National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

The paper describes the investigations of (Zr0.8Sn0.2)TiO4 compounds prepared by solid-state reaction techniques. The effect of La2O3, ZnO and NiO addition on microwave dielectric properties was investigated. The samples were sintered at temperatures T-s = 1280 divided by 1400 degrees C The inaterials exhibit a dielectric constant epsilon(r) similar to 36 and high values of the Q f productfroin 30,000 to 55,000 at microwave frequencies. The measured temperature coefficient of the resonance frequency tau(f) takes values in the range (-2 divided by+4) ppm/degrees C.

This paper reports an investigation of the gas-sensitive properties of thick film sensors based on mixed nanosized oxides (1-x)alpha Fe2O3-XSnO2 (x = 0.1 - 1.0), towards different reducing gases (CH4, CO, H2O). The samples were tested in the range of temperatures (200-400 degrees C). The mixed oxides proved a real sensitivity to CH4, being practically insensitive to detection limit of CO. The maximum response to CH4 takes place at 330 degrees, where the water interference was also studied.

Molecular dynamics of water confined to some molecular sieves is Studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (10(-2) to 10(9) Liz). Faujasite as well as molecular sieves with hexagonal cylindrical pores or cellular structure were used as confining matrix. It was found that the mean relaxation time of confined water has unusual non-monotonic saddle-like temperature dependence. Such temperature dependence was interpreted using a model recently developed by Ryabov et al. [J. Phys. Chem. B 2001, 105, 1845] to analyze the dynamics of water in nanoporous glasses. The unusual behavior is the result Of two competing processes: orientational fluctuations the water molecules following all Arrhenius-like temperature dependence and the formation of the defects necessary for this reorientation. The number of defects decreases with increasing the temperature. The temperature dependence of the relaxation time has been proven to be a quite fundamental phenomenon characteristic for water in confining geometries. The defects involved in the dynamics of confined water might be related to the presence of OH groups as defects of the confining framework.

We report an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigation of the spin dynamics in the paramagnetic regime of nanosized La0.67Ca0.33MnO3-delta manganites. The temperature dependences of the EPR line width and integral intensity have been analyzed in terms of the bottlenecked spin relaxation and small polaron hopping scenarios. The exchange coupling integral between Mn3+ and Mn4+ ions and the polaron activation energy decrease with the reduction of grain size. A discussion is given concerning the factors which could explain the observed changes.

Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of C-60 solutions in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) show a drastic increase of the PL intensity if the solutions are stored longer periods of time. Two distinct spectral components, one in the red (1.92-2.00 eV) and another in the green (2.18-2.3 eV) were identified in the whole PL emission. Their weights depend on C-60 concentration and on storage time. The two emissions come from two successive processes running with different kinetics. Charge transfer, leading to (C-60, NMP) loose molecular complexes and a slow aggregation process of these entities seems to originate the red and green emission, respectively. Similar PL properties are found when pyrrolidine (P) is used as solvent.

Lead chalcogenides (PbS, PbSe, PbTe) are narrow band gap semiconductors which have been studied in the field of IR detection and thermoelectric devices. The template method is a general approach for synthesizing nanomaterials within the pores of membranes. The membranes employed contain cylindrical pores with monodisperse diameters, and corresponding cylindrical nanostructures are obtained. The aim of the present study was to prepare PbSe1-xTex nanorod arrays using electrodeposition. The process was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The resulted PbSe1-xTex nanostructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX).

Nanocrystalline powders of a soft FeNbLi-doped PZT material have been prepared by a novel mechanochemical process consisting of mixing the stoichiometric oxides in a planetary ball mill for prolonged times up to 80 h. The constituent oxides were reacted in a tungsten carbide vial with balls of 5, 10 and 20 mm in diameter and a ball/powder ratio of 15/1. The chemical reaction between the component oxides was triggered after 20 h of energetic milling and was completed after 80 h. The XRD of the reacted nanopowder showed the well known perovskite structure. Compacted samples of this powder were sintered between 800-1300degreesC for 3 h and the main piezoelectric properties were determined. The density of the sintered samples reached nearly 99% of the theoretical density at 1100degreesC and showed good piezoelectric characteristics: planar coupling factor of 0.66, dielectric displacement constant d(33) of 550 pm/V, mechanical quality factor of 85, and relative dielectric constant of 3800. The possible mechanisms for solid state reaction of mechanically activated nanopowders such as local heating and pressure at collision as well as defects diffusion are discussed. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

In this paper, we present Raman studies of different carbon nanotubes systems like single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs), multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) or composites prepared with different conjugated or non-conjugated polymers. We have focused our studies on the interactions that can take place in these systems and in general modify the characteristics of individual tubes. By introducing Van der Waals interactions between tubes, we are able to interpret experimental Raman spectra. In the case of SWNTs, we have put in evidence the so-called "bundle'' effect that consists of an upshift of the frequency of the RBM of 10 to 16 cm(-1), depending on the size of the bundles. In MWNTs, one can calculate the low frequency Raman modes observed experimentally. We found that they originate from the radial breathing modes of isolated tubes with an upshift that depends on the number of shells constituting the tube and we were then able to calculate the intensity of such modes. Finally, in polymer/nanotubes composites, we demonstrate that interactions take place between the two constituents in two different cases: PPV/SWNTs and PANI/SWNTs. The role of the method of preparation of composites is particularly put in evidence.

Electrolytic colouration at about 600degreesC and 350 V/cm, for KCl crystal containing Pb2+ and for KCl:Pb2+ crystals co-doped with Li+, Na+ and Rb+ has been undertaken. Several absorption bands were observed in both doped and co-doped crystals in the visible-UV region. Excitation into these bands gives rise to the same 0.86 eV emission band except for the Li+-co-doped crystal which gives rise to a 0.80 eV emission band. These absorption bands are due to the same T-a-centre related to Pb-. The observed infrared emission intensity of the crystal with F-centres is higher than of without F-centres. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) method in which the outer furnace is replaced by the high frequency induction heating (IH) has been used for synthesis of carbon nanostructures. Using different catalysts, various types of carbon nanofibers were obtained, with the absence of the catalyst particles at their tip as a common characteristic. The IH mode combined with the CCVD method seems attractive for the synthesis of carbon nanostructures, allowing a significant decrease of energy consumption and of the overall reaction time as compared with the heating mode with outer furnace. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.