The binary transition metal magnesium compounds RhMg3 and Ir3Mg13 have been synthesized from the elements in sealed niobium tubes and investigated on the basis of X-ray powder and single crystal data: Cu3P type, P63cm, a = 790.5(4), c = 825.6(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0244, 344 F2 values, 27 variable parameters for RhMg3, and R3̄c, a = 1607.0(2), c = 844.88(9) pm, wR2 = 0.0535, 656 F2 values, 29 variable p...

Cryogenic molecular beam experiments show that the ferroelectric dipole moments of small niobium clusters with an even number of valence electrons n are typically greater than those with odd n. This is verified in alloy clusters NbNXM where X = Al, Au, O, Mn, Fe, and Co; N ≤ 100;M ≤ 3. Like in superconducting alloys, Mn doping quenches the effect while Al and Au enhance it, suggesting a relatio...

The YNi9In2-type copper-rich compounds RECu9Cd2 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) were synthesized directly from the elements in sealed niobium ampoules in an induction furnace and were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. The structure of PrCu9Cd2 was refined from single-crystal Xray diffractometer data: P4/mbm, a = 849.0(3), c = 498.2(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0418, 374 F2 values, 23 variables. The structure ...

The cadmium-rich intermetallic compounds REPdCd2 (RE = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) were obtained by high-frequency melting of the elements in sealed niobium ampoules and subsequent annealing in muffle furnaces. The REPdCd2 phases crystallize with the orthorhombic MgCuAl2-type structure, space group Cmcm. The structure of NdPdCd2 was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: a = 421.9(3), b = 9...

This paper presents a study of the reaction of thin film niobium/selenium multilayers as a function of layer thickness. Diffraction and calorimetry data show a distinct difference in reactions between films with layer thicknesses above and below 60 A. The thicker films are shown to nucleate NbsSe4 heterogeneously at the niobium-selenium interfaces. Thinner films form kinetically stable amorphou...

Binding energy of hydrogen in a ~100! niobium slab is investigated through molecular-dynamics simulations. We introduce a hydrogen-niobium interaction potential that contains an attractive as well as a repulsive part, which is valid for surface-diffusion calculations. Simulations for high and low temperatures ~compared with uDebye! are presented. For the former case, we found that the hydrogen ...

Superconducting thin films have the potential to improve the performance of particle accelerators. Before these thin films can be implemented, a systematic study on structureproperty correlations is necessary. Here, we present the characterization of niobium thin films deposited onto both ceramic and metallic substrates. In particular, the film microstructure and superconducting properties are ...

This work presents a new synthesis of nano-sized lithium niobate particles by a low temperature three steps procedure. The complete protocol implies a LiH induced reduction of NbCl5 followed by in situ spontaneous oxidation into low valence niobium nano-oxides. These niobium oxides are exposed to air atmosphere leading to pure Nb2O5 formation. Finally, the stable Nb2O5 is converted into lithium...