Phase diagram of the B-B2O3 system at 5 GPa: experimental and theoretical studies

X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation has been used to study in situ the chemical interaction of beta-rhombohedral boron with boron (III) oxide and phase relations in the B-B2O3 system at pressures up to 6 GPa in the temperature range from 300 to 2800 K. The B-B2O3 system has been thermodynamically analyzed, and its equilibrium phase diagram at 5 GPa has been constructed. Only one thermodynamically stable boron suboxide, B6O, exists in the system. It forms eutectic equilibria with boron and B2O3.     

Thermal phase stability of rhombohedral boron nitride

Abstract

Thermal phase stability of rhombohedra] boron nitride has been studied between 0 and 8 GPa from 300 to 2700 K. Analysis of the data obtained points to the decisive role of kinetic factors in the rBN phase transformations, the structure and dispersity of the samples under study being of great importance. rBN phase transformations in the cBN thermodynamic stability region of the equilibrium p,T phase diagram for boron nitride occur according to Ostwald stepwise principle by the rBN→hBN→(wBN)→cBN scheme.     

hBN ↔ cBN equilibrium line calculated from experimental data on the cBN-to-hBN transformation to 1.4 GPa

Abstract

In the pressure range from 0.3 to 1.4 GPa, the onset temperatures of cBN-to-hBN transformation have been found by quenching method on high-purity single crystals of cubic boron nitride. From the experimental data with allowances made for the kinetics of solid-phase transformation. the hBN?cBN equilibrium line has been calculated, which fits well with the equilibrium phase p, T-diagram of boron nitride.     

Boron nitride phase diagram. State of the art

Abstract

From recent experimental data on BN thermodynamic propeties, the equilibrium phase diagram for boron nitride has been plotted, which differs from the generally accepted Bundy-Wentorfs one. At atmospheric pressure cubic boron niride has been shown to be a thermodynamically stable modification up to temperatures of 1600 K, which drastically changes the established notions of BN polymorphism, based on assumed analogy of phase diagrams for carbon and boron nitride. These studies have shown that according to the proposed equilibrium phase diagram the threshold pressure of cBN crystallization can be reduced from 4 down to 2 GPa with the supercritical fluids present, which opens new fields for developing methods for cBN low-pressure synthesis.     

Compact multianvil device for in situ studies at high pressures and temperatures

We describe a recently developed device for in situ studies at pressures up to 25 GPa and temperatures up to 2300 K. The system consists of a 450 ton V7 Paris-Edinburgh press combined with a Stony Brook ‘T-cup’ multianvil stage. Such a compact large-volume set-up has a total mass of 100 kg only and can be readily used on most synchrotron radiation facilities. The optimization of the set-up by off-line tests is detailed, and we present some X-ray diffraction results which demonstrate the potential of the technique.     

Equation of state and thermal stability of Al3BC

The lattice parameters of Al₃BC have been measured up to 5 GPa at ambient temperature using energy-dispersive X-ray powder diffraction with synchrotron radiation. A fit to the experimental p-V data using Birch-Murnaghan equation of state gives values of the Al₃BC bulk modulus 116(4) GPa and its first pressure derivative 9(2). In the 1.6-4.8 GPa range at temperatures above 1700 K Al₃BC undergoes incongruent melting that results in the formation of Al₃BC₃, AlB₂ and liquid aluminum.     

Magnetoelectric effect in cobalt ferrite-barium titanate composites and their electrical properties

CoFe₂O₄-BaTiO₃ composites were prepared using conventional ceramic double sintering process with various compositions. Presence of two phases in the composites was confirmed using X-ray diffraction. The dc resistivity and thermoemf as a function of temperature in the temperature range 300 K to 600 K were measured. Variation of dielectric constant (ɛ′) with frequency in the range 100 Hz to 1 MHz and also with temperature at a fixed frequency of 1 kHz was studied. The ac conductivity was derived from dielectric constant (ɛ′) and loss tangent (tan δ). The nature of conduction is discussed on the basis of small polaron hopping model. The static value of magnetoelectric conversion factor has been studied as a function of magnetic field.     

Preparation, structural analysis and dielectric properties of Bi x La1−x FeO3 perovskite

Rare earth element substituted bismuth ferrites (BiFeO₃) are of enormous importance as magnetoelectric materials. The polycrystalline samples of Bi _x La_1−x FeO₃ (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were prepared by solid-state reaction using standard ceramic method. The single-phase formation of these compounds was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The samples with x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 are found to be orthorhombic while the sample with x=0.8 is triclinic. The dielectric constant (ε′) and dissipation factor (tan δ) were measured in the frequency range 100 Hz to 1 MHz at room temperature and as a function of temperature at certain fixed frequencies (1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz, 1 MHz). All the samples showed dielectric dispersion. The dielectric constant with temperature shows a broad peak; the peak temperature shifts with frequency which reflects the relaxor-type behavior. The peak above 600 K in the measured temperature range corresponds to antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (Néel temperature). The broadness of the peak changes with composition. The ac conductivity as well as ε′ are found to be maximum for the sample x=0.2 at room temperature.     

Water Spectra in the Region 4200-6250 cm, Extended Analysis of ν1+ν2, ν2+ν3, and 3ν2 Bands and Confirmation of Highly Excited States from Flame Spectra and from Atmospheric Long-Path Observations

Water vapor infrared spectra have been recorded at room temperature in the range 4200-6250 cm⁻¹ at resolutions (FWHM) between 0.0053 and 0.0080 cm⁻¹. The use of a White-type multireflection cell made large pressure × pathlength products possible up to 31.27 mbar×288.5 m. The high signal-to-noise ratio allowed us to observe lines with intensities as small as 10⁻²⁶ cm⁻¹/molecule cm⁻² at T=296 K. Among about 5100 recorded water lines, about half of which are reported for the first time, 2351 lines have been assigned to the second triad of H₂¹⁶O (bands ν₁+ν₂, ν₂+ν₃, and 3ν₂). This has allowed the determination of line positions and corresponding upper rovibrational states with considerably improved accuracy. The assignments of certain highly excited states have been confirmed by the analysis of flame spectra and hot emission spectra. New values of effective Hamiltonian parameters for the upper states {(110), (030), (011)} have been determined. The generating function model was used in the data reduction to account for the anomalously strong centrifugal distortion of the rovibrational levels and resonance interactions. The RMS standard deviation of the least-squares fit of the assigned H₂O data was 5×10⁻³ cm⁻¹ for line positions and 7×10⁻³ cm⁻¹ for energy levels up to J_max=20 and K_a(max)=13. Particular attention was paid to water lines in the transparency window 4200-5000 cm⁻¹, in which existing databases are not sufficient. In this region, 1395 lines of four isotopic species of water have been recorded and over 900 accurate line positions of nine bands of H₂¹⁶O (ν₁, ν₃, 2ν₂, ν₁+ν₂, ν₂+ν₃, 3ν₂, 4ν₂−ν₂, 2ν₂+ν₃−ν₂, ν₁+2ν₂−ν₂) are reported in this range. A comparison of laboratory spectra with long path atmospheric spectra (20 km slant path in the mountains) in this region shows that many lines missing from available spectroscopic compilations (or considerably shifted compared to observations) are important for a proper interpretation of atmospheric observations. A comparison of the observed data with the best available predictions from the molecular electronic potential energy surface is discussed.     

Equation of state of turbostratic boron nitride

Abstract

The lattice parameters of turbostratic boron nitride (tBN) have been measured to 6.1 GPa at room temperature using energy-dispersive powder diffraction with synchrotron radiation. A fit to the experimental p-V data using Birch-Murnaghan equation of state gives values of the tBN bulk modulus 17.5(8) GPa and its pressure derivative ll.4(5). These values point to significantly higher compressibility of turbostratic BN as compared to three-dimensionally ordered graphite-like hexagonal and rhombohedral boron nitride.