Research on charge-ordering state in La0.5Sr0.5MnO2.88 and La0.5Sr0.5Mn0.5Ti0.5O3 systems

The structural, magnetic and transport properties of La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO_2.88 and La_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ samples have been investigated systematically. Indeed, this series has been considered to understand the influence of physical parameters such as oxygen deficiency and titanium doping effect in undoped La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ sample. Ceramic material based on La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO_2.88 exhibits interesting behaviours of charge-ordering (CO), ferromagnetic (FM) states and a good conductivity down to the lowest temperatures. The substitution of Ti for Mn destroyed drastically the CO, damaged the motion of itinerant e_g electrons and changed the local parameters of perovskite cell. A change of the structure from tetragonal to rhombohedral symmetry is observed causing a weakening of double-exchange interaction. The experiment results show that the suppression of the CO is sensitive to the variety of Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ratio. In a field of 8 T at 10 K, FM and CO phase can be evaluated to be ∼20:80 according to the μ_exp/μ_cal ratio for La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO_2.88, whereas the CO state is suppressed for La_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ sample, FM and anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) phase are coexisted and evaluated to be ∼54:46, respectively.     

Picosecond optoelectronic switching in CdS0.5Se0.5

So far only few materials have been investigated for their application in fast opto-electronic switching. These materials are Si, GaAs and InP. The difficulty in obtaining a high resistivity specimen of group IV elemental semiconductors puts constraints on their high power handling capability. Most of the group III–V compounds have the possibility of showing up of Gunn effect at high fields, which has undesirable effect in high voltage switching. We have, therefore, investigated a mixed II–VI compound CdS_0.5Se_0.5 for its potential use as an opto-electronic switch.     

The microscopic features of (Li0.5La0.5)TiO3

In ionic conducting materials, the crystal structure is closely related to the ionic conductivity. In this research we studied the microscopic features of Li_0.5La_0.5TiO₃ which exhibited a lithium ionic conductivity as high as 1×10⁻³ Scm⁻¹ at room temperature by XRD, TEM and SIMS. It was found that the superstructure was caused by the ordering of La⁺³ and vacancy, producing the 2a_p×2a_p×2a_p unit cell. This ordering was found to be regular in microscopic region, but became irregular in macroscopic region. Li⁺ showed a random distribution which meet the needs for the fast ionic conduction. The second phase was found to be Li₂TiO₃ which existed in the grain boundary junctions.     

Glassy-ferromagnetic behavior in Eu0.5Sr0.5CoO3

Polycrystalline perovskite cobalt oxide Eu_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ was prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method. X-ray powder patterns indicated the prepared samples are pure, cubic perovskite structure (Pm3?m), and with no evidence of any secondary phases. The dc magnetization and ac susceptibility measurements were carried out to investigate the magnetic properties of the sample, and which indicated that cluster-glasses properties are suppressed with the increasing of the coercive field. We denied the possibility of spin-glasses and the existence of the Hopkinson effect in Eu_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ through the temperature-dependent ac susceptibility measurements, and explained the magnetic behavior of Eu_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ with the competition between magnetic anisotropy and the external magnetic field.     

Sound velocity in La0.5Ca0.5MnO3

In this Letter the microscopic theory of the relative change in velocity of sound with temperature of La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ is reported. The phonon Green function is calculated using the Green function technique of Zubarev in the limit of zero wave vector and low temperature. The lattice model electronic Hamiltonian in the presence of the phonon interaction with hybridization between the conduction electrons and the l-electrons is used. The relative change in velocity of sound at various temperatures is studied for different model parameters namely the position of the l-level, the effective phonon coupling strength and hybridization strength. The phonon anomalies observed experimentally at different temperatures are explained theoretically. An abrupt change in velocity at Neel temperature (TN) is observed clearly. It is observed that different parameters influence the velocity of sound.     

Electrical properties of SrBi2(Nb0.5Ta0.5)2O9 ceramics

Aurivillius SrBi₂(Nb_0.5Ta_0.5)₂O₉ (SBNT 50/50) ceramics were prepared using the conventional solid-state reaction method. Scanning electron microscopy was applied to investigate the grain structure. The XRD studies revealed an orthorhombic structure in the SBNT 50/50 with lattice parameters a=5.522 Å, b=5.511 Å and c=25.114 Å. The dielectric properties were determined by impedance spectroscopy measurements. A strong low frequency dielectric dispersion was found to exist in this material. Its occurrence was ascribed to the presence of ionized space charge carriers such as oxygen vacancies. The dielectric relaxation was defined on the basis of an equivalent circuit. The temperature dependence of various electrical properties was determined and discussed. The thermal activation energy for the grain electric conductivity was lower in the high temperature region (T>303.6 °C, E_a−ht=0.47 eV) and higher in the low temperature region (T<303.6 °C, E_a−lt=1.18 eV).     

Ferroelectric relaxor behaviour in Pb(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O3

The relaxor ferroelectric lead iron tantalate, Pb(Fe_0.5Ta_0.5)O₃ (PFT) is synthesized by Coulombite precursor method. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample at room temperature shows a cubic phase. The field dependence of dielectric response is measured in a frequency range 0.1 kHz — 1 MHz and in a temperature range from 173–373 K. The temperature dependence of permittivity (ɛ′) shows broad maxima at various frequencies. The frequency dependence of the permittivity maximum temperature (T _m ) has been modelled using Vogel-Fulcher relation.      

SiFe0.5Co0.5 - a weak itinerant ferromagnet

The high field and high pressure magnetic properties of SiFe_0.5Co_0.5 alloy are characteristic of weak itinerant ferromagnets.     

Pulsed laser ablation of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3

The ablation process of La_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ by a spatial uniform 248 nm excimer laser beam has been characterized. Ablation rates, changes in the target surface morphology and composition have been studied as a function of the laser fluence. The dependence of the ablation rate on the laser fluence has been explained by a model based on plasma absorption. The threshold fluence for complete dissociation of the surface has been determined and is found equal to 0.7 J/cm². Above this threshold, a steady-state target surface condition is obtained within 30 pulses. Below the threshold fluence, CoO nuclei form, which have a pronounced effect on the target composition and morphology. In addition, ellipsometric and reflectance spectra have been measured in the photon energy range of 1.8 to 5.0 eV.     

K0.5Bi0.5TiO3—Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3系统铁电陶瓷相界的X射线研究

用X射线衍射方法测定了K_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃—Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃系统不同组分试样的点阵常数和相变温度,确定了四方-三方相界组成。给出了K_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃和Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃的多晶X射线衍射数据。 关键词：     

Na0.5K0.5NbO3-BiFeO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Lead-free (Na_0.5K_0.5)NbO₃-based piezoelectric ceramics were successfully fabricated by substituting with a small amount of BiFeO₃ (BF). Difficulty in sintering of pure NKN ceramics can be eased by adding a few molar percent of BF, and the crystalline structure is also changed, leading to a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between ferroelectric orthorhombic and rhombohedral phases. The MPB exists near the 1-2 mol% BF-substituted NKN compositions, exhibiting enhanced ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and electromechanical properties of P_r=23.3 μC/cm², d₃₃=185 pC/N, and k_p=46%, compared to an ordinarily sintered pure NKN ceramics. The MPB composition has a Curie temperature of ∼370 °C, comparable to that of some commercial PZT materials.     

Structure and magnetic order in La0.7Ca0.3Mn0.5Co0.5O3 and La0.8Sr0.2Mn0.5Co0.5O3 perovskites

In this paper we report the study of the perovskites La_0.7Ca_0.3Mn_0.5Co_0.5O₃ and La_0.8Sr_0.2Mn_0.5Co_0.5O₃ by neutron powder diffraction at various temperatures and magnetization measurements in zero applied field and at low cooling regimes. The replacement of half Mn by Co in La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ and La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ destroys their long-range ferromagnetism exhibiting a cluster glass ferromagnetic order similar to the one observed in many cobaltites.     

Magnetic phase diagrams of Mn(Nb0.5Ta0.5)2O6

The magnetic phase diagrams of Mn(Nb_0.5Ta_0.5)₂O₆ have been determined by means of neutron diffraction. Two spin-flop-transitions G_xA_z → A_xG_z → G_y have been detected in a magnetic field parallel to the x-direction. The first phase boundary increases as the temperature rises up to a triple point at 4.74 K and 20.5 kOe, whereas the second phase boundary decreases until another triple point at 4.55 K and 35.5 kOe is reached. In fields parallel to the z-direction a transition G_xA_z → G_xG_z has been revealed, the phase boundary meets the paramagnetic one in a triple point at 4.65 K and 55 kOe.     

Large piezoresponse of lead-free Bi0.5(Na0.85K0.15)0.5TiO3 thin film

0.85Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-0.15Bi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃ (BNKT15) lead-free thin films were prepared on Pt(111)/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si(100) substrates by the chemical solution deposition method. BNKT15 are MPB composition in the Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-Bi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃ (BNT-BKT) system. The maximum piezoelectric coefficient (d_33,f) value of BNKT15 thin film is approximately 75 pm/V, which is comparable to that of polycrystalline PZT thin films. These results suggest that BNKT15 thin film can be used as an alternative for PZT films in piezoelectric micro-electromechanical systems.     

Characterization of lead free (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3-LiSbO3 piezoceramic

(K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ (KNN) based lead free ceramics have been fabricated by a solid state reaction. In this work, LiSbO₃ (LS) modified KNN based ceramics were sintered at atmospheric pressure and high density (>96% theoretical) was obtained. The detailed elastic, dielectric, piezoelectric and electromechanical properties were characterized by using the resonance technique combined with the ultrasonic method. The full set of material constants for the obtained polycrystalline ceramics were determined and compared to the pure hot pressed KNN counterpart. KNN-LS polycrystalline ceramic was found to have higher elastic compliance, dielectric permittivity and piezoelectric strain coefficients, but lower mechanical quality factor, when compared to pure KNN, exhibiting a “softening” behavior. However, a high coercive field (∼17 kV/cm) was found for the LS modified KNN material. The properties as a function of temperature were determined in the range of −50-250 ^°C, showing a polymorphic phase transition near room temperature, giving rise to improved piezoelectric behavior.     

Hopping type of conduction in (Na0.5Bi0.5)ZrO3 ceramic

Polycrystalline sample with (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)ZrO₃ (NBZ) stoichiometry was prepared using a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicate the formation of a single-phase perovskite-type orthorhombic structure. AC impedance plot is used as tool to analyse the electrical behaviour of the sample as a function of temperature at different frequency. The AC impedance studies revealed the presence of grain boundary effect and evidence of a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) character. Pseudo Cole-Cole and complex electric modulus analyses indicated non-Debye-type dielectric relaxation. The AC conductivity obeys the universal power law. The pair approximation type correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model explains the universal behaviour of the s exponent. The apparent activation energy to the conduction process and minimum hopping distance are discussed.     

CURRENT-DEPENDENT POSITIVE MAGNETORESISTANCE IN Ga-DOPED La0.5Ca0.5MnO3

The magnetic and transport properties of the Ga-doped charge-ordering state La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ have been studied. A current-dependent large positive magnetoresistance (1080%) at 5 K was observed. These observations are interpreted in terms of the spin-dependent tunnelling process between ferromagnetic clusters embedded in an antiferromagnetic matrix.     

Piezoelectric non-linearity in PbSc0.5Ta0.5O3 thin films

Epitaxial (001)-oriented PbSc_0.5Ta_0.5O₃ (PST) thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition. Local piezoelectric investigations performed by piezoelectric force microscopy show a dual slope for the piezoelectric coefficient. A piezoelectric coefficient of 3 pm/V was observed at voltages up to 0.8 V. However, at voltages above 0.8 V, there is a steep increase in piezoelectric coefficient mounting to 23.2 pm/V. This nonlinear piezoelectric response was observed to be irreversible in nature. In order to better understand this nonlinear behavior, voltage dependent dielectric constant measurements were performed. These confirmed that the piezoelectric non-linearity is indeed a manifestation of a dielectric non-linearity. In contrast to classical ferroelectric systems, the observed dielectric non-linearity in this relaxor material cannot be explained by the Rayleigh model. Thus the dielectric non-linearity in the PST films is tentatively explained as a manifestation of a percolation of the polar nano regions.     

Charge ordering characteristics in Y0.5Ca0.5MnO3 manganite

The charge ordering characteristics in Y_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ manganite, prepared by sol–gel process, have been investigated experimentally. It is found that the superlattice diffractions appear in the electron diffraction patterns recorded at low temperatures, while only basic Brag diffraction spots can be observed when temperature is higher than 300 K. This provides direct evidence for the existence of charge ordering in Y_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃. The magnetization and specific heat measurements indicate the charge ordering temperature of Y_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ is 290 K, around which both the magnetization and specific heat reveal anomalous behaviors. We also observed that the MnO bond length changed remarkably and the effective number of carriers reduced prominently with decreasing temperature around charge ordering temperature through transform infrared spectra measurements.