Dynamical properties of an alkali chloride mixture in the glassy and liquid states

Molecular dynamics calculations have been carried out to reveal the dynamical properties of an alkali chloride mixture (50 mol% LiCl---40KCl---10CsCl) and pure LiCl in the liquid and glassy states. It is found that the mobility of Li⁺ ions in the mixture is significantly lower than that in LiCl, not only in liquid state but also in the glassy state. The partial dynamic structure factors, S_Li---Li (Q, ω) and S_{Cl---Cl (Q, ω)}, are evaluated to investigate the dynamical correlation between the Li⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. In LiCl glass, it is shown that the motions of the Li⁺ and Cl⁻ ions are highly correlated with each other, and both the acoustic and optic modes are spatially delocalized (Q < 1.8 Å⁻¹). On the other hand, in the mixture glass, the motion of the Li⁺ ions is almost independent of that of the Cl⁻ ions, and at small wavelengths there are the intense vibrations localized on single Li⁺ ions similar to an Einstein oscillation.     

Dynamical studies of an aqueous electrolyte in the supercooled liquid and glassy states

Some interesting aspects of the dynamical behavior of aqueous electrolyte solutions have been summarized. They are based on the ability of these systems to form glasses providing ‘ideal’ conditions to study the glass transition phenomena and to characterize the different thermodynamical states in connection with the non-linear behavior of the static properties. Structural relaxation analysis and collective vibrational dynamics are discussed pointing out their connection with the state of the system. The existence of two different scaling behaviors of the relaxation time connected to the change in the multiplicity of microscopic states is given in addition, with some information on the intramolecular stretching vibrations at the glass transition.     

Structure and physical properties of the glassy As2S3Gex system

Spectroscopical and structural investigations directly reveal the presence of those structural units which were predicted by Myuller and coworkers to form the continuous network of As-S-Ge glasses. After refining Myuller's model to some extent, the variation with x of several physical properties (density, microhardness, electrical dark conductivity, photoconductivity, optical gap and first-neighbour coordination) in the whole series of As₂S₃Ge_x glasses can be either understood qualitatively or even calculated quantitatively with the aid of additivity laws.     

Growth and spectral properties of Nd-doped Sr3Y(BO3)3 crystal

A new crystal of Nd³⁺:Sr₃Y(BO₃)₃ with dimension up to 25×35 mm² was grown by Czochralski method. Absorption and emission spectra of Nd³⁺: Sr₃Y(BO₃)₃ were investigated . The absorption band at 807 nm has a FWHM of 18 nm. The absorption and emission cross sections are 2.17×10⁻²⁰ cm² at 807 nm and 1.88×10⁻¹⁹ cm² at 1060 nm, respectively. The luminescence lifetime τ_f is 73 μs at room temperature     

Preparation and thermal properties of novel Li2S-Sb2S3 glassy system

There is great interest in sulfide glasses because of their high lithium ion conductivity. A new Li₂S-Sb₂S₃ glassy system has been prepared by a classical quenching technique. Thermal characterization has been carried out and it has been observed that the T_g decreases with an increase in the concentration of Li₂S. However, this tendency stops around 17% Li₂S content. Results have been discussed on the basis of the modification that would occur in the base Sb₂S₃ glass network by the addition of Li₂S.     

Thermal and laser properties of Yb:YAl3(BO3)4 crystal

Large optical-quality Yb:YAl₃(BO₃)₄(Yb:YAB) crystals have been grown by the flux method. The thermal properties of Yb:YAB crystal were measured for the first time. The thermal properties of Yb:YAB crystal with different Yb³⁺ ion concentrations are also reported. The results show that the ytterbium concentration influences the properties of Yb:YAB crystal. The specific heat decreases with the increase of Yb³⁺ ion concentrations in the experiment range. Apparently, the thermal expansion coefficient increases along the c-direction with the increase of Yb³⁺ ion concentrations, while it changes slightly along the a-direction. The output laser in 1120–1140 nm ranges has been demonstrated pumped by InGaAs laser. The slope efficiency is 3.8%. The self-frequency-doubling output power of 1 mW is achieved.     

Physical properties of self-flux and WO3-containing solutions useful for growing type III KGd(PO3)4 single crystals

Density, surface tension and dynamic viscosity of self-flux and WO₃-containing solutions useful for growing type III KGd(PO₃)₄ single crystals have been measured at temperature near the saturation temperature. The thermal behavior of these physical properties has also been studied. Solutions containing WO₃ show a higher density than self-flux solutions and the density decreases linearly when the temperature increases, in the two cases. Near the saturation temperature, self-flux solutions present a surface tension slightly lower than that of WO₃-containing solutions. The dynamic viscosity of WO₃-containing solutions is slightly lower than that of self-flux solutions when this property was measured at the same temperature. We observed that, in WO₃-containing solutions, the saturation temperature is lower than in self-flux solutions. Thus, at the growth temperatures, the two solutions present dynamic viscosities only slightly different, so we expect that the introduction of WO₃ up to 10 mol% in the growth solution does not represent any important improvement in its hydrodynamics and this small change does not compensate for the possibility of introduction of tungsten impurities in the crystal structure affecting the physical properties expected for these crystals. Taking into account the values measured for these physical properties, we choose the initial conditions for growing type III KGd(PO₃)₄ single crystals from self-flux solutions.     

Anomalous physical properties and Raman spectra of glassy B2O3BaTiO3Na2O materials

Anomalous physical properties (refractive index and density) of B₂O₃BaTiO₃Na₂O ternay glasses are determined and discussed on the basis of the structure present in the glasses and evidenced by vibrational Raman spectroscopy.These glasses behave in a manner analogous to the alkali B₂O₃X₂O binary glasses for molar ratio R = basic oxide/B₂O₃ up to 0.3, with oxygen binding by means of bridging bonds while boron coordination changes from the trigonal to tetrahedral type. The phenomenon is indicated by a progressive weakening of the 806 cm^?1 peak (attributable to a breathing vibration of the boroxol unit) and by a concomitant strengthening of the ～775 cm^?1 peak (attributable to a vibrational mode of boroxol units, or derived units, containing at least one 4-coordinate boron atom). For higher R values the Raman spectra bring to light the progressive demolition of the structural units responsible for the 775 cm^?1 Raman peak, which gives rise (the transformation is complete for R ～ 1) to two new main structural units, orthoborate [BTi₄O₁₀]^?1 (peak at 845 cm^?1) and metaborate BO₂^? (peak at 715 cm^?1).     

Growth and properties of (Cr, Nd) doped GdCa4O(BO3)3 crystals

Optical quality Nd:GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (Nd:GdCOB) crystal and chromium sensitized crystal of Cr:Nd:GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (Cr:Nd:GdCOB) were grown by the Czochralski (CZ) method. The transmittance spectra was measured at room temperature on 7at%Nd:GdCOB and lat%Cr:7at%Nd:GdCOB samples. The absorption in the blue-UV region of Cr:Nd:GdCOB was larger than that of Nd:GdCOB, which matched the xenon flash lamp very well. A 3×3×10mm³ Nd:GdCOB sample without any antireflective coating was sidepumped using a pulsed dye-laser tuned to 595.4nm. The green-light output energy was 1.35mJ at a pump energy of 17.5mJ. The conversion efficiency was 7.7%, and the threshold energy was less than 1.2mJ which are the best results up to now to our knowledge. 3×3×7mm³ Nd:GdCOB and Cr:Nd:GdCOB samples without antireflective coatings were pumped using a flash pump source. The threshold for Cr:Nd:GdCOB was 0.9J while for Nd:GdCOB it was I.O.J. The output green light energy was 2.46mJ for Cr:Nd:GdCOB at a 10J flash pump energy and was 1.96mJ for Nd:GdCOB at the same pump energy, which clearly shows that Cr³⁺ ions have the sensitizing effect on the Nd³⁺ ions in Nd:GdCOB crystal.     

Photoluminescence properties of PVP/Eu(TTA)2(Phen3PO)2NO3 nanocomposites

Thin films (1-10 μm thickness) of nanocomposites (NC) based on organic coordinated compound (OCC) Eu(TTA)₂(Phen₃PO)₂NO₃ (where TTA is thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (C₈H₅F₃O₂S), Phen - 1,10-phenanthroline (C₁₂H₈N₂)) and polymer - polyvinylpyrrolidone ((C₆H₉NO)_n) (PVP)) were obtained by chemical methods. NC were characterized by measurements of optical transmission, and photoluminescence (PL) at different concentrations of Eu(TTA)₂(Phen₃PO)₂NO₃ in NC. Using the optical transmission spectra, the characteristic parameters of NC such as threshold of absorbance and the position of the absorption edge on the concentration of the OOC in NC, etc., were determined. The light displacement of threshold absorption to infrared region was observed with increasing of concentration of coordinated material in NC. It was established that the excitation spectrum at which the photoluminescence in NC take place cover the range of wavelength from 200 to 410 nm. The PL of nanocomposites was detected as specific for internal transitions 4f-4f of the Eu³⁺ ion ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_i (i = 0,1,2,3 and 4) centred at 537, 580, 615, 650 and 702 nm, respectively at T = 300 K. The dominant PL was observed at 615 nm and its halfwidth is less than 10 nm. The intensity of photoluminescence at 615 nm of NC is 2 times higher than the value of intensity of PL of Eu(TTA)₂(Phen₃PO)₂NO₃ powders at equal conditions of excitation.     

A comparison of the medium-range order in glassy GeS2 and Sb2S3

In amorphous (a-) GeS₂ there is only one medium-range order (MRO) dependent X-ray scattering feature, i.e., the ‘first sharp diffraction peak’ (FSDP), whereas in a-Sb₂S₃ all scattering features in the interval 1–2.4 Å⁻¹ are in fact MRO-dependent. The basic element of MRO in a-GeS₂ is a part of a chain of corner bound tetrahedra extracted from the high temperature form of c-GeS₂; in a-Sb₂S₃ it is a part of a crystalline-like (Sb₂S₃)_n band. Ordering of parts of these bands is characterized by a greater interband separation than in the crystal. By contrast with a-GeS₂, the MRO-dependent medium-angle scattering features in a-Sb₂S₃ are less sensitive to fluctuations of the interband (intercluster) ordering distance.     

Growth and optical properties of self-frequency-doubling laser crystal Yb:LuAl3(BO3)4

Single crystal of Yb:LuAl₃(BO₃)₄(Yb:LuAB) was grown by the flux method for the first time. The cell parameters of the grown crystal were estimated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The result indicates the symmetry of trigonal space group R32, with lattice parameters a=b=9.26372 Å, c=7.21405 Å, V=536.14 Å³, and Z=4. The absorption and emission spectra of Yb:LuAB crystal at room temperature has also been studied. The fluorescence lifetime for Yb:LuAB crystal is about 1.48 ms. The heat capacity was measured from 25 to 500 °C. Its second harmonic generation efficiency in LuAl₃(BO₃)₄ crystal is 3–4 times that of KDP crystal. These results show that Yb:LuAB crystal would be a potential self-frequency-doubling laser crystal.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of oxonitrate complexes Cs[VO2(NO3)2], Cs[MoO2(NO3)3], and MoO2(NO3)2

Cs[VO₂(NO₃)₂] (I), MoO₂(NO₃)₂ (II), and Cs[MoO₂(NO₃)₃] (III) complexes have been obtained by crystallization from nitric solutions and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes I and II contain infinite zigzag chains of similar compositions, [VO₂(NO₃)₂]⁻ and [MoO₂(NO₃)₂], in which V and Mo atoms form, respectively, trigonal- and pentagonal-bipyramidal polyhedra. Each of these polyhedrons also contains one terminal and two bridge O atoms and two terminal NO₃ groups which are monodentate and bidentate in complexes I and II, respectively. Complex III has an island structure and consists of Cs⁺ cations and [MoO₂(NO₃)₃]⁻ anions, in which the Mo atom is surrounded by one bidentate NO₃ group and two monodentate NO₃ groups and two terminal O atoms in the cis-positions; oxygen atoms form a polyhedron in the form of distorted octahedron. According to the ab initio calculation of isolated MoO₂(NO₃)₂ molecules in the gas phase and solution, the coordination environment of the Mo atom, similarly to the Cr(VI) atom in CrO₂(NO₃)₂, is formed by two bidentate nitrate groups and two terminal O atoms (polyhedron- twisted trigonal prism).     

Investigation of silver centres in glassy B2O3

B₂O₃ samples with silver impurities, X-ray irradiated at 77 K and then heated to 300 K, exhibit the presence of Ag⁺₂ molecular ions. It has been found that formation of Ag⁺₂ centres occurs with the participation of neutral silver atoms according to the reaction Ag⁰ + Ag⁺ → Ag⁺₂. The EPR spectra of Ag⁺₂ have been investigated and the parameters of the spin Hamiltonian have been determined. Under the action of light, λ = 390 nm, the Ag⁺₂ centres were observed to undergo photochemical decomposition into Ag⁰ atoms and Ag⁺ ions.The EPR spectra of Ag⁰ atoms have also been studied in great detail. The effect of light irradiation and temperature variation on the properties of these atoms has been investigated.     

Effect of impurity (Te and Zn) incorporation in the density of defect states in thin films of Se90In10 and Se75In25 glassy alloys

In this paper we report the effect of Te and Zn incorporation on the density of defect states of two binary Se–In glassy systems. For this purpose, we have chosen here two well known Se₉₀In₁₀ and Se₇₅In₂₅ binary glassy alloys. Thin films of Se₉₀In₁₀, Se₇₅In₂₅, Se₇₅In₁₀Te₁₅ and Se₇₅In₁₀Zn₁₅ glassy alloys prepared by quenching method, were deposited on glass substrate using thermal evaporation technique. Current–voltage characteristics have been measured at various fixed temperatures in the thin films under study. Ohmic behavior was observed at low electric fields while at high electric fields current becomes superohmic. An analysis of the experimental data confirms the presence of space charge limited conduction in Se₉₀In₁₀, Se₇₅In₁₀Te₁₅ and Se₇₅In₁₀Zn₁₅ glassy alloys. It was found that the absence of space charge limited conduction in Se₇₅In₂₅ may be due to joule's heating at high fields. By applying the theory of space charge limited conduction, the density of defect states near Fermi level was calculated. The peculiar role of the additives (Te and Zn) in the pure binary Se₉₀In₁₀ and Se₇₅In₂₅ glassy alloys is also discussed in terms of electro-negativity difference between the elements involved.     

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.     

EXAFS studies of glassy and liquid ZnCl2: A comparison with vitreous GeO2

The Zn-EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) above its K-absorption edge has been measured for glassy ZnCl₂ at low temperature, through T_g (375 K), and into the supercooled and normal liquid state (mp = 593 K) at 673 K. By Fourier filtering and fitting the normalized glass spectra using α-ZnCl₂ as a model compound, the Zn²⁺Cl^? distance was determined to be (2.34 ± 0.01) Å and the average coordination number about the Zn²⁺ was found to be 5.1 ± 0.8. The latter value agrees with the value of 4.7 nearest neighbors obtained by the molecular dynamics computer simulation study of Woodcock et al., for liquid ZnCl₂ just above its melting point. The agreement is supportive of the notion that short-range order in the glass is reflective of that of the corresponding liquid from which it was quenched. Spectral measurement as a function of temperature indicates that there is considerable dynamic decoupling of the Zn²⁺ from its nearest Cl^? neighbor even below T_g. This is contrasted with similar data in glassy GeO₂ which show that the motion of Ge is strongly coupled with its four oxygen neighbors all the way to T_g. This difference in dynamic disorder substantiates the notion that glassy ZnCl₂, as well as vitreous BeF₂, provides a further weakened structural analog for glassy GeO₂ and SiO₂.     

On the photodissolution kinetics of silver in glassy As2S3

The kinetics of the photodissolution of Ag into glassy As₂S₃ films and its dependence on temperature have been studied by monitoring the changes that occur both in their transmission spectra and transmission of weakly absorbed broadband light. It was shown that besides of a low induction period, the photodissolution kinetics consists of two linear steps with different activation energies, followed by a parabolic tail. The transitions between photodissolution steps was found to be not monotonous and explained in terms of Elliott’s model, which asserts a simultaneous ionic and electronic charge transport controlled by chalcogenide properties, illumination and temperature. The evidence is given that the islanding of Ag layer in the course of photoreaction, results in an inversion of maxima and minima of transmission spectra. It is suggested that the islanding of Ag layer is not a consequence of a non-uniform dissolution but arises itself at critical thickness, at which Ag forms a continuous film.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of (NH4)3[UO2(CH3COO)3]2[UO2(CH3COO)(NCS)2(H2O)]

Single crystals of the compound (NH₄)₃[UO₂(CH₃COO)₃]₂[UO₂(CH₃COO)(NCS)₂(H₂O)] (I) are synthesized, and their structure is investigated using X-ray diffraction. Compound I crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the unit cell parameters a = 18.3414(6) ?, b = 16.3858(7) ?, c = 12.4183(5) ?, β = 92.992(1)°, space group C2/c, Z = 4, V = 3727.1(3) ?³, and R = 0.0253. The uranium-containing structural units of crystals I are mononuclear complexes of two types with an island structure, i.e., the [UO₂(CH₃COO)₃]⁻ anionic complexes belonging to the crystal-chemical group (AB ₃⁰¹ = UO₂²⁺, B ⁰¹ = CH₃COO⁻) of the uranyl complexes and the [UO₂(CH₃COO)(NCS)₂(H₂O)]⁻ anionic complexes belonging to the crystal-chemical group AB ⁰¹M₃¹ (A = UO₂²⁺, B ⁰¹ = CH₃COO⁻, M ¹ = NCS⁻ or H₂O).