Formation of cubic modification oxides with BCC-lattice type C in polycrystalline dioxides of hafnium, zirconium and cerium upon heating

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Kondo effect and superconductivity in niobium with iron impurities

Kondo effect is an interesting phenomenon in quantum many-body physics. Niobium (Nb) is a conventional superconductor important for many superconducting device applications. It was long thought that the Kondo effect cannot be observed in Nb because the magnetic moment of a magnetic impurity, e.g. iron (Fe), would have been quenched in Nb. Here we report an observation of the Kondo effect in a Nb thin film structure. We found that by co-annealing Nb films with Fe in Argon gas at above 400 $$^{\circ }$$ ∘ C for an hour, one can induce a Kondo effect in Nb. The Kondo effect is more pronounced at higher annealing temperature. The temperature dependence of the resistance suggests existence of remnant superconductivity at low temperatures even though the system never becomes superconducting. We find that the Hamann theory for the Kondo resistivity gives a satisfactory fitting to the result. The Hamann analysis gives a Kondo temperature for this Nb–Fe system at $$\sim $$ ∼ 16 K, well above the superconducting transition onset temperature 9 K of the starting Nb film, suggesting that the screening of the impurity spins is effective to allow Cooper pairs to form at low temperatures. We suggest that the mechanism by which the Fe impurities retain partially their magnetic moment is that they are located at the grain boundaries, not fully dissolved into the bcc lattice of Nb.

Atomic Simulations for Packing Changes of Nano-Sized Cu Clusters Embedded in the Febulk on Heating

Understanding of the defect evolution mechanism under irradiation is very important for the research of pressure vessel steel embrittlement. In this paper, the embedded atom method (EAM) based canonical ensemble molecular dynamics (MD) method was used to study the evolution of the stacking structure of different nano-sized Cun (n = 13, 43 and 87) clusters in an Febulk embedded with BCC lattice structure during continuous heating. The mean square displacement, pair distribution functions and atomic structures of Cu atom clusters at the nanometer scale were calculated at different temperatures. The structural changes present apparent differences, for the Febulks contain nano-sized Cu clusters with different atom numbers during heating. For the Febulk–Cu13 system, since the ability to accommodate the atomic Cu in the Fe substrate is lesser, a small number of Cu atoms in BCC lattice positions cannot influence the whole structure of the Fe-Cu system. For the Febulk–Cu43 system, with an increase in temperature, a Cu atomic pile structural change happened, and the strain areas decreased significantly in the Febulk, but a single strain area grew large. For the Febulk–Cu87 system, when the Cu atoms are constrained by the Fe atoms in bulk, only a few of the Cu atoms adjust their positions. With the increase in temperature, strain in the Fe eased.

Theoretical Predictions of the Structural and Mechanical Properties of Tungsten–Rare Earth Element Alloys

Tungsten (W) is considered as the potential plasma facing material of the divertor and the first wall material in fusion. To further improve the ductility of W, the structural and mechanical properties of W–M (M = rare earth element Y, La, Ce and Lu) alloys are systematically investigated by first-principles calculations. Our results reveal that all the W1−xMx (x = 0.0625, 0.125, 0.1875, 0.25) alloys can form binary solid solution at the atomic level, and the alloys keep bcc lattice structures until the concentration of M increases to a certain value. Although the moduli of the alloys are reduced compared to that of pure W metal, the characteristic B/G ratio and Poisson’s ratio significantly increase, implying all the four rare earth elements can efficiently improve the ductility of W metal. Considering both factors of mechanical strength and ductility, La and Ce are better alloying elements than Y and Lu.

BCC lattice cell structural characterization

In this work, a numerical characterization of BCC lattice cells is performed through the use of an homogenization approach. The main goal is to establish a relationship among those properties and the relative density of the cubic unit cell. The BCC cell struts diameter are the inputs parameters of the homogenization analysis campaing in order to vary the relative density of the unit cell. A linear periodic condition has been applied to the model in order to simulate a clear probing situation. Traction load tests are used in order to evaluate the Young modulus and the Poisson coefficient, differently a pure shear load case is employed for the evaluation of the shear modulus. Hence the final results will be presented in a graphic visualization.

Magnetic Properties of Nickel-Titanium Alloy during Martensitic Transformations under Plastic and Elastic Deformation

This paper focuses on the processes of the occurrence of magnetization during structure formation in samples of Ni51Ti49 alloy under deformation conditions. The possibility of the existence of a phase with an FCC (face-centered cubic) lattice in titanium nickelide has been demonstrated by electron microscopy and electron diffraction. It has been discovered that the interplanar distances of BCC110 (body-centered cubic), FCC111, and HCP002 (hexagonal close packed) in the alloy under study have similar values, which indicates the possibility of their mutual polymorphic transformation. Based on the modular self-organization, a scheme of martensitic transformations in titanium nickelide from the B2 structure (BCC lattice) to the B19’ structure (HCP lattice) through an intermediate phase with an FCC lattice is proposed. It is shown that lenticular crystals appear in the Ni51Ti49 alloy under tensile deformation until rupture, which is accompanied by the onset of ferromagnetism. The effect of magnetization in Ni51Ti49 samples when immersed in liquid nitrogen has been also discovered. In this case, the reason for the appearance and disappearance of magnetization can be associated with microdeformation processes caused by direct and reverse martensitic transitions that occur during cooling and heating of the samples.