G.H. Rao

Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of RE2.28Fe13.58B1.14 Alloys

The rare-earth (RE) permanent magnets based on Nd2Fe14B with excellent magnetic properties have been widely used in industrial applications. In this work, the crystal structure, microstructure and magnetic properties of Nd2.28Fe13.58B1.14, Ce2.28Fe13.58B1.14 and Pr2.28Fe13.58B1.14 alloys prepared by arc-melting were investigated. The results show that all alloys are single phase with tetragonal Nd2Fe14B-type (space group P42/mnm). The Curie temperatures (Tc) of RE2.28Fe13.58B1.14 (RE=Nd, Ce, Pr) alloys are 583 K, 423 K and 557 K, respectively. On the other hand, the coercivities of Nd2.28Fe13.58B1.14 and Pr2.28Fe13.58B1.14 alloys are about 1.05 T and 1.23 T, respectively, while that of Ce2.28Fe13.58B1.14 alloy is only about 0.25 T due to the poor squareness of hysteresis loop. Meanwhile, the saturation magnetizations of Nd2.28Fe13.58B1.14 and Pr2.28Fe13.58B1.14 alloys are about 135 emu/g and 113 emu/g, respectively, while that of Ce2.28Fe13.58B1.14 alloy is about 97 emu/g. It was indicated that the Curie temperatures and magnetic properties of RE2.28Fe13.58B1.14 alloys with the same crystal structure are dependent on light rare earth elements.

Thermodynamic Calculations of the Rare Earth Permanent Magnets: Fe-RE Binary Systems

As the key sub-binary systems in the rare-earth (RE) permanent magnetic materials with excellent magnetic properties (e.g. Nd-Fe-B, Sm-Fe-N magnets), the Fe-RE binary systems were investigated widely due to the industrial applications of permanent magnets. In this work, the experimental data of phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the Fe-RE binary systems (RE=La, Ce, Pr, Nd) in the published literature are reviewed firstly. Based on available phase equilibria data and thermodynamic data, the Fe-RE binary systems are assessed thermodynamically using the CALPHAD method. As a result, further experimental information and thermodynamic calculations will be both required in order to develop thermodynamic database of the RE-Fe-B ternary systems, which is very useful to study the relations between alloy composition, microstructure and magnetic properties of novel Nd-Fe-B-based permanent magnets.

Thermodynamic Calculation of the Rare Earth Permanent Magnets: Fe-RE (RE=Ho, Er, Tm, Sm) Binary Systems

The experimental data of phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the Fe-RE (RE=Ho, Er, Tm, Sm) binary systems were reviewed. The previous thermodynamic calculation of the Fe-RE (RE=Ho, Er, Tm, Sm) binary systems were discussed based on the comparison of the calculated phase diagram and thermodynamic properties with the experimental data. The compared results show that more experimental information of phase diagram and thermodynamic properties in the Fe-RE (RE=Ho, Er, Tm, Sm) binary systems should be determined and then thermodynamic re-calculation of these binary systems would be performed to develop compatible and available thermodynamic database of the RE-Fe-B ternary systems. It is indispensable to study the relations between alloy compositions, microstructure and magnetic properties of novel Nd-Fe-B-based permanent magnets.

Thermodynamic Calculation of Phase Equilibria in the Mn-RE (RE=Nd, Gd, Dy) Binary Systems

Ternary intermetallic compounds with rare earth elements and transition metals in the RE-Mn-X (X=Si, Ge, Sn etc.) ternary systems show interesting magnetic properties. As key sub-binary systems of the RE-Mn-X (X=Si, Ge, Sn etc.) ternary systems, the information of phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the Mn-RE (RE=Nd, Gd, Dy) binary systems are indispensable to explore the RE-Mn-X (X=Si, Ge, Sn etc.) alloys with better magnetic properties. In this work, the experimental data of phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the Mn-RE (RE=Nd, Gd, Dy) binary systems in the published literature were reviewed. Based on the available experimental information, thermodynamic calculation of phase equilibria of the Mn-RE (RE=Nd, Gd, Dy) binary systems was performed using the CALPHAD method. As a result, further experimental investigation and thermodynamic optimization would be still necessary in order to develop the self-consistent and compatible thermodynamic database of the RE-Mn-based alloy systems.

Structural Evolution and Physical Properties of Nano-Crystalline BiFeO3

The effect of temperature on the structural evolution and physical properties of nanocrystalline BiFeO3 compound has been studied systematically. The results show that the compound crystallizes in the hexagonal LiNbO3 type-structure (space group R3c) and the structural characterization was a=b=5.5979 Å, c=13.9163 Å and V=387.43 Å3. The average crystallite size was about 32.5 nm. The Neel temperature was the same in the vacuum and air conditions, but the decomposition temperature in the air condition was higher 190°C than that of the vacuum condition.

Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Tin-Copper Nanocomposites as a Superior Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The Sn–Cu nanocomposites composing of Sn, Cu6Sn5, Cu3Sn and SnO2 are synthesized by a facile precipitation method. Their morphologies and structures are characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM. The electrochemical properties are investigated by charge–discharge testing, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. The sample with a Sn/Cu ratio of 5:3 delivers good cycling stability. The discharge specific capacity is 447.5 mAhg-1 after 70 cycles at a current density of 100 mAg-1 and the coulombic efficiency is beyond 95%. The superior rate and cycling performance of Sn–Cu nanocomposites are also demonstrated, which may be rooted in their nanostructure and phase composition.

Microstructure and Hydrogen Storage Properties of Ti-V-Fe Alloys

Microstructure, hydrogen storage properties and thermal stabilities of V-Ti-Fe alloys prepared by arc-melting were studied in this work. It was confirmed that V60Ti30Fe10, V70Ti20Fe10 and V80Ti10Fe10 alloys are a body-centered cubic (bcc) single phase, while V75Ti10Fe15 alloy consists of the bcc main phase and C14-typed Laves secondary phase. Experimental results show that the V80Ti10Fe10 alloy reached the largest hydrogen absorption capacities which were about 1.9 wt.% and 1.62 wt.% at 423 K and 473 K, while V75Ti10Fe15 alloy with C14-typed Laves phase showed better hydrogen desorption capacities with 1.31 wt.% at 423 K and 1.35 wt.% at 473 K, respectively. In addition, the DSC measurements indicate that the thermal stability of V75Ti10Fe15 alloy with C14-typed Laves phase decreased, which is very beneficial to the improvement of dehydrogenation rate in the alloy.

Thermodynamic Re-Assessment of the Mn-La Binary System

In this work, eleven Mn-La alloys were investigated experimentally by means of thermal analysis. The temperatures of the invariant reactions in the Mn-La binary system were determined. To confirm whether the liquid miscibility gap exists in the Mn-La system, one key alloy (Mn72La28) was prepared and then checked by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Microstructure observation and composition analysis indicated the nonexistence of the liquid miscibility gap. Based on the experimental results obtained in the present work and the critical review of the available experimental data in the published literature, a set of self-consistent thermodynamic parameters for the Mn-La system was obtained using the CALPHAD method by thermodynamic optimization of the selected experimental data.

Development of Thermodynamic Database of Ti-V-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloys

In this work,Ti-V-based hydrogen storage alloys have been studied because of their high hydrogen absorption/desorption capacities and good activated properties. Experimental data of phase equlibria and thermodynamic assessments of the sub-binary/ternary systems in the Ti-V-based multi-component systems are reviewed in reported literature. Based on the measured phase diagram data and thermochemica information, thermodynamic parameters formulating the Gibbs energies of various phases in some sub-binary/ternary systems of Ti-V-based multi-component alloys are assessed using the CALPHAD method. A set-consistent thermodynamic database of the Ti-V-based multi-component system is developed, which is helpful to study the relations between alloy compositions, microstructure and hydrogen storage properties in order to design novel Ti-V-based hydrogen storage alloys.