Search

We report a unique hierarchical domain structure in single crystals of (Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3-xat. % (K1/2Bi1/2)TiO3 for x=5 and 8 by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A high density of polar nano-domains with a lamellar morphology was found, which were self-assembled into a quadrant-like configuration, which then assembled into conventional ferroelectric macrodomains. Studies by high resolution TEM revealed that the polar lamellar regions contained a coexistence of in-phase and anti-phase oxygen octahedral tilt regions of a few nanometers in size. Domain frustration over multiple length scales may play an important role in the stabilization of the hierarchy, and in reducing the piezoelectric response of this Pb-free piezoelectric solid solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AgSbTe2 has long been of interest for thermoelectric applications because of its favorable electronic properties and its low lattice thermal conductivity of ∼0.7W/mK. In this work, we report new findings from a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy study revealing two nanostructures in single crystal Ag1-xSb1+xSb2+x (with x=0, 0.1, 0.2); (i) a rippled natural nanostructure with a period of ∼2.5-5nm and (ii) superlattice ordered nanodomains consistent with cation ordering predicted in previous density functional theory studies. These nanostructures, combined with point-defects, probably serve as sources of scattering for phonons, thereby yielding a low lattice thermal conductivity over a wide temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of CaZn2Sb2, EuZn2Sb2, and YbZn2Sb2 were grown from melts of nominal composition AZn5Sb5 (A = Ca,Eu,Yb) with the excess melt being removed at 1073 K. The electrical transport properties are consistent with those previously reported for polycrystalline samples. This confirms that the p-type carrier concentrations ranging from 2 × 1019 cm-3 to ∼1 × 1020 cm-3 are intrinsic to these materials. Also consistent with transport in polycrystalline materials, the carrier mobility is found to be lowest in CaZn2Sb2, suggesting the trends in mobility and thermoelectric efficiency within these compounds are inherent to the material systems and not due to inhomogeneity or impurities in polycrystalline samples. These results suggest CaZn2Sb2 has the strongest coupling between the doping/defects and the electronic framework. Magnetization measurements reveal an antiferromagnetic transition near 13 K in EuZn2Sb2, and the observed magnetic anisotropy indicates the spins align parallel and anti-parallel to c in the trigonal lattice. Powder neutron diffraction on polycrystalline samples of CaZn2Sb2 and YbZn2Sb2 reveals smooth lattice expansion to 1000 K, with c expanding faster than a. The Debye temperatures calculated from specific heat capacity data and the isotropic displacement parameters are found to correlate with the carrier mobility, with the CaZn2Sb2 displaying the largest Debye temperature and smallest mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AgSbTe2 has long been of interest for thermoelectric applications because of its favorable electronic properties and its low lattice thermal conductivity of ∼0.7W/mK. In this work, we report new findings from a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy study revealing two nanostructures in single crystal Ag1-xSb1+xSb2+x (with x=0, 0.1, 0.2); (i) a rippled natural nanostructure with a period of ∼2.5-5nm and (ii) superlattice ordered nanodomains consistent with cation ordering predicted in previous density functional theory studies. These nanostructures, combined with point-defects, probably serve as sources of scattering for phonons, thereby yielding a low lattice thermal conductivity over a wide temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]