Deviation from the stoichiometric composition of single-crystal 'Er2Co17'

The deviation from the stoichiometric composition of single-crystal 'Er2Co17' has been determined by theoretical analysis. It is found that the composition of this single-crystal 'Er2Co17' is rich in cobalt, and its real composition is suggested to be Er2-deltaCo17+2 delta (delta = 0.14) on the basis of a comparison of calculations based on the single-ion model with a series of experiments. The values of the Er-Co exchange field H-ex and the crystalline-electric-field (CEF) parameters A(n)(m) at the rare-earth (R) site in the 'Er2Co17' compound are also evaluated at the same time. The experiments provide the following data: the temperature dependence of the spontaneous magnetization of the compounds and the normalized magnetic moment of the Er ion, the magnetization curves dong the crystallographic axes at 4.2 K and 200 K, and the temperature dependence of the magnetization along the crystallographic axes in a field of 4 T.

Effects and numerical analysis of argon gas flow on the oxygen concentration in Czochralski silicon single crystal growth

Argon gas, as a protective environment and carrier of latent heat, has an important effect on the temperature distribution in crystals and melts. Numeric simulation is a potent tool for solving engineering problems. In this paper, the relationship between argon gas flow and oxygen concentration in silicon crystals was studied systematically. A flowing stream of argon gas is described by numeric simulation for the first time. Therefore, the results of experiments can be explained, and the optimum argon flow with the lowest oxygen concentration can be achieved. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Calorimetric study on two biphenyl liquid crystals

The molar heat capacities of the two biphenyl liquid crystals, 3BmFF and 3BmFFXF3, with a purity of 99.7 mol% have been precisely measured by a fully automated precision adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range between T = 80 and 350 K. Nematic phase-liquid phase transitions were found between T = 297 K and 300 K with a peak temperature of T-peak = (298.071 +/- 0.089) K for 3BmFF, and between T = 316 and 319 K with a peak temperature of T-peak = (315.543 +/- 0.043) K for 3BmFFXF3. The molar enthalpy (Delta(trs)H(m)) and entropy (Delta(trs)S(m)) corresponding to these phase transitions have been determined by means of the analysis of the heat capacity curves, which are (15.261 +/- 0.023) U mol(-1) and (51.202 +/- 0.076) J K-1 mol(-1) for 3BmFF, (31.624 +/- 0.066) kJ mol(-1) and (100.249 +/- 0.212) J K-1 mol(-1) for 3BmFFXF3, respectively. The real melting points (TI) and the ideal melting points (TO) with no impurities of the two compounds have been obtained from the fractional melting method to be (298.056 +/- 0.018) K and (298.165 +/- 0.038) K for 3BmFF, (315.585 +/- 0.043) K and (315.661 +/- 0.044) K for 3BmFFXF3, respectively. In addition, the transitions of these two biphenyl liquid crystals from nematic phase to liquid phase have further been investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) technique; the repeatability and reliability for these phase transitions were verified. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Single Crystalline Bi2S3 with Various Morphologies

Single crystalline Bi2S3 With various morphologies (wires, rods, and flowers) has been successfully prepared via a simple polyol solution process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The morphologies of Bi2S3 crystals are highly dependent on the experimental parameters, including the reaction temperature, reactant ratio, sulfur source, and additive. The adjustment of these parameters can lead to an obvious shape evolution of products, and the growth mechanism has been proposed.

Preparation and electrical properties of new oxide ion conductors Ce6-xDyxMoO15-delta (0.0 <= x <= 1.8)

Ce6-xDyxMoO15-delta (0.0 <= x <= 1.8) were synthesized by modified sol-gel method. Structural and electrical properties were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The XRD patterns showed that the materials were single phase with a cubic fluorite structure. Impedance spectroscopy measurement in the temperature range between 350 degrees C and 800 degrees C indicated a sharp increase in conductivity for the system containing small amount of Dy2O3. The Ce5.6Dy0.4MoO15-delta detected to be the best conducting phase with the highest conductivity (sigma(t) = 8.93 x 10(-3) S cm(-1)) is higher than that of Ce5.6Sm0.4MoO15-delta (sigma(t) = 2.93 x 10(-3) S cm(-1)) at 800 degrees C, and the corresponding activation energy of Ce5.6Dy0.4MoO15-delta (0.994 eV) is lower than that of Ce5.6Sm0.4MoO15-delta (1.002 eV).

Preparation and Electrical Properties of New Oxide Ion Conductors Ce6-xGdxMoO15-delta (0.0 <= x <= 1.8)

A series of oxide ion conductors Ce6-xGdxMoO15-delta (0.0 <= x <= 1.8) have been prepared by the sol-gel method. Their properties were characterized by differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry (DTA/TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, IR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and AC impedance spectroscopy. The XRD patterns showed that the materials were single phase with a cubic fluorite structure. The conductivity of Ce6-xGdxMoO15-delta increases as x increases and reaches the maximum at x = 0.15. The conductivity of Ce4.5Gd1.5MoO15-delta is sigma(t) = 3.6 x 10(-3) S/cm at 700 degrees C, which is higher than that of Ce4.5/6Gd1.5/6O2-delta (sigma(t) = 2.6 x 10(-3) S/cm), and the corresponding activation energy of Ce4.5Gd1.5MoO15-delta (0.92 eV) is lower than that of Ce4.5/6Gd1.5/6O2-delta (1.18 eV).

Synthesis and Electrical Properties of New Solid State Electrolyte Materials Ce6-xHoxMoO15-delta(0.0 <= x <= 1.2)

Ce6-xHoxMoO15-delta(0.0 <= x <= 1.2) was synthesized by modified sol-gel method and characterized by differential X-ray diffraction(XRD), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) methods. The oxide ionic conductivity of the samples was investigated by AC impedance spectroscopy. It shows that all the samples are single phase with a cubic fluorite structure. The solid solution Ce6-xHoxMoO15-delta(x=0.6) was detected to be the best conducting phase with the highest conductivity(sigma(t)=1.05x10(-2) S/cm) at 800 degrees C and the lowest activation energy(E-a=1.09 eV). These properties suggest that this kind of material has a potential application in intermediate-low temperature solid oxide fuel cells.

Nucleation and growth of glycine crystals with controllable sizes and polymorphs on Langmuir-Blodgett films

Control of crystal polymorph and size is very important in many application fields. Herein we demonstrate that Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of stearic acid (SA) and octadecylamine (ODA) can serve as templates and generate different polymorphs of glycine crystals. In the neutral aqueous solutions, gamma-glycine crystallizes on LB films of ODA while the polymorphic outcome becomes the (x-form on LB films of SA. These observed results could be explained by the electrostatic interactions and geometric lattice matching at the LB film/crystal interfaces, respectively. By keeping the appropriate supersaturation, we have successfully controlled the number of crystals grown on LB films; for example, in some certain cases, only one piece of crystal was grown on LB films in solution. Therefore, large crystals of centimeter size could be prepared. These experimental results suggest a new approach to produce an organic crystal with bulk scale.

Tight intermolecular packing through supramolecular interactions in crystals of cyano substituted oligo(para-phenylene vinylene): a key factor for aggregation-induced emission

Strong supramolecular interactions, which induced tight packing and rigid molecules in crystals of cyano substituent oligo(para-phenylene vinylene) (CN-DPDSB), are the key factor for the high luminescence efficiency of its crystals; opposite to its isolated molecules in solution which have very low luminescence efficiency.

Highly enhanced luminescence from single-crystalline C-60 center dot 1m-xylene nanorods

Single-crystalline C-60 center dot 1m-xylene nanorods with a hexagonal structure were successfully synthesized by evaporating a C-60 solution in m-xylene at room temperature. The ratio of the length to the diameter of the nanorods can be controlled in the range of approximate to 10 to over 1000 for different applications. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the nanorods is about 2 orders of magnitude higher than that for pristine C-60 crystals in air. Both UV and Raman results indicate that there is no charge transfer between C-60 and m-xylene. It was found that the interaction between C-60 and m-xylene molecules is of the van der Waals type. This interaction reduces the icosahedral symmetry of C-60 molecule and induces strong PL from the solvate nanorods.

Synthesis using electrospinning and stabilization of single layer macroporous films and fibrous networks of poly(vinyl alcohol)

We demonstrated in this paper an electrospinning technique could be employed to prepare the single layer macroporous films and fibrous networks of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). A crucial element using electrospinning on the development of these electrospun structures was to shorten the distance of from the needle tip to the collector (L), which resulted in the bond of the wet fibers deposited on the collector at the junctions. The morphologies and average pore size of electrospun structures of PVA were mainly predominated by L and the time of collecting wet fibers on the collector. In addition, experimental results showed that an increase of the PVA concentration or a decrease of the applied voltage could also diminish slightly the average pore size of electrospun productions. Furthermore, a 60 degrees C absolute ethanol soak to PVA electrospun production led them to be able to stabilize in water for 1 month against disintegration. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that the 60 degrees C ethanol soak enhanced the degree of crystallinity of PVA production. The structural characteristic of macroporous films and networks in combination with their easy processability suggests potential utility in issue engineering applications.

The single crystal-like banded textures in the films of a thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone) containing a lateral chloro group

The banded textures in the films of a thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone) containing a lateral chloro group have been studied by means of transmission electron microscopy(TEM), electron diffraction(ED) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The crystallization-induced Landed texture without external shear can be formed when the thin films were annealed at the temperature range(320-330 degrees C) of the liquid crystalline state from the melt, The results show that the banded regions have high orientation of single crystal based on the orthorhombic packing and the growing direction of the Lands is along the b axis of the crystals, This kind of single crystal-like bands is due to the different orientation of the packing molecular chains, The molecular chains of the dark bands in the bright field electron micrograph are perpendicular to the film plane, while the ones of the bright Lands are tilt along the b axis with the tilt angle upto +/-20 degrees.

Self-organization of BaF2 single crystal film under a compressed Langmuir monolayer

Self-organization of BaF2 single crystal film under a compressed monolayer of behenic acid (BA) has been investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results indicated the (100)-oriented single crystal film of BaF2 was formed under the BA monolayer. The relation between the BaF2 single crystal and the monolayer was discussed.

Double twist in helical polymer "soft" crystals

In natural and synthetic materials having non-racemic chiral centers, chirality and structural ordering each play a distinct role in the formation of ordered states. Configurational chirality can be extended to morphological chirality when the phase, structures possess low liquid crystalline order. In the crystalline states the crystallization process suppresses the chiral helical morphology due to strong ordering interactions, In this Letter, we report the first observation of helical single lamellar crystals of synthetic non-racemic chiral polymers. Experimental evidence shows that the molecular chains twist along both the long and short axes of the helical lamellar crystals, which is the first time a double-twist molecular orientation in a helical crystal has been observed.

Dependence of superconducting temperature on chemical bond parameters in YBa2Cu3O6+delta (delta=0-1)

The chemical bond parameters, that is ionicities and average energy gaps, for all types of chemical bonds in YBa2Cu3O6+delta have been investigated with variation of oxygen content delta (delta = 0.0, 0.35, 0.45, 0.58, 0.64, 0.73, 0.78, 0.81, 0.95, 1.00). The theory used is the complex crystal chemical bond theory, which is the development of P-V-L theory. The two plateaus near 90 K and 60 K in superconducting transition temperatures, and the disappearance of superconductivity with the change of oxygen content, were reasonably explained by chemical bond parameters. The results also showed that the Cu-O chains play a vital role in the transition from non-superconductors to superconductors, and the highest transition temperature occurred when the plane-chain reached a coupling state. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.