Mechanism of phase transitions in the (NH4)2WO2F4 ferroelastic

Precision studies of the thermophysical properties and structure of an (NH₄)₂WO₂F₄ crystal have been performed. It was established reliably that there is a sequence of two phase transitions at T ₁ = 201 K and T ₂ = 160 K characterized by wedging out of an intermediate phase with an increase in pressure. The role of tetrahedral and octahedral ionic groups in the mechanism of the structural transitions was determined.     

Optical and photoelectric properties of pure and cadmium-and lead-doped neodymium sesquisulfide thin films

A technique for preparing γ-Nd₂S₃ crystalline thin films through discrete vacuum thermal evaporation of a presynthesized bulk material is developed. The films deposited are doped with cadmium and lead. The reflectance and transmittance spectra of the films are measured in the photon energy range 0.2–3.0 eV at a temperature of 300 K. The frequency analysis of the absorption coefficient demonstrates that the γ-Nd₂S₃ films are characterized by an exponential absorption edge. The photoconductivity spectra and temperature dependences of the photoconductivity for the γ-Nd₂S₃ films doped with cadmium and lead are measured in the photon energy range 0.2–3.3 eV at temperatures varying from 115 to 380 K. The experimental data obtained are interpreted under the assumption that the acceptor levels formed by vacancies in the cation sublattice and compensated for by cadmium and lead donor dopants play a crucial role in the photoconduction. The ionization energy at the lead donor level is determined.     

Investigation into the dielectric relaxation of vinylidene fluoride copolymers with hexafluoropropylene

Four relaxation processes and one ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition are revealed in vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymers with different ratios of the components in the temperature range from ?100 to 150°C. The relaxation process occurring at the lowest temperature is associated with the local mobility of the chains, whereas the relaxation process at a higher temperature is due to micro-Brownian motion of segments in the amorphous phase in the glass transition range. A smeared relaxor phase transition from the polar modification of the α phase of vinylidene fluoride units to the paraelectric phase is observed in the temperature range 50–70°C. At higher temperatures, there occurs an intensive relaxation process that can be attributed to space-charge relaxation or manifestation of the normal relaxation mode.     

Magnetron deposition of molybdenum mirrors and micrometer-thick mirror foil with an ordered columnar nanocrystalline structure

The formation of a molybdenum reflecting coating with a columnar nanocrystalline structure is studied under the condition when molybdenum is deposited by dc magnetron sputtering on single-crystalline molybdenum mirrors (substrates). The coating is found to peel off together with a polishing-induced imperfect amorphous surface layer of the substrate. This effect aids in obtaining a free mirror-like molybdenum foil. When the amorphous imperfect layer is removed from the substrate before deposition, the reflecting mirror coating has a good adhesion to the substrate.     

Influence of cobalt(III) dimethyldithiocarbamate complexes on styrene polymerization initiated by tert-butyl perbenzoate

Kinetic features of radical polymerization of styrene initiated by tert-butyl perbenzoate in the presence of tris(N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamato)cobalt(III) (CoL₃) and its adduct with iodine (CoL₃ · 2I₂) were studied. The optimal concentration ratios of the activators and tert-butyl perbenzoate, providing fast styrene polymerization at 338–368 K, were determined.     

Hydrophobicity and thermal stability of fluorinated pentaerythritol esters

Wetting angles and limits of thermal stability of esters derived from pentaerythritol and perfluoro-, ω-chloropolyfluoro-, and perfluoropolyethercarboxylic acids were studied.     

Thickness dependence of the magnetic anisotropy of Fe layers separated by Al

Magnetic multilayers of ⁵⁷Fe with nominal thickness, T _nom, between 0.4 and 1.0 nm separated by 3.0 nm Al spacer layers were prepared by alternate deposition of the constituents in high vacuum. The samples were investigated at 4.2 K in external magnetic field. A fraction of Fe atoms corresponding to about 0.3 nm equivalent Fe-thickness was found to mix into the Al spacer. The extremely strong magnetic anisotropy observed for T _nom < 0.8 nm is attributed to Fe layers of approximately two atomic planes thick. The anisotropy decreases considerably after the building up of the third Fe atomic layer starts at T _nom = 0.8 nm, but full saturation was not achieved even for T _nom = 1 nm and 3 T magnetic field applied perpendicularly to the sample plane.