Effect of annealing ambient on structure and ferroelectric properties of Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 thin films on LaNiO3 coated Si substrates

Pb(Zr_0.4Ti_0.6)O₃ [PZT(40/60)] thin films were deposited onto LaNiO₃ (LNO) coated Si substrates by sol-gel technique. Three kinds of gases, air, O₂ and N₂, were used as the annealing ambient. The effect of the annealing ambient on their structure and ferroelectric properties was investigated. The results showed that both the films annealed in air and O₂ were the complete perovskite phase with (1 0 0) preferential orientation, while those annealed in N₂ were random orientation including some pyrochlore phases. As compared with the air ambient, either too much O₂ or too much N₂ was detrimental to the ferroelectric properties of PZT films. The difference in structure and ferroelectric properties was mainly associated with the intermediate phases and the concentration of domain pinning centers in the films.     

A novel red long lasting phosphorescent (LLP) material β-Zn3(PO4)2:Mn, Sm

A novel red long lasting phosphorescent materials β-Zn₃(PO₄)₂:Mn²⁺,Sm³⁺ is firstly synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction. The influence of Sm³⁺ ions on luminescence and long lasting phosphorescence properties of Mn²⁺ in phosphor β-Zn₃(PO₄)₂:Mn²⁺,Sm³⁺ are systematically investigated. It is found that the red phosphorescence (λ = 616 nm) performance of Mn²⁺ ion such as brightness and duration is largely improved when Sm³⁺ ion is co-doped into the matrix in which Mn²⁺ ion acts as luminescent center and Sm³⁺ ion plays an important role of electron trap. Thermoluminescence spectrums show that there exists one peak in β-Zn₃(PO₄)₂:Mn²⁺,Sm³⁺, the depth of which is 0.33 eV, and that there are three peaks in β-Zn₃(PO₄)₂:Mn²⁺, among which the depth of the lowest temperature peak in β-Zn₃(PO₄)₂:Mn²⁺ is 0.37 eV. Such differences in the trap depth result in the improvement of red long lasting phosphorescence of Mn²⁺ in present matrix.     

Blue-emitting cyanuric acid-melamine complexes from urea thermolysis

Novel blue-emitting cyanuric acid-melamine complexes CA_x·M_1−x (x = 0.8-0.9) have been prepared by a simple two-step procedure from urea. Relatively strong and pure blue-light emission with a maximum at 470 nm was observed from these complexes. These complexes are very promising light-emitting materials due to their good thermal stability.     

Synthesis and characterisation of the double perovskite Ba2(Zn0.5Ti0.5X)O6 (X = Nb, Ta) ceramics

Ba₂(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5X)O₆ compounds from the general ABO₃ perovskite family were synthesized by the classical solid-state route for X = Nb and Ta with various A/B ratios (1.005, 1 and 0.995). After the calcination step at 1100 °C, both compounds (X = Nb and Ta) contain mainly the cubic disordered ‘Ba₂(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5X)O₆’ phase but traces of BaTiO₃ and secondary phases are often detectable. Nevertheless, after the sintering stage at higher temperature (from 1300 to 1500 °C) and for all A/B ratios investigated, Ti enters into the cubic perovskite structure, resulting in the formation of a unique ‘Ba₂(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5X)O₆’ phase. Attractive dielectric properties have been measured on the tantalum-based compound for A/B = 0.995 (Q ∼2000 at 7.4 GHz and ? = 39.6) as well as on the niobium-based phase for A/B = 1.005 (Q ∼2200 at 6.1 GHz and ? = 54.8). All these characteristics were confirmed at 1 MHz and a linear dependence of the permittivity versus temperature from −60 to 180 °C has also been evidenced for both formulations. Sinterability, dielectric properties and microstructure of such compounds are discussed with respect to the stoichiometry.     

Synthesis of MCM-41 frameworks incorporating oxygen-sulphur derivates of molybdenum and tungsten

The first examples of mesostructured materials containing Mo- and W-oxo-sulphur species incorporated into a poorly ordered MCM-41 framework have been prepared under hydrothermal condition and alkaline medium. The incorporation of oxygen-sulphur derivates of molybdenum and tungsten not only increases significantly the pore diameter, but also improves the thermal stability of the MCM-41-related mesoporous material.     

Structure study on the thermoelectric materials CexCo4Sb12 (x = 0.5, 1.0) by neutron diffraction

In order to understand the relationship between crystal structure and thermoelectric properties, the neutron diffraction patterns of the thermoelectric materials with the nominal composition Ce_xCo₄Sb₁₂ (x = 0.5, 1.0) were measured at room temperature, the data were fitted by the Rietveld profile refinement method using the Fullprof2k program. It is found that the sample Ce_0.5Co₄Sb₁₂ is composed of two phases, its major phase is CoSb₃ with skutterudite-structure and the Ce atom is not incorporated into the lattice, the impurity is monoclinic CoSb₂. In the case of Ce_1.0Co₄Sb₁₂, the major phase is filled skutterudite, about 10% of the 2a site is occupied by Ce atom, the second phase is monoclinic CoSb₂.     

Preparation of a crack-free rough titania coating on stainless steel mesh by electrophoretic deposition

TiO₂ (anatase) coating was prepared on stainless mesh by electrophoretic (EPD) process utilizing an isopropyl alcohol (IPA)-based suspension with submicron TiO₂ powder. When the deposition time was 30 s, a smooth thin coating was obtained. It remained crack-free even after sintering. Coating surface morphology was roughened by UV pre-illumination of the suspension. Photocatalytic decomposition of IPA to acetone and resultant electrochemical reaction at cathode during EPD provides heterogeneous deposition.     

Phase evolution and dielectric properties of MgTi2O5 ceramic sintered with lithium borosilicate glass

Phase evolution, densification, and dielectric properties of MgTi₂O₅ dielectric ceramic, sintered with lithium borosilicate (LBS) glass, were studied. Reaction between LBS glass and MgTi₂O₅ was significant in forming secondary phases such as TiO₂ and (Mg,Ti)₂(BO₃)O. The glass addition was not necessarily deleterious to the dielectric properties due to the formation of TiO₂: permittivity increased and temperature coefficient of resonance frequency could be tuned to zero with the addition of LBS glass, although the inevitable glass-induced decrease of quality factor was not retarded by the formation of TiO₂. The sintered specimen with 10 wt% LBS fired at 950 °C for 2 h showed permittivity of 19.3, quality factor of 6800 GHz, and τ_f of −16 ppm/°C.     

Synthesis of BaTi4O9 ceramics by reaction-sintering process

Synthesis of BaTi₄O₉ ceramics by a reaction-sintering process was investigated. The mixture of raw materials for stoichiometric BaTi₄O₉ were pressed and sintered into ceramics without any calcination stage involved. Pure BaTi₄O₉ phases were obtained at 1150-1280 °C. High-sintered density, 98.2-99.5% of theoretical value (4.533 g/cm³), can be obtained for pellets sintered at 1200-1280 °C for 2-6 h. Some rod-shaped grains 3-7 μm in the longitudinal axis appear in pellets sintered at 1230 °C. Both the size and the amount of these rod-shaped grains increase at higher sintering temperature.