Electrical properties of thick film NTC thermistors based on SrFe0.9Sn0.1O3−δ

The thick film negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors based on SrFe_0.9Sn_0.1O_3–δ were fabricated on alumina substrate by screen-printed technique. The fired thick films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and complex impedance analysis. The thick film samples showed compact and homogeneous microstructure. Depending on the thick film composition, the values of the resistivity at 25 °C, thermistor constant and activation energy are in the range of 65.5–4860 Ω cm, 2611–3558 K and 0.229–0.312 eV, respectively. Impedance spectroscopy analysis showed both grain and grain boundary resistances decrease with a rise in temperature for the composition SrFe_0.9Sn_0.1O_3–δ with the glass phases of 5 mol% BaBiO₃ and 5 mol% CuO. The conduction mechanism and relaxation behavior were also discussed.     

Study of ceramic pigments based on cobalt doped Y2O3–Al2O3 system

Ceramic pigments based on Y₂O₃–Al₂O₃ system doped by cobalt as a colourant agent were synthesized by solid-state reaction at temperatures up to 1,400 °C. The reactivity of initial mixtures of components was improved by the mineralizer LiF and the mechanical activation in a planetary ball mill. The temperature region of the product formation was followed by the method of thermal analysis. The effect of the synthetic method on the phase composition of the products was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. Studied pigment-application properties of the product include the measurement of optical properties in the visible region of light and particle size distribution. The simple solid-state reaction led to the formation of turquoise samples that contain mainly blue CoAl₂O₄ spinel and next to it also YAlO₃ perovskite and Y₃Al₅O₁₂ garnet phases. The mineralizer LiF promotes the formation of yttrium aluminium double oxides of sandy-yellow to grey–brown colour hue, although the samples also contain small amount of blue CoAl spinel phase. Intensive milling process did not results in CoAl spinel phase and the samples contain yttrium aluminium perovskite and cobalt oxide. Evaluation of Kubelka–Munk absorption as a function of the pigment concentration was found that hiding is complete by adding of 5 mass% of pigment to the ceramic glaze. Resulting colour hue of all pigment applications into ceramic glaze is blue. The size of particles lies in the range of 7–26 μm.     

The effect of partial substitution of Bi on colour properties and thermal stability of BixPr1−xFeO3 pigments

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The samples of BixPr1?xFeO3 (x?=?0–0.3) were prepared by conventional ceramic method. The main aim of this work was to focus on...     

Oxygen vacancy ordering and magnetism in the rare earth stabilised perovskite form of “SrCoO3−δ”

We have demonstrated that SrCoO_3−δ can be stabilised into phase pure perovskite forms by the introduction of small amounts ∼5% of certain rare earth ions (Sm³⁺Yb³⁺). At the same doping levels, La³⁺ and Pr³⁺ crystallise with the same isostructural trigonal structure as Sr₆Co₅O₁₅; while the Nd³⁺ composition shows a mixture of both structure types. Powder X-ray diffraction showed only a simple cubic perovskite structure, however, a combination of electron and neutron diffraction has revealed a tetragonal (P4/mmm) a_p×a_p×2a_p superstructure. Strontium and the rare earth ions are disordered over a single site, while the oxygen vacancies are localised on the apical O2 sites. Magnetisation measurements show that these materials undergo transitions to a spin-glass state at temperatures below 150 K, and that significant coupling occurs between the rare earth ions and the mixed Co^3+/4+ ions. Magnetisation measurements as a function of applied field reveals that below the transition temperature ferromagnetic ordering takes place at relatively large fields.     

The structure and properties of Li1−xHxNbO3

The properties of Li_1−xH_xNbO₃ have been studied as a function of x, temperature, and stoichiometry of the LiNbO₃ used for its preparation. X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis measurements, and infrared spectroscopy have been used. The intent of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the basic properties of this material, which has potential importance as a waveguide material in LiNbO₃ optical devices. An approximate phase diagram was constructed for the stoichiometric LiNbO₃HNbO₃ system. In one concentration range (0.56 ≤ x ≤ 0.75), particularly complex structural behavior was found: depending on x, samples undergo one, two, or three phase transitions with temperature, and the system appears to exhibit critical behavior. Samples made by proton exchange of congruent LiNbO₃ ([Li₂O]_0.486[Nb₂O₅]_0.514) show generally similar structural chemistry, with one exception: a new monoclinic phase, isomorphous with MnF₃, was found for 0.75 ≤ x ≤ 0.77. Possible reasons for the refractive index changes caused by proton exchange are discussed.     

Electronic structure of He2−

The electronic structure of the He₂⁻ anion has been studied using optimized CI wavefunctions. We find that the ⁴Π_g state of He₂⁻ is bound relative to the a³Σ⁺_u state of He₂, with a calculated electron affinity of 0.182 eV. Only the lowest vibrational level of this anion is stable relative to the He₂(a³Σ⁺_u)+e continuum.     

Visible-light-derived photocatalyst based on TiO(2-δ)Nδ with a tubular structure

We succeeded in achieving visible-light responsiveness on a tubular TiO(2) sample through the treatment of a tubular TiO(2) that has a large surface area with an aqueous solution of ammonia or triethylamine at room temperature and subsequent calcination at 623 K, which produced a nitrided tubular TiO(2) sample. It was found that the ease of nitridation is dependent on the surface states; washing the tubular TiO(2) sample with an aqueous acidic solution is very effective and indispensable. This treatment causes the appearance of acidic sites on the tubular TiO(2), which was proved by the following experiments: NH(3) temperature-programmed desorption and two types of organic reactions exploiting the acid properties. The prepared samples, TiO(2-δ)N(δ), efficiently absorb light in the visible region, and they exhibit a prominent feature for the decomposition of methylene blue in an aqueous solution at 300 K under irradiation with visible light, indicating the achievement of visible-light responsiveness on the tubular TiO(2) sample. This type of tubular TiO(2-δ)N(δ) sample has merit in the sense that it has a large surface area and a characteristic high transparency for enabling photocatalytic reactions because it has a tubular structure and is composed of thin walls.     

Study of ceramic pigments based on Er2Ce2?x Mo x O7

This contribution is focused on the synthesis, characterization and optical properties of new inorganic pigments which are environment friendly and can substitute some toxic metals in interesting colour compounds. Pyrochlores belong to the group of high-temperature pigments, and are a variety of actual and potential applications for several materials. Examples include catalysts, thermal barrier coatings, solid electrolytes, nuclear waste forms and host materials for luminescence centers. The pigments were prepared by the solid state reaction and also by method of suspension mixing of materials in the series with increasing content of molybdenum. The pigments were applied into organic matrix and ceramic glaze. The colour properties of these applications were investigated depending on content of Mo, method of preparation and temperature of calcination (1350?C1550?°C after step 50?°C). The optimum conditions for their synthesis were determined. The pigments were evaluated from standpoint of their structure, colour and particle sizes. Characterization of Er₂Ce_2?x Mo _x O₇ pigments (x?=?0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7) suggests that they have a potential to be alternative yellow or orange colourants for paints, plastics, ceramics and building materials.     

Effect of BiFeO3 doping on ferroelectric properties of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–BaTiO3 based thin film derived by sol–gel method

0.94Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃–0.06BaTiO₃ (NBT–6BT) and (0.94 ? x)Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃–0.06BaTiO₃–xBiFeO₃ (NBT–6BT–xBFO, x = 0.03, 0.05 and 0.08) thin films were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by a sol–gel process. Relative permittivity and remnant polarization were maximized at 5 % BFO substitution. Compared with 0.94NBT–0.06BT, the leakage current density of 0.89NBT–0.06BT–0.05BFO at 600 kV/cm is reduced by one order of magnitude. Enhanced ferroelectricity was also achieved in 0.89NBT–0.06BT–0.05BFO, the remnant polarization (2P _r) values of 0.89NBT–0.06BT–0.05BFO and 0.94NBT–0.06BT are 46 and 24 µC/cm².     

Chromatography of Anions on Alumina Thin Layers: Effect of Transition Metals on CI−-Br−-I− and No− 2-NO− 3 Separations

Abstract

Chromatographic behaviour of eighteen anions on thin layers of alumina and alumina mixed with silica gel (1:1, 1:2 and 2:1) has been studied using mixed acidic organic solvent systems containing formic acid. Though the addition of silica gel to alumina enhances the mobility and clarity of detection of anions, but it causes the increased tailing for Fe(CN)^3- ₆, Cr0₄ ^2- and Cr₂O₄ ^2-. Formic acid is responsible for the differential migration of anions. All the anions remained at the starting line (R_F = 0) in pure organic solvents. Formic acid-Ketone systems gave better results compared to formic acid-alcohol systems. Development time increases with the increase of viscosity/mol. wt. of organic solvents. The mutual separation of C1, Br^?, Br^?, I^? and NO^? ₂ and NO^? ₃ were achieved on pure alumina using formic acid-acetone solvent systems. The effect of transition metals (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) on C1^?-Br^?-I^? and NO^? ₂-NO^? ₃ separations has been studied.     

Structure,nonstoichiometry and magnetic properties of the perovskites Sr1−xCaxMnO3−δ

The structural, thermal and magnetic properties of the perovskite-type alkaline-earth manganites of the series Sr_1−xCa_xMnO_3−δ (0⩽x⩽1) were investigated. SrMnO_3−δ forms a hexagonal perovskite lattice and shows a first-order transformation to a highly defective cubic high-temperature modification. By substituting Ca for Sr (x>0.25) the hexagonal perovskite is suppressed and a cubic (or orthorhombic) lattice becomes stabilized for all temperatures. For x=0.5 and 0.75 cubic perovskites with a large nonstoichiometry (e.g., δ=0.25 for x=0.5) are obtained at 1400 °C. The defective perovskites are prepared by either quenching from high temperature or by cooling in an inert atmosphere. The oxygen vacancies are easily filled by subsequent reoxidation at low temperature (400–600 °C) and stoichiometric samples are obtained. Orthorhombic perovskites are formed at T⩽1200 °C with the nonstoichiometry δ increasing with increasing temperature (e.g., δ=0.06 at 1000 °C and δ=0.14 at 1200 °C for x=0.5). Slow cooling in air results in almost complete reoxidation (δ=0). CaMnO_3−δ is an orthorhombic perovskite with a large range of nonstoichiometry (0⩽δ⩽0.30). The cubic to hexagonal phase transformation of the Sr-rich samples is accompanied by a large expansion of the lattice that is reduced by Ca substitution. The Ca/Sr-manganites are antiferromagnets with T_N of 170 K for x=0.5 and δ=0.02 and 120 K for x=1 and δ=0.05.     

Prediction of lower flammability limits of blended gases based on quantitative structure–property relationship

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The main goal of this research was to improve a carbonate-type foaming agent for the production of Al foams. Various systematic treatments, i.e....     

PrCo1−xFexO3 perovskite powders for possible photocatalytic applications

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Mixed perovskites PrCo1?xFexO3 have been synthesized by the solgel citrate route with the following calcinations in air at 600–800 °C....     

Effects of NiO addition on the structure and electric properties of Dy3−xNixFe5O12 garnet ferrite

Polycrystalline garnet ferrites Dy_3?xNi_xFe₅O₁₂ with varying Ni substitutions (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) have been prepared by the standard ceramic technique and their crystalline structures were investigated by using X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that all samples have a single cubic garnet phase. The materials prepared are identified by infrared rays which indicate the presence of three absorption bands ν₂, ν₃ and ν₄ which represent the tetrahedral, octahedral and dodecahedral sites respectively which characterize the garnet ferrite.The dielectric constant (?), and dielectric loss (tan δ) of the prepared samples were measured at 1 kHz in the temperature range 300–700 K. The dielectric constant (?), and dielectric loss (tan δ) are functions of temperature.The initial magnetic permeability has been studied at different temperatures. The initial magnetic permeability (μ_i) increases gradually with increasing temperature and then drops suddenly at a certain temperature T_c.     

Intramolecular π-complexes based on nitroaryl derivatives of furotroponimine: structure and stereodynamics

Neutral aromatic electrophiles, such as trinitrobenzene and dinitrobenzofuroxane, covalently bound to the furotroponimine moiety form intramolecular through-space charge-transfer π-complexes both in solution and in the crystalline state. The kinetic and activation parameters of stereodynamic processes were determined by dynamic NMR spectroscopy. These parameters provide quantitative estimates of the kinetic stability of the p-complexes. The electronic and geometric characteristics of the π-complexes were calculated by the B3LYP/6-31G** method.     

Magnetoresistance in the ferromagnetic metallic perovskite SrFe1−xCoxO3

The investigation of the magnetic and transport properties of the oxygen deficient perovskites SrFe_1−xCo_xO_3−δ shows that these compounds exhibit both ferromagnetism and metallicity in a wide compositional range (0≤x≤0.70). Negative magnetoresistance is evidenced for the first time in these oxides, in contrast to SrCoO_3−δ. These properties are explained by superexchange interactions between cobalt and iron according to the scheme Fe³⁺OCo⁴⁺↔Fe⁴⁺OCo³⁺. This model is strongly supported by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer measurements which show the existence of two sites at room temperature, high spin localized Fe⁴⁺ and delocalized Fe^3+α sites, whereas magnetic disordering suggesting spin fluctuations is observed at 5 K as soon as cobalt is introduced into the SrFeO₃ structure.     

Application of DTA-TG-MS for determination of chemical stability of BaCeO3−δ-based protonic conductors

Thermogravimetry (TG) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) techniques coupled with mass spectrometry were applied to evaluate the chemical stability of BaCeO_3?δ-based materials in the CO₂- and H₂O-rich atmosphere. The different groups of materials were investigated: solid solutions of BaCeO₃–BaTiO₃ and BaCeO₃–BaSnO₃ acceptor doped by Y or In and composite materials with nominal composition (1?x)BaCe_0.9Y_0.1O_3?δ-xYPO₄. To evaluate the chemical stability towards carbon dioxide and water vapour samples were exposed to atmosphere containing CO₂/H₂O (7 % of CO₂ in air, 100 % RH) at temperature of 25 °C for 350 h. Thermal analysis (TG/DTA) was applied to analyse the materials before and after the test. To support the interpretation of TG/DTA results, the analysis of gaseous products evoluted during thermal treatment of the samples was provided using mass spectrometer. This combined analysis clearly shows that during the exposition test, the conversion of barium cerate to barium carbonate and barium hydroxide occurs. The amount of BaCO₃ and the degree of BaCeO_3?δ conversion depend on the type of barium cerate modification. The mass loss observed after the exposition test can be treated as a measure of chemical instability of BaCeO_3?δ-based materials. The correlation of chemical stability, described by the mass loss, on Goldschmidt tolerance factor, describing the deviation from ideal perovskite structure, was found in most of the materials investigated. However, the influence of the microstructure and the modification the grain boundaries on the chemical stability of BaCeO_3?δ-based materials cannot be neglected.     

Efficient and stable planar all-inorganic perovskite solar cells based on high-quality CsPbBr3 films with controllable morphology

All-inorganic cesium lead bromide(CsPbBr3)perovskite is attracting growing interest as functional materials in photovoltaics and other optoelectronic devices due to its superb stability.However,the fabrication of high-quality CsPbBr3 films still remains a big challenge by solution-process because of the low solubility of the cesium precursor in common solvents.Herein,we report a facile solution-processed approach to prepare high-quality CsPbBr3 perovskite films via a two-step spin-coating method,in which the Cs Br methanol/H2 O mixed solvent solution is spin-coated onto the lead bromide films,followed by an isopropanol-assisted post-treatment to regulate the crystallization process and to control the film morphology.In this fashion,dense and uniform CsPbBr3 films are obtained consisting of large crystalline domains with sizes up to microns and low defect density.The effectiveness of the resulting CsPbBr3 films is further examined in perovskite solar cells(PSCs)with a simplified planar architecture of fluorine–doped tin oxide/compact Ti O2/CsPbBr3/carbon,which deliver a maximum power conversion efficiency of 8.11%together with excellent thermal and humidity stability.The present work offers a simple and effective strategy in fabrication of high-quality CsPbBr3 films for efficient and stable PSCs as well as other optoelectronic devices.     

Crystal structure and impedance study of samarium substituted perovskite: La1−xSmxMnO3 (x = 0.1–0.3)

Three perovskite structured ceramic phases- La_1−xSm_xMnO₃ (where x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) synthesised by solid-state-reaction route crystallize in the rhombohedral symmetry (space group R-3c). The structure refinement converged to satisfactory values of the Rietveld parameters: Rp, Rwp and goodness of fit. The unit cell volume decreases slightly with increasing mole% of samarium in lanthanum manganite matrix. The M–O stretching and bending vibrations in the infrared region have been assigned. Morphology and compositional analysis have been carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) of the specimens. The electrical properties have been investigated by impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range 42 Hz–5 MHz at temperatures between 50° and 300 °C. Nyquist plots show the dominance of grain contribution and Debye like relaxation in the material. The compounds exhibit composition dependent Arrhenius-type of electrical conductivity.