Investigation of PTCR effect and microdefects in Nb2O5-doped BaTiO3-based ceramics by positron annihilation techniques

The influence of Nb2O5-doped concentration on the positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) effect, electrical properties and microdefects of (Ba[Formula: see text]Sr[Formula: see text])(TiNb[Formula: see text])O3 (BSTN) ceramics were investigated. Firing was conducted at 1350[Formula: see text]C for 2 h in air. The donor-doped content affected the electrical properties, PTCR effect and formation of the microdefect type of the BSTN samples. The room temperature resistivity of the BSTN specimens first decreased and then increased with increasing donor-doped content in the range of 0.2 mol.% Nb[Formula: see text] to 0.5 mol.% Nb[Formula: see text]. Moreover, the information on microdefects in BSTN ceramics was demonstrated by coincidence Doppler broadening spectrum. The influence of the defects on the PTCR characteristics of the ceramics was also revealed.

Positron Annihilation Studies on La1-xSrxMnO3 Manganites

Positron lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening spectra of La1-xSrxMnO3 and LaMnO3 manganites were measured. The effects of Sr contents on the microdefects of La1-xSrxMnO3 were investigated by means of positron lifetime results. The signals of 3d electrons of La1-xSrxMnO3 were extracted from the coincidence Doppler broadening spectra. The results show that the electron density of La1-xSrxMnO3 is larger than that of LaMnO3. The open volume of the defect in La1-xSrxMnO3 increases with the Sr contents. The signals of 3d electrons of ferromagnetic La1-xSrxMnO3 is larger than that of antiferromagnetic LaMnO3, and it reaches the maximum at x=0.33, that is, the signals of 3d electrons of the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 is the highest in all testing samples, which corresponds to a lowest resistivity and a higher Curie temperature of the manganite. The influence of 3d electrons on the ferromagnetic double-exchange coupling and anti-ferromagnetic coupling of La1-xSrxMnO3 were discussed.

Study of Gamma Irradiation Effect on Unplasticized PVC by Positron Annihilation

Positron annihilation technique is used to study the gamma irradiation effect on unplasticized PVC (UPVC). Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) results show that both the o-Ps lifetime and intensity decrease with the increase of gamma irradiation dose. By comparing Coincidence Doppler Broadening (CDB) results of four typical polymers using different reference sample, it is confirmed that CDB ratio curve can truthfully reflect the momentum difference of electrons which positrons annihilate with. The CDB results of gamma-irradiated UPVC using non-irradiated UPVC rather than commonly chosen LDPE as a reference sample show obvious oxygen peak, together with FTIR results, verify the appearance of carbonyl groups around the free volume.

Fe+ Implantation Induced Damage in Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Steels Investigated by Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy

Open volume defects created by 1 MeV Fe+ implantation up to a damage of 15 displacements per atom into Fe14wt%Cr and into oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) Fe14wt%Cr were investigated by positron annihilation spectroscopy, especially single Doppler broadening (DBS) and coincidence Doppler broadening spectroscopies (cDBS). The influence of W and Ti alloying elements on the evolution of defects during ion implantation were probed in addition. Whereas no effect of the W and Ti alloying constituents on the line-shape parameters S and W could be detected both before and after ion implantation, fine dispersed Y2O3 particles showed important changes in the structural properties compared to pure FeCr steel, which could be detected by DBS and cDBS. The distribution of the electron momenta in implanted ODS Fe14Cr, obtained with cDBS, shows that oxide particles form obstacles for expanded vacancy mobility and that the vacancies are localized around the oxide particles.