Unveiling the high-temperature dielectric response of [Formula: see text].

Understanding the physics behind changes in dielectric permittivity and mechanical response with temperature and frequency in lead-free ferroic materials is a fundamental key to achieve optimal properties and to guarantee good performance in the technological applications envisaged. In this work, dense [Formula: see text] (BNT) electroceramics were prepared through solid-state reaction of high-grade oxide reagents, followed by sintering at high temperature (1393 K for 3 h). In good agreement with previous reports in the literature, the thermal behaviour of dielectric response from these BNT materials showed the occurrence of a high-temperature diffuse-like permittivity peak, whose origin has been so far controversial. Thermally stimulated depolarization current, impedance and mechanical spectroscopies measurements were here conducted, over a wide range of temperature and frequency, to get a deep insight into the mechanism behind of this event. The approach included considering both as-sintered and reduced BNT samples, from which it is demonstrated that the broad high-temperature dielectric peak originates from interfacial polarization involving oxygen vacancies-related space-charge effects that develop at the grain-to-grain contacts. This mechanism, that contributes to the anomalous behavior observed in the mechanical response at low frequencies, could also be responsible for the presence of ferroelastic domains up to high temperatures.

Innovative multifunctional hybrid photoelectrode design based on a ternary heterojunction with super-enhanced efficiency for artificial photosynthesis.

Electrochemical cells for direct conversion of solar energy to electricity (or hydrogen) are one of the most sustainable solutions to meet the increasing worldwide energy demands. In this report, a novel and highly-efficient ternary heterojunction-structured Bi4O7/Bi3.33(VO4)2O2/Bi46V8O89 photoelectrode is presented. It is demonstrated that the combination of an inversion layer, induced by holes (or electrons) at the interface of the semiconducting Bi3.33(VO4)2O2 and Bi46V8O89 components, and the rectifying contact between the Bi4O7 and Bi3.33(VO4)2O2 phases acting afterward as a conventional p-n junction, creates an adjustable virtual p-n-p or n-p-n junction due to self-polarization in the ion-conducting Bi46V8O89 constituent. This design approach led to anodic and cathodic photocurrent densities of + 38.41 mA cm-2 (+ 0.76 VRHE) and- 2.48 mA cm-2 (0 VRHE), respectively. Accordingly, first, this heterojunction can be used either as photoanode or as photocathode with great performance for artificial photosynthesis, noting, second, that the anodic response reveals exceptionally high: more than 300% superior to excellent values previously reported in the literature.

Selection and Optimization of a K0.5Na0.5NbO3-Based Material for Environmentally-Friendly Magnetoelectric Composites.

Li- and Ta-modified K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 compounds are among the most promising lead-free ferroelectrics for high-sensitivity piezoelectric ceramic materials, and are potentially capable of replacing Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 . They are also being investigated as piezoelectric components in environmentally friendly magnetoelectric composites. However, most suitable modifications for this application have not been identified. We report here a simulation study of how the magnetoelectric voltage responses of layered composite structures based on Li x (K 0.5 Na 0.5 ) 1 - x Nb 1 - y Ta y O 3 varies with the chemical composition of the piezoelectric. Instead of relying on material coefficients from the literature, which would have required using different sources, an ad hoc set of materials was prepared. This demanded tailoring preparation by conventional means to obtain dense ceramics while controlling alkali volatilization, perovskite phase and microstructure, as well as characterizing their dielectric, elastic and electromechanical properties. This provided the set of relevant material coefficients as a function of composition, which was used to obtain the magnetoelectric responses of model layered structures including a reference magnetostrictive spinel oxide by simulation. The piezoelectric material leading to the highest magnetoelectric coefficient was identified, and shown to be different to that showing the highest piezoelectric coefficient. This reflects the dependence of the magnetoelectric response on all material coefficients, along with the complex interplay between composition, processing and properties in K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 -based ceramics.

UV-assisted chemiresistors made with gold-modified ZnO nanorods to detect ozone gas at room temperature.

Two kinds of flexible ozone (O3) sensors were obtained by placing pristine ZnO nanorods and gold-modified ZnO nanorods (NRs) on a bi-axially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate. The chemiresistive sensor is operated at typically 1 V at room temperature under the UV-light illumination. The ZnO nanorods were prepared via a hydrothermal route and have a highly crystalline wurtzite structure, with diameters ranging between 70 and 300 nm and a length varying from 1 to 3 µm. The ZnO NRs were then coated with a ca. 10 nm gold layer whose presence was confirmed with microscopy analysis. This sensor is found to be superior to detect ozone at a room temperature. Typical figures of merit include (a) a sensor response of 108 at 30 ppb ozone for gold-modified ZnO NRs, and (b) a linear range that extends from 30 to 570 ppb. The sensor is stable, reproducible and selective for O3 compared to other oxidizing and reducing gases. The enhanced performance induced by the modification of ZnO nanorods with thin layer of gold is attributed to the increased reaction kinetics compared to pristine ZnO NRs. The sensing mechanism is assumed to be based on the formation of a nano-Schottky type barrier junction at the interface between gold and ZnO. Graphical abstract Room temperature, flexible UV-enhanced gold modified ZnO nanorods can detect ppb levels of ozone.