Pre-exponential factor in<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>-Se<Subscript>75</Subscript>In<Subscript>25-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Pb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> thin films

Temperature dependence of d.c. conductivity is studied ina- Se₇₅In_25-x Pb _x thin films wherex is varied from 0–10. From these measurements, the values of the pre-exponential factor (σ₀) and activation energy (ΔE) are calculated for each glassy alloy. An approximate linear dependence of ln σ₀ on AE is observed in this glassy system with good agreement between the expected and calculated σ₀ values using Meyer-Neldel rule. Linear dependence of ln σ₀ on ΔE in case of amorphous materials indicates that the conduction band tails a finite energy distance towards the valence band and Fermi level is controlled by fixed dominant hole levels deeper in the gap.     

Magneto-Peltier cooling of single-crystal Bi<Subscript>1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis></Subscript>Sb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis></Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">X </Emphasis>= 0.12 and 0.15) alloys

The cooling temperatures of rectangular parallelepiped Bi_1-X Sb _X (X = 0.12 and 0.15) single-crystals with the same thickness of t = 2 mm but different width W were measured at 113 K and 290 K as a function of electric current in the magnetic field B up to 2.17 T. The magnetic field was aligned along the thickness t of a sample and the current flows along its length L through the copper leads soldered to both end surfaces of cross section (W × t), where W, t and L are parallel to the binary, bisector and trigonal axes of the single-crystal, respectively. The thermoelement was not in contact with a heat sink. The cooling temperature of Bi_0.85Sb_0.15 at 290 K was increased with an increase of B and was almost symmetric for the reverse of the field direction, while at 113 K it exhibited a maximum at B = ±0.25 T and a strong asymmetry for the field direction. The largest maximum cooling temperature ΔT _max of Bi_0.85Sb_0.15 was achieved when a thermoelement has optimum dimensions so that heat energy is hardly generated at the cold side. When the single-crystal Bi_0.85Sb_0.15 alloy has optimum dimensions of L = 15 mm, W = 4 mm and t = 2 mm, the ΔT _max at 290 K increased from 4.2 K in B = 0 T to 9.6 K in B = +2.17 T, so that it exceeded ΔT _max values of 5.7 K obtained for a typical Bi₂Te₃ and 8.5 K measured previously for Bi single-crystal in B = +2.17 T.     

Unusual magnetic and transport properties of the CMR Pr<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ca<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> system

The substituted nonstoichiometric perovskite Pr_1−x Ca _x MnO_3−y compounds have been synthesized by a standard combustion technique, which show uniphase solid solutions. The all samples of the Pr_1−x Ca _x MnO_3−y system show an orthorhombic crystal system and the cell volumes are decreased with increasing the larger amounts of substituted atoms or the increasing x values. The mixed valence of Mn ions is identified by the XAS (XANES/EXAFS) spectroscopy and the amounts of Mn⁴⁺ ions are determined by an iodometric titration method. Nonstoichiometric chemical formulas of the Pr_1−x Ca _x Mn_1−τ³⁺Mn_τ⁴⁺O_3−y compounds have been obviously formulated. Magnetic properties are investigated by SQUID and thus the Pr_1−x Ca _x MnO_3−y (x = 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) compounds show the transition from antiferromagnetic state to paramagnetic state. The Pr_1−x Ca _x MnO_3−y (x = 0.0, 0.2, and 1.0) compounds show the transition from ferromagnetic state to paramagnetic state. The facts that Mn⁴⁺ contents play important roles in the magnetic ordering have been found out. The transport properties have been studied by the DC electrical conductivity measurement under magnetic fields of 0 G and 3 kG. Maximum and minimum MR ratios are 1016% of the Pr_0.6Ca_0.4MnO_2.846, and −77.5% of the PrMnO_3.021 compound, respectively.     

Structural,Superconducting, and Magnetic Properties of Y<Subscript>1- <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Dy<Subscript>x</Subscript>Rh<Emphasis Type="Italic">4</Emphasis>B<Emphasis Type="Italic">4</Emphasis> Borides

Samples with nominal compositions Y_1-x Dy_xRh₄B₄ are prepared by argon-atmosphere arc melting. The phase composition of the samples and the elemental compositions of the individual phases present are determined by x-ray diffraction and electron-probe x-ray microanalysis. The results indicate that increasing the dysprosium content of the starting mixture increases the percentage of the magnetic phase and reduces that of the superconducting phase in the samples. The electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and magnetic moment of the samples are measured between 1.6 and 30 K (magnetic fields of up to 14 T). The magnetic phase present in the samples with 0.2 ≤ × ≤ is shown to undergo ferromagnetic ordering at T _magn ≃ 13–13.5 K. The samples with 0 ≤ × ≤ 0.6 contain a superconducting phase with T _c from 9.1 to 5.0 K. The superconducting and magnetic properties of the Y_0.6Dy_0.4Rh₄B₄ sample are examined in detail.__________Translated from Neorganicheskie Materialy, Vol. 41, No. 6, 2005, pp. 676–681.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Burkhanov, Lachenkov, Kuz’micheva, Kovneristyi, Khlybov, Kostyleva, Tomilin.     

A study on electrodeposited Zn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> alloys

Zn_1−x Fe _x alloys were electrochemically deposited on AISI 4140 steel substrates from sulfate bath. The bath was consisted of 40 g dm⁻³ ZnSO₄·7H₂O, 20–40 g dm⁻³ FeSO₄·7H₂O_, 25 g dm⁻³ Na₃C₆H₅O₇, and 16 g dm⁻³ H₃BO_3. The effect of bath composition on the electrical resistivity, the phase structure, and the corrosion behavior were investigated by the current–voltage measurements versus temperature, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the atomic absorption spectrometry analysis, and the polarization measurements, respectively. Iron content was shown to strongly affect the structure, the electrical resistivity and the corrosion stability of Zn–Fe alloys.     

Ionic Conductivity of Ln<Subscript>2 + <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Zr<Subscript>2 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>/2</Subscript> (Ln = Sm-Gd) Solid Solutions

The electrical conductivity of Ln_{2 + x} Zr_{2 − x} O_{7 − x/2} (Ln = Sm-Gd) solid solutions prepared from mechanically activated Ln₂O₃ and ZrO₂ is shown to correlate with their structural properties. In the three systems, the x-T regions are determined in which electrical transport is dominated by oxygen-ion conduction. In the Sm₂O₃-ZrO₂ system, ionic conductivities from 5 × 10⁻⁴ to 6 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 740°C are found in Sm_{2 + x} Zr_{2 − x} O_{7 − x/2} with 26.6, 33.3, 35.5, 37, and 40 mol % Sm₂O₃ prepared at 1450, 1530, and 1600°C. Eu_{2 + x} Zr_{2 − x} O_{7 − x/2} and Gd_{2 + x} Zr_{2 − x} O_{7 − x/2} containing 33.3 to 37 mol % Ln₂O₃ have 740°C ionic conductivities of 10⁻³ to ∼7.5 × 10⁻³ and 10⁻³ to 7 × 10⁻³ S/cm, respectively. The activation energy of conduction in Ln_{2 + x} Zr_{2 − x} O_{7 − x/2} (Ln = Sm-Gd), E _a = 0.84–1.04 eV, increases with the atomic number of Ln and x. The highest ionic conductivity is offered by the stoichiometric Ln₂Zr₂O₇ (Ln = Sm-Gd) pyrochlores prepared at 1600°C, owing to the optimal concentration of Ln_Zr + Zr_Ln antistructure pairs (∼5–22%). The grains in the ceramic samples studied range in size from 0.5 to 2 µm.__________Translated from Neorganicheskie Materialy, Vol. 41, No. 8, 2005, pp. 975–984.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Shlyakhtina, Kolbanev, Knotko, Boguslavskii, Stefanovich, Karyagina, Shcherbakova.     

Asymmetric current transfer in isotype <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-In<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>3</Subscript>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-InSe heterocontacts

We have studied the mechanisms of current transfer and the capacitance-voltage characteristics of a radiation-resistant isotype n-In₂Se₃/n-InSe heterocontact in which the region depleted of major charge carriers is localized predominantly in a relatively low-ohmic semiconductor—the α-type In₂Se₃ with a large density of defects. The spectrum of the relative quantum efficiency of photoconversion in this structure depends on the thickness of the In₂Se₃ layer and on the geometry of illumination of the heterocontact.     

Intermetallic Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Al<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>-phases in a steel/Al-alloy fusion weld

The microstructure of joints between an Al-alloy and a zinc coated ferritic steel sheet manufactured by the so-called CMT joining method is investigated. The joint consists of a weld between the Al-alloy and Al 99.8 filler and a brazing of the filler to the zinc coated steel. The morphology, the structure and the defects of the intermetallic phases that developed at the interface between the steel and the Al 99.8 filler are characterised using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The intermetallic phase seam is only about 2.3 μm thick and consists of trapezoidal nearly equiaxial Fe₂Al₅ grains surrounded by finger-like remains of the steel and mostly elliptical FeAl₃ grains extending into the Al 99.8 filler material. Both the Fe₂Al₅ and the FeAl₃ grains contain crystal defects.     

A Statistical Model of <Emphasis Type="Italic">I</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis></Subscript> Changes for Bending Bi-2223 Tapes

Bi-2223 tape was one of the high-temperature superconductors with commercial applications. One of the applications was bending and winding Bi-2223 tape into solenoids to produce high magnetic fields. To study bending properties, three multifilamentary of Bi-2223 tapes sheathed with silver alloys were manufactured. Bending experiments for the tapes were performed, and critical currents I _c of tapes with definite bending radius were measured. And, current transferring mechanisms in filaments were analyzed, as well. Experimental results showed that silver alloy sheathed tapes had better bending properties than pure silver-sheathed one. On the contrary, to describe bending radius dependence of I _c , a statistical model was suggested. The model expected that bending radius dependence of I _c was following an exponential law that was quantitatively expressed by mathematic expressions. Bending dependence of I _c could be calculated from the expression and calculated results agreed with experimental data very well. Therefore, the suggested model has successfully explained the experimental results.     

Accommodation of non-stoichiometry in TiN<Subscript>1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> and ZrN<Subscript>1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

Atomic scale computer simulations, based on density functional calculations, are used to investigate the variation of lattice parameter and bulk modulus with nitrogen deficient non-stoichiometry in titanium and zirconium nitrides. Results assuming a simple distribution of nitrogen vacancies best reflect the remarkably small observed changes in lattice parameter over the whole stoichiometry range for both materials. These are facilitated by small charge transfer to the cations immediately surrounding the nitrogen vacancy and small accompanying lattice relaxations. Conversely variations in bulk modulus are considerable but can be correlated, via a simple function, to the change in materials density.     

Ab-initio Calculation of Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Mn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te

The electronic and magnetic properties of Mn_1−x Cr _x Te of NiAs-type and zinc-blend type structures are theoretically investigated using the first-principles KKR-CPA method. It is concluded that at low concentration region of Cr, an antiferromagnetic state is the ground-state, while a ferrimagnetic state is more stable at higher concentration region of Cr in the both types of structures. In particular, a new type of half-metallic ferrimagnets is found in zinc-blend type Mn_1−x Cr _x Te. On the other hand, a nearly half-metallic behavior is observed in NiAs-type Mn_1−x Cr _x Te, where the Fermi level locates slightly above the minority spin band gap. The features of the half-metallicity of Mn_1−x Cr _x Te in zinc-blend structure are also seen in the results of the conductivity calculations using the Kubo–Greenwood formula.     

Structural and thermoelectric properties of Zr<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Er<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>NiSn solid solutions

We have studied the electronic and crystal structures and temperature-dependent resistivity and thermopower of Zr_{1 − x} Er _x NiSn (x = 0–0.20) substitutional semiconductor solid solutions (so-called half-Heusler alloys) in the temperature range 80–380 K. Heavily erbium doped semiconductors with the MgAgAs structure are described in terms of an amorphous semiconductor model. The erbium atoms in Zr_{1 − x} Er _x NiSn are shown to act as acceptors. Density of states calculation results for the Zr_{1 − x} Er _x NiSn alloys are consistent with experimental data.     

The formaldehyde sensitivity of LaFe<Subscript>1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Zn<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-based gas sensor

Rare earth oxides LaFe_1-x Zn _x O₃ were synthesized by sol–gel method. The X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) showed that LaFe_1-x Zn _x O₃oxides are single phase with orthorhombic perovskite structure, they all show p-type semiconducting properties. Among nanocrystalline LaFe_1-x Zn _x O₃ oxides, LaFe_0.77Zn_0.23O₃ exhibits the highest sensitivity of 44.5 to 100 ppm formaldehyde. The optimal working temperature was found to be around 240 °C. Moreover the LaFe_0.77Zn_0.23O₃ exhibites short response and recovery time to 100 ppm formaldehyde. The lattice parameter doesn’t agree with Vegard’s law with the increasing Zn content, and the relative density was 70–80%.     

Dielectric properties of Na<Subscript>1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>K<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>NbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> in orthorhombic phase

Pellets of ceramic Na_1−xK_xNbO₃ (x = 0, 0.2 and 0.5), were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction method. Prepared samples were characterized using XRD and SEM. The frequency and temperature variation of dielectric constant, loss tangent and dielectric conductivity of prepared samples were measured in the frequency range from 10 KHz-1 MHz, and in the temperature range from 50–250°C for x = 0.2 and 0.5, and between 50 and 480°C for x = 0 compositions. It was observed that the dielectric constant and loss tangent decrease, and conductivity increases with increasing frequency. Near the transition temperature the material shows anomalous behaviour for the observed properties, and the peaks of dielectric constant and loss tangent were observed shifting towards lower temperature with increasing frequency.     

Atomistic structure and strain relaxation in Czochralski-grown Si<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ge<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> bulk alloys

The local atomistic structure in bulk Si_xGe_1−x alloys in the whole composition range 0 < x < 1 was investigated experimentally and theoretically. By extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurements in Czochralski-grown bulk SiGe crystals it is found that bulk SiGe is a random mixture and that the Ge–Ge, Ge–Si and Si–Si bond lengths maintain distinctly different lengths and vary in a linear fashion as a function of alloy composition across the entire composition range 0 < x < 1, in good agreement with expectations derived from the ab-inito electronic structure calculations. The results indicate that SiGe is a typical disorder material and that the bond lengths and bond angles are distorted with alloy composition in SiGe.     

Optical,structural and electrical investigations on PbTe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> alloys

The fabrication of devices with lead salts and their alloys with detecting and lasing capabilities has been an important technological development. The high quality polycrystalline thin films of PbTe_1−x S _x with variable composition (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been deposited onto ultra clean glass substrates by vacuum evaporation technique. Optical, structural and electrical properties of PbTe_1−x S _x thin films have been examined. Absorption coefficient and band gap of the films were determined by absorbance measurements in wavelength range 2,500–5,000 nm using FTIR spectrophotometer. Sample nature, crystal structure and lattice parameter of the films were determined from X-ray diffraction patterns. DC conductivity and activation energy of the films were measured in temperature range 300–380 K through I–V measurements.     

Magnetic ordering in Cr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Hg<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Se crystals grown by solid-state recrystallization

Cr _x Hg_{1 − x} crystals grown by solid-state recrystallization have been characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, transport measurements, and X-ray microanalysis. The results demonstrate that the crystals contain rectangular HgCr₂Se₄ inclusions elongated along one of their axes and irregularly shaped Cr _x Hg_{1 − x} and CrHg inclusions. In the range 77–400 K, the electrical properties of samples cut from different parts of the crystals are typical of semiconductors with a strongly degenerate electron gas.     

Effect of Oxygen Concentration on Superconducting Properties of Rubidium Tungsten Bronzes Rb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>WO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>

Superconducting transition temperature (T _c) as a function of oxygen concentration for hexagonal rubidium tungsten bronzes Rb _x WO _y with 2.80 ≤ y ≤ 3.07 and x = 0.19, 0.23, and 0.27 has been systematically investigated. Three regions corresponding to T _c < 2 K (denoted as superconductivity suppressed region), T _c∼ 3 K (superconductivity uniform region) and T _c > 3 K (superconductivity enhanced region) were identified in T _c–y phase diagram for Rb_0.19WO _y and Rb_0.23WO _y . No superconductivity enhanced region was observed for Rb_0.27WO _y . The superconductivity suppressed region shifts toward higher oxygen content as rubidium concentration increases. The local ordering of the intercalated rubidium atoms might be responsible for the intriguing T _c–y phase diagram of Rb _x WO _y .     

Electrical properties of photodiodes based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-GaSb/<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-GaInAsSb/<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-GaAlAsSb heterojunctions

We have studied the electrical characteristics of photodiodes based on p-GaSb/p-GaInAsSb/N-GaAlAsSb heterojunctions and investigated the mechanisms of current transfer in these heterostructures at various temperatures. A comparison of the theoretical results and experimental data showed that the tunneling charge transfer mechanism dominates at low temperatures (T < 150 K) under both forward and reverse bias conditions. The tunneling current becomes a determining factor at an electric field strength in the p-n junction of no less that 10⁵ V/cm, which is related to a small bandgap width of the materials studied and low effective masses of electrons and holes.