Tuning the Thermoelectric Performance of CaMnO3-Based Ceramics by Controlled Exsolution and Microstructuring

The thermoelectric properties of CaMnO3-δ/CaMn2O4 composites were tuned via microstructuring and compositional adjustment. Single-phase rock-salt-structured CaO-MnO materials with Ca:Mn ratios larger than unity were produced in reducing atmosphere and subsequently densified by spark plasma sintering in vacuum. Annealing in air at 1340 °C between 1 and 24 h activated redox-driven exsolution and resulted in a variation in microstructure and CaMnO3-δ materials with 10 and 15 vol % CaMn2O4, respectively. The nature of the CaMnO3-δ/CaMn2O4 grain boundary was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy on short- and long-term annealed samples, and a sharp interface with no secondary phase formation was indicated in both cases. This was further complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which confirmed that the CaMnO3-δ indeed is a line compound. DFT calculations predict segregation of oxygen vacancies from the bulk of CaMnO3-δ to the interface between CaMnO3-δ and CaMn2O4, resulting in an enhanced electronic conductivity of the CaMnO3-δ phase. Samples with 15 vol % CaMn2O4 annealed for 24 h reached the highest electrical conductivity of 73 S·cm-1 at 900 °C. The lowest thermal conductivity was obtained for composites with 10 vol % CaMn2O4 annealed for 8 h, reaching 0.56 W·m-1K-1 at 700 °C. However, the highest thermoelectric figure-of-merit, zT, was obtained for samples with 15 vol % CaMn2O4 reaching 0.11 at temperatures between 800 and 900 °C, due to the enhanced power factor above 700 °C. This work represents an approach to boost the thermoelectric performance of CaMnO3-δ based composites

Band Formation during Gaseous Diffusion in Aerogels

We study experimentally how gaseous HCl and NH_3 diffuse from opposite sides of and react in silica aerogel rods with porosity of 92 % and average pore size of about 50 nm. The reaction leads to solid NH_4Cl, which is deposited in thin sheet-like structures. We present a numerical study of the phenomenon. Due to the difference in boundary conditions between this system and those usually studied, we find the sheet-like structures in the aerogel to differ significantly from older studies. The influence of random nucleation centers and inhomogeneities in the aerogel is studied numerically.Comment: 7 pages RevTex and 8 figures. Figs. 4-8 in Postscript, Figs. 1-3 on request from author

Lead-Free Relaxor-Like 0.75Bi0.5K0.5TiO3– 0.25BiFeO3 Ceramics with Large Electric Field-Induced Strain

Dense and phase-pure ferroelectric ceramics of 75 mol.% Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 - 25 mol.% BiFeO3 are prepared by the conventional solid state reaction method. Their crystal structure is analyzed and discussed. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics are investigated at various temperatures. The ceramics exhibit relaxor-like dielectric properties and high electric field-induced strain (equivalent to 250-300 pm/V at 25-75 degrees C), not previously reported for this composition, making it a promising lead-free alternative for actuator applications

Compositional dependence of the crystal symmetry of Eu3+-doped (SrxBa1-x)(2)CaWyMo1-yO6 phosphors

International audienceTwo series of A-site and B-site Eu3+ doped (SrxBa1-x)(2)CaWyMo1-yO6 double perovskite phosphor materials were prepared via a modified Pechini sol-gel route; (SrxBa1-x)(1.96)Eu(0.02)K(0.02)CaW(y)Mo(1-)yO(6) and (SrxBa1-x)(2)Ca0.96Eu0.02Li0.02WyMo1-yO6 (x and y=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1). The Sr/Ba ratio was the main determinant for the crystal symmetry of the series, while variation in the W/Mo ratio did influence the crystal symmetry significantly. The crystal structure evolved with Sr/Ba ratio from cubic Frn (3) over barm for x=0, via tetragonal 14/m for x=0.25, to monoclinic P2(1)/n for x >= 0.5, as verified by Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffractograms as well as by Raman spectroscopy. The reported boundaries for the compositionally induced phase transitions are in very good agreement with reported optical properties. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

AFM measurements of forces between silica surfaces

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Photoluminescence of A- and B-site Eu3+-substituted (SrxBa1-x)(2)CaWy Mo1-yO6 phosphors

International audienceThe photoluminescence of two series of A- and B-site Eu3+ substituted (SrxBa1-x)(2)CaWyMo1-yO6 double perovskite phosphor materials, (SrxBa1-x)(1.96)Eu0.02K0.02CaWyMo1-yO6 and (SrxBa1-x)(2)Ca0.96Eu0.02Li0.02WyMo1-yO6 (x and y=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1), were studied systematically as a function of stoichiometry and crystal structure. The Eu3+ lattice sites controlled by co-doping with either K or Li were confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The variation in integrated emission intensity and emission colour over the experimental matrix was examined using statistical tools, and the observed trends were rationalized based on the physical and electronic structure of the phosphors. Phosphors with Eu on B-site with maximum Sr content had remarkably higher emission intensities than all other materials, but the emission was more orange than red due to domination of the D-5(0) - F-7(1) (595 nm) transition of Eu3+. The relative intensities of the D-5(0) - F-7(2) (615 nm) and D-3(0) - F-7(1) transitions of Eu3+, and thus the red-shift of the emission, decreased linearly with increasing Sr content in the A-site Eu-substituted phosphors, and reached a maximum for Sr1.96Eu0.02K0.02CaW0.25Mo0.75O6. A maximum external quantum efficiency of 17% was obtained for the phosphor Sr2Ca0.7Eu0.15Li0.15W0.5Mo0.5O6 with Eu on B-site. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Memristive TiO2: Synthesis, Technologies, and Applications

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of the most widely used materials in resistive switching applications, including random-access memory, neuromorphic computing, biohybrid interfaces, and sensors. Most of these applications are still at an early stage of development and have technological challenges and a lack of fundamental comprehension. Furthermore, the functional memristive properties of TiO2 thin films are heavily dependent on their processing methods, including the synthesis, fabrication, and post-fabrication treatment. Here, we outline and summarize the key milestone achievements, recent advances, and challenges related to the synthesis, technology, and applications of memristive TiO2. Following a brief introduction, we provide an overview of the major areas of application of TiO2-based memristive devices and discuss their synthesis, fabrication, and post-fabrication processing, as well as their functional properties