Dielectric relaxation and relaxor behavior in bilayered perovskites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Spin reversal and magnetization jumps in ErMexMn1-xO3 perovskites (Me = Ni, Co)

The erbium-based manganite ErMnO3 has been partially substituted at the manganese site by the transition-metal elements Ni and Co. The perovskite orthorhombic structure is found from x(Ni) = 0.2-0.5 in the nickel-based solid solution ErNixMn1-xO3, while it can be extended up to x(Co) = 0.7 in the case of cobalt, provided that the synthesis is performed under oxygenation conditions to favor the presence of Co3+. Presence of different magnetic entities (i.e., Er3+, Ni2+, Co2+, Co3+, Mn3+, and Mn4+) leads to quite unusual magnetic properties, characterized by the coexistence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions. In ErNixMn1-xO3, a critical concentration x(crit)(Ni) = 1/3 separates two regimes: spin-canted AF interactions predominate at x < x(crit), while the ferromagnetic behavior is enhanced for x > x(crit). Spin reversal phenomena are present both in the nickel- and cobalt-based compounds. A phenomenological model based on two interacting sublattices, coupled by an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction, explains the inversion of the overall magnetic moment at low temperatures. In this model, the ferromagnetic transition-metal lattice, which orders at T-c, creates a strong local field at the erbium site, polarizing the Er moments in a direction opposite to the applied field. At low temperatures, when the contribution of the paramagnetic erbium sublattice, which varies as T-1, gets larger than the ferromagnetic contribution, the total magnetic moment changes its sign, leading to an overall ferrimagnetic state. The half-substituted compound ErCo0.50Mn0.50O3 was studied in detail, since the magnetization loops present two well-identified anomalies: an intersection of the magnetization branches at low fields, and magnetization jumps at high fields. The influence of the oxidizing conditions was studied in other compositions close to the 50/50 = Mn/Co substitution rate. These anomalies are clearly connected to the spin inversion phenomena and to the simultaneous presence of Co2+ and Co3+ magnetic moments. Dynamical aspects should be considered to well identify the high-field anomaly, since it depends on the magnetic field sweep rate. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanoparticle synthesis of La1-xSrxMnO3 (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) perovskites

Synthesis of La1-xSrxMnO3 (x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) by homogenous coprecipitation method using urea as precipitant agent Is reported. The particles are smaller than 200 nm after heating at 950 degreesC. Temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity was found to be similar to the reported value for single crystals of these manganites.

Influence of the modifier on the short and long range disorder of stannate perovskites

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Lanthanum-based perovskites obtained by the polymeric precursor method

Cobalt oxides, specially the ones with perovskite structure, are of a high technological interest, due to their interesting optical, electrical and magnetic properties. La(1 -x)Ca(x)CoO(3) powder samples were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method, with x varying from 0 to 0.4. The powder precursors were characterized by TG/DTA, XRD and IR. The TG curves showed several thermal decomposition steps; the first one is ascribed to the loss of water and the remaining steps are related to the combustion of the organic matter. The XRD patterns indicated only the presence of the perovskite phase. Moreover, the structure changes from rhombohedral to cubic, as calcium is added to the perovskite and the calcination temperature increases.

First principles calculations on the origin of violet-blue and green light photoluminescence emission in SrZrO3 and SrTiO3 perovskites

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Photoluminescence of disordered ABO3 perovskites

Intense photoluminescence in highly disordered (amorphous) BaTiO3, PbTiO3, and SrTiO3 prepared by the polymeric precursor method was observed at room temperature. The emission band maxima from the three materials are in the visible region and depend on the exciting wavelength. The origin of the photoluminescence was not exactly identified. However, the line shape indicates that confinement effects are not probable. The experimental results indicate that it could be related to the disordered perovskite structure. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.

Influence of a co-substituted A-site on structural characteristics and ferroelectricity of (Pb, Ba, Ca)TiO3 complex perovskites: analysis of local-, medium- and long-range order

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Magnetic interactions and spin-reversal mechanism in ErMn1-xCoxO3-delta samples

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Microwave-hydrothermal synthesis of perovskite bismuth ferrite nanoparticles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Síntese do anodo cerâmico La1-xSr xCr0,5Mn0,5O3 pela técnica dos precursores poliméricos

Compostos da família La1-xSr xCr0,5Mn0,5O3 são apontados como potenciais anodos cerâmicos de células a combustível de óxidos sólidos. A utilização de anodos cerâmicos tem como objetivo eliminar os problemas de depósito de carbono na superfície do níquel e a baixa resistência a ciclos de redução/oxidação observados no compósito cerâmica-metal à base de zircônia estabilizada e níquel, que é o material anódico mais usado nestas células. Neste estudo são apresentados os resultados da síntese pela técnica dos precursores poliméricos e da caracterização de compostos com x = 0,5, estequiométrico e com 5% de deficiência catiônica no sítio A da estrutura perovskita La1-xSr xCr0,5Mn0,5O3 e (La1-xSr x)0,95Cr0,5Mn0,5O3, respectivamente. Os resultados evidenciam que o composto estudado possui altos valores de condutividade elétrica e baixa reatividade com eletrólitos à base de zircônia.

Influence of milling time on mechanically assisted synthesis of Pb0.91Ca0.1TiO3 powders

Pb0.91Ca0.1TiO3 powders (PCT) were prepared by mechanochemical synthesis from high-energy ball milling process. The influence of milling time on the phase formation, crystal structure, specific surface area, density and powder morphology was observed. We adopted the Rietveld refinement technique to investigate the crystal structure of the PCT powders. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that PCT powders milled for 5 h showed a wide distribution of particle agglomerates while milled for 35 h showed a decrease in agglomerates size. Further prolongation of milling time resulted in the agglomerates growth. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

SrBi2Nb2O9 thin films deposited by dip coating using aqueous solution

A new approach for SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) thin films synthesis using aqueous solution was successfully experienced. The deposition solution was prepared from Sr-Bi-Nb mixed-citrate solution, requiring no special atmosphere and using common reagents. Films were deposited by dip coating onto Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrates and hear treated at temperatures ranging from 300 to 700 degrees C. The process of formation and crystallization of SrBi2Nb2O9 thin films, prepared by the aqueous solution method have been studied with particular emphasis on the microstructure of crystallized films. Crystalline phases formation were followed by grazing incident X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), microstructure characterization was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface roughness were observed using atomic for ce microscopy (AFM). To reach the desired thickness, substrates were dipped in the deposition solution twice, forming double-layered films. The thickness of each layer ranged from 80 to 100 nm. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. Limited. All rights reserved.

Highly intense violet-blue light emission at room temperature in structurally disordered SrZrO3 powders

Violet-blue photoluminescence was produced at room temperature in a structurally disordered SrZrO3 perovskite structure with a 350.7 nm excitation line. The intensity of this emission was higher than that of any other perovskites previously studied. The authors discuss the role of structural order-disorder that favors the self-trapping of electrons and charge transference, as well as a model to elucidate the mechanism that triggers photoluminescence. In this model the wide band model, the most important events occur before excitation. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Improvement of the ferroelectric properties of ABO(3) (A= Pb, Ca, Ba; B=Ti, Zr) films

High-quality ABO(3)/LaNiO3 (A = Ph, Ca, Ba; B = Ti, Zr) hetero structures have been grown on LaAlO3 (1 0 0) substrate by the chemical solution deposition method and crystallized by a microwave oven technique. The structural, morphological and electric properties were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), and dielectric and ferroelectric measurements. XRD patterns revealed single-phase polycrystalline and oriented thin films whose feature depends on the composition of the films. The AFM surface morphologies showed a smooth and crack-free surface with the average grain size ranging from 116 to 300 nm for both LaNiO3 electrode and the ferroelectric films. Dielectric measurements on these samples revealed dielectric constants as high as 1800 at frequency of 100 KHz. Such results showed that the combination of the chemical solution method with the microwave process provides a promising technique to grow high-quality thin films with good dielectric and ferroelectric properties. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.