Mechanism of the Phase Change in PbK2LiNb5O15: Dielectric, structural, and Raman scattering studies

Experiments reveal that PbK2LiNb5O15 which belongs to the tetragonal tungsten bronze family presents paraelectric and ferroelectric phases and a complex structural change between them. High and low temperature phases are of symmetry P4/mbm and Pba2 respectively, so that this change is also of ferroelastic type. As presented here, crystallographic results hint at a displacive character of the ferroelectric ordering but show a more complex behaviour, with a clear order-disorder mechanism which accompanies the appearance of ferroelasticity. To complete our knowledge of this material, we have performed Raman experiments which exhibit a low frequency mode, but no clear soft mode is observed

MECHANISM OF THE PHASE CHANGE IN PbK2LiNb5O15: Dielectric, structural, and Raman scattering studies

Experiments reveal that PbK2LiNb5O15 which belongs to the tetragonal tungsten bronze family presents paraelectric and ferroelectric phases and a complex structural change between them. High and low temperature phases are of symmetry P4/mbm and Pba2 respectively, so that this change is also of ferroelastic type. As presented here, crystallographic results hint at a displacive character of the ferroelectric ordering but show a more complex behaviour, with a clear order-disorder mechanism which accompanies the appearance of ferroelasticity. To complete our knowledge of this material, we have performed Raman experiments which exhibit a low frequency mode, but no clear soft mode is observed

Enhanced RCP and large inverse magnetocaloric effect of CoFe2_2O4_4 nanoparticles synthesized by auto-combustion method

This work focuses on the microstructure, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of CoFe$_2$O$_4$ (CFO) nanoparticles elaborated by sol-gel auto combustion method. The XRD investigation indicates that CFO is crystallized in a cubic spinel structure and the SEM micrograph shows a fine quasi-spherical with an average grain sizes of 160 nm. The temperature dependence of the Raman spectra reveals the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic (FM-PM) transition started from 723 K and the magnetization versus temperature measurements shows the Curie temperature located at T$_{\rm C}$ = 785 K. Large value of magnetocaloric temperature change of $\Delta$T =11.2 K with a high RCP of 687.56 J Kg$^{-1}$ are achieved indirectly via the Maxwell approach making our CFO nanopowder suitable candidate for both environmentally friendly magnetic refrigeration and medical applications at ambient temperature

Room-temperature magnetoelectric effect in lead-free multiferroic (1−x)(1-x) Ba0.95_{0.95}Ca0.05_{0.05}Ti0.89_{0.89}Sn0.11_{0.11}O3_3-(x)(x)CoFe2_2O4_4 particulate composites

Multiferroic particulate composites $(1-x)$ Ba$_{0.95}$Ca$_{0.05}$Ti$_{0.89}$Sn$_{0.11}$O$_3$-$(x)$CoFe$_2$O$_4$ with ($x$ = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) have been prepared by mechanical mixing of the calcined and milled individual ferroic phases. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of both perovskite Ba$_{0.95}$Ca$_{0.05}$Ti$_{0.89}$Sn$_{0.11}$O$_3$ (BCTSn) and spinel CoFe$_2$O$_4$ (CFO) phases without the presence of additional phases. The morphological properties of the composites were provided by using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. The BCTSn-CFO composites exhibit multiferroic behavior at room temperature, as evidenced by ferroelectric and ferromagnetic hysteresis loops. The magnetoelectric (ME) coupling was measured under a magnetic field up to 10 kOe and the maximum ME response found to be 0.1 mV /cm/ Oe for the composition 0.7 BCTSn-0.3 CFO exhibiting a high degree of pseudo-cubicity and large density

Structural, dielectric and electrocaloric properties of (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Zr0.1-xSnx)O3 ceramics elaborated by sol-gel method

Ferroelectric ceramics (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Zr0.1-xSnx)O3 (x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06) were prepared by a sol-gel method. Structural investigation revealed the co-existence of tetragonal (P4mm) and orthorhombic (Pmm2) symmetries at room temperature for the undoped ceramic, while only a tetragonal structure (P4mm) was observed for the doped ceramics. Dielectric measurements indicate a dielectric relaxation process at high temperatures which is essentially related to the hopping of oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, a down shifting of the Curie temperature (TC) with increasing Sn4+ doping rate has been revealed. The temperature profiles of the Raman spectra unveiled the existence of polar nanoregions (PNRs) above the Curie temperature in all ceramics. The ferroelectric properties were found to be related to the microstructure. Electrocaloric effect was investigated in this system that revealed an electrocaloric responsivity of 0.225 10-6 K m/V for the composition with x = 0.04 Sn doping, where other remarkable physical properties were also observed

Electrocaloric effect and high energy storage efficiency in lead-free Ba0.95_{0.95}Ca0.05_{0.05}Ti0.89_{0.89}Sn0.11_{0.11}O3_3 ceramic elaborated by sol-gel method

Structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, energy storage properties, and electrocaloric effect were studied in lead-free ceramic Ba$_{0.95}$Ca$_{0.05}$Ti$_{0.89}$Sn$_{0.11}$O$_3$ (BCTSn) elaborated by sol-gel method. Phase purity structure was confirmed from X-ray data using Rietveld refinement analysis which revealed the coexistence of tetragonal (P4mm) and orthorhombic (Amm2) symmetries at room temperature. Phase transitions were detected by dielectric and differential scanning calorimetry results. Energy storage properties were determined from P-E hysteresis, and the electrocaloric properties were calculated indirectly via the Maxwell approach. The large value of electrocaloric temperature change of $\Delta$T=0.807 K obtained at a relatively small field of 30 kV cm$^{-1}$ and high energy storage efficiency can make BCTSn ceramic a promising candidate for environmentally friendly refrigeration and energy storage applications

Magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroic CFO/BCTSn core shell nanofibers elaborated by co-axial electrospinning method

Multiferroic CoFe2O4-Ba0.95Ca0.05Ti0.89Sn0.11O3 core-shell nanofibers (CFO@BCTSn NFs) were synthesized by a sol-gel co-axial electrospinning technique. The scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope were used to check nanofibers' core-shell structure/configuration. X-ray diffraction and a high-resolution transmission electron microscope were used to confirm the spinel structure of CFO and the perovskite structure of BCTSn. The magnetic character of the resultant CFO@BCTSn NFs was determined by SQUID magnetometry. The piezoelectricity was verified using piezo-response force microscopy, which revealed an entirely covered ferroelectric shell outline, in accordance with SEM and TEM observations. The magnetoelectric (ME) coefficient was measured as a function of the applied external DC magnetic field. The maximum ME coefficient obtained for the CFO@BCTSn NFs was 346 mV cm-1 Oe-1. The high magnetoelectric coupling suggests that CFO@BCTSn NFs could be a promising candidate for magnetic field sensor and magnetoelectric device applications

Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Physics of Data Storage (ISPDS1)

International audienceVarious memory technologies have emerged throughout history. Today, the discovery of new technologies and new materials over the past two decades has helped to manufacture memory devices, less bulky, less expensive, consuming less energy, but always with a larger capacity and higher speed data transfer. The international symposium ISPDS-1 has gathered researchers working on various aspects related with the problem of data storage, as Ferroics and Multiferroics, Memory storage devices, Switching phenomena, Heterojunctions and semiconductors, Energy and environment, and miscellaneous aspects. These proceedings gather abstracts of recent works in the field, presented at the symposium