D. Sitko

Stress-induced photon emission from perturbed organisms

This paper reviews an ultraweak luminescent response of selected biological systems (lower and higher plants, insects and spermatozoa) to certain kinds of detrimental mechanical, temperature, chemical and photochemical stress and to lethal factors. The enhancing effect of white light and formaldehyde on the ultraweak luminescence of yeast and spermatozoa cells is described for the first time. An increase in the percentage of long wavelengths (λ>600 nm) with an increase in reaction time, and a significant influence of the suspending medium on the ultraweak luminescence, were observed. The vitality and motility of bull spermatozoa and the vitality of yeast cells were drastically decreased by treatment with white light, water, formaldehyde and iron-ions. Successive irradiation of intact bull spermatozoa cells with white light caused an increase in the intensity of delayed luminescence. An attempt has been undertaken to find stochastic models of non-stationary photon emission. The quasi-relaxation descending stage of non-stationary processes can be modeled as the Integrated Moving Average process IMA (0,1,1), and memory and transfer functions can describe the degree of perturbation in the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The relation of the ultraweak luminescence response to perturbations of homeostasis is discussed in the framework of biochemical and physical models.

Effect of Zr4+ Doping on the Electrical Properties of BaTiO3 Ceramics

The BaZrxTi1-xO3 for 0⩽x⩽15 ceramics were prepared by a conventional solid state reaction method and were determined by an X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for crystallographic, surface morphological and compositional studies. A single phase with perovskite structure was identified in the samples at room temperature. No significant impurities were detected in an EDS spectrum and the samples are in good stoichiometric ratio. The temperature dependence of electric conductivity was evaluated in the temperature range from 300 to 550 K for a selected frequency by a HP4284 LCR meter. The activation energy was calculated from the Arrhenius plots.

The Electrical Properties of Ba1-ySryZrxTi1-xO3 Solid Solution

A lead-free solid solution Ba0.80Sr0.20Ti0.75Zr0.25O3 was prepared by a conventional technology. The structure and morphology of investgated samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The studies of electric conductivity were performed depending on temperature and frequency of electric measuring field. The activation energy was calculated from the Arrhenius plots.

Dielectric spectroscopy study of barium titanate ceramics doped with europium ions

The differences between the physical properties of BaTiO3 and BaTiO3+0.1wt.% Eu2O3 were identified. Scanning electron microscopy studies show that the small addition of europium to barium titanate ceramics results in a decrease in the average grain size from 5–10 μm to 2–4 μm. The alternating current measurements were performed in the temperature range from 150 to 600 K and in the frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz. Both thermal analysis and dielectric spectroscopy indicate that the temperature of the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition shifts towards room temperature.

Influence of uniaxial pressure and aging on dielectric and ferroelectric properties of BaTiO3 ceramics

The effect of uniaxial pressure (0–3000 bar) applied parallel to the AC electric field and aging on dielectric and ferroelectric behavior of BaTiO3 ceramics were investigated. Applying uniaxial pressure leads to a reduction of the peak intensity of the electric permittivity (ε) of the polarization as well as of the dielectric hysteresis. The peak intensity of ε becomes diffused and shifts to a higher temperatures with increasing the pressure. The electrostrictive coefficient Q 11 and differential permittivity were evaluated from the obtained data. We interpreted our results based on the hardening of the soft-mode and domain switching processes under the action of pressure. The aging effect followed a logarithmic law and is related to the relaxation of the domain structure toward an equilibrium configuration. The aging rate was found to decrease with increasing frequency as a result of the pinning of polarization components by defects field.

Characterization of Dielectric Anomaly in Solid Solution Based on BaTiO3

The influence of Zr doping on a structure and dielectric properties of Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 were studied. For this purpose Ba0.8Sr0.2Ti0.75Zr0.25O3 ceramics were obtained by a conventional method and were determined by an X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for crystallographic, surface morphological and compositional studies. The temperature and frequency dependence of dielectric permittivity were studied in the temperature range from 150 to 500 K and the frequency between 20 Hz and 1000000 Hz. The thermal behavior of the Ba0.8Sr0.2Ti0.75Zr0.25O3 ceramics were also studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry. A diffusivity coefficient γ was calculated.

The effects of the additive of Eu ions on elastic and electric properties of BaTiO3 ceramics

ABSTRACT The BaTiO3 and BaTiO3+X%wt.Eu2O3 (X = 1, 2, 3) ceramics were prepared by a solid phase reaction. The structural and morphology studies were carried out by means of an X-ray diffraction technique and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Elastic moduli were determined with the use of an ultrasonic method. The dielectric permittivity (ϵ′) and tanδ as a function of composition and temperature were investigated. The increasing concentration of Eu ions leads to a slight shift of the Curie temperature and changes the characteristics of ϵ′ and tanδ. The structural, mechanical and dielectric properties of the BTEX ceramics were discussed in terms of microstructure and dopants contents.

Composition-related structural, thermal and mechanical properties of Ba1−xSrxTiO3 ceramics (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4)

The Ba1−xSrxTiO3 (BST) ceramics were prepared by conventional ceramic method. The crystalline structure and morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Experimental results show that increase of sintering temperature leads to an uncontrolled precipitating of the phase with a lower content of Ti. The dielectric constant and specific heat as a function of composition and temperature were investigated. The increasing concentration of Sr ions leads to a shift of the Curie point below room temperature. To determine the elastic constants (the Youngs modulus E, the shear modulus G and the Poissons ratio v) of BST, a method of measurement of the longitudinal (νL) and transverse (νT) ultrasonic wave velocities for this type of material was developed. The structural, dielectric and mechanical properties of BST ceramics were discussed in terms of microstructure and chemical composition

Thermal, Raman and dielectric study of 0.5K0.5Bi0.5TiO3–0.5PbTiO3 ceramics

The 0.5K0.5Bi0.5TiO3–0.5PbTiO3 ceramics were prepared by following a standard solid-state method. The Raman, thermal and dielectric properties of these ceramics were investigated. The X-ray measurements showed that samples have single perovskite-type structure with tetragonal symmetry. Dielectric study revealed that the dielectric behaviour of the investigated ceramics is rather of normal ferroelectrics with large thermal hysteresis. The transition temperature observed by means of differential scanning calorimetry measurements is in good agreement with that obtained from dielectric study.

Electrical Characterization of the Fe-Doped BT Ceramics by an Impedance Spectroscopy

The electric properties of the Fe - doped BaTiO3 ceramics was investigated as a function of frequency and temperature. The structure and morphology of investigated sample were characterized by an X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The impedance measurements were carried out at the temperature ranging from 450 K to 600 K, and at the frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz. Based on these parameters the electrical properties of the grains and grains boundaries were described. The bulk and grains boundaries resistance of ceramics and the thermal activation energies were determined.