Doping mechanisms and electrical properties of bismuth tantalate fluorites

Phase-pure bismuth tantalate fluorites were successfully prepared via conventional solid-state method at 900 °C in 24–48 h. The subsolidus solution was proposed with the general formula of Bi_3+x Ta_1?x O_7?x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.184), wherein the formation mechanism involved a one-to-one replacement of Ta⁵⁺ cation by Bi³⁺ cation within ~4.6 mol% difference. These samples crystallised in a cubic symmetry, space group Fm-3 m with lattice constants, a = b = c in the range 5.4477(± 0.0037)–5.4580(± 0.0039) Å. A slight increment in the unit cell was discernible with increasing Bi₂O₃ content, and this may attribute to the incorporation of relatively larger Bi³⁺ cation in the host structure. The linear correlation between lattice parameter and composition variable showed that the Vegard’s law was obeyed. Both TGA and DTA analyses showed Bi_3+x Ta_1?x O_7?x samples to be thermally stable as neither phase transition nor weight loss was observed within ~28–1000 °C. The AC impedance study of Bi₃TaO₇ samples was performed over the frequency range 5–13 MHz. At intermediate temperatures, ~350–850 °C, Bi_3+x Ta_1?x O_7?x solid solution was a modest oxide ion conductor with conductivity, ~10^?6–10^?3 S cm^?1; the activation energy was in the range 0.98–1.08 eV.     

The magnetic properties of BiY<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> nanoparticles doped with Cr ions

BiY₂Cr _x Fe_5?x O₁₂ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) nanocrystals were synthesized by using a sol-gel method. Samples were characterized by the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), the thermal gravity analysis (TGA) and the differential thermal analysis (DTA), the vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM) and Mössbauer spectrums. The average sizes of the particles were determined by the Scherrer’s formula. The special Ms and Mössbauer spectra of BiY₂Cr _x Fe_5?x O₁₂ nanocrystals are researched at room temperature. It is seen that the special Mss of samples are initially increased with increasing Cr³⁺ content (x < 0.1), and decreased with increasing content of Cr³⁺ ions (x > 0.1).     

Effects of LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> doping on the microstructures and electrical properties of BiScO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–PbTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> piezoelectric system

Piezoelectric ceramics xLiNbO₃–yBiScO₃–(1?x?y)PbTiO₃ (LN–BS–PT, 0.00?≤?x?≤?0.10, 0.30?≤?y?≤?0.36) were synthesized and their phase diagram and morphotropic phase boundary between rhombohedral and tetragonal phases have been confirmed. The optimal properties were found at the composition of 0.03LN–0.36BS–0.61PT with piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃^* value of 702 pm/V, d₃₃ of 551 pC/N, planar electromechanical coupling factor k_p of 0.51, remnant polarization P_r of 46.5 µC/cm², Curie temperature T_c of 337 °C, and a large strain of 0.351% at an electric field of 50 kV/cm and frequency of 2 Hz with a low strain hysteresis of 5.9%. The Curie temperature of the ternary system presents a linear relationship with LiNbO₃ and BiScO₃ contents. The optimization of these electric properties was probably ascribed to the enhancement in domain walls and the improving mobility of domain switching due to LiNbO₃ doping.     

Influence of Nd doping on microwave dielectric properties of SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics

Sr_1?x Nd _x TiO₃ (x?=?0.08–0.14) ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state methods. The analysis of crystal structure suggested Sr_1?x Nd _x TiO₃ ceramics appeared to form tetragonal perovskite structure. The relationship between charge compensation mechanism, microstructure feature and microwave dielectric properties were investigated. Trivalent Nd³⁺ substituting Sr²⁺ could effectively decrease oxygen vacancies. This reduction and relative density were critical to improve Q?×?f values of Sr_1?x Nd _x TiO₃ ceramics. For ε _r values, incorporation of Nd could restrain the rattling of Ti⁴⁺ cations and led to the reduction of dielectric constant. The τ _f values were strongly influenced by tilting of oxygen octahedral. The τ _f values decreased from 883 to 650 ppm/°C with x increasing from 0.08 to 0.14. A better microwave dielectric property was achieved for composition Sr_0.92Nd_0.08TiO₃ at 1460 °C: ε _r ?=?160, Q?×?f?=?6602 GHz, τ _f ?=?883 ppm/°C.     

Controllable preparation of large-area arrays of Al-substituted CoCuNi ferrite rods with improvement of saturation magnetization and initial permeability

Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al _x Fe_2?x O₄ (x = 0, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21) rods of large-area arrays are synthesized by a solvothermal method, followed by calcination in air. The samples are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectra, scanning electron microscope, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The effect of diamagnetic Al³⁺ ion substitution and calcination temperature on the structure, morphology, and magnetic properties of Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al _x Fe_2?x O₄ has been investigated. The results indicate that high-crystallized cubic Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al _x Fe_2?x O₄ rods of large-area arrays are obtained when the precursors are calcined at 750 °C in air for 3 h. The crystallite size of Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al _x Fe_2?x O₄ increases with the increase in Al³⁺ content, attributed to the decrease in lattice strain in Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al _x Fe_2?x O₄ with the increase in Al³⁺ content. The lattice parameters of Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al _x Fe_2?x O₄ slightly increase with the increase in Al³⁺ content. This is due to the transformation from cubic NiFe₂O₄ phase to cubic CoFe₂O₄ phase after doping Al³⁺ ion. Al³⁺ substitution can improve the magnetic properties of Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al _x Fe_2?x O₄. Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al_0.14Fe_1.86O₄, calcined at 950 °C, has the highest specific saturation magnetization (86.36 ± 2.25 emu/g) and magnetic moment (3.586 ± 0.093 μ _B ). Co_0.5Cu_0.3Ni_0.2Al_0.21Fe_1.79O₄, calcined at 950 °C, has the highest initial permeability (17.216 ± 0.448). The results are explained by Neel’s two sublattices.     

Very high thermal stability with excellent dielectric,and non-ohmics properties of Mg-doped CaCu<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>4.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> ceramics

In this work, the nominal CaCu_3?xMg_xTi_4.2O₁₂ (0.00, 0.05 and 0.10) ceramics were prepared by sintering pellets of their precursor powders obtained by a polymer pyrolysis solution method at 1100 °C for different sintering time of 8 and 12 h. Very low loss tangent (tanδ)?<?0.009–0.014 and giant dielectric constant (ε′) ～?1.1?×?10⁴–1.8?×?10⁴ with excellent temperature coefficient (Δε′) less than ±?15% in a temperature range of ??60 to 210 °C were achieved. These excellent performances suggested a potent application of the ceramics for high temperature X8R and X9R capacitors. It was found that tanδ values decreased with increasing Mg²⁺ dopants due to the increase of grain boundary resistance (R_gb) caused by the very high density of grain, resulting from the substitution of small ionic radius Mg²⁺ dopants in the structure. In addition, CaCu_3?xMg_xTi_4.2O₁₂ ceramics displayed non-linear characteristics with the significant enhancements of a non-linear coefficient (α) and a breakdown field (E_b) due to Mg²⁺doping. The high values of ε′ (14012), α (13.64) and E_b (5977.02 V/cm) with very low tanδ value (0.009) were obtained in a CaCu_2.90Mg_0.10Ti_4.2O₁₂ ceramic sintered at 1100 °C for 8 h.     

Investigation of earth-alkaline (EA = Mg,Ca, Sr) containing methylammonium tin iodide perovskite systems

Methylammonium tin iodide systems containing earth-alkaline ions (CH₃NH₃Sn_1?x (EA) _x I₃, EA = Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Mg²⁺, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) were investigated. The X-ray diffraction patterns detected the formation of tetragonal nearly cubic CH₃NH₃SnI₃ (space group P4mm), SnI₂, and not identified phases. The morphological analysis confirmed the presence of secondary phases with formation of irregularly shaped crystallites. The Sn3d and I3d photoemission spectra revealed the typical position and separation of spin–orbit components for Sn²⁺ in halides. Static thermogravimetric measurements (T = 85 °C) showed a barely measurable weight loss for EA = Mg, a dramatic decrease of the weight loss rate for EA = Ca, and recorded weight losses till t ≈ 1.5 h only for EA = Sr, respectively. The optical spectra displayed absorption edges which increased at increasing the (EA)-content with maximum values for x = 0.050 (λ _on-set = 1754 nm, EA = Mg; λ _on-set = 1692 nm, EA = Ca; and λ _on-set = 1338 nm, EA = Sr, respectively). The Tauc plots revealed a direct semiconducting behavior with band energy gaps depending on the nature and amount of the (EA)-ions. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed, for EA = Mg, an increase of the PL-band intensity at increasing the Mg content with a maximum at x = 1.0 and, for EA = Ca, an increase of band intensity at increasing the Ca-content and for EA = Sr, a band intensity maximum at x = 0.025. This was explained by the similar ionic radius between Sn²⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions which can be easily exchanged in the SnI₆ ^2? octahedra.     

Ultralow thermal conductivity of cerium-doped Nd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> over a wide doping range

In this paper, we report an ultralow thermal conductivity and a high-temperature phase stability of the (Nd_1?x Ce _x )₂Zr₂O_7+x system over the temperature range from room temperature to 1600 °C and over a wide composition range (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.8), and the (Nd_1?x Ce _x )₂Zr₂O_7+x system is therefore considered a strong candidate material for the fabrication of next-generation high-temperature thermal barrier coatings. The observed thermal conductivities (0.65–1.0 W/mK) are about 60–40% lower than those of undoped Nd₂Zr₂O₇ over the same temperature range (100–700 °C) and indicate a glass-like behavior. For comparison, the variation in the thermal conductivity with the temperature of the (Gd_1?x Ce _x )₂Zr₂O_7+x system with similar point defects was also measured, and the observed behavior was almost the same as that of undoped Gd₂Zr₂O₇ and was mostly determined by phonon–phonon scattering (λ ∝ 1/T). The effect of point defect scattering and strong phonon scattering sources (rattlers) on the thermal conductivity is also discussed in this paper. The results of this study suggest that the ultralow thermal conductivity of (Nd_1?x Ce _x )₂Zr₂O_7+x can be attributed to the presence of rattlers because of the large difference between the ionic radii of the Nd³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ ions.     

Structural relaxation and electrical conductivity of molybdovanadate glass

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrum of conductive barium iron vanadate glass with a composition of 20BaO·10Fe₂O₃·70V₂O₅ (in mol%) showed paramagnetic doublet peak due to distorted Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra with isomer shift (δ) value of 0.37 (±?0.01) mm s^?1. Mössbauer spectra of 20BaO·10Fe₂O₃·xMoO₃·(70???x)V₂O₅ glasses (x?=?20–50) showed paramagnetic doublet peaks due to distorted Fe^IIIO₆ octahedra with δ’s of 0.40–0.41 (±?0.01) mm s^?1. These results evidently show a composition-dependent change of the 3D-skeleton structure from “vanadate glass” phase, composed of distorted VO₄ tetrahedra and VO₅ pyramids, to “molybdate glass” composed of distorted MoO₆ octahedra. After isothermal annealing at 500 °C for 60 min, Mössbauer spectra also showed a marked decrease in the quadrupole splitting (Δ) of Fe^III from 0.70 to 0.77 to 0.58–0.62 (±?0.02) mm s^?1, which proved “structural relaxation” of distorted VO₄ tetrahedra which were randomly connected to FeO₄, VO₅, MoO₆, FeO₆ and MoO₄ units by sharing corner oxygen atoms or edges. DC-conductivity (σ) of barium iron vanadate glass (x?=?0) measured at room temperature was 3.2?×?10^?6 S cm^?1, which increased to 3.4?×?10^?1 S cm^?1 after the annealing at 500 °C for 60 min. The σ’s of as-cast molybdovanadate glasses with x’s of 20–50 were ca. 1.1?×?10^?7 or 1.2?×?10^?7S cm^?1, which increased to 2.1?×?10^?2 (x?=?20), 6.7?×?10^?3 (x?=?35) and 1.9?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 (x?=?50) after the annealing at 500 °C for 60 min. It was concluded that the structural relaxation of distorted VO₄ tetrahedra was directly related to the marked increase in the σ, as generally observed in several vanadate glasses.     

Structure and electrical properties of MnO doped (Ba<Subscript>0.96</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.04</Subscript>)(Ti<Subscript>0.92</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>0.08</Subscript>)O<Subscript>3</Subscript> lead free ceramics

In this work, (Ba_0.96Ca_0.04)(Ti_0.92Sn_0.08)O₃–xmol MnO (BCTS–xMn) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were fabricated by the conventional solid-state technique. The composition dependence (0 ≤ x ≤ 3.0 %) of the microstructure, phase structure, and electrical properties was systematically investigated. An O–T phase structure was obtained in all ceramics, and the sintering behavior of the BCTS ceramics was gradually improved by doping MnO content. In addition, the relationship between poling temperature and piezoelectric activity was discussed. The ceramics with x = 1.5 % sintering at temperature of 1330 °C demonstrated an optimum electrical behavior: d ₃₃ ~ 475 pC/N, k _p ~ 50 %, ε _r ~ 4060, tanδ ~ 0.4 %, P _r ~ 10.3 μC/cm², E _c ~ 1.35 kV/mm, T _C ~ 82 °C, strain ~0.114 % and \(d_{33}^{*}\) ~ 525 pm/V. As a result, we achieved a preferable electric performance in BaTiO₃-based ceramics with lower sintering temperature, suggesting that the BCTS–xMn material system is a promising candidate for lead-free piezoelectric ceramics.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer Studies of Ba(Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ni<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> Single Crystals

Magnetization and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect spectroscopy (MS) studies of Ba(Fe_1?x Ni _x )₂As₂ single crystals (x=0 to 0.054) at temperatures (5 K to 300 K) have been performed. Magnetic measurements show that for BaFe₂As₂ the magnetic moment decreases below T _N=136 K. T _N is suppressed monotonically by Ni doping. On the other hand, for higher x values the magnetic moment increases below T _N. Unexpectedly for x=0.024 (T _N=67 K), the virgin zero-field-cooled (ZFC) curve is higher than that of field-cooled (FC) one below 48 K. The magnetic MS spectra of this sample are composed of a superposition of two subspectra, corresponding to commensurate and incommensurate field distributions. The average magnetic hyperfine field H _eff decreases with T and becomes zero at 80 K. For higher x values, the samples become superconducting at T _C=15.5 and 19 K for x=0.046 and 0.054, respectively. For both samples below T _C, the FC curves are positive (the paramagnetic Meissner effect) up to applied field of H～15 Oe and the susceptibility is inversely proportional to H. The MS spectra below and above T _C are almost identical, indicating that the MS parameters are not sensitive enough to detect the superconducting state. The peculiar phenomena observed are attributed to disorder induced by the presence of Ni atoms in the Fe sublattice.     

Preparation and structural study of Mg<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Zn<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics and their dielectric properties from 1 Hz to 7.7 GHz

A series of Mg_1?x Zn _x TiO₃, x = 0–0.5 (MZT0–MZT0.5) ceramics was synthesised and characterised. The dielectric properties of the samples in the frequency range of 1 Hz–7.7 GHz were explored using three different methods: a contacting electrode method, a parallel-plate method and a perturbed resonator method. The electrical properties in the space charge and dipolar polarisation frequency ranges are discussed in relation to the phase composition and microstructure data. Differences in the zinc substitution divided the dielectrics into two groups, namely MZT0–MZT0.2 and MZT0.3–MZT0.5, each with different amount of a main Mg_1?x Zn _x TiO₃ solid solution phase and a secondary solid solution phase. Zinc substitution promoted the density of the ceramics, improved the purity of the main phase and increased the permittivity for frequencies up to 10⁸ Hz, but reduced the permittivity in the microwave range. In the MZT0.3–MZT0.5 samples, for frequencies less than 1 MHz the quality (Q × f) factors were lower and log σ _a.c, the AC conductivity, was higher than for the MZT0–MZT0.2 samples. Above 10 MHz, the (Q × f) factors and log σ _a.c of the two groups were similar.     

Deposition of luminescent a-SiN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>:H Films with SiH<Subscript>4</Subscript>–N<Subscript>2</Subscript> gas mixture by VHF–PECVD using novel impedance matching method

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride (a-SiN _x :H) films are produced from a SiH₄–N₂ gas mixture by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system with a newly developed impedance matching method at frequencies 13.6–150 MHz. An increase in the rf power from 35 to 350 mW/cm² at the highest frequency of 150 MHz increases the optical bandgap (E _opt) from 2.0 to 4.5 eV. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) of the SiH₄–N₂ plasma shows that the emission intensity of SiH* (414 nm) is almost proportional to deposition rate. Films of a-SiN _x :H deposited at 150 MHz and 210 mW/cm² has an optical bandgap of E _opt ≈ 4.1 eV and emits visible photoluminescence (PL) at room temperature (RT).     

Mechanochemical synthesis,crystal structure and ion conduction in the Gd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Hf<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ti<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> system

This work describes the mechanochemical synthesis, structural characterization and electrical properties of an interesting group of novel ionic conductors, with general formula Gd₂(Hf_2?x Ti _x )₂O₇. Different compositions in this system (x = 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 and 2) were obtained at room temperature, via a mechanochemical reaction between the corresponding elemental oxides, and characterized by using XRD, Raman spectroscopy and SEM. The XRD structural analysis by the Rietveld method revealed that all the Hf-containing compositions show a disordered fluorite-like structure instead of the expected pyrochlore-like atomic ordering, and the cation size mismatch criteria for pyrochlore stability. Increasing Ti content promotes a phase transformation to the pyrochlore structure with post-milling thermal treatments, which takes place in all samples on annealing at 1200 °C, except for Gd₂Hf₂O₇. These results were confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, which also suggests that the x = 0.4 sample has the highest degree of oxygen disorder in the system and that this disorder decreases with increasing Ti⁴⁺ content. Finally, all samples show the pyrochlore structure on firing at 1500 °C. Activation energies E _dc for oxygen migration were determined by using impedance spectroscopy and found to be within the ~0.9–1.2 eV range, whereas conductivity σ _dc values at 700 °C vary from 1.12 × 10^?6 to 2.75 × 10^?4 S cm^?1, with decreasing conductivity as Ti⁴⁺ content increases.     

Magnetization reversal and tunable exchange bias behavior in Mn-substituted NiCr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Single phase samples of Ni(Cr_1?xMn _x )₂O₄ (x = 0–0.50) were synthesized by using sol–gel route. Investigation of structural, magnetic, exchange bias and magnetization reversal properties was carried out in the bulk samples of Ni(Cr_1?xMn _x )₂O₄. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction patterns recorded at room temperature reveals the tetragonal structure for x = 0 sample with I4₁/amd space group and cubic structure for x ≥ 0.05 samples with \( {\text{Fd}\bar{3}\text{m}} \) space group. Magnetization measurements show that all samples exhibit ferrimagnetic behavior, and the transition temperature (T_C) is found to increase from 73 K for x = 0 to 138 K for x = 0.50. Mn substitution induces magnetization reversal behavior especially for 30 at% of Mn in NiCr₂O₄ system with a magnetic compensation temperature of 45 K. This magnetization reversal is explained in terms of different site occupation of Mn ions and the different temperature dependence of the magnetic moments of different sublattices. Study of exchange bias behavior in x = 0.10 and 0.30 samples reveals that they exhibit negative and tunable positive and negative exchange bias behavior, respectively. The magnitudes of maximum exchange bias field of these samples are found to be 640 and 5306 Oe, respectively. Exchange bias in x = 0.10 sample originates from the anisotropic exchange interaction between the ferrimagnetic and the antiferromagnetic components of magnetic moment. The tunable exchange bias behavior in x = 0.30 sample is explained in terms of change in domination of one sublattice moment over the other as the temperature is varied.     

Microwave dielectric properties of Sr<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Sr(Mg<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2/3</Subscript>)O<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics

xSr_0.7Ce_0.2TiO₃–(1???x)Sr(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ ceramics, referred to xSCT–(1???x)SMN, were successfully produced by conventional solid-state sintered technology. The compounds, belonging to perovskites with a secondary phase of CeO₂, can be detected even with x down to 0.1 of SCT composition. The overall trend for grain growth illustrates the increase with increasing SCT doping level. The Raman peak at 825 cm^?1 splits into two peaks and causes red shift phenomenon. XPS spectra indicate that Ti and Nb ions exist respectively in tetravalence and pentavalence, and Ce ions exist in trivalence and tetravalence. Dielectrics constant (ε _r ) of SCT–SMN ceramics gradually increases with increasing theoretical dielectric polarizabilities. A wider width of the 825 cm^?1 for FWHM of A_1g mode Raman peaks suggests to a lower Q?×?f value. The increasing tolerance factor in agreement with temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ _f ), denotes that the rise of perovskite symmetry. The 0.1SCT–0.9SMN ceramic sintered at 1450?°C for 4 h illustrates excellent microwave dielectric properties with ε _r ?~?35.4, Q?×?f?~?11282 GHz and τ _f ?~?1.7 ppm/°C. Activation energies of 0.1SCT–0.9SMN ceramic at 100, 300 and 500 V, are ~0.436, 0.427 and 0.331 eV, respectively, indicative of a decreased trend with external electric field.     

MOF-derived,CeO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>-modified CoP/carbon composites for oxygen evolution and hydrogen evolution reactions

Development of low-cost, highly efficient catalysts for water splitting is required to replace precious metal catalysts. CeO _x -modified CoP@carbon composites are prepared via Ce-doped metal–organic frameworks. The as-prepared CeO _x -modified CoP@carbon composites have excellent electrocatalytic activity with respect to the oxygen evolution reaction, for which an overpotential (η) up to?~?313 mV is achieved at the current density of 10 mA cm^?2. In addition, CeO _x -modified CoP@carbon composites show an overpotential of up to 127 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm^?2 for the hydrogen evolution reaction, showing excellent catalytic activity for water splitting.     

Influence of silver addition on microstructures and transport properties of La<Subscript>0.67</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>:Ag<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> composites

In order to obtain high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) value of La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃:Ag _x (LCMO:Ag _x ) composites, samples with different Ag contents (x?=?0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, and 0.5) were prepared by sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that all samples had orthorhombic perovskite structures. As x increased, lattice parameters (a, b, c) and cell volumes underwent slight expansions. Interestingly, the addition of Ag dramatically affected TCR and magneto-resistance (MR) values. Elevated TCR value up to 53.46%·K^?1 at 277 K was observed for LCMO:Ag _x composites with added Ag at the composition of x?=?0.1. Meanwhile, MR value at 263 K reached 71% at the magnetic field of 1 T for samples with Ag composition of x?=?0.25. The increase in Mn⁴⁺/Mn³⁺ ratio and improvement in crystallization caused by added Ag was found responsible for the elevated values of TCR, MR, and T_p. These findings may have practical use in high-performance magneto-resistive manganites.     

Enhanced dielectric constant and structural transformation in Fe-doped hydroxyapatite synthesized by wet chemical method

We report the synthesis of single-phase Fe-doped hydroxyapatite (HAp) [Ca_10?xFe _x (PO₄)₆(OH)₂ (0.0?≤?x?≤?0.3)] and enhanced dielectric constant of HAp with Fe doping. Rietveld analysis shows the change in x-axis-oriented lattice constant a in Fe-doped x?=?0.1 and 0.3 compositions in comparison with parent HAp, while z-axis-oriented lattice constant c does not show any considerable change. Analysis of absorbance data shows two new symmetric stretching peaks for Fe-doped x?=?0.1 and x?=?0.3 compositions, which are not present in parent HAp. Magnetic measurements show paramagnetic behaviour of all Fe-doped samples at 300 K. Fe-doped Ca_9.9Fe_0.1(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ composition shows increase in impedance in the presence of 500 Oersted (Oe) applied magnetic field in comparison with impedance in the absence of magnetic field. Ca_9.9Fe_0.1(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ composition shows increase in dielectric constant in comparison with parent HAp in frequency range 5–35 MHz. Fe-doped Ca_9.9Fe_0.1(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ composition shows?~?970% colossal magnetoimpedance at 100 Hz and?~?200% at 20 MHz frequency.     

Effect of annealing on exchange bias in Mg<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>x</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>1.8−x</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nano oxides

Magnesium-iron chromium oxides (Mg_0.2Cr_1.8?x Fe _x O₃ with x varying from 0.3 to 0.9) produced by hydrothermal process in a stirred pressure reactor from pure metal chlorides have been annealed at 700 °C. Single phase corundum structure and nanophase structure of the as-synthesized samples were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Instead of the correlation between H _EB and D _XRD observed at T _A = 600 °C, we find significant changes. The H _EB increases with decreasing particle size reaches a maximum at ~43 nm (x = 0.5) then decreases.