Nesta tese estudamos as condições para o crescimento estável dos compostos óxidos de metais de transição Sr2MO4 e das soluções sólidas SrM1-xM\'xO3, (M,M\'=Ru,Ti,V) pela técnica de fusão a laser de pedestais. Os nutrientes e sementes policristalinos utilizados para produzir fibras monocristalinas crescidas por fusão a laser não foram, em geral, nem queimados nem sinterizados antes do seu uso. Dois caminhos diferentes de processamento foram seguidos para a preparação de amostras cristalinas. A melhor condição de crescimento cristalino encontrada foi a que envolve o uso de atmosfera gasosa isostática como ambiente de crescimento cristalino. Porém, enquanto que fibras monocristalinas altamente homogêneas de SrTiO3, Sr2RuO4 e SrVO3 foram obtidas desta maneira, foi muito difícil estabelecer condições aceitáveis de crescimento cristalino para as soluções sólidas. A forte influência da natureza química do ambiente de crescimento cristalino e dos reagentes químicos de partida na qualidade da fibra monocristalina foi investigada. Explicações para as principais dificuldades encontradas no crescimento tanto das composições extremas como das suas soluções sólidas foram inferidas usando argumentos termodinâmicos e cálculos semi-empíricos dos parâmetros importantes envolvidos no processo de crescimento cristalino. A caracterização das fibras monocristalinas incluiu algumas adaptações aos métodos tradicionais de caracterização da resistividade elétrica, microestrutura e composição em cristais volumétricos. / In this thesis we have studied the conditions for the stable growth of the transition metal oxide compounds Sr2MO4 and solid solutions SrM1-xM\'xO3, (M,M\'=Ru,Ti,V) by the laserheated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique. The polycrystalline seed and feed rods used to grow single crystal fibers have, in general, not been fired or sintered prior to use. Two different processing methods were followed to prepare single crystal samples. The best crystal growth condition found was one involving the use of isostatic gaseous atmosphere as the crystal growth ambient. However, while highly homogeneous SrTiO3, Sr2RuO4 and SrVO3 single crystal fibers were obtained in this way, it was very difficult to establish acceptable crystal growth conditions for the preparation of the solid solutions. The strong influence of the chemical nature of the crystal growth ambient and starting reagents on the single crystal fiber quality was investigated. Explanations for the main difficulties found to grow both the extreme compositions and their solid solutions have been inferred using thermodynamic arguments and semi-empirical calculations of important parameters involved in the crystal growth process. Single crystal fibers characterization included some adaptations to the traditional electrical resistivity, microstructural and compositional methods practised in bulk crystals.

Neste trabalho desenvolvemos processos de crescimento e caracterização de fibras monocristalinas de SrTiO3 e Sr2RuO4 puros e como soluções sólidas através da técnica LHPG (laser heated pedestal growth). Esses processos são descritos desde as sínteses dos compostos, preparação dos nutrientes e sementes necessários para aplicação da técnica. Alguns resultados inéditos foram obtidos relativos à influência de cada um desses procedimentos e das alterações de parâmetros próprios da técnica na qualidade e características das fibras monocristalinas obtidas através dos resultados da caracterização estrutural, composicional e elétrica das fibras desses compostos. Diversas fibras monocristalinas de SrTiO3 puro foram obtidas diretamente a partir de nutrientes dos reagentes SrCO3 e TiO2, enquanto que, fibras monocristalinas de Sr2RuO4, (um novo composto de grande interesse tecnológico), foram obtidas de nutrientes de SrRuO3. A importância desses dois últimos resultados, inéditos até então, será discutida em detalhes neste trabalho. Deficiência de rutênio de até 75% do valor nominal dos nutrientes, além de gradientes de composição indesejados, foram encontrados no volume das fibras monocristalinas de algumas composições da solução sólida. Neste último caso a qualidade das fibras parece depender fortemente da taxa de puxamento do nutriente e da semente, respectivamente, bem como do processo utilizado na preparação da matéria prima. / In this work we developed characterization and crystal growth processes of Sr2RuO4, pure SrTiO3 and some compounds of the solid solution SrTi1-xRuxO3 through the LHPG (laser heated pedestal growth) technique. These processes are described from the synthesis of compounds and the preparation of seeds and nutrients necessary for the application of the technique. Some new results related to change of parameters of the technique and the influence of each preparation procedure on the quality and characteristics of the fibers were obtained through the results of the structural, compositional and electrical characterization of single crystal fibers of these compounds. Several SrTiO3 single crystal fibers were directly obtained from nutrients of the reagents SrCO3 and TiO2 while Sr2RuO4 (a new compound of considerable technological interest) single crystal fibers were obtained from SrRuO3 nutrients. The importance of these last two results, that are unknown up to now, will be discussed in detail in this work. Ruthenium deficiency up to 75% of the nominal value of the nutrients, besides undesired composition gradients, were found in the bulk of solid solution single crystal fibers of some compositions. In this last case, apparently the qualities of the single crystal fibers have a strong dependence on the feeding and pulling rates of nutrient and seed, respectively, as well as of the processes used for start materials preparation.

Pressure and temperature are two environmental variables that are increasingly being exploited by solid-state researchers probing structure-property relationships in the crystalline state. Modern high-pressure apparatus is capable of generating many billions of Pascals in the laboratory, and therefore can produce significantly greater alterations to crystalline materials than changes in temperature, which can typically be varied by only a few thousand Kelvin. Many systems such as single-molecule magnets exhibit interesting properties under low-temperature regimes that can be substantially altered with pressure. The desire by investigators to perform analogous single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies has driven the development of new high-pressure apparatus and techniques designed to accommodate low-temperature environments. [Ni(en)3][NO3]2 undergoes a displacive phase transition from P6322 at ambient pressure to a lower symmetry P6122/P6522 structure between 0.82 and 0.87 GPa, which is characterized by a tripling of the unit cell c axis and the number of molecules per unit cell. The same transition has been previously observed at 108 K. The application of pressure leads to a general shortening of O···H hydrogen bonding interactions in the structure, with the greatest contraction (24%) occurring diagonally between stacks of Ni cation moieties and nitrate anions. A novel Turnbuckle Diamond Anvil Cell designed for high-pressure low-temperature single-crystal X-ray experiments on an open-flow cryostat has been calibrated using the previously reported phase transitions of five compounds: NH4H2PO4 (148 K), ferrocene (164 K), barbituric acid dihydrate (216 K), ammonium bromide (235 K), and potassium nitrite (264 K). From the observed thermal differentials between the reported and observed transition temperatures a linear calibration curve has been constructed that is applicable between ambient-temperature and 148 K. Low-temperature measurements using a thermocouple have been shown to vary significantly depending on the experimental setup for the insertion wire, whilst also adding undesirable thermal energy into the sample chamber which was largely independent of attachment configuration. High-pressure low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4] (known as Mn12OAc) reveals a pressure-induced expulsion of the crystallized acetic acid from the crystal structure and resolution of the Jahn-Teller axes disorder between ambient pressure and 0.87 GPa. These structural changes have been correlated with high-pressure magnetic data indicating the elimination of a slow-relaxing isomer over this pressure range. Further application of pressure to 2.02 GPa leads to the expansion of these Jahn-Teller axes, resulting in an enhancement of the slow-relaxing magnetic anisotropy as observed in the literature. Relaxation of pressure leads to a resolvation of the crystal structure and re-disordering of the Jahn-Teller axes, demonstrating that this structural-magnetic phenomenon is fully reversible with respect to pressure. The space group of the Prussian blue analogue Mn3[Cr(CN)6].15H2O has been re-evaluated as R-3m between ambient pressure and 2.07 GPa using high-pressure single-crystal X-ray and high-pressure neutron powder data. Reductions in metal-metal distances and gradual distortions of the Mn octahedral geometry have been correlated with previously reported increases in Tc and declines in ferrimagnetic moment in the same pressure range. Increasing the applied pressure to 2.97 GPa leads to partial amorphization and results in a loss of long-range magnetic order as shown by the literature. The application of pressure (1.8 GPa) to the structure of K2[Pt(CN)4]Br0.24.3.24H2O (KCP(Br)) causes a reduction in the Pt intra-chain and inter-chain distances, and results in an enhancement of the overall conductivity under these conditions as demonstrated in the literature. Almost no changes occur to the high-pressure crystal structure upon cooling to 4 K, except in the Pt-Pt intra-chain distances which converge and suppress the Peierls distortion known to occur at 4 K, resulting in a comparatively greater electrical conductivity under these conditions.

Silicon in single crystal form has been the material of choice for the first demonstration of the MIT microengine project. However, because it has a relatively low melting temperature, silicon is not an ideal material for the intended operational environment of high temperature and stress. In addition, preliminary work indicates that single crystal silicon has a tendency to undergo localized deformation by slip band formation. Thus it is critical to obtain a better understanding of the mechanical behavior of this material at elevated temperatures in order to properly exploit its capabilities as a structural material. Creep tests in simple compression with n-type single crystal silicon, with low initial dislocation density, were conducted over a temperature range of 900 K to 1200 K and a stress range of 10 MPa to 120 MPa. The compression specimens were machined such that the multi-slip <100> or <111> orientations were coincident with the compression axis. The creep tests reveal that response can be delineated into two broad regimes: (a) in the first regime rapid dislocation multiplication is responsible for accelerating creep rates, and (b) in the second regime an increasing resistance to dislocation motion is responsible for the decelerating creep rates, as is typically observed for creep in metals. An isotropic elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model that accounts for these two mechanisms has been developed in support of the design of the high temperature turbine structure of the MIT microengine. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Single crystals with composition Lu3Al5O12 were synthesized using Czochralski and micro-pulling-down melt growth techniques. Polycrystalline ceramics of the same composition were synthesized by vacuum annealing of powders prereacted using a citrate-nitrate combustion technique and by spark-plasma-sintering of powders prereacted using a flame-spray-pyrolysis technique. Single crystals and polycrystalline ceramics are activated with Ce3+ or Pr3+ or doubly activated with Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions. Cerium-doped Czochralski-grown single crystals were compared to cerium-terbium codoped Czochralski-grown and micro-pulling down single crystals. Cerium-terbium codoped single crystals are also compared to similarly-activated polycrystalline ceramics sintered under vacuum using combustion-synthesized prereacted powders. X-ray diffraction analysis and fluorescence characterization were used to determine successful formation of single-phase LuAG and successful incorporation of doping species. Absorbance, fluorescence, radioluminescence, and scintillation decay analyses were used to compare synthesis processes and activator selection.

No description available.

none

<p>This thesis deals with the influence of the structure andchemical composition of platinum surfaces on the adsorption ofsome molecules. Three main lines can be distinguished : 1) thecharacterisation of clean/modified surfaces, 2) the adsorptionof some simple atoms and molecules on these surfaces andfinally 3) the adsorption of 2-butenal, a bi-functionalmolecule containing a C=C group conjugated with a C=O group.The main tools used in this work are scanning tunnellingmicroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolutionelectron energy loss spectroscopy, in combination with quantumchemical calculations.</p><p>The platinum (111)(1× 1) and (110)(1× 2) surfacesare chosen as substrates. Pt(111) is a non-reconstructedclose-packed surface, while the Pt(110) surface is open, due toits missing row (MR) reconstruction, which results in thealternation of ridges, {111} microfacets and valleys. Titaniumgrows on Pt(111) in a Volmer-Weber mode. Pronounced reactionsbetween Pt and Ti are detected already at room temperature asthe Ti2p and Pt4f_7/2core-level shifts are characteristic of the Pt₃Ti alloy. Carbon segregated on the (110) surfaceappears as extended graphitic regions, which smoothen thesubstrate. Sn deposition at room temperature on Pt(110) resultsin the appearance of small islands, randomly spread over thesurface. The presence of mobile Sn ad-atoms and Pt-Sn-Ptalloyed chains in the valley of the MR reconstruction is alsoevidenced. Annealing the surface results in the rearrangementof the tin in the surface layer, together with a globalshortening of the terraces in the [110]direction and anincreased density of (1× n) (n>2) defects.</p><p>The adsorption of atomic hydrogen and oxygen has beenperformed on the Pt(111)( √ 3x √3)R30º surfacealloy and on Pt(110)(1× 2) respectively. The adsorptionsite of these atoms is changed as compared to the onedetermined on the clean Pt(111) surface (i.e. fcc hollow site): H is adsorbed on-top site on the (√3× √3)surface alloy, and O sits on the ridge of the missing rowreconstruction in bridge site. Carbon monoxide adsorption wasperformed on Pt(111) and Pt(110)(1× 2) surfaces, modifiedor not by tin. On the unmodified (111) surface, CO adsorbsfirst in top site, thenin bridge. Changing the geometry of thesurface to the (110) results in the vanishing of the bridgesite population. Modifying these surfaces by Sn does not changethe CO adsorption site.</p><p>Finally, 2-butenal (CH₃-CH=CH-CH=O) has been adsorbed at 100 K on thePt(111) surface and the Sn/Pt(111) surface alloys. On theunmodified Pt surface, comparison with results obtained forpropene (CH₂=CH-CH₃) adsorption evidences the involvement of the C=Cgroup of the 2-butenal molecule in the bonding to the Ptsurface. The carbonyl group is also suggested to take part inthe bonding, through a σ_ccη₁(O) configuration. This carbonyl group bondingdisappears when Sn is alloyed to the surface, and the formationof a new physisorbed phase is detected.</p>

Single crystals with composition Lu3Al5O12 were synthesized using Czochralski and micro-pulling-down melt growth techniques. Polycrystalline ceramics of the same composition were synthesized by vacuum annealing of powders prereacted using a citrate-nitrate combustion technique and by spark-plasma-sintering of powders prereacted using a flame-spray-pyrolysis technique. Single crystals and polycrystalline ceramics are activated with Ce3+ or Pr3+ or doubly activated with Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions. Cerium-doped Czochralski-grown single crystals were compared to cerium-terbium codoped Czochralski-grown and micro-pulling down single crystals. Cerium-terbium codoped single crystals are also compared to similarly-activated polycrystalline ceramics sintered under vacuum using combustion-synthesized prereacted powders. X-ray diffraction analysis and fluorescence characterization were used to determine successful formation of single-phase LuAG and successful incorporation of doping species. Absorbance, fluorescence, radioluminescence, and scintillation decay analyses were used to compare synthesis processes and activator selection.

Transducers utilizing single crystal piezoelectrics as the active elements have been shown to exhibit broader operating bands, higher response levels, and higher power efficiency than transducers using piezoceramics while also reducing the size and mass of the transducer (Moffett et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 2007). The key to these high performance characteristics is the piezocrystal's inherent high electromechanical coupling coefficient. One potential application is to replace multiple narrowband piezoceramic transducers with a single broadband piezocrystal transducer which reduces the system's weight and size. This is very important for the new generation of smaller and power efficient unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). A third application is for use in very broadband communication networks. The work presented here focuses specifically on the design, modeling, and construction of Tonpilz transducers using piezoelectrics as the active material. The modeling includes lumped element and finite element analysis to approximate the performance of these transducers. These models serve as the main structure of an overall iterative design process. The objective of this research is to compare the performance characteristics of a piezocrystal and a piezoceramic Tonpilz transducer and to validate the models by comparing the model predictions with experimental results. / text