Structural,electrical, optical and dielectric properties of yttrium substituted cadmium ferrites prepared by Co-Precipitation method

The yttrium substituted cadmium ferrites having composition Cd_1-xY_xFe₂O₄ (X = 0.00, 0.125, 0.250, 0.375, 0.500) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and sintered at 1100 °C for 6 h. Structural, morphological, electrical, optical and dielectric characteristics were explored by XRD, SEM, EDS, FTIR, I–V two probes, UV–Vis and LCR techniques.XRD results confirmed the cubic structure of spinel ferrites. A decrease in lattice constants of the prepared samples was observed with the substitution of Y ions and was attributed to the difference in ionic radii of Y³⁺ (0.95 Å) and Cd²⁺ (0.97 Å) ions. Cationic distributions, ionic radii of both tetrahedral and octahedral sites, tolerance factor, oxygen positional parameters, bond lengths, interatomic distances, positional parameters and bond length angles were calculated from XRD data. The morphology of the prepared ferrites was studied using SEM and results ratified the XRD results. EDS confirmed the presence of all inserted elements in Cd_1-xY_xFe₂O₄ composition. DC resistivity and drift mobility of soft-ferrites were found to be increased from 1.047 × 10⁸–4.822 × 10¹⁰ Ω-cm and 5.87 × 10⁻¹² – 1.045 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, respectively, at 523 K with yttrium content confirming the behavior of semiconductor materials. The optical band gap energy calculated from the UV–Vis pattern of the Cd_1-xY_xFe₂O₄ system was decreased from 3.6011 to 2.8153 eV. DC resistivity and optical band gaps exposed inverse relation. FTIR results revealed lower and upper-frequency absorption bands in the ranges of 419.31–417.01 cm⁻¹ and 540.95–565.70 cm⁻¹, respectively. Dielectric constant and dielectric losses were in decreasing order, while ac conductivity revealed rising behavior with increasing frequency. Results showed the potential of yttrium doped Cd nanoferrites for applications in high-frequency microwave absorbing devices.     

Effect of cutting process on the stress corrosion susceptibility of AISI 304L stainless steel

During manufacturing of a component, cutting, turning, grinding, and milling operations are inevitable and these operations induce surface residual stresses. In this study, it is shown that, depending on the process employed for cutting, residual stresses generated at the cut surfaces can vary widely and they can, in turn, make the cut surfaces of austenitic stainless steel (SS) prone to stress corrosion cracking (SCC). An austenitic SS 304L plate was cut using three different procesess: bandsaw cutting, cutting using the cut-off wheel, and shearing. Surface residual stress measurement using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique is carried out close to the cutting edges and on the cross-section. SCC susceptibility studies were carried out as per ASTM G36 in 45% boiling magnesium chloride solution. Optical microscopic examination showed the presence of cracks, and confocal microscopy was used to measure the depth of cracks. The study confirmed that high tensile residual stresses present in the cut surfaces produced by cut-off wheel and shear cutting make the surfaces susceptible to SCC while the surfaces produced by bandsaw cutting are resistant to SCC. Hence, it is shown that there is a definite risk of SCC for product forms of austenitic SS with cut surfaces produced using cutting processes that generate high tensile residual stresses stored for a long period of time in a susceptible environment.     

Transformation of metallic polymer precursor into nanosized HfTaC2 ceramics

Polymeric precursor for HfTaC₂ ceramic was prepared by coordination reaction between metal alkoxides and acetylacetone, subsequent hydrolysis, and blend with oligomeric novolac carbon sources. The phase analysis and microstructure study were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It showed that after pyrolyzed at 1450 °C for 90 min, HfTaC₂ was obtained with particle size ~50 nm and uniform elemental distribution. Phase transition from precursor to ceramic was studied by in situ XRD measurements at temperatures from 800 to 1200 °C. In the early stage, oxide solid solution Hf₆Ta₂O₁₇ was firstly detected at ~950 °C, followed by Ta₂O₅ and TaO. As temperature was raised, signals for TaO and Hf₆Ta₂O₁₇ gradually weakened and disappeared, while those for other phases strongly strengthened. Furthermore, formation of Hf_xTa_yC_z solid solution was monitored and confirmed by peak migration during 1300 °C isothermal treatment. When the sample was pyrolyzed at 1450 °C, solid solution Hf_xTa_yC_z was detected at different holding time. Phase structure at 90 min was the closest to standard HfTaC₂ with particle size D_v (90) ~ 200 nm.     

Facile deposition of ZnO:Cu films: Structural and optical characterization

Sol–gel technology has been applied for preparation of ZnO:Cu films. The proposed facile approach allows obtaining a wide variety of copper doped zinc oxide systems, revealing different structural and optical behaviors. The work presents structural and optical studies depending on Cu concentration and thermal treatments in the range of 500–800 °C. The structural analysis is performed by X-Ray diffraction (XRD). It reveals that small Cu addition enhances the film crystallization. Increasing copper concentration results in deterioration of ZnO:Cu crystallization. XRD study manifests no Cu oxide phases in ZnO:Cu film structure for lower Cu additions. For a specific higher copper concentration, an appearance of a small fraction of copper oxide is detected. Vibrational properties have been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The effect of the copper introduction into ZnO reveals a slight change of optical properties compared to ZnO films for certain Cu ratios. ZnO:Cu films with higher copper contents manifest different optical behaviors with very high transparency in spectral visible range.     

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) sensing performance of p-polypyrrole/n-tungsten oxide hybrid nanocomposites at room temperature

Polypyrrole (PPy)–tungsten oxide (WO₃) hybrid nanocomposite have been successfully synthesized using different weight percentages of tungsten oxide (10–50%) dispersed in polypyrrole matrix by solid state synthesis method. The sensor based on PPy–WO₃ was fabricated on glass substrate using cost effective spin coating method for detection of NO₂ gas in the low concentration range of 5–100 ppm. The gas sensing performance of hybrid material was studied and compared with those of pure PPy and WO₃. It was found that PPy–WO₃ hybrid nanocomposite sensor can complement the drawbacks of pure PPy and WO₃. The structure, morphology and surface composition properties of PPy–WO₃ hybrid nanocomposites were employed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The presence of WO₃ in PPy matrix and their interaction was confirmed using XRD, FTIR techniques. The porous surface morphology was observed with addition of WO₃ in PPy matrix which is useful morphology for gas sensing applications. TEM image of PPy–WO₃ hybrid nanocomposites shows the average diameter of 80–90 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the chemical composition of nanocomposites. It was observed that 50% WO₃ loaded PPy sensor operating at room temperature exhibit maximum response of 61% towards 100 ppm of NO₂ gas and able to detect low concentration of 5 ppm NO₂ gas with reasonable response of 8%. The hybrid sensor shows better sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and stability compared to pure PPy and WO₃. The proposed sensing mechanism of hybrid nanocomposite in presence of air and NO₂ atmosphere was discussed with the help of energy band diagram. Furthermore, the interaction of NO₂ gas with PPy–WO₃ hybrid nanocomposites sensor was studied by cole–cole plot using impedance spectroscopy.     

壁电流探测器在中国散裂中子源快循环同步加速器调束中的应用

快循环同步加速器（RCS）是中国散裂中子源（CSNS）的重要组成部分。负氢粒子束经直线加速器加速至80 MeV，剥离成质子束注入至RCS环并加速累积至1.6 GeV引出打靶。束流通过安装在RCS环的壁电流探测器（WCM）感应得到束流的强度信息，环高频与环主二极磁铁的失配会导致束流的实际振荡偏离理论预测。本文通过对WCM的数据进行分析得到了纵向工作点、束流的实际振荡频率、束团的电荷量、束团的形状变化等信息，方便了加速器的调束，并对参数测量中的测量误差进行了分析。     

DyCrxFe(1-x)O3 nanoparticles prepared by wet chemical technique for photocatalytic applications

DyCr_xFe_(1-x)O₃ (0 ≤ x ≥ 0.4) nanoparticles were prepared using facile chemical route. Structural and morphological evaluation was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy. Formation of orthorhombic DyFeO₃ nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD with crystallite size of 9–10 nm. FESEM images revealed nearly spherical morphology of the fabricated nanoparticles. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique was employed to confirm the presence of Dy, Cr, Fe and O elements in DyCr_xFe_(1-x)O₃ nanoparticles. FTIR studies illustrated the presence of characteristics stretching and bending vibrations. UV–visible spectroscopy was used to analyze the photocatalytic performance of the DyFeO₃ and Cr-substituted DyFeO₃ nanoparticles and optical band gap measurements. Photocatalytic activities of the prepared substituted and un-substituted DyFeO₃ nanoparticles were conducted using three different dyes. These dyes were (i) methyl orange, (ii) rhodamine B and (iii) methylene blue. Lower band gap and higher photocatalytic performance was observed for Cr-substituted DyFeO₃ nanoparticles with methylene blue dye.     

Structural and impedance analysis of Bi0.5Na0.5Ti0.80Mn0.20O3 ceramics

The Bi_0.5Na_0.5Ti_0.80Mn_0.20O₃ ceramic was synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction technique. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data confirms the rhombohedral crystal structure of the compound with R3c space group. The optical band gap energy of the compound is found to be 1.93 eV. The substitution of 20% Mn ions at the Ti sites results in the improved dielectric characteristics and a shift in the ferroelectric to paraelectric electric phase transition peak from 330 °C to 370 °C in the material. The frequency dispersion of dielectric constant and its footprint in the Nyquist and Cole-Cole plots have been analyzed. The analysis of complex impedance and modulus spectroscopy confirms the non-Debye type of relaxation mechanisms in the material with contributions from both the grain and grain boundary to the electrical properties. The frequency dependence of AC conductivity data exhibits overlapping large polaron tunneling conduction mechanism in the compound.     

Structural,dielectric and electrical properties of BaSnO3 and BaSeO3 modified Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 ceramics

In this communication, preliminary structural and detailed electrical (dielectric, polarization, impedence, and conductivity) characteristics of BaSnO₃ and BaSeO₃ modified complex Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ ceramics with a general chemical formula and composition, (1–2x)[(Bi_0.5Na_0.5) TiO₃]+x(BaSnO₃)+x(BaSeO₃) (with x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) (BNT–BSn–BSe) ceramics, synthesized by a high-temperature mixed-oxide technique (calcinations temperature = 925 °C and sintering temperature = 950 °C, for time = 4 h each) have been reported. Analysis of room temperature X-ray diffraction data has confirmed the formation of single phase perovskite of BNT–BSn–BSe in rhombohedral phase and provided crystal data. Studies of impedance spectroscopy and electrical conductivity of the materials in a frequency range of (1 kHz-1MHz) at different temperatures (25–500 °C) have shown the composition (x) effect on electrical characteristics of BSn and BSe modified BNT.The electric field dependent polarization study at room temperature exhibits the existence of ferroelectricity in the materials. Study of the impedance spectroscopy through Nyquist plots shows the contributions of the grains and grain boundary in the resistive and capacitive properties of the materials. This study also determines the existence of NTCR (negative temperature coefficient of resistance) behavior the prepared materials. The J–E characteristics demonstrate the Ohomic behavior with slope closer to 1.