Optical, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of (Y1-xScx)2O3 Transparent Ceramics

Sesquioxides such as Y2O3 and Sc2O3 are important optical materials, but the fabrication of their transparent ceramics remains a challenge due to the ultra-high melting point of over 2400 oC. In this work, a series of (Y1-xScx)2O3 transparent ceramics were successfully fabricated by a simple vacuum sintering process without any sintering additives, and the effect of Scandium (Sc) content on the crystal structure and optical/thermal/mechanical properties were evaluated. Y2O3 and Sc2O3 form a complete solid solution with a cubic bixbyite structure. The formation of (Y1-xScx)2O3 solid solution promotes the densification of ceramics, leading to the realization of high transparency close to the theoretical transmittance over a wide wavelength range of 0.35-8 mm. In particular, the in-line transmittance in the range of 0.6-6 mm remains above 80% for (Y1-xScx)2O3 with x = 0.23-0.31, while the pristine Y2O3 and Sc2O3 are opaque. Moreover, the mechanical properties including Vickers hardness (Hv), fracture toughness (KIC), and biaxial strength (δb) are evidently enhanced due to the solid solution strengthening, while the thermal conductivity is reduced due to the reduction of photon free path. This study demonstrates that forming of solid solution is a facile and universal approach for preparing sesquioxides transparent ceramics with high optical and mechanical quality.

Curie temperature adjustment in the solid solution Gd1–x Y x PtMg

GdPtMg and YPtMg (both crystallize with the ZrNiAl-type structure) form a complete solid solution Gd1–x Y x PtMg. Samples in x = 0.1 steps were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules in an induction furnace and characterized by Guinier powder patterns. The structures of four members of the solid solution were refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data, confirming the mixed occupation of the Gd/Y site; however, without any indication for Gd/Y ordering. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal Curie-Weiss behavior for all samples and ferromagnetic ordering in the low-temperature regime. The Curie temperature drops linearly from 97.6 K for GdPtMg to 3.7 K for Gd0.1Y0.9PtMg. All samples are soft ferromagnets. The Gd/Y substitution is a suitable tool for adjusting magnetic ordering temperatures of gadolinium intermetallics over a broad temperature range.

Regulating Surface and Local Chemistry in High Na-content P2-type Cathode to Achieve Ultrahigh Power and Low Temperature Sodium Storage

Application of sodium ion batteries in grid-scale energy storage demands electrode materials that facilitate fast and stable charge storage from room-temperature to sub-zero temperature range. The key issues that hinder P2-type layered oxides from achieving such goals are their unsatisfied charge transfer kinetics and unavoidable surface fading. Herein, we report a P2-type Na0.78Ni0.31Mn0.67Nb0.02O2 whereby the trace Nb substitution simultaneously reduces the electronic band gap and ionic diffusion energy barrier, thus enables fast electron and Na+ mobility (~10-9 cm s-1 at -40 °C). While the Nb induced atomic-scale surface pre-construction efficiently prevents the electrolyte penetration and surface metal dissolution. The material demonstrates a record high rate capability (50 C), unprecedented low temperature performance and ultrahigh cycling stability (98% capacity retention at -40 °C with 76% capacity remaining after 1800 cycles). Different from literatures, this work shows that complete solid-solution is not always critical for high rate performance.

A europium kagome lattice in the solid solution Eu3−х Sr х Pt4Zn12 – first zinc representatives of the Gd3Ru4Al12 type

Eu3Pt4Zn12 and Sr3Pt4Zn12 form a complete solid solution Eu3−x Sr x Pt4Zn12. Samples with x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules in an induction furnace. All samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and the structures of Sr3Pt3.93Zn12.07, Eu1.80Sr1.20Pt4Zn12 and Eu3Pt3.68Zn12.32 were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data. The new compounds are isotypic with Gd3Ru4Al12, space group P63/mmc. The striking building units in these phases are the kagome networks occupied by the europium and strontium atoms and Pt1@Zn8 and Pt2@Zn8 distorted cubes. Besides the Eu/Sr mixing within the solid solution, the structure refinements indicated small homogeneity ranges induced by Pt/Zn mixing. The europium containing samples of the solid solution Eu3−x Sr x Pt4Zn12 are Curie–Weiss paramagnets and the experimental magnetic moments manifest stable divalent europium. The samples with x = 0, 0.5 and 2 order magnetically: T N = 15.4(1) K for x = 0, T C = 12.4(1) K for x = 0.5 and T N = 4.0(1) K for x = 2. The 3 K magnetization isotherms tend toward Brillouin type behavior with increasing europium dilution. The divalent ground state of Eu3Pt4Zn12 is further confirmed by 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy with an isomer shift of −9.66(2) mm s−1 at 78 K. In the magnetically ordered state Eu3Pt4Zn12 shows full magnetic hyperfine field splitting (23.0(1) T).