Abstract: The magnetotransport and magnetic properties of the PbV6O11 vanadate, crystallizing in the P63mc space group, reveal the existence of a negative magnetoresistance related to its ferromagnetic state (TC ∼ 90 K). The maximum effect is observed at 20 K reaching −30% in 9 T. The structural study of this ceramic reveals a V/Pb ratio smaller than expected from the formula. This is explained by the presence of numerous stacking faults observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The existence of these planar defects acting as resistive barriers along the c axis could be responsible for tunneling magnetoresistance.

Abstract: The ESTEEM consortium of electron microscopy laboratories for materials science and solid-state physics has been created as an EU-supported delocalized infrastructure (I3) to bring together the major electron microscopy centres in Europe. Its main objectives were to develop networking, to offer transnational access to these centres with specialized and complementary techniques and skills and to upgrade in close collaboration different technical and methodological aspects such as tomography, spectroscopy, holography, detectors, and specimen holders. These efforts were aimed to strengthen the position of European microscopy and to generate new technologies potentially of high relevance in many domains identified as strategic. Following the success of the first program, ESTEEM has been reconducted in 2012 for four more years with an enlarged set of partners.

Abstract: We study the ground and first excited states of the neutral and charged shallow donor system confined in a GaAs quantum well (QW) along one direction and by a parabolic potential in the plane perpendicular to the QW. The influence of an external perpendicular magnetic field and of the position of the donor on the energy of the states is studied. We investigate the dependence of the ground and excited states of the negatively charged donor on the confinement potential and external magnetic field. When the donor is displaced from the center of the QW the presence of the lateral confinement shifts the magnetic field induced angular momentum transitions and shifts the unbinding to higher magnetic field. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract: The anion-excess fluorite-like solid solutions with general composition Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ (x > 0.5) have been synthesized by a solid state reaction of TeO2, BiF3 and Bi2O3 at 873 K with following quenching. The homogeneity areas and polymorphism of the I ↔ IV Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ phases were investigated. The crystal structure of the low temperature IV-Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ phase has been solved using electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction (a = 11.53051(9) Å, S.G. Ia-3, RI = 0.046, RP = 0.041). Glass formation area in the Bi2O3BiF3TeO2 (10% TiO2) system was investigated. IVBi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ phase starts to crystallize at short-time (0.53 h) annealing of oxyfluoride glasses at temperatures above Tg (600615 K). The ionic conductivity of the crystalline Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ phase and corresponding glass-ceramics was investigated. Activation energy of conductivity Ea = 0.41(2) eV for the IV-Bi1−xTex(O,F)2+δ crystalline samples and Ea = 0.73 eV for the glass-ceramic samples were obtained. Investigation of the oxyfluoride samples with a constant cation ratio demonstrates essential influence of excess fluorine anions on the ionic conductivity.

Abstract: Heterometallic lead−manganese â-diketonates have been isolated in pure form by several synthetic methods that include solid-state and solution techniques. Two compounds with different Pb/Mn ratios, PbMn2(hfac)6 (1) and PbMn(hfac)4 (2) (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate), can be obtained in quantitative yield by using different starting materials. Single crystal X-ray investigation revealed that the solid-state structure of 1 contains trinuclear molecules in which lead metal center is sandwiched between two [Mn(hfac)3] units, while 2 consists of infinite chains of alternating [Pb(hfac)2] and [Mn(hfac)2] fragments. The heterometallic structures are held together by strong Lewis acid−base interactions between metal atoms and diketonate ligands acting in chelating-bridging fashion. Spectroscopic investigation confirmed the retention of heterometallic structures in solutions of non-coordinating solvents as well as upon sublimation-deposition procedure. Thermal decomposition of heterometallic diketonates has been systematically investigated in a wide range of temperatures and annealing times. For the first time, it has been shown that thermal decomposition of heterometallic diketonates results in mixed-metal oxides, while both the structure of precursors and the thermolysis conditions have a significant influence on the nature of the resulting oxides. Five different Pb−Mn oxides have been detected by X-ray powder diffraction when studying the decomposition of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 500−800 °C. The phase that has been previously reported as Pb0.43MnO2.18 was synthesized in the pure form by decomposition of 1, and crystallographically characterized. The orthorhombic unit cell parameters of this oxide, obtained by electron diffraction technique, have been subsequently refined using X-ray powder diffraction data. Besides that, a previously unknown lead−manganese oxide has been obtained at low temperature decomposition and short annealing times. The parameters of its monoclinically distorted unit cell have been determined. The EDX analysis revealed that this compound has a Pb/Mn ratio close to 1:4 and contains no appreciable amount of fluorine.

Abstract: A ''2222'' cuprate with mercury bilayers (Hg1.5Cu0.2Pr0.3)Ba2Pr2Cu2O10-delta, has been synthesized for the first time. It crystallizes in the P4/nmm space group with a = 3.9072(1) Angstrom and c = 17.219(1) Angstrom. The powder XRD and HREM studies of this new cuprate show that its structure consists of an intergrowth of double pyramidal (oxygen-deficient perovskite) copper layers, with double fluorite-type layers and distorted triple rock salt layers (mercury bilayers). The structure of this phase can be deduced from that of the ''2212'' mercury cuprate (Hg1.5Cu0.2Pr0.3)Ba2PrCu2O8-delta by the introduction of one additional [PrO2]infinity fluorite layer. The regular stacking of the metallic layer and the uniform cationic distribution in the mercury bilayers are remarkable features of this cuprate. The stabilization of the mercury bilayers by praseodymium and the absence of superconductivity are discussed. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.