Effect of Extrusion on the Critical Current Density of Bi1.4Pb0.6Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox Superconducting Wires

The effect of extrusion on improving the critical current density ( J _c) of Bi_1.4Pb_0.6Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O _x superconducting wires is investigated. Calcined powders (Bi_1.4Pb_0.6Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O _x ) are first mixed with a forming aid—a thermoplastic polymer (polyethylene)—for workability, and then extruded, using a capillary rheometer, to form wires 2 mm in diameter. The J _c value, measured by the four-probe method in liquid nitrogen at 77 K, is improved substantially by the following process: (1) the superconducting precursors are extruded at high viscosity with a forming aid, to align the platelike particles unidirectionally; (2) the forming aid alone is carefully burned out, without destroying the extruded configuration; and (3) the extruded wires are annealed at 850°C in air for more than 96 h.     

Phase Transition and Ferroelectric Characteristics of Pb[(Mg1/3Nb2/3)1-xTix]O3 Ceramics Modified with La(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3

The effects of 0–5 mol% addition of La(Mg_2/3Nb_1/3)O₃ (LMN) on the phase transition and ferroelectric behaviors of Pb[(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)_1-xTi_x]O₃ (PMNT) ceramics with compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) were studied. An evolution of structure from rhombohedral to tetragonal was found with increasing PbTiO₃ (PT) content across the MPB (at ∼32.5 mol% PT), and a coexistence of both rhombohedral and tetragonal phases was also found at the MPB. The dual-phase field extended toward the lower PT content side of the MPB, and, moreover, the rhombohedrality or tetragonality was reduced, especially for the compositions near the MPB, by the addition of La in PMNT. The ferroelectric transition was found to change from normal to diffuse as the La content increased and the compositions became more rhombohedral. In accordance with the structural evolution, the change of remanent polarization ( P _r) and coercive field ( E _c) also became gradually indistinct, and both P _r and E _c were reduced. For compositions near the MPB, both PMNT and La-modified PMNT had a similar electromechanical factor ( k _p) in a range around 0.55–0.60, but the mechanical quality factor ( Q _m) was significantly reduced for the La-modified PMNT. The piezoelectric coefficient ( d ₃₃), however, was largely improved with increasing La content in PMNT of compositions at MPB. A high value of d ₃₃∼ 815 pC/N was obtained for the 5-mol%-La-modified ceramics, but it was associated with a low value of Q _m.     

XRD and Raman Studies on the Ordering/Disordering of Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3

The samples of complex perovskite Ba(Mg_1/3Ta_2/3)O₃ (BMT) were synthesized at various sintering temperatures and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Raman spectra of the samples were collected. Both the structure refinements using the XRD data and the Raman spectra show that the samples sintered above 1500°C with high pellet relative density (>95%) take almost-perfect B-site-ordered structure; while the samples sintered below 1400°C with low pellet relative density (<70%) take the more disordered structure at B-sites. The vibrational modes of 1:2 ordered BMT     were obtained and illustrated by using first-principle calculations. With the assistance of the calculation results, Raman peaks of BMT were assigned as A _1g(1) (107 cm⁻¹), A _1g(2) (212 cm⁻¹), A _1g(3) (433 cm⁻¹), A _1g(4) (798 cm⁻¹), and E _g(1) (104 cm⁻¹), E _g(2) (160 cm⁻¹), E _g(3) (264 cm⁻¹), E _g(4) (386 cm⁻¹), E _g(5) (576 cm⁻¹). The highly ordered BMT sample at B-site shows longer phonon lifetime and weaker coupling among phonons than the disordered BMT, which probably are the intrinsic reasons for the highly ordered BMT sample to have the low dielectric loss.     

Synthesis of Compositionally Homogeneous Sr(CuxZn1−x)1/2W1/2O3

A complex perovskite of Sr(Cu _x Zn_{1- x} )_1/2 W_1/2O₃ (SCZW) is synthesized by a new combination of wet and dry processess. Mixed oxides containing Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ (CZ) are prepared by the wet process (coprecipitate method). SCZW is obtained by the dry process (mixed-oxide method) from a mixture of CZ, SrCO₃, and WO₃. SCZW has practically no compositional, unlike solid solutions prepared by the conventional dry method. The wet–dry process method is useful because the wet process is applied to only B-site cations having the same valence.     

Characterization of the Piezoelectric Properties of Pb0.98Ba0.02(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 Epitaxial Thin Films

Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–PbTiO₃ (PMN–PT) (70/30) thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition using two growth strategies: adsorption controlled deposition from lead-rich targets (∼25–30 mass%) and lower-temperature deposition ( T _d≤600°C) from targets containing a small amount of excess lead oxide (≤3 mass %). The substrates used were (001) SrRuO₃/LaAlO₃. Typical remanent polarization values ranged between 12 and 14 μC/cm² for these films. The longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient ( d _33,f) was measured using in situ four-circle X-ray diffraction, and the transverse coefficient ( d _31,f or e _31,f) was measured using the wafer flexure method. d _33,f and e _31,f coefficients of ∼300–350 pm/V and ∼−11 C/m² were calculated, respectively. In general, the piezoelectric coefficients and aging rates were strongly asymmetric, suggesting the presence of a polarization bias. The large, extremely stable piezoelectric response that results from poling parallel to the preferred polarization direction is attractive for miniaturized sensors and actuators.     

十六烷基三甲基溴化铵/正丁醇/正辛烷/水油包水型微乳体系的相行为

文中分别考察了助表面活性剂(正丁醇)、有机溶剂(正辛烷)、温度、钨酸钠溶液浓度对十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)/正丁醇/正辛烷/水油包水(W/O)型微乳区域形成的影响,并对该微乳体系的结构进行了电导研究,确定了微乳液体系形成区域及最佳比例配方。研究表明:助表面活性剂、有机溶剂、盐溶液质量浓度对该微乳液体系的微乳区域都会产生影响,温度对该微乳区域几乎没有影响;且当CTAB/正丁醇质量比为1∶2,(CTAB+正丁醇)/正辛烷质量比为4∶6时(滴加蒸馏水前),能够得到较大且稳定的微乳区域。该研究从热力学相图原理上为纳米粒子可控制备提供了理论依据。     

Influence of Non-Stoichiometry on the Structure and Properties of Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 Microwave Dielectrics: I. Substitution of Ba3W2O9

A narrow region of Zn-vacancy-containing cubic perovskites was formed in the (1− x )Ba₃(ZnNb₂)O₉−( x )Ba₃W₂O₉ system up to 2 mol% substitution ( x =0.02). The introduction of cation vacancies enhanced the stability of the 1:2 B-site ordered form of the structure, Ba(Zn_{1− x} □ _x )_1/3(Nb_{1− x} W _x )_2/3O₃, which underwent an order–disorder transition at 1410°C, ∼35° higher than pure Ba(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃. The Zn vacancies also accelerated the kinetics of the ordering reaction, and samples with x =0.006 comprised large ordered domains with a high lattice distortion ( c/a =1.226) after a 12 h anneal at 1300°C. The tungstate-containing solid solutions can be sintered to a high density at 1390°C, and the resultant ordered ceramics exhibit some of the highest microwave dielectric Q factors ( Q × f =1 18 000 at 8 GHz) reported for a niobate-based perovskite.     

Dielectric and Piezoelectric Properties of Pb(Co1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3-PbZrO3 Solid Solution Ceramics

Ceramic and piezoelectric properties of the Pb(Co_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-PbTiO₃-PbZrO₃ system were investigated. The system contains rhombohedral, tetragonal, and pseudocubic phases at room temperature. The triple point is at 0.07Pb(Co_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.43PbTiO₃-0.50PbZrO₃. High dielectric constants (750 to 1500) and radial coupling coefficients (40 to 45%) and low average temperature coefficients of resonant frequency (of the order of 10^-6°C) were obtained for compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary.     

Hot Forging Characteristics of Fine-Grained ZrO2 and Al2O3/ZrO2 Ceramics

Preliminary results indicate that large strains (∼80%) and strain rates (0.001 s⁻¹) can be obtained without tearing (or cracking) in fine-grain ZrO₂ (0.3 μm) and Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ (1 μm) ceramics. Alumina develops crystallographic and morphological texture as previously reported by Heuer et al.¹     

Thermal Expansion of SrY2O4

Crystals of SrY₂O₄ (space group Pnam ) were examined by high-temperature powder X-ray diffractometry to determine the changes in unit-cell dimensions with temperature. The individual cell dimensions linearly increased with increasing temperature up to 1473 K. The expansion coefficients (K⁻¹) were 1.263(8) × 10⁻⁵ along the a- axis, 7.46(6) × 10⁻⁶ along the b- axis, and 9.93(10) × 10⁻⁶ along the c- axis. The coefficient of mean linear expansion was 1.001(8) × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹.     

Crystal and Defect Structure of Nd1.9Ce0.1CuO4±y

The crystal and defect structure of neodymium cerium cu-prate (Nd_1.9 Ce_0.1 CuO_4±y) has been studied as a function of temperature (1200–1500 K) and oxygen pressure (10⁰–10³ atm) via X-ray diffractometry, powder neutron diffraction, and thermogravimetry methods. The oxygen nonstoichiom-etry changes from oxygen-excess (positive y values) to oxygen- deficient oxides (negative y values). The absolute values of oxygen nonstoichiometry y are calculated from the neu-tron diffraction and thermogravimetry data. The materials adopt the tetragonal structure (space group I 4/ mmm ). A defect model is proposed for Nd_2-x Ce_x CuO_4±y. It is con-cluded that oxygen vacancies V Ö (which occupy O(1) crys-tallographic positions (in planes)) and interstitial oxygen O(i (which occupy O(3) "apical" positions) are present simultaneously. Gaseous oxygen intercalates into the Nd_1.9 Ce_0.1 CuO_4±y crystals and replaces oxygen vacancies in the O(1) position and interstitial oxygen atoms in the O(3) positions. The theoretical model and the experimental data are in good agreement with each other, and the equilibrium constants of defect formation have been calculated.     

Synthesis of BaCu(B2O5) Ceramics and their Effect on the Sintering Temperature and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 Ceramics

BaCu(B₂O₅) ceramics were synthesized and their microwave dielectric properties were investigated. BaCu(B₂O₅) phase was formed at 700°C and melted above 850°C. The BaCu(B₂O₅) ceramic sintered at 810°C had a dielectric constant (ɛ_r) of 7.4, a quality factor ( Q × f ) of 50 000 GHz and a temperature coefficient of resonance frequency (τ_f) of −32 ppm/°C. As the BaCu(B₂O₅) ceramic had a low melting temperature and good microwave dielectric properties, it can be used as a low-temperature sintering aid for microwave dielectric materials for low temperature co-fired ceramic application. When BaCu(B₂O₅) was added to the Ba(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (BZN) ceramic, BZN ceramics were well sintered even at 850°C. BaCu(B₂O₅) existed as a liquid phase during the sintering and assisted the densification of the BZN ceramic. Good microwave dielectric properties of Q × f =16 000 GHz, ɛ_r=35, and τ_f=22.1 ppm/°C were obtained for the BZN+6.0 mol% BaCu(B₂O₅) ceramic sintered at 875°C for 2 h.     

Reference Relations for the Evaluation of the Materials Properties of Orthorhombic YBa2Cu3Ox Superconductors

Several expressions, suitable as reference relations, pertaining to the composition and temperature dependencies of the properties of orthorhombic YBa₂Cu₃O_x superconductors have been derived from statistical assessments of collections of data from independent experimental studies. Relations are given for (1) the critical temperature vs oxygen content, (2) the lattice parameters at room temperature vs oxygen content, (3) the lattice parameters at fixed oxygen content vs temperature, (4) the anisotropic thermal expansion vs temperature, (5) the isotropic polycrystalline thermal expansion vs temperature, and (6) the mass density vs temperature.     

Magnetoresistance of CuxCo1-xFe2O4 Ferrites

Magnetoresistance measurements (Δ/R) were carried out on Cu _x Co_{1- x} Fe₂O₄ samples with x =1, 0.75, 0.50, 0.25 and cobalt ferrite in the range of magnetic intensity (H) from 1.0 to 4.5 kG. Linear plots were obtained between log (Δ/R) and log H for all compositions except that of cobalt ferrite. The values of n at x =0.5 do not agree with the results of some authors. The discrepancy may be attributed to the value of magnetic field intensity at which such measurements were carried out. The similarity of features of n and μ_D with composition leads us to believe that the magnetoresistance may arise from the scattering of conduction electrons by localized electrons involving the s-d exchange interaction.     

Effects of Calcium Substitution on the Structural and Microwave Dielectric Characteristics of [(Pb1−xCax)1/2La1/2](Mg1/2Nb1/2)O3 Ceramics

The effects of calcium substitution on the structural and microwave dielectric characteristics of [(Pb_{1− x} Ca _x )_1/2La_1/2](Mg_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ ceramics (with x = 0.01–0.5) were investigated. All the materials were observed to have an ordered A(B_1/2^'B_1/2^")O₃-type perovskite structure; however, the space group of the structure changed from Fm 3 m to Pa 3 as the calcium content increased to x = 0.1, and then from Pa 3 to R 3¯ at the x = 0.5 composition. During the structural evolution, the lattice parameter of the perovskite cell decreased linearly, and the dielectric constant ( k ) also decreased, from k = 80 to k = 38. However, the product of the quality factor and the resonant frequency ( Q × f ) increased from 50 000 GHz to 90 000 GHz as the calcium content increased. Also, the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_ƒ) gradually changed from 120 ppm/°C to −40 ppm/°C as the calcium content increased. At the x = 0.3 composition, a combination of properties— k ∼ 50, Q × f ∼ 86 000 GHz, and τ_ƒ∼ 0 ppm/°C—can be obtained.     

Synthesis of Er3+ Doped Y2O3 Nanophosphors

The synthesis and characterization of yttrium hydroxyl carbonate (Y(OH)CO₃²⁻) and yttrium nitrate hydroxide hydrate (Y(OH)NO₃H₂O) precursor materials as well as Y₂O₃ nanoparticles are reported. The resultant precursor particle size is about 10–12 nm with a narrow size distribution by the enzymatic decomposition method, whereas the particle size was smaller than those acquired by the homogeneous and alkali precipitation methods. The formation of Y(OH)CO₃²⁻ and Y(OH)NO₃H₂O species was also evident from the fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) analysis. Precipitated Y(OH)CO₃²⁻ precursors have an amorphous nature whereas Y(OH)NO₃H₂O precursors have a crystalline nature, which was manifested from the XRD analysis. Moreover, precipitated Y(OH)NO₃H₂O precursors were found in the agglomerated form and Y(OH)CO₃²⁻ was established in the monodispersed form, as determined from the FE-SEM, TEM and DLS measurements. It was demonstrated that calcination of precursor materials at 900°C eventually removed the inorganic anions from the precursors and consequently produced crystalline Y₂O₃ nanoparticles, which was evident from the XRD and FT-IR analysis. The EDS analysis confirms Er³⁺ doping in the Y₂O₃ nanoparticles. The morphology and the size of the Y₂O₃ nanoparticles are almost unchanged before and after the calcination.     

Effect of Composition on the Electromechanical Properties of (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3−XPbTiO3 Ceramics

Ceramic lead magnesium niobate–lead titanate ((1-x)PMN_-xPT) of different compositions has been prepared by the columbite precursor method. This study discusses compositions ranging from 0.94PMN–0.06PT to 0.60PM–N0.40PT, focusing on two areas of the (1-x)PMN_xPT system: compositions that exhibit electrostrictive behavior, and those that show piezoelectric behavior. In electrostrictive compositions where x is in the range of 0.06–0.20, the dielectric constant and electromechanical coupling factor dependencies on the bias field are evaluated. The optimal electromechanical properties are obtained with the composition 0.82PMN–0.18PT, measured at temperature T = T_m (the temperature of maximum dielectric constant) = 80°C and with a dc bias of 5 kV/cm. X–ray diffractometry is used to show that the (1-x)PMN_-xPT system has a compositionally wide two–phase region and that 0.655PMN–0.345PT is the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition. Electromechanical property evaluation shows that the optimal piezoelectric properties (piezoelectric charge coefficient ( d₃₃ ) value of 720 pC/N, dielectric constant ( K ) value of 5400, and electromechanical planar and thickness coupling coefficient ( k_p and k_t , respectively) values of 62% and 46%, respectively) are obtained at the MPB composition.     

Chemical Vapor Deposition of B13C2 from BCl3-CH4-H2-Argon Mixtures

The deposition of boron carbide (B₁₃C₂) onto graphite substrates was accomplished by using a hot-wall chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor at a pressure of 10.1 kPa in the temperature range of 1000°–1400°C. A modified impinging-jet geometry was used to simplify the mass-transfer analysis. Coatings were characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface morphology was composed of well-defined facets, the size of which was dependent on the growth rate and deposition time, as would be expected from a competitive growth mechanism. TEM micrographs of the coating showed long, columnar grains that emanated from a narrow nucleation zone. The growth rate could be adequately described by a first-order kinetic expression, with respect to the bulk gas phase boron chloride (BCl₃) concentration. The activation energy of the kinetic expression was estimated to be 93.1 kJ/mol. It was proposed that the deposition was limited by the adsorption of (BCl₃) onto the substrate surface.     

Structure and Dielectric Properties of Pb(Sc2/3W1/3)O3–Pb(Zr/Ti)O3 Relaxors

The structure and dielectric properties of (1− x )Pb(Sc_2/3W_1/3)O₃–( x )Pb(Zr/Ti)O₃ ceramics have been investigated over a full substitution range. All compositions with x < 0.5 adopt a cubic perovskite structure; however, for x ≤ 0.25 a doubled cell results from a 1:1 ordered distribution of the B-site cations. The structural order in Pb(Sc_2/3W_1/3)O₃ (PSW) can be described by a random-site model with one cation site occupied by Sc³⁺ and the other by a random distribution of (Sc_1/3³⁺W_2/3⁶⁺). The ordering is destabilized in solid solutions of PSW with PbZrO₃ (PSW–PZ), but stabilized by PbTiO₃ in the (1− x )PSW–( x )PT system. The changes in order are accompanied by alterations in the dielectric response of the two systems. For PSW–PZ the temperature of the permittivity maximum ( T _ɛ,max) increases linearly with x ; however, for PSW–PT T _ɛ,max decreases in the ordered region (up to x = 0.25) and then increases rapidly as the order is lost. Similar effects were produced by modifying the degree of order of (0.75)PSW–(0.25)PT; when the order parameter was reduced from ∼1.0 to ∼0.65, T _ɛ,max increased by more than 60°C.     

Photoluminescence Characteristics of Energy Transfer Between Eu3+and Bi3+in LiEu1−xBix (WO4)0.5(MoO4)1.5

A series of novel red phosphors LiEu_{1− x} Bi _x (WO₄)_0.5(MoO₄)_1.5 ( x =0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, and 0.50) were synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The spectrum and the crystal structure of the phosphors were characterized by Fluorescence spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The photoluminescent results show that all samples can be excited efficiently by UV (396 nm) and blue (467 nm) light and that they emit red light at 615 nm with line spectra, which are coupled well with the characteristic emissions from UVLED and blue light-emitting diode (LED), respectively. There is an efficient energy transfer from Bi³⁺ to Eu³⁺ ions, leading to the emission intensity of Eu³⁺ being enhanced by 1.5 times, and even more when Bi³⁺ ions are introduced into LiEu (WO₄)_0.5(MoO₄)_1.5. The introduction of Bi³⁺ ions broadened the excitation band of the phosphor, and the optimum doping concentration is found to be 10 mol% of Bi³⁺.