Effects of static electric field on the fracture behavior of piezoelectric ceramics

The paper gives an overview on experimental observations of the failure behavior of electrically insulating and conducting cracks in piezoelectric ceramics. The experiments include the indentation fracture test, the bending test on smooth samples, and the fracture test on pre-notched (or pre-cracked) compact tension samples. For electrically insulating cracks, the experimental results show a complicated fracture behavior under electrical and mechanical loading. Fracture data are much scattered when a static electric field is applied. A statistically based fracture criterion is required. For electrically conducting cracks, the experimental results demonstrate that static electric fields can fracture poled and depoled lead zirconate titanate ceramics and that the concepts of fracture mechanics can be used to measure the electrical fracture toughness. Furthermore, the electrical fracture toughness is much higher than the mechanical fracture toughness. The highly electrical fracture toughness arises from the greater energy dissipation around the conductive crack tip under purely electric loading, which is impossible under mechanical loading in the brittle ceramics. The project supported by an RGC grant from the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China     

Structure Modification Function of g‐C3N4 for Al2O3 in the In Situ Hydrothermal Process for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Heterojunctions of g‐C₃N₄/Al₂O₃ (g‐C₃N₄=graphitic carbon nitride) are constructed by an in situ one‐pot hydrothermal route based on the development of photoactive γ‐Al₂O₃ semiconductor with a mesoporous structure and a high surface area (188 m²g^?1) acting as electron acceptor. A structure modification function of g‐C₃N₄ for Al₂O₃ in the hydrothermal process is found, which can be attributed to the coordination between unoccupied orbitals of the Al ions and lone‐pair electrons of the N atoms. The as‐synthesized heterojunctions exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity than pure g‐C₃N₄. The hydrogen generation rate and the reaction rate constant for the degradation of methyl orange over 50 % g‐C₃N₄/Al₂O₃ under visible‐light irradiation (λ>420 nm) are 2.5 and 7.3 times, respectively, higher than those over pristine g‐C₃N₄. The enhanced activity of the heterojunctions is attributed to their large specific surface areas, their close contact, and the high interfacial areas between the components as well as their excellent adsorption performance, and efficient charge transfer ability.     

Polymeric materials for lithium‐ion cells

Lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) cells have gained considerable attention in recent years as a power source for various applications owing to their high voltage, high energy density, low self‐discharge, and excellent cycle life. Polymeric materials play a pivotal role in the processing, performance, and safety of Li‐ion cells. The polymeric materials used in Li‐ion cells include: binder for electrode processing, separator, electrolyte, and electrode active material. Active research is being pursued in all of these areas to improve the energy density, power density, cycle life, and safety of Li‐ion cells. This review article gives an overview of the various polymeric materials used in Li‐ion cells and the recent advances in these materials. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Er~(3+)-Yb~(3+)掺杂SiO_2-SrO-NaF玻璃陶瓷的制备及表征

采用熔融晶化法制备了主晶相为SrF_2的Er~(3+)-Yb~(3+)共掺透明氟氧化物玻璃陶瓷,利用DSC、XRD、SEM、UV-Vis-NIR和荧光光谱对样品的结构、形貌、发光性能进行了测试与表征。研究表明:该体系玻璃最佳热处理温度为620℃,最佳热处理时间为2h,并讨论了Yb~(3+)不同掺杂浓度对Er~(3+)-Yb~(3+)共掺玻璃陶瓷样品上转换发光性能的影响,确定Er~(3+)-Yb~(3+)最佳掺杂浓度比为1∶7,同时观察到了明亮的绿光(522,540 nm)和较弱的红光(656 nm),对Er~(3+)和Yb~(3+)之间的能量传递过程进行了讨论。     

稀土离子(Eu3+,Tb3+,Ce3+)掺杂ZnAl2O4/SiO2微晶玻璃的制备与发光性能

采用凝胶法分别制备出4.5ZnO-5.5Al₂O₃-90SiO₂(ZAS)以及ZAS[DK]:RE³⁺ (RE=Eu,Tb,Ce) 透明微晶玻璃。利用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和荧光光谱仪(PL)等测试手段,研究了稀土离子掺杂浓度对ZAS微晶玻璃的结构和发光性能的影响。XRD结果表明,ZAS[DK]:RE³⁺ (RE=Eu,Tb,Ce)微晶玻璃包含ZnAl₂O₄晶相和SiO₂非晶相,ZnAl₂O₄平均晶粒尺寸约为30 nm,稀土离子的掺杂没有显著改变原来的ZnAl₂O₄晶体结构。TEM结果表明,900 ℃时ZnAl₂O₄从ZAS体系中析出。PL光谱显示,Eu³⁺ 存在 ⁵D₀→⁷F₂跃迁,ZAS[DK]:Eu³⁺在611 nm 处发出强烈的红色光;由于Tb³⁺ 的⁵D₄→⁷F₅ 跃迁,ZAS[DK]:Tb³⁺在541 nm 处发出明亮的绿色光;ZAS[DK]:Ce³⁺ 在381 nm处显示了蓝光发射,对应于Ce³⁺ 的5d→4f 轨道跃迁。ZAS[DK]:RE³⁺ (RE=Eu, Tb, Ce)的PL发射光谱存在着浓度猝灭现象,Eu³⁺、Tb³⁺ 和Ce³⁺的最佳单掺杂摩尔分数分别为20%、20%和3%。CIE色度图表明,ZAS[DK]: RE³⁺ (RE=Eu,Tb,Ce)的色坐标分别位于红光、绿光和蓝光区域。实验结果表明,ZAS:RE³⁺ (RE=Eu,Tb,Ce) 微晶玻璃是一种良好的可用于全色显示的白光LED材料。     

Micromechanical modelling of remanent properties of morphotropic PZT

The present paper investigates the capability of micromechanical material models to predict the ferroelectric behaviour of morphotropic PZT ceramics in a rate-independent approximation based on realistic microscopic material parameters. Starting point is a three-dimensional tetragonal model, which builds on the model of Pathak and McMeeking [2008. Three-dimensional finite element simulations of ferroelectric polycrystals under electrical and mechanical loading. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 56, 663-683]. Volume fractions of the crystallographic variants represent the domain structure inside the grains. Interactions between the grains are taken into account by means of a representative volume element of the grain compound. A simplified set of realistic microscopic material parameters of the lattice in terms of Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, dielectric constant, and spontaneous strain and polarisation is derived from experimental data and theoretical results given in the literature. The simulation of the macroscopic remanent polarisation and strain response due to two load cases shows explicitly that the tetragonal model is not capable to reproduce the behaviour of morphotropic PZT. Therefore, the model is extended by the rhombohedral phase, allowing a mixture of both phases with varying quantities inside the grains. A comparison of our results with experimental data shows a remarkably good agreement, revealing the capability of the extended model.     

Formation and properties of rocksalt-type AlN and implications for high pressure phase relations in the system Si–Al–O–N

Pressure-dependent thermodynamic properties of the ambient and high pressure phases of aluminum nitride (w-AlN and rs-AlN) were calculated from first principles in order to determine their phase boundary in the p? T phase diagram. These predictions were checked by static HP/HT experiments, using a multianvil press and an Al/N/H precursor with low decomposition temperature as educt. The experimental data show that at temperatures between 1000 and 2000 K, the boundary line between the two phases is situated between 11 and 12 GPa, which is ～1.3 GPa lower than the theoretical result and generally lower than previously assumed. The hardness of rs-AlN – measured for the first time – is ～30 GPa (Knoop indenter at loads of 25–50 g), twice as hard as w-AlN. Shock wave recovery experiments on nano w-AlN allowed testing of the chemical and thermal stability of rs-AlN, and determination of its infrared absorption and ²⁷Al NMR data. The shock wave technique will eventually enable the synthesis of larger amounts of rs-AlN, making it available for technological use. Finally, implications on the high pressure stability of phases in the Si–Al–O–N system are discussed in the light of thermoelastic properties of AlN.     

CaTiO3基微波介质陶瓷的频率温度稳定性

通过对克劳修斯-莫索蒂方程的近似, 分析了钙钛矿结构微波介质陶瓷频率温度系数 (τ_f) 的主要影响因素, 发现改变材料介电响应中离子位移极化和电子位移极化的比例, 可调节频率温度系数的正负与大小. 通过电子结构计算和容忍因子分析, 预测引入(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)⁴⁺对具有正温度系数 的CaTiO₃进行B位取代将提高材料电子极化响应比例, 调节τ_f由正变负. 采用偏铌酸盐为前驱体, 通过固相反应法合成了Ca[(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)_xTi_(1-x)]O₃钙钛矿结构陶瓷, 并对其进行结构分析和性能测试, 实验结果与理论分析一致, 获得了具有近零频率温度系数的Ca[(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.7Ti_0.3]O₃介质陶瓷材料. 关键词： B位复合钙钛矿陶瓷 谐振频率温度稳定性 极化机理 6八面体倾斜')" href="#">BO₆八面体倾斜     

功率型压电陶瓷的分类及研究进展综述

功率型压电材料是大功率换能器及压电变压器等的核心功能材料,广泛应用于声纳系统、超声检测、振动控制及其它机电设备等。尽管其组成和制备方法与其他压电材料类似,但特定的使用目的对功率型压电材料提出了特殊的综合性能要求。本文基于对功率型压电陶瓷材料组成的分类归纳,综述了该材料的性能特点、国内外研究进展,并对现存问题和应用前景进行了论述。     

A semi-empirical equation for oxygen nonstoichiometry of perovskite-type ceramics

Explicit equations correlating oxygen nonstoichiometry to oxygen partial pressure and temperature are important for applications of perovskite-type ceramics as membranes, adsorbents and catalysts in various chemical reaction and separation processes. A semi-empirical equation for oxygen nonstoichiometry on perovskite-type ceramics is reported in this paper. Though derived from the results of a point defect model on a perovskite-type ceramic material, La_0.1Sr_0.9Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3−δ, this equation describes very well the experimentally measured oxygen nonstoichiometry data for two perovskite-type ceramics measured in this work and three perovskite-type ceramics reported in the literature. The major advantage of this semi-empirical equation lies in its simplicity, explicitness and accuracy. This equation is coupled with oxygen permeation equation to predict oxygen permeation current density through two perovskite-type ceramic membranes. The predicted data agree very well with the results reported in the literature using a complex defect reaction model.