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Pure α-Fe nanoparticles with ≤10 nm size were synthesized using a simple method—pulsed plasma in liquid. This is the first time that pure metallic nanoparticles were prepared by arc discharge method using water–toluene interface as a medium. Several experiments made evident that toluene–water ratio in emulsion influences the purity and size of Fe nanoparticles. The purity of the nanoparticles gradually increased from 48 to 98 %, while particle size decreased from 21 to 9.5 nm with smaller toluene volume fraction (from 40 to 5 %) in the microemulsions. Finally, toluene:water with 95:5 (%) ratio was found to be the most appropriate medium for pure Fe nanoparticle formation. Lattice parameters of the obtained Fe samples calculated from XRD found to be larger ( a  = 0.2927 nm) than those previously reported Fe ( a (BCC-Fe)  = 0.2866 nm). HRTEM showed spherical-shaped Fe nanoparticles with partial aggregation. Vibrating sample magnetometer indicated superparamagnetic properties of particles with high-saturation magnetization ( M s  = 125 emu g −1 ) at room temperature.

Over the past century, understanding the nature of shock compression of condensed matter has been a major topic. About 20 years ago, a femtosecond laser emerged as a new shock-driver. Unlike conventional shock waves, a femtosecond laser-driven shock wave creates unique microstructures in materials. Therefore, the properties of this shock wave may be different from those of conventional shock waves. However, the lattice behaviour under femtosecond laser-driven shock compression has never been elucidated. Here we report the ultrafast lattice behaviour in iron shocked by direct irradiation of a femtosecond laser pulse, diagnosed using X-ray free electron laser diffraction. We found that the initial compression state caused by the femtosecond laser-driven shock wave is the same as that caused by conventional shock waves. We also found, for the first time experimentally, the temporal deviation of peaks of stress and strain waves predicted theoretically. Furthermore, the existence of a plastic wave peak between the stress and strain wave peaks is a new finding that has not been predicted even theoretically. Our findings will open up new avenues for designing novel materials that combine strength and toughness in a trade-off relationship.

Single crystals of synthetic reidite and natural radiation-damaged zircon from Okueyama, Japan were investigated using X-ray diffraction. The pressure-induced zircon–reidite transition is described by the twisting and translations of SiO 4 tetrahedra with disappearance of the SiO 4 –ZrO 8 shared edges. The lattice of radiation-damaged zircons expands mainly from α-decays of radioactive elements such as U and Th. Although old radiation-damaged zircons show anomolous lattice distortion, young radiation-damaged zircons do not show such distortions. These distortions are caused by thermal recovery that suppresses the Si 4+ –Zr 4+ repulsion between the SiO 4 tetrahedron and ZrO 8 dodecahedron. These changes in structure can be understood by considering the cation–cation repulsion between the SiO 4 –ZrO 8 shared edges.

We report the effect of a strong gravitational field on oriented crystalline perovskite-type manganese oxide La1−xSrxMnO3 (LSMO). The perovskite-type manganese oxides La1−xSrxMnO3 (LSMO) have been investigated for giant magnetoresistance (GMR) by controlling the hole-doping level (x). A strong gravitational field can change in crystalline state and the enhancement of usual diffusion. We subjected oriented crystalline La1−xSrxMnO3 with different grain and grain-boundary (GBs) Sr concentrations to a strong gravitational field and investigated the resulting changes in the A-site cation diffusion and physical properties of the material. Electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) results showed appearance of the GBs where the Sr concentration was quite high compared with in other GBs. The quantitative analysis at the grain and GBs indicated that cation diffusion was more enhanced than the annealed one. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of the gravity samples changed with the Sr concentration in the grains. The temperature dependence of the resistivity curves of the gravity sample showed several abrupt changes, which corresponded to phase transitions at the grains and GBs, which may be caused by composition changes.

Functionally graded thermoelectric materials (FGTMs) have been prepared by sedimentation of atoms under a strong gravitational field. Starting samples of Bi x Sb 1− x alloys with different composition x were synthesized by melting of metals and subsequent annealing of quenched samples. The thermoelectric properties (Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity) of the starting materials were characterized over the temperature range from 300 K to 525 K. Strong gravity experiments were performed in a unique ultracentrifuge apparatus under acceleration of over 0.5 × 10 6  G at temperatures of 538 K and 623 K. Changes of the microstructure and chemical composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis. The distribution of the Seebeck coefficient of the Bi-Sb alloys was characterized by scanning thermoelectric microprobe. As a result of sedimentation, large changes in chemical composition ( x  = 0.45 to 1) were obtained. It was found that the changes in chemical composition were correlated with alterations of the Seebeck coefficient. The obtained experimental data allowed the development of a semiempirical model for the selection of optimal processing parameters for preparation of Bi-Sb alloys with required thermoelectric properties.

FePt alloys are an important class of materials in permanent magnetic applications because of their large uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy and good chemical stability. We have applied the pulsed plasma in liquid method to synthesis nanoparticles. Short duration of pulse and quenching effects of the surrounding liquid limit the size of crystal. That enable synthesis of small size and metastable nanoparticles. In this study, ferromagnetic FePt nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. Face-centered-cubic (FCC) A1-type phase was synthesized from FePt (Fe:PT=50:50, 55:45 in atomic %) alloy rod electrodes using the pulsed plasma in ethanol. The ordered face-centered-tetragonal (FCT) L10-type phase FePt was obtained by annealing the A1-type phase at 400oC for 1 h. The average diameter of L10-type FePt nanoparticles was less than 10 nm. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) analysis showed that the coercivity of L10-type nanoparticles was much larger than that of the A1-type phase nanoparticles.

A shock-wave compression experiment using synthesized silica gel was investigated as a model for a comet impact event on the Earth’s surface. The sample shocked at 20.7 GPa showed considerable structural changes, a release of water molecules, and the dehydration of silanol (Si–OH) that led to the formation of a new Si–O–Si network structure containing larger rings (e.g., six-membered ring of SiO 4 tetrahedra). The high aftershock temperature at 20.7 GPa, which could be close to 800 °C, influenced the sample structure. However, some silanols, which were presumed to be the mutually hydrogen-bonded silanol group, remained at pressures >20.7 GPa. This type of silanol along with a small number of water molecules may remain even after shock compression at 30.9 GPa, although the intermediate structure of the sample recovered was similar to that of silica glass.

We synthesized Pd-Fe series nanoparticles in solid solution using pulsed plasma in liquid with Pd-Fe bulk mixture electrodes. The Pd-Fe atomic percent ratios were 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1, and the particle size was measured to be less than 10 nm by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The nanoparticles showed face-centered cubic structure. The lattice parameter increased with increasing Pd content and followed Vegard’s law, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra were consistent with the ratios of the starting samples, which showed a solid solution state. The solid solution structure and local structure were confirmed by HR-TEM and X-ray absorption fine structure.

Chlorine on graphene (G) matrices was doped by pulsed plasma stimulation on graphite electrode submerged in organochlorine solvents (CH 2 Cl 2 , CHCl 3 , CCl 4 ). The study of work function by Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurement clearly indicates that Cl-doped G behave like semiconductor and GG@CHCl 3 exhibits the lowest value for the work function. We propose that this report not only represents a new route for tuning the semiconductivity of G but also indicates that doping level of halogen on G based carbon framework can be controlled by pulsed plasma treatment of carbon materials on various organohalogen derivatives.

Strong gravitational field causes the displacement or/and sedimentation of atoms in solids, by which we can changes the crystalline state or/and composition in multicomponent condensed matter. Perovskite-type doped manganite, La1-xSrxMnO3 (LSMO) has unique magnetoresistance effect which is called “colossal magnetoresistance (CMR)”. In this study, the strong gravity experiment (0.40x106G, 400°C, 20h) was performed on the LSMO oriented crystal to examine the change in composition or structure. The LSMO crystal whose growing crystal direction is normal to (214) plane was prepared by the floating zone method. The EPMA and XRD results of the gravity sample revealed that the La compositions decrease in the crystal grain, while the structure did not change much. The SQUID analysis showed that the magnetic property of the gravity sample had changed.