Electronic structure and magnetism in full-Heusler compound Mn2ZnGe

The first-principle calculations within density functional theory are used to investigate the electronic structure and magnetism of the Mn₂ZnGe Heusler alloy with CuHg₂Ti-type structure. The half-metallic ferrimagnets (HMFs) in Mn₂ZnGe are predicted. The energy gap lies in the minority-spin band for the Mn₂ZnGe alloy. The calculated total spin magnetic moment is −2μ_B per unit cell for Mn₂ZnGe alloy, the magnetic moments of Zn and Mn(B) are antiparallel to that of Mn(A), and we also found that the half-metallic properties of Mn₂ZnGe are insensitive to the dependence of lattice within the wide range of 5.69 and 5.80 Å where exhibiting perfect 100% spin polarization at the Fermi energy.     

Mossbauer, Raman and X-ray diffraction studies of superparamagnetic NiFe2O4 nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel auto-combustion method

Superparamagnetic nickel ferrite single phase nanoparticles with the average crystallite size of ∼9 nm have been synthesized at a low temperature (220 °C) by the sol-gel auto-combustion method. In the present study the as prepared powder was further calcined at different temperatures for 4 h, resulting in nanoparticles of larger size. The nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic behavior and changes in cation distribution as revealed by the Mossbauer, Raman and X-ray diffraction studies. The Mossbauer spectra collected at 5 K and under 5 T applied magnetic field showed mixed spinel structure and canted spin order for the nanoparticles, whereas there is collinear spin order with inverse spinel structure for larger particles. The vibrational spectra of the nanoparticles showed a redshift and broadening in the Raman line shape due to confinement effects.     

Luminescence efficiencies of self- and Tm activated CaWO4 under vacuum ultraviolet radiation excitation

Luminescence efficiency of self-activated CaWO₄ under 147 nm vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation excitation is about 90% of that of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺ (BAM), the commercial blue plasma display panel (PDP) phosphor. However, the color purity and the particle size of the former needs substantial modification before it can be considered for application in PDP. CaWO₄:Tm exhibits Tm³⁺ emission peaks in the blue region due to energy transfer from WO₄ to Tm³⁺ ions but the overall emission intensity under 147 nm excitation is reduced when compared to that of CaWO₄.     

A new synthetic pathway of Sr2CeO4 phosphor and its characterization

A blue-white emitting Sr₂CeO₄ phosphor was synthesized via a simple sol-gel poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)-complexing process using strontium nitrate and cerium nitrate as raw materials. The samples were characterized by TG/DTA, XRD, FTIR, SEM and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction study confirms the structure of the system to be orthorhombic. The emission spectra when excited at 267 nm peaks at ∼470 nm. The emission band is assigned to the energy transfer between the molecular orbital of the ligand and charge transfer state of the Ce⁴⁺ ion. The Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) co-ordinates for the Sr₂CeO₄ sample were also calculated.     

Thermoelectric properties and electronic structure of Al-doped ZnO

Impure ZnO materials are of great interest for high temperature thermoelectric application. In this work, we present the effects of Al-doping on the thermoelectric properties and electronic structures of a ZnO system. We find that, with increasing Al concentrations, the electrical conductivity increases and the thermal conductivity decreases significantly, whereas, the Seebeck coefficient decreases slightly. Nevertheless, the figure of merit (ZT) increases owing to high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity. On the other hand, the electronic band structures show that the position of the Fermi level is moved upwards and the bands split near the valence-band top and conduction-band bottom. This is due to the interaction between the Al3p and Zn4s orbitals, which drive the system towards semimetal. Besides, the Density Of States (DOS) analysis shows that the introduction of Al atom obviously reduces the slope d(DOS)/dE near the Fermi level. Based on the calculated band structures, we are able to explain qualitatively the measured transport properties of the Al-doped ZnO system.     

Photoluminescence of patterned arrays of vertically stacked InAs/GaAs quantum dots

We report on photoluminescence measurements of vertically stacked InAs/GaAs quantum dots grown by molecular beam epitaxy on focused ion beam patterned hole arrays with varying array spacing. Quantum dot emission at 1.24 eV was observed only on patterned regions, demonstrating preferential nucleation of optically active dots at desired locations and below the critical thickness for dot formation at these growth conditions. Photoluminescence measurements as a function of varying focused ion beam irradiated hole spacing showed that the quantum dot emission intensity increased with decreasing array periodicity, consistent with increasing dot density.     

Multiferroic magnetoelectric coupling and relaxor ferroelectric behavior in 0.7BiFeO3-0.3BaTiO3 nanocrystals

The structural, microstructural, polarization, magnetization, dielectric constant, and relaxor characteristics of 0.7BiFeO₃-0.3BaTiO₃ (BF-BT) nanocrystals have been studied. BF-BT nanocrystals were prepared by a chemical route using polyvinyl alcohol as surfactant. The phase structure is confirmed by X-ray diffraction and average particle size by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The magnetoelectric coupling is studied by polarization hysteresis loops under the influence of applied magnetic field and the phase transition anomaly. The diffuse phase transition is studied by modified Curie-Weiss law and relaxor characteristics by Vogel-Fulcher relation.     

Na2GdPO4F2:Tb3+绿色荧光粉阴极射线发光研究

通过高温固相法制备Na2GdPO4F2:Tb3+绿色荧光粉,并利用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)和阴极射线光谱分别对其物相、阴极射线发光性能进行研究.结果表明,Tb3+作为绿色发光中心进入到Na2Gd2PO4F2的晶格中取代Gd3+的格位,在低电子束(0.5～5 kV)激发下主要表现出Tb3+的特征跃迁(5D3.4→7FJ,J=6～2),其中以5D4→7F5跃迁(546 nn)为主.样品Na2Gd0.95Tb0.05PO4F2在阴极射线激发下的色坐标为(0.240 3,0.438 6).随着电压、电流和掺杂量的增加,荧光粉的发光强度逐渐提高,其中,最佳的样品为Na2Gd0.9Tb0.1PO4F2.     

X射线荧光光谱研究粮食中生命有机碳与碳化学循环

采用X射线荧光光谱(XRF)方法测定六种粮食:稻谷(大米)、小麦(面粉)、黄豆、小米、高粱和玉米中生命有机碳含量和化学元素组成,建立一种新方法测定它们的蛋白质含量.粮食中生命有机碳平均含量约为44%.黄豆中的蛋白质含量最高(42.74%),小米蛋白质含量28.56%,麦子蛋白质含量27.57%,玉米蛋白质含量24.99...     

Effect of annealing on structural and electrical properties of the Li–Mn–O thin films, prepared by high frequency RF magnetron sputtering

Li–Mn–O thin film cathode materials are prepared by high frequency (27.12 MHz) RF magnetron sputtering. The high RF frequency gives higher deposition rates without compromising on the quality of the films. This investigation focuses on the effects of post-annealing on the micro-structural, morphological and electrical properties of Li–Mn–O films. It is observed that with the increase of annealing temperature the crystallinity as well as the electrical conductivity of the films increases. The films annealed at 600–700 °C are found to have high structural perfection and good electrical properties.