Preparation and characterization of new visible-light-driven BaCo0.5Nb0.5O3 photocatalyst

A new type of visible-light-driven photocatalyst BaCo_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ was successfully synthesized via a sol-gel process in this study. After heating the precursors at 1000 °C, a pure perovskite phase was obtained. The particle size and crystallinity of BaCo_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ powders markedly increased with a rise in the calcination temperature. The band gap of BaCo_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ calculated from the UV-visible spectra was found to be less than that of titania. BaCo_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ was demonstrated to have photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation and this activity significantly depended on the synthesis temperature. The sol-gel derived powders were found to have better photocatalytic activity than the solid-state derived powders because of the reduced particle size and increased surface area.     

A citrate complex process to prepare nanocrystalline PbBi2Nb2O9 at a low temperature

PbBi₂Nb₂O₉ nanocrystals with a perovskite-type structure were successfully synthesized at a relative low temperature via a citrate complex method. Metal ions were dispersed by citric acid in ethanol and ethylene glycol solvent, and then reacted with NH₄H₂[NbO(C₂O₄)₃·3H₂O] to form the gel. XRD results showed that pure PbBi₂Nb₂O₉ nanocrystals could be obtained after calcined treatment of xerogel at 800 °C. The average particles size was 57 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the sintering process led to the agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The photocatalytic test showed that the sample prepared by the citrate complex method exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity than that of the sample prepared by the solid-state reaction.     

添加La2O3对粉煤灰合成Al2O3-SiC复合粉体的影响

以粉煤灰和活性炭为原料,通过碳热还原反应在Ar气氛下合成Al_2O_3-SiC粉体,探究了一条低成本合成Al_2O_3-SiC粉体的可行途径。研究了添加La_2O_3对合成过程的影响。采用XRD和SEM表征了材料的物相组成和显微形貌。结果表明:当粉煤灰与活性炭质量比为100∶44,在1 550℃下保温5h,添加6%(质量分数)的La_2O_3时,可合成性能良好的Al_2O_3-SiC粉体,颗粒分布均匀,平均粒径为0.5~1μm,较不添加La_2O_3合成温度降低约50℃。     

微波和真空烧结制备La2O3掺杂Al2O3透明陶瓷

通过共沉淀法制备La2O3掺杂Al_2O_3纳米粉,粉体经压制后分别采用微波和真空烧结制备Al_2O_3透明陶瓷。结果表明:Al_2O_3粉末颗粒大小均匀,近似球形,为40~60nm;两种烧结方式制备的试样XRD图中均为α-Al_2O_3,未检测到其它相。La2O3掺杂量为1%时,随烧结温度升高,两种烧结方法得到的Al_2O_3陶瓷的相对密度和抗弯强度均呈上升趋势,且微波烧结陶瓷的相对密度和抗弯强度明显高于真空烧结。1500℃烧结时,随La2O3掺杂量的增加,Al_2O_3陶瓷的相对密度均先增大后减小,当La2O3掺杂量为1%时,Al_2O_3陶瓷的相对密度和抗弯强度均最大。微波烧结陶瓷的透光率明显高于真空烧结,且其断口晶粒比真空烧结明显细少。     

Piezoelectric, ferroelectric and dielectric properties of La2O3-doped (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 lead-free ceramics

La₂O₃ (0–0.8 wt.%)-doped (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)_0.94Ba_0.06TiO₃ (abbreviated as BNBT6) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction. The influences of La₂O₃ on the microstructure, the dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the composites were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that 0.2-0.8 wt.% of La₂O₃ has diffused into the lattice of BNBT6 ceramics. Consequently, a pure perovskite phase is formed. SEM images show that the microstructure of the ceramics is changed with the addition of a small amount of La₂O₃. The temperature dependence of the relative dielectric constant shows that Curie point decreases with the increase of La₂O₃. At room temperature, the ceramics doped with 0.6 wt.% La₂O₃ show superior performance with high piezoelectric constant (d₃₃ = 167 pC/N), high planar electromechanical coupling factor (k_p = 0.30), high mechanical quality factor (Q_m = 118), high relative dielectric constant (ε_r = 1470) and lower dissipation factor (tanδ = 0.056) at a frequency of 10 kHz.     

Synthesis of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 anisotropic particles with grain orientation by conversion of Na0.5Bi4.5Ti4O15 crystals

A novel method for synthesizing Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ (BNT) anisotropic particles with grain orientation is reported. Anisotropically shaped particles of BNT were prepared by conversion of Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ (NBT15) single crystals. Platelet NBT15 was produced by molten-salt synthesis. They were converted to BNT by second molten-salt synthesis at 800–1200 °C. NBT15 single-crystal platelets were transformed into platelet particles of polycrystalline BNT. The reaction is topotaxial, those recrystallized BNT were oriented with (h 0 0) plane parallel to the platelet. The use of converted BNT particles as seed was confirmed by performing templated grain growth (TGG) of BNT with 5% grain-oriented, anisotropic particles of BNT.     

La2O3、Nd2O3、Y2O3对高岭石高温相变动力学的影响

利用综合热分析技术、X射线衍射(XRD)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)和扫描电镜(SEM)研究了La_2O_3、Nd_2O_3、Y_2O_3对高岭石高温条件下转变成莫来石过程的作用,并采用Kissinger方程、Ozawa方程以及JMA修正方程(Ⅰ)和(Ⅱ)分析了La_2O_3、Nd_2O_3、Y_2O_3对高岭石高温相变动力学的影响。结果表明:3种稀土氧化物的掺入对高岭石的相变动力学参数产生了影响,相变活化能和频率因子与未掺入稀土氧化物的高岭石相比有所降低,析晶方式则未发生变化,均属于体积晶化。对比掺入3种稀土氧化物的高岭石相变活化能和频率因子可以看出,Y_2O_3对于高岭石高温条件下相变的促进作用最为明显,相变活化能最低。稀土氧化物对于高岭石高温相变产物影响不大,主晶相为莫来石相,次晶相为方石英相,但稀土氧化物的掺入使得方石英相的结晶度明显提高。     

Variations of microstructures and electrical properties of Bi4Ti3O12/SrTiO3/(La0.5, Sr0.5)CoO3/MgO epitaxial thin films by annealing

Epitaxial thin films of a heterostructure with Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂(BIT)/SrTiO₃(ST) were successfully grown with a bottom electrode consisting of La_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃(LSCO) on MgO(001) substrates using pulsed laser deposition. The grown BIT and ST (001) planes were parallel to the growth surface with the orientation relationship of BIT <110>//ST <010>. In the as-deposited film, the BIT (001) plane appeared to expand to relieve a lattice mismatch with the ST (001) plane. However, annealing for 20-40 min induced the BIT (001) plane to contract horizontally with its c-axis expanding, which was associated with a local perturbation in the layer stacking of the BIT structure. This structural distortion was reduced in the film annealed for 1 h, with restoration of the periodicity of the layer stacking. Correspondingly, the dielectric constant of the as-deposited film was increased from 292 to 411 by annealing for 1 h. In parallel, the film was paraelectric but became more ferroelectric, with the remanent polarization and the coercive field changing from 0.1 μC/cm² and 14 kV/cm to 1.7 μC/cm² and 69 kV/cm, respectively.     

Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of L0.5Sr0.5Mn0.5M0.5O3 (L = Y, Pr; M = Cu, Ru)

A new Mn-containing material with nominal composition L_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5M_0.5O₃ (L = Y or Pr; M = Cu or Ru), as well as Y_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ for comparison, were synthesized. The results of the XRD and EDX analyses show that the obtained samples are single-phased and isostructural, with L_1–xA_xMnO₃. The L_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Cu_0.5O₃ material displays a PM behavior down to 8 K where paramagnetic–antiferromagnetic transition begins. The Pr_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Cu_0.5O₃ sample has a broad transition at 210 K and a magnetoresistance of 34% at 128 K. The Pr_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Ru_0.5O₃ material has a paramagnetic–ferromagnetic transition beginning at 330 K and a ferromagnetic–antiferromagnetic one at about 160 K. The obtained value of T _c is the highest for the Pr-containing manganites. The roles of Pr/Sr ratio, anisotropy, and intergranular effects in the samples are discussed.     

硅酸镓镧晶体谐振器的高频振动分析

利用Mindlin板理论分析了硅酸镓镧晶体板强耦合的厚度剪切振动和弯曲振动，获得了硅酸镓镧晶体板高频振动的色散关系、频谱关系和振动模态位移图。数值计算结果表明，Mindlin板理论可以获得硅酸镓镧晶体板厚度剪切振动的一阶精确截止频率，无需修正系数。基于石英晶体谐振器设计晶片最佳长厚比的选取方法，确定了硅酸镓镧晶片的最佳尺寸，避免了厚度剪切振动模态和弯曲振动模态的强耦合。通过绘制硅酸镓镧晶体板在最佳尺寸时的各振动模态位移图，发现厚度剪切振动模态是主振模态，具有很好的能陷效应。Mindlin板理论在硅酸镓镧晶体板高频振动的应用分析可以指导硅酸镓镧晶体谐振器的实际研发。     

Synthesis of CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramic via a sol-gel method

The novel nano-ultrafine powders for the preparation of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ ceramic were prepared by the sol-gel method and citrate auto-ignition method. The obtained precursor powders were pressed, sintered at 1000 °C to fabricate microcrystal CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ ceramic. The microcrystalline phase of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The morphology and size of the grains of the powders and ceramics under different heat treatments were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The relative dielectric constant of the ceramic sintered at 1000 °C was measured with a magnitude of more than 10⁴ at room temperature, which was approaching to those of Pb-containing complex perovskite ceramics, and the loss tangent was less than 0.20 in a broad frequency region. The relative dielectric constant and loss tangent were also compared with that of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ ceramic prepared by other reported methods.     

Synthesis of Tb3Al5O12 (TAG) transparent ceramics for potential magneto-optical applications

Tb₃Al₅O₁₂ transparent ceramics have been prepared by solid state reaction and vacuum sintering. The optical quality and the microstructure of the samples were investigated. The sample sintered at 1650 °C possessed relatively good optical transparency from 400 nm to 1600 nm. The Verdet constant measured at 632.8 nm of the quasi-pore-free Tb₃Al₅O₁₂ transparent ceramic was −172.72 rad T⁻¹ m⁻¹, which was close to the counterpart of Tb₃Al₅O₁₂ single crystal. The thermal conductivity of the sample was also measured. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that Tb₃Al₅O₁₂ transparent ceramic with relatively good optical quality and magneto-optical property has been reported.     

Fabrication of KTa0.65Nb0.35O3 film by pulsed laser deposition on glass substrate with various buffer layers

KTa_0.65Nb_0.35O₃ (KTN) thin films were deposited on amorphous glass substrates using a range of single buffer layers such as indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc oxide (ZnO), 3 at% Al-doped ZnO (AZO), and 3 at% Ga-doped ZnO (GZO), as well as a variety of multi-buffer layers such as SrTiO₃ (STO)/ITO, STO/ZnO, STO/AZO, and STO/GZO using a pulsed laser deposition system. All films showed a polycrystalline perovskite phase with the exception of all single buffer layers and STO/ITO multi-buffer layers. The STO buffer layer is important for crystallizing KTN films due to the similar lattice constant and same crystal structure. The optical transmittance of all films exhibited a transmittance ?90% in the wavelength range.     

Preparation and luminescence properties of nanocrystalline La2O3:Eu phosphor

Powders La₂O₃ doped with 1 mol% Eu were prepared via a combustion route using different reducers (urea, glycine and citric acid). The structure and morphology were determined with XRD and HRTEM measurement. The main emission positions centered at 626 nm for ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition are observed. The variation of CT band with different reducers is observed. The intensity of ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition centered at 626 nm with respect to that of ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁ transition is a function of the energy difference ΔE between the two CT band positions.     

Improved dielectric properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films on oxide bottom electrode of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3

We report on the effect of La_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ (LSCO) bottom electrode to the dielectric properties of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) thin films grown on Ir/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates. Compared with the films grown directly on Ir/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates, the dielectric constant has been increased greatly about 100%, and the dielectric loss decreased to lower than 0.2 in the frequency range of 1-100 kHz. The origin has been discussed in details based on the analysis of the X-ray diffraction and impedance spectra measurements. Results of the impedance spectra suggest that the absence of undesired interfacial layer between Ir/CCTO thin films might be one of the major reasons of the improvement of the dielectric properties when the LSCO was introduced as the bottom electrode.     

Synthesis of Co3O4 nanoparticles via the CTAB-assisted method

Cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-assisted method at normal pressure for the first time. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffracton (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N₂-sorption analysis. XRD studies indicated that the as-prepared product was well-crystallized cubic phase of Co₃O₄ with a cell constant of α = 8.0722 Å. The EM images showed that the obtained Co₃O₄ sample consisted of dispersive quasi-spherical particles with the size ranged from 15 to 25 nm.     

Effect of Y3+ codoping on luminescence decays of the 4I13/2 level in Er3+-doped Al2O3 powders prepared by a sol-gel method

The luminescence lifetime of the 0.01 mol.%-0.1 mol.% Er³⁺- and 0–20 mol.% Y³⁺-codoped Al₂O₃ powders prepared at a sintering temperature of 900°C in a non-aqueous sol-gel method has been investigated to explore the enhanced mechanism of photoluminescence properties of the Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ by Y³⁺ codoping. For the 0.1 mol.% Er³⁺-Y³⁺-codoped Al₂O₃ powders, the measured lifetime of Er³⁺ gradually increases with increasing Y³⁺ concentration. Consequently, codoping with 20 mol.% Y³⁺ leads to an increase in the measured lifetime from 3.5 to 5.8 ms. By comparing the measured lifetime for different Er³⁺ concentrations in the Al₂O₃ powders, the radiative lifetime of both the Er³⁺-doped and the Er³⁺-Y³⁺-codoped Al₂O₃ powders is estimated to be about 7.5 ms. Infrared absorption spectra indicate that Y³⁺ codoping does not change the-OH content in the Er³⁺-Y³⁺-codoped Al₂O₃ powders. The prolonged luminescence lifetime of the ⁴I_13/2 level of Er³⁺ in Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ powders by Y³⁺ codoping is ascribed to the decrease in the energy transfer rate between the Er³⁺ ions and the Er³⁺ and -OH, respectively, due to the suppressed interaction between Er³⁺ ions.     

Investigation of chlorination process in aluminum production by carbothermic-chlorination reduction of Al2O3 under vacuum

The chlorination process in aluminum production by carbothermic-chlorination reduction of Al₂O₃ under vacuum has been investigated by XRD, SEM and thermodynamic analysis. The results of thermodynamic calculations indicated that the chlorination of Al₄C₃ or Al₄O₄C possibly proceeded at temperature 1300 °C under 5-50 Pa. The experiment results showed that aluminum could be produced by the chlorination of Al₄C₃ or Al₄O₄C and the decomposition of AlCl(g). According to the analysis of experiment results, Al₄C₃ and Al₄O₄C were the main reactants participated in chlorination process in aluminum production by carbothermic-chlorination reduction of Al₂O₃ under vacuum. AlCl(g) generated in chlorination of Al₄C₃ or Al₄O₄C would decompose into Al and AlCl₃(g), and then aluminum product would condense in condensation tower.     

Effects of vibro-milling time on phase formation and particle size of Zn3Nb2O8 nanopowders

A monoclinic phase of zinc niobate, Zn₃Nb₂O₈, nanopowder was synthesized by a solid-state reaction via a rapid vibro-milling technique. The effect of milling time on the phase formation and particle size of Zn₃Nb₂O₈ powder was investigated. The formation of the Zn₃Nb₂O₈ phase in the calcined powders has been investigated using DTA and XRD techniques. Morphology, particle size and chemical composition have been determined via a combination of SEM and laser diffraction techniques. It was found that an average particle size was achieved at 20 h of vibro-milling after which a higher degree of particle agglomeration was observed on continuation of milling to 30 h. In addition, by employing an appropriate choice of the milling time, a narrow particle size distribution curve was also observed.     

Effect of calcination conditions on phase formation and particle size of Zn3Nb2O8 powders synthesized by solid-state reaction

The solid-state mixed oxide method via a rapid vibro-milling technique is explored in the preparation of single-phase Zn₃Nb₂O₈ powders. The formation of the Zn₃Nb₂O₈ phase in the calcined powders has been investigated as a function of calcination conditions by TG-DTA and XRD techniques. Morphology, particle size and chemical composition have been determined via a combination of SEM and EDX techniques. It has been found that the minor phases of unreacted ZnO and Nb₂O₅ precursors and the columbite ZnNb₂O₆ phase tend to form together with the Zn₃Nb₂O₈ phase, depending on calcination conditions. It is seen that optimization of calcination conditions can lead to a single-phase Zn₃Nb₂O₈ in a monoclinic phase.