The phase transformation between the orthorhombic and tetragonal structures of six high-T c superconductors, Ba2RCu3O7- δ , where R = Nd, Sm, Gd, Y, Ho, and Er, and δ = 0 to 1, has been investigated using techniques of x-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TGA) and electron diffraction. The transformation from the oxygen-rich orthorhombic phase to the ...

In functional oxide films, different electrical/mechanical boundaries near film surfaces induce rich phase diagrams and exotic phenomena. In this paper, we review some key points which underpin structure, phase transition and related properties in BiFeO₃ ultrathin films. Compared with the bulk counterparts, we survey the recent results of epitaxial BiFeO₃ ultrathin films to illustrate how the a...

Polystyrene-capped barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles with sizes of 11 nm and 27 nm were prepared using amphiphilic star-like diblock copolymer templates. The crystal structure evolution of these nanoparticles over a wide temperature range (10-428 K) was investigated by powder X-ray diffraction. The Rietveld refinement indicates that the abrupt structural transitions observed in micron-size...

In this study, the YBa2Cu3O6+x samples at temperatures 200 and 300°C, as the value of x ( the oxygen content in 0the basal plane)  increased under nearly thermodynamical equilibrium condition, the structure changed from the well- known tetragonal (T) to a mixed-phase (T+OII) region (orthorhombicII phase is a superstructure). This mixed-phase region suggests a first order T/OII phase transition ...

Characterizing material dynamics in non-equilibrium states is a current challenge in material and physical sciences. Combining laser and X-ray pulse sources enables the material dynamics in non-equilibrium conditions to be directly monitored. In this article, we review our nanosecond time-resolved X-ray diffraction studies with 100-ps X-ray pulses from synchrotron radiation concerning the dynam...