Compositions in the (Pb1−xBix (Ti1−xFex)O3 solid solution system for x ⋚ 0.7 show unusually large tetragonal distortion. High-temperature x-ray diffraction was used to study the tetragonal distortion as a function of temperature (25–700 °C) for compositions (x = 0–0.7) using powders prepared by solid-state reaction in the above system. Large changes in the lattice parameters were observed over a narrow temperature range near Curie temperature (TC) for compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) (x ≃ 0.7). Compositions near MPB showed a c/a ratio of 1.18 at room temperature. Polar plots of lattice constants at different temperatures indicated strong anisotropic thermal expansion with zero thermal expansion along the [201] direction.

A method based on the Langmuir equation for the estimation of vapour pressure and enthalpy of sublimation of subliming compounds is described. The variable temperature thermogravimetric/differential thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) curve of benzoic acid is used to arrive at the instrument parameters. Employing these parameters, the vapour pressuretemperature curves are derived for salicylic acid and camphor from their TG/DTG curves. The values match well with vapour pressure data in the literature, obtained by effusion methods. By employing the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, the enthalpy of sublimation could be calculated. Extending the method further, two precursors for metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) of titanium oxide bis-isopropyl bis tert-butyl 2-oxobutanoato titanium, Ti(O i Pr) 2 (tbob) 2 , and bis-oxo-bis-tertbutyl 2-oxobutanoato titanium, [TiO(tbob) 2 ] 2 , have been evaluated. The complex Ti(O i Pr) 2 (tbob) 2 is found to be a more suitable precursor. This approach can be helpful in quickly screening for the suitability of a compound as a CVD precursor.

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The effect of annealing on structural defects and d0 ferromagnetism in SnO2 nanoparticles prepared by solution combustion method is investigated. The as-synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles were annealed at 400–800 °C for 2 h, in ambient conditions. The crystallinity, size, and morphology of the samples were studied using x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies. The annealing results in grain growth due to coarsening as well as reduction in oxygen vacancies as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All the as synthesized and annealed samples exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) with distinct hysteresis loops and the saturation magnetization as high as ∼0.02 emu/g in as-synthesized samples. However, the saturation magnetization is drastically reduced with increasing annealing temperature. Further the presence of singly charged oxygen vacancies (Vo− signal at g-value 1.99) is confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance studies, which also diminish with increasing annealing temperature. The observed diminishing RTFM and simultaneous evidences of diminishing O vacancies clearly indicate that RTFM is driven by defects in oxide lattice and confirms primary role of oxygen vacancies in inducing ferromagnetic ordering in metal oxide semiconductors. The study also provides improved fundamental understanding regarding the ambiguity in the origin of intrinsic RTFM in semiconducting metal oxides and projects their technological application in the field of spintronics.