Thermo-optical properties of pure and Yb-doped monoclinic KY(WO4)2 crystals

The thermo-optic coefficients, dn/dT, were determined for pure and Yb(20 at.%)-doped monoclinic KY(WO₄)₂ crystals for light polarized along the optical indicatrix axes (N _p,N _m and N _g) in the wavelength range of 0.36–1.06 μm by a laser beam deviation method. The absolute values of thermo-optic coefficients satisfy the relation |dn _p/dT|>|dn _g/dT|>|dn _m/dT| and increase with the wavelength increasing. In the long-wavelength range, all the dn/dT values are negative: dn _p/dT=−14.6, dn _m/dT=−8.9, dn _g/dT=−12.4 [10⁻⁶ K⁻¹] for pure KY(WO₄)₂ at 1.06 μm. The dependency of thermo-optic coefficients on the wavelength was modeled using an approach that takes into account contribution of volumetric thermal expansion and change of electronic bandgap with temperature. Large volumetric expansion of KY(WO₄)₂ plays a key role in the observed negative dn/dT values. Electronic bandgap and its temperature coefficient were determined for KY(WO₄)₂ crystals from thermo-optic dispersion curves as E _g=4.8–5.0 eV and −dE _g/dT=0.7–1.1×10⁻⁴ eV/K. Athermal propagation directions were calculated for KY(WO₄)₂ crystals at the wavelength of 1.06 μm for light polarizations E∥N _m and N _p.     

Tb2–xNdxZn17–yNiy (x = 0.5, y = 4.83): a new intermetallic with a maximum disordered structure and its hydrogen storage properties

The ternary Tb_2–xNd_xZn_17–yNi_y (x = 0.5, y = 4.83) disordered phase belongs to the structural family based on the rhombohedral Th₂Zn₁₇ structure type. The structure is maximally disordered since all the sites are occupied by statistical mixtures of atoms. The Tb/Nd mixture of atoms occupies the 6c site (site symmetry 3m). The statistical mixtures Ni/Zn consisting of more Ni atoms are located in the 6c and 9d (symmetry .2/m) sites. In the following 18f (site symmetry .2) and 18h (site symmetry .m) sites are located Zn/Ni statistical mixtures which consist of more Zn atoms. Zn/Ni atoms form three-dimensional networks with hexagonal channels that fill statistical mixtures of Tb/Nd and Ni/Zn. The Tb_2–xNd_xZn_17–yNi_y compound belongs to the family of intermetallic phases capable of absorbing hydrogen. In the structure, there are three types of voids, namely, 9e (site symmetry .2/m), 3b (site symmetry m) and 36i (site symmetry 1), in which hydrogen can be inserted, and the maximum total absorption capacity can reach 1.21 wt% H₂. Electrochemical hydrogenation shows that the phase absorbs 1.03% of H₂, which indicates partial filling of the voids with H atoms.