Physical properties of (1−x)Ba0.95Pb0.05TiO3+xCo2O3 (x=0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0wt%) ceramics
The paper reports studies of the (1−x)Ba0.95Pb0.05TiO3 – xCo2O3 (x≤0.02) ceramics. Results of X-ray powder diffraction, dielectric, magnetic and IR measurements, as well as ab initio simulations are presented. The Co-doping induces small decrease of the (c/a) tetragonality of the perovskite lattice and leads to the gradual shift of the ferroelectric transition temperature from 398 K for x=0 down to 357 K for x=0.02. The conductivity activation energies are in the range 0.8–0.9 eV in agreement with the calculations. The high-temperature conductivity can be ascribed by the migration of oxygen vacancies introduced to compensate the charge deficiency due to Co3+ valence at the B-site of the per…
Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of nickel hexacyanoferrate/chromate thin films
One of the most important challenges of modern science and technology is the quest for novel and tuneable materials, the properties of which can be widely controlled by chemical modifications or external stimuli. Simultaneously, an interest in the development of magnetic thin films also gains significant attention. In the current paper we bring together both these challenges and present a study of a new type of low-dimensional nickel hexacyanoferrate/chromate system. Thin films were obtained by the "layer by layer" deposition technique, where the ratio of Fe/Cr was controlled by the dipping sequence. The scope of this work is a comprehensive analysis of structural, spectroscopic and magneti…
MOKE magnetometry as a probe of surface magnetic impurities in electropolymerized magnetic thin films of the Prussian blue analogue Fe3[Cr(CN)6]2·15 H2O
A magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) study has been performed on electrodeposited thin films of the Prussian blue analogue Fe3[Cr(CN)6]2·15H2O (1). This study reveals the onset of hysteretic magnetic signals at temperatures above 60 K, in contrast with magnetic susceptibility measurements which indicate a Curie temperature of 23 K for this ferromagnetic film. The origin of this discrepancy is due to the presence of amorphous iron oxide particles that accumulate in the surface of the material. This report illustrates the potential of MOKE magnetometry for the detection of surface chemical impurities that remain elusive using bulk magnetic techniques.