Elastic constants of Cr3Si

Elastic constants of Cr₃Si have been measured on single crystals oriented along [110] and [100] as a function of temperature between 4.2 and 300 K. Their magnitudes at 4.2 K are in unit of 10¹¹ Nm^-2C₄₄ = 1.32C' = (C₁₁?C₁₂)/2 = 1.58B = 1.99 There is no peculiar behaviour as a function of temperature.     

Influence of Dy addition on the magnetocaloric effect of La0.67Ca0.33Mn0.9V0.1O3 ceramics

The influence of partial substitution of La by Dy on the magnetocaloric response of (La_1−xDy_x)_0.67Ca_0.33Mn_0.9V_0.1O₃, where x=0.03, 0.15 and 0.25 is studied. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction pattern using GSAS method shows that the compounds adopt the orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. The systematic change in lattice parameters and magnetic phase transition indicates the substitution effect of Dy. From the magnetization isotherms at different temperatures, magnetic entropy change close to their respective transition temperatures (T_C) has been evaluated. The maximum value of entropy change near T_C is found to be about 4.8 J/kg K at 187.5 K for LCMVDy_0.03, 2.45 J/kg K at 107.5 K for LCMVDy_0.15 and 2.15 J/kg K at 92.5 K for LCMVDy_0.25 at 4 T. Dy addition produces a reduction in T_C and in magnitude of the magnetic entropy change. Even though the entropy change decreases with increasing Dy substitution the refrigerant temperature range, ΔT, is found to be 10 K for LCMVDy_0.03, 31 K for LCMVDy_0.15 and 35 K for LCMVDy_0.25 compounds [90%] at 4 T. The field dependence of the magnetic entropy change is also analyzed showing the power law dependence, ΔS_M∞Hⁿ where n=0.75(2) for LCMVDy_0.03, n=0.80(4) for LCMVDy_0.15 and n=0.92(8) for LCMVDy_0.25 compounds at their respective transition temperatures. The relative cooling power and its field dependance are also analyzed.     

Infrared crystal spectra of C2H4, C2D4, and as-C2H2D2 and the general harmonic force field of ethylene

Carbon-13 frequency shifts for C₂H₄, C₂D₄, and as-C₂H₂D₂ have been measured in isotopic solid solutions in crystalline films at 60 K. All but two of the shifts (for as-C₂H₂D₂) are compatible with recently determined ζ data for C₂H₄, with ¹³C frequency shifts for C₂H₄ and C₂D₄ in the gas phase and with conventional frequency data. Together, these data completely determine with precision all 18 parameters of the GHFF for ethylene, the previous ambiguity in choice between two sets of A_g species force constants being removed. The force field reproduces closely the observed centrifugal distortion constants for C₂H₄, a ζ constant observed for trans-C₂H₂D₂, and the inertia defects for C₂H₄, C₂D₄, and as-C₂H₂D₂. Vibration and rotation constants for all isotopically deuterated ethylenes are calculated.Possible explanations for the two anomalous crystal shifts in as-C₂H₂D₂ involve the effects of the crystal field, and failure of the use of Dennison's rule for making anharmonic corrections to the shifts. The former explanation is preferred as a result of thorough analysis of the anharmonicity constants for as-C₂H₂D₂ determined from many overtone and combination bands in the gas and crystal spectra.     

Mode softening in CeAl2

Measurements of elastic constants C₁₁ and C₄₄ are reported between 1.5 and 280 K for CeAl₂. With decreasing temperature a softening of the C₄₄ elastic constant of 30% is observed. The softening is discussed in terms of a magnetoelastic interaction.     

Structure and phase transitions in chloroantimonate(V) crystals: [(C2H5)3NH]SbCl6 and [(C2H5)3NH]SbCl6·1/2[(C2H5)3NH]Cl

New triethylammonium salts: [(C₂H₅)₃NH]SbCl₆ (TCA) and [(C₂H₅)₃NH]SbCl₆·1/2[(C₂H₅)₃NH]Cl (TCAT) have been synthesized. The compounds crystallise in monoclinic symmetry: space groups P2₁/n and P2₁/c, for TCA at 293 K and TCAT at 100 K, respectively. The crystal structure of [(C₂H₅)₃NH]SbCl₆ consists of discrete ionic pairs—triethylammonium cations and hexachloroantimonate anions—linked via the bifurcated N-H?Cl hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure of [(C₂H₅)₃NH]SbCl₆·1/2[(C₂H₅)₃NH]Cl is composed of three symmetrically independent triethylammonium cations, chlorine anion and two symmetrically independent hexachloroantimonate anions. TCA undergoes a structural phase transition at 336 K (on heating) into the orthorhombic C222 space group, whereas TCAT reveals a structural phase transition at 332 K. The phase transitions are of the first order type. TCA shows a ferroelastic domain structure below 336 K. Differential scanning calorimetry, dilatometric, dielectric dispersion and Raman scattering measurements have been used to study the phase transition mechanisms in these triethylammonium salts.     

Ab initio calculations of elastic constants and thermodynamic properties of Li2O for high temperatures and pressures

The elastic constants and thermodynamic properties of Li₂O for high temperatures and pressures are calculated by the ab initio unrestricted Hartree-Fock (HF) linear combination of atomic orbital (LCAO) periodic approach. The lattice constant, elastic constants, Debye temperature, and thermal expansion coefficient obtained are in good agreement with the available experimental data and other theoretical results. It is found that at zero pressure the elastic constants C₁₁, C₁₂ and C₄₄, bulk modulus B and Debye temperature Θ_D decrease monotonically over the wide range of temperatures from 0 to 1100 K. When the temperature , C₁₂ approaches zero, consistently with the transition temperature 1200 K. However, with increasing pressure, they all increase monotonically and the anisotropy will weaken.     

Multipole effects in non-Kramers doublet system PrMg3

We performed ultrasonic measurements on a single crystal of PrMg₃. The characteristic Curie-type softening was observed in temperature dependence of transverse mode (C₁₁-C₁₂)/2 below 8 K down to 0.8 K. This softening in PrMg₃ is caused by a non-Kramers Γ₃ doublet ground state having electric quadrupoles O_u and O_v and magnetic octupole T_xyz. The elastic constant (C₁₁-C₁₂)/2 shows a minimum at 25 K, which cannot be explained by the quadrupole susceptibility based on the crystal electric field (CEF) levels. However, considering higher order (l=4) multipole, namely electric hexadecapole, the minimum around 25 K was well reproduced. At lower temperatures, a shoulder anomaly in elastic constant being deviated from the Curie-type softening was observed around 100-800 mK in (C₁₁-C₁₂)/2. This anomaly is unaffected by magnetic fields up to 14 T.     

Elastic and electronic properties of YNi2B2C under pressure from first principles

The elastic and electronic structure properties of YNi₂B₂C under pressure are investigated by performing the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and local density approximation (LDA) correction scheme in the frame of density functional theory (DFT). The pressure dependences of the normalized lattice parameters a/a₀ and c/c₀, the ratio c/a, and the normalized primitive volume V/V₀ of YNi₂B₂C are also obtained. The lattice constants and bulk modulus obtained are in agreement with the available experimental and other theoretical data. We have also studied the pressure dependences of elastic properties. It is found that, as pressure increases, the elastic constants C₁₁, C₃₃, C₆₆, C₁₂, and C₁₃ increase, the variation of elastic constant C₄₄ is not obvious. Moreover, our compressional and shear wave velocities V_L=6.99 km/s and V_S=3.67 km/s as well as the Debye temperature Θ=549.7 K at 0 GPa compare favorably with the available experimental data. The pressure dependences of band structures, energy gap and density of states are also investigated.     

The elastic behaviour of the ternary zincblende structure semiconductor CuGe2P3

A single crystal has been grown of CuGe₂P₃, a ternary semiconductor with a zincblende structure in which the copper and germanium atoms are randomly distributed on the cation sites. The second order elastic constants measured by the ultrasonic pulse echo overlap technique (C₁₁ = 13.66, C₁₂ = 6.17, C₄₄ = 6.66 and bulk modulus B = 8.67 in units of 10¹⁰Nm^?2 at 291 K) are closely similar to those of GaP and conform well to Keyes' correlation for zincblende structure crystals. The hydrostatic pressure derivatives of the second order elastic constants ($\text{?C}{}_{11}\text{?P}\text{= 4.40}$, $\text{?C}{}_{12}\text{?P}\text{= 3.9}$, $\text{?C}{}_{44}\text{?P}\text{= 0.93}$ and $\text{?B}\text{?P}\text{= 4.07}$) and the third order elastic constants (C₁₁₁ = ? 8.45, C₁₁₂ = ? 3.49, C₁₂₃ = ? 1.13, C₁₄₄ = ? 2.82, C₁₅₅ = ? 1.44 and C₄₅₆ = ? 0.69 in units of 10¹¹Nm^?2) also resemble those of GaP: even the anharmonicity of the long wavelength acoustic modes of this ternary semiconductor resembles that of its binary “parent” compound. The positive signs of the hydrostatic pressure derivatives and the negative signs of the third order elastic constants show that the acoustic modes at the long wavelength limit stiffen under pressure, an effect which is quantified here by computation of the mode Grüneisen parameters, which are all positive. The harmonic and anharmonic force constants, obtained in the valence force field model, fit well into the pattern shown by related zincblende structure compounds: the ratio ($\text{β}\text{α}$) for bond bending (β) to stretching (α) force constants is greater than 4:1; the dominating anharmonic force constant is γ: most of the anharmonicity is associated with nearest neighbour atoms. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the elastic constants on the basis of a simple anharmonic model again emphasises the similarity between the elastic behaviour of CuGe₂P₃ and GaP. The thermal expansion of CuGe₂P₃ varies almost linearly with temperature between 291 K and 1000 K, the linear coefficient of thermal expansion α being 8.21 ± 0.02 × 10^?6 °C^?1. The similar lattice parameters and elastic behaviour of CuGe₂P₃ and GaP indicate that semiconducting devices made of epitaxial deposits of CuGe₂P₃ on a GaP substrate should prove to be almost strain-free.     

Electron spin resonance study of bulk and nanosized La0.875Sr0.125MnO3

The structural, transport and electron spin resonance properties of bulk and nanosized La_0.875Sr_0.125MnO₃ prepared by a sol-gel method have been investigated. The bulk sample has an orthorhombic structure and a ferromagnetic insulating ground state. The ESR spectra indicate the coexistence of the ferromagnetic insulating and ferromagnetic metallic phases below T_C. In addition to a sharp peak in the vicinity of T_C, another sharp peak close to is clearly observed in the intensity of the spectra, which may be correlated with the structural transition and orbital ordering at this temperature. For the nanosized sample, a drastically different behavior is found. With a rhombohedral structure down to 70 K, the nanosized sample shows a ferromagnetic metallic ground state. The ESR studies reveal the coexistence of the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic resonance signals. The resonance intensity shows a broad peak around 200 K, which may be due to the wide ferromagnetic transition in the nanoparticle.     

Magnetic properties of the intermetallic compound Ce5Ge4

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the compound Ce₅Ge₄ have been studied. This compound has orthorhombic Sm₅Ge₄-type structure (space group Pnma, no. 62) and orders ferromagnetically at ~12 K (T_C). The paramagnetic Curie temperature is ~−20 K suggesting the presence of competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions in this compound. The magnetization does not seem to saturate even in fields of 90 kOe at 3 K consistent with the presence of competing interactions. Saturation magnetization value (extrapolated to 1/H→0) of only 0.8μ_B/Ce³⁺ is obtained compared to the free ion value of 2.14μ_B/Ce³⁺. This moment reduction in the ordered state of Ce₅Ge₄ could be due to partial antiferromagnetic/paramagnetic ordering of the Ce moments and may also be due to crystalline electric field effects. Magnetic entropy change near T_C, calculated from the magnetization vs. field data, is found to be moderate with a maximum value of ~9 J/kg/K at ~11 K for a field change of 90 kOe.     

Magnetic properties of RPd5Al2 (R=Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd)

Polycrystalline samples of a new rare-earth series RPd₅Al₂ crystallizing in the tetragonal ZrNi₂Al₅-type structure have been prepared. Their physical properties by electrical resistivity ρ, magnetic susceptibility χ, magnetization M and specific heat C_p measurements are reported. The ingots are composed of elongated grains preferentially aligned in the c direction; therefore, measurements were conducted parallel and perpendicular to the grains. Antiferromagnetic ordering appears in R=Ce, Nd, Gd, and Sm at low temperatures. CePd₅Al₂ has two AFM transitions at 4.1 and 2.9 K and ρ(T) indicates a Kondo metal behavior with large anisotropy. In PrPd₅Al₂ no magnetic transition was observed down to 0.4 K. The C_p(T) shows a broad peak around 13 K due to the CEF effect, suggesting a non-magnetic singlet ground state. In NdPd₅Al₂, χ(T) shows anisotropy and the C_p(T) shows a sharp peak at 1.2 K. The magnetic entropy at 3 K is very close to Rln2, indicating a Kramers doublet ground state. In SmPd₅Al₂, C_p(T) shows a magnetic transition at 1.7 K. C_p(T) for GdPd₅Al₂ shows a peak at 6 K, followed by a broad anomaly around 3 K. Within this series, T_N's for CePd₅Al₂ and NdPd₅Al₂ clearly deviate from the relation predicted by de Gennes scaling, which is ascribed to the CEF effect.     

Brillouin light scattering in likso4

Brillouin shift for LIkSO₄ was measured as a function of temperature inthe range 300–363°K. Elastic stiffness coefficients C₁₁, C₃₃ and C₆₆ were also evaluated in this range. A discontinuity of their values was observed at 333°K, suggesting thereby a structural phase transition.     

Synthesis and characterization of Co7(OH)12(C2H4S2O6)(H2O)2—a single crystal structural study of a ferrimagnetic layered cobalt hydroxide

A novel layered hydrotalcite-like material, Co₇(H₂O)₂(OH)₁₂(C₂H₄S₂O₆), has been prepared hydrothermally and the structure determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction (a=6.2752(19) Å, b=8.361(3) Å, c=9.642(3) Å, α=96.613(5)°, β=98.230(5)°, γ=100.673(5)°, R1=0.0551). The structure consists of brucite-like sheets where 1/6 of the octahedral sites are replaced by two tetrahedrally coordinated Co(II) above and below the plane of the layer. Ethanedisulfonate anions occupy the space between layers and provide charge balance for the positively charged layers. The compound is ferrimagnetic, with a Curie temperature of 33 K, Curie-Weiss θ of −31 K, and a coercive field of 881 Oe at 5 K.     

Lattice softening in K2Pt(CN)4Br0.3·3H2O

The temperature dependences of the elastic constants, c₁₁, c₃₃, c₄₄, and c₆₆, in KCP are described. In the temperature range 10–100 K softening is observed in c₄₄, while c₆₆ decreases almost linearly with decreasing temperature. These results indicate the presence of a new critical region.     

Carbon K-shell excitation of C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 and C6H6 by 2.5 keV electron impact

Energy loss spectra of 2.5 keV electrons in the region of the carbon K-edge in C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆ and C₆H₆ are report     

Anomalous thermoelastic behaviour of orientationally disordered (NH4I)x(KI)1−x mixed crystals

We have incorporated the translational rotational (TR) coupling effects in the framework of three body force shell model (TSM) to develop an extended TSM (ETSM). This ETSM has been applied to reveal the second order elastic constants (C₁₁, C₁₂ and C₄₄) in the dilute regimes 0≤x≤0.50. Our theoretical results have reproduced well the observed variations of C₁₁ (x=0.14, 0.43) and C₁₂ (x=0.14, 0.43) with temperature. The anomalous elastic behaviour observed in C₄₄ below 150 K for x=0.43 has been predicted well by ETSM results in the orientationally disordered (NH₄I)_x(KI)_1−x mixed crystals. Our results for C₁₂ are in good agreement with the experimental data available for x=0.14 and 0.43. Besides, the third and fourth order elastic constants and the results on cohesive and thermophysical properties are also discussed.     

Heat capacity and magnetic properties of pyrochlore Hg2Os2O7

Hg₂Os₂O₇, which has the cubic pyrochlore structure, remains metallic down to the liquid helium temperature unlike its isostructural counterpart Cd₂Os₂O₇, which shows metal-insulator transition at 226 K. Magnetization and heat capacity data for Hg₂Os₂O₇ are presented. The magnetic anomaly at T_N=88 K shares many characteristics in common with the metal-insulator transition in Cd₂Os₂O₇, though Hg₂Os₂O₇ remains metallic below T_N. The heat capacity C_p shows no or very little change in the magnetic entropy around T_N, supporting the view that there is no long-range ordering of localized spins. The measured value of electronic heat-capacity coefficient γ=21 mJ K⁻²mol⁻¹ is comparable to the value obtained from band-structure calculation on Cd₂Os₂O₇, suggesting that mass-enhancement is small in Hg₂Os₂O₇. There is a pronounced peak in C_p/T³ at 13.1 K, which corresponds to a peak in the phonon density of states at 40 cm⁻¹.     

Elastic, electronic, and optical properties of hypothetical SnNNi3 and CuNNi3 in comparison with superconducting ZnNNi3

The elastic, electronic, and optical properties of MNNi₃ (M=Zn, Sn, and Cu) have been calculated using the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential technique, which is based on the first-principle density functional theory (DFT) with generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The optimized lattice parameters, independent elastic constants (C₁₁, C₁₂, and C₄₄), bulk modulus B, compressibility K, shear modulus G, and Poisson's ratio υ, as well as the band structures, total and atom projected densities of states and finally the optical properties of MNNi₃ have been evaluated and discussed. The electronic band structures of the two hypothetical compounds show metallic behavior just like the superconducting ZnNNi₃. Using band structures, the origin of features that appear in different optical properties of all the three compounds has been discussed. The large reflectivity of the predicted compounds in the low energy region might be useful in good candidate materials for coating to avoid solar heating.