Effect of process parameters on the properties of plasma-sprayed superconducting Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x coatings

A study on the effect of powder, spray and coating parameters on superconducting properties of plasma-sprayed Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7–x coatings has been carried out. Optimised spray parameters to yield strong, adherent and dense coatings on many substrates including AISI 304 SS and alumina have been obtained. Coatings show superconductivity after oxygen annealing at 950°C for an hour. Coatings thinner than 100 m do not show zero resistivity down to 77 K due to weak links between granular superconductors. Coatings prepared with fine powder have superior superconducting properties, viz. higherT _c andJ _c values than coarse powder coatings. The choice of substrate material strongly affects theJ _c values.     

Structure and superconductivity studies on (Y1-xLa x )Ba2Cu3O7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

Studies on (Y_{1 - x}La _X )Ba₂Cu₃O₇, x = 0.0 - 1.0, in steps of 0.1, have been carried out. Results show that for x ≤ 0.4, orthorhombicity and high T_c of 90 K are retained. T_c decreases gradually for x ≥ 0.4. Pure LaBa₂Cu₃O₇ shows a T_C ^ZERO of 73 K. XRD data do not reveal any clearcut orthorhombic distortion for pure LaBa₂CuO₇ after annealing at 350°C for 4 days.     

The influence of praseodymium concentration on the luminescence properties of Ca1 ? x Pr x F2 + x (0.002 ≤ x ≤0.35)

The possibility of implementing photon cascade emission in CaF₂-PrF₃ crystals by increasing the PrF₃ concentration in the CaF₂ matrix is studied. It is shown that an increase in the Pr³⁺ content leads to redistribution of radiative transitions in favor of the ¹ S ₀-luminescence. The decrease in the efficiency of the second step of photon cascade emission at high PrF₃ concentrations is caused by quenching of the ³ P ₀ ?? 4f ² transitions as a result of cross relaxation.     

Superconductivity in the Ba1−x LaxPbO3 system

An analysis of the relationship between the local crystal and electronic structure of the Ba_1?x K_xBiO₃ and BaPb_1?x Bi_xO₃ perovskite systems, which was made in terms of an empirical model based on EXAFS spectroscopy studies of the above compounds, led to the conclusion that superconductivity is possible in the Ba_1?x La_xPbO₃ system. The Ba_1?x La_xPbO₃ multiphase compound synthesized at a pressure of 6.7 GPa was found to contain a superconducting phase with a critical temperature T _c ?11 K.     

EPR study on the La2/3Ca1/3Mn1−x Cu x O y system

The interaction between Mn and Cu ions is studied by measuring the resistance and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at different temperatures of the Cu-doped compound La_2/3Ca_1/3Mn_1−xCu_xO_y. A new transition inR-T curve and substantial enhancement in magnetoresistance are induced by the substitution of Mn ions by Cu ions. The EPR measurement shows that two resonance signals appear at temperature lower than the spin-ordering temperature of Mn ions. A tentative interpretation for the observed phenomena is proposed by considering the interaction between the Cu/Mn ions besides the Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ions.     

Effect of Nd doping on the magnetic properties of charge-ordered Bi0.6−x Nd x Ca0.4MnO3 (0.0≤x≤0.6) perovskite manganites

We have studied structure, magnetic and transport properties of polycrystalline Bi_0.6?x Nd _x Ca_0.4MnO₃ (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6). Substitution of Nd at Bi sites induces a strong interplay between the magnetic and charge ordering. The charge-ordering temperature (T _CO) decreases with increasing x. Further, the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (T _N) increases sharply at both extremes and remains nearly constant for x=0.2–0.4. At T<T _N a transition to a metamagnetic glass-like state is also seen. Nd doping also leads to enhancement in the magnetic moment and a concomitant decrease in resistivity up to x=0.3 and then an increase in resistivity up to x=0.5. Furthermore, Nd doping promotes an antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic type fluctuation in the materials at room temperature, as evidenced by the change in the value of the paramagnetic Curie temperature. We find that the local lattice distortion induced by the size mismatch between the A-site cations and the 6s² character of Bi³⁺ lone pair electrons explains the observed peculiarity in magnetic and transport properties of Nd-doped Bi_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃.     

A simple statistical phenomenological model for cation substitutions in Nd1+ x Ba2− x Cu3O7−δ+ x /2

The first results are presented of calculations using a quite simple phenomenological model developed to simulate the cationic substitutions in Nd_{1+ x} Ba_{2? x} Cu₃O_{7+ x /2?δ} (Nd123). Although elementary concepts from statistical mechanics are used in the model, significant results have been obtained, such as the reconstruction of the substitution region limits and their dependence on temperature. Particularly interesting is the prediction of strong temperature dependence for the minimum substitution parameter, x _min.     

Nd0.9Ca0.1Ba2Cu3O6＋x超导体系的红外光谱研究

用固相反应法制备、并通过没条件的热处理得到了一组同氧含量的Ｎｄ０．９Ｃｄ０．１ｂａ２Ｃｕ３Ｏ６＋ｘ样品。用Ｘ射线衍射确定了样品的相结构。随着氧含量的增大，结构发生从四方到正交相变。进一步用红外吸收谱研究了体系的结构变化特征。谱图上６４２ｃｍ＾－１，５７８ｃｍ＾－１，５３８ｃｍ＾－１峰的出现及位移，与氧含量引起的结构变化是一致的，并讨论结构与超导电性的关系。     

Influence of Pr dopant on the dielectric properties and Curie temperatures of Ba1−3x Pr2x Ti0.95Sn0.05O3 (0.01≤x≤0.05) ceramics

Three perovskite-structured ceramic phases Ba_1?3x Pr_2x Ti_0.95Sn_0.05O₃ (BPTS-x) with x=0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 have been synthesized by solid-state reaction method. Obtained BPTS-x ceramics were investigated by X-ray diffraction and dielectric properties measurements. Analysis of all the ceramic samples using X-ray diffraction method at room temperature and its Rietveld refinement inferred rhombohedric structure with the space group $R\bar{3}c$ . The temperature variation of real permittivity gives evidence of the ferroelectric phase transition and of the relaxation behavior. With increasing Pr concentration, the degree of diffuse phase transition was enhanced, and a linear reduction in the transition temperature was produced. The conductivity spectra have been investigated by the Jonscher universal power law (σ(ω)=σ _dc+Aω ^s ) and attributed to hopping conduction mechanism.     

Effects of Ni doping on the structural properties and collapse of magnetic ordering in NdFe_(1-x)Ni_xO_3(0.1 ≤x≤ 0.7) orthoferrites

Nd Fe_(1-x)Ni_xO_3(0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.7) orthoferrites are synthesized by solid state reaction method, and the structural properties of these materials are investigated by employing x-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and M o¨ssbauer spectroscopy. The orthorhombic structure is observed in all systems; however, with the increase in Ni doping,the increase in tolerance factor and the decrease in the cell volume are observed. Orthorhombic distortion decreases with Ni content increasing up to 50%, while above 50% Ni doping it increases. SEM examination indicates the increases in grain size and intermixing of grains with increase in Ni concentration. Comparison between bulk and theoretical densities shows that in each of all samples porosity is less than 2%. M?ssbauer spectroscopic investigations are performed to explain local structure, Fe oxidation states and collapse of the magnetic ordering. In these samples the Fe oxidation state remains+3 and there is no considerable increase in hole states observed; however due to mismatch of the ionic radii between Fe~(3+) and Ni~(3+), octahedral distortions, sagging and distribution of hyperfine parameters increase with increase in Ni concentration. The major factors behind the collapse of magnetic ordering in the Ni-doped systems are the weakening of the super-exchange interactions, decrease in the Neel temperature, increase in spin–spin relaxation frequency and high spin to low spin transition.     

Effect of disorder on the transport properties of the high-T c superconductor Nd2− x CexCuO4+δ

The temperature dependences ρ_ab(T) of Nd_2?x Ce_xCuO_4+δ single crystals with 0≤x≤0.20 are studied and analyzed on the basis of the concepts in the theory of disordered 2D systems. The results are compared with the data obtained for other copper-oxide HTSC. It is found that a transition to the superconducting state in the optimal doping region 0.14≤x≤0.18 occurs only in crystals with a fairly small degree of disorder (k _Fl≥2, where l is the mean free path). This transition is compatible with the weak 2D-localization mode as long as the localization radius is longer than the characteristic size of a Cooper pair. The superconducting transition temperature in the optimal doping region increases monotonically with the parameter k _Fl characterizing the degree of disorder in the crystal. The degradation of superconducting properties upon a further increase in the doping level (x>0.18) is apparently associated with a transition from 2D to 3D conductivity in the single crystal.     

Magnetic properties of Nd3+ in Nd−Ba−Cu−O-compounds

Neutron diffraction, neutron spectroscopy and magnetization measurements have been employed to study the structural, electronic, and magnetic behavior of eleven compounds with the general formula Nd_1+y Ca _v Ba_2–y–v Cu₃O _x (0y0.5; 0v0.25; 6x7). The structure turned out to react to oxygen reduction similar as other 123-compounds, yielding discontinuities close to the metal-insulator-transition and the well-known relations of bond lengths as a function ofT _c. The crystalline electric field (CEF) interaction, splitting the 10-fold degenerate ground-state J-multiplet of the Nd³⁺-ions into five doublet states, was investigated by neutron spectroscopy. The derived CEF parameters have been used to determine changes in the electronic surroundings of the Nd³⁺ ions. In addition, with the help of the CEF parameters the thermodynamic magnetic properties of these compounds were calculated which turn out to be in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Crystal structure of the superconducting infinite-chain cuprate Ba2Cu2.89O6−y

The orthorhombic structure of Ba₂Cu_2.89O_6−y (sp. gr. Pccm, a=13.065(15), b=20.654(21) and c=11.431(8) Å) contains two nonintersecting symmetrically equivalent sets of parallel CuO₂-chains running along [110] and [1̄10] directions. Along the c-axis the Cu–O sheets are separated by identical layers of Ba-atoms. The Cu–O chains are distorted within the xy plane producing zigzag. Three of 14 positions of copper atoms were found to be partly vacant that caused the significant shifts of the neighbouring Ba atoms in the plane. The determined structure of Ba₂Cu_2.89O_6−y is compared to that of the monoclinic Ba₂Cu₃O₆ modification, of another infinite-chain compound Sr_0.73CuO₂, and to one of the substructures of ladder compounds (Sr,Ca)₁₄Cu₂₄O_41+y. The superconductivity in Ba₂Cu_2.89O_6−y is associated with the CuO₂-chains consisting of CuO₄-squares sharing edges. The attention is paid to the coincidence of the temperatures of the superconducting transitions in Ba₂Cu_2.89O_6−y and in ladder compound with the temperature of the sharp magnetic transition in another infinite-chain compound Sr_0.73CuO₂.     

Luminescence properties of Sr3−x−3y/2MxCeyAlO4F (M=Ca,Ba, 0≤x≤0.9, 0.001≤y≤0.05) phosphors

Luminescent materials composed of Sr_3?x?3y/2M_xCe_yAlO₄F (M=Ca, Ba, 0≤x≤0.9, 0.001≤y≤0.05) were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the obtained oxyfluorides are exhibited for indexing peak positions. Dynamic excitation and emission spectra of the Ce³⁺-activated oxyfluoride phosphors are clearly monitored. The critical emission quenching as a function of Ce³⁺ contents in Sr_2.5?3y/2M_0.5Ce_yAlO₄F phosphors is revealed at quite low concentrations of the activator. CIE coordinates of blue and green Sr_2.5?3y/2M_0.5Ce_yAlO₄F phosphors are clearly measured. The relative quantum efficiency of Sr_2.4985Ca_0.5Ce_0.005AlO₄F based on the integrated emission is determined. The Sr_3?x?3y/2M_xCe_yAlO₄F phosphors excited near 410 nm light could be prominent phosphors in applications of NUV-LED.     

Growth of ultrathin YBa2Cu3O7−x films on the SrTiO3 substrate

The growth of ultrathin (1.7–7.3 nm) YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x films on the SrTiO₃(100) substrate is investigated by the mean-energy ion scattering technique. It is found that the growth of islands proceeds according to the two-dimensional and three-dimensional models and depends on the growth conditions.     

Spin-reorientation, ferroelectricity, and magnetodielectric effect in YFe(1-x)Mn(x)O3(0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.40)

We report the observation of magnetoelectric and magnetodielectric effects at different temperatures in Mn-substituted yttrium orthoferrite, YFe(1-x)Mn(x)O(3)(0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.40). Substitution of Mn in antiferromagnetic YFeO(3)(T(N) = 640 K) induces a first-order spin-reorientation transition at a temperature, T(SR), which increases with x whereas the Néel temperature (T(N)) decreases. While the magnetodielectric effect occurs at T(SR) and T(N), the ferroelectricity appears rather at low temperatures. The origin of magnetodielectric effect is attributed to spin-phonon coupling as evidenced from the temperature dependence of Raman phonon modes. The large magnetocapacitance (18% at 50 kOe) near T(SR) = 320 K and high ferroelectric transition temperature (～115 K) observed for x = 0.4 suggest routes to enhance magnetoelectric effect near room temperature for practical applications.     

Effect of deoxygenation on the weak-link behavior of YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

A systematic study of the weak-link behavior for YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ polycrystalline samples has been done using the electrical resistivity and AC susceptibility techniques. The experiments were performed with two samples of similar grain, a sample of well-coupled grains, and a deoxygenated sample in such a way that the oxygen mostly comes from the intergrain region. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the AC susceptibility near the transition temperature (T_c) has been done employing Bean's critical state model. The observed variation of intergranular critical current densities (J_c) with temperature indicates that the weak links are changed from superconductor normal–metal superconductor (SNS) for well-coupled samples to superconductor insulator normal–metal–superconductor (SINS) type of junctions for the deoxygenated sample. These results are interpreted in terms of oxygen depletion from grain boundaries, which in turn decreases the intergranular Josephson coupling energy with a concomitant decrease of pinning of the intergranular vortices.     

Magnetic ordering on Yb3+ in YbBa2Cu3O7−x

The high critical temperature superconductor YbBa₂Cu₃O_7−x has been studied over the range 0.05 to 95K using ¹⁷⁰Yb Mössbauer absorption spectroscopy. Magnetic ordering occurs within the Yb³⁺ sublattice at 0.35K. The saturated magnetic moments are 1.7μ_B. At all temperatures the hyperfine parameters show the presence of distributions attributed to some disordering of the oxygen vacancies.