In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden durch den inversen piezoelektrischen Effekt kontrolliert Dehnungen in Lanthanmanganatschichten eingebracht und ihr Einfluss auf die Eigenschaften der Schichten untersucht. Dazu wird im ersten Teil der Arbeit ein Zweischichtsystem bestehend aus einer Manganatschicht aus La0,7Sr0,3MnO3, La0,8Ca0,2MnO3 oder La0,7Ce0,3MnO3 und einer piezoelektrischen Schicht aus PbZr0,52Ti0,48O3 untersucht. Der epitaktisch auf Einkristallsubstraten abgeschiedene Aufbau entspricht einer Feldeffekt-Transistor-Struktur. Neben den Effekten der Dehnung auf den elektrischen Widerstand der Manganatschicht wird auch der elektrische Feldeffekt untersucht. Durch mechanische Klemmung des Substrats können nur kleine Dehnungen in die Manganatschichten eingebracht werden. Um größere und homogene Dehnungen steuerbar in Manganatschichten einzubringen, werden im zweiten Teil der Arbeit La0,7Sr0,3MnO3 - Schichten auf piezoelektrischen Einkristallsubstraten der Verbindung (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 - xPbTiO3 mit x = 0,28 epitaktisch abgeschieden. Der Einfluss von mechanischen Dehnungen von bis zu 0,1% auf den elektrischen Transport, die ferromagnetische Übergangstemperatur und die Magnetisierung kann so eingehend untersucht werden. Es wird ein außergewöhnlich großer Einfluss von Dehnungen auf die Eigenschaften von La0,7Sr0,3MnO3 gefunden. / In this work, strain arising from the inverse piezoelectric effect is induced into lanthanum manganite thin films in order to change and control their properties. In the first part of this work, manganite films of the compositions La0.7Sr0.3MnO3, La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 or La0.7Ce0.3MnO3 are combined with a piezoelectric layer of the composition PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 in a bilayer system. This structure is grown epitaxially on single crystal substrates and corresponds to a field-effect transistor setup. Besides effects of strain on the electrical resistance of the manganite layers, field effects are observed. Due to clamping of the substrate, only small strains can be induced to the manganite films. In order to apply larger and homogeneous controllable strain to the manganite layers, thin films of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 are grown epitaxially on piezoelectric single crystal substrates of the composition (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 - xPbTiO3, x = 0.28. Strain levels up to 0.1% are reached. The influence of the strain on electrical transport, ferromagnetic transition temperature and magnetization is analyzed. A remarkably large influence of the strain on the properties of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 is found.

Multiferroika, also Materialien, die gleichzeitig ferroelektrische und ferromagnetische Eigenschaften besitzen, sind sowohl für die Forschung um das Verständnis dieser Eigenschaften als auch für potentielle Anwendungen in neuartigen Speichern von großem Interesse. Die Rasterkraftmikroskopie spielt hierbei eine entscheidende Rolle, da mit ihrer Hilfe die Eigenschaften solcher Probensysteme auf der Nanometerlängenskala untersucht werden können. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden drei unterschiedliche multiferroische Systeme auf ihre ferroelektrischen und ferromagnetischen Eigenschaften sowie auf deren Kopplung hin mit Hilfe verschiedener Methoden der Rasterkraftmikroskopie untersucht. Im Grundlagenteil dieser Arbeit wird dazu zunächst eine Methode vorgestellt, mit der magnetische Spitzen für die Rasterkraftmikroskopie charakterisiert werden können, so dass in experimentellen Untersuchungen die Wechselwirkung zwischen der untersuchenden Spitze und der untersuchten Probe besser abgeschätzt werden kann. Des Weiteren wird eine Möglichkeit vorgestellt, Kelvin-Sonden-Rasterkraftmikroskopie mit der magnetischen Rasterkraftmikroskopie zu kombinieren, um elektrostatische Artefakte bei den Untersuchungen der magnetischen Eigenschaften auszuschließen. Im experimentellen Teil der Arbeit werden zuerst die beiden einphasigen Multiferroika BiFeO3 und BiCrO3 untersucht. Es kann experimentell gezeigt werden, dass für die Untersuchung der ferromagnetischen Eigenschaften von Multiferroika die Kombination aus Kelvin-Sonden-Rasterkraftmikroskopie und magnetischer Rasterkraftmikroskopie notwendig ist und mit dieser Technik die magnetischen und elektrostatischen Kräfte ohne Übersprechen voneinander getrennt werden können. Mit Hilfe der Piezoantwort-Rasterkraftmikroskopie werden die ferroelektrischen Domänen dieser Systeme untersucht und lokal die Polarisationsrichtung in den einzelnen Domänen bestimmt. Weiterhin wird an einem Schichtsystem, bestehend aus einem Nickelfilm, der auf BaTiO3 aufgebracht ist, die magnetoelektrische Kopplung analysiert. Hierbei wird vor allem der Einfluss einer elektrischen Spannung auf die leichte magnetische Achse des Nickelfilms studiert, sowie die Veränderung der magnetischen Domänenstruktur in Abhängigkeit der angelegten elektrischen Spannung.

Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) and KTiOPO4 (KTP) are ferroelectric crystals of considerable interest in different fields of optics and optoelectronics. Due to its large values of the nonlinear optical, electro-optic (EO), piezoelectric and acousto-optical coefficients, LiNbO3 is widely used for laser frequency conversion using the quasiphase matching (QPM) approach where the sign of nonlinearity has been periodically modulated by electric field poling (EFP). In the microwave and telecommunication field LiNbO3 is used for surface acoustic devices and integrated optical modulators. KTP and its isomorphs, on the other hand, exhibit slightly lower nonlinear coefficients but have much higher photorefractive damage thresholds, so that it is mainly used in the fabrication of QPM devices for both UV, IR and visible light generation and in high power applications. This thesis focus on different key issues: (1) accurate characterization of specific optical properties of LiNbO3, which are of interest in nonlinear and EO applications; (2) in-situ visualization and characterization of domain reversal by EFP in LiNbO3 and KTP crystals for a through understanding of the ferroelectric domain switching; (3) fabrication of periodic surface structures at sub-micron scale in LiNbO for photonic applications. An interferometric method is used for accurate measurement of ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices in uniaxial crystals, which is of great interest in the proper design of QPM crystals. A digital holography (DH) based method is presented here for 2D characterization of the EO properties of LiNbO , which is considerably interesting in the applications where the proper design of the EO device requires a spatially resolved information about the EO behaviour and the existing pointwise techniques are not sufficient. A DH method for novel in-situ monitoring of domain reversal by EFP in both LiNbO3 and KTP, is also presented here. The technqiue could be used as a tool for high fidelity periodic domain engineering but also provides information about domain kinetics, internal field and crystals defects. 3 3 3 Finally this thesis presents novel results concerning nanoscale periodic surface structuring of congruent LiNbO3. Holographic lithography (HL) is used for sub-micron period resist patterning and electric overpoling for surface domain reversal. Surface structures are obtained by selective etching. Moiré effect is also used in the HL to fabricate complicated structures with multiple periods. The depth compatibility with waveguide implementation allows foreseeing possible applications of these structures for Bragg gratings or innovative photonic crystal devices, exploiting the additional nonlinear and EO properties typical of LiNbO3. / QC 20100824

Nonlinear optical frequency conversion is one of the most important key techniques in order to obtain lasers with wavelengths targeted for specific applications. In order to realize efficient and tailored lasers, the quasi-phase-matching (QPM) approach using periodically-poled ferroelectric crystals is getting increasingly important. Also understanding of damage mechanisms in nonlinear materials is necessary to be able to design reliable and well working lasers. This is especially true for high power application lasers, which is a rapidly growing field, where the damage problem normally is the ultimate limiting factor. In this thesis work, several promising novel ferroelectric materials have been investigated for nonlinear optical applications and the emphasis has been put on QPM devices consisting of periodically-poled structures. The materials were selected from three different types of ferroelectric materials: 1) MgO-doped stoichiometric LiNbO3 (MgO:SLN) and LiTaO3 (MgO:SLT), and non-doped stoichiometric LiTaO3 (SLT), 2) KTiOPO4 (KTP) and its isomorphs RbTiOPO4 (RTP), and 3) KNbO3 (KN). The focus in our investigations have been put on the spontaneous polarization switching phenomena, optimization of the periodic poling conditions, and the photochromic optical damage properties which were characterized by the help of blue light-induced infrared absorption (BLIIRA) measurements. With electrical studies of the spontaneous polarization switching, we were able to determine quantitatively, and compare, the coercive field values of different materials by applying triangularly shaped electric fields. We found that the values of the coercive fields depended on the increase rate of the applied electric field. The coercive field of KN was the lowest (less than 0.5 kV/mm) followed by the ones of KTP, SLT, and MgO:SLT (1.5 to 2.5 kV/mm). MgO:SLN, and RTP had relatively high coercive fields, approximately 5.0 to 6.0 kV/mm, respectively. Based on the domain switching characteristics we found, we successfully fabricated periodically-poled devices in all of the investigated materials with 30 μm periodicities and sample thickness of 1 mm. Blue light-induced infrared absorption (BLIIRA) has been characterized for unpoled bulk and periodically-poled samples using a high-sensitivity, thermal-lens spectroscopy technique. SLT showed a large photorefraction effect and the BLIIRA signal could not be properly measured because of the large distortion of the probe beam. The rise and relaxation time of BLIIRA, after switching the blue light on and off was in a time span of 10 to 30 sec except for KTP and its isomorphs, which needed minutes to hours in order to saturate at a fixed value. KN and MgO:SLN showed the lowest susceptibility to the induced absorption. Periodic poling slightly increased the susceptibility of KTP, MgO:SLT, and KN. Relatively high thresholds were observed in MgO:SLT and KN. By increasing the peak-power intensity of the blue light, the induced absorption for MgO:SLN, KTP and KN saturated at a constant value while that of MgO:SLT increase in a constant fashion. This trend is critical issue for the device reliability at high-power applications. / QC 20100830

With the digital systems moving towards higher frequencies, lower operating voltages and higher power, supplying the required current at the right voltage and at the right time to facilitate timely switching of the CMOS circuits becomes increasingly challenging. The board level power supply cannot meet these requirements directly due to the high inductance of the package interconnections. To overcome this problem, several thin film decoupling capacitors have to be placed on the IC or close to the IC in the package. Two approaches were pursued for high-k thin film decoupling capacitors. 1) Low cost sol-gel based thin film capacitors on organic board compatible Cu-foils 2) RF-sputtered thin film capacitors on silicon substrate for silicon compatible processes While sol-gel provides cost effective technology, sputtered ferroelectric devices are more compatible from manufacturing stand point with the existing technology. Nano-crystalline barium titanate and barium strontium titanate film capacitor devices were fabricated and characterized for organic and silicon substrates respectively. Sol-gel barium titanate films were fabricated first on a bare Cu-foil and then transferred to organic board through a standard lamination process. With process optimization and film doping, a capacitance density of 3 µF/cm2 was demonstrated with breakdown voltage greater than 12V. Leakage current characteristics, breakdown voltages, and electrical reliability of the devices were significantly improved through doping of the barium titanate films and modified film chemistry. Films and interfaces were characterized with high resolution electron microscopy, SEM, XRD, and DC leakage measurements. RF sputtering was selected for ferroelectric thin film integration on silicon substrate. Barium strontium titanate (BST) films were deposited on various electrodes sputtered on silicon substrates. The main focus was to improve interface stabilities for high-k thin films on Si to yield large-area defect-free devices. Effect of bottom electrode selection and barrier layers on device yield and performance were investigated carefully. High yield and high device performance was observed for certain electrode and barrier layer combination. A capacitance density up to 1 µF/cm2 was demonstrated with a breakdown voltage above 15 V on large area, 7 mm2, devices. These two techniques can potentially meet mid-high frequency future decoupling requirements.

La structure bronze quadratique de tungstène, grâce à sa flexibilité cristallochimique, est une candidate légitime pour le développement de matériaux fonctionnels. L’étude des propriétés diélectriques, pyroélectriques, et ferroélectriques de céramiques de formulation Ba2NdFeNb4-xTaxO15 montre un crossover relaxeur-ferroélectrique-paraélectrique, avec une hystérèse thermique de la transition ferroélectrique. L’étude structurale des monocristaux relaxeurs Ba2LnFeNb4O15 (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu), obtenus par la méthode du flux, a mis en évidence une structure modulée. L’affinement de la structure de base prouve l’existence de moments dipolaires dans le plan ab (dus à une distorsion des octaèdres [NbO6]). Afin d’établir un lien entre la structure cristalline et les propriétés d’un composé dérivé du multiferroïque MnWO4, la croissance en four à image de Mn0,85Mg0,15WO4 a été entreprise avec succès. / Tetragonal Tungsten Bronze structure, thanks to its compositional flexibility, is a legitimate candidate for the development of functional materials. Study of dielectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric properties of Ba2NdFeNb4-xTaxO15 ceramics reveals a relaxor-ferroelectric-paraelectric crossover, with thermal hysteresis of the ferroelectric transition. Structural analysis of Ba2LnFeNb4O15 (Ln=La Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu), relaxor single crystals obtained by flux method, highlighted a modulated structure. Refinement of the basic structure proves the existence of a dipolar moment in the ab plane (induced by a distortion of [NbO6] octahedra). In order to establish a correlation between the crystal structure and the properties of a compound derived from multiferroic MnWO4, the crystal growth in image furnace of Mn0,85Mg0,15WO4 was successfully undertaken.

This thesis is concerned with the study of two families of materials which contain magnetically frustrated triangular lattices. Each material is concerned with a different use; the first, analogues of YMnO₃, is from a family of materials called multiferroics, the second, A₂MCu₃F₁₂ (where A = Rb¹⁺, Cs¹⁺, M = Zr⁴⁺, Sn⁴⁺, Ti⁴⁺, Hf⁴⁺), are materials which are of interest due to their potentially unusual magnetic properties deriving from a highly frustrated Cu²⁺-based kagome lattice. YFeO₃, YbFeO₃ and InFeO₃ have been synthesised as their hexagonal polymorphs. YFeO₃ and YbFeO₃ have been studied in depth by neutron powder diffraction, A.C. impedance spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry. It was found that YFeO₃ and YbFeO₃ are structurally similar to hexagonal YMnO₃ but there is evidence for a subtle phase separation in each case. Low temperature magnetic properties are also reported, and subtle correlations between the structural, electrical and magnetic properties of these materials have been found. InFeO₃ was found to adopt a higher symmetry and is structurally similar to the high temperature phase of YMnO₃. TbInO₃ and DyInO₃ have also been synthesised and studied at various temperatures. The phase behaviour of TbInO₃ was analysed in detail using neutron powder diffraction and internal structural changes versus temperature were mapped out – there is also evidence for a subtle isosymmetric phase transition. Neither DyInO₃ nor TbInO₃ show long-range magnetic order between 2 and 300 K, or any signs of ferroelectricity at room temperature. The new compounds Cs₂TiCu₃F₁₂ and Rb₂TiCu₃F₁₂ have both been synthesised and shown to be novel kagome lattice based materials. The former shows a transition from rhombohedral to monoclinic symmetry in the powder form and from rhombohedral to a larger rhombohedral unit cell in the single crystal – a particle size based transition pathway is suggested. For Rb₂TiCu₃F₁₂ a complex triclinic unit cell is found, which distorts with lowering temperature. Both materials show magnetic transitions with lowering temperature. The solid solution Cs₂₋ₓRbₓSnCu₃F₁₂ (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) was synthesised and investigated crystallographically, demonstrating a range of behaviours. Rb₂SnCu₃F₁₂ displays a rare re-entrant structural phase transition. In contrast, Cs₀.₅Rb₁.₅SnCu₃F₁₂ shows only the first transition found in the Rb⁺ end member. CsRbSnCu₃F₁₂ adopts a lower symmetry at both room temperature and below. Cs₁.₅Rb₀.₅SnCu₃F₁₂ and Cs₂SnCu₃F₁₂ show a rhombohedral - monoclinic transition, which is similar to that found in Cs₂TiCu₃F₁₂.

A presente tese descreve a síntese e caracterização de 10 novas séries de moléculas na forma de banana contendo os anéis isoxazolina e isoxazol como reais candidatos na preparação de cristais líquidos polares. Foram avaliados parâmetros estruturais tais como o tipo de função conectora do centro curvado com os braços mesogênicos, a natureza do heterociclo e a sua posição relativa ao núcleo. A síntese dos compostos contou com a metodologia de preparação do anel isoxazolina, a cicloadição [3+2] 1,3-dipolar entre alcenos e óxidos de nitrila, os quais foram gerados pelas oximas preparadas a partir de aldeídos alifáticos e aromáticos. Todas as isoxazolinas foram oxidadas aos seus respectivos isoxazóis utilizando dióxido de manganês. Foram utilizadas ainda reações de alquilação, redução, desproteção, hidrogenólise, olefinação, adição de aminas à aldeídos e esterificação. Todas as moléculas sintetizadas foram caracterizadas por RMN de 1H e 13C, além de serem observadas por MOLP para determinação dos seus pontos de fusão. As moléculas que apresentaram comportamento mesomórfico foram ainda caracterizadas por DSC, XRD e voltagem triangular. No capítulo 3 é descrita a síntese dos isoftalatos 19a-b, 20a-b, 26a-b e 27a-b. No subgrupo dos Isoftalatos derivados de isoxazóis e isoxazolinas 3,5-diarilsubstituídos foi possível a síntese apenas do composto 11d que não apresentou comportamento líquido cristalino No subgrupo dos isoftalatos derivados de isoxazóis e isoxazolinas 3-alquil-5-arilsubstituídos as isoxazolinas 19a-b não apresentaram comportamento líquido-cristalino. Foram encontradas mesofases para os compostos 20a-b que ainda não foram determinadas com as técnicas disponíveis. Os isoxazóis 20a-b apresentaram uma provável Blue Phase logo após o resfriamento do isotrópico, que rapidamente se converte em uma provável mesofase monotrópica ferroelétrica com texturas e padrão de XRD peculiares até então não observada na literatura. No subgrupo dos isoftalatos derivados de isoxazóis e isoxazolinas 3-aril-5-alquilsubstituídos 26a-b e 27a-b não foi observado comportamento líquido-cristalino. O capítulo 4 descreve a síntese das isoftaliminas 35, 36, 44, 45, 50a-b, 51a-b, 56a-d, 57a-d, 63a-b e 64a-b. No subgrupo dos isoxazóis e isoxazolinas 3,5-diarilsubstituídos 35, 36, 44 e 45 foram observadas as mesofases B7 e B1 apenas com a inversão da orientação do anel isoxazol como braçomesogênicos dos compostos finais, enquanto que as isoxazolinas não apresentaram mesofases. A mesofase B7 do composto 36 apresentou comportamento antiferroelétrico enquanto que a mesofase B1 do composto 45 não mostrou resposta frente ao campo elétrico aplicado, além disso, o XRD mostrou que tal mesofase colunar B1 pode ser uma fase 3D modulada. No subgrupo das isoxazolinas e isoxazóis 3-alquil-5-arilsubstituídos 50a-b e 51a-b foram observadas fases do tipo DC para as isoxazolinas 50a-b, a qual deve ser confirmada por FFTEM. No subgrupo dos materiais 3-aril-5-alquilsubstituídos 56a-d, 57a-d, 63a-b e 64a-b foram observadas mesofases SmXPF para os compostos 56b-d. Os isoxazóis 57a-d apresentaram texturas similares, porém não apresentaram mesofase, mas os mesmos seguem o mesmo padrão de difração das isoxazolinas do capítulo 3. Apenas a isoxazolina 63b dos compostos perfluorados apresentou mesofase No capítulo 5 é descrita a síntese de ésteres não-simétricos contendo os heterociclos isoxazol e isoxazolinas como núcleo central 71a-f, 82, 83, 84 e 85. No primeiro subgrupo todos os ésteres cinâmicos 71a-f apresentaram comportamento mesomórfico com grandes faixas de temperaturas nas mesofases. No segundo subgrupo as isoxazolinas 82 e 83 apresentaram comportamento completamente distinto, onde só foi observada a formação de uma mesofase SmB para o composto que tem a posição éster localizada na direção do nitrogênio do heterociclo. Já os isoxazóis 84 e 85 deste subgrupo apresentaram as mesofases N e SmC em temperaturas bastante similares, porém, a observação desses materiais em uma cela alinhada revelou o crescimento de filamentos na transição N-SmC apenas para o composto 85, o qual também possui a porção éster na direção do nitrogênio do anel isoxazol. O capítulo 6 traz a síntese dos ésteres e iminas simétricos 88, 89, 94 e 95 utilizando os heterociclos como núcleo central, os quais apresentaram mesofases SmC e N. Além disso, o diéster 89 derivado de isoxazol apresentou a mesma característica que o composto 85 do capítulo 5, apresentando uma transição N-SmC com crescimento de filamentos perpendiculares à direção de alinhamento da amostra dentro da cela, podendo estar relacionada à uma mesofase NTB. / This thesis describe the synthesis and characterization of 10 new series of banana shaped molecules containing the isoxazoline and isoxazole rings as real players for preparation of polar liquid crystals. It was evaluate structural parameters such as the type of connecting function of the bent core with the mesogenic arms, the heterocycle nature and its position relative to the central core. The synthesis of the compounds included the methodology of preparation of the isoxazoline ring, the [3 + 2] 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between alkenes and nitrile oxides, which were generated by the oximes prepared from aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. Furthermore, all isoxazolines were oxidized to its respective isoxazoles using manganese dioxide. Besides the described methodologies, alkylation, reduction, deprotection, hydrogenolysis, olefination, addition of amines to the aldehydes and esterification reactions were used. All the synthesized molecules were characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR, and also observed by POM for determination of its melting points. The molecules previously analyzed by POM that showed mesomorphic behavior were characterized by DSC, XRD and triangular voltage still. Chapter 3 describes the synthesis of isophthalates 19a-b, 20a-b, 26a-b e 27a-b. In the subgroup of isophthalates derived from isoxazoles and isoxazolines 3,5-diarylsubstituted it was possible to synthesize only compound 11d which did not show liquid crystalline behavior In the subgroup of the isophthalates derived from isoxazoles and isoxazolines 3-alkyl-5-arylsubstituted the isoxazolines 19a-b did not show liquid crystalline behavior. It was found mesophases for compounds 20a-b that still could not be determined with the available techniques. The isoxazoles 20a-b presented a probable Blue Phase soon after cooling from the isotropic which quickly converts into a probable ferroelectric monotropic mesophase with peculiar textures and pattern of XRD until then not observed in the literature. In the subgroup of the isophthalates of isoxazoles and isoxazolines 3-aryl-5-alkylsubstituted 26a-b and 27a-b no liquid crystalline behavior was observed. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis of isophthalimines 35, 36, 44, 45, 50a-b, 51a-b, 56a-d, 57a-d, 63a-b and 64a-b. In the subgroup of the isoxazoles 3,5-diarylsubstituted 35, 36, 44 and 45 the B7 and B1 mesophases were observed only with the inversion of the isoxazole ring orientation as mesogenic arm of thefinal compounds whereas the isoxazolines did not present mesophases. The B7 mesophase of the compound 36 showed antiferroelectric switching while the B1 mesophase of the compound 45 showed no response to the applied electric field, in addition, the XRD showed that such B1 columnar mesophase could be a 3D modulated phase one. In the subgroup of 3-alkyl-5-arylsubstituted isoxazolines and isoxazoles 50a-b and 51a-b DC phases were observed for isoxazolines 50a-b which should be confirmed by FFTEM. The SmXPF mesophase were observed for componds 56b-d in the subgroup of 3-aryl-5-alkylsubstituted materials 56a-d, 57a-d, 63a-b e 64a-b. The isoxazoles 57a-d presented similar textures although did not showed mesophase, but they follow the same diffraction pattern of the chapter 3 isoxazolines. Only the isoxazoline 63b of the perfluorinated compounds showed mesophase In chapter 5 is described the synthesis of non-symmetric esters containing isoxazol and isoxazolines heterocycles as central core 71a-f, 82, 83, 84 e 85. In the first subgroup all the cinnamic esters 71a-f showed mesomorphic behavior with large mesophases temperature ranges. In the second subgroup the isoxazolines 82 and 83 showed completely different behavior which only was observed the SmB mesophase formation for compound having the ester position towards the heterocycle nitrogen. Furthermore, the isoxazoles 84 and 85 of this subgroup showed the N and SmC mesophases at very similar temperatures, however, the observation of these materials in an aligned cell revealed the filamentary growth in the N-SmC transition only for compound 85, which also has the ester moiety in the direction of the isoxazole ring nitrogen. Chapter 6 brings forward the synthesis of symmetrical esters and imines 88, 89, 94 and 95 using the heterocycles as the central cores, which showed SmC and N mesophases. Moreover, the isoxazole derived diester 89 showed the same feature as compound 85 of Chapter 5, exhibiting a N-SmC transition with filament growth perpendicular to the rubbing direction of the cell which may be related to a NTB mesophase.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:16:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5236.pdf: 6093443 bytes, checksum: 6aecbe1f41f1afa45394b6da0631c23b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-28 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / Solid solutions with perovskite structure, especially lead-based oxides, have been developed and investigated as single crystal and/or polycrystal ceramics since the midtwentieth century, but aspects of phase diagram of some of these systems remain controversial. Existing literature proposes, for instance, a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) for the PbTiO3-CaTiO3 ferroelectric system, in the region of concentration Pb/Ca~1.This study has investigated the crystal structure of ferroelectric ceramic systems Pb1- xCaxTiO3 (or PCT) (x = 0.24, 0.35, 0.475, 0.50, 0.55 and 1.00) using structural refinement of powder X-ray diffraction profiles, as a function of temperature. The Rietveld method was used and the convergence parameters of the structural refinement within a single phase were compared, considering different space groups among those described in literature for every composition. The assessment of macroscopic properties such as electrical permittivity, pyroelectric, ferroelectric and thermal expansion was also performed as a function of temperature and/or frequency for the construction of structure-property relationships, in order to determine the best symmetry for each composition and the phase diagram of polycrystalline PCT. At room temperature, the structural refinement analyses for ceramics with x = 0.24 and 0.35 showed tetragonal symmetry (P4mm), such as the PbTiO3, and for x ≥ 0.475 the convergence parameters indicated only one phase with orthorhombic centrosymmetric space group (Pbnm), typical of CaTiO3, as the best. For temperatures between 150 and 570 K, the crystallographic phase transition (tetragonal - cubic) was observed in only one composition, with x = 0.35. The space group Pbnm remained as the most suitable for compositions with x ≥ 0.475 across the temperature range studied, though variations of lattice parameters and/or unit cell volume were observed. Previous studies have proposed phase transitions for this system that are consistent with the variations observed, but those studies were performed by optical birefringence characterization in single crystals or by simulations based on the results of infrared spectroscopy. This is the first time that structural changes are observed as a function of temperature for the concentrations investigated. Such variations were therefore associated to phase transitions whose symmetries are represented by the XRD profiles of perovskite with super lattice reflections, closer to the Pbnm space group. These phases could not be distinguished, however, from Pbnm, probably because of the intrinsic limitations of structural characterization techniques used in this work. Furthermore, the results of the ferroelectric and pyroelectric characterization were not conclusive, mainly due to their dependence on the samples history, but the combination of electrical permittivity and thermal expansion characterizations with the structural refinements proved to be an important tool for elucidating the morphotropic phase boundary of this system. Based on these results, this work proposes a complement to the phase diagram of the Pb1-xCaxTiO3 polycrystaline systems in which phase transitions were characterized by different techniques. / Neste trabalho investigou-se a estrutura cristalina de cerâmicas do sistema ferroelétrico Pb1-xCaxTiO3 ou PCT (x = 0,24, 0,35, 0,475, 0,50, 0,55 e 1,00), a partir do refinamento estrutural dos perfis de difração de raios X de pó, em função da temperatura. Utilizou-se o método de Rietveld, e foi comparada a qualidade dos parâmetros de convergência do refinamento estrutural, considerando-se uma única fase cristalina, mas com diferentes grupos espaciais entre aqueles apontados na literatura para cada composição. A caracterização de propriedades macroscópicas em função da temperatura e/ou frequência, tais como dielétricas, piroelétricas, ferroelétricas e de expansão térmica, também foi realizada para a construção de relações estrutura-propriedades, com o objetivo de se definir a melhor simetria cristalina de cada composição e o diagrama de fases do PCT policristalino. Entre as análises de refinamento estrutural realizadas a temperatura ambiente, para as concentrações avaliadas, cerâmicas com x=0,24 e 0,35 apresentaram simetria tetragonal (P4mm), como a do PbTiO3, e, para as com x ≥ 0,475, os parâmetros de convergência apenas indicaram uma fase com simetria ortorrômbica centrossimétrica (Pbnm), típica do CaTiO3, como a mais adequada. A partir dos perfis de difração de raios X de cada composição, entre 150 e 570 K, segundo os resultados estruturais, somente foi observada uma transição de fase cristalográfica (de tetragonal para cúbica) na composição com x = 0,35. Para as composições com x ≥ 0,475, o grupo espacial Pbnm se manteve como mais adequado em toda a faixa de temperatura estudada, porém, foram observadas sensíveis variações dos parâmetros de rede e/ou do volume da cela unitária. Tais variações ocorreram em temperaturas que coincidem com aquelas da literatura em que se indicam transições de fase para este sistema, porém a partir da caracterização de birrefringência ótica em monocristais ou por simulações baseadas em resultados de espectroscopia por infravermelho. Desta forma, esta é a primeira vez que se registraram mudanças estruturais em função da temperatura para essas concentrações do titanato de cálcio e chumbo. Assim, entendeu-se que tais variações correspondem a transições de fases, cujas simetrias estão representadas por perfis de DRX de perovskitas com reflexões de super-rede, muito próximas àquelas do grupo espacial Pbnm. Contudo, essas fases não puderam ser distinguidas da Pbnm provavelmente por limitações técnicas da caracterização estrutural empregada neste trabalho. Os resultados para as propriedades ferroelétricas e piroelétricas não permitiram análises conclusivas, principalmente devido à sua dependência com o histórico das amostras, tendo sido descartados para o propósito deste trabalho. No entanto, a combinação dos resultados das medidas de permissividade elétrica e da expansão térmica com aqueles do refinamento estrutural mostrou ser uma ferramenta importante para a elucidação do contorno morfotrópico de fases desse sistema. Assim, com base nestes resultados, propôs-se um complemento ao diagrama de fases do sistema Pb1-xCaxTiO3 em que as transições de fases foram caracterizadas por diferentes técnicas.

In this work, in-depth structural and electrical characterisation is used to study a family of “empty” tetragonal tungsten bronzes (TTBs), A2₄A1₂B1₂B2₈O₃₀. An initial investigation into the effect of the A1-cation size on the properties of empty Ba₄R₀.₆₇◻₁.₃₃Nb₁₀O₃₀ TTBs (where R is the A1-cation and R = La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy and Y; ◻ = vacancy) was performed. These were determined to be metrically tetragonal by powder x-ray diffraction, with decreasing R cation size inducing increased crystal anisotropy. This tetragonal structural distortion, driven by contraction in the ab-plane, is shown to stabilise c-axis ferroelectricity; a direct correlation between tetragonality and the ferroelectric Curie temperature, T[sub]C, is demonstrated. Further examination of the relaxor ferroelectric (RFE) to ferroelectric (FE) crossover in Ba₄(La₁₋ₓNdₓ)₀.₆₇◻₁.₃₃Nb₁₀O₃₀ TTBs using detailed structural studies employing variable temperature, high resolution neutron, synchrotron X-ray and electron diffraction revealed a common superstructure with 2√2 × √2 × 2 cell with respect to the basic tetragonal aristotype cell. However, they display different degrees of order/disorder which can disrupt polar order (ferroelectricity). La-rich analogues exhibit a disordered regime between the low and high temperature ferroelectric and non-polar phases. Although polar, this disordered regime is non-ferroelectric, however, large polarisation may be established with an applied electric field, but relaxes back to the disordered phase upon removal of the field. Substitution of Nd for La at the A1-site leads to destabilisation of the disordered phase and reintroduces “normal” ferroelectric behaviour. Finally, isovalent substitution of Sr²⁺∙ for Ba²⁺ is shown to lead to the development of relaxor behaviour at higher dopant concentrations in Ba₄₋ₓSrₓDy₀.₆₇◻₁.₃₃Nb₁₀O₃₀, (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3; ◻ = vacancy). With increasing x the unit cell contracts in both the ab- plane and c-axis coinciding with a decrease in T[sub]C and development of relaxor behaviour for x ≥ 2. This observation is rationalised by differing cation occupancies: for x ≤ 1, Sr²⁺ principally occupies the A2-site while for x ≥ 2 significant Sr²⁺ occupation of the A1-site leads to the observed RFE characteristics. The FE to RFE crossover is discussed in the context of a previously proposed TTB crystal chemical framework with the A1-site tolerance factor identified as the dominant influence on relaxor behaviour.