Properties of Va metal-B films prepared by r.f.-sputtering

Ta_100-x B _x alloy films were prepared by r.f.-sputtering in the chemical composition range 45 x 77. Ta_100-x B _x (45 x 58) films consist of the amorphous phase, while the TaB₂ crystal phase was observed in Ta_100-x B _x (66 x 77) films. A remarkable preferred orientation with the (001) plane of TaB₂ parallel to the film surface was observed in Ta₃₄B₆₆. The d.c. electrical conductivity of Ta_100-x B _x (45 x 77) films decreases with increasing boron content in the range 6.7 × 10³ to 1.3 × 10^3–1 cm^–1. The micro-Vickers hardness of Ta_100-x B _x (45 x 77) films was in the range 2200 to 2600 kg mm^–2.     

Substitution effects on the electronic anomaly and superconductivity in La2−xBaxCuO4 and La2−xSrxCuO4 with x ∼ 1/8

The effects of substitution of Y or Bi on the low-temperature structural phase transition, electronic anomaly and superconductivity have been studied in La_2-y-xY_yBa_xCuO La_2-y-xBi_yBa_xCuO₄ and La_1.9-y-xTb_0.1Bi_ySr_xCuO₄ with x = 1/8. Moreover, an electronic anomaly, which is analogous to those observed in La_2–xBa_xCuO₄ and La_1.6-xNd_0.4Sr_xCuO₄ with x 1/8, has been found below about 60 K in the thermoelectric power measurements for the Zn-substituted La_2–xSr_xCu_1–yZn_yO₄ with x 0.115 and y = 0.01 – 0.02. These experimental results support the conclusions by Tranquada et al. that static order of the stripe correlations of holes and spins, owing to pinning by the low-temperature structure or impurities (Zn in this case), is the origin of the electronic anomaly, leading to the suppression of superconductivity.     

Phonon Vibration and Conduction of La2 ? xSrxCuO4 ? δ and La1.85 ? xSr0.15 + xCu1 ? xCoxO4 ? δ

Polycrystalline samples La_{2 – x} Sr _x CuO_{4 –} (0.06 x 0.5) and La_{1.85 – x} Sr_{0.15 + x} Cu_{1 – x} Co _x O_{4 –} (0 x 1) were synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction method. The structure, phonon vibration, and conduction were investigated by means of XRD, infrared (IR) spectra, and resistance. It is found that the increase of itinerant hole carriers could mask the in-plane stretching vibration mode (689 cm^–1). The softening of the phonon vibration mode gives an index of the weakening of hybridization. The distortion of CuO₆ octahedron and the microstructural inhomogeneity induced by Co doping lead to the widening of the IR absorption peaks.     

Synthesis of Sr- and Fe-doped LaGaO3 perovskites by the modified citrate method

Fine particle strontium and iron substituted lanthanum gallates La_1–x Sr _x Ga_1–y Fe _y O_3–, where x = 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6; y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8, have been synthesized by a modified citrate method. The formation of these powders was confirmed by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and the fine particle of La_0.6Sr_0.4Ga_0.2Fe_0.8O_3– was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size analysis. The single phase of La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.4Fe_0.6O_3–, La_0.6Sr_0.4Ga_0.2Fe_0.8O_3–, and La_0.4Sr_0.6Ga_0.2Fe_0.8O_3– powders could be obtained both with and without calcination. The amount of the secondary phase increased when the amount of Sr in La_1–x Sr _x Fe_0.6Ga_0.4O_3– was more than 0.2 (x > 0.2) and the amount of Fe in La_0.6Sr_0.4Ga_1–y Fe _y O_3– and La_0.4Sr_0.6Ga_0.2Fe_0.8O_3– was less than 0.8 (y < 0.8). The results indicated that in the pH range of 1.36–9.27, the single phase of La_0.6Sr_0.4Ga_0.2Fe_0.8O_3– was formed without calcination and the pH had negligible effects on the structure and lattice parameter. The fine particle of these calcined powders (<4 m) was obtained with the average particle size 1.70 m at pH = 1.36 and with the average particle size between 0.56–0.60 m at pH range between 3.39–9.27, and with a lattice parameter about 3.9 Å.     

Static creep behaviour of Al-Zn-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys

The creep behaviour of Al-Zn-Mg (7039) and Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (7075) alloys is evaluated at elevated temperatures (443T533 K and 483T563 K) under constant stresses between 49 and 123 MPa, respectively, in a custom-built creep testing facility. The measured activation energies of these alloys are 172–185 kJ mo^–1 and 248–272 kJ mol^–1. As the stress increases, the activation energy in both cases decreases due to the high density of dislocations. The average exponent values of these alloys are 7 and 9. The microstructure observation reveals that the dominant fracture mode of 7039 alloy is intergranular and that of 7075 alloy is transgranular.     

Effect of Composition Variations on Electrical and Optical Properties of La1−x (Ca, Sr) x MnO3 Thin Films

Thin films of La _0.67 Ca _0.33 MnO ₃₊ (d 200 nm) grown at 750° C on MgO(100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition were annealed in various oxygen atmospheres. The LaF ₃ , CaF ₂ and Mn overlayers (d 5-10 nm) have been evaporated onto the films in order to saturate the compound by La, Ca or Mn during subsequent annealing at 900° C in air. Further, the pulsed injection CVD method has been utilized to prepare series of La _1–x Sr _x MnO ₃ films with x = 0÷0.5 on LaAlO ₃ (100). The effect of composition variations on electrical resistivity and magnetoresistance of the films as well as on their optical transmission and reflection spectra in the energy range between 0.2 and 4.0 eV has been investigated.     

On the nano-size intergrowth of Sr4Fe6O13±δ and (Sr1?xLax)FeO3?δ phases in the mixed conductor Sr3.6La0.4Fe6Oz

The microstructures of mixed-conducting Sr₄Fe₆O_13±, and Sr_3.6La_0.4Fe₆O _z (nominal composition) have been studied by electron microscopy. The lanthanum free material shows a microstructure containing mainly Sr₄Fe₆O_13±, with some 5 vol% Sr_1–y La _y Fe₁₂O₁₉embedded as micron-size inclusions. The lanthanum-containing material revealed a significantly different microstructure consisting of 20 vol% micron-size Sr_1–y La _y Fe₁₂O₁₉embedded in 40 vol% (Sr_0.85La_0.15)FeO_3–tetragonal perovskite, and 40 vol% of plate-shaped nano-scale intergrowths between (Sr_1–x La _x )FeO_3–and Sr₄Fe₆O_13±phases. Domains with dimensions of 20–50 nm are observed in the tetragonal perovskite when viewed along its fourfold axis. From compositional analysis it is concluded that there is little or no solubility of La in the Sr₄Fe₆O_13±phase. The observed microstructure is important input in explaining the significant effect of La addition on the transport properties of Sr₄Fe₆O_13±materials.     

μSR Study in La2−x Sr x Cu1−y Zn y O4 with x≃l/8

In order to investigate the magnetic state around hole density 1/8 in LaSr-214, SR experiments were carried out for the samples of Zn-free La _2–x Sr _x CuO ₄ and Zn-doped La _2–x Sr _x Cu _1–y Zn _y O ₄. For Zn-free samples, -spin rotation was observed in x=0.115 below about T _r =10K, implying magnetic order, but not observed in x=0.125. On the other hand, Zn-doping brought about -spin rotation in x=0.125 sample below T _r =7K, implying growth of magnetic order but decreased T _r in x=0.115, meaning destruction of magnetic order. This indicates that Zn-doping pins dynamical spin modulation, resulting in static magnetic order in x=0.125 sample.     

Anisotropic Properties of Bi2Sr2?xLaxCu1O6+δ Thin-Films Grown on Vicinal SrTiO3 Substrates

Epitaxial Bi₂Sr_2–xLa _x Cu₁O₆₊ thin films were grown on vicinal substrates by magnetron sputtering. The growth mode and the superconductivity of the thin films were studied. The films were deposited on 5–7° misoriented (100) SrTiO₃ (STO). The surface of misoriented substrate is tilted to the 111 azimuth. The topographies of the Bi-2201 films show strip-like shapes. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study revealed that the films grew with very good in-plane alignments which were comparable to those of single crystals. Both of the temperature dependence of the a- and c-axis resistivities were studied under magnetic fields. The corresponding anisotropic activation energies and upper critical magnetic fields were investigated.     

Microscopic State of Low Doped Manganites La1 ? xSrxMnO3 Probed by ESR

The electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements were performed in single crystals of La_{1 – x} Sr _x MnO₃ (0.05 x 0.125) in order to study the interplay of crystal field, Dzyaloshinsky–Moriya interaction, Jahn–Teller (JT) effect, and orbital order. The angular dependence of the ESR linewidth of an untwinned La_0.95Sr_0.05MnO₃ single crystal has been analyzed in the high-temperature approximation, which takes into account the microscopic geometry of the four nonequivalent Mn positions in the orthorhombic unit cell. A strong mixing of the |3z ² – r ²> and |x ² – y ²> states for the real orbital configuration was found. Magnetic inhomogeneities observed in the ESR spectra across the composition range 0.075 x 0.125 can be attributed to the presence of ferromagnetic clusters (magnetic spin polarons) in the paramagnetic state. New polaronic models are proposed.     

Transport anomalies in the Zn-substituted La2−x Sr x Cu1−y Zn y O4 with x ∼ 0.115; Possibility of the Pinning of CDW and SDW by Zn

Anomalies in the thermoelectric power and the Hall coefficient, which are analogous to those observed in La _2–x Ba _x CuO ₄ with x 1/8, have been observed in the Zn-substituted La _2–x Sr _x Cu _1–y Zn _y O ₄ with x = 0.115 and y = 0 – 0.025 and with x = 0.15 and y 0.02. Based on the so-called stripe model, these are explained as being due to the formation of the static order of the stripe-patterned CDW and SDW on account of the pinning by Zn. Accordingly, the long-standing problem on the conspicuous suppression of superconductivity in the Zn-substituted La _2–x Sr _x Cu _1–y Zn _y O ₄ with x 0.115 is likely to be attributed to this static order.     

Spin susceptibility of La2−xSrxCuO4; Modification of localized character of Cu 3d-Electrons at x≳0.15

The magnetic susceptibility X of superconducting La_2–xSr_xCuO₄ (LSCO) was investigated over a wide x-range. The effective magnetic moment on the Cu-site of LSCO is progressively suppressed at x0.15 owing to deterioration of the localized character of Cu 3d-electrons, and the superconducting transition temperature T_c begins to decrease near x=0.15. The density of states at the Fermi level, estimated from the electronic specific heat or the T-independent spin part of X, is enhanced above x 0.15.     

Heat Capacity Measurement of Oxygen-Dissolved V–Ti Alloys1

The heat capacities of (V_1–y Ti _y ) O _x alloys (x=0.13 to 0.18, y=0.06 to 0.23) were measured in the temperature range from 380 to 900K with a differential scanning calorimeter. A -type peak corresponding to the order–disorder phase transition was observed in the heat capacity curves of each (V_1–y Ti _y ) O _x alloy (x0.18, y0.09). The baseline of the measured heat capacity was estimated with the harmonic term and the anharmonic term of the lattice vibration. The entropy changes at the phase transition were determined by subtracting the baseline mentioned above from the measured heat capacities. The experimental entropy changes were in good agreement with those calculated theoretically, based on the arrangement of oxygen and the limited coordination number of oxygen around vanadium. There were no peaks in the heat capacity curves for the samples with compositions y0.16. Introduction of titanium, which has a larger ionic radius than that of vanadium, may disturb the ordering of oxygen around the metal.     

In situ synthesis of Mo(Si,Al)2-SiC composites

An in situ reaction was proposed and investigated to produce Mo(Si_{1 – x} Al _x )₂-SiC composites. The starting powders were MoSi₂, Al and C. A direct current hot pressing (DCHP) method was used to prepare these composites. When the mixed powder was hot pressed at temperatures lower than 1500°C, the phase composition was Mo(Si,Al)₂ and -SiC. When the hot pressing temperature was higher than 1600°C, however, Nowotny phase Mo₅Si₃C₁ appeared. The chemical stoichiometry of the proposed in situ reaction becomes difficult because of the formation of solid solution among these phases and the appearance of Mo₅Si₃C phase. The in situ formed SiC phase in the x = 0.3 sample was partly in whisker shape. However, the SiC phase in x = 0.15 sample was in particle shape. These in situ formed SiC particles and whiskers acted as crack deflection and bridging elements and improved the fracture toughness. The Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of the x = 0.3 sample hot pressed at 1700°C for 60 min in vacuum were 15.6 GPa and 5.39 MPa · m^1/2, respectively.     

Synthesis, Structure, Microstructure, and Electrical Conductivity of (La,Sr)(Ga,Mg)O3 – δOxide-Ion-Conducting Ceramics

Oxide-ion-conducting perovskite ceramics (La_{1 – y} Sr _y )(Ga_{1 – x} Mg _x )O_{3 –} were prepared using hydrated Mg and La salts as starting reagents. X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy data demonstrate that the symmetry of the solid solutions changes in the sequence orthorhombic–rhombohedral–cubic with increasing Sr + Mg content.     

Residual strain and texture in strontium-doped lanthanum manganite thin films

Thin films of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LSMO) have been deposited using liquid-delivery metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). X-ray diffraction (XRD) 2/ scans showed that all the films has a cubic structure. Studies of the in-plane crystallographic orientations (pole figure) revealed an (0 0 1) preferred growth structure on LAO, a weak (1 1 0) texture on Y-ZrO₂ (YSZ), a random texture on sapphire (SAP) and silicon (Si). Our attention is focused on residual strain and its deviations from linearity for vs. sin² plots. The strain evolution from 02<0.8 showed a curvature and a snake-like pattern. These anomalies are attributed to texture and strain gradients. In-plane strain decreased as the lattice mismatch increased and varied from 0.05 to 3.03% depending on the substrate. An attempt is made to establish a relationship between lattice mismatch, growth process, and residual strain.     

Structural Investigations of La-2125 Mixed Oxide Superconducting System

Crystallographic studies on the (La_{2 – x} Nd _x )Ca _y Ba₂Cu_{4 + y} O _z [y = 2x; 0.0 x 0.5] samples are carried out using neutron diffraction technique. The analysis of the neutron diffraction patterns for the series of samples with 0.0 x 0.5 was done using Rietveld method. The La₂Ba₂Cu₄Oz (La-224, x = 0.0) system exhibits tetragonal phase and is a nonsuperconductor, which on addition of a CaCuO₂ rock salt like layer becomes superconducting. It is important to note the significant role played by Ca-doping in improvising the superconducting properties. Analysis of the structural data reveals that, as Ca concentration increases, the unit cell volume decreases while T _c increases with a maximum value of 78 K for y = 1.0. The detailed crystal structure for LaNdCaBCO series of samples has been studied in the light of changes in bond lengths with increase in Ca concentration and its role in turning on the superconductivity.     

Boundary-layer similarity flows driven by a power-law shear over a permeable plane surface

Summary. The boundary-layer similarity flow driven over a semi-infinite permeable flat plate by a power-law shear with asymptotic velocity profile U(y)=y(y,>0) is considered in the presence of lateral suction or injection of the fluid (y denotes the coordinate normal to the plate). The analytically tractable cases =–2/3 and =–1/2 are examined in detail. It is shown that while for =–2/3 the adjustment of the flow over an impermeable plate to the power-law shear is not possible, in the permeable cases the presence of suction allows for a family of boundary-layer solutions with the proper algebraic decay. The value of the skin friction corresponding to this family of solutions is given by the parameter s=9³/(4f_w), where f_w denotes the suction parameter. In the limiting case of a vanishing suction and a properly vanishing value of the parameter (such that s=finite), this family of algebraically decaying solutions goes over into the (exponentially decaying) Glauert-jet. In the case =–1/2, solutions showing the proper algebraic decay were found both for suction ( f_w > 0) and injection ( f_w<0) in the whole range –<f_w<+. In this case the skin friction parameters s=2²/3 is independent of the suction/injection parameter f_w.     

Preparation of YBa2Cu3O7 ? δ Thin Films by the Self-Template Sputtering Method

Using the self-template technique, c-axis-oriented epitaxial YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 –} thin films have been prepared in situ on LaAlO₃ substrate by the d.c. magnetron sputtering method. The properties of thin film dependence on the deposition conditions of the two-step self-template method have been systematically investigated. By optimizing the parameters, high-quality YBCO thin films with T _c0 90 K, T _c 1 K, R _s (77 K, 10 GHz)500 were reproducibly obtained. The best sample grown under optimal conditions gave a low R _s of 330 at 77 K, 10 GHz, which can be used in a microwave field.