12-15 July 2011
Saint George Hotel
Africa/Johannesburg timezone

The study of the distortion of F- and Ba- sublattices in superionic BaF2 at elevated temperatures using positron annihilation technique.

13 Jul 2011, 17:00
2h
Asteria

Asteria

Poster Presentation Track A - Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Poster1

Speaker

Mr Thulani Jili (University of Zululand)

Description

There is a general misunderstanding regarding the creation of Frenkel pairs in the vicinity of the observed critical temperature Tc in superionic materials. The measured conductivity increases sharply at a temperature coinciding with the deviation of temperature-dependent lattice constant from 6.2086 A. Frenkel pairs responsible for superionic conduction are gradually generated well below the critical temperature and this is informed by the calculation of S-parameter through the measurements of Doppler Broadening at various temperature points. It is interesting to note that the lattice constant plays a pivotal role in the superionic conductivity threshold. Positron annihilation spectroscopy, through the determination of positron lifetime and Doppler broadening, reveals that the generation rate of Frenkel pairs becomes prominent at 100 K below the critical temperature of 693 K. This is also a clear indication of continuous disordering of fluorine sublattice noticeable at a temperature of 593 K. The fact that the defect positron lifetime is constant in the temperature range (300 – 900) K confirms a non-distortion of Ba-sublattice.

Level (Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD, other)? PhD
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)? Yes
Consider for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)? No

Primary author

Mr Thulani Jili (University of Zululand)

Co-authors

Dr Daniel Wamwangi (University of the Witwatersrand) Prof. Elias Sideras-Haddad (University of the Witwatersrand)

Presentation Materials