Heteropolyanions doped polyimine—Preparation and spectroscopic properties

It is demonstrated that aromatic polyimine obtained by the condensation of p-phenylenediamine and terephtalaldehyde can be chemically doped with heteropolyanions of Keggin-type. The spectroscopic studies show that polyimine undergoes protonation. The structural identity of the Keggin units are preserved upon incorporation into the polymer matrix.     

Structural characteristics and dielectric properties of neodymium doped barium titanate

Neodymium (Nd) doped barium titanate powder (Ba_(1−x)Nd _x TiO₃) with x value varying from 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.10 and 0.13 was prepared using the sol gel method. The powder samples were calcined at 700 °C and tetragonal phase appeared in the powders before they were sintered at 1250 °C for 3 h. The undoped samples have a polycrystalline tetragonal structure, but Nd doping into the BaTiO₃ caused phase transformation from tetragonal to cubic. The smaller grains (0.35 μm) produced with the addition of Nd is associated to the inhibition of grain growth of samples. The powders for each composition were pressed into pellets and tested as dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). It was found that on the actual antenna circuit, each sample showed a resonance frequency at X-band application and a dielectric constant value in the range of 51.25–56.89 and tangent loss was 0.039–0.045, depending on the concentration of the Nd at room temperature.     

Effects of magneto-electric loadings and piezomagnetic/piezoelectric stiffening on multiferroic interface fracture

Interface fracture of a multiferroic composite is studied by the methods of integral transform and singular integral equation. Parametric studies on the stress intensity factor yield three conclusions. (a) The multiferroic composite is more likely to fracture in electric field than in magnetic field. (b) Under magnetostriction, piezomagnetic stiffening does not affect the interface crack, but the influence of piezoelectric stiffening is notable. Under electrostriction, inverse results are obtained. (c) In magnetic loading cases, the piezomagnetic layer should be softer and the piezoelectric strip stiffer; however, if electric loading is applied instead, opposite conclusion should be expected.     

Optical and structural properties of solution deposited nickel manganite thin films

Nickel manganite thin films of interest for microbolometer applications have been prepared using chemical solution and spin spray deposition and studied using transmission electron microscopy to quantify the material crystallinity and spectroscopic ellipsometry to extract the complex dielectric function (ε = ε₁ + iε₂) and film microstructure. A parameterization for ε over a spectral range from 0.04 to 5.15 eV has been developed to model well-crystallized nickel manganite, and the visible-range critical point features, infrared vibrations, and optical absorption onset have been identified. A multiple sample analysis structural model and procedure has been developed for spin spray deposited films exhibiting complicated void evolutions with thickness. Variations in ε and crystallite grain size have been observed as a function of film processing and indicate that the optical properties and microstructural information gained from spectroscopic ellipsometry is useful in process monitoring for this material system.     

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of neodymium oxide doped lead zirconate titanate ceramics

The dielectric and electromechanical properties of lead zirconate titanate [Pb(Zr, Ti)O₃] ceramic added with neodymium oxide have been systematically studied employing the vector impedance spectroscopic (VIS) technique. The specimens were prepared using the mixed oxide route by adding different mol% of Nd2O₃ (01 to 7mol%) in [Pb(Zr, Ti)O₃] near morphotropic phase boundary. Piezoelectric equivalent circuit parameters R, L, C_a in series and C_b in parallel have been determined by simulating /Z/ and Θ plots. Electromechanical coupling coefficients and strain constants for the radial modes show a peak at about 3 mol%, the dielectric constant peaks at about 1 mol% and voltage constants peak at about 0–75 mol% of Nd₂O₃.     

Synthesis,characterization and photocatalytic activity of neodymium,nitrogen and neodymium–nitrogen doped TiO2

TiO₂ doped with 0.1–10% Nd³⁺ or 1.8% nitrogen or co-doped with both dopants as well as Nd₂Ti₂O₇ are synthesized by a sol–gel. The phase composition, crystal structure, morphology, optical properties and binding energies of the doped titania were investigated. The photocatalytic activity was tested for malachite green dye degradation and compared with the results obtained by dopant-free TiO₂ synthesized using the same procedure and with the commercial Degussa P25 product. The influence of the dopant type and relative content, temperature of ignition in the course of the synthesis, pH of the reaction medium and the type of the illumination light on the efficiency of the prepared catalysts were determined. A positive effect of Nd- and N-doping on the apparent degradation rate constant under UV irradiation and negative one of Nd-presence at solar illumination is found. Nd–N-codoping has a negative effect on the photocatalytic activity.     

Dielectric properties of cobalt doped cadmium oxalate crystals

Co _x Cd_1−x C₂O₄4H₂O crystals grown by gel technique are characterized for dielectric properties by optical absorption measurements. Loss curve shows a relaxation peak at 500 KHz corresponding to a relaxation time of 0·3 μs. Cole-Cole diagrams give exponent of universal power law to be equal to 0·22. Optical absorption shows peaks due to Co⁺² ion and water of hydration. An attempt is made to understand the results.     

Effect of Sr-doping on the structural and electrical properties of gadolinium manganite oxide

The crystal structure and electrical conductivity of the perovskite oxide system Gd_1-xSr_xMnO_3± (x = 0–0.5) were investigated. The effect of the level of Sr-doping on these properties was examined. An orthorhombic GdFeO₃-type structure (space group Pbnm) was found for all oxides. The room temperature lattice parameters were determined from the XRD data. A large distortion of the unit cell was observed in the case of the undoped compound. The distortion was gradually reduced with increasing Sr content. The unit cell volume decreased on Sr-doping. The electrical conductivity of the oxides was measured from room temperature up to 800°C. The small polaron hopping conductivity model can adequately describe the electrical conductivity behavior. The activation energy decreases as x increases.     

Studies of structural, spectroscopic and electrical properties of sodium molybdate ceramics

Anhydrous polycrystalline sodium molybdate (Na₂MoO₄) ceramics has been prepared by a solid-state reaction technique. The formation of the compound in cubic system is confirmed by a preliminary structural analysis using X-ray diffraction data. Energy dispersive spectrum analysis of Na₂MoO₄ has confirmed its chemical formula and composition. Spectroscopic studies of the compound have been carried by a vibration spectroscopy (Raman/FTIR) in order to understand its molecular structure at microscopic level. The complex impedance spectroscopy technique has been used to study the electrical properties of the material as a function of frequency (10²–10⁶ Hz) at different temperatures (23–450 °C), and also to investigate the fundamental mechanism involved in the material. Impedance analysis also indicates that below 300 °C, the material electrical conduction is related to the grain volume. Above 300 °C, the contribution of grain boundary is clearly evident. The electrical processes in the material are found to be temperature-dependent, and due to relaxation phenomena in it. A frequency dependent maximum of the imaginary electrical impedance is found to obey an Arrhenius law with activation energy of 1.07 eV. The frequency dependence of electrical conductivity spectra does follow the universal power law.     

Synthesis,characterization, thermal and dielectric properties of pure and cadmium doped calcium hydrogen phosphate

The synthesis of pure and cadmium doped calcium hydrogen phosphate as single crystal has been accomplished by a room temperature solution growth technique viz., silica gel technique. Silica gel obtained from sodium metasilicate with a strongly acidic cation exchanger in the H-form, was used for crystal growth experiments. The nature of the grown material was established by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies, whereas from single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) the crystal system comes out to be monoclinic. The stoichiometry of the grown composition was established by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) studies signifies the presence of phosphate (PO₄)²⁻ group and water of crystallization. Thermo gravimetrical analysis and investigations of dielectric properties were undertaken to study the thermal stability, dielectric constant and transition temperature of the grown material. Dielectric studies suggest that there is a shift in the value of transition temperature (T_c) thereby indicating relaxor behaviour of the material.     

Enhancement of the structure,optical, and spectroscopic properties of fluoroborosilicate glass doped with thulium

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Glass composition of (0.15-x)LiF–0.15NaF–0.01Al2O3–0.24SiO2–0.45B2O3–xTm2O3, in which x varies from 0.01 to...     

Iron doped hexagonal ErMnO3: structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties

The single phase ErFe(x)Mn1-xO3 (0 < or = x < or = 0.15) compounds were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The doping effects on the crystal structural, magnetic, thermal, and dielectric properties were systematically investigated. The XRD patterns show all samples crystallize in the hexagonal structure with P6(3)cm space group. The lattice parameters a and c first decrease with doping, which is followed by a subsequent increase at higher doping levels. Although both the Fe3+ and Mn3+ ions remain stable in high spin trivalent states in all samples, the magnetization is weakened with increasing Fe contents. The heat capacity data shows the antiferromagnetic transition slightly shifts from 77 K for ErMnO3 to 80 K for ErFe015Mn0.85O3, which can not be observed in the magnetic susceptibility data. The real part of complex impedance of these samples rises as the doping level increases, indicating the enhancement of insulativity of doped samples.     

Texture effect of neodymium doped gallium oxide thin films on their optical properties

Neodymium doped β-Ga₂O₃ films were elaborated on (1 0 0) silicon and (0 0 0 1) sapphire substrates by the radiofrequency magnetron sputtering method. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry and photoluminescence measurements were performed to characterize and compare layers elaborated on the two substrates. Also, the Nd content effects were investigated. Films prepared on sapphire substrates were found to form a close orientation relationship with the substrate (−2 0 1) β-Ga₂O₃ || (0 0 0 1) sapphire, whatever the Nd content in the matrix. By contrast, the films grown on silicon substrates lose this texture for high Nd concentrations with a concomitant decrease of the Nd ions luminescence.     

Optical, structural and electrical properties of pure and urea doped KDP crystals

Single crystals of good optical quality, made of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) doped with urea were grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique at a constant temperature of 35 °C. Optical absorption and dielectric properties were studied for pure and urea doped KDP crystals. Using powder XRD studies, crystalline nature of pure and urea doped KDP crystals was confirmed. AC conductivity was measured for the grown crystals. DC electrical conductivity and photoconductivity studies were carried out for pure and urea doped KDP crystals and the differences caused by the dopant were also discussed.     

Optical, structural and electrical properties of Mn doped tin oxide thin films

Mn doped SnO_x thin films have been fabricated by extended annealing of Mn/SnO₂ bilayers at 200°C in air for 110 h. The dopant concentration was varied by controlling the thickness of the metal layer. The overall thickness of the film was 115 nm with dopant concentration between 0 and 30 wt% of Mn. The films exhibit nanocrystalline size (10-20 nm) and presence of both SnO and SnO₂. The highest transmission observed in the films was 75% and the band gap varied between 2.7 and 3.4 eV. Significantly, it was observed that at a dopant concentration of ∼4 wt% the transmission in the films reached a minimum accompanied by a decrease in the optical band gap. At the same value of dopant concentration the resistivity also reached a peak. This behaviour appears to be a consequence of valence fluctuation in Sn between the 2+ and 4+ states. The transparent conductivity behaviour fits into a model that attributes it to the presence of Sn interstitials rather than oxygen vacancies alone in the presence of Sn^{2 +}.     

Effect of neodymium doping on structural,electrical and magnetic properties of multiferroic GdMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>

Neodymium doped gadolinium manganate with general composition (Nd_0.1Gd_0.9Mn₂O₅) was prepared by co-precipitation method. Microstructural and compositional analysis has been carried out by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The optical studies have been carried out by Raman and FTIR. The electrical properties studied include dielectric constant, dielectric loss, ac conductivity and activation energy in the temperature range 20–400 ?°C. The shift in the dielectric peak towards higher temperature side with increasing frequency indicates frequency dispersion and suggesting the relaxational behaviour of the material. Frequency dependence of ac conductivity obeys the universal power law. The value of activation energy depends on increase in frequency. The room temperature magnetic behaviour has been analyzed from the magnetic field dependent magnetization curve. The grown material exhibits the paramagnetic behavior at room temperature.