Influence of Pr3+ Doping on the Microstructure of ZnO Quantum Dots

Pr3+ doped ZnO quantum dots(QDs) were successfully synthesized by sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction(XRD) and X-ray Phtoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) were used to analyze the microstructure variation of ZnO QDs and the chemical environment of Pr3+ with increasing Pr3+ doping concentrations. Most of Pr3+ ions distribute on the surface of ZnO QDs while a few of them penetrate into the ZnO lattice to substitute Zn2+ which causes the lattice distortion and the change of the crystal size. With increasing concentration of Pr3+ ions, the crystal size of ZnO QDs firstly increases and then decreases meanwhile the amorphization gradually increases. New Pr-O-Zn bonds formed after Pr3+ doping and Pr3+ ions have at least two chemical bonding environments: one is Pr-O-Zn bond and the other is Pr-O bond surrounded by oxygen vacancies.     

Structural and physical properties of permalloy thin films prepared by DC magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperature

Permalloy Ni80Fe20 films have been grown on thermal oxidized Si (111) wafers by magnetron sputtering at well-controlled substrate temperatures of 300, 500, 640 and 780 K in 0.65 Pa argon pressure. The base pressure was about 1×10-4 Pa. The deposition rate was about 5 nm/min for all the films. The structure of the films was studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The composition of the films was analyzed using scanning Auger microprobe. The resistance and magnetoresistance of the films were measured using four-point probe technique. The results show that the content of oxygen in the films decreases gradually with raising substrate temperature. In addition, the surface morphology of the films presents notable change with the increasing of the substrate temperature; the residual gases and defects decrease and the grains have coalesced evidently, and then the grains have grown up obviously and the texture of (111) orientation develops gradually in the grow     

Spontaneous Magnetic Transitions and Corresponding Magnetoelastic Properties of Intermetallic Compounds RMn_2Ge_2(R=Gd,Tb and Dy)

The spontaneous magnetic transitions and corresponding magnetoelastic properties of intermetallic compounds RMn_2Ge_2(R=Gd, Tb and Dy) were investigated by using the X-ray diffraction method and magnetic measurement. The results showed that the compounds experience two magnetic transitions, namely the second-order paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition at temperature T_N(T_N=368, 423 and 443 K for Gd Mn_2 Ge_2, Tb Mn_2 Ge_2 and Dy Mn_2 Ge_2, respectively) and the first-order antiferromagnetic-ferrimagnetic transition at temperature T_t(T_t=96, 80 and 40 K for Gd Mn_2 Ge_2, Tb Mn_2 Ge_2 and Dy Mn_2 Ge_2, respectively) as the temperature decreases. The temperature dependence of the lattice constant a(T) displays a negative magnetoelastic anomaly at the second-order transition point T_N and, at the first-order transition T_t, a increases abruptly for Gd Mn_2 Ge_2 and Tb Mn_2 Ge_2, Da/a about 10~(-3). Nevertheless, the lattice constant c almost does not change at these transition points indicating that such magnetoelastic anomalies are mainly contributed by the Mn-sublattice. The transitions of the magnetoelastic properties are also evidenced on the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility χ. The first-order transition behavior at T_t is explained by the Kittel mode of exchange inversion.     

Physical and mechanical properties of sandstone containing a single fissure after exposure to high temperatures

In order to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of sandstone containing fissures after exposure to high temperatures,fissures with different angles α were prefabricated in the plate sandstone samples,and the processed samples were then heated at 5 different temperatures.Indoor uniaxial compression was conducted to analyze the change rules of physical properties of sandstone after exposure to high temperature,and the deformation,strength and failure characteristics of sandstone containing fissures.The results show that,with increasing temperature,the volume of sandstone increases gradually while the quality and density decrease gradually,and the color of sandstone remains basically unchanged while the brightness increases markedly when the temperature is higher than 585 ℃;the peak strength of sandstone containing fissures first decreases then increases when the temperature is between 25℃and 400℃.The peak strain of sandstone containing fissures increases gradually while the average modulus decreases gradually with increasing temperature,and the mechanical properties of sandstone show obvious deterioration after 400 ℃.The peak strain of sandstone containing fissures increases gradually while the average modulus decreases gradually with increasing temperature;with increasing angle αof the fissure,the evolution characteristics of the macro-mechanical parameters of sandstone are closely related to the their own mechanical properties.When the temperature is 800 ℃,the correlation between the peak strength and average modulus of sandstone and the angle α of the fissure is obviously weakened.The failure modes of sandstone containing fissures after high temperature exposure are of three different kinds including:tensile crack failure,tensile and shear cracks mixed failure,and shear crack failure.Tensile and shear crack mixed failure occur mainly at low temperatures and small angles;tensile crack failure occurs at high temperatures and large angles.     

Effect of the silicon powder content on the properties of Al_2O_3-SiC-Me composites

By means of transient plastic phase process, the Al2O3-SiC-Me composites were produced throungh adding metal aluminium and silicon-powder to Al2O3-SiC materials. Under the condition of the same content of silicon and aluminium mixed-powder, the effect of silicon powder addition on properties of Al2O3-SiC-Me composites was studied by means of XRD and EPMA analyses in the temperature range of 300℃―1600℃. The results indicated that the content of metal phase in the sample at 1600℃ increases with increasing silicon powder content. At the same time, when the temperature is lower than 1100℃, the strength of samples gradually increases with increasing temperature. However when the temperature is higher than 1100℃, the strength of samples gradually decreases with increasing temperature, and this change is very small. The results also indicated that at the same sintering temperature, the sample with 6% silicon powder has the maximum strength.     

Phase diagram of the Fe-rich portion of R-Fe-Al pseudoternary system(R=Dy_(0.65)Tb_(0.25)Pr_(0.1))

The 1000℃ isothermal section of the Fe-rich portion of R-Fe-Al(R=Dy0.65Tb0.25Pr0.1) pseudoternary system has been investigated using optical microscopy,X-ray diffraction,EPMA and DTA techniques.The 1000℃ isothermal section consists of 9 single-phase regions,14 two-phase regions and 6 three-phase regions.In the R-Fe pseudobinary system,except the R2Fe17 compound,the homogeneity regions of other compounds are shifted towards the stoichiometric rare earth-rich side.With Fe partially substituted by Al,the homogeneity region of R(Fe1-xAlx)2 is shifted back to the stoichiometric composition when x=0.15 and remains little changed with 0.15≤x≤0.30.The homogeneity regions of R(Fe1-xAlx)3 and R6(Fe1-xAlx)23 are slightly shifted to the stoichiometric rare earth-rich side with increasing Al content.A vertical section along R=33.33 atomic percentage is also investigated.It consists of 2 single-phase regions,4 two-phase regions and 2 three-phase regions.     

Effect of Cl~- Concentration on the Corrosion Behavior of 16Mn Steel in Saturated H_2S/CO_2 Solution

The corrosion behavior of 16Mn steel was studied in saturated H_2S or H_2S/CO_2 solutions containing different Cl~-concentrations at 80℃.The microstructure and chemical composition of the corrosion products were investigated through scanning electron microscopy,energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy,EPMA,and X-ray diffraction.Results showed that the corrosion rate decreased with increasing Cl~-concentration in saturated H_2S or H_2S/CO_2 solution at pH 4.Conversely,the corrosion rate increased with increasing Cl~-concentration in saturated H_2S solution at pH 6.The relative H~+concentration decreased because of the increase of Cl~-concentration at pH 4,and Cl~-acted as a catalyst in the corrosive medium at pH 6 because the net H~+concentration decreased obviously compared with the condition at pH4.Cl~-promoted the formation of Fe-deficient iron sulfide at pH 4,and the opposite effect was observed in the nearly neutral solution.The corrosion rate increased firstly with increasing Cl~-concentration and then decreased in the saturated H_2S/CO_2solution at pH 6.The corrosion products were mainly composed of two kinds of iron sulfide.Sulfide FeS_(1-x) was a kind of tetragonal crystal,whereas the other was the hexagonal/monoclinic iron sulfide Fe_(1-x)S.The corrosion film that was mainly composed of FeS_(1-x) did not confer a protective effect on the base metal.The atomic ratio of Fe/S was more than 1 for FeS_(1-x).The appearance of sulfide FeS_(1-x) resembled a square block or small,needlelike,flocculent particles.The atomic ratio of Fe/S was less than 1 for Fe_(1-x)S,and the corrosion film mainly composed of Fe_(1-x)S conferred some protective property on the base metal.The sulfide FeS_(1-x) exhibited a long claviform morphology with a hexagonal or quadrilateral cross-sectional shape.     

Microstructure and magnetic properties of directly quenched Nd2Fe14B/α-Fe nanocomposite materials at different temperatures

Directly quenched Nd9.5Fe81Zr3B6.5 nanocomposite permanent magnets were prepared under different melt treatment conditions, i.e., the melt temperature was varied prior to ejection onto the quenching wheel. The effect of quenching temperature on the microstructure and magnetic properties of the alloys was studied by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy and magnetization measurements. It is found that a finer and more uniform microstructure can be obtained directly from the melt quenched at lower temperature. With increasing initial quenching temperature, the optimal quenching speed decreases and the microstructure of the ribbons becomes coarser and more irregular. As a result, the magnetic properties of the alloys are deteriorated. It is believed that the break of the pre-existing Nd2Fe14B clusters and decrease in number of the developing nuclei of Nd2Fe14B phase with increase in quenching temperature may be the causes for the change of the microstructure and the magnetic properties of the ribbons.     

The UV Aging Properties of Maleic Anhydride Esterified Starch/Polylactic Acid Composites

Esterified starch/polylactic acid(ES/PLA) blending composite was prepared by melting extrusion with maleic anhydride esterified starch and PLA as the raw materials. The composite was accelerated aging by using UV aging box, and its properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis(TGA) and mechanical testing machine. FT-IR and SEM results show that the infrared absorption peak intensities of C-O, C-H, and C=O in aged samples decrease gradually with increasing aging time. The damage degree of surface and internal of aged samples increases gradually. XRD analysis results show that after aging treatment, the crystalline diffraction peak of thermoplastic esterified starch at 2θ = 21° disappears and the diffraction peaks of PLA at 2θ = 16.5° appear, indicating that the hydrolysis rate of esterified starch is greater than that of PLA. The crystallinity of PLA in aged sample shows an increasing trend at first followed by a decreasing one along with the increasing time of aging treatment, suggesting that the hydrolysis of amorphous regions of PLA is more preferential than its crystalline regions. Because of the influence of crystal structure and the change of composition structure, the initial decomposition temperature of aging test specimen gradually increases with the extension of aging time. The maximum decomposition rate temperature and residual mass increases at first, and then decrease after the aging time extending to 1600 h. As the aging time increases, the damage degree of combination interface between esterification starch and PLA is exacerbated, resulting in the tensile strength and bending strength of aged specimen decreasing gradually.     

Effect of annealing time on the exchange coupling interactions and microstructure of nanocomposite Pr7.5Dy1Fe71Co15Nb1B4.5 ribbons

The influence of annealing time on the magnetic properties and microstructure of nanocomposite Pr7.5Dy1Fe71Co15Nb1B4.5 ribbons was systematically investigated by the methods of vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Interaction domains derived from strong exchange coupling interactions between hard and soft magnetic grains were imaged using magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Maximum remanence, intrinsic coercivity, and maximum energy product values were obtained in the ribbons annealed at 700℃ for 15 min, which were composed of Pr2(Fe, Co)14B, α-(Fe, Co), and slight Pr2(Fe, Co)17 phases. Although Jr, Hci, and (BH)max decreased gradually with further increase of annealing time, it is emphasized that comparatively high Jr and Hci and (BH)max were obtained in a wide annealing time period of 15 to 360 min. The shape of initial magnetization curves and hysteresis loops change as a function of annealing time, indicating different magnetization reversal routes, which can be fully explained by the corresponding microstructure.     

Magnetostrictive distortion in Pr_(0.15)Tb_xDy_(0.85-x)Fe_2 polycrystals by X-ray diffraction

1　INTRODUCTIONIn recent years, magnetostrictive materialsRFe2 have drawn much attention due to their excel lent magnetoelastic properties and the possibility ofusing these materials as actuators and sensors[1 10].These materials with MgCu2 are in Laves phase.For example, Calrk et al[1] found that the magne tostrictive strains of TbxDy1-xFey alloys can reach(1 500 2 000)×10-6. Moreover, the alloy has ahigh anisotropic magnetostrictive strain, λ111 λ110, which arises …     

Influence of Tb substitution on low-field magnetocaloric effect in Gd5Si1.72Ge2.28 alloy

The lattice parameters, magnetic phase transition, Curie temperature and magnetocaloric properties for (Gd_1−x Tb _x )₅Si_1.72-Ge_2.28 alloys with x = 0, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 were investigated by X-ray powder diffractometry and magnetization measurements. The results show that suitable partial substitution of Tb in Gd₅Si_1.72Ge_2.28 compound remains the first-order magnetic-crystallographic transition and enhances the magnetic entropy change, although Tb substitution decreases the Curie temperature (T _C) of the compounds. The magnetic entropy change of (Gd_1−x Tb _x )₅Si_1.72Ge_2.28 alloys retains a large value in the low magnetic field of 1.0 T. The maximum magnetic entropy change for (Gd_0.80Tb_0.20)₅Si_1.72Ge_2.28 alloy in the magnetic field from 0 to 1.0 T reaches 8.7 J/(kg·K), which is nearly 4 times as large as that of (Gd_0.3Dy_0.7)₅Si₄ compound (|ΔS _max| = 2.24 J/(kg·K), T _C = 198 K). Foundation item: Project (50371058) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

First-principle investigation on stability of Co-doped spinel λ-Mn4-xCoxO8

The mechanism of stability of Co-doped spinel λ-MnO2 that is referred to as spinel LixMn2O4 （x=0） was studied by using the first-principle calculation method. The total energy and formation enthalpy can be decreased remarkably due to the Co substation, resulting in a more stable structure ofλ-MnxCr2-xO4. The bond order and DOS analysis were given in detail to explain the nature of stability improvement. The calculated results show that as the content of Co dopant increases, the bond order of Mn-O becomes larger and the peak of density of states around Fermi level shifts toward lower energy. The charge density distribution illustrates that the Mn-O bonding is ionic and partially covalent, and the covalent Mn-O bonding becomes stronger with the increase of Co dopant content. The results confirm that the Co-doping will enhance the stability of λ-MnO2 and hence improve the electrochemistry performance of LixMn2O4.     

The Effect of Bi2O3 on the Structure and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Ba6-3xNd8＋2xTi18O54 System（x=2/3）

The structures and dielectric properties of Ba6-3xNd8＋2xTi18O54 system（x=2/3） doped with different contents of Bi2O3, whose final molecular formula is Ba6-3x（Nd1-yBiy）8＋2xTi18O54 were investigated. It is indicated that the dielectric constant increases greatly whereas Q value（f0=4 GHz） decreases with the increase of Bi2O3 content. However, the temperature coefficient could be controlled below 0±30×10^-6/℃ in the experiment. These phenomena are related to the appearance of a new phase, Bi4Ti3O12, which has high dielectric constant. Also, that Bi^3＋（0.13 nm） substitutes for Nd^3＋（0.099 5 nm） will increase the unit cell volume, which will lead to the enlargement of the octahedron B site occupied by Ti^4＋. So the spontaneous polarization of Ti^4＋ ions will be strengthened. Besides, Bi^3＋ will fill up some vacancies which Ba^2＋ or Nd^3＋ ions leave in two A1 sites and four A2 sites. More positive ions polarize, which also contributes to higher dielectric constant. The samples got with the optimium properties are sintered at 1 200 ℃ for 4 h, when y=0.25, ε≈110, Q≈5 400（f0=4 GHz）, TCC=-4.7×10^-6/℃; When y=0.3, ε≈120, Q≈5 000（f0=4 GHz）, TCC=-24×10^-6/℃.     

Crystallization kinetics of amorphous Nd3.6 Pr5.4 Fe83Co3B5 and preparation of α-Fe/Nd2Fe14B nanocomposite magnets by controlled melt-solidification technique

The crystallization kinetics of amorphous Nd3. 6 Pr5.4 Fe83 Co3 B5 and the preparation of α-Fe/Nd2 Fe14 B nanocomposite magnets by controlled melt-solidification of Nd3.6Pr5.4Fe83Co3B5 was investigated by employing DTA, XRD, and TEM. The results show that a metastable intermediate phase Nd8Fe27B24 prior to α-Fe and Nd2 Fe14 B phases is crystallized as the amorphous Nd3.6 Pr5.4 Fe83 Co3 B5 is heated to 1 223 K. The crystallization activation energy of α-Fe and Nd8 Fe27324 phases is larger at the beginning stage of crystallization, and then it decreases with crystallized fraction x for the former and has little change when x is below 70% for the latter, which essentially results in an α-Fe/Nd2 Fe14 B microstructure with a relatively coarse grain size about 20-60 nm and a non-uniform distribution of grain size in the annealed alloy. The a-Fe/Nd2 Fe14 B nanocomposite magnets with a small average grain size about 14 nm and a quite uniform grain size distribution were prepared by controlled melt-solidification of nealing the amorphous Nd3. 6 Pr5. 4 Fe83 Co3 B5 precursor alloy.     

Effect of Dy on structure and magnetic properties of DyxFe60.5?xPt39.5 Alloys

Effects of the content of Dy on structure and magnetic properties of Dy _x Fe_60.5−x Pt_39.5 alloys(x=0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5) were investigated. The results of XRD analysis proved that the phase-transitional temperature of Dy _x Fe_60.5−x Pt_39.5 alloys from disordered face-centered-cubic structure to ordered face-centered-tetragonal cubic structure decreases with the increase of the content of Dy(x). Suitable content of Dy can improve the exchange coupling between soft magnetic phase and hard magnetic phase by refining grain size, while the remanence ratio and coercivity of the Fe_60.5Pt_39.5 alloy can be significantly improved by a small replacement of Fe by Dy, good magnetic properties were obtained in Dy_0.5Fe_60.0Pt_39.5 alloys.     

The Effect of Surface Etching and Dation on the Permeability Spectrum of Nanoerystalline Fe85-xCoxNb7B8 Ribbon

Etching and oxidation were adopted to improve the frequency dependence of permeability of nanocrystalline Fe85-xCoxNb7B8 ribbons. The effect of etching and oxidation on the permeability spectrum of nanocrystalline Fe85-CoxNb7B8 ribbons was investigated. The relaxation frequency shifted to higher frequency end after etching and oxidation while the amplitude of μ1 was reduced at the same time. As a whole, μf0 rises and reflects the increasing of resistivity after etching and oxidation.     

Transport Properties of Polycrystalline La2/3Ca1/3Mn1-xCuxO3

The infuence of Cu dopant (x) and sintering temperature(Ts) on the troansport propeties of La2/3Ca1/3Mn1-xCuxO3 series samples prepared by Sol-Gel technique was investigated.X-ray diffraction patterns show that all the samples with different Cu dopant and sintering temperatures (Ts) are of single phase without obvious latice distortion.Experimental results indicate that the insulator-metal transition temperature is diectly related to the sintering temperature and Cu dopant x.It is interesting to observe that a proper amount of Cu dompant can substantially improve magnetoresistance effects.     

Thermoelectric properties of Ca3Co4O9 ceramics

Ca₃Co₄O₉ ceramics were prepared using the sol-gel process with ordinary pressing sintering and their thermoelectric properties were measured from room temperature to 673 K. The experimental results show that single phase Ca₃Co₄O₉ can be fabricated at 750–900 °C in different citrate acid molar proportions for 0.2–1.0. For all the oxides, both the Seebeck coefficients S and the electrical conductivities κ increase with the increasing temperature. The Seebeck coefficients S are all positive. The thermal conductivities k increase with the increasing temperature also and the lattice thermal conductivity κ _l plays an important role to the thermal conductivity κ. The citrate acid molar proportions have a large influence on the particle sizes, which influences the thermoelectric properties of the ceramics. The figure of merit increases with the increasing temperature and reaches 4.5×10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ at 573 K for the sample in the citrate acid molar proportion of 0.46.     

Critical driving force for martensitic transformation fcc (γ)→hcp(ε) in Fe-Mn-Si shape memory alloys

By the application of Chou's new geometry model and the available data from binary Fe-Mn, Fe-Si and Mn-Si systems, as well as SGTE DATA for lattice stability parameters of three elements from Dinsdale, the Gibbs free energy as a function of temperature of the fcc(γ) and hep(ε) phases in the Fe-Mn-Si system is reevaluated. The relationship between the Neel temperature of the γ phase and concentration of constituents in mole fraction, is fitted and verified by the experimental results. The critical driving force for the martensitic transformation fcc (γ)→ hep (ε), △ G_C~(γ→ε), defined as the free energy difference between γ and ε phases at M_s of various alloys can also be obtained with a known M_s. It is found that the driving force varies with the composition of alloys, e. g. △ G_C~(γ→ε) = - 100.99 J/mol in Fe-27.0Mn-6.0Si and △ G_C~(γ→ε) = - 122.11 J/mol in Fe-26.9Mn-3.37Si. The compositional dependence of critical driving force accorded with the expression formulated by Hsu of the