C. A. Paskocimas

Highly intense violet-blue light emission at room temperature in structurally disordered SrZrO3 powders

Violet-blue photoluminescence was produced at room temperature in a structurally disordered SrZrO3 perovskite structure with a 350.7nm excitation line. The intensity of this emission was higher than that of any other perovskites previously studied. The authors discuss the role of structural order-disorder that favors the self-trapping of electrons and charge transference, as well as a model to elucidate the mechanism that triggers photoluminescence. In this model the wide band model, the most important events occur before excitation.

Experimental and theoretical correlation of very intense visible green photoluminescence in BaZrO3 powders

Very intense visible green photoluminescence (PL) was observed at room temperature in structurally ordered-disordered BaZrO3 powders. Ab initio calculations, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and PL were performed. Theoretical and experimental results showed that local defects in the cubic structure caused by [ZrO5⋅VOz] complex clusters, where VOz=VOx, VO•, and VO••, play an important role in the formation of hole-electron pairs, giving rise to a charge gradient in the structure which is responsible for PL emission.

Amorphous lead titanate: a new wide-band gap semiconductor with photoluminescence at room temperature

This paper describes a new amorphous wide-band gap semiconductor with photoluminescence (PL) at room temperature. The amorphous PbTiO3 was prepared by a sol–gel-like process in powder and thin film form. The optical property and the PL behaviour showed a direct relation to the amorphous structure. The PL peak energy can be controlled by the change of the exciting surge energy. Copyright

Comparison of blue pigments prepared by two different methods

The color efficiency of ceramic glaze blue pigments obtained by synthesis methods was compared. the fired pigments and enameled samples were characterized by XRD, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, CIE-L*a*b* color-measurements, and SEM. The pigments obtained by the Pechini method presented a better solubility in the molten glazes than the pigments obtained by the mechanical mixture of the oxide precursors. The pigments obtained by the Pechini method also developed a bluer color hue than the pigments obtained by the mechanical mixture of the oxide method. # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Photoluminescence of nanostructured PbTiO3 processed by high-energy mechanical milling

This letter reports on a process to prepare nanostructured PbTiO 3 ~PT! at room temperature with photoluminescence ~PL! emission in the visible range. This process is based on the high-energy mechanical milling of ultrafine PbTiO 3 powder. The results suggest that high-energy mechanical milling modifies the particle’s structure, resulting in localized states in an interfacial region between the crystalline PT and the amorphous PT. These localized states are believed to be responsible for the PL obtained with short milling times. When long milling times are employed, the amorphous phase that is formed causes PL behavior. An alternative method to process nanostructured wide-band-gap semiconductors with active optical properties such as PL is described in this letter.

Influence of polymerization on the synthesis of SrTiO3: Part II. Particle and agglomerate morphologies

Abstract Morphologies of SrTiO3 particles and agglomerates synthesized by the traditional Pechini route and by the polymer precipitation route were characterized by the nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A cluster structure of nanometric particles forming large agglomerates which are broken during pressing followed by cluster rearrangement was observed. The mean particle size is larger for SrTiO3 obtained by the Pechini route and is related to the precursor thermal decomposition and particle growth during calcination. The particle growth is controlled by neck growth among particles and further motion of the particle boundary.

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.

Key features of alumina/magnesia/graphite refractories for steel ladle lining

Abstract The corrosion resistance of resin bonded alumina/magnesia/graphite refractories containing different kinds of aggregates were investigated when submitted to the action of slags of several CaO/SiO2 ratios. The laboratory testing was performed by means of the rotary slag attack test. Specifically evaluated was the influence of alumina/carbon ratio and magnesia and silica contents on the refractories corrosion resistance. It was found that this property could be improved by increasing the refractory Al2O3/SiO2 ratio as well as by choosing the appropriate Al2O3/C ratio.

Synthesis and characterization of La1-xSr xMnO3±δ powders obtained by the polymeric precursor route

Polycrystalline strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (LSM) powders with 0.15, 0.22, and 0.30 mol % Sr were synthesized by the polymeric precursor route using a molar ratio of 3:1 citric acid and metal cations. The powders were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, high-temperature X-ray diffraction to determine the crystalline perovskite phase and crystallite sizes, scanning electron microscopy for the morphological analysis, nitrogen adsorption to determine the specific surface area, and laser scattering to evaluate the particle size distribution. The LSM perovskite-type oxides containing intermediate 0.22 mol % Sr were found to exhibit a tendency to decrease in crystallite size and increase in specific surface area and, when calcined at 700-900 oC exhibited a pure phase of perovskite, had a crystallite size of about 17-20 nm and a specific surface area for 900 oC of 34.3 m2.g-1.

Thermal Study of the Ceramic Pigments CoxZn(7−x)Sb2O12

Using the Pechini method, pigments with spinel structure (Zn7Sb2O12)were synthesized by substitution of the cation Zn2+ by Co2+, in compounds with different concentrations of Sb2O3. The doping resulted in CoxZn(7–x)Sb2O12 phases(x=1–7) that were isomorphs to spinel, denominated as samples A and B. After thermal treatment at 400°C for 1 h, the powders were characterized by thermogravimetry(TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The results indicate a different behavior whena higher amount of Sb2O3 is used, due to the presence of a secondary phase (ilmenite).