Investigations on the Multiferroic and Thermoelectric properties of Low and Intermediate band width Manganites

This thesis lays importance in the investigation on the multiferroic and thermooelectric properties of selected representatives of low bandwidth and intermediate band width manganites. The first candidate, Strontium doped Gd manganite, is prepared by wet solid state reaction method and the second candidate, Na doped La manganite, by citrate gel method. In addition to the above mentioned properties, magneto resistance and dielectric properties are investigated. Using dielectric spectroscopic the dispersion parameters are correlated to the relaxation mechanisms and an attempt is made to obtain the grain and grain boundary contribution to the impedance of the sample through impedance spectroscopy studies.

Preparation, structure, and properties of strontium-doped lanthanum chromites: La1−xSrxCrO3

Strontium-doped lanthanum chromites, La1−xSrxCrO3, have been synthesised to investigate the effect of strontium doping on the stability and physico-chemical characteristics of the perovskite LaCrO3. Both microscopic and X-ray examinations show that the materials exist as single phase perovskite structure for all compositions up to 50 mole% strontium substitution. The materials have been further characterized by infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra. These materials show a good sinterability even in air at 1773 K. Electrical conductivity of thse perovskites has been measured as a function of temperature. Electrical conductivity has been found to be a maximum at x=0.2. The observed electrical and magnetic properties are consistent with activated polaron transport as the mechanism for electrical conduction in these materials.

Fabrication and luminescent properties of rare earths-doped Gd-2(WO4)(3) thin film phosphors by Pechini sol-gel process

Rare earth ions (Eu3+ and Dy3+)-doped Gd-2(WO4)(3) phosphor films were prepared by a Pechini sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting powders and films. The results of XRD indicate that the films begin to crystallize at 600degreesC and the crystallinity increases with the elevation of annealing temperatures. The film is uniform and crack-free, WO(4)(2-)mainly consists of closely packed fine particles with an average grain size of 80 nm. Owing to an energy transfer from 4 groups, the rare earth ions show their characteristic emissions in crystalline Gd-2(WO4)(3) phosphor films, i.e., D-5(J) -F-7(J), (J = 0, 1, 2, 3; J' = 0 1, 2, 3, 4, not in all cases) transitions for Eu3+ and F-4(9/2)-H-6(J) (J = 13/2, 15/2) transitions for D Y3+, with the hypersensitive transitions D-5(0)-F-7(2) (Eu3+) and F-4(9/2) - H-6(13/2) (Dy3+) being the most prominent groups, respectively.

Fabrication and testing of a doped lanthanum gallate electrolyte thin-film solid oxide fuel cell

A supported lanthanum gallate (LSGM) electrolyte thin-film solid oxide fuel cell with Ni-YSZ cermet anode and strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (LSM)-yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite cathode was, for the first time, fabricated and tested. The cell was prepared by an unconventional approach, in which an LSGM thin film (about 15 mum thick) was first deposited on a porous substrate such as a porous YSZ disk by a wet process and sintered at a high temperature (above 1400degrees C). NiO was then incorporated into the porous substrate by a carefully controlled impregnation process and fired at a much lower temperature. In this way, the severe reaction between LSGM and NiO at a high temperature, which is required for the full densification of LSGM film, can be avoided. A strontium-doped LaMnO3 (LSM)-YSZ composite cathode was screen printed on the surface of the LSGM film and then fired at 1250degrees C. The electrolyte resistances of the SOFC single cells fabricated by this approach are much lower compared to those of thick LSGM film supported cells. A maximum output power density of over 0.85 W/cm(2) at 800degreesC with H-2 as fuel and air as oxidant for a fabricated cell was achieved. (C) 2002 The Electrochemical Society.

Experimental and theoretical study of the ferroelectric and piezoelectric behavior of strontium-doped PZT

Theoretical data using ab initio perturbed ion calculation were compared with ferroelectric and piezoelectric experimental data of strontium doped PZT. Various concentrations of SrO in PZT at constant temperature and sintering time were carried out. Experimental results, such as the remanent polarization, P-R of 6.9-8.9 muC/Cm-2, the coercive field, E-C of 6.6-7.8 kVcm, and the planar coupling factor, Kp of 0.45-0.53, were compared with the energy of Zr4+ and Ti4+ ion dislocation and the lattice interaction energy which show that strontium increment in PZT alter the energies and increase the values of piezoelectric and ferroelectric variables. Calculations of lattice energy of the rhombohedral phase show that a phase non-stability is coincident with increasing experimental values of the P-R, E-C and Kp. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural phase evolution of strontium-doped lead titanate thin films prepared by the soft chemical technique

Strontium-modified lead titanate thin films with composition Pb1-xSrxTiO3 were grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates using the polymeric precursor method. The structural phase evolution as a function of the Sr contents was studied using micro-Raman scattering, specular reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The results showed a gradual change from tetragonal to cubic structure, the transition occurring at about x = 0.58. The infrared reflectance spectra showed that the frequency of several peaks decreases as the strontium concentration increases. These features are correlated with a decrease in the tetragonal distortion of the TiO6 octahedra as the strontium concentration increases.

Sintering of cobalt and strontium doped lanthanum chromite obtained by combustion synthesis

Lanthanum chromite (LaCrO3) is one of the most adequate materials for use as interconnector in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications, due to its intrinsic properties, namely its good electrical conductivity and resistance to environment conditions in fuel cell operations. Due to difficulties in sintering, additives are usually added to help in the densification process. In this work, the influence of added cobalt and strontium, in the sintering of LaCrO3 obtained by combustion synthesis was studied. The starting materials were respectively nitrates of chromium, lanthanum, cobalt and strontium, and urea was used as fuel. The results show that by increasing the strontium and cobalt concentrations it is possible to reduce the temperature of sintering. Using both additives, the sintering processes took place in lesser times than normally used for this material, as well as greater values of density were attained.

Desenvolvimento de componentes nanométricos para aplicação em células a combustível à base de sólidos estruturados e filmes finos

The present work aims the preparation of filmes of strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (perovskita) yttria-stabilized zirconia (LSM-SDC) films deposited on substrate of YSZ by means of spin coating technique having as principal objective their application to solid oxide fuel cells of intermediate temperature. La0,8Sr0,2MnO3 and Ce0,8Sm0,2O1,9 were obtained by modified Pechini method by use of gelatin which act as polymerization agent. The powders obtained were characterized by Xray fluorescence, X ray diffraction, electronic scanning microscopy and the superficial area by BET method. The results obtained by X-ray fluorescence showed that the route adopted for obtention of powders was effective in the obtention of the compositions with close values to the stoichiometrics. Ethyl cellulose was used as pore-forming agent and mixed with the LSM-SDC powders in weight proportions of 1:24, 2:23 and 1:9. The films were sintered at 1150 °C for 4 h and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy technique (SEM) and atomic force. The phases quantification of the precursory powders and of the obtained films was carried through Rietveld method. According with the analysis of SEM, as the content of ethyl cellulose was increased, the pore distribution in films become more uniform and the pore size reduced. The methodology used for the obtention of the films was very efficient, considering a material was obtained with characteristics that were proper to the application as electrolyte/cathode system to solid oxide fuel cells

ESR studies of X-irradiated strontium mixed calcium tartrate crystals

The electron spin resonance spectra of X-ray irradiated single crystals of strontium doped calcium tartrate tetrahydrate (CST) with molecular formula Ca0.88Sr0.12C4H4O6.4H(2)O grown in gels has been investigated. Only one species of free radical but with two magnetically unequivalent sites was observed at room temperature. The free radical was found to be the result of the splitting of a C-II bond adjacent to both the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. The a factor was found to be slightly anisotropic. Couplings with two H nuclei, believed to be the proton of the OH group attached directly to the unsaturated asymmetric carbon atom and the proton attached directly to the: other asymmetric carbon atom of the molecule were observed. The principal g-values were found to be 2.0030, 2.0017, 2.0027. The principal elements of the nuclear coupling are 7.45, 6.59, 4.28 and 8.56, 7.22, 18.71 G, respectively. The radical was found to be very stable. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spectroscopy properties and energy level location of Gd(2)O(2)S:Pr(3+),Ce(3+)

In this work we propose the study of the spectroscopy properties and the energy level location of Ce(3+) and Pr(3+) in Gd(2)O(2)S, along with the effects of Ce(4+) (Ce(2)O(2)S(2)) incorporation in Gd(2)O(2)S and Gd(2)O(2)S: Pr(3+) in order to understand the formation and position of the associated defects energy levels in relation to the band structure of Gd(2)O(2)S and Pr(3+) energy levels. Ce-, Pr(3+)-doped and Pr(3+), Ce-doped Gd(2)O(2)S were prepared by the sulfidization of a basic gadolinium carbonate with S(8) using H(2)/N(2) (3.0/97.0%) and air during the firing of the precursor. Samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction in order to guarantee the formation of the Gd(2)O(2)S single phase. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and luminescent measurements (emission/excitation) were used to locate Ce(3+), Pr(3+) and defects energy levels in relation to the band structure of Gd(2)O(2)S. (C) 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

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.