Journal of Advanced Ceramics

Lead-free (K0.4425Na0.52Li0.0375)(Nb0.8825Sb0.07Ta0.0475)O3 (KNLNST) piezoelectric ceramics are synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The sintering temperature and poling temperature dependence of ceramic properties are investigated. Previous studies have shown that variation of sintering temperature can cause phase transition, similar to the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) behavior induced by composition changes in Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT). And the best piezoelectric performance can be obtained near the phase-transition sintering temperature. In this research, phase transition induced by sintering temperature cannot be detected and excellent piezoelectric properties can still be obtained. The sintering temperature of the largest piezoelectric coefficient of such composition is lower than that of the highest density, which is considered in composition segregation as a result of intensified volatilization of alkali metal oxides. Combined with the effect of poling temperature, the peak values of the piezoelectric properties are d33 = 313 pC/N, kp = 47%, ɛr = 1825, tan δ = 0.024, To-t = 88 °C, and TC = 274 °C.

Multifunctionalization is the development direction of personal thermal energy regulation equipment in the future. However, it is still a huge challenge to effectively integrate multiple functionalities into one material. In this study, a simple thermochemical process was used to prepare a multifunctional SiC nanofiber aerogel spring (SiC NFAS), which exhibited ultralow density (9 mg/cm3), ultralow thermal conductivity (0.029 W/(m·K) at 20 °C), excellent ablation and oxidation resistance, and a stable three-dimensional (3D) structure that composed of a large number of interlacing 3C-SiC nanofibers with diameters of 300–500 nm and lengths in tens to hundreds of microns. Furthermore, the as-prepared SiC NFAS displayed excellent mechanical properties, with a permanent deformation of only 1.3% at 20 °C after 1000 cycles. Remarkably, the SiC NFAS exhibited robust hyperelasticity and cyclic fatigue resistance at both low (∼−196 °C) and high (∼700 °C) temperatures. Due to its exceptional thermal insulation performance, the SiC NFAS can be used for personal thermal energy regulation. The results of the study conclusively show that the SiC NFAS is a multifunctional material and has potential insulation applications in both low- and high-temperature environments.

The effect of La3+, Mn2+ and Ni2+ doped calcium copper titanate, CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO), at higher concentrations (CR1 and CR2 with 5 mol% and 10 mol%, respectively), has been examined by semi-wet route at relatively lower temperature. This semi-wet route employs citrate-nitrate gel chemical method using TiO2 solid powders. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the formation of single phase in the doped samples sintered at 900 °C for 8 h. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) show that the average grain size for CR2 is larger than that of CR1 composition. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) is used to study the percentage compositions of different ions present in both ceramics. Dielectric constant (ɛr) and dielectric loss (tanδ) values of CR1 are comparatively higher than those of CR2 ceramic at all measured frequencies and temperatures. The nature of temperature-dependent relaxation behavior of the ceramics is also studied by impedance, modulus spectroscopic analysis and confirms Maxwell-Wagner relaxation.

Barium strontium titanate (Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3, BST) nanocrystalline ceramics have been synthesized by high energy ball milling. As the sintering temperature increases from 1200 °C to 1350 °C, the average grain size of BST ceramics increases from 86 nm to 123 nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that these ceramics are tetragonal. The phase and grain size of the sintered pellets have been estimated from the XRD patterns, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. The effect of grain size on dielectric and ferroelectric properties is studied. The dielectric and piezoelectric parameters are greatly improved at room temperature with increase in grain size. The Curie transition temperature is found to shift slightly towards higher temperatures as the grain increases from 86 nm to 123 nm. The coercive field decreases and the remnant polarization and spontaneous polarization increase as the grain size of BST nano ceramics increases. These ceramics are promising materials for tunable capacitor device applications.

Natural sunlight activated persistent luminescence (PeL) is ideal candidate for optical information display in outdoors without the requirement of electric supply. Except the brightness and duration, the stability especially water resistance of the PeL materials is of significant importance for practical application, which remains a great obstacle up to date. Herein, we report a new sunlight activated PeL glass ceramic containing hexagonal Sr13Al22Si10O66:Eu2+ crystals, which exhibits strong blue PeL and can last more than 200 h. The PeL can be charged by the full wavelengths located in AM 1.5G due to the broad distribution of traps in the crystal structure. The PeL is clearly observed by the naked eye even after 24 h upon sunlight irradiation irrespective of the weather, and the photoluminescence intensity only decreased ∼3.3% after storing in water for 365 d. We demonstrate its potential application for thermal and stress responsive display as well as long-term continuous security indication upon sunlight irradiation, which not only save vast energy and reduce environment pollution, but also are appropriate for outdoor usage.

The thermal shock and fatigue behavior of pressureless sintered Al2O3–SiO2–ZrO2 (ASZ) composites was studied. The influence of the thermal shock and fatigue on the strengthening response of ASZ has been investigated by measuring the strength retention and microstructural changes. The magnitude of the flexural strength and fracture of the ASZ has been compared with that of the monolithic Al2O3 (A) and Al2O3–ZrO2 (AZ) composites under the same experimental conditions. Results indicated that the ASZ composites possess the highest resistance against thermal shock and fatigue, in comparison with A and AZ. The improvements were attributed to the enhancement in the fracture toughness of ASZ and the presence of multi-phase reinforcement.

Carbon-doped titanium oxide (C/Ti-O) films were prepared on Si(100) wafer, stainless steel (type 304) and glass by reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS) using CO2 gas as carbon and oxygen source under room temperature (RT). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyze structure and composition of the as-prepared C/Ti-O film. It could be observed from XRD that the as-prepared C/Ti-O film contained TiO crystal phase structure. Ti2p XPS spectrum of the as-prepared C/Ti-O film showed that the valences of titanium were made up of Ti2+, Ti3+ and Ti4+. C1s XPS spectrum revealed that carbon was doped into titanium oxide based on the existence of the typical Ti-C bond. The optical absorption curve by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer showed that the C/Ti-O film appeared the remarkable red shift of absorption edge, which contributed to C substitution in O sites in amorphous TiO2. Photocatalysis test using methyl orange (MO) as indicator confirmed that the as-prepared C/Ti-O film had photocatalytic activity. Combined with the results of the tests and first-principles calculations, a potential photocatalysis mechanism was proposed.

In this research, Zr-doped Gd2Ti2O7 pyrochlores, with the composition of Gd2(Ti1-xZr x )2O7, were firstly synthesized by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis plus quick pressing (SHS/QP) using CuO as the oxidant and Ti as the reductant. To improve the radiation resistance of titanate–pyrochlore, up to 35 at% Zr was incorporated to substitute the Ti site of Gd2Ti2O7 pyrochlore (Gd2(Ti0.75Zr0.35)2O7). XRD and SEM microstructural characterizations showed the formation of a composite ceramic with the major pyrochlore phase and the minor Cu phase. The generated temperature of samples decreased from 1702 to 1011°C with increasing Zr content. The effects of sintering temperature and pressure time on phase composition and microstructure were systematically studied. Besides, the influence of thermal transmission on the whole combustion process was also explored. The pyrochlore-based waste form possessed high bulk density of 6.25 g/cm3 and Vickers hardness of 10.81 GPa. The MCC-1 leaching test showed the normalized elemental leaching rates (42 d) of Cu, Gd, and Zr are 1.27×10-2, 1.33×10-3, and 8.44×10-7 g·m-2·d-1, respectively.