Preparations and tailoring of structural,magnetic properties of rare earths (REs) doped nanoferrites for microwave high frequency applications

Rare earths (Res) doped Mn spinel nanoferrites with nominal composition MnR_0.2Fe_1·8O₄ (REs = Tb, Pr, Ce, Y and Gd) were synthesized using sol gel method. FTIR, XRD and FESEM were employed to evaluate the structure, phase, vibrational bands, morphology, grain size and microstructure respectively. VSM was employed to investigate the magnetic features of the Mn nanoferrite and REs doped Mn nanoferrites. XRD confirmed the single-phase cubic structure of Mn nanoferrite whereas tetragonal phase was observed for all REs doped Mn nanoferrites. Unit cell software was used to determine the structural features such as lattice parameter, cell volume, ‘da’, ‘db’, ‘dc’ and ‘dv’ respectively. FTIR results demonstrated the absorption peaks of Mn and REs doped Mn ferrite at 647-674 cm⁻¹. FESEM results depicted the irregular shapes of the particles with large agglomerations in the prepared samples. The grain size evaluated by LIM (line intercept method) found in the range of 94 to 213 nm respectively. Saturation magnetization was increased from 1.332 to 38.097 emu/g whereas remanence was increased from 1.096 to 25.379 emu/g respectively. In addition, other magnetic parameters such as initial permeability, magnetic anisotropy and magnetic moments were also increased. Moreover, Y–K angles showed significant response with REs doping in Mn ferrites. Furthermore, high frequency response and switching field distribution (SFD) of Mn ferrite and REs doped Mn ferrites were also determined. It is found that Y doped Mn ferrite depicted better high frequency and SFD response as compared to Mn ferrite and REs doped Mn ferrites. The coercivity of all these pure Mn ferrite and rare earth's substituted Mn ferrites (425–246 Oe) was higher as compared to the pure Mn and yttrium substituted Mn ferrite (107–217 Oe. Therefore, it was suggested that Y doped Mn ferrite was more suitable candidate for switching, and high frequency absorption applications in microwave regime.     

Influence of Mg concentration on structural,morphological and optical properties of nanoceria

Nano crystalline pure and Mg doped ceriaparticles were synthesized by simple chemical co-precipitation method using cerium nitrate hexahydrate as a source material and magnesium nitrate as doping precursor at room temperature. The effect of doping were investigated by X-ray diffraction pattern(XRD), FT-Raman,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), Ultraviolet spectroscopy(UV), photoluminescence spectroscopy(PL), field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (HRTEM &EDS). The X-ray diffraction pattern and FT-Raman studies showed that the prepared samples were nano particulates with cubic fluorite structure. The XRD pattern analysis showed that the size of the particles ranged from 13 to 20?nm, however 4?wt% Mg doping results in reduction of particle size compared with other doping concentrations. The effects of Mg concentration on various structural parameters of the prepared samples were also determined. The slight blue shift observed upon doping in UV–Vis absorption region around 330–360nmrecorded for reduction in particle size. The FTIR unveils the presence of Metal oxygen bonds below 700?cm^?1in the prepared samples. All samples showed a broad emission band at 430?nm with linearly increasing intensity with respect to dopant concentrations. The Spherical morphology with weak agglomeration was identified through FESEM and HRTEM analysis. The elemental analysis of Ce, O and Mg were confirmed through EDS analysis.     

A study on the thermoelectric properties of ALD-grown aluminum-doped tin oxide with respect to nanostructure modulations

The thermoelectric properties of aluminum-doped tin oxide (ATO) thin films synthesized by thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) were studied with respect to the aluminum concentration. The overall aluminum content in each layer was modulated by adjusting the relative number of tin oxide (SnO₂) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) growth cycles, where a sequential process involving n cycles of SnO₂ growth followed by 1 cycle of Al₂O₃ deposition was performed (building up a super-cycle). The electrical conductivity (620 S/cm), free carrier concentration (1.23x10²¹ cm^-3), and power factor (0.49 mW/K²m) increase until their maximum values are reached when the Al content is approximately 1.50 at% of the cations, and decrease as more Al is added in. On the other hand, the Seebeck coefficient decreases monotonically as the Al content increases up to about 2.88 at%, and begins to increase with further Al doping. Here the thermoelectric efficiency is therefore determined primarily by the free carrier concentration, while the Seebeck coefficient appears to be influenced by the overall crystal structure.     

Structural,magnetic, thermal and optical properties of Sn2+ cation doped magnetite nanoparticles

Tin doped nanomagnetites, Sn_xFe_3-xO₄, were synthesized with various concentrations of Sn²⁺ ion (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) by co-precipitation method. XRD, VSM, TG-DTA, SEM-EDX and UV–Vis were used to characterize and study the structural, magnetic, thermal, and optical properties of Sn_xFe_3-xO₄ nanoparticles. XRD confirmed the presence of cubic structure and spinel phase of tin doped magnetites. The d-spacing, lattice parameter, density, crystallite size and cation distribution were derived from the XRD analysis. The M − H curves exhibited changes in saturation magnetization (M_s), coercive field (H_c), remanent magnetization (M_r) and susceptibility (χ), with increasing concentration of non-magnetic Sn²⁺ ions. Differential thermal analysis was used to study the thermal stability of Sn_xFe_3-xO₄ nanoparticles. The SEM images revealed the surface morphology of the nanoparticles and the EDX spectra showed an increase in the Sn content and a corresponding decrease in the Fe content for the tin doped samples. The optical bandgap was found to be centered at 3.9 eV for the synthesized materials. This systematic study may be the first comprehensive report on synthesis and characterization of tin doped magnetites.     

A series of Er~(3+)-activated SrLaGa_3O_7 single crystal fibers for mid-infrared laser application

A multidisciplinary approach for the production and characterization of a series of high concentration Er~(3+)activated SrLaGa_3 O_7(abbreviated as Er:SLGO) crystal fibers is shown to have a great promise for implementation in mid-infrared laser applications.The current approach includes the design and formation of unique layered tetrahedral network structures with several kinds of rare earth(RE) ions including Er ions distributing statistically between layers,such as Er:SLGO,Er,Nd:SLGO,Er,Yb,Ho:SLGO,Er,Eu:SLGO and Er,Ho:SLGO.Five kinds of Er:SLGO crystal fibers were designed to grow via a micropulling down method.Spectroscopic analyses show that Er,Yb,Ho:SLGO and Nd,Er:SLGO crystal fibers were superiorly endowed with inhomogeneous broadening absorption and strong emission.The unique structural components design enables the generation of improved absorption and emission recombination,and the inhibition of self-termination as well.Generally,the use of structural components design may warrant high-efficiency emissions in RE-doped crystal fibers.     

Imidazole polymerized ionic liquid as a precursor for an iron-nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalyst used in the oxygen reduction reaction

A class of non-precious metal and highly efficient catalysts (Fe–N(PIL)/C) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)were prepared by a two-step reaction involving polymerization and one-pot high-temperature pyrolysis reaction. The characteristics of Fe–N(PIL)/C electrocatalyst samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Additionally, the electrocatalytic properties were tested by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under alkaline conditions, the Fe–N(PIL)/C catalyst exhibited a 2D-mesoporous structure with prominent catalytic activity. The E_on and E_1/2 reached 1.08 V and 0.93 V (vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode), respectively. The catalyst showed excellent ORR catalytic performance and stability and is superior to a 20 wt% Pt/C catalyst. This could be attributed to its mesoporous structure and the high content of Fe–N activity sites that enable it to carry out a nearly 4e⁻ reaction pathway for the ORR.     

电流驰豫法测试氧化镧掺杂的氧化铈中氧离子迁移

采用甘氨酸-硝酸盐法(GNP)合成了Ce0.65La0.35O1.825(LDC)粉末,在1400℃下烧结10 h得到陶瓷试样,用XRD和SEM表征了样品的物相和表面形貌。用直流电场测试了试样在不同温度下的电流驰豫现象,并计算了不同温度下试样中迁移氧离子数目和材料直流电导率。结果表明,在固态电解质材料中突然施加强电场,可迁移离子基本都发生了位置偏移,但极少部分可以产生长程迁移。随着温度的升高,样品中发生迁移的氧离子数目增加,但都远小于氧空位总量。迁移氧离子数目与温度之间满足阿累尼乌斯公式,其迁移活化能为0.83 eV。     

Copper-doped flower-like molybdenum disulfide/bismuth sulfide photocatalysts for enhanced solar water splitting

A facile synthesis approach to fabricate Cu-doped MoS₂/Bi₂S₃ (Cu-MoS₂/Bi₂S₃) photocatalysts is reported. The photocatalyst samples with varying amounts of Cu are applied in the photocatalytic splitting of water to produce H₂ under the irradiation of simulated solar light. The Cu-MoS₂/Bi₂S₃ photocatalysts with an optimum Cu loading of 20 mol% exhibited high photocatalytic performance, achieving a total H₂ yield of 32.4 μmol/h after 6 h of reaction. The photoactivity of the Cu-doped sample was shown to have risen more than 40% than that of pure MoS₂/Bi₂S₃. The improved performance is attributed to the impurity states generated within Cu-doped MoS₂, which serve as trapping sites for photogenerated electrons. The effective charge transfer mechanism achieved was evidenced by photoelectrochemical measurements. Based on the experimental results obtained, a plausible mechanism for the photocatalytic process associated with Cu-MoS₂/Bi₂S₃ was proposed.