Browsing by Author "Cox, N"

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    Defect structure and property consequence when small Li+ ions meet BaTiO3
    (American Physical Society, 2020-08-31) Narayanan, N; Lou, Q; Rawal, A; Lu, T; Liu, Z; Chen, J; Langley, J; Chen, H; Hester, JR; Cox, N; Fuess, H; McIntyre, GJ; Li, G; Yu, DH; Liu, Y
    In the present work the longstanding issue of the structure and dynamics of smaller ions in oxides and its impact on the properties was investigated on 7% Li-doped BaTiO3. The investigation combined several techniques, notably neutron powder diffraction (NPD), nuclear magnetic resonance (7Li-NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electron microprobe, electric polarization (EP) measurement, and electronic structure calculations based on density-functional theory (DFT). Electron microprobe confirmed multiple phases, one containing incorporated Li in the BaTiO3 host lattice and another glassy phase which breaks the host lattice due to excessive Li accumulation. While the average structure of Li in BaTiO3 could not be determined by NPD, 7Li-NMR revealed one broad “disordered” and multiple “ordered” peaks. Local structure models with different defect types involving Li+ were modeled and the corresponding chemical shifts (δ) were compared with experimental values. It is found that the closest defect model describing the ordered peaks, is with Ti4+ being replaced by four Li+ ions. The biexponential behavior of the spin-lattice relaxation of the ordered peaks each with a short and a long relaxation discloses the existence of paramagnetic ions. Finally, EPR revealed the existence of the paramagnetic ion Ti3+ as a charge-transfer defect. DFT calculations disclosed local antipolar displacements of Ti ions around both types of defect sites upon insertion of Li+. This is in accordance with the experimental observation of pinching effects of the EP in Li-doped BaTiO3. These studies demonstrate the huge impact of the local structure of the doped smaller/lighter ions on the functional properties of oxides. ©2020 American Physical Society
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    Defect structure-property correlations in Li doped BaTiO3
    (Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), 2020-11-11) Narayanan, N; Lou, Q; Rawal, A; Lu, T; Liu, Z; Chen, J; Langley, J; Chen, H; Hester, JR; Cox, N; Fuess, H; McIntyre, GJ; Li, G; Yu, DH; Liu, Y; Li, G
    In the present work we investigate the important issue of the structure and dynamics of smaller ions in oxides and the resulting impact on its functional properties. For this purpose, we selected a 7% Li-doped BaTiO3. Li is a vital ingredient in novel energy storage technologies such as Li-ion batteries. The smaller Li-ion can influence the structural stability, homogeneity, local environment, and dynamic behavior of the host lattice, affecting and optimizing the dielectric and multiferroic properties of novel polar functional materials [1-2]. However, the Li-ion positions and dynamics in functional materials are not completely understood, controversially discussed and are the subject of extensive ongoing research [3]. Furthermore, sample inhomogeneity due to Li migration to the grain boundary and/or development of multiple phases complicates the elucidation of the structure-property correlations that may lead to incorrect interpretations [4]. The selection of BaTiO3 as the host lattice is due to materials based on this being considered as the alternative to the piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate, citing environmental issues [5]. BaTiO3 also crystallizes in a simple perovskite structure and Li ions can be effectively doped into it at lower doping levels. Very recently, field-dependent electric polarization measurements on BaTiO3 exhibited a polarization–electric field double hysteresis loop upon Li doping [4]. These drastic changes to the electric polarization, related to the doping poses a good test case for the investigation of the Li induced defect structure model and its influence on the functional properties. To elucidate the above structure-property correlations, we combined several techniques, such as neutron powder diffraction electron microprobe associated with the wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy, 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electric polarization measurement, and theoretical calculations based on density functional theory [6].
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    Highly efficient visible light catalysts driven by Ti3+-VO-2Ti4+-N3− defect clusters
    (Wiley, 2018-10-13) Sun, QB; Zhang, SY; Cortie, DL; Langley, J; Cox, N; Frankcombe, TJ; Gao, J; Chen, H; Withers, RL; Kremer, F; Yu, DH; Brink, F; Shi, WS; Liu, Y
    Local defect structures play significant roles on material properties, but they are seriously neglected in the design, synthesis, and development of highly efficient TiO2-based visible light catalysts (VLCs). Here, we take anatase TiO2 nanocrystals that contain (Ti3+, N3−) ions and have the complicated chemical formula of (Ti1-x4+Tix3+)(O2-2-y-zNy3-□z) as an example, and point out that the formation of Ti3+-VO-2Ti4+-N3− local defect clusters is a key missing step for significantly enhancing VLC properties of host TiO2 nanocrystals. Experimental and theoretical investigations also demonstrate the emergent behaviors of these intentionally introduced defect clusters for developing highly efficient VLCs. This research thus not only provides highly efficient visible light catalysts for various practical applications but also addresses the significance of local defect structures on modifying material properties. © 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.
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    Highly efficient visible light catalysts driven by Ti3+‐VO‐2Ti4+‐N3− defect clusters
    (Wiley, 2018-10-13) Sun, QB; Zhang, SY; Cortie, DL; Langley, J; Cox, N; Frankcombe, TJ; Gao, J; Chen, H; Withers, RL; Kremer, F; Yu, DH; Brink, F; Shi, WS; Liu, Y
    Local defect structures play significant roles on material properties, but they are seriously neglected in the design, synthesis, and development of highly efficient TiO2‐based visible light catalysts (VLCs). Here, we take anatase TiO2 nanocrystals that contain (Ti3+, N3−) ions and have the complicated chemical formula of ()(□z) as an example, and point out that the formation of Ti3+‐VO‐2Ti4+‐N3− local defect clusters is a key missing step for significantly enhancing VLC properties of host TiO2 nanocrystals. Experimental and theoretical investigations also demonstrate the emergent behaviors of these intentionally introduced defect clusters for developing highly efficient VLCs. This research thus not only provides highly efficient visible light catalysts for various practical applications but also addresses the significance of local defect structures on modifying material properties. © 1999-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc or related companies.