Piezoresponse behavior of niobium doped bismuth ferrite thin films grown by chemical method

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

On the photoluminescence behavior of samarium-doped strontium titanate nanostructures under UV light. A structural and electronic understanding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A thermal analysis study of dithizone and dithizonates of mercury, silver and bismuth

Foram preparados os ditizonatos de Hg (I), Ag (I) e Bi (III). Termogravimetria (TG), termogravimetria derivada (DTG), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), difratometria de raios X pelo método do pó e análise elementar foram usados para caracterizar e para estudar a estabilidade térmica e a decomposição térmica da ditizona e destes ditizonatos.

Microstructural and electric properties of bismuth-layered structured ceramics - SrBi2(Ta1-xNbx)O-9

Ceramic samples of SrBi2(Nb1-xTax)O-9 (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1) were prepared by the solid state reaction method in order to investigate their structural and electrical features as well as obtain useful information to improve the properties of SrBi2(Nb1-xTax)O-9 as a thin film. The X-ray diffraction patterns and the scanning electronic microscopy photomicrographs show no secondary phases but the formation of a solid-state solution for all the composition. The ac conductivity of the samples, measured at 25 degreesC and 100 kHz frequency, decreases with the increase of Ta content. Such results were explained by intrinsic conductivity of pure components.

Evaluation and application of bismuth as an internal standard for the determination of lead in wines by simultaneous electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of Pb in wines by simultaneous multi-element atomic absorption spectrometry (SIMAAS) using a transversely heated graphite atomizer, Zeeman-effect background corrector and internal standardization is proposed. Bismuth was used as an internal standard and Pd(NO3)(2) plus Mg(NO3)(2) as chemical modifier,to stabilize both the analyte and the internal standard. The implementation of two pyrolysis steps avoided any build-up of carbonaceous residues on the graphite platform. All diluted samples (1 + 1 v/v) in 0.2% v/v HNO3 and reference solutions (5.0-50 mug l(-1) Ph in 0.2% v/v HNO3) were spiked with 25 mug l(-1) Bi. For a 20 mul aliquot dispensed into the graphite tube, a good correlation (r = 0.9997) was obtained between the ratio of the analyte signal to the internal standard signal and the analyte concentration of the reference solutions. The electrothermal behaviour of Pb and Bi in red, white and rose wines were compared. In addition, absorbance variations due to changes in experimental conditions, such as atomizer temperature, integration time, injected sample volume, radiation beam intensity, graphite tube surface, dilution and sample composition, were minimized by using Bi as internal standard. Relative standard deviations of measurements based on integrated absorbance varied from 0.1 to 3.4% and from 0.5 to 7.3% (n = 12) with and without internal standard correction, respectively. Good recoveries (91-104%) for Pb spikes were obtained. The characteristic mass was 45 pg Pb and the limit of detection based on integrated absorbance was 0.9 mug l(-1) Pb. Internal standardization increased the lifetime of the tube by 25%. Direct determinations of Pb in wines with and without internal standardization approaches were in agreement at the 95% confidence level. The repeatability and the tube lifetime were improved when using Bi as internal standard. The improvement in accuracy using an internal standard was only observed when the analytical results were affected by errors.

The origin of photoluminescence in amorphous lead titanate

We discuss the nature of visible photoluminescence at room temperature in amorphous lead titanate in the light of the results of recent experimental and theoretical calculations. Experimental results obtained by XANES and EXAFS revealed that amorphous lead titanate is composed of a Ti-O network having fivefold Ti coordination and NBO-type (non-bridging oxygen) defects. These defects can modify the electronic structure of amorphous compounds. Our calculation of the electronic structure involved the use of first-principle molecular calculations to simulate the variation of the electronic structure in the lead titanate crystalline phase, which is known to have a direct band gap, and we also made an in-depth examination of amorphous lead titanate. The results of our theoretical calculations of amorphous lead titanate indicate that the formation of fivefold coordination in the amorphous system may introduce delocalized electronic levels in the HOMO ( highest occupied molecular orbital) and the LUMO ( lowest unoccupied molecular orbital). A comparison of the experimental and theoretical results of amorphous compounds suggests the possibility of a radiative recombination (electron-hole pairs), which may be responsible for the emission of photoluminescence. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Attainment of lead titanate - Through the thermal decomposition of coprecipitated 8-hydroxyquinolinate precursors

Crystalline PbTiO3 was obtained through the thermal decomposition of 8-hydroxyquinolinate of lead(II) and that of titanium(IV), which was monitored by TG/DTG/DTA under different atmospheric conditions and with varying heating rates. The compound was prepared from adding 8-hydroxyquinoline solution in the solution of metallic ions Pb(II):Ti(IV) (1:1) Linder constant stirring at 3degreesC, having the pH adjusted to 10. The results of these investigations show that different thermal behavior related to the precursor occurred and also the consequent formation of residues which have different crystallinities. No carbonate residues from the thermal decomposition could be determined by XRD and IR. Only PbTiO3 was observed and confirmed by DSC at 470degreesC, temperature lower than the tetragonal-cubic transition.

Photoluminescence in amorphous zirconium titanate

Photoluminescence at room temperature was observed in amorphous zirconium titanate obtained from the polymeric precursor method. This was the first time in which PL was noticed in an amorphous compound made of two network formers. The PL spectra could be deconvoluted into two bands, whose center 1 was located from 540 nm to 552 nm and center 2 from 625 nm to 641 nm. The co-existence of fivefold and sixfold oxygen coordination of titanium and/or zirconium could be the origin of the radiative recombination of electron-hole pairs in amorphous ZT, which may be responsible for the emission of the photoluminescence.

Nature of defects for bismuth layered thin films grown on Pt electrodes

The authors investigated the influence of defects on the piezoelectric and dielectric properties of Bi4Ti3O12 (BIT), SrBi4Ti4O15 (SBTi) and CaBi4Ti4O15 (CBTi144) thin films by x-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements. In the SBTi film, Sr which is a nonpolarizable ion restricting the movement of Ti4+ ions and thus leads to a low piezoresponse. Meanwhile, the oxygen environment is quite different in the BIT and CBTi144 films exhibiting excellent piezoelectric properties. The piezoelectric coefficient and the dielectric behavior were larger for a-b axis oriented than for c axis-oriented films due to the defects created during the films crystallization. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Electrical characterization of lead zirconate titanate prepared by organic solution route

Two series of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics with composition Zr/Ti approximate to 53/47 have been prepared by the organic solution route. The effects on the electrical properties of calcination temperature in one series and of sintering time period in the other were examined. Dielectric constant, electrical conductivity and impedance spectroscopy results differed from one series to the other, probably due to differences in structure of the precursor powders, as seen by X-ray diffraction. Tetragonal and rhombohedral phases predominate in the powders used, respectively, in the calcined and sintered series. Physical and electrical behavior of ceramics prepared from predominantly rhombohedral powder suggests the evaporation of PbO. The presence of two semi-circles in impedance plots leads to the association of the low frequency semi-circle to the presence of PbO, which, apparently, was not eliminated from ceramics prepared from predominantly tetragonal powder. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Microstructural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of calcium-modified lead titanate thin films derived by chemical processes

Ferroelectric Pb1-xCaxTiO3 (x = 0.24) thin films were formed on a Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate by the polymeric precursor method using the dip-coating technique for their deposition. Characterization of the films bq X-ray diffraction showed a perovskite single phase with a tetragonal structure after annealing at 700 degreesC. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses showed that the film had a smooth and crack-free surface with low surface roughness. In addition, the PCT thin film had a granular structure with an 80 nm grain size. The thickness of the films observed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is 550 nm and there is a good adhesion between the film and substrate. For the electrical measurements metal-ferroelectric-metal of the type capacitors were obtained, where the thin films showed good dielectric and ferroelectric properties. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor at 1 kHz and measured at room temperature were found to be 457 and 0.03. respectively. The remanent polarization and coercive field for the: deposited films were P-r = 17 muC/cm(2) and E-c = 75 kV/cm, respectively. Moreover. The 550-nm-thick film showed a current density in the order of 10(-8) A/cm(2) at the applied voltage of 2 V. The high values of the thin film's dielectric properties are attributed to its excellent microstructural quality and the chemical homogeneity obtained by the polymeric precursor method. (C) 2001 Elsevier science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topotatic-like phase transformation of amorphous lead titanate to cubic lead titanate

The crystallization process of lead titanate (PT) prepared using the polymeric precursor method was investigated using X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques. The results showed that amorphous PT was formed by an O-Ti-O structure composed of fivefold and sixfold oxygen-coordinated titanium. The local structure of the amorphous PT phase was similar to that of the cubic PT phase, i.e., similar coordination number and similar bond lengths, leading to a topotactic-like transformation during the phase transformation from amorphous to cubic perovskite PT. Because of the low crystallization temperature, every transformation observed during the crystallization process was associated with a short-range rearrangement process.

Luminescence in semi-crystalline zirconium titanate doped with lanthanum

This paper aims to describe the synthesis of the semi-crystalline and crystalline powder of lanthanum doped with zirconium titanate (65/35), LZT through Pechini method. The analysis done by Raman demonstrated that semi-crystalline phase at 550 degrees C and crystalline phase after 600 degrees C were formed. The XRD pattern shows the ZrTiO4 phase formation demonstrating that La substitutions into the lattice take place. The calcined powder at different temperatures shows a semi-crystalline phase presenting photoluminescence effect when processed at low temperatures. From 300 to 400 degrees C a broadband is observed at 563 nm and 568 nm, respectively. Defects creation such as: Zr3+ center dot Vo(center dot center dot) and Ti3+ - V-O(center dot center dot), Zr and Ti replaced by La with vacancy formation, impurities and imperfections contributed to the photoluminescence effect. However, the main emission is due to a reverse Ti4+ -> O2- or/and Zr4+ -> O2- transition that occur within a regular titanate or zirconate eight-fold coordination [BO8-delta], B = Zr4+, Ti4+. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and electrical characterization of semiconducting barium-lead-titanate ceramics

BaTiO3 is usually doped to achieve the temperature stability required by device applications, as well as to obtain a large positive temperature coefficient anomaly of resistivity (PTCR). Uniform distribution of dopants among the submicron dielectric particles is the key for optimal control of grain size and microstructure to maintain a high reliability. The system Ba0.84Pb0.16TiO3 was synthesized from high purity BaCO3, TiO2, PbO oxide powders as raw materials. Sb2O3, MnSO4 and ZnO were used as dopants and Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2 as grain growth controllers. Phase composition was analyzed by using XRD and the microstructure was investigated by SEM. EDS attached to SEM was used to analyze phase composition specially related to abnormal grain growth. Electrical resistivities were measured as a function of temperature and the PTCR effect characterized by an abrupt increase on resistivity.

Size effect on structure and dielectric properties of Nb-doped barium titanate

It is known that the dielectric properties of BaTiO3 (BT) are strongly dependent on its grain size. Coarse-grained ceramics of pure BT showed lower dielectric constant at room temperature then fine grained. Many authors considered that when the grain size is lower than 700 nm, the lattice of BT changes from tetragonal to pseudocubic, and the dielectric constant value is very low. In the doped BT this effect is more complex, because it is necessary to consider also the influence of dopants. The grain size effect on the structure and dielectric properties of niobium-doped barium titanate was investigated. Niobium-doped barium titanate was prepared from powders obtained by doping of commercial barium titanate and from organometallic complex using citrates as precursors (Pechini procedure). The crystal and microstructure of sintered niobium-doped barium titanate were determined. Dielectric constant and dissipation factor were measured. The observation confirmed that the structure and properties are strongly dependent on grain size. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.