Microwave absorption materials — IV Preparation of the mixed layer structure phases, RexTa1−xS2 and OsxTa1−xS2, and some electrical and magnetic properties

The binary systems ReS₂–TaS₂ and OsS₂-TaS₂ are studied. Mixed layer structure (MLS) phases are found in Re_xTa_1−xS₂ with a composition range of 0.25x0.5, as well as in the Os_xTa_1−xS₂ with a composition range of 0.26x0.33. The MLSs of both phases are constructed by a random and mixed stacking of the 2Hb-layers and 3R-layers. The magnetic susceptibilities of samples from both phases show a weak Pauli-paramagnetism. The paramagnetic moment and the electrical conductivity of both phases decrease as the composition x increases. The behaviour of the paramagnetic moment and the electrical conductivity of those phases offer us a good example of the number of conduction electrons and their effect.     

Crystalline structure and electrical properties of YCuxMn1–xO3 solid solutions

Solid solutions belonging to the Mn-rich region of the YCu_xMn_1–xO₃ system have been studied. The powders were prepared by solid-state reaction between the corresponding oxides. Sintered ceramics were obtained by firing at 1100–1325 °C. The incorporation of 30 at.% Cu to the yttrium manganite induces the formation of a perovskite-type phase, with orthorhombic symmetry. Increase of the Cu amount do not appreciably affects the orthorhombicity factor b/a, up to an amount of 50 at.% Cu. Above this Cu amount, a multiphase system has been observed, with the presence of unreacted-Y₂O₃, YMnO₃ and Y₂Cu₂O₅, along with a perovskite phase. DC electrical conductivity measurements have shown a semiconducting behaviour for all the solid solutions with perovskite-type structure. The room temperature conductivity increases with Cu until 33 at.% Cu, and then decreases. Thermally activated small polaron hopping mechanism, between Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ cations, controls the conductivity in these ceramics. Results are discussed as a function of the Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ratio for each composition.     

Structure-property relations of co-doped bismuth layer-structured Bi3.25La0.75(Ti1-xMox)3O12 ceramics

In this work, the fabrication and investigation of substituting higher-valence Mo⁶⁺ for Ti⁴⁺ ion on the B-site of La³⁺-doped Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ [BLT] structure to form Bi_3.25La_0.75(Ti_1-x Mo _x )₃O₁₂ [BLTM] (when x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 0.07, 0.09, and 0.10) ceramics were carried out. X-ray diffraction patterns of BLTM ceramics indicated an orthorhombic structure with lattice distortion, especially with a higher concentration of a MoO₃ dopant. Microstructural investigation showed that all ceramics composed mainly of plate-like grains. An increase in MoO₃ doping content increased the length and thickness of the grain but reduced the density of the ceramics. Electrical conductivity was found to decrease, while the dielectric constant increased with Mo⁶⁺ doping concentration. Ferroelectric properties were found to be improved with increasing MoO₃ content and were optimized at x = 0.1.     

Transport properties of conducting amorphous carbon-poly(vinyl chloride) composite

The dc electrical conductivity of composites of poly(vinyl chloride) filled with amorphous carbon (a-C) flakes has been studied from room temperature to 1.2 K. The dc conductivity shows percolative behavior and as a function of a-C content, follows the scaling law σα(p − p_c)^t where p_c is percolation threshold and t the critical exponent with values 0.0165 and 3.1, respectively. The value of t shows evidence for non-universal value of critical exponent. In the temperature range 1.2 K to 50 K-60 K all the samples show the thermal fluctuation induced tunneling of the charge carriers through the insulating layer of polymer separating amorphous carbon aggregates. At high temperatures the differential thermal expansion of PVC and amorphous carbon plays a crucial role in conduction mechanism that leads to positive temperature coefficient of resistivity near to room temperature.     

Synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of carbon-encapsulated nanoparticles via thermal decomposition of metal acetylide

A new low-temperature synthetic method for carbon-encapsulated metal and metal carbide nanoparticles was developed, where the metal cation M²⁺ is reduced by . In this method, metal cations form clusters at the beginning, followed by neutralization and segregation. Formations of metallic tin and cobalt, and metastable carbides of cobalt, palladium and nickel are evidenced by powder X-ray diffractions. TEM observation reveals that the nanoparticles are encapsulated in carbon shells despite the low temperature treatment. The formation of the metastable carbides and carbon shells can be explained by the carbon-rich precursor, acetylide clusters. Surplus carbon atoms tend to be excluded from the metal-carbon cores even at low temperature, automatically forming carbon shells.     

Hollow porous carbon microspheres obtained by the pyrolysis of TiO2/poly(furfuryl alcohol) composite precursors

Disordered carbon materials with high porosity were prepared through the pyrolysis of TiO₂/poly(furfuryl alcohol) composites, obtained by the sol-gel method. The composites were prepared starting from titanium tetra-isopropoxide (TTIP) and furfuryl alcohol (FA) as precursors. Two different synthetic procedures for our composites were carried out, based on the addition of furfuryl alcohol (FA) before or after the TiO₂ nanoparticles formation. Also, different TTIP/FA ratio was tested. The hybrid materials obtained by both synthetic routes were pyrolyzed, under argon flow, at 900 °C producing novel TiO₂/carbon composites. All samples were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, DR-FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and TEM. Results indicated the effective FA polymerization on TiO₂ (anatase) nanoparticles, and polymer conversion to disordered carbon after the pyrolysis, simultaneously with TiO₂ anatase-rutile phase transition. The resulting TiO₂/carbon composites were treated with HF solution aiming the oxide dissolution, yielding an extremely porous carbon material as insoluble fraction. The morphology of these porous carbon materials is strongly dependent on the synthetic route adopted for the composite precursor, varying from carbon foam to highly ordered hollow microspheres.     

Magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of La0.65−xEuxSr0.35MnO3

Eu-doped perovskites La_0.65−xEu_xSr_0.35MnO₃ (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) were synthesized by sol–gel method using citric acid and characterized by X-ray diffraction, magnetization, resistivity and magnetoresistance (MR) experiments. All samples had a single hexagonal perovskite structure. As x increased from 0.05 to 0.30, the Curie temperature T_C for the samples decreased from 352 to 242 K. It was found that two transition points appeared when the resistivity changed with increasing temperature, and upon an application of a magnetic field of 20 kOe the maximum magnetoresistivity of 18% for the La_0.65−xEu_xSr_0.35MnO₃ with x = 0.20 was obtained at room temperature 300 K. The mechanism of the transitions for the samples was explored.     

Effects of Nd3+ and high-valence Nb5+ co-doping on the structural,dielectric and magnetic properties of BiFeO3 multiferroics

Bi_0.90Nd_0.10Fe_1?xNb_xO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) multiferroics have been studied to reveal the effect of Nb doping on the physical properties of the neodymium modified BiFeO₃. These samples have been synthesized via conventional solid state reaction method. The structural characterization was performed by XRD technique and Rietveld refinement. Rietveld refinement results confirmed that all samples crystallized in rhombohedral symmetry. In the vicinity of anti-ferromagnetic Neel-temperature (T_N), an anomaly was observed in dielectric constant (?′) and loss tangent (tan δ) which indicates the existence of magnetoelectric coupling. It is observed that with Nb doping dielectric constant was reduced and Neel temperature shifted towards higher temperature. The impedance (Nyquist plots) and modulus spectroscopy revealed that materials possess non-Debye type of relaxation. The doping of donor ion is able to suppress the existence of oxygen vacancies which results in increase in resistivity. The B-site doping by higher valence ion suppresses the existing modulated spin structure by structural distortion, results in released net magnetization. The room temperature remanent magnetization increased with Nb doping and all powder samples possess weak ferromagnetism. The possible reasons for the notable magnetic and dielectric performance of prepared samples were discussed.     

Effects of sintering temperature on structural and electromagnetic properties of MgCuZn ferrite prepared by microwave sintering

Nanocrystalline magnesium–copper–zinc (Mg_0.30Cu_0.20Zn_0.50Fe₂O₄) ferrites were prepared by microwave sintering technique. The effects of the sintering temperature on particle size and magnetic properties were investigated. In this article, optimum sintering temperature required for MgCuZn ferrite system for obtaining good electromagnetic properties, suitable for applications in low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) chip components was studied. The grain size, initial permeability, dielectric constant and saturation magnetisations were found to increase, and dielectric loss was found to decrease with the increasing sintering temperature. Mg–Cu–Zn ferrites with a permeability of μ?=?1110 (at 1?MHz) were fully densified at the standard LTCC sintering temperature of 950°C.     

Effect of H2O adsorption on the electrical transport properties of double-walled carbon nanotubes

Water molecules adsorbed on a double-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT) serve as charge trapping centers when present in low density and as electron donors when present in high density. There is a discontinuous change between the low- and high-density regions. H₂O molecules are apt to be adsorbed on the outer surface of DWCNTs, and in this case the electrical transport properties are extremely sensitive to environment, which suggests that DWCNTs are hole doped and act as an electric dipole with the inner tube.     

Electronic transition,ferroelectric and thermoelectric properties of bismuth pyrostannate Bi2(Sn0.85Cr0.15)2O7

The ferroelectric properties of bismuth pyrostannate Bi₂(Sn_0.85Cr_0.15)₂O₇ in the high-temperature region are established. The linear thermal expansion coefficient, electrical resistance, impedance, I?V characteristics, capacitance, loss-angle tangent, charge, and thermopower of the investigated material are measured in the temperature range of 300?700 K at frequencies of 10²?10⁶ Hz. Anomalies of the thermal expansion coefficient and hodograph spectrum variation in the region of polymorphic phase transitions are observed. The high resistance and change of the hopping conductivity for the tunnel-emission are found. The hysteresis in the electric field dependence of polarization is established. The change in the thermopower sign with temperature is revealed. The obtained experimental data are explained in the framework of the model of migration polarization by charged chromium ions.     

Superior electric double layer capacitors using ordered mesoporous carbons

This paper reports for the first time superior electric double layer capacitive properties of ordered mesoporous carbon (OMCs) with varying ordered pore symmetries and mesopore structure. Compared to commercially used activated carbon electrode, Maxsorb, these OMC carbons have superior capacitive behavior, power output and high-frequency performance in EDLCs due to the unique structure of their mesopore network, which is more favorable for fast ionic transport than the pore networks in disordered microporous carbons. As evidenced by N₂ sorption, cyclic voltammetry and frequency response measurements, OMC carbons with large mesopores, and especially with 2-D pore symmetry, show superior capacitive behaviors (exhibiting a high capacitance of over 180 F/g even at very high sweep rate of 50 mV/s, as compared to much reduced capacitance of 73 F/g for Maxsorb at the same sweep rate). OMC carbons can provide much higher power density while still maintaining good energy density. OMC carbons demonstrate excellent high-frequency performances due to its higher surface area in pores larger than 3 nm. Such ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) offer a great potential in EDLC capacitors, particularly for applications where high power output and good high-frequency capacitive performances are required.     

Fabrication and thermoelectric properties of heavily rare-earth metal-doped SrO(SrTiO3)n (n = 1, 2) ceramics

To clarify the effect of substitutional electron doping on the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT = S²σTκ⁻¹) of Ruddlesden–Popper phase SrO(SrTiO₃)_n (or Sr_n+1Ti_nO_3n+1), measurements were conducted for several thermoelectric parameters, e.g. electrical conductivity (σ), Seebeck coefficient (S) and thermal conductivity (κ), of (Sr_1−xRE_x)_n+1Ti_nO_3n+1 (n = 1 or 2, RE (rare earth): La or Nd, x = 0.05 and 0.1) dense ceramics prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction and hot-pressing technique. Crystal structures of the resultant ceramics were represented as (Sr_1−xRE_x)_n+1 Ti_nO_3n+1 evaluated by powder X-ray diffraction followed by the Rietveld analysis. All the ceramics exhibited electrical conductivity and the σ values simply depended on the dopant concentration, indicating that both La³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions act as electron donors. The |S| values increased with temperature due to decrease in the chemical potential. Significant reduction of the κ values was observed as compared to cubic-perovskite SrTiO₃. The ZT value increased with temperature and reached 0.15 at 1000 K for (Sr_0.95La_0.05)₃Ti₂O₇.     

Evaluation of carbonized medium-density fiberboard for electrical applications

The conversion of wood-based fiberboard materials into crack-free, monolithic, porous hard carbons is of significant interest due to their ability to perform in a multifunctional capacity. Three varieties of carbonized medium-density fiberboard (c-MDF) were studied for electrical, mechanical, and structural properties. X-ray diffraction data suggested that the volume fraction of large turbostratic crystallites increased with carbonization temperature (T_carb). The volume fraction of large turbostratic crystallites had a positive correlation with elastic modulus and electrical conductivity. The c-MDF materials were approximately isotropic with respect to elastic modulus and exhibited increasing stiffness with increasing T_carb (up to 4.5 GPa). Between 600 and 1400 °C, the electrical resistivity of c-MDF varied by seven orders of magnitude. The electrical resistivity of the hard carbon material in c-MDF 1400 °C was found to be within about an order of magnitude of polycrystalline graphite.     

Combustion synthesis of Ca1−xCuxAl2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.4 and 0.8) copper doped calcium aluminate

We report the effect of Cu²⁺ ion on CaAl₂O₄ with different molar concentrations of 0.0, 0.4 and 0.8 M prepared by simple combustion method. The materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). DC electrical conductivity has also been measured to study the electrical behavior of the materials. The XRD patterns confirm the formation of single-phase CaAl₂O₄ along with some impurity phases like CaAl₄O₇, CaAl₁₂O₁₉ and Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃. The FT-IR spectra show the stretching and bending vibrations of the synthesized compounds. DC electrical conductivity of the Ca_1−xCu_xAl₂O₄ is found to vary from 26.46 × 10⁻⁴ to 515.68 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ for x = 0.0 to x = 0.8 at the measuring temperature of 1000 °C. SEM images show the morphological features of the compounds.     

A comparative study on the magnetic properties of MFe12O19 and MAlFe11O19 (M = Sr, Ba and Pb) hexaferrites with different morphologies

M-type nano hexaferrites MFe₁₂O₁₉ and MAlFe₁₁O₁₉ (M = Sr, Ba and Pb) have been prepared by the sol-gel method to investigate the shielding effect of inorganic ions KCl, KBr and KI on the phase growth of ferrites. FTIR frequency bands in the range 560-580 cm⁻¹ and 430-470 cm⁻¹corresponds to the formation of tetrahedral and octahedral clusters of metal oxides in ferrites, respectively. X-ray powder diffractographs do not show any peaks for the as obtained samples showing the amorphous nature of the samples, however regular peaks for M-type structure have been obtained for all the annealed samples. There is negligible small change in the lattice parameters ‘a’ and ‘c’ with substitution of the hexagonal ferrites with aluminium. Magnetic measurements showed that the coercivity (Hc) values of all the samples with KCl and KBr enhance due to KCl and KBr to act as deactivators. However, the coercivity value decreases with KI as it oxidise to I₂ during annealing. The saturation magnetization of the hexaferrites decreases with Al³⁺ ion substitution for Fe³⁺ ion due to preferential occupancy of aluminium in octahedral sites.     

Structural and magnetic properties of a stage-2 HoCl3-graphite intercalation compound

A stage-2 HoCl₃-GIC has been synthesized and characterized by XRD experiments and magnetic measurements. EDS and 00l X-ray analyses lead to the chemical formula C_23.8HoCl_3.7.The c-axis repeat distance is 1313 ± 5 pm, and the stacking sequence of intercalated HoCl₃ along the c-axis corresponds to the layer sandwich Cl-Ho-Cl, where the distance between Ho and Cl layers is 157 pm. The HoCl₃ in-plane structure is oblique with lattice parameters a = 689 pm, b = 1177 pm, γ = 149.6° close to those in the pristine crystal. It presents two different micro-domains disorientated with respect to graphene planes by θ₁ = ± 19°. Magnetic studies show that Ho³⁺ ions obey the Curie-Weiss law for both pristine HoCl₃ and stage-2 HoCl₃-GIC. The presence of graphene planes between HoCl₃ intercalated layers leads to an increased Curie-Weiss temperature and to a decrease in the weak antiferromagnetic interactions between Ho³⁺ ions.     

Influence of Li doping on the morphological evolution and optical & electrical properties of SnO2 nanomaterials and SnO2/Li2SnO3 composite nanomaterials

SnO₂ nanomaterials and SnO₂/Li₂SnO₃ composite nanomaterials doped with different Li contents were synthesized via a simple one-step thermal evaporation method. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that with the increase of Li doping, the intensity of Li₂SnO₃ diffraction peaks gradually increased, while that of SnO₂ diffraction peaks gradually decreased. With the increase of Li doping, the width of nanobelts gradually increased, with the morphology changing from banded structure to standard hexagonal sheet structure. The Raman scattering spectra indicated that with the increase of Li doping, the peak of Li₂SnO₃ at 588.8 cm^?1 kept increasing, and the strongest vibration mode A_1g in SnO₂ gradually weakened. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that with the increase of Li doping, the surface electrophilic oxygen species in SnO₂/Li₂SnO₃ composite nanomaterials greatly increased. Under the condition of light irradiation with a wavelength of 505 nm, the bright current of the Li-doped SnO₂ samples was higher than the dark current, while that of the SnO₂/Li₂SnO₃ composite nanomaterials was higher than the dark current, which was mainly due to more oxygen vacancies in SnO₂/Li₂SnO₃ composite nanomaterials than electrons excited by light. Consequently, positive photoconductivity gradually weakened, and even the negative photoconductivity emerged.