Hydrothermal synthesis of superconductors Ba1−xKxBiO3 and double perovskites Ba1−xKxBi1−yNayO3

Superconductors Ba_1−xK_xBiO₃ and body-centered double perovskites Ba_1−xK_xBi_1−yNa_yO₃ have been selectively synthesized by a facile hydrothermal route. The appropriate ratio and adding sequence of initial reagents, alkalinity, reaction temperature and time are the critical factors that influence the crystal growth of the compounds. The purity and homogeneity of the crystals were detected by the ICP, SEM, EDX and TEM studies. Magnetic measurements show that the superconducting transition temperatures T_C of Ba_1−xK_xBiO₃ decrease from 22 K (for x = 0.35) to 8 K (for x = 0.55) with increasing the K doping level.     

MOCVD growth and characterizations of BxAl1−xAs and BxAl1−x−yInyAs alloys

Zinc-blende B_xAl_1−xAs and B_xAl_1−x−yIn_yAs alloys have been grown on exactly oriented (0 0 1)GaAs substrates by low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (LP-MOCVD). The influence of susceptor coating, growth temperature and gas-phase boron mole fraction on boron incorporation into AlAs has been comprehensively investigated. It has been found that boron incorporation into AlAs could be enhanced and the optimal growth temperature range of B_xAl_1−xAs alloys changed from 580 °C to 610 °C when SiC-coated graphite susceptors were replaced by the non-coated ones. In this study, the maximum boron composition x of 2.8% was achieved for the pseudomorphically strained B_xAl_1−xAs alloys. AFM measurements show that RMS roughness of B_xAl_1−xAs alloys increased sharply with the increase of gas-phase boron mole fraction. Raman spectra of B_xAl_1−xAs alloys show a linear increase of the BAs shift with boron composition x. Based on BAlAs deposition, bulk B_xAl_1−x−yIn_yAs (x = 1.9%) quaternary alloy was grown lattice-matched to GaAs successfully. Moreover, 10-period BAlAs/GaAs and BAlInAs/GaAs MQW heterostructures were also demonstrated.     

Fabrication and properties of p-type K doped Zn1−xMgxO thin film

A series of K doped Zn_1−xMg_xO thin films have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Hall-effect measurements indicate that the films exhibit stable p-type behavior with duration of at least six months. The band gap of the K doped Zn_1−xMg_xO films undergoes a blueshift due to the Mg incorporation. However, photoluminescence (PL) results reveal that the crystallinity decreased with the increasing of Mg content. The fabricated K doped p-type Zn_0.95Mg_0.05O thin film exhibits good electrical properties, with resistivity of 15.21 Ω cm and hole concentration of 5.54 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³. Furthermore, a simple ZnO-based p-n heterojunction was prepared by deposition of a K-doped p-type Zn_0.95Mg_0.05O layer on Ga-doped n-type ZnO thin film with low resistivity. The p-n diode heterostructure exhibits typical rectification behavior of p-n junctions.     

Bismuth-containing semiconductors: Linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities of GaAs1−xBix alloys

Using all electron full potential - linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method the linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities of cubic GaAs_1−xBi_x alloys with x varying between 0.25 and 0.75 with increment of 0.25 are investigated. We have applied the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation potential. In addition the Engel-Vosko generalized gradient approximation (EVGGA) was used. The reflectivity, refractivity, absorption coefficient and the loss function of these ternary alloys were investigated. The absorption coefficient shows that GaAs_0.25Bi_0.75 possess the highest coefficient among the investigated alloys which supports our previous observation that the band gap decreases substantially with increasing Bi content and the materials with very small energy band gap possess the highest absorption coefficient. The investigation of the linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities of GaAs_1−xBi_x shows a strong band gap reduction as commonly found experimentally.     

Interplay of microstructural features in Cr1−xAlxN and Cr1−x−yAlxSiyN nanocomposite coatings deposited by cathodic arc evaporation

The interplay between the deposition geometry, the chemical and phase composition, the crystallite size, the lattice strain and the direction and the degree of the preferred orientation of crystallites was investigated in the Cr_1−xAl_xN and Cr_1−x−yAl_xSi_yN nanocrystalline coatings and nanocomposites, which were deposited in cathodic arc evaporation process at different positions of substrates in the deposition apparatus. The different positions of the substrates affected primarily the distance between the samples and the cathodes and consequently the chemical and phase composition of the coatings, the crystallite size, the lattice strain and the preferred orientation of crystallites. In the Cr_1−xAl_xN coatings, the dominating cubic crystallites were preferentially oriented with their 〈111〉 direction perpendicular to the sample surface; this out-of-plane preferred orientation of crystallites was accompanied by a strong in-plane texture. In the Cr_1−x−yAl_xSi_yN coatings, a strong inclination of the {111} texture from the normal direction and a decay of the in-plane preferred orientation were observed in cubic crystallites with increasing silicon (and aluminium) contents.     

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence and contactless electroreflectance characterization of a ZnxCd1−xSe/Znx′Cdy′Mg1−x′−y′Se asymmetric coupled quantum well structure

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and contactless electroreflectance (CER) were used to characterize a Zn_xCd_1−xSe/Zn_x′Cd_y′Mg_{1−x′−y′}Se asymmetric coupled quantum well (ACQW) structure in the range of 10-300 K. The PL peak position yielded information of the fundamental excitonic recombinations. A detailed analysis of the CER spectra led to the identification of various interband transitions. The intersubband transitions were then estimated and found to be in a good agreement with the previous report of Fourier-transform infrared absorption measurements. At low temperature, the PL spectra of the sample showed an asymmetric behavior with an exponential tail at the lower-energy side and were attributed to the localized excitonic recombinations due to potential fluctuations. Detailed study of the temperature dependence of the excitonic transition energies indicated that the main influence of temperature on the quantized transitions is through the temperature dependence of the band gap of the constituent material in the well.     

Corrosion behaviour of dc magnetron sputtered Fe1−xMgx alloy films in 3 wt% NaCl solution

Fe_1−xMg_x alloy films (with x ? 43.4 at.% Mg) were deposited by dc magnetron sputtering onto glass slide substrates. The objective of this study was to characterise the corrosion properties of these alloys in saline solution for application as new friendly environmentally sacrificial coatings in the protection of steel structures. The morphological and structural properties of the alloys were systematically studied prior to electrochemical experiments, and then the degraded surfaces were analysed to determine the composition and nature of corrosion products. Alloys with <25  at.% Mg were single-phase body-centred cubic (bcc) with enlarged lattice parameters, whereas for magnesium contents above 25 at.%, amorphisation occurred. The reactivity of the alloys in saline solution is strongly dependent on the Mg content and the alloy structure. The incorporation of magnesium leads to an open circuit potential shift of the alloy towards more negative values, that confers an attractive interest of these alloys as sacrificial coatings. A transition in corrosion activity is observed at 25 at.% Mg from which the reactivity decreases with the magnesium content increase. The evolution of the alloy corrosion behaviour is discussed in terms of structural and corrosion products evolution versus magnesium content.     

Electrochemical corrosion characteristics of ZrNi5−xCox alloys

The electrochemical corrosion behaviour of a series of ZrNi_5−xCo_x alloys with x=0-4 has been tested using potentiokinetic polarisation technique. The polarisation curves were measured in deaerated 0.5 M sulphate solutions with pH=0.2-7 and in strong alkaline solution of KOH (pH=15). It is shown that the presence of greater amounts of Co in the alloy (x?2) worsens the passivating properties of the alloy in acidified sulphate solutions. On the other hand, in strong alkaline solutions, both low- and high-cobalt alloys undergo stable passivation. The degree of Ni substitution by Co in the alloys does not generally affect the shape of cathodic polarisation curves.     

High permittivity and low dielectric loss of the Ca1−xSrxCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

The Ca_1−xSr_xCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CSCTO) giant dielectric ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state method. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that a small amount of Sr²⁺ (x < 0.2) had no obvious effect on the phase structure of the CSCTO ceramics, while with increasing the Sr²⁺ content, a second phase of SrTiO₃ appeared. Electrical properties of CSCTO ceramics greatly depended on the Sr²⁺ content. The Ca_0.9Sr_0.1Cu₃Ti₄O₁₂ ceramics exhibited a higher permittivity (71,153) and lower dielectric loss (0.022) when measured at 1 kHz at room temperature. The ceramics also performed good temperature stability in the temperature range from −50 °C to 100 °C at 1 kHz. By impedance spectroscopy analysis, all compounds were found to be electrically heterogeneous, showing semiconducting grains and insulating grain boundaries. The grain resistance was 1.28 Ω and the grain boundary resistance was 1.31 × 10⁵ Ω. All the results indicated that the Ca_0.9Sr_0.1Cu₃Ti₄O₁₂ ceramics were very promising materials with higher permittivity for practical applications.     

Structural, elastic and electronic properties of Mg(Cu1−xZnx)2 alloys calculated by first-principles

The structural, elastic and electronic properties of Mg(Cu_1−xZn_x)₂ alloys (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5,and 0.75) were investigated by means of first-principle calculations within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The calculation results demonstrated that the partial substitution of Cu with Zn in MgCu₂ leaded to an increase of lattice constants, and the optimized structural parameters were in very good agreement with the available experimental values. From energetic point of view, it was found that with increase of Zn content the structural stability of Mg(Cu_1−xZn_x)₂ alloys decreased apparently. The single-crystal elastic constants were obtained by computing total energy as a function of strain, and then the bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, Young's modulus Y and Poisson's ratio ν of polycrystalline aggregates were derived. The calculated results showed that among the Mg(Cu_1−xZn_x)₂ alloys, MgCuZn exhibited the largest stiffness, while Mg₂Cu₃Zn showed the best ductility. Finally, the electronic density of states (DOSs) and charge density distribution were further studied and discussed.     

Photoluminescent properties of LiSrxBa1−xPO4:RE (RE = Sm, Eu) f-f transition phosphors

Rare-earth ions (Sm³⁺ or Eu³⁺) doped LiSr_xBa_1−xPO₄ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) f-f transition phosphor powders were prepared by a high temperature solid-state reaction. The resulted phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results of XRD indicate that the phase structure of the sample changes from LiBaPO₄ to LiSrPO₄ when x changes from 0 to 1.0. The excitation spectra indicate that only direct excitation of rare earth ions (Sm³⁺ or Eu³⁺) can be observed. The doped rare earth ions show their characteristic emission in LiSr_xBa_1−xPO₄, i.e., Eu³⁺⁵D₀-⁷F_J (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4), Sm³⁺⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_J (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2, 11/2), respectively. The dependence of the emission intensities of the LiSr_xBa_1−xPO₄:Sm³⁺ and LiSr_xBa_1−xPO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors on the x value and Ln³⁺ (Ln³⁺ = Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺) concentration is also investigated.     

Synthesis and thermoelectric properties of the PbSe1−xTex alloys

The PbSe_1−xTe_x alloys with x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.85 and 1.0 were prepared by induction melting, ball milling and spark plasma sintering techniques. The thermoelectric properties of the samples were investigated. The XRD analysis indicated that all samples are NaCl-type structure solid solutions Pb(Se,Te) containing nanograins. Increasing Te content resulted in increasing the lattice parameter a. The thermoelectric measurements show that all samples are n-type semiconductors in temperature range from 300 K to 673 K. The electrical resistivity of the doped sample is much smaller than that of pure PbSe, but comparable to that of PbTe. The absolute Seebeck coefficients for the doped sample PbSe_1−xTe_x with x = 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 range from 150 μV/K at 300 K to 250 μV/K at 673 K, which is much larger than that of pure PbSe (66-138 μV/K), but smaller than that of PbTe (230-310 μV/K) in the same experimental conditions. The thermal conductivity for the doped sample PbSe_1−xTe_x with x = 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 range from 0.95 to 0.66 W/m K, which is much smaller than that of pure PbSe (2.1-1.3 W/m K) or PbTe (1.4-1.1 W/m K). As a result, the figure of merit for the doped sample can be enhanced. The maximum dimensionless figure of merit ZT of 1.15 was obtained in the sample PbTe_0.5Se_0.5 at 573 K, more than 50% higher than that of pure PbTe prepared in the same condition.     

Effect of Ca on the microstructure and magnetocaloric effects in the La1−xCaxFe11.5Si1.5 compounds

The effect of Ca on the microstructure and magnetocaloric effects has been investigated in the La_1−xCa_xFe_11.5Si_1.5 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) compounds. The introduction of Ca leads to the appearance of minor α-Fe and Ca-rich phases, which affects the actual compositions of the main phases for the Ca containing samples. With increasing the Ca concentration, the Curie temperature T_C increases from 183 to 208 K, and the maximum magnetic entropy changes |ΔS| at the respective T_C with a magnetic field change from 0 to 5 T are 21.3, 19.5, 16.9, and 11.2 J/kg K for x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3, respectively. The nature of the magnetic transition changes from first-order to second-order with an increase in Ca concentration, which leads to a reduction of the hysteresis and a decrease of the magnetic entropy change. However, the relative cooling power for La_1−xCa_xFe_11.5Si_1.5 compounds remains comparable with or even larger than that of other magnetocaloric materials over a wide temperature range. The higher T_C and the smaller hysteresis in comparison with those of the parent compound suggest that the La_1−xCa_xFe_11.5Si_1.5 compounds could be suitable candidates for magnetic refrigerants in the corresponding temperature range.     

Correlating structure with ferromagnetism in melt-spun Gd100−xFex

X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements of melt-spun Gd_100−xFe_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 40) and inert-gas condensed/compacted samples (3.8 ≤ x ≤ 12.7) reveal a structure of crystalline hcp-Gd grains surrounded by a non-crystalline Gd1−xeffFexeff phase, where x_eff > x is the effective iron concentration within the amorphous region. The two-phase structure is responsible for an unusual dependence of the coercivity on temperature in which non-zero coercivity is observed above the hcp-Gd T_c with a peak near 320 K. The coercivity decreases as the hcp-Gd grains order, then increases with decreasing temperature. This behavior is explained by the presence of magnetically correlated Fe-rich regions.     

A study of structural, optical and magnetic properties of Zn0.97−xCuxCr0.03O diluted magnetic semiconductors

A set of Zn_0.97−xCu_xCr_0.03O (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03) samples has been synthesized by the sol-gel method. The structural, optical and magnetic properties of the samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). With Cu doping concentration increasing up to 2 at%, the XRD results showed that all diffraction peaks corresponded to wurtzite structure of ZnO, but for Zn_0.94Cu_0.03Cr_0.03O, the secondary phase of Cu emerged. PL measurements showed that Zn_0.97−xCu_xCr_0.03O powders and pure ZnO with the Cu concentration varied from 0.00 to 0.02 exhibited obvious blue shift; the green emission peak could be effectively enhanced with the increase of the Cu concentration. Magnetic measurements indicated that room-temperature ferromagnetism of Zn_0.97−xCu_xCr_0.03O was an intrinsic property when Cu concentration was less than 0.02. The saturation magnetization of Zn_0.97−xCu_xCr_0.03O (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02) increased with the increase of the Cu concentration.     

Structural, optical and electromagnetic properties of Bi1−xHoxFeO3 multiferroic materials

Bi_1−xHo_xFeO₃ (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) polycrystalline ceramics were synthesized by a solid-state reaction and their structural, absorption, Raman scattering, impedance and magnetic properties were investigated. The substitution of rare earth Ho for Bi was found to decrease the impurity phase in BiFeO₃ ceramics. There appears an anomalous change in the lattice constants, optical band gap as well as the impedance spectroscopy and magnetization of samples at x = 0.10, suggesting a limit of dissolubility of Ho doped ions in BiFeO₃. Additionally, the Raman measurement performed for the lattice dynamics study of Bi_1−xHo_xFeO₃ samples reveals a band centered at around 1000-1300 cm⁻¹ which is associated with the resonant enhancement of two-phonon Raman scattering in the multiferroic Bi_1−xHo_xFeO₃ samples. Ho-doped BiFeO₃ also showed a ferromagnetic-like behavior with M_r = 1070 × 10⁻⁴ and M_s = 1.60 emu/g for optimum content x = 0.10, which is similar to the solid solution system of BiFeO₃.     

Martensitic transformation and magnetic properties in high-Mn content Mn50Ni50−xInx ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

A series of Mn₅₀Ni_50−xIn_x (x = 9.75, 10, 10.25, 10.5 10.75, and 11) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys with Mn content as high as 50 at.% were prepared. The martensitic transformation (MT), magnetocaloric effect, and magnetoresistance in Mn₅₀Ni_50−xIn_x alloys were investigated. With x increasing from 9.75 to 11, the MT temperature decreased from 270 to 110 K and the Curie temperature of austenite remains relatively constant. Large positive magnetic entropy change and negative magnetoresistance were observed around MT temperatures in these alloys. Large magnetic entropy change and magnetoresistance would be ascribed to the temperature and magnetic field-induced MT in Mn₅₀Ni_50−xIn_x alloys.     

Structural, magnetic and electrical properties of Bi1.4La0.6Sr2CaCu2−xMnxOy compounds

The Mn-doped compounds Bi_1.4La_0.6Sr₂CaCu₂O_y were prepared by sol-gel method. The structural variation was characterized systematically by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectra and Raman scattering spectra, respectively. The electrical and magnetic properties of the compounds were investigated by the temperature dependence of resistivity (R-T) and magnetic hysteresis loop (M (H)) measurements. Results indicate that the subtle change of lattice parameters has taken place in the compounds, which is attributed to CuO₂ planes canting and Mn valence alternation. In the condition of preserving Bi-2212 structure, Bi_1.4La_0.6Sr₂CaCu_2−xMn_xO_y compound has optimal resistivity and magnetism at x = 2%, which could provide a candidate as new barrier in Josephson junction in future.     

First principles study of structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Mg1−xMnxTe alloys

Density functional FP-LAPW + lo calculations have been performed to study the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Mg_1−xMn_xTe for compositional parameter x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1. Our calculations reveal the occurrence of ferromagnetism in these compounds in which the transition-metal atom is ordered in a periodical way thereby interacting directly with the host atoms. Results extracted from electronic band structure and density of states (DOS) of these alloys show the existence of direct energy band gap for both majority- and minority-spin cases, while the total energy calculations confirm the stability of ferromagnetic state as compared to anti-ferromagnetic state. The total magnetic moment for Mg_1−xMn_xTe for each composition is found to be approximately 5 μ_B, which indicates that the addition of Mn content does not affect the hole carrier concentration of the perfect MgTe compound. Moreover, the s-d exchange constant (N₀α) and p-d exchange constant (N₀β) are also calculated which are in accordance with a typical magneto-optical experiment. The estimated spin-exchange splitting energies originated by Mn 3d states energies, i.e. Δ_X(s-d) and Δ_X(p-d), show that the effective potential for minority-spin is more attractive than that of the majority-spin. Also, the p-d hybridization is found to cause the reduction of local magnetic moment of Mn and produce small local magnetic moments on the nonmagnetic Mg and Te sites.     

Heat capacity of Ce1−xLaxCu4Al Kondo alloys

The temperature dependence of the specific heat C_p(T), for Ce_1−xLa_xCu₄Al alloys has been studied. The specific heat has been analyzed considering the electronic, phonon and Schottky contributions. In comparison to CeCu₄Al, the substitution of Ce by La reduces the electronic specific heat coefficient γ values. At low temperatures γ value depends strongly on the temperature range used for the extrapolation and on the magnetic field. The scheme of the energy levels created by the crystal electric field (CEF) splitting has been determined from the Schottky anomaly. The values obtained for the energy of the levels are similar for all the compositions.