Pb1−x Bi x /Bi/Pb1−x Bi x Josephson junction

A superconductor/semimetal/superconductor (S/SM/S) Josephson junction has been developed. We have used an alloy of Pb_1–x Bi _x (0x 0.6) as the superconductor and Bi as the semimetal. By irradiating at X-band microwave of 10 GHz, Shapiro steps were observed for various bismuth barrier thicknesses inÅ and bismuth weight ratiosx. Finally, we obtained the empirical relationship for barrier thickness, below which microwaves could be detected for various bismuth weight ratiosx at the temperature of 4.2 K.     

Lattice-matched epitaxial Pb1 − x Mn x Se/PbSe1 − x S x heterojunctions

This paper examines the possibility of producing lattice-matched p-n heterojunctions based on epitaxial n-Pb_{1 ? x} Mn _x Se (x = 0.02) and p-PbSe_{1 ? x} S _x (x = 0.04) films. The heterojunctions have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy in a single processing cycle, without breaking the vacuum, using a compensating Se vapor source in the growth process. Optimal conditions have been found for the growth of structurally perfect (W _1/2 = 90″-100″) epitaxial films and fabrication of lattice-matched heterojunctions based on such films, photosensitive in the IR spectral region.     

X-ray,electrical conductivity and infrared studies of the system Zn1−x CO x Mn1−x Fe x CrO4

The system Zn_1–x Co _x Mn_1–x Fe _x CrO₄ is tetragonal in the range 0.0x0.4 and cubic in the range 0.5x1. Electrical resistivity temperature behaviour obeys Wilson's law for all the compounds and thermoelectric coefficient values vary between 135 to 226V K^–1. All compounds exhibit P-type semiconductivity and possess low mobility values (10^–9 cm² V^–1 sec^–1). The infrared spectra show the presence of two strong absorption bands around 500 and 600 cm^–1. The probable ionic configuration for the system is suggested to be Zn _1–x ²⁺ Fe _x ^–y3+ -Co _x ²⁺ [Mn _1–x ³⁺ Fe _y ³⁺ CO _x ^–y2+ Cr³⁺]O₄.     

Crystallization kinetics of Zr-rich FexZr0−x0−x0−x(20 ⩽ x ⩽ 40) metallic glasses

The crystallization kinetics of the melt-spun Fe-Zr metallic glasses in the iron-rich region has been investigated by means of DSC and X-ray diffraction. The crystallization mode changes with iron concentration. In the lower iron region, 20 x 25, the Fe _x Zr100–x glasses crystallize into -Zr and Ti₂Ni-type FeZr₂ with an accompanying sharp and large exotherm at the first crystallization step and immediately after this step, they transform into orthorhombic FeZr₃. On the other hand, the alloys with 35 x 40 exhibit a gradual exotherm which initiates from a temperature far below the definite crystallization temperature (T _x). The Fe-Zr metallic glasses in this concentration region crystallize polymorphously into the oxygenstabilized Ti₂Ni-type FeZr₂ with accompanying relatively small and composite exotherms. The annealing at a temperature where the gradual exotherm occurs for the alloys with 30 x 40 does not cause any changes of X-ray halo pattern but results in the reduction of the heat of exotherm due to the crystallization.     

High-Pressure Studies on Superconductivity in LaFeAsO1−x F x and SmFeAsO1−x F x

The pressure dependence on the superconducting transition temperature (T _c ) was investigated for the iron-based superconductors LaFeAsO_1−x F _x and SmFeAsO_1−x F _x . The T _c ’s increase largely for LaFeAsO_1−x F _x with a small increase of pressure, while a sharp decrease of T _c was observed for SmFeAsO_1−x F _x . The electrical resistivity measurements reveal pressure-induced superconductivity for undoped LaFeAsO and SmFeAsO. These pressure effects seem to be related to an anisotropic decrease of the lattice constants under high pressure from the x-ray diffraction measurements up to 10 GPa for the LaFeAsO_1−x F _x system.     

Phase Relations in the Systems Ln1 – x Ba x CoO3 – δ(0 < x ≤ 0.66; Ln = Nd, Sm)

Data are presented on the structural and magnetic properties of Ln_{1 – x} Ba _x CoO_{3 –} (Ln = Nd, Sm; 0 < x 0.66) samples slowly cooled in air after synthesis. The composition stability limits of the intermediate phases Ln_{1 – y} Ba_{1 + y} Co₂O_{5 +} and solid solutions are determined. The magnetic phase diagram of the Nd_{1 – x} Ba _x CoO_{3 –} system is constructed.     

Room-temperature multiferroic properties and magnetoelectric coupling in Bi4−x Sm x Ti3−x Co x O12−δ ceramics

We present the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, magnetic and magnetoelectric studies of lead free; single phase Bi_4?x Sm _x Ti_3?x Co _x O_12?δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) ceramics, synthesized using a standard solid-state reaction technique. Raman spectroscopy analysis reveals the relaxation of distortion in TiO₆ octahedron. Field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the growth of plate-like grains. It is observed that with the substitution of Sm³⁺ and Co³⁺ ions the dielectric constant, loss tangent and ferroelectric transition temperature decreases. Electrical dc resistivity, remnant polarization and magnetization increases with increasing Sm³⁺ and Co³⁺ contents. The magnetoelectric coupling co-efficient, α = 0.65 mV cm^?1 Oe^?1 is realized for Bi_4?x Sm _x Ti_3?x Co _x O_12?δ (x = 0.07) ceramic sample. Our results clearly demonstrate the lead free, multiferroic nature of Sm/Co-substituted Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂, which may find useful application in designing cost-effective electromagnetic devices.     

Dielectric properties of the Sr1−x La x Sn1−x Co x O3 system

The possibility of the formation of a solid solution in the Sr_1–x La _x Sn_1–x Co _x O₃ system has been explored. Single-phase solid solution forms in the compositions for x0.10. All single-phase solid solution compositions have a cubic structure similar to SrSnO₃. The dielectric behaviour of these solid solution compositions has been studied as a function of temperature and frequency. The frequency dependence of dielectric constant and dielectric loss in these materials indicates that space charge polarization contributes significantly to their observed dielectric parameters. Microstructural studies show the presence of well-faceted grains. The average grain size in these samples is small.     

Synthesis,Characterization and ESR Studies of Zn1−x Co x O Nanoparticles

Zn_1?x Co _x O polycrystalline nanoparticles with different (x=0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, and 0.3) compositions were synthesized using the sol-gel technique. The effects of doping ratio and annealing temperature on structure and magnetic properties were investigated systematically. The phase, crystal structure, and microstructure of the Zn_1?x Co _x O nanoparticles were characterized using X-Ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Electron spin resonance spectra of Zn_1?x Co _x O nanoparticles were collected at room temperature on a Bruker EMX model X-band spectrometer operating at a frequency of 9.50 GHz.     

Thermodynamic properties of Ca1 − x Er x F2 + x and Ca1 − x Yb x F2 + x heterovalent solid solutions

The heat capacity of single crystals of the Ca_{1 ? x} Er _x F_{2 + x} (x = 0.05, 0.10) and Ca_0.95Yb_0.05F_2.05 fluorite solid solutions was determined by adiabatic calorimetry in the temperature range 55–300 K. The results were used to obtain temperature dependences of the Debye characteristic temperature, entropy, and enthalpy for the solid solutions.     

Bond Angle Study of Self-compensating Y1−x Ca x Ba2−x La x Cu3O z System

Single-phase samples of a self-compensating Y_1?x Ca _x Ba_2?x La _x Cu₃O _z system were synthesized through a solid-state reaction method with x<0.4. The structure of all samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and refined by the Rietveld method. Superconducting properties have been investigated by the DC magnetization measurement. The critical temperature (T _c ) decreases evidently with the increment of x although the carrier concentration remains constant in the samples for different doping level. Careful study of the chemical bonds in the crystalline lattice demonstrates that the T _c is closely correlated to four pairs of bond angles in the unit cell. The analysis indicates that crystalline structure is one of the important factors to high-T _c superconductivity, and its influence is independent of the carrier concentration.     

Superconducting Density of States from the Magnetic Penetration Depth of Electron-Doped Cuprates La2−x Ce x CuO4−y and Pr2−x Ce x CuO4−y

From measurements of the magnetic penetration depth, (T), from 1.6 K to T _c in films of electron-doped cuprates La_2–x Ce _x CuO_4–y and Pr_2–x Ce _x CuO_4–y we obtain the normalized density of states, N _s(E) at T=0 by using a simple model. In this framework, the flat behavior of ^–2(T) at low T implies N _s(E) is small, possibly gapped, at low energies. The upward curvature in ^–2(T) near T _c seen in overdoped films implies that superfluid comes from an anomalously small energy band within about 3k _B T _c of the Fermi surface.     

Sonochemical synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties of Bi2−x Sb x WO6 nanorods

We report an efficient route for the sonochemical synthesis of Bi_2?x Sb _x WO₆ (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, and 2) nanorods using bismuth nitrate/antimony chloride and sodium tungstate as precursors. The products obtained have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photoactivities of all the samples for the Rhodamine-B (RhB) photodegradation were investigated systematically under UV and visible light irradiation. The results of the photocatalytic degradation of RhB in aqueous solution showed that 2–5 % antimony ion doping greatly improved the photocatalytic efficiency of sonochemically synthesized Bi₂WO₆ nanorods under both UV and visible radiation compared to its undoped counterpart. Among all the samples, the Sb₂WO₆ nanorods exhibited the highest photodegradation efficiency since 86 % of RhB could be photodegraded in 90 min under UV radiation. The stability of the photocatalysts was ascertained using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy.     

Structural, optical, magnetic and electrical properties of Zn1−x Co x O thin films

Despite a considerable effort aiming at elucidating the nature of ferromagnetism in ZnO-based magnetic semiconductor, its origin still remains debatable. Although the observation of above room temperature ferromagnetism has been reported frequently in the literature by magnetometry measurement, so far there has been no report on correlated ferromagnetism in magnetic, optical and electrical measurements. In this paper, we investigate systematically the structural, optical, magnetic and electrical properties of Zn_1−x Co _x O:Al thin films prepared by sputtering with x ranging from 0 to 0.33. We show that correlated ferromagnetism is present only in samples with x > 0.25. In contrast, samples with x < 0.2 exhibit weak ferromagnetism only in magnetometry measurement which is absent in optical and electrical measurements. We demonstrate, by systematic electrical transport studies that carrier localization indeed occurs below 20–50 K for samples with x < 0.2; however, this does not lead to the formation of ferromagnetic phase in these samples with an electron concentration in the range of 6 × 10¹⁹ cm⁻³ ∼1 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³. Detailed structural and optical transmission spectroscopy analyses revealed that the anomalous Hall effect observed in samples with x > 0.25 is due to the formation of secondary phases and Co clusters.     

Diamagnetic and Electrical Properties of Si x Mo2S3−x (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.33, 0.5) and A0.1Mo2S3−x (A=C, B, and Ru)

Mo₂S₃ doped with Si, C, B, and Ru, is identified to bear the same crystalline structure P2₁/m as that of Mo₂S₃ through XRD analysis. Diamagnetic transitions with χ _m ～10^?4 emu/g?Oe at temperature ranging from 2 K to 6 K were observed in the doped samples of Si _x Mo₂S_3?x (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.33, 0.5). And both of the x=0.2 and 0.5 samples were found to have double diamagnetic transitions with higher T _c at the same temperature of 6.01 K, while Si _x Mo₂S_3?x of x=0.33 displayed an extra ferromagnetic-like response at 63 K. The corresponding transition in resistivity of Si _x Mo₂S_3?x with x=0.1 was noticed to show a mild drop with less than 10 % of its original transition values as measured down to 2 K. But a superconducting-like magnetic field dependence on the phase transition of resistivity was also noted. Its diamagnetic signals were greatly reduced when the applied magnetic fields were raised to 10³ Oes. In the doped samples of A_0.1Mo₂S_2.9 (A=C, B, and Ru), the phase transition in resistivity at 4.08 K, 4.62 K, and 4.35 K, respectively, exhibited similar fashion as that in the case of Si_0.1Mo₂S_2.9.     

Homogeneous Coexistence in CaFe1−x Co x AsF and Phase Segregation in LaFeAsO1−x F x Studied via NMR

In iron-based pnictides, one of the interesting topics is homogeneous coexistence or phase segregation at the boundary between antiferromagnetic (AF) and superconducting (SC) phases. We addressed this problem on a microscopic level by means of ⁷⁵As NMR measurements in LaFeAsO_1?x F _x (x=0.026) (La1111), and CaFe_1?x Co _x AsF (x=0.06) (Ca1111) having an intermediate electronic phase diagram between Ba(Fe_1?x Co _x )₂As₂ and the La1111 series. NMR spectra for 6 % Co-doped Ca1111 samples were very similar to those for the undoped samples even below T _c , suggesting homogeneous coexistence of the AF and SC states. For 2.6 % F-doped La1111 samples, AF and paramagnetic (PM) domains coexist at ambient pressure, and AF and SC domains coexist at 3.0 GPa. The coexistence of domains is explained by considering a SC dome separated from the AF phase in the phase diagram. The homogeneous coexistence support S _±-wave superconductivity, whereas separation of the AF and SC phases gives credence to S ₊₊-wave superconductivity.     

Structural, transport, magnetic, and dielectric properties of La1−x Te x MnO3 (x = 0.10 and 0.15)

In this study, we have investigated the structure, temperature-dependent resistivity, magnetization, and dielectric properties of La_1?x Te _x MnO_3±δ (x = 0.10 and 0.15). X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the rhombohedral crystal symmetry with space group R $ \overline{3} $ c. For both the samples, the temperature dependence of magnetization plots show paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition. The Curie temperature (T _c) and magnitude of magnetization increase with the Te concentration. Field-dependent magnetization produces the asymmetric hysteresis loop that has been attributed to the magneto crystalline anisotropy induced by lattice distortion and the rare earth spin coupling at room temperature. Temperature-dependent resistivity plots exhibit metal–insulator transition (MIT) and charge-ordering state. These plots have been fitted using variable range hopping model, and the density of states [N(E_F)] has been estimated. Magnetoresistance is measured as a function of temperature in the field of 1T, 5T, and 8T. The dielectric constant shows an anomaly near MIT. The dielectric constant exhibits a peaking behavior with the applied frequency and the temperature dependence of dielectric constant attains colossal values at high temperatures.     

The dielectic response of K x Al x Ti8−x O16 and K x Mg x/2 Ti8−x/2 O16

Materials of the hollandite structure with the general formulae K_x Al_x Ti_8–x O₁₆ and K_x Mg_x/2 Ti_8–x/2 O₁₆ have been synthesized in the composition range 1.6x2.0 and their dielectric properties have been measured in the temperature range 77 to 800 K and the frequency range 10^–3 to 10⁶ Hz. The observed response shows a whole range of features characteristic for both charge carrier and dipolar polarization processes and these are seen as being associated with the one-dimensional transport in channels in the hollandite structure. At low temperatures the dominant response is the universal dielectric relation in which the loss follows the law x() ^n–1, with the exponent n<1 and equal specifically to approximately 0.7. This is followed at 120 to 180 K by a distinct loss peak superimposed on the above law, and finally at higher temperatures by a region of strong dispersion which is associated with strongly interacting many-body processes between charged carriers restricted by defects to move in limited regions of the channels.