Thermally modulated differential scanning calorimetry of a glass of composition 45Na2O-40B2O3-10Al2O3-5In2O3

The kinetics of structural relaxation and of glass transition of the 45Na₂O-40B₂O₃-10Al₂O₃-5In₂O₃ glassforming melt is studied by means of standard DSC and of temperature modulated DSC. In this way the dependence of the fictive temperature on cooling rate is determined simultaneously with the determination of the dependence of the dynamic glass transition temperature on modulation frequency. Both sets of data are fitted together in terms of the equation of Ritland-Bartenev. It was found that the activation energy of the structural relaxation exhibits a moderate dependence on temperature with the dimensionless fragility parameter α=3.3 (for strong systems, α is about 1 and increases to about 8 for some very fragile polymeric systems).     

Electrical transport properties of 0.5Li2O-0.5M2O-2B2O3 (M = Li, Na and K) glasses

Transparent glasses in the system 0.5Li₂O-0.5M₂O-2B₂O₃ (M = Li, Na and K) were fabricated via the conventional melt quenching technique. The amorphous and glassy nature of the samples was confirmed via the X-ray powder diffraction and the differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The frequency and temperature dependent characteristics of the dielectric relaxation and the electrical conductivity were investigated in the 100 Hz-10 MHz frequency range. The imaginary part of the electric modulus spectra was modeled using an approximate solution of Kohrausch-Williams-Watts relation. The stretching exponent, β, was found to be temperature independent for 0.5Li₂O-0.5Na₂O-2B₂O₃ (LNBO) glasses. The activation energy associated with DC conduction was found to be higher (1.25 eV) for 0.5Li₂O-0.5K₂O-2B₂O₃ (LKBO) glasses than that of the other glass systems under study. This is attributed to the mixed cation effect.     

Conductivity and optical absorption of semiconducting WO3 glasses

The dc conductivity and optical properties of WO₃---B₂O₃---ZnO glasses containing up to 80% WO₃ have been measured and are analyzed using small polaron hopping theory. The thermal hopping energy E_H is estimated from the temperature dependence of the conductivity, but an accurate determination of its value is not possible due to the continuous curvature of the conductivity plots. The optical absorption is dominated by W⁵⁺ ligand field absorption in the visible and by a band edge at 3.5 eV; the absorption by the small polarons is too weak to be observed directly. The optical hopping energy E_o is determined from the thermomodulation spectra. The values obtained for E_H and E_o can be combined to give a polaron binding energy and a disorder energy both approximately equal to 0.4 eV. A similar disorder energy is obtained from an analysis of the electro-modulation spectra in the band edge region.     

Conduction on localized states in Nb/Al2O3 semiconducting films

Electrical conduction in co-evaporated semiconducting Nb/Al₂O₃ films (1: 1 volume ratio) is determined by the high density of localized levels in the energy gap of the alumina. The tunnelling between the metal particles occurs via a hopping mechanism on these states. The transitions have an activation energy of the order of kT, due to the continuous distribution in energy of the localized levels. The conductivity dependence on temperature in the ohmic range leads to a density of states times mobility product increasing exponentially above the Fermi level. The current-field dependence in the high-field regime gives information about the density of states, which is inferred to increase linearly with energy above the Fermi level.     

Structural, electrical, and optical properties of As2S3-Cu6PS5I nanocomposites

As₂S₃-Cu₆PS₅I nanocomposites are prepared by incorporation of nanocrystals of Cu₆PS₅I superionic conductor in As₂S₃ glass matrix. Their structural studies by scanning electronic microscopy are performed and the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites is investigated. The temperature dependence of the nanocomposite optical absorption edge is studied; a non-Urbach behaviour of the absorption edge is revealed. Influence of different types of disordering on the optical absorption edge is studied.     

Remark on the optical gap in ZnO-Bi2O3-TeO2 glasses

Four ZnO-Bi₂O₃-TeO₂ glasses were prepared from high purity (4N5) oxides. From measurements of the optical transmission on very thin bulk samples the optical gap was determined at around 3.55 eV for the glasses studied. The temperature dependence of the optical gap was also determined from the room temperature close up to 500 K. Preliminary Raman scattering measurements indicate that with a decrease in TeO₂ content, TeO₄ trigonal bipyramid transformation proceeds into TeO₃ trigonal pyramids.     

Flux growth and low temperature dielectric relaxation in piezoelectric Pb[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.91Ti0.09]O3 single crystals

Single crystals of Pb[(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.91Ti_0.09]O₃ (PZNT 91/9) have been grown by flux method after modifications in temperature profile, flux ratio and addition of excess ZnO/B₂O₃ which resulted in enhanced perovskite yield (more than 95%). Only a few crystals showed the presence of pyrochlore phase/variation in composition. A comparative characterization of these crystals were carried out in respect of piezoelectric charge coefficient d₃₃, dielectric constant, ac conductivity and hysteresis loop after cutting and poling the crystals along [001] direction. The total activation energy for conduction has been found to increase with Ti‐content in the sample. The effect of ZnO on growth behavior has been analyzed. A detailed analysis of PZNT (91:9) has been carried out at low temperature in respect of the various thermodynamic parameters related to the dielectric relaxation mechanism, like optical dielectric constant, static dielectric constant, free energy of activation for dipole relaxation, enthalpy of activation and relaxation time, have been calculated in the vicinity of transition temperature in the lower temperature region. The activation energy for relaxation at ‐10 and ‐49 °C have been found to be 0.09 and 0.02 eV respectively. The results were analyzed and a detailed dielectric analysis and low temperature relaxation behavior of PZNT crystals were interpreted. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

AC impedance analysis of CsNO3:Al2O3 composite solid electrolyte systems

Complex impedance spectroscopic studies were carried out on CsNO₃ and CsNO₃-Al₂O₃ dispersed solid electrolyte systems (DSES) in the temperature range of 100-350 °C and the frequency 50 kHz-1 MHz. Dielectric constant, loss tangent, ac conductivity and dc ionic conductivity (obtained from CIS) in these systems are presented. DC ionic conductivity is noticed to increase with temperature in the extrinsic region in pure and dispersed systems. The enhancement of conductivity in DSES was observed to be about two orders of magnitude over its pure form in the extrinsic region. This enhancement of conductivity was attributed to the formation of space charge layer between the host material and the dispersoid. Enhancement in conductivity is found to increase with m/o up to 40 m/o where as it decreased for 80 m/o. Dielectric constant, dielectric loss and ac conductivity are also found to increase with temperature, and with mole percent it maintained the similar behavior as that of dc conductivity. These dielectric properties are interpreted in terms of space charge polarization and increased concentration of defects in the interfacial layer formed between the host and the dispersoid.     

DC conduvtivity of V2O5TeO2 glasses

The dc conductivity of semiconducting vanadium tellurite glasses of compositions in the range 50 to 80 mol% V₂O₅ has been measured in the temperature region 77 to 400 K. Measurements have been made on annealed samples at different annealing temperatures. Annealing the samples at temperature of about 250°C causes the appearance of a complex crystalline phase resulting in an increase of conductivity. Results are reported for amorphous samples of different compositions. The conductivity of tellurite glasses is slightly higher than the corresponding composition of phosphate glasses, but the general trend of the increase of conductivity and decrease of high temperature activation energy with increasing V₂O₅ content is similar in the two systems. The data have been analysed in the light of existing models of polaronic hopping conduction. A definite conclusion about the mechanics of conduction (adiabatic or nonadiabatic) is difficult in the absence of a precise knowledge of the characteristic phonon frequency v₀. Adiabatic hopping is indicated for v₀～10¹¹ Hz, however this value leads to unreasonably low value for the Debye temperature θ_D, and higher values for v₀～10¹³ hz satifiies the conditions for nonadiabatic hopping which appears to be the likely mechanism of conduction in V₂O₅TeO₂ glasses. The low temperature data (< 100 K) can be fitted to Mott's variable range hopping, which when combined with ac conductivity data gives reasonable values of α, but a high value for the disorder energy.     

Growth and properties of Nd:Lu3Ga5O12 laser crystal by floating-zone method

Neodymium (Nd) doped lutetium gallium garnet (Nd:Lu₃Ga₅O₁₂, Nd:LuGG) single crystal was successfully grown by the optical floating-zone method for the first time to our knowledge. Its absorption and luminescence spectra at room temperature were measured. By using the J–O theory, the spectral parameters of Nd:LuGG were calculated, which indicated that Nd:LuGG should possess comparable and even better laser properties than Nd:YAG. The maximum output power of 855 mW at 1062 nm was achieved with slope efficiency of 23.4% under a pump power of 5.2 W, and optical conversion efficiency of 16.4%. All the results show that Nd:LuGG is a potential laser material.     

Electronic relaxation in the PbOSiO2Fe2O3 glass system

The a.c. and d.c. conductivities of PbOSiO₂ glass with 0–10 mole% Fe₂O₃ additions were measured in the temperature range 77–700 K. Two relaxation processes were noted. The relaxation mechanism at lower temperatures is due to polaron hopping between ferric-ferrous ion pairs with a distribution of relaxation times which is energy independent. The second relaxation phenomenon, at higher temperatures is polaron hopping along iron ion chains in the glass of which the pairs responsible for the first process are a part. A theoreticalmodel is proposed and additional evidence for this model is presented in the form of magnetic susceptibility and electron spin resonance (esr) data.     

Structural relaxation of SiO2 at elevated temperatures monitored by in situ Raman scattering

Raman scattering spectra of high-purity synthetic silica glass were measured in situ in the temperature range from 950 to 1200 °C by means of an experimental approach which gives very low thermal background. The temperature dependence of the scattering permits an analysis of the spectra into the first-order and overtone contributions in a consistent manner. For low-OH content the dynamics of relaxation of the D₂ defect follow a single exponential decay, but more complex relaxation is found when OH content is high. In the latter case a double-exponential fit describes the observed relaxation well. The activation energies found are: for creation of D₂ defects 0.53 ± 0.07 eV; for single exponential relaxation in low-OH material, 6.0 ± 0.3 eV; for high-OH material, primary relaxation 5.1–5.2 ± 0.3 eV, secondary relaxation 2.4–2.5 ± 0.5 eV.     

Study of CaO-WO3-P2O5 glass system by dielectric properties, IR spectra and differential thermal analysis

Dielectric constant ε^′, loss tanδ and ac conductivity σ_ac of 40CaO-xWO₃-(60−x)P₂O₅ (with 0?x?15) glasses are studied over a range of frequencies and temperature. The dielectric breakdown strength of these glasses is also determined at room temperature. The values of dielectric parameters, viz., ε^′, tanδ and σ_ac of CaO-P₂O₅ glasses are found to decrease with the introduction of WO₃ up to 3 mol% and increase with further increase in the concentration of WO₃; the probable reasons for such an increase are identified and explained with the aid of IR spectra and differential thermal analysis of these glasses. The variation of tanδ with temperature at different frequencies of CaO-P₂O₅ glasses has exhibited dielectric relaxation effects with decreasing relaxation intensity with increase in the concentration of WO₃ from 0 to 3 mol%; such relaxation effects seem to have been absent in glasses containing WO₃ beyond 3 mol%. The relaxation phenomenon has been analysed by a pseudo-Cole-Cole plot method and the possible mechanism responsible for such relaxation effects has been suggested.     

Conductivity and dielectric properties of polymer electrolytes PEO:LiN(CF3SO2)2 near glass transition

Results of measurements of PEO:LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂ polymer electrolytes of composition between 12:1 and 1.5:1 EO:Li, performed by impedance spectroscopy, impedance spectroscopy simultaneous with microscope observation, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction were analyzed focusing on electrical properties of semicrystalline and rapidly cooled amorphous samples. In the loss spectra measured at low temperature, the occurrence of two dielectric relaxations was evidenced: local (β) and segmental (α). For each of the investigated electrolytes, the temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity and the frequency of α relaxation could be described by the VTF function with the same value of parameter T₀, which indicated close coupling of both phenomena. The local (β) relaxation exhibited an Arrhenius type temperature dependence. With increasing amount of salt, two effects were observed for amorphous samples: an increase of the glass transition temperature T_g affecting the α relaxation and changes of structure of PEO:LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂ complexes reflected in shift of the β relaxation frequency. Crystallization caused decrease of both the ionic conductivity and the strength of dielectric relaxations. The presence of crystalline phase was also reflected in a shift of the T_g of amorphous phase remaining in the system with respect to the T_g of amorphous electrolyte obtained by rapid cooling.     

Thermally stimulated depolarization of glassy As2S3

Decay of dark polarization in glassy As₂S₃ is investigated by thermostimulated depolarization (TSD). An attempt is made to analyse the observed maximum at about 360 K. To get more insight into the TSD phenomena, dc conductivity measurements at corresponding temperature are also presented. It is not possible at present to identify the trapped species responsible for the non-uniform polarization, despite finding that identical traps are active in both surface and bulk trapping.     

Apparent activation energy of structural relaxation for Se70Te30 glass

Differential scanning calorimetry and dc conductivity measurements were used to study structural relaxation of Se₇₀Te₃₀ glass. A single set of Tool-Narayanaswamy-Moynihan (TNM) parameters was obtained from the curve-fitting procedure. The value of apparent activation energy Δh∗ was further confirmed by two non-fitting techniques. Results of the Δh∗ evaluation from the T_g dependence on cooling rate are discussed in terms of how the T_f determination might be influenced by the material’s structure type and by the interference of the crystallization process.     

Crystallization kinetics of amorphous Se60S20Te20

The temperature and the time dependence of the electrical conductivity (6) of a-Se₆₀S₂₀Te₂₀ are investigated. Conductivity anomalies are observed during the crystallization growth from both the amorphous solid and supercooled liquid phases. The changes of 6 during different isothermal annealing of a-Se₆₀S₂₀Te₂₀ samples with time are used to determine the ratio transformed from amorphous to crystalline. A value of 0.97±0.16 eV has been obtained for the activation energy of the crystal growth in the temperature range of 120–170°C.     

The mixed alkali effect in the Na2OCs2OSiO2 glasses

As an approach to the mixed alkali effect in glass, the self-diffusion coefficients of sodium and cesium ions in Na₂OCs₂OSiO₂ glasses were measured at temperatures 350–550°C. Electrical conductivity of the glasses and the transport number for sodium ions were also measured. The substitution of the alkali ions in the glass by different alkali ions caused the mobility of each alkali ion to decrease pronouncedly and the activation energy for migration to increase rapidly. The increase of activation energy was attributed to an increase in alkali-oxygen bond strength resulting from the presence of two kinds of alkali ions. This is related to the expectation that the activity of the alkali ions decreases when two alkali ions are mixed.     

Optical absorption in vitreous GeSb2Se4

Optical absorption of vitreous GeSb₂Se₄ was studied in spectral region 0.7–25 μm. At low absorption levels near the edge the absorption coefficient K depends exponentially on energy. At high absorption levels the quadratical energy dependence of K is observed. In the present work we determined the optical energy gap E^opt_g = 1.29 eV and discussed the temperature dependence of the absorption coefficient. Measured reflectivity curves were used to estimate the value of the refractive index of GeSb₂Se₄ ($\text{n = 3.13–3.56}\text{at}\text{h}\text{?}\text{ω = 1.00–1.70}\text{eV}$). Vitreous GeSb₂Se₄ is also transparent in the spectral interval 2–15.7 μm.     

Raman scattering of the mixed chalcogenide glass system As2SxSe3-x

Polarized room temperature Raman spectra of glassy As₂S_xSe_3-x for 0≦×≦3 have been measured. Spectra for crystalline As₂S₁Se₂ are reported. The polarization and intensity dependence upon composition are consistent with mixed pyramids of composition As₂S_nSe_3-n and preclude phase separation in the glassy system.