J. C. Sczancoski

Synthesis, growth process and photoluminescence properties of SrWO4 powders.

SrWO(4) powders were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and processed in a microwave-hydrothermal (MH) at 140 degrees C for different times. The obtained powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman (MR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field-emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns and MR spectra showed that the SrWO(4) powders present a scheelite-type tetragonal structure without the presence of deleterious phases. FT-IR spectra exhibited a high absorption band situated at 831.57 cm(-1), which was ascribed to the WO antisymmetric stretching vibrations into the [WO(4)] tetrahedron groups. FEG-SEM micrographs suggested that the processing time is able to influence in the growth process and morphology of SrWO(4) powders. UV-vis absorption spectra revealed different optical band gap values for these powders. A green PL emission at room temperature was verified in SrWO(4) powders when excited with 488 nm wavelength.

Optical and dielectric relaxor behaviour of Ba(Zr0.25Ti0.75)O3 ceramic explained by means of distorted clusters

In this work, Ba(Zr0.25Ti0.75)O3 ceramic was prepared by solid-state reaction. This material was characterized by x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. The temperature dependent dielectric properties were investigated in the frequency range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz. The dielectric measurements indicated a diffuse phase transition. The broadening of the dielectric permittivity in the frequency range as well as its shifting at higher temperatures indicated a relaxor-like behaviour for this material. The diffusivity and the relaxation strength were estimated using the modified Curie–Weiss law. The optical properties were analysed by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements at room temperature. The UV–vis spectrum indicated that the Ba(Zr0.25Ti0.75)O3 ceramic has an optical band gap of 2.98 eV. A blue PL emission was observed for this compound when excited with 350 nm wavelength. The polarity as well as the PL property of this material was attributed to the presence of polar [TiO6] distorted clusters into a globally cubic matrix. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

Morphology and Photoluminescence of HfO 2 Obtained by Microwave-Hydrothermal

In this letter, we report on the obtention of hafnium oxide (HfO2) nanostructures by the microwave-hydrothermal method. These nanostructures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission gum scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns confirmed that this material crystallizes in a monoclinic structure. FEG-SEM and TEM micrographs indicated that the rice-like morphologies were formed due to an increase in the effective collisions between the nanoparticles during the MH processing. The EDXS spectrum was used to verify the chemical compositional of this oxide. UV–vis spectrum revealed that this material have an indirect optical band gap. When excited with 488 nm wavelength at room temperature, the HfO2nanostructures exhibited only one broad PL band with a maximum at around 548 nm (green emission).In this letter, we report on the obtention of hafnium oxide (HfO2) nanostructures by the microwave-hydrothermal method. These nanostructures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission gum scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns confirmed that this material crystallizes in a monoclinic structure. FEG-SEM and TEM micrographs indicated that the rice-like morphologies were formed due to an increase in the effective collisions between the nanoparticles during the MH processing. The EDXS spectrum was used to verify the chemical compositional of this oxide. UV–vis spectrum revealed that this material have an indirect optical band gap. When excited with 488 nm wavelength at room temperature, the HfO2nanostructures exhibited only one broad PL band with a maximum at around 548 nm (green emission).

Synthesis of (Ca,Nd)TiO3 powders by complex polymerization, Rietveld refinement and optical properties

Neodymium calcium titanate, (Ca(0.99)Nd(0.01))TiO(3) powders were synthesized by the complex polymerization method and heat treated at different temperatures for 2 h under air atmosphere. The structural evolution of these powders as a function of heat treatment temperature was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro-Raman (MR) spectroscopy. The optical properties were investigated by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and Photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns, Rietveld refinement and MR spectra indicated that the powders heated treated at 750 degrees C for 2 h present an orthorhombic structure without secondary phases. UV-vis measurements suggested the presence of intermediary energy in disordered (Ca(0.99)Nd(0.01))TiO(3) powders. Broad and narrow bands were observed in the PL spectra of these powders when excited with 350 nm wavelength. The broad bands were associated to the structural defects and/or p-d electronic transitions while, the narrow bands were ascribed to f-f transitions arising from Nd(3+) ions.

Structural evolution, growth mechanism and photoluminescence properties of CuWO4 nanocrystals

Copper tungstate (CuWO4) crystals were synthesized by the sonochemistry (SC) method, and then, heat treated in a conventional furnace at different temperatures for 1h. The structural evolution, growth mechanism and photoluminescence (PL) properties of these crystals were thoroughly investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns, micro-Raman spectra and Fourier transformed infrared spectra indicated that crystals heat treated and 100°C and 200°C have water molecules in their lattice (copper tungstate dihydrate (CuWO4·2H2O) with monoclinic structure), when the crystals are calcinated at 300°C have the presence of two phase (CuWO4·2H2O and CuWO4), while the others heat treated at 400°C and 500°C have a single CuWO4 triclinic structure. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed a change in the morphological features of these crystals with the increase of the heat treatment temperature. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution-TEM images and selected area electron diffraction were employed to examine the shape, size and structure of these crystals. Ultraviolet-Visible spectra evidenced a decrease of band gap values with the increase of the temperature, which were correlated with the reduction of intermediary energy levels within the band gap. The intense photoluminescence (PL) emission was detected for the sample heat treat at 300°C for 1h, which have a mixture of CuWO4·2H2O and CuWO4 phases. Therefore, there is a synergic effect between the intermediary energy levels arising from these two phases during the electronic transitions responsible for PL emissions.

Morphology and Optical Properties of SrWO 4 Powders Synthesized by the Coprecipitation and Polymeric Precursor Methods

Industries are technologically dependent of new materials with a high optical efficiency for the development of electrooptical devices. In particular, ceramic oxides have a wide potential to supply this technological demand, especially those belonging to the scheelite group. A well-known scheelite in the scientific community is the strontium tungstate (SrWO4) because of their typical luminescence emissions. In addition, the main parameters responsible for the changes of physicochemical properties of any material are crystalline structure, composition, surface chemistry, particle sizes, and shapes. These parameters can be directly affected by the synthesis methods as well as due to their experimental conditions. In this chapter it was reported the synthesis of SrWO4 powders by two distinct chemical routes (coprecipitation and polymeric precursor method), which were subsequently heat-treated at different temperatures in a resistive furnace and a microwave oven. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects induced by both synthesis methods and heat treatment conditions (conventional and microwave) on the morphological aspects and optical properties of SrWO4. The details on the structural rearrangement at long and short range were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectra, and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra at the W L 3 -edge, respectively. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy was an essential technique in order to verify the shape and distribution of the particle system. The optical properties were based on measurements of ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and photoluminescence spectra at room temperature. In principle, these results were correlated to reveal a better interpretation of experimental data at the atomic level, providing new insights on the morphological and optical properties of SrWO4 crystals. Particularly, the explanations on these properties were based on structural order-disorder effects, which will be analyzed and discussed with more details along this chapter.