There has been significant interest in BiFeO₃ over the past decade. This interest has focused on the magnetic and electrical properties, which in the long term may prove useful in device applications. This thesis focuses on the synthesis, electrical characterisation, and structural origin of the electrical properties of rare earth doped bismuth ferrite. Two systems have been studied: BiFeO₃ doped with lanthanum and neodymium (Bi₁₋ₓREₓFeO₃ RE= La, Nd). Specific examples have been highlighted focusing on a detailed structural analysis of a lanthanum doped bismuth ferrite, Bi₀.₅La₀.₅FeO₃, and a neodymium analogue, Bi₀.₇Nd₀.₃FeO₃. Both adopt an orthorhombic GdFeO₃-type structure (space group: Pnma) with G-type antiferromagnetism. Structural variations were investigated by Rietveld refinement of temperature dependent powder neutron diffraction using a combination of both conventional “bond angle/bond length” and symmetry-mode analysis. The latter was particularly useful as it allowed the effects of A-site displacements and octahedral tilts/distortions to be considered separately. This in-depth structural analysis was complemented with ac-immittance spectroscopy using the multi-formulism approach of combined impedance and modulus data to correlate structural changes with the bulk electrical properties. This approach was essential due to the complex nature of the electrical response with contributions from different electroactive regions. The structural variations occur due to a changing balance between magnetic properties and other bonding contributions in the respective systems. This results in changes in the magnitude of the octahedral tilts, and A-site displacements giving rise to phenomena such as negative thermal expansion and invariant lattice parameters i.e., the invar effect. More specifically, analysis of Bi₀.₅La₀.₅FeO₃ highlights a structural link between changes in the relative dielectric permittivity and changes in the FeO₆ octahedral tilt magnitudes, accompanied by a structural distortion of the octahedra with corresponding A-site displacement along the c-axis; this behaviour is unusual due to an increasing in-phase tilt mode with increasing temperature. The anomalous orthorhombic distortion is driven by magnetostriction at the onset of antiferromagnetic ordering resulting in an Invar effect along the magnetic c-axis and anisotropic displacement of the A-site Bi³⁺ and La³⁺ along the a-axis. This contrasts with the neodymium analogue Bi₀.₇Nd₀.₃FeO₃ in which a combination of increasing A-site displacements in the ac-plane and decrease in both in-phase and anti-phase tilts combine with superexchange giving rise to negative thermal expansion at low temperature. The A-site displacements correlate with the orthorhombic strain. By carefully changing the synthesis conditions, a significant change in bulk conductivity was observed for a number for Bi₁₋ₓLaₓFeO₃ compositions. A series of Bi₀.₆La0.₄FeO₃ samples are discussed, where changes in the second step of the synthesis result in significantly different bulk conductivities. This behaviour is also observed in other compositions e.g. Bi₀.₇₅La₀.₂₅FeO₃. Changes in the electrical behaviour as a function of temperature are discussed in terms of phase composition and concentration gradients of defects. Activation energies associated with the conduction process(es) in Bi₁₋ₓLaₓFeO₃ samples, regardless of composition, fall within one of two broad regimes, circa. 0.5 eV or 1.0 eV, associated with polaron hopping or migration of charge via oxygen vacancies, respectively. The use of symmetry-mode analysis, in combination with conventional crystallographic analysis and electrical analysis using multi-formulism approach, presents a new paradigm for investigation of structure-property relationships in rare earth doped BiFeO₃.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells could play a key role in energy systems of the future because they can directly convert the chemical energy of fuels into electrical energy in a reliable and energy efficient way. The choice of materials for the components of fuel cells is crucial for the achievement of the high performance and the low price necessary to establish fuel cell technology in the energy market. Current state of the art anodes consisting of nickel and yttria stabilised zirconia (Ni/YSZ) offer good electrochemical performance but suffer from limitations like carbon deposition, redox instability and sulphur poisoning. This thesis explores the properties of composite fully ceramic anodes consisting of a skeleton of yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) or cerium gadolinium oxide (CGO) and a perovskite phase based on B-site doped lanthanum strontium titanate. The perovskite phase was fabricated in situ inside the pores of the skeleton material by the infiltration of an aqueous precursor and subsequent firing (impregnation method). Material characterisation of the composite anodes was carried out by X-ray diffraction and the microstructure investigated by electron microscope techniques. The electrochemical performance was tested by IV-curves and impedance spectroscopy. Particularly the investigation of the connection between the microstructure of the impregnated anodes and their electrochemical performance is a main objective of this work. The electrochemical performance of cells with a CGO skeleton and an impregnated lanthanum strontium titanate phase was found to be inferior compared to cells with a YSZ skeleton, even if the ionic conductivity of CGO is known to be higher than the ionic conductivity of YSZ. The difference was assigned to mass transport problems tightly connected to the different microstructure of the composite anodes. A significant improvement of the performance could be achieved by the utilisation of A-site deficient perovskites as impregnated phase in a YSZ skeleton. Cells with composite anodes of YSZ and La₀.₄Sr₀.₄Ti₀.₉₄Mn₀.₀₆O[sub](3-δ) show power densities of 156.2 mW/cm² at a measuring temperature of 750 °C compared to 58.5 mW/cm² measured in a similar cell with A-site stoichiometric LSTM, both cells having an electrolyte thickness of around 60 μm. The superiority of the performance of anodes with A-site deficient perovskites is mainly due to a lower ohmic resistance of only 0.5 Ω*cm², indicating better conductivity of the composite with A-site deficient perovskites. The investigation of the microstructure of composite anodes with A-site deficient perovskites showed the decoration of the surface with nanoparticles after reduction. These nanoparticles originate from exsolution of ions from the B-site of the perovskite and can't be found in A-site stoichiometric perovskites. The influence of fabrication parameters like firing temperature of the skeleton, firing temperature after impregnation or vacuum impregnation on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of the composite anodes was studied. Particularly the increase of the firing temperature of the skeleton from 1400 °C to 1500 °C resulted in an impressive improvement of total cell resistance and maximal power density.

In 2013, the worldwide production of renewable electricity accounted for 22.1% of the total energy production with 0.9% coming from solar photovoltaics (PVs). Recently, there has been a growing interest for Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) quaternary semiconductor due to the abundance and low cost of its precursors. Moreover, this chalcopyrite material has an ideal direct band gap around 1.5 eV, high absorption coefficient (α >104 cm-1) and high conductivity, making it suitable for nanostructured and dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Here, CZTS nanoparticles have been synthesized by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and simultaneously deposited in the interstitial space of ZnO nanowire arrays to form bulk heterojunction 3D nanostructured solar cells. Secondly, vertically oriented CZTS nanoplates have been synthesized by PLD and used as counter electrode in platinum-free dye-sensitized solar cells. These CZTS nanostructures proved to be suitable in achieving workable solar cells, which could significantly cut down the cell cost and provide environmentally friendly photovoltaic devices. Alternately, hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite solar cells have become one of the most attractive photovoltaic technologies with easy solution fabrication and high conversion efficiencies. However, the devices remain unstable under certain processing and environmental conditions. Herein, formamidinium lead tri-halide perovskite (FAPbI3) planar heterojunction solar cells have been fabricated under a controlled environment. The fabrication parameters (precursor concentration, annealing, etc) and the effect of humidity on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of FAPbI3 thin films and devices have been investigated and proved to be critical in the processing of efficient devices. Solar cells with conversion efficiency of 16.6% have been obtained. Furthermore, in-situ techniques such as in-situ (scanning) transmission electron microscopy and in-situ XRD were performed to understand the crystallization and degradation mechanisms of FAPbI3 thin films.The in-situ data were correlated with planar heterojunction FAPbI3 devices efficiency data in order to improve the device fabrication process.

Neste trabalho, foram desenvolvidos filmes finos de composição SrTi1-xFexO3 (0,00≤ x ≤0,150) nanoestruturados visando sua aplicação como sensor de gás ozônio. Os filmes finos foram depositados através da técnica de deposição por feixe de elétrons (EBD) cujo alvo utilizado foram pastilhas obtidas a partir do pó cristalino SrTi1-xFexO3 (0,00≤ x ≤0,150) sintetizadas através do método dos precursores poliméricos. Foi observado a partir das analises termogravimétrica e térmica diferencial que a incorporação de ferro no sistema diminui a temperatura de queima do pó precursor, sugerindo que o ferro atua como catalisador na cadeia polimérica. Os filmes depositados por DFE apresentam-se no estado amorfo sendo necessário um tratamento térmico ex-situ para que a fase cristalina desejada seja obtida. Todos os filmes apresentaram uma boa aderência aos diferentes tipos de substratos utilizados. Após o processo de cristalização, os filmes depositados sobre diferentes substratos foram caracterizados através das técnicas de difração de raios-X, espectroscopia UV-Vis e microscopia de força atômica (MFA). Foi observado que um aumento na temperatura de tratamento térmico dos filmes leva a um aumento no grau de cristalização e a uma diminuição no valor da energia de gap, calculada a partir dos espectros UV-VIS. A analise por MFA mostrou que a mudança do tipo de substrato utilizado não influencia as propriedades estruturais e microestruturais dos filmes. Através da realização de medidas de resistência elétrica, observou-se que os filmes cristalinos submetidos a um tratamento térmico ex-situ a 500oC por 4 horas apresentaram uma boa sensibilidade ao gás ozônio sendo possível detectar a presença de até 75 ppb de ozônio. / In this study, nanostructured thin films of SrTi1-xFexO3 (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.150) compositions were prepared looking their application as ozone gas sensor. The thin films were deposited using the technique of electron beam deposition (EBD) whose targets were obtained from polycrystalline SrTi1-xFexO3 (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.150) powders synthesized by the polymeric precursor method. It was observed from the thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis that the incorporation of iron in the system decreases the calcination temperature of the precursor powders, suggesting that the iron acts as a catalyst in the polymer chain. The as obtained films deposited by EBD present an amorphous state being necessary a ex-situ heat treatment to obtain the desired crystalline phase. All films showed good adhesion to different substrates. After the crystallization process, the films deposited on different substrates were characterized through X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) trechniques. It was observed that an increase in the annealing temperature of the film results in an increase in the degree of crystallization and a decrease in the value of band gap energy, which was calculated from the UV-VIS spectra. The AFM analysis showed that changing the type of substrate does not influence the structural properties and microstructure of the films. By carrying out measurements of electrical resistance, it was observed that the crystalline films subjected to a ex-situ heat treatment at 500oC for 4 hours showed a good sensitivity to the ozone gas being possible to detect the presence of up to 75 ppb ozone.

Materiais dielétricos para operação em microondas constituem um ponto importante para usos em sistemas de comunicação móvel/via satélite, incluindo sistemas de monitoramento terrestres, internet/telefonia para celulares, internet das coisas, além do interesse militar para elaboração de radares. Avanços importantes nesse setor tecnológico só foram outorgados, graças ao emprego ostensivo de ressoadores dielétricos (RDs). Esses dispositivos constituem cerâmicas óxidas com baixa perda dielétrica em microondas, com demanda para sua miniaturização. O sistema deverá possuir alta constante dielétrica nesse intervalo e o dispositivo deve ser termicamente estável, ou seja, suas propriedades dielétricas não se alterarão com a temperatura. A busca por materiais de alto desempenho resultou na descoberta das perovskitas ordenadas 1:1 e 1:2, com estequiometria A2BBO6 e A3BB2O9, respectivamente. Tais sistemas ordenam o sítio B, da perovskita ABO3, gerando o empilhamento dos planos cristalinos com B e B, intercalados e na direção [1 1 1]c. Os resultados da literatura mostram que o ordenamento possui papel fundamental na obtenção de ressoadores de baixa perda dielétrica. Ademais, poucos estudos reportam as propriedades dos sistemas contendo os cátions Ca e Nb, no sítio B. Portanto, essa tese dedicou-se à investigação das propriedades dielétricas do sistema Ba3CaNb2O9 e, posteriormente, a modificação desse com a substituição dos cátions Ba2+ por Sr2+ e La3+. As amostras foram preparadas pelo método de reação do estado sólido e, posteriormente, caracterizadas pela difração de raios X, espalhamento Raman, espectroscopia de impedância e desempenho em microondas, além de técnicas complementares como análise térmica, densidade por imersão e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados demonstraram a coexistência dos domínios 1:1 e 1:2 no sistema Ba3CaNb2O9, sendo possível manipulá-los mediante condições da sinterização. Microestruturalmente, esses domínios são regiões no cristalito com diferentes ordens catiônicas e, assim, com propriedades cristalográficas e vibracionais diferentes. Pela impedância, notou-se que o ressoador Ba3CaNb2O9 tende a conduzir mais quando possui uma tendência para o domínio 1:1. Tal resultado foi confirmado em microondas, onde a redução da perda dielétrica foi correlacionada à diminuição do domínio 1:1 na estrutura cristalina dos ressoadores. Na solução sólida com Sr2+, uma transição da fase trigonal D3d3 para monoclínica C2h3 foi detectada nos pós-calcinados, sendo oriunda das inclinações octaédricas do sistema de Glazer a0b-b-. As cerâmicas desse sistema foram sinterizadas a 1500 °C por 26 h, cujo resultado ilustrou uma tendência à ordem 1:1 para x ≥ 0,30. No sistema com La3+, observou-se, além da coexistência, os monodomínios 1:1 e 1:2. O sistema com monodomínios 1:1, BaLaCaNbO6 (y = 0,50), evidenciou uma distorção monoclínica intrínseca. Esta distorção foi associada às inclinações octaédricas do sistema de Glazer a0b-b-, reduzindo a simetria da fase cúbica Oh5 para monoclínica C2h3. Por fim, o desempenho como ressoador dielétrico dos sistemas BaLaCaNbO6 e Ba3CaNb2O9 foi avaliado. O primeiro sistema mostrou os seguintes valores: permissividade relativa εg ∼ 26, Qu × fR ∼ 10.506 GHz e coeficiente τf ∼ -55 ppm.K-1. O segundo sistema revelou os dados: permissividade εg ∼ 43, Qu × fR ∼ 15.752 GHz e o coeficiente τf ∼ 278 ppm.K-1. / Dielectric materials for microwave applications play an important role in mobile and satellite communication systems, including terrestrial monitoring, internet/mobile devices, internet of things, as well as the military uses as the radar developments. Advances in this technological field were only possible due to the ostensive use of dielectric resonators (DRs). These devices constitute oxide ceramics with a low dielectric loss in microwave frequency. The system must have high dielectric constant and such a device must be thermally stable. The search for highperformance materials granted the discovery of 1:1 and 1:2 ordered perovskites, with general formula A2BBO6 and A3BB2O9, respectively. These systems depict the B-site ordering of ABO3 perovskite, inducing the crystalline planes stacking in the [1 1 1]c direction. The literature results showed that the ordering plays an essential role in the low loss ceramics. Moreover, few studies reported the features of the systems containing the Ca and Nb cations at the B-site. Therefore, our work drives the dielectric properties of the Ba3CaNb2O9 system and, then, the modification induced by Ba2+ substitution by Sr2+ and La3+. The samples were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method and probed by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, impedance spectroscopy and microwave performance, as well as other techniques such as thermal analysis, density measurement, and electron microscopy. Our findings elucidated the coexistence of 1:1 and 1:2 domains in Ba3CaNb2O9 ceramics, being possible to manipulate them by sintering conditions. Such an ordered domain denotes regions in the crystallites with different cationic order and with different crystallographic and vibrational behavior. By the impedance spectroscopy, it was observed that Ba3CaNb2O9 ceramics tend to conduct more when they present a tendency towards the 1:1 domains. The earlier result was also confirmed in microwave frequency, in which the dielectric loss decreasing was correlated to the decrease of the 1:1 domain in the crystal structure. In the strontium solid solution, a transition from the D3d3 trigonal phase to the C2h3 monoclinic one was noted in powder samples, being derived from octahedral tilting (a0b-b- Glazer system). In the lanthanum system, besides the coexistence, the monodomains 1:1 and 1:2 were observed. Otherwise, the 1:1 monodomain system, BaLaCaNbO6 (y = 0.50), exhibited an intrinsic monoclinic distortion. This distortion was ascribed to the octahedral tilting (a0b-b- Glazer system), lowering the crystal symmetry from Oh5 cubic phase to the C2h3 monoclinic phase. The dielectric resonator performances of the BaLaCaNbO6 and Ba3CaNb2O9 systems were evaluated. The first system showed the following values: permittivity εg ∼ 26, Qu × fR ∼ 10.506 GHz and coefficient τf ∼ -55 ppm.K-1. The second system exhibited the data: permittivity εg ∼ 43, Qu × fR ∼ 15.752 GHz and coefficient τf ∼ 278 ppm.K-1.

In this study, the financial and economic viable of perovskite-SHJ tandem solar cells were determined using a detailed bottom-up cost model and energy-yield calculations. Attention to specific advancements in perovskite solar cell layer technology and large-scale deposition have been taken into account to create a realistic, viable commercial scale option for tandem production. A reference tandem technology is used to determine the overall manufacturing cost and minimum sustainable price. Models used show that the tandem technology has the potential to be cost competitive with existing silicon technology given the uncertainty and sensitivity of the values used in this study. It was examined further how non-STC energy yield and service life contributes to the overall economic viability of the tandem module within residential, commercial and utility scale of application. Given the reference tandem module, it is expected to be competitive at the residential level with existing silicon technology if perovskite layers' service life is greater than 20 years. In commercial and utility application, the tandem model is not economically viable due to the reductions seen in the area- and project-related installation costs for existing technology. This thesis concludes by presenting the current limitations in perovskite technology that would inhibit adaptation of this into commercial-scale production and presents alternative applications in which tandem modules would be more favourable.

Esta tese apresenta um estudo sistemático da síntese e das propriedades físicas de amostras policristalinas de Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3; R = Sm, Eu, 0 < OU = X < OU = 1. Estes materiais apresentam uma transição de fase metal-isolante MI em temperaturas 200 < OU = T IND. MI < OU = 400 K. Amostras foram produzidas a partir do método de precursores sol-gel, sinterizadas a 1000 GRAUSC e sob pressões de O IND. 2 de até 80 bar. O estudo da influência da substituição de R POT. 3+ na matriz de NdNiO IND. 3 foi realizado a partir das caracterizações através de medidas de difração de raios-X DRX, difração de neutrons como função da temperatura DRN, transporte elétrico ro(T), transporte térmico capa(T), coeficiente Seebeck S(T), calorimetria diferencial e susceptibilidade magnética qui(T). Os resultados de DRX revelaram que as amostras são monofásicas e cristalizam-se na estrutura perivskita distorcida ortorrombicamente, grupo espacial Pbnm. As medidas de DRN realizadas nas amostras de Nd IND. 1-XEu IND. X NiO IND. 3 mostraram a evolução dos parâmetros de rede e do volume da cela unitária V como função da temperatura. Estas caracterizações revelaram que, em T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI, ocorre uma expansão em V, assim como um aumento do ângulo de ligação Ni-O e uma diminuição do ângulo de \"superexchange\" teta. Medidas de ro(T) revelam a ocorrência da transição MI em um amplo intervalo de temperatura 200 < OU = T IND. MI 400 K. Através destas medidas verificou-se também a presença de histerese térmica ocorre decresce continuamente com o aumento de x, até anular-se em x > 0,5 e em x > 0,35 para R=Sm e Eu, respectivamente. Este resultado foi confirmado através das medidas de capa(T) e S(T). Além disso, verificou-se a importância da contribuição da rede na capa(T). As medidas de S(T) indicam que os portadores de carga são elétrons e que a densidade de ) estados no nível de Fermi N(E IND. F) foi estimada ser da ordem de 10 POT. 23 (eVcm POT. 3) POT. -1. Os valores de T IND. MI e a presença ou não de histerese térmica foram verificados através das medidas de DSC. Um estudo foi feito para verificar qual a maneira mais precisa de subtrair a contribuição dos íons terras-raras nas medidas de susceptibilidade magnética qui(T) dos compostos Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3. Após estas correções foi possível verificar o ordenamento magnético da sub-rede do Ni POT. 3+ na região de temperatura T IND. n DA ORDEM DE 200 K para as amostras com x < 0,4 e x < 0,25 para R=Sm e Eu, respectivamente. Ajustes lineares feitos em qui(T) acima de temperaturas T > 200 K revelaram valores de momentos magnéticos efetivos müeff variando de 1,7 a 1,8 mü IND. B o que está em concordância com o valor esperado de müeff DA ORDEM DE 1,76 mü IND. B do íon livre de Ni POT. 3+. Adicionalmente, uma separação precisa do termo independente da susceptibilidade magnética foi efetuada e a susceptibilidade de Pauli dos materiais foi encontrada. Foi possível então obter uma estimativa da densidade de estados no nível de Fermi N(E IND. F), que gerou valores similares aos obtidos via medidas do coeficiente Seebeck. Entretanto, o comportamento de qui(T) corrigido abaixo de T IND. n revelou características de um antiferromagnetismo não convencional devido a um aumento monotônico de qui(T) com o decréscimo da temperatura e a presença de irreversibilidade nas curvas resfriadas a campo magnético zero ZFC e do refinamento de estrutura estimou-se que a valência no Ni nas amostras de Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3 DA ORDEM DE 3. Estimativas grosseiras da largura de bando W do O 2ro e da energia de transferência de carga delta para a série de compostos Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3 revelaram valores compatíveis com aqueles ) encontrados na literatura. De maneira geral, as caracterizações das propriedades estruturais, de transporte e magnéticas sugerem que os compostos Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3 podem ser classificados como sistemas onde correlações eletrônicas e flutuações dessas correlações ocorrem. Foram discutidas algumas limitações acerca da aplicabilidade dos modelos vigentes para a explicação da transição metal-isolante nos niquelatos aqui estudados. / This work reports a systematic study on the synthesis and general physical properties of polycrystalline samples of Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3; R = Sm, Eu, 0 < OU = X < OU = 1. These compounds exhibit a metal-insulator MI phase transition in a broad range of temperature 200 < OU = T IND. MI < OU = 400 K. The samples were prepared through sol-gel precursors and sintered at extreme conditions: high temperatures 1000 GRAUSC and under oxygen pressures up to 80 bar. These samples were characterized by several techniques including X-ray powder diffraction XRD, neutron diffraction as a function of temperature NRD, electrical resistivity ro(T), thermal conductivity capa(T), Seebeck coefficient S(T), differential scanning calorimetry DSC, and magnetic susceptibility qui(T). The results of XRD revealed that all samples are single phase and crystallize in an orthorhombic structure, space group Pbnm. The NRD data, combined with the Rietveld analysis, indicated small changes in the lattice parameters a, b, and c and in the volume V of the unit cell T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI. Such a small change in these parameters is accompained by either a little decrease of the superexchange angle teta and a small expansion of the Ni-O bond-length. The ro(T) data exhibit interesting features such as: (1) a metallic-like behavior of ro(T) at high temperatures; (2) a huge increase of the magnitude of ro(T) at T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI; and (3) a thermal hysteresis occurring just below T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI in a temperature interval as large as 100K. Such a thermal hysteresis is characteristic of a first order MI transition and was found to vanish with increasing substitution of x. This strongly suggests that increasing x modify the character of this transition to second order. Thermal properties were carried out and confirmed the change of this MI transition with increasing x. In addition, an analysis of the capa(T) data indicate that phonons are the major thermal carriers in these nickelates. Also, the Seebeck coefficient S(T) data revealed features of a conventional metal at higher temperatures with electrons as carriers. An accurate analysis of the S(T) data based on simple band structure arguments indicate a density of states at the Fermi level of 10 POT. 23 (eVcm POT. 3) POT. -1 and energy gaps in the insulating regime close to 20 meV. The character of the first order transition in lightly substituted samples at T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI was also inferred from the DSC data. The S(T) data confirmed the occurrence of the metal-insulator transition and the already observed change from first to second order character with increasing x. The magnetic susceptibility ípsilon(T) data have been precisely corrected by a systematic subtraction of the R POT.3+-ion contribution of the measured qui(T). Linear adjusts of the corrected curves above 150K where found to fit the Curie-Weiss law with effective magnetic moment of mü IND. EFF ~ 1.76 mü IND. B, which is close to the free-ion value of mü IND. EFF ~ 1.76 mü IND. B (Ni POT. 3+). These results indicate that the Ni POT. 3+ array displays an antiferromagnetic ordering below a well-defined temperature T IND. N, which is close to T IND.MI for Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3 and lightly substituted samples. However, the evolution of the susceptibility of the Ni POT. 3+ array displays features which are fingerprints of unconventional antiferromagnetic state. These features, observed mostly below T IND. N, include a field independent irreversibility of qui(T) and a systematic increase of qui(T) with decreasing temperature, resembling that of a paramagnet. An analysis of the electronic contribution to ípsilon(T) resulted in a density of states at the Fermi level close to the one estimated from the S(T) data. These results are discussed within the context of recent experimental results and theories employed to explain the origin of the metal-insulator transition in these nickelates.

Perovskite-like layered structured (PLS) compounds display a range of interesting physical and chemical properties, including photocatalysis, photoluminescence, ion conductivity, electrochemical stability, magnetic properties, ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity. There are mainly three homologous series of PLS compounds distinguished by their different BO6 octahedra orientation: the Dion-Jacobson phase (A'An-1BnO3n+1); the AnBnO3n+2 phase; and the hexagonal phase (AnBn-1O3n). Some of the 4-layer AnBnO3n+2 compounds, like La2Ti2O7 and Sr2Nb2O7, have been reported to be ferroelectrics with super high Curie point (above 1300 °C), but no ferroelectric properties have been reported for the 2-layer and 3-layer AnBnO3n+2 compounds, and also there are few reports on the ferroelectric properties of compounds with Dion-Jacobson structure and hexagonal structure. Consequently, in this work, the crystallographic structures, microstructures, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of (AxLa1-x)Ti2O7 (A = Sm and Eu) solid solutions with 4-layer AnBnO3n+2 structure, Pr3Ti2TaO11 with 3-layer AnBnO3n+2 structure, LaTaO4 with 2-layer AnBnO3n+2 structure, ABiNb2O7 (A = Rb and Cs) with Dion-Jacobson structure and Sr6TiNb4O18 with hexagonal structure were studied. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) was used to sinter ceramics with high density and preferred orientation. X-ray diffraction refinement (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the crystallographic structures and microstructures of the layer structured compounds. The ferroelectricity was studied using the current-electric field and polarization-electric field hysteresis loops. The Curie point and phase transitions were studied using the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant and loss. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) was also used to study the ferroelectric domain structure of some layer structured compounds. In the first part of this work, the piezoelectric constant of La2Ti2O7 was improved by doping Sm. The crystallographic structure of (Eu1-xLax) 2Ti2O7 and (Sm1-xLax) 2Ti2O7 solid solutions were well studied. (AxLa1-x)Ti2O7 solid solutions were isomorphous with La2Ti2O7 when x was less than 0.5 for (EuxLa1-x)Ti2O7 and 0.8 for (SmxLa1-x)Ti2O7. When x was above their solubility limit, a biphase was observed. The XRD and Raman data suggested that the biphase consisted of (AxLa1-x)2Ti2O7 perovskite-like layered structure and pure Sm2Ti2O7 pyrochlore structure. Ferroelectric domain switching was observed in the I-E and P-E hysteresis loops for textured (SmxLa1-x)Ti2O7 (x < 0.2). The highest d33 was 2.8 pC/N for (Sm0.1La0.9)Ti2O7. In the second part, The Pr3Ti2TaO11 compound was demonstrated to have a 3-layer type II AnBnO3n+2 PLS structure belonging to space group Pmc21 with unit cell parameters a = 3.8689(3) Å, b = 20.389(2) Å, c = 5.5046(5) Å, and its ferroelectric properties were investigated. Analysis of the XRD and TEM results showed that Pr3Ti2TaO11 ceramics have an n = 3 (type II) heteroblock structure consisting of alternating n = 2 and n = 4 octahedral oxide layers. High resolution electron microscopy revealed the layered structure to be highly disordered, with faulting of the heteroblock structure and the coexistence of a n = 4 phase on a fine scale (nm), which was evident as a broadening of the XRD peaks of the ceramics. Pr3Ti2TaO11 ceramic exhibits a super-high Curie point (1415±5 °C). A small, but measurable piezoelectric constant d33 between 0.1 and 0.2 pC/N was detected for the samples poled above 900 °C under an electric field of 100~200 V/cm. Pure LaTaO4 powders with orthorhombic phase were be prepared by co-precipitation method. The orthorhombic LaTaO4 powders have a 2-layer perovskite-like layered structure with space group A21am, which was refined using Rietveld method. The single phase O-LaTaO4 ceramic was prepared using SPS with a slow cooling rate (20 °C/min). A d33 of 0.3 pC/N was obtained from the electric field induced orthorhombic phase. In the second part of this work, the ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity of CsBiNb2O7 with Dion-Jacobson type PLS structure was successfully demonstrated for the first time. The ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity of RbBiNb2O7, which have similar structure with CsBiNb2O7, were also fully studied. Highly textured 2-layer Dion-Jacobson ceramics ABiNb2O7 (A = Rb and Cs) were prepared by one-step SPS. High resolution TEM showed well ordered (0 0 1) lattice planes. Striped ferroelectric domains were observed using PFM. The ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity of CsBiNb2O7 has been demonstrated for the first time. The Tc of RbBiNb2O7 and CsBiNb2O7 are 1098±5 and 1033±5 °C, respectively. The piezoelectric constant of RbBiNb2O7 and CsBiNb2O7 were approximately 5 and 8 pC/N. Thermal depoling studies confirmed the Curie point and the stability of the piezoelectricity. Sr6Nb4TiO18 ceramics with non-centrosymmetric structure were successfully prepared, but no obvious evidence was found to prove its ferroelectricity. The untextured and textured 6-layer Hexagonal compound Sr6Nb4TiO18 was prepared by solid state reaction and spark plasma sintering. Its Curie point was found to be greater than 1500 °C. No ferroelectric properties were observed by studying of I-E and P-E loops, and no d33 was observed after poling.

Orientador: Francisco das Chagas Marques / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-03T02:41:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SilvaFilho_JoseMariaClementeDa_D.pdf: 74812249 bytes, checksum: 2c3eb02d615d6ec43fdb5efb29cc187b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Resumo: Perovskitas híbridas orgânica-inorgânica tem sido objeto de intensa investigação devido as suas atrativas propriedades ópticas e eletrônicas, por exemplo, banda de energia proibida direta, alto coeficiente de absorção e transporte ambipolar de cargas. Tais propriedades possibilitaram a aplicação desse material em células solares e em diodos emissores de luz de forma eficiente. Assim, o desenvolvimento de novas rotas de síntese que permitam produzir materiais com as características adequadas para cada aplicação é de extrema importância para o desenvolvimento dessa área de pesquisa. Portanto, neste trabalho de doutoramento apresentaremos resultados sobre a síntese e caraterização de filmes e nanocristais de perovskita obtidos a partir de novas metologias, baseadas na conversão de filmes finos de sulfeto de chumbo (PbS) e iodeto de chumbo (PbI2) depositados por rf-sputtering e em pontos quânticos de PbS. Na primeira rota de síntese, filmes finos amorfos de PbS, depositados por sputtering, foram convertidos em filmes finos de PbI2 através do processo de iodação em temperatura ambiente. Esse procedimento resultou em uma completa mudança estrutural, conforme atestado pelos resultados de difração de raios-x. A conversão desses filmes de PbI2 em CH3NH3PbI3 foi realizada por meio da imersão dos mesmos em uma solução de iodeto de metilamônio (CH3NH3I). Na segunda rota de síntese, filmes finos de PbI2 foram diretamente depositados por sputtering. A conversão desses filmes em CH3NH3PbI3 também foi realizada através do mergulho dos mesmo em uma solução de CH3NH3I. Esses dois métodos, permitiram-nos sintetizar filmes finos de CH3NH3PbI3 com boas propriedades ópticas e estruturais e também com uma completa cobertura do substrato, sem evidências de fissuras ou buracos, conforme indicado por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Essas metodologias têm o potencial de abrir caminho para a produção em larga escala de células solares de CH3NH3PbI3 reprodutíveis e com alta eficiência. Como terceira rota de síntese, nanocristais de perovskita foram sintetizados utilizando pontos quânticos de PbS como precursores. Esse procedimento foi realizado através da iodação dos pontos quânticos de PbS, o que produziu nanofios de PbI2 com comprimento da ordem de 5 ?m e diâmetro de aproximadamente 200 nm. Os nanofios de PbI2 foram então convertidos em nanocristais de perovskita através de seu mergulho em uma solução de CH3NH3I, o que resultou em nanocristais de perovskita com comprimento da ordem de 5 ?m e largura de 400 nm / Abstract: Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite has been subject of intense investigation due to their attractive optical and electronic properties, e.g., direct bandgap, high absorption coefficient and ambipolar charge transport. Such properties allowed the application of this material in solar cells and light emitting diodes efficiently. Thus, the development of new synthesis routes that allow the production of materials with the appropriate characteristics for each application is extremely important for the development of this area of research. Therefore, in this PhD work we¿ll present results on the synthesis and characterization of perovskite films and nanocrystals obtained from new methodologies, which are based on thin films of lead sulphide (PbS) and lead iodide (PbI2) deposited by rf-sputtering and on quantum dots of PbS. In the first synthesis route, amorphous PbS thin films deposited by sputtering were converted to PbI2 thin films by the iodination process at room temperature. This procedure resulted in a complete structural change, as attested by XRD measurements. The PbI2 films were converted into CH3NH3PbI3 by immersing them in a solution of methylammonium iodide (CH3NH3I). The second route consisted in depositing directly films of PbI2 by sputtering. The conversion into CH3NH3PbI3 also was performed by immersing the films in a CH3NH3I solution. These two methods allowed us to synthesize CH3NH3PbI3 thin films with good optical and structural properties and with complete substrate coverage, without evidence of cracks or holes, as verified by scanning electron microscopy images. Such methodologies have the potential to pave the way for the large-scale production of reproducible and high efficiency CH3NH3PbI3 solar cells. The third route was devoted to produce perovskite nanocrystals using PbS quantum dots as precursors. This approach was performed through iodination of PbS quantum dots. This produced PbI2 nanowires of about 5 ?m in length and 200 nm in diameter. The conversion in perovskite nanocrystals was accomplished through dip of the PbI2 nanowires into a solution of CH3NH3I. This procedure generated perovskite nanocrystals of about 5 ?m in length and 400 nm in width / Doutorado / Física / Doutor em Ciências / 165756/2014-4 / CNPQ

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:42:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leonardo Pacheco Wendler.pdf: 18625984 bytes, checksum: b24bfd3c491c213c9b049bbfaef17001 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been considered as one of the most promising power sources to the future, and because that have awakened the interest from the governments and large companies. The large scale utilization of these devices only depends on costs reduction and better systems performance. The anode is one of the most requested components of a SOFC, because maintains direct contact with the fuel. The anode material must presents thermal stability, compatibility with the electrolyte, good catalytic activity and electronic conductivity. A lot of materials have just tested for use as SOFCs anodes, including metals like platinum and nickel. However, many problems were found, mainly because platinum wasn´t able to maintain its integrity in the cell operation conditions, suffering peeling during the process; and nickel particles suffered sintering in the high operation temperatures of the cell, blocking the fuel arrival to reaction sites, causing the loss of system performance. One of the alternatives to these metals are the lanthanumcontaining materials with perovskite structure. To this study it has been proposed the utilization of a lanthanum-based perovskite containing chromium, which provides good stability, and nickel, which provides good catalytic activity. Thus, the aim of the present study is to obtain the perovskite structure LaCr0,5Ni0,5O3, and characterize it to verify if its properties place it like a possible material to utilization as SOFC anode. It was investigated the obtaining of this composition by Pechini method, and the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, He picnometry, specific surface area by BET method, scanning electronic microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, impedance spectroscopy and mercury porosimetry. The synthesized material showed high electrical conductivity at room temperature, and showed potential for use as anode in SOFCs. / As células a combustível de óxido sólido (CaCOS, ou SOFCs, do inglês Solid Oxide Fuel Cells) tem sido consideradas como uma das mais promissoras fontes de energia do futuro, e por isso tem despertado o interesse dos governos e de grandes empresas. A utilização em larga escala desses dispositivos depende unicamente da redução de custos e do aumento do desempenho dos sistemas. O ânodo é um dos componentes mais solicitados de uma CaCOS, pois mantém contato direto com o combustível. O material do ânodo deve então apresentar estabilidade térmica, uma compatibilidade com o eletrólito, boa atividade catalítica e condutividade eletrônica. Muitos materiais já foram testados para utilização como ânodo em CaCOS, incluindo metais como platina e níquel. Porém foram encontrados muitos problemas, principalmente porque a platina não mantinha sua integridade nas condições de operação da célula, sofrendo descamação durante o processo; e o níquel sofria sinterização de suas partículas nas altas temperaturas de operação da célula, impedindo a chegada do combustível nos sítios de reação, causando a perda de desempenho do sistema. Uma das alternativas a estes metais é a utilização de materiais com estrutura perovisquita contendo lantânio Para este trabalho está sendo proposta a utilização de uma perovisquita baseada em lantânio contendo cromo, o qual fornece boa estabilidade, e níquel, o qual fornece boas propriedades catalíticas. Desta forma o objetivo do presente trabalho é estudar a obtenção da estrutura perovisquita LaCr0,5Ni0,5O3, e caracterizá-la para verificar se as suas propriedades a colocam como um possível material para utilização como ânodo em CaCOS. Foi investigada a obtenção desta composição através do método Pechini, e as amostras foram caracterizadas por difração de raios x, espectroscopia no infravermelho, análise termogravimétrica, análise térmica diferencial, picnometria a He, área superficial específica pelo método BET, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, espectrometria de energia dispersiva de raios x, espectroscopia de impedância e porosimetria de mercúrio. O material sintetizado apresentou alta condutividade elétrica à temperatura ambiente, e mostrou potencial para utilização como ânodo em CaCOS.