Effects of composition on the microwave absorbing properties of FexNi100−x (x = 0–25) submicro fibers

The morphology and composition of a material have important influences on its electromagnetic parameters and microwave absorbing property. In this paper, the Fe_xNi_100?x (x?=?0–40) powders were prepared by an oxalate precipitation-thermal decomposition process. When x?=?0–25, the powders show submicro fibrous morphologies, however, when x?>?25, some granular particles appear due to the weak coordination ability of ethylenediamine with Fe²⁺ in the oxalate precipitation process. The electromagnetic parameters and microwave absorbing properties of the composites of the Fe_xNi_100?x (x?=?0–25) submicro fibers with 80?wt% paraffin were studied in 2–18?GHz. Compared with the Ni/paraffin composite, enhanced electromagnetic losses and microwave absorbing properties are observed for the Fe₁₀Ni₉₀/paraffin and Fe₂₅Ni₇₅/paraffin composites. The Fe₁₀Ni₉₀/paraffin shows the best microwave absorbing property that at the composite thickness of 2.0?mm, the effective bandwidth and minimum RL reach 3.78?GHz (12.21–15.99?GHz) and ?45.37?dB at 13.90?GHz, respectively. The excellent microwave absorbing property of the Fe₁₀Ni₉₀/paraffin composite is from its high loss factor and the quarter-wavelength cancellation mechanism.     

Structural, Magnetic and Microwave Properties of Eu-doped Barium Hexaferrite Powders

Eu-doped M-type barium ferrite powders (Ba_1−x Eu _x Fe₁₂O₁₉) with x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.25 were prepared by sol-gel method. The synthesized samples are characterized by thermo gravimetric analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and vector network analyzer. All the synthesized samples have the nearly single-magnetoplumbite phase. The results show that the crystallite size of doped samples is smaller than pure one. The saturation magnetization of doped ferrites decreases by the increase in Eu doping, while the coercivity increases. Maximum coercivity achieved in this study is 6.12 KOe for x=0.25 sample. The enhancement of coercivity by Eu doping is mainly due to the higher magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which is attributed to the partial change of Fe⁺³ ion to Fe⁺² ion. The maximum reflection loss (RL) of −43 dB at frequency range of 12–18 GHz for the x=0.1 sample was obtained. The increase in reflection loss at higher frequency suggests that the Eu-doped sample can be used for the application in microwave devices.     

Magnetic excitations in iron chalcogenide superconductors

Nuclear magnetic resonance and neutron scattering experiments in iron chalcogenide superconductors are reviewed to make a survey of the magnetic excitations in FeSe, FeSe_1−xTe_x and alkali-metal-doped A_xFe_2−ySe₂ (A = K, Rb, Cs, etc). In FeSe, the intimate relationship between the spin fluctuations and superconductivity can be seen universally for the variations in the off-stoichiometry, the Co-substitution and applied pressure. The isovalent compound FeTe has a magnetic ordering with different wave vector from that of other Fe-based magnetic materials. The transition temperature T_c of FeSe increases with Te substitution in FeSe_1−xTe_x with small x, and decreases in the vicinity of the end member FeTe. The spin fluctuations are drastically modified by the Te substitution. In the vicinity of the end member FeTe, the low-energy part of the spin fluctuation is dominated by the wave vector of the ordered phase of FeTe; however, the reduction of T_c shows that it does not support superconductivity. The presence of same wave vector as that of other Fe-based superconductors in FeSe_1−xTe_x and the observation of the resonance mode demonstrate that FeSe_1−xTe_x belongs to the same group as most of other Fe-based superconductors in the entire range of x, where superconductivity is mediated by the spin fluctuations whose wave vector is the same as the nesting vector between the hole pockets and the electron pockets. On the other hand, the spin fluctuations differ for alkali-metal-doped A_xFe_2−ySe₂ and FeSe or other Fe-based superconductors in their wave vector and strength in the low-energy part, most likely because of the different Fermi surfaces. The resonance mode with different wave vector suggests that A_xFe_2−ySe₂ has an exceptional superconducting symmetry among Fe-based superconductors.     

Magnetic properties and microstructure of La-substituted BaCr-ferrite powders

A combustion process was used to synthesize crystalline powders of La-substituted barium chromium hexaferrites Ba_1 − xLa_xFe_11.5Cr_0.5O₁₉ (x = 0-0.25). The structures, morphologies and ferromagnetic properties of La³⁺ substituted nanocomposites were characterized by powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). XRD results showed that single-phase barium chromium ferrite powders was found at La content x ≤ 0.2. From the SEM, it was observed that the particles calcined at 1100 °C had a plate-like hexagonal shape. The results of magnetic mensuration revealed that both M_S and H_C of barium hexaferrite increased up to x = 0.1, and then decreased with the increasing of La content.     

Negative thermal expansion induced by intermetallic charge transfer

Suppression of thermal expansion is of great importance for industry. Negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials which shrink on heating and expand on cooling are therefore attracting keen attention. Here we provide a brief overview of NTE induced by intermetallic charge transfer in A-site ordered double perovskites SaCu₃Fe₄O₁₂ and LaCu₃Fe_4−xMn_xO₁₂, as well as in Bi or Ni substituted BiNiO₃. The last compound shows a colossal dilatometric linear thermal expansion coefficient exceeding −70 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ near room temperature, in the temperature range which can be controlled by substitution.     

Electromagnetic wave absorption properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with La-doped BaTiO3 nanocrystals synthesized by a solvothermal method

Ba_1−xLa_xTiO₃/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites with different concentrations of La³⁺ doping, were synthesized by a solvothermal process. The prepared nanocomposites had a hybrid microstructure in which Ba_1−xLa_xTiO₃ nanocrystals with diameter of 10–30 nm were firmly immobilized on the MWCNTs sidewalls. Electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption properties of La-doped BaTiO₃/MWCNT nanocomposites were investigated in the 7.5–18 GHz frequency range for an absorber thickness of 1 mm. The reflection loss (RL) calculated from the EM parameters of the samples, moved to low frequencies with increasing La³⁺ doping. The widest absorption bandwidth, with the lowest frequency range, was observed in a nanocomposite doped with 1.5 at% La³⁺. An RL exceeding −5 dB for this sample was obtained in the frequencies ranging from 9.6 to 16.3 GHz, with the optimal RL of −17.4 dB at 10.9 GHz, due to enhanced interfacial polarization resulting in developed ε^″r${{\epsilon }^{″}}_{\text{r}}$. In addition, the RL for the sample shifted to the low frequency region and the peaks became sharper in the 2–18 GHz frequency range with increasing absorber thickness. For BaTiO₃/MWCNT nanocomposites, La³⁺ doping can greatly improve the EM wave absorbing ability in a thin absorber thickness and the donor-doped nanocomposites show promise for application in EM wave shielding materials with broad absorption bandwidths.     

BiFeO3-doped (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (1−x)(Na_0.5K_0.5)NbO₃-xBiFeO₃ (x=0∼0.07) were synthesized by the solid-state reaction. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed that an increase in the amount of BiFeO₃ dopant resulted in a decrease in the orthorhombic-tetragonal and tetragonal-cubic phase transition temperature of the material. One percent BiFeO₃ additive suppressed grain growth, which not only benefits the sintering of ceramics but also enhances the piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties, where d₃₃=145pC/N, k_p=0.31, Q_m=80, P_r=11.3 μC cm⁻² and E_c=16.5 kV cm⁻¹. As x_BF>0.01, both piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties decreased rapidly with an increasing amount of dopant.     

Superconducting properties of iron chalcogenide thin films

Iron chalcogenides, binary FeSe, FeTe and ternary FeTe_xSe_1−x, FeTe_xS_1−x and FeTe:O_x, are the simplest compounds amongst the recently discovered iron-based superconductors. Thin films of iron chalcogenides present many attractive features that are covered in this review, such as: (i) easy fabrication and epitaxial growth on common single-crystal substrates; (ii) strong enhancement of superconducting transition temperature with respect to the bulk parent compounds (in FeTe_0.5Se_0.5, zero-resistance transition temperature T_c0^bulk = 13.5 K, but T_c0^film = 19 K on LaAlO₃ substrate); (iii) high critical current density (J_c ∼ 0.5 ×10⁶ A cm² at 4.2 K and 0 T for FeTe_0.5Se_0.5 film deposited on CaF₂, and similar values on flexible metallic substrates (Hastelloy tapes buffered by ion-beam assisted deposition) with a weak dependence on magnetic field; (iv) high upper critical field (∼50 T for FeTe_0.5Se_0.5, B_c2(0), with a low anisotropy, γ ∼ 2). These highlights explain why thin films of iron chalcogenides have been widely studied in recent years and are considered as promising materials for applications requiring high magnetic fields (20–50 T) and low temperatures (2–10 K).     

Effect of Ho3+ substitution on magnetic and microwave absorption properties of Sr(ZnZr)0.5Fe12O19 hexagonal ferrite nanoparticles

Sr_1?x Ho _x (ZnZr)_0.5Fe₁₁O₁₉ (x = 0.03, 0.06 and 0.09) hexaferrite nanocrystallites of average sizes in the range of 46–60 nm are synthesized by the citrate sol–gel method. Crystalline structure, morphology, magnetic properties, and microwave absorption properties of powders were studied via X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope vibrating sample magnetometer, and vector network analyzer, respectively. The magnetic properties such as saturation magnetization (M _s ) and coercivity (H _c ) were calculated from hysteresis loops. The XRD patterns show that the main phase is M-type strontium hexaferrite without other impurity phases. Microwave absorption properties of hexaferrite (70 wt%)–acrylic resin (30 wt%) composites were measured by the standing-wave-ratio (SWR) method in the range from 12 to 20 GHz. Results showed that substitution of Ho³⁺ ions for Sr²⁺ ions in Sr(ZnZr)_0.5Fe₁₁O₁₉ resonance frequency moves to higher frequency. For samples with x = 0.03, a minimum reflection loss of ?42 dB was obtained at 16.6 GHz for a layer of 1.7 mm in thickness. It was concluded that the prepared composites could be good candidates for electromagnetic compatibility and other practical applications at high frequency.     

High throughput production of nanocomposite SiOx powders by plasma spray physical vapor deposition for negative electrode of lithium ion batteries

Nanocomposite Si/SiO_x powders were produced by plasma spray physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD) at a material throughput of 480 g h⁻¹. The powders are fundamentally an aggregate of primary ∼20 nm particles, which are composed of a crystalline Si core and SiO_x shell structure. This is made possible by complete evaporation of raw SiO powders and subsequent rapid condensation of high temperature SiO_x vapors, followed by disproportionation reaction of nucleated SiO_x nanoparticles. When CH₄ was additionally introduced to the PS-PVD, the volume of the core Si increases while reducing potentially the SiO_x shell thickness as a result of the enhanced SiO reduction, although an unfavorable SiC phase emerges when the C/Si molar ratio is greater than 1. As a result of the increased amount of Si active material and reduced source for irreversible capacity, half-cell batteries made of PS-PVD powders with C/Si = 0.25 have exhibited improved initial efficiency and maintenance of capacity as high as 1000 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at the same time.     

Structure and cation distribution in perovskites with small cations at the A site: the case of ScCoO3

We synthesize ScCoO₃ perovskite and its solid solutions, ScCo_1−xFe_xO₃ and ScCo_1−xCr_xO₃, under high pressure (6 GPa) and high temperature (1570 K) conditions. We find noticeable shifts from the stoichiometric compositions, expressed as (Sc_1−xM_x)MO₃ with x = 0.05–0.11 and M = Co, (Co, Fe) and (Co, Cr). The crystal structure of (Sc_0.95Co_0.05)CoO₃ is refined using synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction data: space group Pnma (No. 62), Z = 4 and lattice parameters a = 5.26766(1) Å, b = 7.14027(2) Å and c = 4.92231(1) Å. (Sc_0.95Co_0.05)CoO₃ crystallizes in the GdFeO₃-type structure similar to other members of the perovskite cobaltite family, ACoO₃ (A³⁺ = Y and Pr-Lu). There is evidence that (Sc_0.95Co_0.05)CoO₃ has non-magnetic low-spin Co³⁺ ions at the B site and paramagnetic high-spin Co³⁺ ions at the A site. In the iron-doped samples (Sc_1−xM_x)MO₃ with M = (Co, Fe), Fe³⁺ ions have a strong preference to occupy the A site of such perovskites at small doping levels.     

Highly aluminium doped barium and strontium ferrite nanoparticles prepared by citrate auto-combustion synthesis

Aluminium doped barium and strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles BaAl_xFe_(12−x)O₁₉ and SrAl_xFe_(12−x)O₁₉ were synthesised via a sol-gel route using citric acid to complex the ions followed by an auto-combustion reaction. This method shows promise for the synthesis of complex ferrite powders with small particle size. It was found that around half of the iron could be substituted for aluminium in the barium ferrite with structure retention, whereas strontium aluminium ferrites could be produced with any aluminium content including total substitution of the iron. All synthesised materials consisted of particles smaller than 1 μm, which is the size of a single magnetic domain, and various doping levels were achieved with the final elemental composition being within the bounds of experimental error. The materials show structural and morphological changes as they move from iron to aluminium ferrites. Such materials may be promising for imaging applications.     

Dielectric and magnetic properties of ZnCo-substituted X hexaferrites prepared by citrate sol-gel process

Ba₂Zn_2−xCo_xFe₂₈O₄₆ hexaferrites with x=2.0, 1.6, 1.2, 0.8, 0.4 and 0.0 were prepared by citrate sol-gel process. They were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The frequency-response complex dielectric constant and complex permeability of Ba₂Zn_2-xCo_xFe₂₈O₄₆ sintered at 1000-1200 °C had been investigated in the range from 100 MHz to 6 GHz. The pronounced natural resonance phenomena were observed in μ″ spectrum for the samples annealed at 1100 and 1200 °C. The natural resonance frequency of Ba₂Zn_2−xCo_xFe₂₈O₄₆ ferrites was intensively affected by the substitution of Zinc ion and annealing temperature.     

High-temperature resistivity and thermoelectric properties of coupled substituted Ca3Co2O6

Polycrystalline samples of Ca_3−xNa_xCo_2−xMn_xO₆ (x=0.0–0.5) have been prepared by the sol-gel cum combustion method using sucrose in order to investigate the effects of the coupled substitution of Na and Mn on Ca and Co sites on the transport properties of Ca₃Co₂O₆(Co326). The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGA), differential thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy. XRD patterns reveal the formation of single-phase products up to x=0.5. Coupled substitution increases the solubility of both Na and Mn on Ca and Co sites, respectively, in contrast to the limited solubility of Na and Mn (x=0.2) when separately substituted. TGA confirms the formation of the Ca₃Co₂O₆ phase at temperatures ∼720 °C. The grain size of the parent and substituted products is in the range 150–250 nm. Electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient were measured in the temperature range 300–800 K. Resistivity shows semiconducting behavior for all the compositions, particularly in the low-temperature regime. The Seebeck coefficient increases with temperature throughout the measured temperature range for all compositions. The maximum Seebeck coefficient (200 μV K⁻¹) is observed for x=0.5 at 825 K, and this composition may be optimal for high-temperature thermoelectric applications.     

Structural,magnetic and microwave absorption characteristics of BaCoxMnxTi2xFe12 − 4xO19

The effect of Mn⁺²Co⁺²Ti⁺⁴ substitution on microwave absorption has been studied for BaCo_xMn_xTi_2xFe_12 ? 4xO₁₉ ferrite–acrylic resin composites, where x varies from 0.3 to 0.5 in steps of 0.1, in frequency range from 12 to 20 GHz. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer, and vector network analyzer were used to analyze the structures, electromagnetic and microwave absorption properties. The results showed that, the magnetoplumbite structures for all samples have been formed. Based on microwave measurement on reflectivity, BaCo_xMn_xTi_2xFe_12 ? 4xO₁₉ may be a good candidate for electromagnetic compatibility and other practical applications at high frequency.     

Electrical and Dielectric Characterization of Bi–La Ion-Substituted Barium Hexaferrites

BaLa _x Bi _x Fe_12?2xO₁₉ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) hexaferrites were produced by solid-state synthesis route, and the effect of Bi³⁺ and La³⁺ substitutions on electrical and dielectric properties of barium hexaferrite material were investigated. It is noticed that ac conductivity of barium (BaM) increases slightly with ionic substitutions of both La³⁺ and Bi³⁺ and then decreases. Ac conductivity is increased with increasing frequency at lower temperatures then remains constant for higher temperatures. This type of conductivity attitude could be originated from the indication of both electronics and polaron hopping mechanisms. The dielectric properties of BaLa _x Bi _x Fe_12?2xO₁₉ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) hexaferrites represent a very interesting tunability as functions of frequency, temperature, and Bi³⁺ and La³⁺ ions.     

Influence of Ho substitution on structural, magnetic and microwave absorption properties of PbM-type hexaferrites nanoparticles

Ho substituted lead hexaferrites, PbCo_0.5Sn_0.5Ho _x Fe_11?x O₁₉ (x = 0.00–0.75) were successfully prepared by a citrate combustion process. Saturation magnetization and coercivity were measured from MH-loops taken on vibrating sample magnetometer. X-ray analysis reveals that in all samples M-type structure exist with few secondary phases. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis show that the particle size is inversely related to the dopant content. Microwave absorption properties of the nanocrystalline lead ferrite (PbCo_0.5Sn_0.5Ho _x Fe_11?x O₁₉) for single-layer investigated in a frequency range of 2–18 GHz. Results indicated that the substituted Ho can greatly improve the microwave absorption properties of PbCo_0.5Sn_0.5Fe₁₁O₁₉ hexaferrites. For sample with x = 0.75, a minimum reflection loss of ?33 dB was obtained at 16.5 GHz for a layer of 1.8 mm in thickness. The microwave absorption performance of PbCo_0.5Sn_0.5Ho_0.5Fe_10.5O₁₉ ferrite gets significant improvement: The bandwidth below ?15 dB expands from 12 to 16.5 GHz, and the peak value of reflection loss decreases from ?18 to ?37 dB. The minimum reflection loss reaches ?34.2 dB when the substitution amount of the Ho³⁺ ions is 0.25. Also results show that the peak positions of the minimum reflection loss shift toward higher frequency band.     

Cu-doping effect on structure and magnetic properties of Fe-doped ZnO powders

Fe-doped and Cu, Fe co-doped ZnO diluted magnetic semiconductors powders were synthesized by sol–gel method. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that Zn_0.97−xFe_0.03Cu_xO (x ≤ 0.02) samples were single phase with the ZnO-like wurtzite structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ existed in Zn_0.97Fe_0.03O, while Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺and Cu⁺, Cu²⁺ were found in Zn_0.95Fe_0.03Cu_0.02O. Both Zn_0.97Fe_0.03O and Zn_0.95Fe_0.03Cu_0.02O exhibited ferromagnetic performance at room temperature. But the Cu incorporation reduced the saturation magnetization of Fe-doped ZnO diluted magnetic semiconductors.     

Physical Properties of Sn1−x Fe x O2 Powders Using Solid State Reaction

Iron-doped SnO₂ diluted magnetic semiconducting powders (Sn_1?x Fe _x O₂, x=0.00, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.10, and 0.15) were synthesized by a simple solid state reaction followed by vacuum annealing and studied the effect of Fe dopant concentrations on structural, optical, and magnetic properties of the synthesized samples. From the X-ray diffraction, it was confirmed that the samples prepared at lower dopant concentrations were tetragonal in structure whereas the samples prepared at higher dopant concentration exhibited orthorhombic SnO and Fe₂O₃ phases along with tetragonal SnO₂ structure. FT-IR spectrum has been used to confirm the formation of Sn–O bond. The optical band gap of the Sn_1?x Fe _x O₂ powders was increased from 3.6 eV to 3.7 eV with increase of dopant concentration. Raman spectroscopy measurement revealed that the broadening of the most intense Raman peak observed at 630 cm^?1 with Fe doping, conforming that the Fe ions are substituted at the Sn sites in the SnO₂ lattice. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements confirmed that the Sn_1?x Fe _x O₂ powders were ferromagnetic at room temperature.     

BaxSr1 − xTi1.02O3 metal-insulator-metal capacitors on planarized alumina substrates

Nanocrystalline barium strontium titanate (Ba_xSr_1 − xTi_1.02O₃) thin films with a barium content of x = 0.8, 0.9 and 1 have been fabricated in a metal-insulator-metal configuration on glass-planarized alumina substrates. Cost-effective processing measures have been utilized by using poly-crystalline alumina substrates, wet-chemical processing of the dielectric, and by a small physical area of the ferroelectric capacitors (as low as 50 µm² for radio frequencies measurements). Glass-planarization on alumina ceramic substrates enables barium strontium titanate films with high quality and homogeneity. We mainly focus on fine-tuning the electrical performance in the low gigahertz range (< 10 GHz). Extensive micro-structural and electrical characterization has been performed. Micro-structural information is obtained by: Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The dielectric response is investigated as a function of temperature, frequency and electric field for each sample. We measured a relatively constant permittivity for typical operating temperatures of applications. The quality factor Q is between 21 and 27 at 1 GHz at zero DC bias and the tuning ratio η between 1.8 and 2.2 at |E| = 0.4 MV/cm.