A polyhedron model for the spinel systems LI x Fe1−x CR2O4

Mössbauer spectra of the system Li⁺ _xFe²⁺ _1?2xFe³⁺ _x[Cr₂]O₄ measured at 150 K consist of one Fe(III) absorption and several Fe(II) doublets. An explanation was able by use of a statistical model of the Fe(II) environments.     

Magnetic effects in Co3−x O4 defect films from the data of emission Mössbauer spectroscopy

The emission Mössbauer spectra of Co_3?x O₄ defect films are measured in external magnetic fields at strengths of 0.6–3.5 T. It is shown that the memory effect is observed in the spectra of Co_3?x O₄ defect films after exposure to an external magnetic field. At temperatures above the Néel temperature T _N=26 K, the memory effect manifests itself in an increase in the relative contribution from the spectral line of the tetrahedral A sublattice in the spinel structure of Co_3?x O₄ crystallites ([Co _0.83 ²⁺ ]_tetr[Co _2.20 ³⁺ ]_octO₄ and [Co _0.95 ²⁺ ]_tetr[Co _2.10 ³⁺ ]_octO₄ prior to and after the magnetic field treatment, respectively). The isomer shifts δ and the quadrupole splitting ΔE of the spectral lines for both A and B sublattices also change from δ_A=?0.19 mm/s, δ_B=?0.31 mm/s, and ΔE _B =0.83 mm/s to the values δ_A=?0.24 mm/s, δ_B=?0.33 mm/s, and ΔE _B =0.60 mm/s, which are close to δ and ΔE for stoichiometric Co₃O₄ oxide. In the low-temperature spectra (T<T _N), the memory effect additionally shows itself as a decrease in the hyperfine magnetic field H _hf of the spectral component for the A sublattice as compared to that in the spectra measured prior to the magnetic field treatment. It is assumed that the concentration of cation vacancies decreases (and, correspondingly, the fraction of reduced Co²⁺ cations increases) in the Co_3?x O₄ defect films under the action of an external magnetic field. A possible mechanism of this process is proposed.     

Mössbauer study of Fe1 + xV2−xO4 spinels for the determination of cation distributions and magnetic structure

Mössbauer experiments were carried out in the temperature range of 80–500 K on the spinel series of Fe_{1 + x}V_2?xO₄. The determined cation distribution has Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ at both A and B spinel sublattice sites for t whole series except for x = 0. Charge hopping was observed at the B lattice sites. The present cation distribution reasonably predicts several experimentally observed constants such as the lattice constant, the oxygen parameter, the saturation magnetic moment and the Curie constant. The magnetic structure in best agreement with the experimental values shows the AA spins to be antiparallel for Fe, the BB spins to be parallel for identical ions and antiparallel for different ions, and shows a strongly antiparallel AB interaction between trivalent iron ions. Crystal distortions due to the Jahn-Teller effect were observed at 80 K for compositions with 0 ? x ? 0.75.     

Electrical conductivity of pulverulent iron-cobalt molybdates Co1−xFexMoO4: evidence for hopping conduction

Different mixed iron-cobalt molybdates Co_1−xFe_xMoO₄ (0 < x ≤ 1) were prepared by means of a ceramic process. The influence of the isostructural substitution of Co²⁺ by Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the electrical conductivity of CoMoO₄ was studied in the temperature range (50–600°C). The results show that the iron substitution increases the electrical conductivity and changes the conduction mechanism of CoMoO₄. From a band conduction mechanism with an activation energy higher than 0.8 eV the conduction mode transforms into a hopping mechanism between the Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions in the octahedrally coordinated divalent cation sublattice. The activation energy is lower (0.4 eV) and does not alter around the polymorphic transition temperature. Owing to careful oxidations of the samples into cation deficient phases it was shown that the conductivity is proportional to the [Fe²⁺]/[Fe³⁺] ratio. These mild oxidations confirm the hopping mechanism. The presence of Co²⁺/Co³⁺ pairs has a minor contribution to the overall conductivity process. Paper presented at the 2nd Euroconference, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, 10 – 16 Sept. 1995     

Conductivite electrique des magnetites faiblement substituees a l'aluminium ou au chrome et faiblement oxydees au voisinage de la temperature de transition de Verwey

The electrical conductivity of aluminum or chromium slightly substituted and slightly oxidized magnetites (0 < x < 0.27; 0 < δ 0.040) whose formula is Fe³⁺[□_δFe_(1?3δ)²⁺Fe_(1?x) + 28³⁺M_x³⁺]O₄^2? over the temperature range 300-77°K is affected by the composition of octahedral sites. In particular the Verwey transition temperature and its magnitude decrease with x and δ while the electrical conductivity and activation energy evolve differently on either side of this discontinuity.     

Mössbauer and optical investigation of Co3−x Fe x O4 thin films grown by sol–gel process

Structural transformation and the related variation in magnetic and optical properties of Co_3?x Fe _x O₄ thin films grown by a sol–gel method have been investigated as the Fe composition varies up to x?=?2. The normal spinel phase is dominant below x?=?0.55 and the inverse spinel phase grows as x increases further. Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) measurements indicate that the normal spinel phase have octahedral Fe³⁺ ions mostly while the inverse spinel phase contain octahedral Fe²⁺ and tetrahedral Fe³⁺ ions. For higher Fe composition (x?>?1.22), Co²⁺ ions are found to substitute the octahedral Fe²⁺ sites. The measured optical absorption spectra for the Co_3?x Fe _x O₄ films by spectroscopic ellipsometry support the CEMS interpretation.     

Role of holes states on metal to insulator transition and collapse of magnetic ordering in LaFe1−xNixO3 (x = 0.0–0.5)

Polycrystalline LaFe_1?xNi_xO₃ (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) have been prepared by the standard solid state reactions method. The phase formation has been confirmed by the powerful synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment. In order to investigate the effects of Ni doping on the oxidation state, spin state and the magnetic ordering of the iron cations, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy has been carried out at room temperature. Iron is present as Fe³⁺ in high spin state in LaFeO₃. Ni doping has no effect on the spin state of the Fe³⁺ cations. However, a progressive increase in the concentration of Fe⁴⁺ cations has been inferred. Relatively stronger covalent character of the Fe⁴⁺–O^?2 bond causes a progressive collapse in the magnetic ordering and delocalization of the hole states.     

Redox reactions of K3[Fe(CN)6] during mechanochemically stimulated phase transitions of AlOOH

Thermally induced redox reactions of K₃[Fe(CN)₆] (1) were investigated for a broad temperature range by thermal methods and structure analytical methods (ESR and Mößbauer spectroscopy, X-ray Powder diffraction and XANES). Based on the influence of the mechanically activated and transforming matrices 2 and 3, redox processes can be tuned to form doped Al₂O₃ systems which contain either isolated Fe³⁺ centres or redox active phases and precursors like (Al_1−xFe_x)₂O₃ (4), (Al_3−xFe_x)O₄ (5), Fe₃O₄, Fe₂O₃ and Fe⁰. The phase Fe₃C and the chemically reactive C-species were detected during the reaction of 1. The final composition of the doped products of α-Al₂O₃ is mainly influenced by the chemical nature of the Fe doping component, the applied temperature and time regime, and the composition of the gas phase (N₂, N₂/O₂ or N₂/H₂). From the solid state chemistry point of view it is interesting that the transforming matrix (2 and 3) possesses both oxidative and protective properties and that the incorporation of the Fe species can be performed systematically.     

Effect of Fe3+-doped Ca12Al14O33 cement on optical and thermal properties

This study aims to investigate the effect Fe ions doped into Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ (C12A7, 12CaO-7Al₂O₃) cement compound on its thermal and optical properties. Polycrystalline samples of Ca₁₂Al_14?xFe_xO₃₃ (where x?=?0.0, 0.5, and 1.0) were prepared via a solid state reaction in an oxygen atmosphere. The lattice constant of Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ determined using an XRD technique was in excellent agreement with first-principles calculations. With increasing Fe concentrations, the lattice constants were found to have increased. Additionally, the optical gaps of Ca₁₂Al_14?xFe_xO₃₃, (x?=?0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0) were 3.9?eV, 3.77?eV, 3.75?eV and 3.63?eV, respectively. It was clearly seen that the optical gap decreased with increasing Fe concentrations. As revealing by first-principles calculations, the optical gap was directly related to the electronic transition from the occupied electronic state of extra-framework O^2? ions (as free O^2? ions inside nano-cage) to the conduction band. Moreover, we also found that the thermal conductivity Ca₁₂Al_14?xFe_xO₃₃ was reduced when the larger atomic mass and atomic radii Fe was substituted into Al sites. Hence, this indicated that Fe³⁺-substitution into Al³⁺ sites of Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ cement directly affected both its optical gap and thermal conductivity.     

Cation distribution of the system Zn1−xCoxFeMnO4 by x-ray,electrical conductivity and Mössbauer studies

Structural, electrical and Mössbauer studies were carried out for the system Zn_1?xCo _x Fe MnO₄. It is observed that forx?0.6, the ionic configuration of the system is Zn _1?x ²⁺ Mn _x ²⁺ [Co _x ³⁺ Mn _1?x ³⁺ Fe³⁺]O ₄ ^2? and forx?0.8 Fe³⁺ ions occupy tetrahedral site also. On the basis of electrical and Mössbauer studies a probable valence distribution of CoMnFeO₄ has been suggested. All the compounds showed positive values of thermoelectric coefficient and electrical conduction takes place by a hopping mechanism. Activation energy and thermoelectric coefficient values decreased with decrease in concentration of Zn²⁺ ions. The compounds possess low mobility values varying between 10^?7 and 10^?9 cm²/V sec.     

Mössbauer study of Fe57 and Co57 in Co1 + xV2−xO4

Mössbauer sources and absorbers, prepared by doping Fe⁵⁷ and radioactive Co⁵⁷ into samples of Co_1?xV_2?xO₄ (0 ? x ? 1), were studied in the temperature range of 80–500 K. The source and absorber spectra are very similar. The absence of any Fe²⁺ at the A site can be understood by partial covalent bond formation with an anion. However, the predominance of Fe³⁺ at the B site (with some Fe²⁺ for x = 1) cannot be explained by simple crystal-field or molecular-orbital theories. The x dependence of the isomer shift and of the Fe³⁺B-site quadrupole interaction can be related to changes in the lattice constant and the oxygen parameter. The temperature dependence of the Fe²⁺B-site quadrupole interaction can be fitted in the motional-averaging model. In the range of 0 ? x ? 0.5 the temperature dependence of the isomer shift shows effects of chemical bonding beyond the second-order Doppler shift.     

Luminescent properties of red-emitting LiSr4B3O(9−3x/2)Nx:Eu2+ phosphor for white-LEDs

An Eu²⁺-activated oxynitride LiSr_(4?y)B₃O_(9?3x/2)N_x:yEu²⁺ red-emitting phosphor was synthesized by solid-state reactions. The synthesized phosphor crystallized in a cubic system with space group Ia–3d. The LiSr₄B₃O_(9?3x/2)N_x:Eu²⁺ phosphors exhibited a broad red emission band with a peak at 610 nm and a full width at half maximum of 106 nm under 410 nm excitation, which is ascribed to the 4f⁶5d¹→4f⁷ transition of Eu²⁺. The optimal doped nitrogen concentration was observed to be x=0.75. The average decay times of two different emission centers were estimated to be 568 and 489 ns in the LiSr_3.99B₃O_8.25N_0.5:0.01Eu²⁺ phosphors, respectively. Concentration quenching of Eu²⁺ ions occurred at y=0.07, and the critical distance was determined as 17.86 Å. The non-radiative transitions via dipole–dipole interactions resulted in the concentration quenching of Eu²⁺-site emission centers in the LiSr₄B₃O₉ host. These results indicate LiSr₄B₃O_(9?3x/2)N_x:Eu²⁺ phosphor is promising for application in white near-UV LEDs.     

High temperature ferromagnetism of the vacuum-annealed (In1−xFex)2O3 powders

(In_1−xFe_x)₂O₃ (x = 0.02, 0.05, 0.2) powders were prepared by a solid state reaction method and a vacuum annealing process. A systematic study was done on the structural and magnetic properties of (In_1−xFe_x)₂O₃ powders as a function of Fe concentration and annealing temperature. The X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy results confirmed that there were not any Fe or Fe oxide secondary phases in vacuum-annealed (In_1−xFe_x)₂O₃ samples and the Fe element was incorporated into the indium oxide lattice by substituting the position of indium atoms. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that both Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions existed in the samples. Magnetic measurements indicated that all samples were ferromagnetic with the magnetic moment of 0.49-1.73 μ_B/Fe and the Curie temperature around 783 K. The appearance of ferromagnetism was attributed to the ferromagnetic coupling of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions via an electron trapped in a bridging oxygen vacancy.     

Quasiparticle band structure and optical spectrum of LiBr

The electronic structures of the Fe-doped perovskite ruthenates BaRu_1?x Fe _x O₃ with x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.625, 0.75, and 1 are investigated through density-functional calculations. Large exchange splitting and small crystal field splitting are found in BaFeO₃, and a contrary scenario can take place on BaRuO₃ as expected since the Ru atom has a highly extended 4d orbital. The small exchange splitting and extended 4d states are the reasons why the obtained spin magnetic moment (0.628μ _B ) is significantly lower than the spin only value (2μ _B ) for the t _2g 3↑ t _2g 1↓ electronic configuration for Ru⁴⁺ ion. Further investigations suggest that Fe substitution at the Ru sites can suppress the bandwidths of Ru 4d orbital, leading to the half-metallic behaviour in BaRu_1?x Fe _x O₃ with x = 0.625 and 0.75. The different orbital feature of the Ru⁴⁺ ions in BaRu_0.375Fe_0.625O₃ is presented, which reflects the influence of Fe dopant on Ru 4d orbitals.     

Mössbauer studies of magnetic behavior of 3d-doped REBa2Cu3−x Fe x O7+δ (RE=Y,Er, Dy,Gd)

A Mössbauer study has been made on⁵⁷Fe ions substituted into the Cu(1) site of REBa₂Cu_3?x Fe _x O_7+δ (RE=Y, Er, Dy, Gd;x=0.15, 0.30). At low temperature, the iron atoms antiferromagnetically order with a transition temperature which is dependent on the Fe concentration. The temperature dependence of the magnetic subspectra representing Fe ions with various local oxygen environments in YBa₂Cu_3?x Fe _x O_7+δ and ErBa₂Cu_3?x Fe _x O_7+δ fit a 2D-Ising model with a ratio of the anisotropic exchange between the two directions on the order of 0.5–1.0(10^?3) for the Y-compounds and on the order of 1 for the Er-compounds. The magnitude of the local dopant magnetization is related to a short-range chemical order which determines the magnetic chain size and defines the correlation lengths. For the Y-compound, the order is quasi-1D with strong intrachain but very weak interchain coupling. For the Er-compounds, the magnetic coupling is Ising 2D. The strong fluctuation behavior expected in low dimensional systems above and belowT _N is observed via characteristic relaxation in the Mössbauer linewidth nearT _N. For both the Dy- and Gd-compounds, the magnetic order is 3D. The magnitude of the rare-earth magnetic moments appears to affect the character of the magnetic interaction in the Cu(1)-site. However, a Mössbauer effect measurement at¹⁵⁵Gd nuclei in GdBa₂Cu_2.85Fe_0.15O_7+δ (T _N(Fe)～14 K) shows paramagnetic behavior at 4.9 K.     

X-Ray photoelectron and mössbauer spectroscopy studies on molybdenum-bearing ferrite

The X-ray photoelectron spectra of Mo 3d electrons (232.4–232.9 and 229.4–229.6 eV) for Mo-bearing ferrites have suggested that molybdenum ions are in the 4+ valence state on the lattice points in the spinel structure. The XPS data for Mo 3d and Fe 2p electrons combined with the Mössbauer data at room temperature suggest that Fe₂MoO₄ takes a valence state (Fe²⁺)_tet[Fe²⁺Mo⁴⁺]_octO₄.     

Effect of different doped elements on visible light absorption and ultraviolet light emission on Er3+:Y3Al5O12

In this progress report, seven kinds of novel carefully designed and fabricated up-conversion luminescence agents, Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂, Er³⁺:Yb_nY_3?nAl₅O₁₂, Er³⁺:Y₃B_aAl_5?aO₁₂, Er³⁺:Y₃Ga_bAl_5?bO₁₂, Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅N_xO_12?x, Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅F_yO_12?y and Er³⁺:Yb_nY_3?nB_aGa_bAl_5?a?bN_xF_yO_12?x?y, are successfully synthesized using sol–gel methods. After that, their corresponding photocatalysts, Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂/TiO₂, Er³⁺:Yb_nY_3?nAl₅O₁₂/TiO₂, Er³⁺:Y₃B_aAl_5?aO₁₂/TiO₂, Er³⁺:Y₃Ga_bAl_5?bO₁₂/TiO₂, Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅N_xO_12?x/TiO₂, Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅F_yO_12?y/TiO₂ and Er³⁺:Yb_nY_3?nB_aGa_bAl_5?a?bN_xF_yO_12?x?y/TiO₂, are also prepared by sol–gel coating process. The obtained up-conversion luminescence agents and photocatalysts were characterized by using XRD, XPS, SEM, UV–vis and fluorescence spectrophotometer. Synchronously, several kinds of organic dyes are used to test their photocatalytic degradation using prepared photocatalysts. It indicates that the up-conversion luminescence ability of Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂ can be improved obviously through doping of some elements. And then, the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ is markedly enhanced by modified up-conversion luminescence agents which can transform much visible light into ultraviolet light.     

Single-crystalline M-type Sr Hexaferrites studied by <Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy

The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of the single crystalline and the finely ground Sr_1?x La _x Fe_12?y Co _y O₁₉ (x = 0 : y = 0, x = 0.192 : y = 0.152 and x = 0.456 : y = 0.225) samples have been measured to investigate the La-Co substitution effects. All observed spectra at 150 K were well fitted using the five subspectra which correspond to the five crystallographical nonequivalent Fe sites in the M-type hexaferrite, indicating that the valence changes to Fe²⁺ ions in the Fe³⁺ ions were not observed in our Sr_1?x La _x Fe_12?y Co _y O₁₉ samples. In SrFe₁₂O₁₉, the relative absorption intensities in the five subspectra show the large anisotropies in the recoilless fractions at the five Fe sites whereas these anisotropies were not observed in Sr_0.544La_0.456Fe_11.775Co_0.225O₁₉. These results indicate the chemical compositional dependence on the anisotropies of the recoilless fractions at the five Fe sites. The substitution of a Co²⁺ ion for the Fe³⁺ ion changes the center shifts of the Fe³⁺ ions near the Co²⁺ ion by the perturbation of the Fe-O-Co hybridizations. Therefore, the Co²⁺ ions occupy the 4f ₁ and the 4f ₂ sites due to the chemical compositional dependences of the refined magnetic hyperfine field and center shifts of the Fe³⁺ ions.     

The coordination of Co2+ions in Co substituted magnetites,Fe3−xCoxO4, with x⩽0.04

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra at room temperature, both with and without external magnetic field, indicate that Co²⁺ ions in Co_xFe_3?xO₄spinels (x?0.04) are situated on the octahedral B sites. The Mössbauer parameters are listed and the existence of unpaired Fe³⁺ ions is evidenced.     

Ab-initio calculation of electronic structure of partially inverted manganese ferrite

Electronic structure of manganese ferrite is calculated using the density functional theory. Partially inverted structure with the inversion parameter y=0.0625 is considered, using four different supercells (Mn₁₅Fe)_A[Fe₃₁Mn]_BO₆₄ that differ in relative position of Fe_A and Mn_B. The crystal structure was optimized by minimizing the forces acting on the atoms. The spin magnetic moments m of Mn and Fe ions depend to some extent on their position in the supercell, but we found that in all cases m(Mn_B) is considerably smaller (by approx. one Bohr magneton) than m(Mn_A). This indicates strongly that the formal valence of Mn_B is 3+. Trivalent manganese in an octahedral position is expected to exhibit a Jahn–Teller effect and corresponding analysis was performed. No pronounced localization of the extra electron in the octahedral sublattice that would represent the Fe²⁺ ion was found.