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Rare-earth titanate oxides are believed to be prospective functional materials for photocatalytic and photoluminescent applications because of their excellent optical properties and thermal stability of their physical properties. However, the relationships between optical properties and photoelectron trapping mechanisms are unclear. Herein, the structure, electronic, and optical properties of pyrochlore-structure Re2Ti2O7 (Re = Sm and Eu) were investigated using the first-principles approach with the Hubbard parameter U (GGA + U). The calculated bandgap is 2.5 eV for Sm2Ti2O7 and 2.4 eV for Eu2Ti2O7, which is in good agreement with the experimental observation. The results indicate that the strongly localized f states at the top of valence band are charge-trapping sites for photoexcitation of Re2Ti2O7, where electrons can absorb photon energy and transfer from the valence band to the conduction band, resulting in the photocatalytic and/or fluorescent effects in the visible and early UV regions. The important optical parameters, dielectric function ε (ω) , refractive index n (ω) , extinction coefficient k (ω) , reflectivity R (ω) , absorption coefficient I (ω) , optical conductivity σ (ω) , and electron energy-loss L (ω) were studied in detail, indicating that these optical parameters of Sm2Ti2O7 and Eu2Ti2O7 are insensitive to the ultra-violet (UV) radiation, but both Sm2Ti2O7 and Eu2Ti2O7 exhibit excellent optical properties in the visible and early UV regions. This work provides a clear understanding on the photoelectron trapping mechanism of pyrochlore-structure Re2Ti2O7, which will help to improve the photocatalytic and photoluminescent performance of Re2Ti2O7 and broaden their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a calibration of ruby, samarium-doped strontium tetraborate (Sm2+: SrB4O7), and samarium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Sm3+: YAG) using Raman and fluorescence spectra was conducted within the temperature range of 296–850 K and pressure range of 0–55 GPa. The obtained calibration can be applied independently for high-temperature or high-pressure conditions and described as the unit form of P = (A′/B′) × [(λ/λT)B′ − 1] with A′ = A (296 K) + A1 × (T − 296) + A2 × (T − 296)2, B′ = B(296 K) + B1 × (T – 296), and λT = λT (296 K) + ΔλT, where the specific parameters are provided in the main text. It was observed that for the λ1 line (5D0 → 7F0 transition, about 685.2 nm under ambient conditions, also known as the 0-0 line) of Sm2+: SrB4O7, the neglect of the temperature effect on the pressure coefficient may lead to an underestimation of pressure above 35–40 GPa, with a maximum deviation of approximately 2.5 GPa within the range of 55 GPa and 850 K. For Sm3+: YAG, it may introduce significant errors under the whole high temperature and high pressure range if the effect of temperature is ignored, that is, about 3.9 GPa for Y1 line (4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transition, about 617.8 nm under ambient conditions) and 4.6 GPa for Y2 line (4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transition, about 616.0 nm under ambient conditions) at 850 K. Comparing the three fluorescence pressure sensors, the ruby has the strongest signal intensity and highest temperature sensitivity, and the Sm2+: SrB4O7 and the Sm3+: YAG possess lower temperature sensibility, wider used temperature range, and better spectral quality under high temperature and high pressure (HTHP), especially Sm2+: SrB4O7, which has a sharp high-intensity single peak λ1, perhaps the most promising sensor for high P–T experiments. Therefore, in view of the potential deflections of fluorescence peaks of each pressure sensor under HTHP, we recommend utilizing the HTHP-corrected relationships for pressure calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an enhanced magnetoelectric (ME) effect in spin–phonon coupled single-phase La1−xSmxYFe2O6 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). The structural, electric, magnetic, and ME properties have been investigated to establish their interplay leading to magnetoelectricity. X-ray diffraction study suggests the facilitation of the P21nm phase (double perovskite lattice arrangements) formation and improved structural order due to the substitution of Sm in the lattice. Antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition ∼700 K along with a spin-reorientation transition around room temperature (RT) and below is observed in the thermomagnetic curve. The indication of short range ordering in the magnetization data in the form of a non-Griffiths-like phase (nGP) is observed. The short range ordering could be minimized along with consequent improvement in AFM ordering, due to Sm substitution. An enhanced (∼31% with respect to x = 0) RT first-order ME coupling coefficient ∼0.59 mV cm−1 Oe−1 in x = 0.75 composition is observed. The findings reported here open the door to exercise spin-reorientation transition in the spin–phonon coupled double perovskites for spintronic device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an enhanced magnetoelectric (ME) effect in spin–phonon coupled single-phase La1−xSmxYFe2O6 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). The structural, electric, magnetic, and ME properties have been investigated to establish their interplay leading to magnetoelectricity. X-ray diffraction study suggests the facilitation of the P21nm phase (double perovskite lattice arrangements) formation and improved structural order due to the substitution of Sm in the lattice. Antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition ∼700 K along with a spin-reorientation transition around room temperature (RT) and below is observed in the thermomagnetic curve. The indication of short range ordering in the magnetization data in the form of a non-Griffiths-like phase (nGP) is observed. The short range ordering could be minimized along with consequent improvement in AFM ordering, due to Sm substitution. An enhanced (∼31% with respect to x = 0) RT first-order ME coupling coefficient ∼0.59 mV cm−1 Oe−1 in x = 0.75 composition is observed. The findings reported here open the door to exercise spin-reorientation transition in the spin–phonon coupled double perovskites for spintronic device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realization of microwave-absorbing materials with "small thickness, light weight, broad bandwidth, and low reflectivity" is an invariable topic. In this paper, Sm2Fe14BHx/polyurethane (SFBH/PU) composites with planar anisotropy were prepared by reduction–diffusion (R/D) and water bath hydrogenation (WBH) process. A minimum reflection loss (RL) value reaches −59.7 dB at the perfect matching frequency of 13.79 GHz with a thickness of only 1.035 mm. Compared with unhydrogenated SFB, the bandwidth and reflectivity are significantly improved. It is mainly attributed to the fact that introduction of hydrogen atoms effectively modulates the electromagnetic parameters and increases the Snoek limit ((μ i − 1) f r) , which leads to the improvement of the high-frequency microwave absorption performance. In addition, the bandwidth equation is derived and simplified from the perspective of the reflected wave at the interface, which is in good agreement with the measured results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth nickelates (RENiO3: RE≠La) exhibit metal–insulator transition (MIT) properties that enable potential applications, such as critical temperature resistance thermistors, optoelectronic switches, and correlated logical devices. Nevertheless, their abrupt structural distortion across MIT results in mechanical stresses and forms microcracks within the bulk RENiO3, and this irreversibly reduces their resistive change during MIT that further impedes their practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate a compositing strategy that simultaneously improves the MIT performances and mechanical strength of RENiO3 by introducing a secondary phase of perovskite oxides with similar lattice parameters and high resistivity. Despite its much higher resistivity compared to RENiO3 (e.g., RE = Sm or Pr), introducing the LaMnO3 compositing phase under high oxygen pressure surprisingly reduces the matrix resistivity. Furthermore, such a compositing process (e.g., 20% LaMnO3) also effectively improves the mechanical strength of RENiO3 by eight times. Such counterintuitive variations are attributed to the similar structure and lattice parameter between RENiO3 and the perovskite composites that modify the grain boundary. As a result, the resistive change is more abrupt across MIT owing to the reduction in the resistivity associated with the grain boundary, while the defect generation and propagation are also suppressed that improves the mechanical properties. This further pave the way to the application of bulk RENiO3 as discrete devices in correlated electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five novel lanthanide(III) coordination polymers, namely, europium(III), samarium(III), terbium(III), dysprosium(III) and gadolinium(III), with an enaminone derivative – 2-{[(4-methylphenyl)amino]methylene}-5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione (L), were obtained by two different synthesis methods. The composition and structure were investigated using IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis as well as powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. According to single-crystal XRD analysis data, the ligand exhibits bidentate bridging coordination mode, forming a polymer layered structure with the common formula [LnL2(NO3)3]n. All obtained compounds were isomorphous to each other. Upon investigating the photoluminescent properties, the quantum yield of the ligand was found to be 74%, but complex formation significantly decreased the quantum yield, such as for the europium complex, the quantum yield was only 7.6%. In the case of ligand, the kinetic curve was described by a biexponential function with luminescence lifetimes of 3.2 ns and 1.1 ns. For complexes, luminescence lifetime appeared in the millisecond region; it equalled 1.20 ms for the europium(III) complex and 0.52 ms for the terbium(III) complex. Triplet state energy was determined by both DFT calculations as well as registration of phosphorescence for the gadolinium(III) complex. The highest color purity was found to be achieved at 95.58% in the case of the europium(III) complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the synthesis of La 10 Si 6 O 27 :Sm3+ nanoparticles (LSNP) with varying samarium (Sm3+) concentrations (0–8 mol%) using eco-friendly solution combustion method with urea as a fuel. Using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), we determined that the nanoparticles typically measure between 15 and 17 nm and display a spherical morphology. These rare earth (RE)-doped nanoparticles were employed as a novel photocatalyst for the degradation of malachite green (MG) dye, exhibit unprecedented photocatalytic efficiency. The release of OH radicals during the degradation process was found to vary with the chemical structure and concentration of the photocatalyst, with the 6 mol% LSNP formulation showing a significant advancement under both UV and sunlight. Electrochemical assessments revealed that these nanoparticles exhibit excellent cyclic stability and robust performance. Notably, the specific capacitance of the nanoparticles increased with the samarium concentration, reaching a peak of 261.3 F/g in 0.1 M HCl. Furthermore, graphite-modified electrodes incorporating these nanoparticles showed significant potential as sensitive materials for detecting mercury and lead in concentrations as low as 1–6 mM, underscoring the versatility and functional adaptability of the synthesized nanoparticles in environmental and electrochemical applications. The prepared La 10 Si 6 O 27 :Sm3+ nanoparticles The nanoparticles demonstrated an optimal photocatalytic efficiency of 95.5 % under UV light and 88.15 % under sunlight at 6 mol% Sm3+ doping. Additionally, a peak specific capacitance of 261.3 F/g was achieved in 0.1 M HCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of photons in electromagnetic spectrum region of 400–450 nm, termed cyan gap among other photoluminescence (PL) coverage issues, confines the full-visible- spectrum white light's overall capability for color rendering in part of previously studied single-component phosphors. Herein, we have mechanistically investigated that a Ce3+ incorporated silicate oxyapatite Sr 2 La 8 (SiO 4) 6 O 2 (SLS) phosphor, via a facile sol-combustion synthesis under low temperature, shows efficient cyan PL with broad full width at half maxima (fwhm, ∼90 nm) and high quantum yield (QY, ∼46.3 %) as a result of tendentious dual-site occupations and parity-allowed 4f1 ↔ 5d transitions of Ce3+, based on a combination of steady/transient-state spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. According to the principle of color superposition, the color-tunable PL, including the white emission with low coordinated color temperature (CCT) and high color rendering index (CRI), is realized by further codoping the characteristic green/red line emissions from Tb3+ and Sm3+ ions in the SLS: Ce. The low PL QY (∼32.7 %) from the monodoped Tb or Sm, due to its forbidden 4f-4f transitions, is cleverly alleviated via cascade-connected energy transfer (ET) from Ce → Tb → Sm. The direct ET from Ce → Sm is hardly occurred because of the metal-mental charge transfer (MMCT) effect. Finally, a prototype pc- w LED assembled via a remote 'capping' packaging strategy and using only the stably composition-optimized white-emitting SLS: Ce/Tb/Sm demonstrates attractive performance of the designed device (CCT 4243 K, CRI (R a) 87, CIE (0.365, 0.381), and LE 76 lm⋅W−1 under 120 mA) and the phosphor is promising for high-quality of light. The designed high-quality pc- w LED via the SLS: Ce/Tb/Sm phosphor and a UV LED chip by remote 'capping' packaging method. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, phosphors have been used in the field of temperature sensing, which has aroused great interest because of its advantages of quick response, high sensitivity and high accuracy. However, exploring optical thermometers with ultra-high sensitivity remains a challenge. In this work, we have designed and synthesized Sm3+ and Mn4+ co-doped La 3 Mg 2 NbO 9 phosphor for temperature sensing for the first time by utilizing the anomalous thermal quenching property of Sm3+ ions and the sensitive thermal quenching property of Mn4+ ions. Furthermore, the structure, elemental distribution, morphology and optical characteristics of La 3 Mg 2 NbO 9 :Sm3+,Mn4+ were studied in detail. Benefiting from the different responses of the Sm3+ and Mn4+ ions to temperature, the fluorescence intensity ratios of Sm3+ to Mn4+ in La 3 Mg 2 NbO 9 samples show excellent optical thermometry performance in the range of 303–463 K. The maximum absolute sensitivity (S a) and relative sensitivity (S r) values of La 3 Mg 2 NbO 9 :Sm3+,Mn4+ sample reach as high as 0.117 K-1 (@463 K) and 4.48 % K−1 (@303 K), respectively. Furthermore, the maximum of S a is 0.385 K−1 (@463 K) and the maximum of S r is 4.54 % K−1 (@303 K) based on the fluorescence lifetime temperature measurement method. The temperature cyclotron curve of the sample proves that the sample has excellent stability and repeatability in temperature measurement. These results demonstrate that the designed La 3 Mg 2 NbO 9 :Sm3+,Mn4+ phosphor is promising for the field of non-contact optical temperature thermometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 1-y Sm y Fe 1-x Ti x O 3 ceramics with compositions at the rhombohedral- orthorhombic morphotropic phase boundary (y = 0.1, 0.12, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) were prepared by solid state reaction method. Analysis of the crystal structure of the compounds based on the results of laboratory and synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements as well as Raman spectroscopy experiments revealed a coexistence of the rhombohedral phase (SG R 3 c) and the anti-polar orthorhombic phase (SG Pbam) in the compounds Bi 0.88 Sm 0.12 Fe 1-x Ti x O 3 with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1; the compounds Bi 0.9 Sm 0.10 Fe 1-x Ti x O 3 are characterized by the mixed structural state for the concentration range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.06 and by the single phase rhombohedral state within 0.06 < x ≤ 0.1. Room temperature magnetization measurements demonstrate a gradual increase of remanent magnetization with Ti content in the compounds of both systems up to the maximal value of M R ∼0.28 emu/g for compounds with x = 0.06 which is followed by a decrease in magnetization with further titanium doping. Temperature decrease leads to a reduction of remanent magnetization which is mainly caused by a partial recovery of spatially modulated spin structure occurred in the compounds of both systems. Time aging of the compounds for about ∼1 year leads to a drastic increase of M R , which is caused by a change in the structural phase ratio, homogeneity of the structural state and a contribution of unbounded spins demonstrated by low field measurements. Subjecting of the annealed compounds to external electric field of E ∼40 kV/cm leads to a decrease of magnetization associated with backward structural transformations and redistribution of the local structural defects in the compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of co-doping on ceria-based electrolyte materials with samarium (Sm) and gadolinium (Gd) to improve their structural, morphological, and ionic conductivity properties synthesized through a co-precipitation technique using sodium hydro-oxide (NaOH) as the precipitating agent for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications. The aforementioned approach provides benefits like uniformity, high purity, and simplicity of synthesis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to characterize the crystal structure and morphology of the synthesized materials. No secondary phases were observed revealing the phase purity of the material. A decrease in lattice constant was detected due to the replacement of a small concentration of Gd with Sm having small ionic radii compared to Sm. Homogeneity and decrease in particle size of prepared samples were observed via SEM analysis predicting the enhancement in the grain size with the reduction in grain boundaries and elemental composition through EDX agreed with the starting composition. Impedance spectroscopy was employed to measure the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte samples. Our results demonstrate a significant decrease in grain and grain boundary resistances causing the increase in ionic conductivity with the introduction of Gd and Sm as co-dopants into the ceria structure. The optimal doping concentration was found to be 10 % Gd and 10 % Sm. The co-doped ceria had a high ionic conductivity of 6.28 × 10−2 S/cm at 750οC and a low activation energy of 0.44 eV, indicating improved ionic mobility. This study provides valuable insights into the role of Gd and Sm co-doping in enhancing the ionic conductivity of ceria-based electrolyte materials, which is crucial for the advancement of high-performance SOFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconolite-based structures have served as robust matrices for the incorporation of minor actinide-rich high-level waste (HLW). The co-doping effects are critical for exploring the phase evolution of zirconolite-based structures, thereby providing a guide for HLW immobilization. Nevertheless, few studies have studied the synergistic effect of high valent ion W6+ and Lanthanides (Ln, surrogates to minor actinides) co-doping. This study proposed a systematical study on the Ln-W (Ln = Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho, Yb) co-doping in zirconolite-derived structure using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The results showed that near-single-phase zirconolite-2M was recorded for samples with low level doping of Ln-W (Nd–W, Sm–W and Gd–W with x = 0.05; Ho–W and Yb–W with x = 0.05–0.1), and its structure underwent a moderate expansion along the c-axis, as revealed by a Pawley refinement method. One key finding is that near-single-phase zirconolite-2M was recorded for samples with low level doping of Ln-W (Nd–W, Sm–W and Gd–W with x = 0.05; Ho–W and Yb–W with x = 0.05–0.1), and its structure underwent a moderate expansion along the c-axis, as revealed by a Pawley refinement method. Notably, in addition to a transformation from zirconolite-2M to pyrochlore, a pseudo-yellow phase CaWO 4 was also noted with increasing co-doping contents. This work demonstrates that the high charge compensator W6+ and lanthanides can be simultaneously incorporated into zirconolite structure, and a different phase transformation was revealed compared to that in low valent element doping system, which gives a new insight into the optimization of HLW immobilization route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-efficiency Sm3+doped La(OH) 3 nanoparticles are synthesized in developing orange-emitting phosphors. A hexagonal phase of pure and Sm3+doped lanthanum hydroxide nanoparticles can be obtained by urea-assisted auto-combustion after calcination at 900 °C for 4 h. The dopant concentration of Sm3+ ions varied as 2, 5, and 10 wt% in the host lattice. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the formation of the hexagonal phase with space group P63/m (176). The phase formation of pure and Sm3+ion-doped La(OH) 3 nanoparticles was confirmed using Raman spectroscopy. The band gap energy is determined to be 5.6 eV. The photoluminescence spectrum under the excitation of 407 nm exhibits four emission bands centered around orange emissions 569 nm, 605 nm, 652 nm, and 711 nm corresponding to 4G 5/2 → 6H J (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2, 11/2) transitions—the CIE coordinate of the Sm3+doped La(OH) 3 samples positioned in the orange region. The lifetime of Sm3+ion doped La(OH) 3 is found to be 0.36 ms, 0.708 ms, and 0.185 ms for 2, 5, and 10 wt%. The results suggest that the prepared phosphors are valuable for orange emission optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of orange-red-emitting phosphors, Ba2Y1−xSmxAlO5 (x = 1 mol.%, 2 mol.%, 5 mol.%, 10 mol.%, 15 mol.%, 20 mol.%, 25 mol.%, and 30 mol.%), were successfully synthesized using a high-temperature solid-state method at 1400°C, with Sm3+ serving as the activator. The crystallinity of the samples was confirmed in the space group P21/c (14). Efficient excitation was observed in the Ba2YAlO5:xSm3+ phosphors when exposed to 405 nm irradiation. Upon excitation at 405 nm, the synthesized Ba2YAlO5:xSm3+ phosphors displayed three distinctive peaks, which corresponded to the transitions of Sm3+ at 4G5/2–6HJ (J = 5/2, 7/2, and 9/2). Optimal luminescence properties were achieved at a Sm3+ concentration of 2 mol.%. The phenomenon of concentration quenching was elucidated through the application of dipole–dipole interaction theory. The quenching temperature of Ba2YAlO5:0.10Sm3+ exceeded 480 K. The CIE chromaticity coordinates of Ba2YAlO5:xSm3+ closely align with the recognized standard red defined by the National Television System Committee (NTSC). This conformity underscores the potential of Ba2YAlO5:xSm3+ phosphors for applications demanding precise color reproduction, as required in advanced display technologies and lighting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion To evaluate the levels of serum rare earth elements (REEs): lutetium [Lu], praseodymium [Pr], samarium [Sm], dysprosium [Dy], and cerium [Ce] in pregnant women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and evaluate their relationship with total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG), a marker of DNA damage.A case‐controlled study was conducted on a cohort of 60 female participants, with first‐trimester healthy pregnant women as the control group and pregnant women with a history of consecutive abortions as the recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) group. Following blood collection, serum concentrations of Lu, Pr, Sm, Dy, and Ce were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer (ICP‐MS). Oxidative stress and DNA damage were evaluated through TAC and DNA damage marker (8‐OHdG).Serum levels of Lu, Pr, Sm, Dy, and Ce were higher in women with RPL compared with control (P < 0.001). Intriguingly, a strong significant negative correlation was observed between TAC and REEs (P < 0.05). Lu, Dy, and Ce demonstrated a significant positive correlation with increased DNA damage in the RPL group (P < 0.05). Contrary, there was no evidence of a correlation between 8‐OHdG and Pr and Sm.The study highlights a potential association between Lu, Sm, Dy, and Ce and an increased risk of RPL, highlighting REE‐induced toxicity as a major risk factor for RPL. The outcome of the study is to advance our understanding of the interplay between rare earth elements and RPL, with potential implications for reproductive medicine, environmental health, and the development of preventive strategies for individuals at risk of RPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of samarium (Sm3+) doping on the structural, microstructural, mechanical, and dielectric properties of BaBi2Nb2O9 (BBN) ceramics. Using the solid-state reaction method, samples of BaBi2-xSmxNb2O9 with varying concentrations of Sm (x = 0.01; 0.02; 0.04; 0.06; 0.08; 0.1) were prepared. Thermal analysis, microstructure characterization via SEM and EDS, X-ray diffraction, mechanical testing, and dielectric measurements were conducted. The results revealed that increasing Sm3+ concentration led to the formation of single-phase materials with a tetragonal structure at room temperature. Mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus and stiffness, improved with Sm doping, indicating stronger atomic bonding. Dielectric properties showed that low concentrations of Sm3+ slightly increased electrical permittivity, while higher concentrations reduced it. The presence of Sm3⁺ also affected the relaxor properties, evidenced by changes in the freezing temperature and activation energy. Overall, the study concludes that samarium doping enhances the structural and functional properties of BBN ceramics, making them promising candidates for high-temperature piezoelectric and dielectric applications. The findings provide valuable insights into tailoring ceramic materials for advanced technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samarium hydrogen iodate Sm(IO3)3·HIO3 was successfully synthesized by the unconventional low-temperature solution-melt method, its structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis of single crystals. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with lattice parameters: a = 10.4637(6) Å, b = 7.4629(5) Å, c = 14.0174(13) Å, β = 110.53(0), Z = 6. In the studied structure, samarium atoms are surrounded by 8 oxygen atoms in a polyhedron in the form of a distorted square antiprism. The iodate groups are linked through common oxygen atoms of the SmO8 antiprism into a three-dimensional framework. The compound was characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR and NQR spectroscopy and EDX analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the solid-state reaction (SSR) method to make samarium oxide-doped SrTiO 3 perovskite ceramic. We then put the synthesized samples through PXRD analysis to look at their structural properties. It is observed that the Sm-doped SrTiO 3 exhibited a cubic phase, with no secondary phase resulting from Sm-doping. For a higher doping concentration (at 5 %) of Sm 2 O 3 , we slightly increased the particle size (from 30 nm to 33 nm). HR-SEM is used to study the morphology and nature of each sample. We examined the component composition of Sr, Ti, O, and Sm using the EDAX spectra and matched it with the stoichiometry ratio. FT-IR spectroscopy was carried out to analyze the presence of functional groups and chemical bonding in the samples. We studied the magnetic properties of the synthesized samples at room temperature using the VSM technique. The coercivity, retentivity, and saturation magnetization of SrTiO 3 considerably increased with a higher doping concentration of Sm. We used UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to record the reflectance spectra and calculate the optical energy values. An increase in Sm-doping concentration red-shifted the absorption peaks. The photoluminescence spectra revealed that the samples exhibited a wide spectrum of colours. The proposed combination of nanomaterials is suitable to become an appropriate candidate for white LED applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on investigating the photoluminescence behavior of pure strontium phosphate glasses with a composition of 62.5% P2O5 and 37.5% SrO. Then it was extended to investigate the effects of adding rare earth elements (Pr3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Dy3+) and the crystallization process on improving luminescent properties of the parent glass. Various spectroscopic measurements, including XRD, SEM & EDAX, and FTIR, were conducted to examine the relationship between structural changes and their impact on luminescent performance. The optical measurements showed a characteristic enhancement resulting from the addition of RE3+-dopants and the crystallization process. The crystallization of glasses yielded a single phase from Sr(PO3)2 with an extended emission peak at 671 nm and heightened intensity compared to the glassy sample. The development of efficient and stable luminescent glasses via crystallization and dopant type can lead to advancements in applications such as glowing devices, optical detectors, and photonics innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new mild and chemoselective method for the preparation of various aminoarenes is described, based on the electrochemical catalytic reduction of nitroaryl derivatives promoted by samarium salts in methanol. The reactions are carried out in air, in an undivided electrochemical cell, at room temperature and tolerate a wide range of functional groups, including some reducible ones, without leading to by‐products. This procedure is also effective for the complete reduction of challenging substrates, namely those capable of coordinating metals, traditionally leading to the need for drastic conditions in terms of pressure, reaction time or temperature. 47 examples are described, including one nitroalkane, and all lead to the targeted reduced product in yields that are almost always over 90 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive glasses are renowned for their applications in dentistry, serving as restorative materials, dental adhesives, intracanal medicaments, and agents for enamel remineralization. Niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5) is employed in dental adhesive resins and orthodontic adhesives, offering radio-pacifying properties essential for dental materials. Samarium oxide (Sm 2 O 3) emerges as a potential additive in aesthetic restorative dental ceramics and resins, enhancing the natural fluorescence of teeth. In this study Nb 2 O 5 and Sm 2 O 3 -doped (1, 3, and 5 wt%) 13–93 bioactive glass particles were synthesized via the sol-gel method, tailored for dental implementations. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the physical, structural, and optical properties of the resultant glass powders. Additionally, their in vitro bioactivity and ionizing radiation shielding characteristics were rigorously evaluated. The results indicate that Sm3+ ions preserve the amorphous nature of the silicate glasses, while Nb5+ incorporation leads to the crystallization of the T-Nb 2 O 5 phase. Bioactivity assays across three physiological fluids—simulated body fluid, α-minimum essential medium, and phosphate-buffered saline, demonstrated the ability of doped glasses to facilitate hydroxyapatite layer formation, with the most pronounced bioactivity observed in phosphate-buffered saline immersed samples. Furthermore, radiation shielding simulations reveal that the addition of Nb 2 O 5 and Sm 2 O 3 enhances the ionizing radiation attenuation capabilities of the glasses, a property that holds significant promise for protecting against radiation in dental radiology. It can be concluded that the dual functionality of Nb5+ and Sm3+-doped bioactive glasses, which may revolutionize restorative dental practices and offer improved protection in radiological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, Sm3+ ions doped Lithium Barium Tungstate (Li2Ba5W3O15) (LBW) phosphors with the ability to emit orange-red light were made using the traditional high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. The structure and phase of the as-synthesized phosphor samples were examined via X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The diffraction peaks of the undoped LBW and Sm3+ ions doped LBW phosphors closely resemble those of the Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards (JCPDS) pattern with card number 01–072-1717. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for the analysis of the morphological characteristics of the synthesized phosphor material. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to study several vibrational and molecular bands present in the host matrix. Using diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), the optical band gap values (Eg) were evaluated by applying Tauc's method. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra characteristics at λex = 336 nm indicate the emission of dopant ions (Sm3+) in the deep orange-red region corresponding to 4G5/2 → 6H5/2 transition (at 581 nm) with concentration quenching after 2 mol % of Sm3+ ions. Using the PL spectra, the CIE chromaticity coordinates of LBWS2.0 phosphor were estimated and found in the deep visible orange-red area, indicating the potential use of the prepared phosphor material for phosphor-converted white light emitting diodes (w-LEDs) applications. Double exponential behaviour can be seen in the PL decay spectral profiles obtained under λem = 581 nm and λex = 336 nm. The experimental lifetimes (τexp) decrease as the concentration of Sm3+ ions rise. The temperature-dependent PL (TDPL) and activation energy results show that the as-synthesized phosphor has considerably superior thermal stability. The results of the current research contemplate us the applicability of Sm3+ ions doped LBW phosphor for photonic devices such as w-LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of BaLiZn3(BO3)3:RE (RE = Sm3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, and Pb2+) phosphors were synthesized with a solid- state reaction method. The minor concentrations of various rare earth (Tb3+, Dy3+, and Sm3+) ions and transition metal (Pb2+) ions activated in the BaLiZn3(BO3) host matrix were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The XRD results of BaLiZn3(BO3)3:RE (RE = Sm3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, and Pb2+) phosphors confirmed that all the samples have a monoclinic phase. SEM studies revealed that the morphology of BaLiZn3(BO3)3:RE (RE = Sm3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, and Pb2+) phosphors was irregular. The photoluminescence emission and excitation spectra show that these phosphors can be effectively excited by near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (n-UV), and they all exhibit an efficient orange-red (Sm3+, 4G5/2 → 6H7/2), green (Tb3+, 5D4 → 7F5), yellow (Dy3+, 4F9/2 → 6H13/2), and blue (Pb2+, 3P1 → 1S0) emission. All of the above results confirmed that the obtained phosphors could be a potential candidate for n-UV-excited WLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin coined a term Metallodrug and later a tradition of Metallodrugs was established. Later, severe renal and metabolic toxicities of the platinum based drugs prompted the medicinal chemists to develop new and novel metallotherapeutics with different metal cores. Henceforth, chemists designed the metal complexes based on copper, cobalt, vanadium iron and zinc. These complexes were reported for their antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic and enzyme inhibitors. Later, chemists also focused on lanthanide metal ions and resulted in the design of metal complexes for the application of bio imaging cellular studies as well as chemotherapeutic agents. This review throws a light on the recent advances in the development of the samarium complexes as efficient and versatile biological agents. Samarium complexes based on various ligand systems and ancillary ligands have been mentioned in this review stating their biological efficacy and potency against variable cancer cell lines, their DNA interactive behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quencher concentration (cmax) of rare‐earth (RE3+) doped laser glass plays a pivotal role in achieving high laser gain. However, it is still challenging to quantitatively calculate and predict the cmax of RE3+ ions in laser glass. Here, we propose and demonstrate a robust method in predicting the local environment and the cmax of RE3+ in laser glasses from their neighboring glassy compounds (NGCs). Specifically, the NGCs method capably predicts the local environment of Er3+ ions in borate glasses (B2O3–BaO binary and B2O3–BaO–Li2O ternary glasses). Moreover, the NGCs' method accurately predicts the cmax of Er2O3 in borate glasses with an error of less than 5% compared to the experimental result, showing the promising prediction capability for the cmax of RE3+ ions. Based on the NGCs method, the cmax database of Er3+‐doped borate glasses is established for efficiently tailoring compositions with desired optical properties. This study offers a rapid and low‐cost route to design novel laser glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For photocatalysis technology to be applied industrially, there has been a significant increase in the need for visible-light-driven photocatalysts that possess exceptional superparamagnetic characteristics to facilitate easy separation. Hence, in this study, rare earth elements (RE) (Sm, Yb, Dy, Er, and Ho) were systematically doped into manganese ferrite (MF) using the coprecipitation method to serve two purposes, namely, reducing the photogenerated electron-hole recombination during photocatalysis and modifying the magnetic properties of MF to become superparamagnetic. The synthesised Re-doped MF was found to be visible light active, as evidenced by the transient photocurrent response and the obtained band gaps, which were in the range of 1.84–1.93 eV. From the cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization plots, it was evident that different RE element dopants have different effects on improving the electrochemical properties of MF. Overall, fast electron transfer of the synthesised materials was found to decrease in the following order: Sm-MF > Dy-MF > Ho-MF > MF > Er-MF > Yb-MF. The g-factor and peak-to-peak line width were found to be in the range of (2.221–2.317) and (93.17–149.85 mT), respectively. The resonance field and hysteresis loop (H c) were found to be in the range of (289.2–301.86 mT) and (8.24–32.61 mT), respectively. Overall, the synthesised RE-doped MF exhibits ferromagnetic properties, and the obtained small H c values hint at these particles exhibiting superparamagnetic properties. In summary, doping MF with Sm, Dy, and Ho is more desirable as it alters the magnetic properties towards superparamagnetic and improves its electrochemical properties. Thus, this study is of importance in advancing the field of photocatalysis in water treatment and material science. • RE (Sm, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb) were successfully incorporated into the MF spinel structure. • Sm, Dy and Ho dopants improved the electrochemical and optical properties of MF. • The magnetic properties of MF were improved. • The produced photocatalysts were visible light active. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), as important energy equipment, have excellent characteristics, including low pollution and high catalytic activity. The cathode, which is the key component of an SOFC, plays a vital role in practical applications. Herein, we study the properties of Ln 0.125 Sr 0.875 Co 0.875 Ta 0.125 O 3-δ (Ln = La, Sm, and Nd, abbreviated as LSCT, SSCT, and NSCT, respectively) cathode materials both theoretically and experimentally. The conductivity of LnSCT gradually decreased with decreasing Ln3+ ionic radius. Density of states (DOS) analysis indicated that LSCT has the highest conductivity owing to the band center of Co 3d being closer to O 1s. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the SSCT sample has the lowest oxygen vacancy formation energy, which facilitated the formation of oxygen vacancies. The binding energy results show that SSCT and NSCT have relatively good structural stability compared to LSCT. The polarization impedance values of LSCT, SSCT, and NSCT at 700 °C are 0.105, 0.069, and 0.304 Ω cm2, respectively. The CO 2 sensitivity of LSCT, SSCT, and NSCT was evaluated by calculating the CO 2 adsorption energy and performing impedance tests under different CO 2 concentrations. These results indicate that LSCT and SSCT have better CO 2 tolerance than NSCT. At 700 °C, for Ln = La, Sm, and Nd, the maximum power of NiCu-SDC/SDC/LSGM/LnSCT electrolyte-supported fuel cell reached 430, 462, and 382 mW cm−2, respectively. These findings provide a reference for the future design and development of SOFCs cathode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the significant effects of SrO on the structural, physical, and UV–visible (UV–Vis) characteristics and the γ-ray and neutron shielding ability of samarium sodium borotellurite glasses with the composition (46.5-X)B2O3 + 0.5Sm2O3 + 15TeO2 + 18Bi2O3 + 20Na2O + XSrO, where X = 0 (SrO0)–12 (SrO12)% with steps of 3 mol.%, designated as SrOX. The glass samples were prepared via the well-known melt quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the fabricated glasses was confirmed by XRD. The density (ρ) of the SrOX samples increased gradually from 3.73 ± 0.01 g/cm3 to 4.04 ± 0.01 g/cm3. The direct optical gap increased from 2.94 ± 0.01 eV to 2.98 ± 0.01 eV, and the indirect gap increased from 2.74 ± 0.01 eV to 2.95 ± 0.01 eV. Several absorption peaks were found for 4f5–4f5 electronic transitions from ground manifold 6H5/2 to excited samarium ion manifold states. The free volume (Vf), packing density (Pd), ion concentration (N), polaron radius (rp), internuclear distance (ri), field strength (F), molar volume of the boron atoms (Vb), and average boron–boron distance (dBB) changed significantly as the SrO concentration varied in the glass network. The linear attenuation coefficient (µ) followed the order: SrO0 < SrO3 < SrO6 < SrO9 < SrO12. The synthesized SrO12 glass sample had the lowest half-value layer (HVL). The fast neutron removal cross-section (FCS) values of the SrOX glass samples were 0.085 cm−1, 0.085 cm−1, 0.085 cm−1, 0.086 cm−1, and 0.086 cm−1 for samples SrO0, SrO3, SrO6, SrO9, and SrO12, respectively. The obtained results showed that the proposed compositions can be used in optical applications as well as γ-ray and neutron shielding materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of orange-red emitting Li6Y(BO3)3: Sm3+ (LYBO: Sm3+) phosphors were produced via the high temperature solid-state method. The structure, morphology, element distribution and photoluminescent behavior of these phosphors were thoroughly examined. XRD analysis confirmed that all samples exhibited a pure phase. Under 404 nm excitation, the emission spectra included four distinct transitions of Sm3+, attributed to 4G5/2→6H5/2 (565 nm), 4G5/2→6H7/2 (613 nm), 4G5/2→6H9/2 (647 nm) and 4G5/2→6H11/2 (708 nm). The ideal doping level for LYBO: xSm3+ is x = 0.05, and the concentration quenching primarily stems from electric dipole–dipole interactions among the ions. As the amount of Sm3+ dopant was increased, the fluorescence lifetime decreased. The CIE indicates that LYBO: 0.05Sm3+ is located in the orange-red region, exhibiting a high color purity (99%) and low color temperature (1711 K). The phosphor demonstrated excellent thermal stability and its activation energy was 0.3238 eV. In summary, LYBO: Sm3+ is a potential orange-red phosphor that can be coated onto near-ultraviolet chips suitable for W-LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environment-friendly lead-free potassium sodium niobate-based piezoelectric materials have been widely used in acoustic device applications because of its high piezoelectric response, high Curie temperature, and low acoustic impedance. In our previous works, samarium modified 0.915(K0.45Na0.5Li0.05)NbO3–0.075BaZrO3–0.01(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 (Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT) ceramics have achieved high piezoelectric properties with good thermal stability. To further improve its properties and thermal stability, grain orientation-controlled methods have been introduced to Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT ceramics. In this work, textured Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT ceramics with a 93% ⟨001⟩c-oriented textured degree have been prepared. The samples have achieved a d33* value with 532 pm/V and better thermal stability between room temperature to 150 °C than the non-textured samples. Moreover, ultrasonic transducers with a 25 MHz center frequency have been designed and fabricated by the textured Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT ceramics. The peak-to-peak of the transducers has reached a 1.78 V high level, which demonstrated the textured Sm–KNLN–BZ–BNT ceramics are a good candidate for acoustic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, [001] textured Sm0.025Pb0.9625(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.74Ti0.26O3 (Sm-PMN-26PT) ceramics were synthesized by the templated grain growth method. The dielectric, piezoelectric, and electromechanical properties of untextured and textured ceramics are systematically studied. A high texture degree of 99% was obtained using 1% volume fraction of the BaTiO3 (BT) template. The textured ceramics exhibit an excellent piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 1882 pC/N at room temperature, and an extremely high d33* of 2510 pm/V is obtained. The dielectric, ferroelectric, and strain characteristics reveal that the improvement of piezoelectric properties of textured ceramics comes from the increase of dielectric constant ε33 and electrostriction coefficient Q33. Both the intrinsic response of the domain and the external contribution of the domain wall are enhanced in [001] textured ceramics, which may be the microscopic mechanism of increased piezoelectric activity. The Sm-PMN-26PT textured ceramics exhibit excellent piezoelectric properties, which are very promising for using at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) stands out among conventional hydrogen production processes by featuring excellent advantages. However, the uncompetitive production cost due to the low energy efficiency has hindered its development, necessitating the introduction of cost-effective electrocatalysts. In this study, we introduced samarium doping as a high-potential approach to improve the electrocatalytic properties of nickel phosphide (Ni2P) for efficient HER. Samarium-doped Ni2P was synthesized via a facile two-step vapor–solid reaction technique. Different physical and electrochemical analyses showed that samarium doping significantly improved pure Ni2P characteristics, such as particle size, specific surface area, electrochemical hydrogen adsorption, intrinsic activity, electrochemical active surface area, and charge transfer ability in favor of HER. Namely, Ni2P doped with 3%mol of samarium (Sm0.03Ni2P) with a Tafel slope of 67.8 mV/dec. and overpotential of 130.6 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 in 1.0 M KOH solution exhibited a notable performance, suggesting Sm0.03Ni2P and samarium doping as a remarkable electrocatalyst and promising promoter for efficient HER process, respectively.

Transparent top electrodes are crucial for enhancing the performance of semitransparent organic solar cells (ST‐OSCs). The commonly evaporated ultra‐thin silver (Ag) electrode in ST‐OSCs suffers from limited transparency and conductivity due to its island‐like growth, posing a challenge in achieving desired conductivity and low optical loss. Here, a novel composite film is prepared by doping a small amount of samarium (Sm) into Ag during evaporation. The incorporation of Sm facilitates to form a continuous ultra‐thin Ag film by suppressing isolated island growth. A 15 nm Sm:Ag composite film with an optimized mass ratio of 1:30 exhibits a sheet resistance of 6 Ω □−1 and an average visible transmittance (AVT) of 66%, much better than 20 Ω □−1 and 43% of the pure Ag analogue. By employing the Sm:Ag electrode with an optical coupling layer, the ST‐OSCs demonstrate a power conversion efficiency of 10.89% and an AVT of 37.1%, resulting in a light utilization efficiency of 4.04%. Moreover, the resultant ST‐OSCs demonstrate superior color neutrality with a color rendering index of 91.9, representing one of the highest values among the ST‐OSCs with LUE exceeding 4% reported to date. This work provides a novel transparent top electrode with superior conductivity and transmittance for ST‐OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samarium diiodide (SmI2) is a privileged, single-electron reductant deployed in diverse synthetic settings. However, generalizable methods for catalytic turnover remain elusive because of the well-known challenge associated with cleaving strong SmIII–O bonds. Prior efforts have focused on the use of highly reactive oxophiles to enable catalyst turnover. However, such approaches give rise to complex catalyst speciation and intrinsically limit the synthetic scope. Herein, we leveraged a mild and selective protonolysis strategy to achieve samarium-catalyzed, intermolecular reductive cross-coupling of ketones and acrylates with broad scope. The modularity of our approach allows rational control of selectivity based on solvent, pKa (where Ka is the acid dissociation constant), and the samarium coordination sphere and provides a basis for future developments in catalytic and electrocatalytic lanthanide chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel anti-reduction mechanism was put up by substituting (Mg 1/3 Ta 2/3)4+ complex ion for Ti4+ ion in Ba 4.2 Sm 9.2 Ti 18-x (Mg 1/3 Ta 2/3) x O 54 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) ceramics. The influence of (Mg 1/3 Ta 2/3)4+ complex ion on the sintering behavior, crystal structure, anti-reduction mechanism and microwave dielectric properties of Ba 4.2 Sm 9.2 Ti 18-x (Mg 1/3 Ta 2/3) x O 54 ceramics was investigated. The results indicated that Ba 4.2 Sm 9.2 Ti 18-x (Mg 1/3 Ta 2/3) x O 54 ceramics maintained a typical single-phase tungsten bronze structure. After doping, the ceramic exhibited dense structure and typical columnar grains. Raman spectroscopy and XPS analysis confirmed the reduction of oxygen vacancies and obtained a 7.86 % decrease of Ti3+ ions. Due to the anti-reduction of Ti4+ ions, Ba 4.2 Sm 9.2 Ti 18-x (Mg 1/3 Ta 2/3) x O 54 ceramics possessed an improvement in microwave dielectric properties. In Ba 4.2 Sm 9.2 Ti 18-x (Mg 1/3 Ta 2/3) x O 54 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) ceramics, the Ba 4.2 Sm 9.2 Ti 17·95 (Mg 1/3 Ta 2/3) 0.05 O 54 (x = 0.05) ceramic sintered at 1350 °C for 4 h showed the best integrated microwave dielectric properties with ε r = 79.62, Q f = 10,450 GHz and τ f = −10.66 ppm/°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report Nd and Sm isotopic compositions of four samples of Ryugu returned by the Hayabusa2 mission, including "A" (first touchdown) and "C" (second touchdown) samples, and several carbonaceous chondrites to evaluate potential genetic relationships between Ryugu and known chondrite groups and track the cosmic ray exposure history of Ryugu. We resolved Nd and Sm isotopic anomalies in small (<20 ng Nd and Sm) sample sizes via thermal ionization mass spectrometer using 1013 Ω amplifiers. Ryugu samples exhibit resolvable negative μ142Nd values consistent with carbonaceous chondrite values, suggesting that Ryugu is related to the parent bodies of carbonaceous chondrites. Ryugu's negative μ149Sm values are the result of exposure to galactic cosmic rays, as demonstrated by the correlation between 150Sm/152Sm and 149Sm/152Sm ratios that fall along the expected neutron capture correlation line. The neutron fluence calculated in the "A" samples (2.75 ± 1.94 × 1015 n cm−2) is slightly higher compared to the "C" samples (0.95 ± 2.04 × 1015 n cm−2), though overlapping within measurement uncertainty. The Sm results for Ryugu, at this level of precision, thus are consistent with a well‐mixed surface layer at least to the depths from which the "A" and "C" samples derive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of 135Xe and 149Sm on the reactivity of a typical megawatt heat pipe reactor had been studied by MCNP and SuperMC-CAS. The results showed that the reactivity introduced by 135Xe was only 8 pcm. The concentration of 149Sm increased with the core running time, highlighting its significant poisoning effect. A simplified calculation method for determining the equilibrium xenon poisoning value of a fast neutron reactor was proposed in this study. These results provided valuable insights for assessing xenon and samarium poisoning in low-power, fast neutron reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis and reactivity with carbon dioxide (CO2) of divalent samarium in the bis-tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand environment has been reported. In addition, CO2 activation and functionalisation by lanthanide silylamides in the bis-tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand environment was demonstrated. Reduction of the Sm(III) precursor [Sm(Tp)2(OTf)] (Tp = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate; OTf = triflate) with KC8 yielded the insoluble Sm(II) multi-metallic coordination polymer [{Sm(Tp)2}n] 1-Sm. Addition of 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) to 1-Sm enabled isolation of the monomeric complex [Sm(Tp)2(DME)] 1-Sm(DME). Complex 1-Sm(DME) reduced CO2 to yield the oxalate-bridged dimeric Sm(III) complex [{Sm(Tp)2}2(μ-η2:η2-O2CCO2)] 2-Sm. The reactions of heteroleptic Ln(III) silylamide complexes [Ln(Tp)2(N′′)] (Ln = Y, Sm; N′′ = N(SiMe3)2) with CO2 yielded monomeric Ln(III) silyloxides [Ln(Tp)2(OSiMe3)] 3-Ln and trimethylsilyl isocyanate (O＝C＝NSiMe3). Complexes 3-Ln are the first crystallographically characterised examples of Ln(III)–OSiMe3 bonds accessed via CO2 activation and functionalisation. Full characterisation data are presented for all complexes, including solid-state molecular structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the two typical basic binary solid solutions of the relaxor-PbTiO3 family, Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) has been widely investigated, whereas Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PNN-PT) has not. Here, 1.5 mol% Sm-doped (1 − x)Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3, (1 − x)PNN–xPT:0.015Sm with x = 0.33–0.39, ceramics have been prepared and the chemical composition-induced evolution of crystal structure, domain, and electrical properties investigated systematically. With increasing PT content, evolution of the rhombohedral–tetragonal structure was observed. A rhombohedral–tetragonal morphotropic phase boundary occurred around x = 0.36–0.37, which showed a peak piezoelectric property with piezoelectric constant d33 = 531 pC N−1 and planar electromechanical coupling factor kp = 0.37 at room temperature. At the same time, the x = 0.36 composition showed improved ferroelectric behavior with remanent polarization Pr = 13.4 μC cm−2 and coercive field Ec = 3.2 kV cm−1. Interestingly, different from its PMN-PT counterpart, there is no temperature-driven phase transition between room temperature and the Curie temperature for (1 − x)PNN–xPT:0.015Sm. These parameters indicated that the PNN-PT system is worthy of more attention and is a promising platform for further development of high-performance piezo/ferroelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the two typical basic binary solid solutions of the relaxor-PbTiO3 family, Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) has been widely investigated, whereas Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PNN-PT) has not. Here, 1.5 mol% Sm-doped (1 − x)Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3, (1 − x)PNN–xPT:0.015Sm with x = 0.33–0.39, ceramics have been prepared and the chemical composition-induced evolution of crystal structure, domain, and electrical properties investigated systematically. With increasing PT content, evolution of the rhombohedral–tetragonal structure was observed. A rhombohedral–tetragonal morphotropic phase boundary occurred around x = 0.36–0.37, which showed a peak piezoelectric property with piezoelectric constant d33 = 531 pC N−1 and planar electromechanical coupling factor kp = 0.37 at room temperature. At the same time, the x = 0.36 composition showed improved ferroelectric behavior with remanent polarization Pr = 13.4 μC cm−2 and coercive field Ec = 3.2 kV cm−1. Interestingly, different from its PMN-PT counterpart, there is no temperature-driven phase transition between room temperature and the Curie temperature for (1 − x)PNN–xPT:0.015Sm. These parameters indicated that the PNN-PT system is worthy of more attention and is a promising platform for further development of high-performance piezo/ferroelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) stands out among conventional hydrogen production processes by featuring excellent advantages. However, the uncompetitive production cost due to the low energy efficiency has hindered its development, necessitating the introduction of cost-effective electrocatalysts. In this study, we introduced samarium doping as a high-potential approach to improve the electrocatalytic properties of nickel phosphide (Ni2P) for efficient HER. Samarium-doped Ni2P was synthesized via a facile two-step vapor–solid reaction technique. Different physical and electrochemical analyses showed that samarium doping significantly improved pure Ni2P characteristics, such as particle size, specific surface area, electrochemical hydrogen adsorption, intrinsic activity, electrochemical active surface area, and charge transfer ability in favor of HER. Namely, Ni2P doped with 3%mol of samarium (Sm0.03Ni2P) with a Tafel slope of 67.8 mV/dec. and overpotential of 130.6 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 in 1.0 M KOH solution exhibited a notable performance, suggesting Sm0.03Ni2P and samarium doping as a remarkable electrocatalyst and promising promoter for efficient HER process, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactions of oxygen and samarium ions in molten NaCl–2CsCl eutectic in the temperature range of 823–913 K have been investigated by potentiometric titration in an inert gas atmosphere. The activity of oxygen ions in the studied melts was monitored using a standard YZME (indicator) electrode based on Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 with a solid–electrolyte membrane. The titration of Sm3+ by O2− ions demonstrated the formation of insoluble SmOCl compounds in the investigated region. The mechanism of formation of SmOCl and Sm2O3 was established by the analysis of potentiometric titration curves. Subsequently, the solubility of SmOCl and Sm2O3 in the melt was calculated using the material balance equation and solubility constant equation. Finally, the basic thermodynamic properties of SmOCl and Sm2O3 in molten NaCl–2CsCl eutectic were calculated, and the properties of samarium in the melt were summarized using the Pourbaix-type (E-pO2−) diagram to determine the kinds of stabilized samarium compounds. Furthermore, the optimal chlorination conditions can be obtained from the E-pO2− diagram of Sm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, calcium silicate nanophosphors (CaSiO3) doped with Sm 3 + ions were prepared at 9 0 0 ∘ C by a simple solution combustion synthesis technique. The particle size, functional groups and morphology of the prepared phosphors were identified by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The monoclinic phase of the nanophosphors was confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The effective excitation of the nanophosphors near the UV region and their yellow emission were confirmed by photoluminescence studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cation order, which can be controlled by synthesis conditions and stoichiometry, plays an important role in properties of perovskite materials. Here we show that aliovalent doping by Sb5+ in Sm2MnMn(Mn4−xSbx)O12 quadruple perovskite solid solutions can control cation orders in both A and B sites. Samples with 0.4≤x≤2 were synthesized by a high‐pressure, high‐temperature method at 6 GPa and 1770 K. Three regions with different cation orders were found at 0.5≤x≤1.0, x=1.5–1.6, and x=1.8. The 0.5≤x≤1.0 compositions have a B‐site‐disordered and A‐site columnar‐ordered structure with space group P42/nmc; the x=1.5 and 1.6 samples have a B‐site rock‐salt‐ordered and A‐site columnar‐ordered structure with space group P42/n; the x=1.8 sample has a B‐site rock‐salt‐ordered and A‐site‐disordered structure with space group P21/n. All the samples show one ferrimagnetic transition: TC increases from 35 K to 73 K for 0.5≤x≤1.0, TC=81 K for x=1.5 and 1.6, and TC=53 K for x=1.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We thoroughly investigated the effects of Sm³⁺ doping on the magnetic, structural, hyperfine, and vibrational properties of Sr 1-x Sm x Fe 12 O 19 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) nanoparticles, which were synthesized using the proteic sol-gel process. The Rietveld refined XRD patterns confirmed the presence of M-type SrFe 12 O 19 , alongside a minor fraction of α-Fe 2 O 3. As Sm³⁺ doping increased, the unit cell volume fluctuated, decreasing from 691.73 ų at x = 0 to 690.67 ų at x = 0.10 and slightly rising thereafter. The incorporation of Sm³⁺ induced a conversion of Fe3+ to Fe2+, affecting lattice parameters and crystallinity. At x = 0.10, maximum crystallite size (56.48 nm) and X-ray density (4.83 g/cm³) were attained, alongside decreased microstrain, indicating improved crystallinity and reduced defects. However, at x = 0.15, an increase in microstrain suggested lattice instability. FTIR confirmed that bands in the range 400–600 cm⁻1 might be due to the stretching vibration of oxygen and metal (Fe–O) ions, confirming the formation of hexaferrite. Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy studies confirmed the presence of spin-phonon coupling in all samples in the ferrimagnetic transition at ∼725-735 K. Mössbauer spectroscopy elucidated that the substitution of Sr2+ by Sm3+ induced the most pronounced effect on the 12 k , 4 f 2 , and 2 a sites, corroborating the evolution of the lattice constants and the fact that these three sites have Sr sites in their close vicinity. The room-temperature hysteresis loops exhibited narrow features, indicative of soft magnetic behavior. Saturation magnetization (Ms), remanent magnetization (Mr), and coercivity (Hc) varied with Sm3+ doping content (x). Ms initially decreased from 62.62 emu/g and 22.03 emu/g at x = 0.00 to 54.96 emu/g and 19.63 emu/g at x = 0.10, respectively, and then increase to 59.77 emu/g and 21.86 emu/g at x = 0.15. Conversely, Mr and Hc showed a non-monotonic trend with x, suggesting complex interactions between dopant concentration and magnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic capacitors are receiving increasing interest because of their applications in pulsed-power devices. The perovskite oxide Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT)-based ferroelectric ceramics are regarded as prospective lead-free candidate for dielectric capacitors because of the high polarization and outstanding relaxor behaviour. Herein, the relaxor ferroelectric (0.7−x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.3SrTiO3–xCa0.7Sm0.2TiO3 ceramics synthesized through solid-state route and exhibited pseudocubic perovskite structure and strong relaxor behaviour. With increasing Ca0.7Sm0.2TiO3 content, the moderate permittivity and reduced grain size contributed to the monotonically increased electric breakdown strength. Among prepared samples, the x = 0.2 ceramic displayed slimmer polarization-electric field curves with a remarkable recoverable energy density (~6.8 J/cm3) and a satisfied efficiency (~82.2%) under external electric field of 450 kV/cm. Moreover, the x = 0.2 ceramic also exhibited a superb thermal reliability of energy storage properties (3.9–4.5 J/cm3 with variation of 13.3% in 25–160 °C) resulting from the diffuse phase transition. The above results make the x = 0.2 ceramics becoming promising candidates for pulsed-power devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]