Second order incommensurate phase transition in 25L-Ta2O5

A new structural state 25L-Ta₂O₅, obtained from sintering and annealing treatments of a Ta₂O₅ powder, is identified both by electron diffraction and high resolution imaging on a transmission electron microscope (TEM). According to general rules for the different L-Ta₂O₅ structures proposed by Grey et al. (J. Solid State Chem. 178 (2005) 3308), a structural model is derived from their crystallographic data on 19L-Ta₂O₅. This model yields simulated images in agreement with high resolution TEM observations of the structure oriented along its [001] zone axis, but only for a very thin crystal thickness of less than 1.2 nm. Such a limitation is shown to be due to a modulation of the structure along its [001] axis. Actually, from an analysis of a diffuse scattering and of its evolution into satellites reflections as a function of the cooling rate, a second order incommensurate phase transition can be assumed to occur in this compound. The property of single phase samples observed by TEM is also verified by X-ray powder diffraction. In a discussion about studies performed by different authors on incommensurate structures in the system Ta₂O₅-WO₃, it is noticed that TEM results, similar to ours, indicate that phase transitions could be expected in these structures.     

The equilibrium crystallisation process of non-crystalline Cu3Au

The equilibrium crystallisation of non-crystalline Cu₃Au has been studied by molecular dynamics method. The results of structure analysis show that the crystallisation kinetics of non-crystalline Cu₃Au in the isothermal process is in agreement with the Avrami equation in the temperature range between 400 and 850 K. The time–temperature transformation diagram of crystallisation process presents a typical C-curve with nose temperature about 650 K. In the crystallisation process, there are also many metastable clusters produced in the disordered structure. The metastable polyhedron structure can promote the nucleation and growth process of crystal.     

层状K4Ag2Sn3S9·2H2O的溶剂热合成与表征

用溶剂热法合成了K4Ag2Sn3S9·2H2O,通过单晶X射线衍射、DSC、TG、IR和紫外漫反射光谱等手段对其进行了表征.结果表明,K4Ag2Sn3S9·2H2O属单斜晶系,P21/m空间群,a=0.78071(2)nm,b=2.73508(1)nm,c=1.05008nm,α=90°,β=103.87(6)°,γ=90°,Z=4.其层状结构内具有一维孔道,钾离子分离在层间及层内孔道中.     

Cuprous oxide nanospheres as probes for light scattering imaging analysis of live cells and for conformation identification of proteins

A facile solution-phase synthesis route of highly uniform Cu₂O nanospheres (Cu₂O NPs) with the size of 57.7 ± 4.7 nm was developed, and then the nanoparticles were applied to live cell imaging under a common dark-field microscope. Starting from copper(II) salts, the synthesis of Cu₂O NPs was made in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) by reducing the copper(II) with sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) in aqueous medium and by aging process in the air. Monitoring of morphology evolution process of Cu₂O NPs with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and measuring of the UV-visible spectra showed that the synthesis of Cu₂O NPs follows the reduction-oxidation coupled process of Cu²⁺ into Cu⁰ species at first and then the resulted Cu⁰ species into Cu₂O NPs in the air. Light scattering (LS) features have been measured with a common spectrofluorometer and a common dark-field microscope, and it was found that the as-prepared Cu₂O NPs display strong blue scattering light and can be applied for cell imaging. If incubated with human bone marrow neuroblastoma, transferrin-conjugated Cu₂O NPs can get into the cells and show strong pure blue light in cytoplasm. Further investigations showed that the Cu₂O NPs could be applied for probes for conformation of proteins.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of lindgrenite with a hollow and prickly sphere-like architecture

Lindgrenite [Cu₃(OH)₂(MoO₄)₂] with a hollow and prickly sphere-like architecture has been synthesized via a simple and mild hydrothermal route in the absence of any external inorganic additives or organic structure-directing templates. The hierarchical lindgrenite particles are hollow and prickly spheres, which are comprised of numerous small crystal strips that are aligned perpendicularly to the spherical surface. Two factors are important for the formation of hollow and prickly architecture in the present process. One is the general phenomenon of Ostwald ripening in solution, which can be responsible for the hollow structure; the other is that lindgrenite crystals have a rhombic growth habit, which plays an important role in the formation of prickly surface. Furthermore, Cu₃Mo₂O₉ with the similar size and morphology can be easily obtained by a simple thermal treatment of the as-prepared lindgrenite in air atmosphere.     

Peritektische Zersetzung von YBa2Cu3O7−x

During the heating of YBCO a peritectic reaction takes place at 1020C, which can be described by: 2YBa₂Cu₃O_7–xY₂BaCuO₅+L+(1-2x)/2O₂ (1) whereL = 3BaCuO₂ +2CuO is a fluid with limited amount of yttrium.It has been reported, that many parameters can influence the reaction. From one side not only the starting size of grains but also the heating rate have an influence on the resulting Y₂BaCuO₅-phase. From the other side, there is a change of the peritectical temperature caused by changing of the partial pressure of O₂ and the presence of parasitic phase.From general kinetic consideration one can draw the conclusion, that different mechanisms (nucleation, phase-boundary reaction and diffusion) can control the reaction.Using DTA/TG measurements, the peritectic reaction has been examined. Classical kinetic methods (Kissinger and Friedman) has been used. The Friedman method has given the dependence of the activation energy from reaction degree. This suggests many steps reactions. The dependence of the DTA-peaks from the heat rate suggest a parallel steps of reaction. This assumption can be motivated by evaluation of free O₂, one solid and liquid phase formation. Amount of this phases depends on the heating rate. Additionally X-ray and microscopic methods has been used. In this way was shown, that the perovskit structure is stable up to peritectical temperature and than is dramatically destroyed. From microscopic observations has been got information about shape and size of solid phase and it's creation as a function of temperature, time and starting grain size.

Die Arbeit wurde BMBF gefördert und durch Land NRW unterschtützt.     

Investigations of precipitates in heat treated AgPd30/CuSn6 layers

The subject of the investigations are precipitation zones, which grew as a result of chemical diffusion in AgPd30/CuSn6 bimetals. These precipitation zones have been characterized by metallography, electron probe microanalysis and x-ray diffraction. The growth of precipitation zones in the plating layer and in the substrate layer in dependence on time have been determined. The use of x-ray diffraction alone for the identification of the precipitates could not supply satisfying results in every case. This problem was solved by the application of electron probe microanalysis using a correction method, which allows the estimation of the chemical composition of small particles.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h. c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Discussion of craze formation and growth in amorphous polymers in terms of the multiplicity of glass transition at low temperatures

A craze, the typical deformation zone in an amorphous polymer, can be divided into a precraze and a proper craze. A better understanding of the two corresponding formation processes is possible in terms of glass transition multiplicity.The precraze is associated with the molecular mobility in the confined flow zone, which is part of the main transition. The proper craze corresponds to the mobility in the flow transition zone (terminal zone for shear). A negative pressure generated by nonuniaxial stress is considered to be important for the maintainance of the molecular mobility in these zones belowT _g . The behavior of the zones at negative pressure and low temperatures Tg is considered using a pressure-temperature diagram. The fibril structure of crazes is discussed by a defect diffusion model for the proper glass transition; it is correlated with the sequential physical aging of the corresponding frozen structural defects. Typical mode lengths of the molecular mobilities in the different zones are compared with typical craze parameters. The structure of the craze material is considered to result from confined flow processes which cannot percolate because in the main transition the flow is confined by entanglements, and in the flow transition zone the flow is stopped by releasing the negative pressure due to crack propagation.     

A study of the curing behavior of polyamic acid coated on a Cu or Zn layer

ZnO and Cu₂O nanoparticles can be formed through the thermal decomposition of the complex between Zn or Cu with polyamic acid (PAA), accompanying with the formation of polyimide (PI). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the formation of ZnO nanoparticles needs a longer curing time than that of Cu₂O. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) characterization shows that both Zn and Cu will delay the imidization process of PAA. However, the retarding degree of imidization process is higher for Zn than that of Cu. Further investigation showed the structure of Zn–PAA complex is different from that of Cu–PAA, which is the reason for the difference of initial imidization temperature. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) characterization agrees well with the results of FT-IR. Also, the thermal decomposition temperature of the polyimide was changed by the involvement of Zn or Cu during curing.     

Oxygen non-stoichiometry and diffusion in RBA2CU3O6+x (R=Y, Gd, Ho) investigated by TG method

By means of thermogravimetry (TG) and chemical analysis equilibrium dependencies of oxygen content in GdBa₂Cu₃O_6+x and HoBa₂Cu₃O_6+x on temperature and were studied. It is found that at equal temperature and the oxygen content in RBa₂Cu₃O_6+x increased in order Ho-Y-Gd.On the basis of Fick 2nd law mathematical procedures to determine diffusion coefficients of oxygen from TG data were developed. The oxygen diffusion coefficients in RBa₂Cu₃O_6+x (R=Y, Gd, Ho) were evaluated in a wide temperature (300–900°C) range (at =0.21 bar). The developed model rather satisfactory decribes oxygen diffusion processes in phases under investigation. It is found that for all studied compounds oxygen diffusion in orthorhombic phase happened faster than in tetragonal one. The values of diffusion coefficients increase in order Ho-Y-Gd with increasing of ionic radius of the rare earth element.     

溶剂热方法合成Cu2ZnSnS4空心球

以氯化亚铜,硝酸锌,氯化锡和硫脲作为反应前驱体,聚乙二醇作为模板,利用溶剂热方法合成Cu₂ZnSnS₄中空球。其中,聚乙二醇对于产物的最终形成起到关键作用。文章讨论了Cu₂ZnSnS₄中空球的生长机制,并通过X射线衍射(XRD)、拉曼光谱、场发射电子显微镜(FESEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线能量色散谱(EDX)、X射线光电子谱(XPS)、选区电子衍射谱(SAED)和紫外-可见光分光光度计(UV-Vis)等技术对样品的微结构以及光学性质进行了表征和分析。结果显示Cu₂ZnSnS₄中空球为四方晶体,尺寸为600 nm。其禁带宽度为1.52 eV,适用于制作光伏器件。     

Application of EPMA to the localization and speciation of mercury in contaminated parts of chemical plants

The positions of enrichment of mercury and its compounds in surface layers and within the micro structure of metallic materials originating from closed-down chemical plants were detected by electron probe microanalysis. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry is useful for the analysis of mercury. However, the energy resolution is not sufficient for detecting small amounts of sulphur and to measure quantitatively the chemical bonding state of mercury as sulphide or chloride. Therefore, it was also necessary to use a wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The results show that mercury is mainly present in surface layers, and only in small amounts directly at the surface of the bulk material. On the basis of the results obtained, a decontamination process for mercury contaminated parts can be developed which is necessary prior to waste deposition or recycling of those materials.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer.nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

溶剂热方法合成Cu2ZnSnS4空心球

以氯化亚铜,硝酸锌,氯化锡和硫脲作为反应前驱体,聚乙二醇作为模板,利用溶剂热方法合成Cu₂ZnSnS₄中空球。其中,聚乙二醇对于产物的最终形成起到关键作用。文章讨论了Cu₂ZnSnS₄中空球的生长机制,并通过X射线衍射(XRD)、拉曼光谱、场发射电子显微镜(FESEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线能量色散谱(EDX)、X射线光电子谱(XPS)、选区电子衍射谱(SAED)和紫外-可见光分光光度计(UV-Vis)等技术对样品的微结构以及光学性质进行了表征和分析。结果显示Cu₂ZnSnS₄中空球为四方晶体,尺寸为600 nm。其禁带宽度为1.52 eV,适用于制作光伏器件。     

Facile synthesis of Cu2O nanocube/polycarbazole composites and their high visible-light photocatalytic properties

Cu₂O nanocube/polycarbazole composites have been prepared by an one-pot solvothermal process using carbazole as a reductant. The polycarbazole layer not only protected and stabilized Cu₂O particles, but also prohibited the recombination of photogenerated electrons-holes pair and facilitated interfacial charge transfer between polycarbazole and Cu₂O. The composition, structure and morphology of the obtained products was systematically studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-visible spectrophotometer. Furthermore, the visible-light photocatalytic behavior of the Cu₂O nanocube/polycarbazole composites on the methyl orange was investigated.     

分子动力学模拟研究β-BAB2O4熔体的结构

The local structure of β-BaB2O4 melt at 1400 K has been studied by using the method of molecular dynamics simulation. The radial functions simulated show agreement with the recent experimental results of X-ray diffraction. The calculation of bond order parameters indicates that the local structure of the melt can be described by the model of linear combination of 0.11 tetrahedrons BO4 and 0.89 planar triangles BO3. In the process of crystal growth the existing of many planar triangles BO3 in the melt maybe favorable for the forming of planar boroxol rings B3O6 near the crystal interface. The statistics of rings and chains have been done and some isolated BO3, pyroborate B2O5,chain（－B－O－）n and isolated B3O6 rings are found in the melt which is in agreement with HTRS experimental results. A large (－B－O－)n network is also found and it is suggested that the planar BO3 units are mainly existed in the network but isolated.     

核壳结构磁性镁铝复合氧化物亚微米粒子的制备与表征

首先采用溶剂热法制备粒径均匀分散性良好的Fe3O4亚微米粒子,在对其包覆上一层碳膜进行表面修饰后,采用共沉淀法将硝酸根插层LDHs包覆到磁性粒子的表面,然后500℃焙烧2 h得到磁性镁铝复合氧化物亚微米粒子。这种磁性镁铝复合氧化物亚微米粒子具有以镁铝复合氧化物为壳层,Fe3O4为核的核壳结构,其中壳层厚度为20 nm左右,对其进行二次包覆后壳层厚度可达到50 nm左右,并可以方便的通过重复包覆焙烧过程进行调节,从而实现磁性镁铝复合氧化物亚微米粒子的控制制备。同时,磁性镁铝复合氧化物亚微米粒子具有较强的磁性,其比饱和磁化强度为23.3 emu·g-1,对其进行二次包覆并焙烧后为20.1 emu·g-1。     

Dielectric Responses of (Zn0.33Nb0.67)xTi1−xO2 Ceramics Prepared by Chemical Combustion Process: DFT and Experimental Approaches

The (Zn, Nb)-codoped TiO₂ (called ZNTO) nanopowder was successfully synthesized by a simple combustion process and then the ceramic from it was sintered with a highly dense microstructure. The doped atoms were consistently distributed, and the existence of oxygen vacancies was verified by a Raman spectrum. It was found that the ZNTO ceramic was a result of thermally activated giant dielectric relaxation, and the outer surface layer had a slight effect on the dielectric properties. The theoretical calculation by using the density functional theory (DFT) revealed that the Zn atoms are energy preferable to place close to the oxygen vacancy (Vo) position to create a triangle shape (called the ZnVoTi defect). This defect cluster was also opposite to the diamond shape (called the 2Nb2Ti defect). However, these two types of defects were not correlated together. Therefore, it theoretically confirms that the electron-pinned defect-dipoles (EPDD) cannot be created in the ZNTO structure. Instead, the giant dielectric property of the (Zn_0.33Nb_0.67)_xTi_1−xO₂ ceramics could be caused by the interfacial polarization combined with electron hopping between the Zn²⁺/Zn³⁺ and Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺ ions, rather than due to the EPDD effect. Additionally, it was also proved that the surface barrier-layer capacitor (SBLC) had a slight influence on the giant dielectric properties of the ZNTO ceramics. The annealing process can cause improved dielectric properties, which are properties with a huge advantage to practical applications and devices.     

The effect of milling on the performance of a Mo6S8 Chevrel phase as a cathode material for rechargeable Mg batteries

In the present study, we explored how milling Mo₆S₈ Chevrel phase in inert or air atmosphere affects their electrochemical behavior as a Mg-ion insertion material for rechargeable Mg batteries. Electrochemical tools such as slow scan rate cyclic voltammograms and potentiostatic intermittent titration technique have been used in conjunction with X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. In contrast to the deterioration observed for milling Mo₆S₈ in air, its milling under Ar results in specific capacity increase due to improved Mg-ion diffusion kinetics. It was shown that in spite of the conservation of the bulk crystallographic structure, both for air and the Ar-milled materials, they differ significantly in the average particle sizes and the degree of surface oxidation state.Dedicated to Prof. G. Horanyi on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Determination of the stoichiometry and the Yb2+/Yb3+ ratio in YbF x optical IAD films by RBS and in situ XPS analysis

Thin films of YbF₃ are interesting as a possible component in antireflection coatings matching the CO₂ laser radiation. Ion assisted deposition (IAD) techniques for producing high density films were applied to this material and proved to be most successful in optimising the figures of merit for this purpose (low absorption values, high damage thresholds). Our XPS and RBS measurements, however, reveal a deficiency of fluorine in these IAD films that becomes more pronounced with increasing ion bombardment. The deficiency correlates with an increasing Yb²⁺/Yb³⁺ ratio determined by XPS. It can be concluded that the fluorine deficiency is well compensated by a valence state transition of the Yb ion and the formation of a corresponding amount of YbF₂ in the film. This process appears to be essential for avoiding metallic precipitation and achieving good optical film properties. By applying an in situ XPS technique, results have been obtained that are representative for the bulk of the films as has been confirmed by RBS.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

在酸性条件下合成氧化亚铜纳米立方体(英)

在微酸性(pH：4～6)的水热体系中130 ℃反应18 h合成了氧化亚铜纳米粒子，粒径约为100 nm，呈立方体外形。乙二胺和十六烷基胺在反应体系中充当缓冲试剂，调节反应液的pH值并控制体系中游离Cu²⁺的浓度，使得Cu²⁺不会被迅速还原成单质铜。所合成的纳米立方体的能带宽度约为2.51 eV，比氧化亚铜体材料和氧化亚铜纳米线蓝移了0.51 eV和0.17 eV，它有利于把太阳光谱中能量高的可见光转化成其他形式的能量。