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Inversion domain network stabilization and spinel phase suppression in ZnO
Author(s) -
Hoemke Joshua,
Tochigi Eita,
Tohei Tetsuya,
Yoshida Hidehiro,
Shibata Naoya,
Ikuhara Yuichi,
Sakka Yoshio
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/jace.15426
Subject(s) - dopant , spinel , materials science , crystallite , transmission electron microscopy , doping , crystallography , grain boundary , inversion (geology) , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , microstructure , geology , metallurgy , paleontology , structural basin , chromatography
The development of inversion domain networks consisting of basal‐plane and pyramidal‐plane inversion domain boundary (b‐ IDB and p‐ IDB ) interfaces within grains in Sn‐Al dual‐doped ZnO (Zn 0.98 Sn 0.01 Al 0.01 O) polycrystalline ceramics has been confirmed using transmission electron microscopy. The atomic structure of the b‐ IDB and p‐ IDB interfaces has been analyzed using atomic‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. The localization of Sn and Al at the respective sites of the b‐ IDB s and p‐ IDB s was confirmed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. In contrast to Sn or Al single‐dopant addition to ZnO, which results in the formation of spinel phase precipitates without the development of inversion domain networks, Sn‐Al dual‐doping caused the suppression of spinel phase formation and the formation of monophasic inversion domain networks composed of RM O 3 (ZnO) n homologous phase compound members, where R and M represent dopants substituting at the b‐ IDB and p‐ IDB sites, with a general formula of SnAlO 3 (ZnO) n . The results of this study demonstrate that the formation of inversion domain networks in ZnO‐based ceramics can be stabilized via multiple‐dopant addition. This finding has potential implications for the modification of the bulk or nanoscale properties based on the choice of the specific dopants, R and M , the control of the ratio R : M and the value of n in the RM O 3 (ZnO) n homologous phase compound members constituting the inversion domain networks.