Thermochemical analysis of PdxAg1-x alloys from XPS core-level binding energy shifts

XPS core level binding energy shifts of the $\text{3d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ energy levels of Pd and Ag for a large number of coevaporated Pd_xAg_1-x alloys with 0?x?1 have been measured. An analysis of the Pd level shifts yields the heats of formation of the PdAg alloy system in good agreement with those reported from calorimetric measurements. Combining these data with the Ag level shifts one obtains the heat of formation of Cd diluted into Pd_xAg_1-x.     

Structural and optical properties of amorphous GexSn1-x alloys

The structural and optical properties of amorphous Ge_xSn_1-x alloys have been studied in the range x ? 0.5. The atomic arrangement is found to be tetrahedral with a random nearest neighbor environment. Both the average and the minimum optical gaps decrease with increasing Sn content, with the latter extrapolating to 0 at x ≈ 0.0. It is suggested that the variation of the optical and electronic properties with Sn concentration will provide a sensitive test of current theories of amorphous solids.     

Raman scattering from GaSxSe1-x

The non resonant Raman scattering spectra of GaSe, GaS and of eight different mixed crystals GaS_xSe_1-x are presented. The frequencies of some vibrational modes shift continuosly from GaSe to GaS indicating that the mixed crystals are homogeneous. The discontinuous shift of some other modes is explained either by the change of the stacking of the layers, or by a ‘two mode’ behaviour as previously observed in other types of mixed crystals. Moreover, local vibrational modes are observed.     

On the magnetic properties of Y(FexCo1-x)2 compounds

The composition dependence of the mean magnetic moment of cobalt atoms in Y(Fe_xCo_1-x)₂ compounds is analysed in the local environment model. Cobalt has a magnetic moment of 1.56 μ_B if there are at least two Fe atoms as nearest neighbours. The maximum in the composition dependence of the transition metal moments is due to the magnetic contributions of iron atoms only. The thermal variation of reciprocal susceptibility obeys a Curie-Weiss behaviour, in addition to the Pauli paramagnetic term. Finally, the influence of the variable magnetic interactions on the transition metal moments is discussed.     

Ge1-xCx double-layer antireflection and protection coatings

The antireflection Germanium carbide (Ge_1-xC_x) coating, deposited using RF reactive sputtering, on both sides of ZnS substrate wafer has been developed. The infrared (IR) transmittance spectra show that the IR transmittance in the wavelength region between 8 and 12 μm for the designed system Ge_1-xC_x/ZnS/Ge_1-xC_x is greatly enhanced compared to that for ZnS substrate. In addition, the double-layer coated ZnS substrate is approximately four times as hard as uncoated ZnS substrate. This investigation indicates that a double-layer Ge_1-xC_x coating can be used as an effective antireflection and protection coating on ZnS infrared window.     

Dielectric anomaly in amorphous Si100-xAux system

In amorphous Si_100-xAu_x system the dielectric constant is decreasing with increasing frequency or with decreasing temperature at $\text{x ? 5.5\%}$. This is explained by considering the dispersion of the variable range hopping contribution to the dielectric constant. The dielectric constant at sufficiently high frequency or at sufficiently low temperature is increasing rapidly with increasing x in the region x ? 5.5%, which predicts the occurrence of the nonmetal-metal transition.     

Magnetic and structural studies of the alloy system REIn0.5Ag0.5

The structural and magnetic properties of the alloy system REIn_0.5Ag_0.5 [RE = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb] are reported. All these alloys (except that of Yb) crystallize in a cubic CsCl type structure at room temperature. Low temperature X-ray diffraction data does not reveal any structural phase transformation down to 8 K. On the basis of magnetic susceptibility data at a different temperature (3–300 K) and applied magnetic field (2 × 10⁵ to 8 × 10⁶ A m^-1, it has been concluded that GdIn_0.5Ag_0.5 is ferromagnetic (T_c = 118 K), TbIn_0.5Ag_0.5 and DyIn_0.5Ag_0.5 are meta magnetic (T_N = 66 and 30 K, respectively) and alloys involving Ho, Er, Tm and Yb are ferrimagnetic with Néel temperatures (T_N) equal to 24, 22, 21 and 20 K, respectively. The evaluated effective magneton number (p) is found to be slightly larger compared to theoretical values for tripositive ions of Gd, Tb and Dy and a bit smaller for Ho, Er, Tm and Yb. The results have been qualitatively explained using appropriate theories.     

NMR and magnetization study of the mixed systems (Pd1-xCux)2 MnIn and (Pd1-xNix)2 MnIn

Systematic NMR and magnetization data with concentration show that for decreasing x these systems go from ferromagnetic (F) to anti-ferromagnetic (AF) order by passing a mixed phase region where both magnetic orders coexist in different domains. The magnetic phase diagrams for both alloy series are nearly coincident. The NMR spectra show that the Cu or Ni atoms substitute randomly onto Pd sites and we find no evidence that the participation of Mn atoms in F or AF domains is at all correlated with their nearest neighbour environments. In the limit where the AF order becomes largely dominant the samples exhibit a magnetic anisotropy after field cooling.     

Core hole satellites in NixPd1-x alloys

The two and three hole satellites accompanying the main Ni 2p and Pd 3d XPS core lines in Ni_xPd_1-x alloys have been measured as function of the alloy concentration. The changes in satellite distance with concentration cannot be explained by the thermochemical approach, which has recently been shown to describe successfully the one hole core level binding energy shifts (main line) in alloys. The reason is probably, that in this approach, which uses thermochemical data of Z + 1, Z + 2 and Z + 3 elements - where Z stands for Ni or Pd and Z + n is the nth element following them in the periodic table - d-band contributions to the cohesive energies of the final d-hole states are neglected.     

Investigations of Sm6(Mn1-xFex)23 system

The new Sm₆(Mn_1-xFe_x)₂₃(0?x?1.0) system hasbeen synthesized and investigated in a wide temperature range by the X-ray, magnetometric and Mössbauer effect methods. The X-ray studies show that the system forms solid solutions which are isostructural with the Th₆Mn₂₃ type crystal structure throughout the entire compositional range. Both Fe-rich and Mn-rich regions of the system are magnetically ordered and are separated from each other by the non-magnetically ordered 0.22?x?0.33 region. The substitution of Fe atoms for Mn atoms in the Mn-rivh region and similarly of Mn atoms for Fe atoms in the Fe-rich region decreases both the Curie temperature and the value of the magnetic moment per molecule. The temperature dependence of the reciprocal susceptibility obeys the Néel law. The Mössbauer absorption spectra reflect wide distributions of the ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine interaction parameters, and disappearance of long range magnetic coupling of Fe atoms in the magnetically ordered x=0 to 0.22 composition range.     

Electronic, structural and magnetic phase diagram of Sm1-xSrxMnO3 manganites

The electronic, structural and magnetic phase diagram of the colossal magnetoresistive Sm_1−xSr_xMnO₃ (0.16≤х≤0.67) manganites is constructed on the basis of their systematic studies by high-resolution neutron powder diffraction. It is shown the tendency of researched system to formation of the phase-separated states on crystallographic as well as, in the even greater extent, on magnetic level. A clear correlation between fine specific features and temperature evolution of crystal structures, spin ordering of the manganese ions, and the physical properties of the samarium-strontium series of manganites obtained from temperature magnetic and transport measurements is demonstrated. It was found that ground state of Sm-Sr manganites shows very various physical properties depending first of all on the doping level х and, for given х, determined by two distortion parameters, namely, the average A-cation size <r_A> and the local A-cation size mismatch σ².     

Resistance measurements at high pressure in the system BaPb1-xBixO3

Resistance measurements have been made in the system BaPb_1-xBi_xO₃ at pressures of up to ～ 125 kbar at room temperature. A distinct change in slope of R/R₀ vs P indicates the onset of a transition, possibly to the metallic state, which takes place continuously over a wide range of pressure.     

Magnetic properties of the Ce1-xLaxMn2Si2 system

Magnetic properties of the Ce_1-xLa_xMn₂Si₂ system were investigated by means of neutron diffraction and magnetometry. The samples with low La concentration (x?0.5) have antiferromagnetic properties. A transition from an antiferromagnetic to a ferromagnetic state can be observed for x=0.6 (for increasing temperature). More La leads to the samples being ferromagnetic. A collinear magnetic structure is seen from the neutron diffraction spectra. From all the results known up to now it follows, that type of magnetic ordering, i.e. antiferro- or ferro-depends on the Mn-Mn interatomic distances in the basal plane.     

Infrared and structural studies of Mg1-xZnxFe2O4 ferrites

Compositions of polycrystalline Mg-Zn mixed ferrites with the general formula Mg_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ (0≤x≤1) were prepared by the standard double sintering ceramic method. The structural properties of these ferrites have been investigated using X-ray diffraction and infrared absorption spectroscopy. The lattice parameter, particle size, bonds length, force constants, density, porosity, shrinkage and cation distribution of these samples have been estimated and compared with those predicted theoretically. Most of these values were found to increase with increasing Zn content. The energy dispersive (EDS) analysis confirmed the proposed sample composition. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs showed aggregates of stacked crystallites of about 200-800 nm in diameter. Far infrared absorption spectra showed two significant absorption bands. The wave number of the first band, ν₁, decreases with increasing Zn content, while the band, ν₂ shifts linearly towards higher wave numbers with Zn contents, over the whole composition range. The room temperature electrical resistivity was found to decrease as Zn-content increases. Values of the vacancy model parameters showed that the packing factors P_a and P_b decrease, the fulfillment coefficient, α, remains almost constant and the vacancy parameter, β, strongly increases with increasing Zn content in the sample. The small values of P_a, P_b, α and the strong increase of the vacancy parameter, β, indicate the presence of cation or anion vacancies and the partial participation of the Zn²⁺ vacancies in the improvement of the electrical conductivity in the Mg-Zn ferrites.     

Emission spectra of iron doped ZnSxSe1-x solid solutions

The photoluminescence of ZnS_xSe_1?x:Fe has been investigated in the visible and near infrared (λ ? 1.2 μm) region. The doping dependence shows, that the incorporation of iron in ZnS produces, in addition to the well-known red luminescence (λ_max = 660 nm), another emission band at 980 nm, which was hitherto unknown for ZnS: Fe. The energetic position of this new band is proved to be independent of composition of the ZnS_xSe_1?x solid solution. Therefore, it is interpreted as an internal transition in iron centres. On the other hand, the red Fe-band shifts to lower energy with increasing selenium concentration. This result shows clearly, that the red Fe-band of zincsulfide cannot be interpreted by an internal transition in iron centres [3], but favors the donor-acceptor model, which was already suggested by other authors [4].     

Thermal dependence of impurity induced fluorescence in the system RbMgxMn1-xF3

The absorption spectrum of RbMnF₃ and the excitation spectra of the system RbMg_xMn_1-xF₃ at 10 K as well as the fluorescence spectra and lifetimes of Mn²⁺ in the systems RbMg_xMn_1-xF₃ and KMg_xMn_1-xF₃ in the region 10–300 K were measured. The lifetime and fluorescence temperature dependence suggest that the origin of the fluorescence occurs at Mn²⁺ sites slightly perturbed by impurity ions and that a non-radiative energy transfer mechanism is responsible for the observed thermal quenching. By using different Mn²⁺ concentrations in the above systems the dependence of the energy transfer on the Mn²⁺ concentration is shown. Finally, a preliminary observation on laser stimulated Mn²⁺ luminescence in the system RbMg_xMn_1-xF₃ is reported.     

Structural,optical, and electrical properties of boron-doped ZnO1-xSx thin films deposited by MOCVD

Boron-doped ZnO_1-xS_x (ZnO_1-xS_x:B) thin films were fabricated by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). We investigated the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the ZnO_1-xS_x:B thin films. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that, except for the ZnO:B (x?=?0) and ZnS:B (x?=?1) thin films, the ZnO_1-xS_x:B thin films exhibit amorphous characters. Optical transmittance spectra were analyzed to estimate the band gaps of the thin films with different S content. All thin films showed direct band gaps ranging from 3.34?eV (ZnO:B) to 3.49?eV (ZnS:B). The influence of sulfur content on carrier concentration, electrical resistivity, and Hall mobility of the ZnO_1-xS_x:B thin films were analyzed from Hall effect measurements measured at temperatures ranging from liquid nitrogen temperature to room temperature. The ZnO_1-xS_x:B thin films exhibited n-type electrical conductivity except for ZnS:B, which was not measurable in this study due to its high resistivity (>100?Ω?cm).     

Magnetic properties of system HgxZn1-xCr2Se4

Magnetic moments, magnetic susceptibilities and optical absorption of the system Hg_xZn_1-xCr₂Se₄ have been measured. A correlation is found between the optical and the magnetic properties.     

Structure and magnetic order of Cr-rich Rb2Cr1-xMnxCl4 crystals

The distorted K₂NiF₄-structure and the magnetic behaviour of the quasi two-dimensional magnetic system Rb₂Cr_1-xMn_xCl₄ (0 ? x ? 0.5) are studied by neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements. Strong correlations between ferromagnetic coupling and cooperative Jahn—Teller order are indicated by their occurence in the same concentration range 0 ? x ? 0.41.The percolation threshold x_F near x = 0.41 and the x, T-dependence of the para- to ferro-magnetic phase boundary are quite similar to that found in systems with non-magnetic impurities. Further we report the magnetic moment magnitudes in this percolative system.