Effect of particle size on the dielectric behaviour of double propionates

Introduction Dicalcium strontium propionate (DCSP) undergoes a ferroelectric phase transition at about 28 1.5 K, with the spontaneous polarization occurring along the tetragonal C-axis.1 Takashige et al.2,3 have recently reported ferroelectricity in annealed samples of dicalcium lead propionate (DCLP) in the range 191 K to 331 K. The removal of the inner biasing field by annealing has been known in the case of DCLP3 and DCSP.4 Because of the possible dependence of the inner biasing field on the particle size, a study of the temperature dependence of the dielectric behaviour of the powdered samples of these compounds was undertaken.

Negative differential resistance in Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3: A consequence of Joule heating

Negative differential resistance (NDR) in current-voltage (I-V) characteristics and apparent colossal electroresistance were observed in Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 single crystals at low temperatures. The continuous dc I-V measurements showed a marked thermal drift. In addition, temperature of the sample surface was found to be significantly higher than that of the base at high applied currents. Two different strategies namely estimation and diminution of the Joule heating (pulsed I-V measurements) were employed to investigate its role in the electric transport properties. Our experiments reveal that the NDR in Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 is a consequence of Joule heating rather than the melting of charge order. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3486221]

A bibliographical review of the high pressure studies of ferroelectric phase transitions

A brief review of the various high pressure studies on the phase transitions in ferroelectric crystals carried out over the past two decades is presented. The theoretical framework in which high pressure studies have to be viewed is given. The pressure data of ferroelectric crystals are organized in the form of tables. High pressure spectroscopic and structural studies are included. The review contains a bibliography of over two hundred references.

Disorder-driven electronic localization and phase separation in superconducting Fe1+yTe0.5Se0.5 single crystals

We have investigated the influence of Fe excess on the electrical transport and magnetism of Fe1+yTe0.5Se0.5 (y=0.04 and 0.09) single crystals. Both compositions exhibit resistively determined superconducting transitions (T-c) with an onset temperature of about 15 K. From the width of the superconducting transition and the magnitude of the lower critical field H-c1, it is inferred that excess of Fe suppresses superconductivity. The linear and nonlinear responses of the ac susceptibility show that the superconducting state for these compositions is inhomogeneous. A possible origin of this phase separation is a magnetic coupling between Fe excess occupying interstitial sites in the chalcogen planes and those in the Fe-square lattice. The temperature derivative of the resistivity d(rho)/d(T) in the temperature range T-c < T < T-a with T-a being the temperature of a magnetic anomaly, changes from positive to negative with increasing Fe. A log 1/T divergence of the resistivity above T-c in the sample with higher amount of Fe suggests a disorder-driven electronic localization.

Diastereoisomeric (η6-arene)ruthenium(II) chiral Schiff base complexes: crystal structure of a triphenylphosphine adduct

Reaction of [(eta-6-p-cymene)RuCl(L star)] with AgClO4 in Me2CO gives a perchlorate complex which on subsequent treatment with PPh3, gamma-picoline or Cl- yields adducts showing that there can be retention as well as inversion of configuration at the metal centre. The (R)Ru,(S)C absolute configurations of the chiral centres in the triphenylphosphine adduct have been established by an X-ray diffraction study [HL star, (S)-alpha-methylbenzylsalicylaldimine]. The CD spectral study reveals that there is an inversion of configuration during formation of the PPh3 adduct.

Effect of pressure on the dielectric properties of DTAAP

Effect of pressure on the dielectric properties of ferroelectric DTAAP has been carried out upto about 4 Kbars. The dTc/dP value was found to be -1.65°C/Kbar. It was noted that the value of dTc/dP is 1.63 times smaller in DTAAP as compared to TAAP, where as Tc itself is 1.13 times larger.

Growth and defect characterization of L-arginine phosphate monohydrate

L-arginine phosphate monohydrate (LAP) is a relatively new organic nonlinear optical material. In this paper, the results of our recent investigations on the growth of this crystal are presented. The growth of the undesirable micro-organisms was prevented by protecting the solution surface by placing a thick layer of n-hexane over it. Colouration of the solution could be avoided by keeping the growth temperature low and by protecting it from light. The effect of pH value of the solution on the solubility and habit was analysed. The grown crystals were characterized by means of X-ray topography.

Modulus Spectroscopy and Dielectric Dispersion Studies in Alkali Metal Perchlorates

Alkali metal perchlorates (KClO4, RbClO4, and CsClO4) undergo a structural phase transition from the orthorhombic to the cubic phase at elevated temperatures. A detailed dielectric study of these crystals across the phase transition is carried out at different frequencies. The crystals are found to exhibit pronounced dielectric dispersion in the kHz frequency range. The results support the view that these transitions are of order–disorder type. The dielectric behaviour at temperatures above Tc is discussed in terms of modulus spectroscopy. An estimate of conductivity relaxation times above the phase transition temperatures made from modulus spectroscopy data gives values of 3.1, 12.2 and 17.7 μs for KClO4, RbClO4, and CsClO4, respectively.

Switching studies and the effect of irradiation on ferroelectric properties of TAAP and DTAAP

Polarization switching processes in TAAP and DTAAP have been studied by the Merz method. The switching process in DTAAP is slower than in TAAP. The temperature dependence of switching time indicates that the crystal might contain groups of domain nuclei with different activation energies. X-ray irradiation causes an increase in the threshold field below which switching could not occur and decrease in the mobility of domain walls. Irradiation decreases the peak value of dielectric constant, Tc and increases the value of coercive field. Domain structure studies on TAAP crystals have shown that the crystals grow as both predominantly single domain and multi domains, depending on which the internal bias increases or remains unaffected upon irradiation.

A furnace for in situ synchrotron Laue diffraction and its application to studies of solid-state phase transformations

The design of a new microfurnace for use for Laue diffraction studies of solid-state transformations is described. The furnace operates in the temperature range 298-573 K with a thermal stability of about ± 0.1 K. The potential of the synchrotron-radiation Laue diffraction technique for studies of structural phase transitions is demonstrated. Experimental data on phase transitions in caesium periodate, potassium tetrachlorozincate and pentaerythritol are presented.

An EXAFS investigation of the Zn environment in K2ZnCl4 during solid-to-solid phase transformations

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy is applied to an investigation of the structural environment around Zn in polycrystalline K2ZnCi4 over the temperature range associated with its solid-to-solid phase transformations at 127 degrees C and 282 degrees C. The results show a reversible increase in thermal disorder and in the tetrahedral distortion of the ZnCl42- anion upon transformation into the incommensurate phase.

Defect characterization of KTP single crystals

Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) is a relatively new nonlinear optical material with excellent combination of physical properties. This paper presents the combined etching and X-ray topographic studies carried out on KTP crystals with a view to characterizing their defects. KTP crystals employed in this investigation were grown from flux. Optical microscopic study of habit faces revealed growth layers and growth hillocks on (100) and (011) faces respectively. Etching of (011) habit faces proved that growth hillocks corresponded to the emergence point of dislocation out crops on these faces. The suitability of the new etchant to reveal dislocation was confirmed by etching the matched pairs obtained by cleaving. The defects present in the crystal were also studied by X-ray topography. The defect configuration in these crystals is characteristic of crystals grown from solution. The dislocations arc predominantly linear with their origin either at the nucleation centre or inclusions. In general, grown crystals were found to have low dislocation density and often large volumes of crystals free from dislocation could be obtained.

Dislocation characterization in crystals of potash alum grown by seeded solution growth under conditions of low supersaturation

An analysis has been carried out of the genesis and character of growth dislocations present in all growth sectors of single crystals of potash alum. The crystals, grown from seeded solutions by the temperature lowering method under conditions of low supersaturation, presented the well-developed forms: {111} dominant, {100} and {110}. Growth dislocations formed predominately during refacetting of the edges and corners of the seed, rounded during preparation and insertion into the supersaturated solution. From here they become refracted into the {111} sectors which proved to be the most defective. Smaller numbers of dislocations form at the {111}, {100} and {110} seed interfaces and propagate in these sectors. In crystals of inferior quality, a number of inclusions were found predominantly in the fast growing {100} sectors which become the source of additional dislocations. Dislocations present in the original seed did not propagate across the interface into the developing crystal. Dislocations of all characters were observed. The principal Burgers vectors were found to be left angle bracket100right-pointing angle bracket, left angle bracket110right-pointing angle bracket and left angle bracket111right-pointing angle bracket.

Characterization of biaxial crystals for tangentially phase-matched frequency conversion

Ultraviolet radiation has been generated by tangentially phase-matched sum-frequency mixing in biaxial L-arginine phosphate (LAP) crystal for the first time using Nd:YAG output at 1064 nm and Rh 6G dye laser output at 560 nm as the two input sources. Characterization has also been made of such a cheap, biaxial crystal for its possible use in devices for tangentially phase-matched short wavelength generation. If the crystal is of proper cut, thickness and quality so that its maximum capability can be exploited it can replace the potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) group of crystals for various applications.

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies on Mn doped GaSb

We report on the X-band (similar to 9.43 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigations carried out on polycrystalline Ga1-xMnxSb (x=0.02). A strong EPR signal with an effective g factor (g(eff)) close to 2.00 was observed, suggesting that the ionic state of Mn which replaces Ga ion in the lattice, is Mn2+ attributable to Delta M=1 transition of the ionized Mn acceptor A(-), Mn (3d(5)). The apparent absence of EPR signal, typical for neutral Mn acceptor at g=2.7 suggests either no such centers are present or the signal broadens beyond detection limit. The temperature dependent EPR studies combined with dc magnetization data suggest the possible coexistence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases at very low temperatures. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3543983]