIIB^V semiconductors with the zinc blende structure. The high frequency ε_∞ and static ε_o dielectric constants can be represented by an empirical linear relation that is a simple function of melting temperature T_m, atomic volume Ω and product of ionic charges (Z₁Z₂). Values of high frequency ε_∞ and static ε_o dielectric constants of A^IIB^{V I} and A^IIIB^V zinc blende semiconductors exhibit a linear relationship when plotted against the k_BT_m/Ω (k_B=Boltzmann’s constant), but fall on two straight lines according to the product of ionic charges of the compounds. The calculated results are compared with available experimental data and previous calculations based on phenomenological models.     

Effects of dielectric barrier discharge in air on morphological and electrical properties of graphene nanoplatelets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have been functionalized by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in air. The extent of functionalization of MWCNTs and GNPs reaches a maximum at the delivered discharge energy of 720 and 240 J mg⁻¹, respectively. Further exposure to plasma leads to reduction of functional groups from the surface of the treated nanomaterials. It has also been demonstrated that DBD plasma does not produce dramatic structural changes in MWCNTs, while flakes of the treated GNPs become thinner and smaller in the lateral size. Conductive thin films, obtained by drop casting a solution of the treated nanomaterials in N-methyl-1-pyrrolidone on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate, show significantly lower sheet resistance.     

Compositional effects on the optical and thermal properties of sodium borophosphate glasses

A series of sodium borophosphate glasses of the composition (1−x)NaPO₃−xB₂O₃ have been synthesised from Na₂CO₃, B₂O₃ and P₂O₅ and their optical and thermal properties investigated. The results show that refractive index (n) and glass transition temperature (T_g) show a maximum at about B/(B+P)=0.6 while thermal expansion coefficient (α) and thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT) change monotonically with the B/(B+P) ratio. These observations can be interpreted based on the incorporation of BO₃ and BO₄ units into the glass structural network.     

Complex permittivity and complex permeability of Sr ions substituted Ba ferrite at X-band

M-type hexagonal ferrite composition, Ba_(1−x)Sr_xFe₁₂O₁₉ (x=0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0), was prepared by a two route ceramic method. Complex permittivity (ε′−jε″) and complex permeability (μ′−jμ″) have been measured using a network analyzer from 8.2 to 12.4 GHz X-ray diffraction confirmed the M-type hexagonal structure and a scanned electron micrograph was used to analyze the grain size distribution of ferrite. Substitution of Sr²⁺ ions causes an increase in porosity that deteriorates the electromagnetic and microstructural properties in the doped samples. Both dielectric constant and dielectric loss are enhanced in comparison to the permeability and magnetic loss over the entire frequency region. This is due to a resistivity variation and the formation of Fe²⁺ ions, which increases the hopping mechanism between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions.     

Nanoporous structures of polyimide induced by Ar ion beam irradiation

The surface morphology evolution of polyimide (PI) that was treated with an Ar ion beam was explored using a hybrid ion beam system. A hole-like nanostructure formed on PI during the Ar ion beam treatment at a lower fluence, but PI formed 3D porous nanostructures with a mean diameter of ∼90 nm at a higher fluence. The chemical binding energy and the composition of the Ar ion irradiated PI were analyzed using FT-IR and XPS spectra, which revealed that the polymer chain scissioning increased with increasing Ar ion treatment duration, i.e., fluence. The surface hardness and the elastic modulus of PI increased from 1.17 to 1.62 GPa and 4.06 to 5.41 GPa, respectively, with respect to the Ar ion beam treatment duration.     

Heat treatment effects on dielectric and physico-chemical properties of an epoxy polymer

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, dielectric spectroscopy (DS), and thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) have been used to study heat treatment effects on an epoxy-based polymer. Variations in physico-chemical and dielectric properties were examined for annealing temperatures between 55 and 170 °C. IR results have shown that heating causes both chain scission and thermal oxidation of the polymer, increasing thus the amount of trapped charges. The complex dielectric permittivity and the dielectric modulus have been analyzed, by means of DS, to highlight and separate charge relaxation phenomena from conduction contributions. Results indicate structural rearrangements, leading to a decrease of dipolar relaxation frequency (from 16 to 13.5 kHz) and an increase of the relaxation strength (around 20%). TSDC measurements have shown a current peak shift towards higher temperatures, and a significant intensity decrease, which is proportional to the quantity of released charges.     

薄板型介质材料复介电常数的无损测量

采用带法兰结构的TE01n圆柱谐振腔,用无损检测的方法测量薄板型微波介质材料的复介电常数。利用轴向模式匹配法对谐振腔内的电磁场进行了求解,给出了相对介电常数和损耗角正切的计算公式,并利用矢量网络分析仪对几种常用微波介质材料进行了测量,其结果表明：该测量方法对相对介电常数的测量误差不超过1%,而对损耗角正切的测量误差不超过10%。该方法还具备一腔多模的测试能力,测量频率可调,可用于介质材料频率特性的测量。     

Modification of the surface properties of polyimide films using polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane deposition and oxygen plasma exposure

Topographically rich surfaces were generated by spray-coating organic solutions of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, octakis(dimethylsilyloxy)silsesquioxane (POSS), on Kapton^® HN films and exposing them to radio frequency generated oxygen plasma. Changes in both surface chemistry and topography were observed. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy indicated substantial modification of the POSS-coated polyimide surface topographies as a result of oxygen plasma exposure. Water contact angles varied from 104° for unexposed POSS-coated surfaces to ∼5° for samples exposed for 5 h. Modulation of the dispersive and polar contributions to the surface energy was determined using van Oss Good Chaudhury theory. Changes in surface energy are related to potential adhesive interactions with lunar dust simulant particles.     

Study of dielectric behaviour of Mn-Zn nano ferrites

Dielectric properties of Mn_0.4Zn_0.6Fe₂O₄ ferrites synthesised by co-precipitation method have been investigated as a function of frequency (up to 30 MHz) at different temperatures. Dispersion in dielectric constant has been observed between temperatures 450-500 K. DC resistivity was found to increase up to 100 times greater than those for the samples prepared by the conventional ceramic methods. Resistivity variation with temperature is also reported in the present work. The particle size is calculated using Scherrer equation for Lorentzian peak, which comes out between 9 and 19 nm. Possible mechanisms contributing to these processes have been discussed.