Materials Science Forum Vol. 699

Abstract: Positron annihilation technique is a well known technique to characterize the defects in a material. These defects can be identified by positron annihilation lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening of positron annihilation radiation measurement. In this chapter we report the room temperature positron annihilation lifetime for single crystalline ZnO. From our study it is confirmed that the present crystal contains V_Zn–hydrogen complexes with low open volumes. Another important nuclear solid technique is the Mossbauer Spectroscopic technique which has been used to probe the local magnetic properties of a solid. Here we have summarized Mossbauer spectroscopic studies on ferrites.

Abstract: Thin films of pure metals, alloys, semiconductors and organic compounds are indispensable tools in industry, which anticipate and recognize novel functional materials for the development of microelectronics. Thin film technology makes it possible to deposit ultra-thin functional material layers on a base substrate to form many active and passive micro-miniaturized components and devices such as solar cells, radiation sources, sensors, magnetic devices, bolometers, switching devices, photodiodes, digital versatile disk (DVD), flat panel display etc. Thus thin films play a dominant role in modern technology like opto-electronics, microelectronics etc. The study of surfaces and thin films overlaying them has been carried out for many years. But recently, it has become increasingly important in several fields of study. Thin film properties such as optical, electrical and magnetic properties are very much interested in research areas. Thin film properties are strong dependent on the method of deposition, the substrate materials, the substrate temperature, the rate of deposition, the background pressure etc. Specific application in modern technology demand tailor made film properties, for example, high optical reflection / transmission, hardness. adhesion, nonporosity, high mobility of charge carriers / insulating properties and chemical inertness, which are possible with a selection of suitable functional materials and deposition techniques. Various techniques used to deposit thin films and the material properties of MIO and its crystal structure are summarized with our results.

Abstract: Lanthanum Nickelate (LaNiO₃) and Praseodymium (Pr) substituted compounds were prepared by molten flux method using chloride precursors. The investigation presents the characterization of the synthesized materials using TGA/DTA, XRD, FTIR, CHNS, EDAX, UV-visible, EPR spectral and SEM studies. The thermo gravimetric analysis reveals the decomposition and thermal reactions of the precursors at different temperature regions. The XRD analysis shows that the synthesized crystals have the rhombohedral structure. FTIR spectra exhibit the absorption bands for the O-H stretching vibration and Ni-O bands at different wave lengths. A shift in band position has been observed on the substitution of Pr³⁺ ions in the parent compound. The CHNS analysis presents the impurities level in the synthesized compounds. The EDAX analysis shows the concentration of La, Ni, Pr and O in the synthesized compounds. The band gap of the material has been determined from UV spectra and it is found to be 4.96 eV for the parent compound. The lone pair of electron state is identified from the EPR spectra. The SEM micrographs have shown the presence of fine crystallites with irregular morphology. The average particle size of the powders is ranging between 25-35 μm. From the above studies, it has been concluded that pure crystals of LaNiO₃ and Praseodymium substituted compounds can be conveniently synthesized by molten salt technique.

Abstract: In this work, CdS nano particles were synthesized using aqueous precipitation method; This method is simple, fast and can be carried out at room temperature. Various techniques like X-ray powder diffraction and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy are used for the structural characterization like electron density distribution and estimation of inter atomic distances between the atoms of the nano particles. The optical band gap of this material has been determined in order to establish a relationship between energy gap of bulk and nano materials.

Abstract: Alloy D9 is a candidate material for core components of fast breeder reactors. This alloy has been 20% cold worked and thermally aged at 1073 K for different time durations and their thermal properties have been studied using photoacoustic (PA) measurements. The results of the PA measurements have been correlated well with the ultrasonic velocity and hardness measurements.

Abstract: In this work, high vacuum (10^-6 Torr) annealed (at 500^°C) samples of the thermoelectric materials Bi₂Te₃ and Sb₂Te₃ were analyzed in terms of local structures and electron density distribution. After annealing, the samples were analyzed for their structural properties using powder X- ray diffraction data. The electron density distribution has been analyzed using the MEM (maximum entropy method) and the precise bonding in Bi₂Te₃ and Sb₂Te₃ has been determined. Since Bi₂Te₃ and Sb₂Te₃ and their combinations are the latest high figure of merit thermoelectric materials, with immediate application in many fields, particularly the electrical power harvesting devices, a study on the local structure of these materials becomes important which has been carried out in this work. Also the particle size variation due to annealing effect is studied and reported and the bond distance between neighboring atoms in bismuth telluride and antimony telluride has been analyzed.

Abstract: The nuclear material, Zircaloy-2 is studied here by photoacoustics and the results are correlated with ultrasonic measurements and metallographic microstructures. Precipitation of hard intermetalics and formation of α-martensite, due to thermal aging are also explained through photoacoustic studies.

Abstract: Laser Shot Peening without protective Coating (LPPC) was performed on SS304 austenitic stainless steel using a 300 mJ, 10 ns pulse, 1064 nm wavelength Nd:YAG laser with three different pulse densities. A thin layer of water was used as a confinement layer. The peened specimen was characterised with XRD, AFM and a Profilometer. The stress evaluated at the surface of the laser peened sample shows a maximum compressive stress of 1.6 GPa. The surface roughness and depth profile of microhardness before and after LPPC were investigated.The LPPC region indicate substantial improvement in microhardness and compressive residual stress, with marginal increase of surface roughness.

Abstract: Zircaloy-2, an useful nuclear material is studied here by photoacoustics to correlate with the measurements of X-rays. The microstructure variations observed in X-rays could be explained on the basis of thermal diffusivity measured by photoacoustics technique.